False statement offence
16.—(1) It is an offence for a person knowingly or recklessly—
(a)to deliver or cause to be delivered to the registrar, for the purposes of these Regulations, a document, or
(b)to make to the registrar, for any such purpose, a statement,
that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
(2) Paragraph (3) applies if section 85(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012(1) is in force on the day these Regulations are made.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine (or both);
(b)on summary conviction—
(i)in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine (or both);
(ii)in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).
(4) Paragraph (5) applies if section 85(2) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 is not in force on the day these Regulations are made.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine (or both);
(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).
(6) No proceedings are to be brought under this regulation—
(a)in England and Wales except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(b)in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.