Home / United Kingdom (England & Wales) / Malicious and abusive communications
Malicious and abusive communicationsPossibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Summary — MCA 1988 s. 1 sending letters/articles/electronic communications to cause distress or anxietyPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 12 months
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in s. 1(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.
12 months reads as 6 months for offences committed before CJA 2003 s. 154(1) commenced.
On indictment — MCA 1988 s. 1Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in s. 1(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.
Raised from 6 months to 2 years by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 s. 32.
Summary only — Communications Act 2003 s. 127 improper use of public electronic communications networkPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in clause retrieved)
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.
Clause not retrieved from legislation.gov.uk in this pass — needs re-check.
PARTIAL: MCA 1988 s. 1 penalties verified from legislation.gov.uk (as substituted by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 s. 32). Comms Act 2003 s. 127 figure (6 months summary) is per the House of Lords Library (Parliament) — the s. 127 clause was not retrieved from legislation.gov.uk in this pass.