§
`In the proviso to section 105(1) of the principal Act (by virtue of which, if a court is satisfied that a person guilty of an offence of obstruction under that subsection committed it with intent to prevent the discovery of some other offence under the Act, or has within the twelve months last preceding been convicted of an offence under the subsection, he may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month) the words "or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month" shall cease to have effect' —[Mrs. Fenner.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Mrs. FennerI beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
The purpose of the clause is to abolish imprisonment as a penalty for obstruction. At present the penalty is a maximum fine of £20, or a maximum fine of £50 or up to one month's imprisonment for a subsequent offence within 544 12 months or where the court is satisfied that the offence was committed with the intent to prevent the discovery of some other offence under the Act. But after the passage of this Bill and the Criminal Justice Bill, the revised maximum penalty will be £1,000, with no imprisonment in all cases.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.