Regulation 31 Offence of making a false statement in relation to baggage, cargo or stores

(1)

It is an offence for any person without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to make a statement which that person knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly make a statement which is false in a material particular, in answer to a question which—

(a)

relates to any baggage, cargo or stores, whether or not belonging to that person, that is intended for carriage by sea—

(i)

by a United Kingdom ship; or

(ii)

by any other ship to or from the United Kingdom; and

(b)

is put to that person for purposes to which these Regulations apply by any of the persons listed in paragraph (2).

(2)

The persons referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are—

(a)

a constable,

(b)

an officer of the UK Border Agency, an executive agency of the Home Office,

(c)

a port security officer,

(d)

a port facility security officer,

(e)

a directed party,

(f)

a security manager,

or a person acting on behalf of a port security officer, port facility security officer, directed party or security manager.

(3)

A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.