(b) any other premises to which the Crown restricts access on the ground of national security. 

(4) It is an offence for a person— 

(a) to fail to comply with a requirement imposed pursuant to this article; or 

(b) to prevent any other person from— 

(i) appearing before a Regulator or an authorised person; or 

(ii) answering a question to which the Regulator or authorised person requires an answer. 

(5) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (4) is liable— 

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to a fine; 

(b) on summary conviction in Scotland or in Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; 

(c) on conviction on indictment, to a fine. 

## Warrants 

48. —(1) A judge may by warrant authorise a Regulator to designate an authorised person to exercise the power in article 47(1)(a), in accordance with the warrant, where satisfied that— 

(a) there are reasonable grounds for the exercise of the power; and 

(b) one or more of the conditions in paragraph (2) are fulfilled in relation to the premises. 

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are that— 

(a) the exercise of the power by consent in relation to the premises has been refused; 

(b) a refusal of consent to the exercise of the power is reasonably expected; 

(c) the premises are unoccupied; 

(d) the occupier is temporarily absent from the premises and the case is one of urgency; 

(e) a request for admission to the premises would defeat the purpose of the entry. 

(3) A warrant in accordance with this article continues to have effect until the purpose for which it was issued has been fulfilled. 

(4) In paragraph (1), “judge” means— 

(a) a justice of the peace; 

(b) in Northern Ireland, a lay magistrate; or 

(c) in Scotland, a justice of the peace or sheriff. 

## Admissible evidence 

49. —(1) An answer given by a person in compliance with article 47(1)(c)(ii) is admissible in evidence— 

(a) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, against that person in any proceedings; 

(b) in Scotland, against that person in criminal proceedings. 

(2) In criminal proceedings in which the person referred to in paragraph (1) is charged with an offence, no evidence relating to the person’s answer may be adduced and no question relating to it may be asked by, or on behalf of, the prosecution unless evidence relating to it has been adduced by, or on behalf of, the person. 

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to an offence under— 

(a) section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911( a ); 

