- (c) destroying an object under an authorisation given under section 6(2) or 7(6) or (7), or
- (d) attempting to do anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c), the person so obstructing is guilty of an offence.
(3) If—
- (a) a warning is affixed under section 5(4),
- (b) a person interferes with the warning, or moves or interferes with the object before the date specified in the warning, and
- (c) he has no reasonable excuse for doing so, he is guilty of an offence.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under any of the preceding provisions of this section is liable—
- (a) on summary conviction, to a fine of an amount not exceeding the statutory maximum;
- (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(5) A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in response to a copy of a notice served under section 4, 6 or 7 is guilty of an offence and liable—
- (a) on summary conviction, to a fine of an amount not exceeding the statutory maximum;
- (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.
Destruction etc: supplementary. 10.—(1) If an object is in the possession of a person who intends that it will be used only for permitted purposes, it is not a chemical weapon for the purposes of sections 4(1) and (3) and 5(1) and (2); and in deciding whether permitted purposes are intended the types and quantities of objects shall be taken into account.
(2) For the purposes of sections 4 to 9—
- (a) to the extent that an object consists of a toxic chemical or precursor, it is destroyed if it is permanently prevented from being used other than for permitted purposes;
- (b) to the extent that an object consists of a munition or other device designed to cause death or harm through toxic chemicals released by it, it is destroyed if it is permanently prevented from doing so;
- (c) to the extent that an object consists of equipment designed for use in connection with a munition or other device, it is destroyed if it is permanently prevented from being so used.
(3) In sections 5 to 9 “premises” includes land (including buildings), moveable structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft.
(4) Nothing in sections 4 to 7 affects any power arising otherwise than by virtue of those sections (such as a power to dispose of property in police possession in connection with the investigation of a suspected offence).
