Regulatory Offences: Guidance for government departments and agencies / Ministry of Justice, 25 July 2008

http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/regulatory-offences.htm

"This guidance is primarily aimed at people working in central government departments and agencies who are thinking about creating new offences of non-compliance with regulations. It includes general principles about when civil sanctions might be more appropriate than criminal offences. It also offers advice on how to formulate criminal offences if this is considered the appropriate option."

Guidance paper http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/guidance-regulatory-penalties-offences.pdf