(1)A person commits an offence if the person—
(a)fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 24(2) or (5), or
(b)notifies to the police, in purported compliance with section 24(2) or (5), any information which the person knows to be false.
(2)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1the general limit in a magistrates’ court], to a fine or to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, to a fine or to both.
(3)In relation to an offence committed before [F22 May 2022] the reference in section (2)(a) to [F3the general limit in a magistrates’ court] is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
(4)A person commits an offence under subsection (1)(a) on the day on which the person first fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 24(2) or (5).
(5)The person continues to commit the offence throughout any period during which the failure continues.
(6)But the person may not be prosecuted more than once in respect of the same offence.
(7)Proceedings for an offence under this section may be commenced in any court having jurisdiction in any place where the person charged with the offence lives or is found.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 25(2)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
F2Words in s. 25(3) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1
F3Words in s. 25(3) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
Commencement Information
I1S. 25 in force at 5.7.2021 for specified purposes in relation to the metropolitan police district for the specified period by S.I. 2021/762, regs. 1(2), 2(2) (with reg. 4) (as amended (16.7.2022) by The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/828), regs. 1(1), 2)