Section 177 — Housing and Planning Act 2016: Offences in connection with powers to enter land

Offences in connection with powers to enter land 177 1 A person who without reasonable excuse obstructs another person in the exercise of the power conferred by section 172 commits an offence.

2 A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

3 A person commits an offence if the person discloses confidential information, obtained in the exercise of the power conferred by section 172, for purposes other than those for which the power was exercised.

4 A person who commits an offence under subsection (3) is liable—

a on summary conviction to a fine, b on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine, or both.

5 In subsection (3) “ confidential information ” means information—

a which constitutes a trade secret, or b the disclosure of which would or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person.