SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 4Control of donations to accredited campaigners
PART 2Control of donations
14Duty to return donations from impermissible donors
1
2
The donation must, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the donation is received, be returned to—
a
the donor, or
b
any person appearing to be acting on that person’s behalf.
3
If sub-paragraph (2) is not complied with, an offence is committed by—
a
the accredited campaigner, and
b
the responsible person.
4
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this paragraph to show that—
a
all reasonable steps were taken by or on behalf of the accredited campaigner to verify (or ascertain) whether the donor was a permissible donor, and
b
as a result, the relevant person believed the donor to be a permissible donor.
5
“The relevant person” means—
a
where the person charged with the offence is an individual, that individual, and
b
otherwise, the responsible person.
6
A person guilty of an offence under this paragraph is liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both), and
b
on summary conviction—
i
in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both),
ii
in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both), and
iii
in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).