17Electoral identity cardsN.I.
After section 13C of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (electoral identity card: Northern Ireland) insert—
“13CZAProvision of false information: application for electoral identity card
(1)A person who provides false information in connection with an application for an electoral identity card is guilty of an offence.
(2)In relation to a signature, “false information” for the purposes of subsection (1) means a signature which—
(a)is not the usual signature of, or
(b)was written by a person other than,
the person whose signature it purports to be.
(3)A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information was false.
(4)Where sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to the defence under subsection (3), the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to—
(a)imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or
(b)a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
or to both.”