Offences
105Offences relating to false information and deception
(1)It is an offence for a person—
(a)to make a statement which the person knows to be false, or
(b)recklessly to make a statement which is false,
in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2).
(2)Those circumstances are where the statement is made—
(a)in purported compliance with any requirement to provide information imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or
(b)for the purposes of obtaining the issue of a document under any of the relevant statutory provisions (whether for the person making the statement or anyone else).
(3)It is an offence for a person—
(a)intentionally to make a false entry in a relevant document, or
(b)with intent to deceive, to make use of any such entry which the person knows to be false.
(4)In subsection (3) “relevant document” means any register, record, notice or other document which is required to be kept or given by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions.
(5)It is an offence for a person, with intent to deceive—
(a)to use a relevant document,
(b)to make or have possession of a document so closely resembling a relevant document as to be calculated to deceive.
(6)In subsection (5) “relevant document” means a document—
(a)issued or authorised to be issued under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or
(b)required for the purpose of any of those provisions.
(7)A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—
(a)on summary conviction—
(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),
(ii)to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or
(iii)to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment—
(i)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,
(ii)to a fine, or
(iii)to both.
(8)In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (general limit on magistrates’ court’s powers to imprison), the reference in subsection (7)(a)(i), as it has effect in England and Wales, to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
106Provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisions
(1)Schedule 10 (provision relating to offences under certain relevant statutory provisions) has effect.
(2)That Schedule contains provision about the following matters—
(a)the place where an offence involving plant or a substance may be treated as having been committed;
(b)the extension of time for bringing summary proceedings in certain cases;
(c)the continuation of offences;
(d)where an offence committed by one person is due to the act or default of another person, the liability of that other person;
(e)offences by bodies corporate or partnerships;
(f)restrictions on the persons who may institute proceedings in England and Wales;
(g)powers of inspectors to prosecute offences;
(h)the burden of proof in certain cases relating to what is practicable or what are the best means for doing something;
(i)reliance on entries in a register or other document as evidence;
(j)power of the court to order a defendant to take remedial action.