Section 156 False statements relating to institutions which are not registered charities
(1)
Where—
(a)
a person solicits money or other property for the benefit of an institution in association with a representation that the institution is a registered charity, and
(b)
the institution is not such a charity,
that person is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(2)
In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that the accused believed on reasonable grounds that the institution was a registered charity.
(3)
In this section “registered charity” means a charity which is for the time being registered in the register of charities kept under section 16.