Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006

47Misleading messagesU.K.

(1)A person commits an offence if, by means of wireless telegraphy, he sends or attempts to send a message to which this section applies.

(2)This section applies to a message which, to the person's knowledge—

(a)is false or misleading; and

(b)is likely to prejudice the efficiency of a safety of life service or to endanger the safety of a person or of a ship, aircraft or vehicle.

(3)This section applies in particular to a message which, to the person's knowledge, falsely suggests that a ship or aircraft—

(a)is in distress or in need of assistance; or

(b)is not in distress or not in need of assistance.

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

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1the general limit in a magistrates’ court] or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;

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

(5)In the application of subsection (4) to Scotland or Northern Ireland the reference to 12 months is to be read as a reference to six months.

Textual Amendments