Section 43 Improper use of public telecommunication system.

United Kingdom

(F11)

A person who—

(a)

sends, by means of a public telecommunication system, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or

(b)

sends by those means, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, a message that he knows to be false or persistently makes use for that purpose of a public telecommunication system,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to F2imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.

(2)

Subsection (1) above does not apply to anything done in the course of providing a F3programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990).

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 43 repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Note 1); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
F2: Words in s. 43(1) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 92(1)(2); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F3: Words substituted by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1), Sch. 20 para. 38(4)

Notes on Part II

Modifications

C1: Pt. II (ss. 5-46) excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 7(4)