Criminal Justice Act 1991

[F1 20A False statements as to financial circumstances. E+W

(1) A person who is charged with an offence who, in furnishing a statement of [F2 financial circumstances (whether a statement of assets, of other financial circumstances or of both)] in response to an official request—

(a) makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular;

(b) recklessly furnishes a statement which is false in a material particular; or

(c) knowingly fails to disclose any material fact,

shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both.

[F3 (1A) A person who is charged with an offence who fails to furnish a statement of [F4 financial circumstances (whether a statement of assets, of other financial circumstances or of both) requested by] an official request shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.]

(2) For the purposes of this section an official request is a request which—

(a) is made by the [F5 designated officer for] the magistrates’ court or the appropriate officer of the Crown Court, as the case may be; and

(b) is expressed to be made for informing the court, in the event of his being convicted, of his financial circumstances for the purpose of determining the amount of any fine the court may impose [F6 and how it should be paid].

(3) Proceedings in respect of an offence under this section may, notwithstanding anything in section 127(1) of the 1980 Act (limitation of time), be commenced at any time within two years from the date of the commission of the offence or within six months from its first discovery by the prosecutor, whichever period expires the earlier.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 20A inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 43; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Appendix A

F2 Words in s. 20A(1) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 16 para. 26(a); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(d)

F3 S. 20A(1A) inserted (5.4.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 95(2), 110; S.I. 2004/174, art. 3

F4 Words in s. 20A(1A) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 16 para. 26(b); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(d)

F5 Words in s. 20A(2)(a) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 109(1), Sch. 8 para. 350; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

F6 Words in s. 20A(2)(b) inserted (5.4.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 95(3), 110; S.I. 2004/174, art. 3