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False identity documents etcU.K.

6Possession of false identity documents etc without reasonable excuseU.K.

(1)It is an offence for a person (“P”), without reasonable excuse, to have in P's possession or under P's control—

(a)an identity document that is false,

(b)an identity document that was improperly obtained,

(c)an identity document that relates to someone else,

(d)any apparatus which, to P's knowledge, is or has been specially designed or adapted for the making of false identity documents, or

(e)any article or material which, to P's knowledge, is or has been specially designed or adapted to be used in the making of such documents.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both), or

(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the maximum period or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).

(3)In subsection (2)(b) “the maximum period” means—

(a)in F1... Scotland, 12 months, and

(b)in Northern Ireland, 6 months.

[F2(c)in England and Wales, the general limit in a magistrates’ court.]

(4)In subsection [F3(3)(c)] the reference to [F4the general limit in a magistrates’ court] in England and Wales is to be read, in relation to an offence committed before [F52 May 2022], as a reference to 6 months.

Textual Amendments