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Immigration Act 1971

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Changes to legislation:

Immigration Act 1971, Section 26 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

26 General offences in connection with administration of Act.U.K.

(1)A person shall be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine of not more than [F1[F2level 5] on the standard scale] or with imprisonment for not more than six months, or with both, in any of the following cases—

(a)if, without reasonable excuse, he refuses or fails to submit to examination under Schedule 2 to this Act;

(b)if, without reasonable excuse, he refuses or fails to furnish or produce any information in his possession, or any documents in his possession or control, which he is on an examination under that Schedule required to furnish or produce;

(c)if on any such examination or otherwise he makes or causes to be made to an immigration officer or other person lawfully acting in the execution of [F3a relevant enactment] a return, statement or representation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true;

(d)if, without lawful authority, he alters any [F4certificate of entitlement], entry clearance, work permit or other document issued or made under or for the purposes of this Act, or uses for the purposes of this Act, or has in his possession for such use, any passport, [F4certificate of entitlement], entry clearance, work permit or other document which he knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be false;

(e)if, without reasonable excuse, he fails to complete and produce a landing or embarkation card in accordance with any order under Schedule 2 to this Act;

(f)if, without reasonable excuse, he fails to comply with any requirement of regulations under section 4(3) or of an order under section 4(4) above;

(g)if, without reasonable excuse, he obstructs an immigration officer or other person lawfully acting in the execution of this Act.

[F5(h)if, without reasonable excuse, the person fails to comply with a direction under paragraph 1(6) of Schedule 2 (direction to move a container for purposes of a search).]

(2)The extended time limit for prosecutions which is provided for by section 28 below shall apply to offences under subsection (1)(c) and (d) above.

[F6(3)Relevant enactment” means—

(a)this Act;

(b)the M1Immigration Act 1988;

(c)the M2Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 (apart from section 4 or 5);F7. . .

(d)the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (apart from Part VI) [F8 ; or

(e)the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (apart from Part 5).]]

Textual Amendments

F1Words substituted (E.W.) (S.) (11.4.1983) by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), ss. 289F, 289G (as inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 54), and (N.I) by virtue of S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6

F2Words in s. 26(1) substituted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 6; S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F3Words in s. 26(1)(c) substituted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 30(1)(2); S.I. 2000/168, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F6S. 26(3) inserted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 30(1)(3); S.I. 2000/168, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F7Word after s. 26(3)(c) repealed (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, ss. 151(a), 161, Sch. 9 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F8S. 26(3)(e) and preceding word inserted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 151(b) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. 3 modified by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 33C(6) (as inserted (1.11.2016 for specified purposes, 1.12.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 39(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, regs. 2(a), 5(c))

C2Ss. 24-29: amendment to earlier affecting S.I. 1993/1797, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (11.10.2017 coming into force in accordance with art. 1) by The Immigration (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/981), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 1 (with art. 6)

C3S. 26(1)(d) modified (11.11.2000) by 1999 c. 33, ss. 31(1)(2)(3)(c)(4)(d), 170(3) (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

Marginal Citations

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