Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

150 Punishment of offences. U.K.

(1) Schedule 20 makes provision for the punishment of offences under this Act.

(2) In relation to an offence under any provision specified in the first column of that Schedule, the second column shows—

(a) whether the offence is punishable on summary conviction only or is punishable either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment; and

(b) the maximum punishment (or, in the case of a fine on a conviction on indictment, the punishment) which may be imposed by way of fine or imprisonment on a person convicted of the offence in the way specified;

and, where that column shows two alternative penalties that may be imposed on a person convicted in the way specified, as a further alternative both of those penalties may be imposed on him.

(3) In the second column of that Schedule—

(a) “Level 5” means a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;

(b) “statutory maximum” means a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; and

(c) any reference to [F1 51 weeks,] 1 year or 6 months is a reference to a term of imprisonment not exceeding [F1 51 weeks,] 1 year or 6 months (as the case may be).

F2 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F3 (5) In the application of Schedule 20 to England and Wales in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for summary offences), a reference to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.]

[F4 (6) Schedule 20 does not apply where section 16 of the National Security Act 2023 (which provides for higher sentences in cases of foreign interference) applies in relation to the offence.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 150(3)(c) inserted (1.7.2008) by The Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1319), arts. 1(2), 7, Sch. 2 para. 1(2)

F2 S. 150(4) repealed (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))

F3 S. 150(5) inserted (1.7.2008) by The Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1319), arts. 1(2), 7, Sch. 2 para. 1(3)

F4 S. 150(6) inserted (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 1 para. 3(3) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 150 wholly in force at 16.2.2001; s. 150 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 163(2); s. 150 in force at 16.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)