Offences and penalties

(1) Any person who knowingly gives or causes to be given to the Service or to any police officer a false report or alarm of the outbreak of a fire or other disaster commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. (2) Where an officer or employee of the Service is given powers under this Act to enter any building, with or without giving prior notice of such entry to the owner, agent or occupier of such building, it shall be an offence for such officer or employee to disclose any information relating to manufacturing or trade processes, policies or secrets which comes to his knowledge as a result of such entry into the Provided that disclosure of such information by such officer or employee shall not be an offence if it is made in the course of his duties and in furtherance of the objectives of this Act, or to prevent the commission of a crime. (3) Any person who commits an offence under subsection (2) of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment. (4) Any person who, (a) obstructs, impedes or assaults any officer or employee of the Service, or of the Belize Police Department or the Belize Defence Force, acting pursuant to this Act, or any volunteer or other person assisting the Service in any way whatsoever pursuant to this Act; 23 (b) aids, abets, counsels or incites any other person to commit any of the acts specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection; (c) wilfully removes or moves or assists in removing or moving any chain, rope or other barrier placed in, upon or on any street or other place under the authority of this Act; (d) wears, either in whole or in part, the dress, designation badges, caps and headdress, or other apparel worn by officers or employees of the Service as uniform while on duty, or who wears any dress, designation badge, cap or headdress resembling in any material particular that which is worn by officers or employees of the Service as uniform while on duty; (e) pretends or holds himself out as an officer or employee of the Service; (f) obstructs or prevents the use of any water- head or fire hydrant in any manner whatsoever; (g) wilfully damages any fire engine, fire boat, or some other fire equipment or other property (h) unlawfully removes or causes to be removed any furniture, goods or some other property from any building on fire or in imminent danger of fire or some other disaster; or (i) knowingly, by threats or through offers of money or some other reward, gift or thing, induces or endeavours to induce an officer or employee of the Service to do or not to do 24 anything in contravention of the provisions of this Act or any other law, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment.