(1)A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a)he causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer [F1, or to enable any such access to be secured] ;
(b)the access he intends to secure [F2, or to enable to be secured,] is unauthorised; and
(c)he knows at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case.
(2)The intent a person has to have to commit an offence under this section need not be directed at—
(a)any particular program or data;
(b)a program or data of any particular kind; or
(c)a program or data held in any particular computer.
[F3(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(1)(a) inserted (S.) (1.10.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(2)(a), 53 (with s. 38(1)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2 (the inserting provision being repealed for E.W.N.I. (1.10.2008) by 2007 c. 27, ss. 61(2), 92, 94, Sch. 14 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(i)(viii))
F2Words in s. 1(1)(b) inserted (S.) (1.10.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(2)(b), 53 (with s. 38(1)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2 (the inserting provision being repealed for E.W.N.I. (1.10.2008) by 2007 c. 27, ss. 61(2), 92, 94, Sch. 14 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(i)(viii))
F3S. 1(3) substituted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 35(3), 53 (with s. 38(2)(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2(a)
(1)A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he commits an offence under section 1 above (“the unauthorised access offence”) with intent—
(a)to commit an offence to which this section applies; or
(b)to facilitate the commission of such an offence (whether by himself or by any other person);
and the offence he intends to commit or facilitate is referred to below in this section as the further offence.
(2)This section applies to offences—
(a)for which the sentence is fixed by law; or
(b)for which a person who has attained the age of twenty-one years (eighteen in relation to England and Wales) and has no previous convictions may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of five years (or, in England and Wales, might be so sentenced but for the restrictions imposed by section 33 of the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980).
(3)It is immaterial for the purposes of this section whether the further offence is to be committed on the same occasion as the unauthorised access offence or on any future occasion.
(4)A person may be guilty of an offence under this section even though the facts are such that the commission of the further offence is impossible.
[F4(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine or to both.]
Textual Amendments
F4S. 2(5) substituted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 17 (with s. 38(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2(c)
Marginal Citations
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a)he does any unauthorised act in relation to a computer;
(b)at the time when he does the act he knows that it is unauthorised; and
(c)either subsection (2) or subsection (3) below applies.
(2)This subsection applies if the person intends by doing the act—
(a)to impair the operation of any computer;
(b)to prevent or hinder access to any program or data held in any computer; [F6or]
(c)to impair the operation of any such program or the reliability of any such data; [F7or
(d)to enable any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) above to be done.]]
(3)This subsection applies if the person is reckless as to whether the act will do any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) [F8to (d)][F8to (c)] of subsection (2) above.
(4)The intention referred to in subsection (2) above, or the recklessness referred to in subsection (3) above, need not relate to—
(a)any particular computer;
(b)any particular program or data; or
(c)a program or data of any particular kind.
(5)In this section—
(a)a reference to doing an act includes a reference to causing an act to be done;
(b)“act” includes a series of acts;
(c)a reference to impairing, preventing or hindering something includes a reference to doing so temporarily.
(6)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to a fine or to both.
Textual Amendments
F5S. 3 substituted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 36, 53 (with s. 38(3)(4)(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2 (the substituting provision being amended for E.W.N.I. (1.10.2008) by 2007 c. 27, ss. 61(3), 94 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a))
F6Word at the end of s. 3(2)(b) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (1.10.2008) by virtue of Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 61(3)(a)(i), 94 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)
F7S. 3(2)(d) and preceding word repealed (E.W.N.I.) (1.10.2008) by virtue of Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 61(3)(a)(ii), 92, 94, Sch. 14 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(i)(viii)
F8S. 3(3): Words "to (c)" substituted for words "to (d)" (E.W.N.I.) (1.10.2008) by virtue of Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 61(3)(b), 94 (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply any article intending it to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under section 1 or 3.
(2)A person is guilty of an offence if he supplies or offers to supply any article believing that it is likely to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under section 1 or 3.
(3)A person is guilty of an offence if he obtains any article with a view to its being supplied for use to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under section 1 or 3.
(4)In this section “article” includes any program or data held in electronic form.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.]
Textual Amendments
F9S. 3A inserted (1.10.2007 for S. and 1.10.2008 otherwise) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 37, 53 (with s. 38(5)(6)); S.S.I. 2007/434, art. 2; S.I. 2008/2503, art. 2(a)