Aviation Security Act 1982

[ 21A F1 False statements relating to baggage, cargo etc. U.K.

(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, a person commits an offence if, in answer to a question which—

(a)relates to any baggage, cargo or stores (whether belonging to him or to another) that is or are intended for carriage by a civil aircraft registered or operating in the United Kingdom, and

(b)is put to him for purposes to which this Part of this Act applies—

(i)by any of the persons mentioned in subsection (2) below,

(ii)by any employee or agent of such a person in his capacity as employee or agent, or

(iii)by a constable,

he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(2)The persons referred to in subsection (1)(b) above are—

(a)the manager of an aerodrome in the United Kingdom,

(b) the operator of one or more aircraft registered or operating in the United Kingdom, F2 . . .

(c)any person who—

(i)is permitted to have access to a [F3 security restricted area ] of an aerodrome for the purposes of the activities of a business carried on by him, and

(ii)has control in that [F3 security restricted area ] over the baggage, cargo or stores to which the question relates.

F4 [ and

(d)any air cargo agent who is included on the list of security approved air cargo agents maintained by the Secretary of State pursuant to regulations made under section 21F of this Act.]

(3)Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to any statement made by an authorised person in the exercise of the power conferred by section 20(2)(aa) of this Act.

(4)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5)In this section—

  • cargo includes mail;

  • civil aircraft has the same meaning as in section 3 of this Act; and

  • stores means any goods intended for sale or use on an aircraft, including spare parts and other articles of equipment, whether or not for immediate fitting.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Word in s. 21A(2)(b) omitted (1.9.1993) by virtue of S.I. 1993/1073 , reg. 12(1)(a)

F3Words in s. 21A substituted (29.4.2010) by The Aviation Security Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/902), regs. 1(1), 9(f)

F4 S. 21A(2)(d) and 'and' preceding it added (1.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1073 , reg. 12(1)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 21A : Pt. II (ss. 10-24A) applied (with modifications) (1.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1073 , reg. 11(1)

C2 S. 21A extended (with modifications) (Jersey) (12.6.1993) by S.I. 1993/1251 , art. 2(1) , Sch. 1 Pt.I

S. 21A extended (with modifications) (Guernsey) (17.1.1998) by S.I. 1997/2989 , art. 2(1) , Sch. 1 Pt. I , II