Part V Jurisdiction, Imprisonment, Fines, Etc.

Imprisonment

44 Firearms offences.

(1)

Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the M1Firearms Act 1968 (prosecution and punishment of offences) shall be amended as follows.

(2)

For the third and fourth columns of the entries relating to an offence under section 2(1) (possessing, etc. shotgun without shotgun certificate) there shall be substituted—

“(a) Summary.

6 months or the statutory maximum or both.

(b) On indictment.

3 years or a fine; or both.”

(3)

“Life imprisonment” shall be substituted for “14 years" in the fourth column of the entries relating to offences under—

(a)

section 17(2) (possessing firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for certain offences); and

(b)

section 18(1) (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with criminal intent).

(4)

Nothing in this section shall affect the punishment for an offence committed before this section comes into force.

45 Increase in maximum term of imprisonment for cruelty to children and young persons.

(1)

In section 1(1)(a) of the M2Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (under which the maximum term of imprisonment for cruelty to persons under 16 is two years) and in section 12(1)(a) of the M3Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 (which makes corresponding provision for Scotland), for “two" there shall be substituted “ten".

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1) above shall affect the punishment for an offence committed before this section comes into force.

46 Maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction under Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and maximum fine under Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.

(1)

In section 1(1)(a) of the M4Prevention of Crime Act 1953 “six months” shall be substituted for “three months".

(2)

The maximum fine that may be imposed for an offence under section 1 of the M5Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 shall be a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3)

This section shall not have effect in relation to anything done before it comes into force.

47 Corruption.

(1)

The following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph (a) of section 2 of the M6Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 (penalty for corruption in office)—

“(a)

be liable—

(i)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; and

(ii)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to a fine, or to both; and”.

(2)

In subsection (1) of section 1 of the M7Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 (punishment of corrupt transactions with agents) for the words from “shall be liable" to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words“shall be liable—

(a)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; and

(b)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to a fine, or to both.”.

(3)

Nothing in this section shall affect the punishment for an offence committed before this section comes into force.

F148. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49 Repeal of s.134 of Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50 Suspended and partly suspended sentences on certain civilians in courts-martial and Standing Civilian Courts.

F3(1)

The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument make such provision as appears to him to be appropriate—

(a)

to give courts-martial and Standing Civilian Courts power to pass suspended and partly suspended sentences of imprisonment on civilians to whom this section applies; and

(b)

to give courts power to deal with offenders in respect of suspended and partly suspended sentences passed by courts-martial and Standing Civilian Courts.

(2)

This section applies to the following civilians—

(a)

persons to whom Part II of the M8Army Act 1955 applies by virtue of section 209 of that Act;

(b)

persons to whom Part II of the M9Air Force Act 1955 applies by virtue of section 209 of that Act; and

(c)

persons to whom Parts I and II of the M10Naval Discipline Act 1957 apply by virtue of section 118 of that Act.

(3)

An order under this section—

(a)

may amend—

(i)

the Army Act 1955;

(ii)

the Air Force Act 1955;

(iii)

the Naval Discipline Act 1957; and

(iv)

the M11Armed Forces Act 1976;

(b)

may apply, with or without modifications, any enactment contained in—

(i)

F4Criminal Justice Act 2003;

(ii)

the M12Criminal Law Act 1977; or

(iii)

any other Act not mentioned in paragraph (a) above; and

(c)

may make such incidental or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient.

(4)

Without prejudice to the generality of this section, an order under this section may make—

(a)

provision prohibiting a court which passes a suspended sentence on a person from making an order under paragraph 4 of Schedule 5A to the M13Army Act 1955 or the M14Air Force Act 1955 or paragraph 4 of Schedule 4A to the M15Naval Discipline Act 1957 (community supervision orders) in respect of another offence; and

(b)

provision restricting the powers conferred by sections 110 and 113 of the Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955 (confirmation and review) and sections 70 and 71 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (review).

(5)

A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.