The CMA issued M&J Group with an administrative penalty of £25,000 under the Competition Act 1998 for failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with investigatory requirements imposed during the execution of a warrant.

The Legal Basis

The penalty was imposed because the CMA found that a work mobile phone and paperwork were removed from the company's premises during a warranted inspection, so that investigators would not find them. The company failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the investigatory requirements imposed during the execution of the warrant.

The Penalty Amount

The Applicable Maximum

Because the relevant conduct occurred before enhanced business penalty powers came into force in January 2025, the earlier lower maximum applied. The exact maximum available under the old regime should be verified directly from the CMA decision document.

Note: The applicable maximum penalty figure should be verified directly from the CMA decision before relying on it.

Penalty Appeal Status

The CMA issued final administrative penalty decisions on 17 September 2026. "Final" here means final at the CMA decision stage, not necessarily that statutory appeal rights have expired or been exhausted. Whether M&J Group, Barry Pirrie, or Tracey Woods has appealed any penalty decision should be verified before publication.