Telecommunications Act 1984

43 Improper use of public telecommunication system. U.K.

[F1 (1) A person who—

(a) sends, by means of a public telecommunication system, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or

(b) sends by those means, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, a message that he knows to be false or persistently makes use for that purpose of a public telecommunication system,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to [F2 imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both].

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to anything done in the course of providing a [F3 programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990)].]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 43 repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Note 1); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

F2 Words in s. 43(1) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 92(1)(2); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F3 Words substituted by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1), Sch. 20 para. 38(4)