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ForgeryVerified against official source
This range was checked against the official legal text. Last verified: 2026-10-19.
Statutory range
Summary — any Part I offence
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
- Fine
- Statutory maximum (unlimited for offences committed on/after 12 Mar 2015)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
On indictment — ss. 1–4, 5(1), 5(3)
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 6(2)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
Making, copying or using a false instrument; custody/control of specified false instruments.
On indictment — s. 5(2), 5(4)
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 6(4)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
Custody/control of certain false instruments and related machines/materials.
s. 6(2) states imprisonment only on indictment; no fine is stated there. Summary fine is the statutory maximum.