- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Computer Misuse Act 1990
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Changes over time for: Section 3A
Alternative versions:
Changes to legislation:
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Computer Misuse Act 1990, Section 3A.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
[F13AMaking, supplying or obtaining articles for use in offence under [F2section 1, 3 or 3ZA]U.K.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply any article intending it to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under [F3section 1, 3 or 3ZA].
(2)A person is guilty of an offence if he supplies or offers to supply any article believing that it is likely to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under [F4section 1, 3 or 3ZA].
(3)A person is guilty of an offence if he obtains any [F5article—
(a)intending to use it to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under section 1, 3 or 3ZA, or
(b)with a view to]
its being supplied for use to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under [F6section 1, 3 or 3ZA].
(4) In this section “ article ” includes any program or data held in electronic form.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F7the general limit in a magistrates’ court] or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F812] months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 3A inserted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 37, 53 (with s. 38(5)(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2(a)
F2Words in s. 3A heading substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 8; S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)
F3Words in s. 3A(1) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 41(3), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(a)
F4Words in s. 3A(2) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 41(3), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(a)
F5Words in s. 3A(3) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 42, 88(1) (with s. 86(5)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(b)
F6Words in s. 3A(3) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 41(3), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(a)
F7Words in s. 3A(5)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
F8Word in s. 3A(5)(b) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 4 para. 7(d); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(r)(iii)
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.