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Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
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Changes over time for: Section 25
Changes to legislation:
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, Section 25 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 February 2025. 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.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 25:
- Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2023/1398, Sch. Pt. 3 by S.I. 2025/93 reg. 6(1)
- Act power to apply conferred (temp. until 15.5.2039) by 2014 c. 21 s. 79(4)
- Act power to apply conferred (temp. until 15.5.2039) by 2014 c. 21 s. 81(10)
- Pt. 20C inserted by 2016 c. 14 s. 30(3)
- s. 31(1)(aa) inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(2)
- s. 32A inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(3)
- s. 32A power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- s. 36A and cross-heading inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(4)
- s. 71J and cross-heading inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 4
- s. 214(5A) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 8
- s. 367A inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 10
- s. 395(13)(h)(i) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(2)(c)
- s. 395(13)(bc)-(be) word inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(2)(b)
- s. 395(14) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(3)
- Sch. 1ZA para. 32(c) and word inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 18
- Sch. 2A 2B power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- Sch. 2A power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- Sch. 2B inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 7
- Sch. 2B power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2023/1398, Sch. Pt. 3 by S.I. 2025/93 reg. 6(1)
- Act power to apply conferred (temp. until 15.5.2039) by 2014 c. 21 s. 79(4)
- Act power to apply conferred (temp. until 15.5.2039) by 2014 c. 21 s. 81(10)
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Pt. 20C inserted by 2016 c. 14 s. 30(3)
- s. 31(1)(aa) inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(2)
- s. 32A inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(3)
- s. 32A power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- s. 36A and cross-heading inserted by 2021 c. 22 s. 22(4)
- s. 71J and cross-heading inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 4
- s. 214(5A) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 8
- s. 367A inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 10
- s. 395(13)(h)(i) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(2)(c)
- s. 395(13)(bc)-(be) word inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(2)(b)
- s. 395(14) inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 12(3)
- Sch. 1ZA para. 32(c) and word inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 18
- Sch. 2A 2B power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- Sch. 2A power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
- Sch. 2B inserted by 2021 c. 22 Sch. 7
- Sch. 2B power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 2021 c. 22 s. 23(10)
25 Contravention of section 21.U.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)A person who contravenes section 21(1) is guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.
(2)In proceedings for an offence under this section it is a defence for the accused to show—
(a)that he believed on reasonable grounds that the content of the communication was prepared, or approved for the purposes of section 21 [F1in accordance with subsection (2A) of that section], by an authorised person; or
(b)that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 25(2)(a) inserted (6.9.2023 for specified purposes, 6.11.2023 for specified purposes, 7.2.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 5 para. 3 (with s. 20(5)); S.I. 2023/936, reg. 2(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)(3)(4) (with reg. 3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 25 applied (22.7.2013) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), regs. 1, 52(2)(3)
C2S. 25(2)(a) modified (31.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3374, art. 1, Sch. para. 6
C3S. 25(2)(a) modified (31.10.2004) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Transitional Provisions) (Mortgages) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2615), arts. 1(2)(b), 5, Sch. para. 6
C4S. 25(2)(a) modified (14.1.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Transitional Provisions) (General Insurance Intermediaries) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3351), arts. 1(2)(b), 5, Sch. para. 6
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