Part II

Regulated And Prohibited Activities

Offences

False claims to be authorised or exempt
24
1
A person who is neither an authorised person nor, in relation to the regulated activity in question, an exempt person is guilty of an offence if he—
a
describes himself (in whatever terms) as an authorised person;
b
describes himself (in whatever terms) as an exempt person in relation to the regulated activity; or
c
behaves, or otherwise holds himself out, in a manner which indicates (or which is reasonably likely to be understood as indicating) that he is—
i
an authorised person; or
ii
an exempt person in relation to the regulated activity.
2
In proceedings for an offence under this section it is a defence for the accused to show that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
3
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
4
But where the conduct constituting the offence involved or included the public display of any material, the maximum fine for the offence is level 5 on the standard scale multiplied by the number of days for which the display continued.