The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012

[F1Provision of false informationE+W

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum

47.—(1) A person who for any purpose connected with the business voting register provides to a business registration officer any false information is guilty of an offence.

(2) In relation to a signature, “false information” for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) means a signature which—

(a)is not the usual signature of; or

(b)was written by a person other than,

the person whose signature it purports to be.

(3) A person does not commit an offence under sub-paragraph (1) if he did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information was false.

(4) Where sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to the defence under sub-paragraph (3), the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this paragraph shall be liable on summary conviction to—

(a)imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks;

(b)a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; or

(c)both.

(6) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the reference in paragraph (5)(a) to 51 weeks must be taken as a reference to six months.]

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