Section 188 — Equality Act 2010: Forgery, etc.

Forgery, etc. 188 1 In this section “ relevant document ” means—

a an exemption certificate issued under section 166, 169 or 171;

b a notice of a kind mentioned in section 166(3)(b), 169(4)(b) or 171(4)(b);

c an accessibility certificate (see section 176);

d an approval certificate (see section 177).

2 A person commits an offence if, with intent to deceive, the person—

a forges, alters or uses a relevant document;

b lends a relevant document to another person;

c allows a relevant document to be used by another person;

d makes or has possession of a document which closely resembles a relevant document.

3 A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable—

a on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

b on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine or to both.

4 A person commits an offence by knowingly making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining an accessibility certificate or an approval certificate.

5 A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.