The Complaints Committee and the High Court, as the case may be, in considering whether a sanction ought to be imposed or the appropriate sanction to be imposed shall take into account the circumstances of the improper conduct concerned (including the factors occasioning it) and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may have regard to -

(a) the need to ensure that any sanction imposed -

(i) is appropriate and proportionate to the improper conduct, and

(ii) if applicable, will act as a sufficient deterrent to discourage improper conduct of that or a similar nature in the future,

(b) the seriousness of the improper conduct,

(c) the extent of any failure by the personal insolvency practitioner to co-operate with the investigation concerned of the personal insolvency practitioner,

(d) any excuse or explanation by the personal insolvency practitioner for the improper conduct or failure to co-operate with the investigation concerned,