Energy Act 2013

105 Offences relating to false information and deception U.K.

(1) It is an offence for a person—

(a) to make a statement which the person knows to be false, or

(b) recklessly to make a statement which is false,

in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) Those circumstances are where the statement is made—

(a) in purported compliance with any requirement to provide information imposed by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or

(b) for the purposes of obtaining the issue of a document under any of the relevant statutory provisions (whether for the person making the statement or anyone else).

(3) It is an offence for a person—

(a) intentionally to make a false entry in a relevant document, or

(b) with intent to deceive, to make use of any such entry which the person knows to be false.

(4) In subsection (3) “relevant document” means any register, record, notice or other document which is required to be kept or given by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions.

(5) It is an offence for a person, with intent to deceive—

(a) to use a relevant document,

(b) to make or have possession of a document so closely resembling a relevant document as to be calculated to deceive.

(6) In subsection (5) “relevant document” means a document—

(a) issued or authorised to be issued under any of the relevant statutory provisions, or

(b) required for the purpose of any of those provisions.

(7) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction—

(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),

(ii) to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or

(iii) to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment—

(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,

(ii) to a fine, or

(iii) to both.

(8) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of [F1 paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act 2020] (general limit on magistrates' court's powers to imprison), the reference in subsection (7)(a)(i), as it has effect in England and Wales, to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 105(8) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 443(1) (with Sch. 24 para. 447, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 105(1) modified (1.4.2014) by The Energy Act 2013 (Office for Nuclear Regulation) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/469), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(4)Sch. 1 para. 5(5)(b) (with Sch. 1 paras. 6, 4)

C2 S. 105(3) modified (1.4.2014) by The Energy Act 2013 (Office for Nuclear Regulation) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/469), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(4)Sch. 1 para. 5(5)(b) (with Sch. 1 paras. 6, 4)

C3 S. 105(5) modified (1.4.2014) by The Energy Act 2013 (Office for Nuclear Regulation) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/469), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(4)Sch. 1 para. 5(5)(b) (with Sch. 1 paras. 6, 4)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 105 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4