{"id":7277,"date":"2026-10-06T21:51:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T21:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/document-fraud-law-2\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T21:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T21:53:56","slug":"document-fraud-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/document-fraud-law\/","title":{"rendered":"UK law on fake documents: the main offences and their penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav class=\"crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><a href=\"\/uk\/\">Home<\/a> \u203a UK law on fake documents<\/nav>\n<p><span class=\"kicker\">Reference<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>UK law on fake documents: the main offences and their penalties<\/h1>\n<div class=\"answer\"><strong>Short answer:<\/strong> Several Acts cover false documents in the UK. The Identity Documents Act 2010 covers false identity documents, including a UK driving licence. The Fraud Act 2006 covers false representation and supplying articles for fraud. The Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 covers false instruments such as certificates. A maximum penalty is not a usual sentence.<\/div>\n<p class=\"meta\">Last reviewed: <time datetime=\"2026-10-04\">2026-10-04<\/time> \u00b7 By <a href=\"\/uk\/authors\/\">Mark Dent<\/a><\/p>\n<nav class=\"toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Identity Documents Act 2010<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">Fraud Act 2006<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Other offences cited in our guides<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Where to read next<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>This page collects the offences cited across our guides, so that each guide does not repeat them. Penalties are the maximums as published on legislation.gov.uk and were last checked on 4 October 2026. Which offence applies to a given act is decided on the facts of the case, and this page is not legal advice.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"s1\">Identity Documents Act 2010<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Section<\/th>\n<th>What it covers<\/th>\n<th>Maximum penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 4<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Having a false, improperly obtained or another person&rsquo;s identity document with an improper intention<\/td>\n<td>10 years, or a fine, or both<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/6\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 6<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Having such a document without reasonable excuse<\/td>\n<td>2 years, or a fine, or both<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 7<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Defines an identity document; includes a licence to drive granted under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988<\/td>\n<td>Definition only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"s2\">Fraud Act 2006<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Section<\/th>\n<th>What it covers<\/th>\n<th>Maximum penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/35\/section\/2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 2<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Dishonestly making a false representation to gain or cause loss<\/td>\n<td>10 years on indictment (section 1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/35\/section\/6\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 6<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Possessing articles for use in fraud<\/td>\n<td>5 years on indictment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/35\/section\/7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 7<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Making, adapting or supplying articles for fraud<\/td>\n<td>10 years on indictment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"s3\">Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Section<\/th>\n<th>What it covers<\/th>\n<th>Maximum penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1981\/45\/section\/1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 1<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Forgery: making a false instrument intending it to be accepted as genuine<\/td>\n<td>See section 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1981\/45\/section\/3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 3<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Using a false instrument knowing or believing it false<\/td>\n<td>See section 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1981\/45\/section\/5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 5<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Custody or control of certain false instruments, including certified copies of birth, marriage and death register entries<\/td>\n<td>See section 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1981\/45\/section\/6\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Section 6<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Penalties<\/td>\n<td>Up to 10 years on indictment for the most serious offences; lower for others; fine or up to 6 months on summary conviction, as printed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The figure of ten years applies to the most serious offences in the Act, not to every act involving a false document.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"s4\">Other offences cited in our guides<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Law<\/th>\n<th>What it covers<\/th>\n<th>Maximum penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1971\/77\/section\/24A\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Immigration Act 1971, section 24A<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Deception to obtain leave to enter or remain<\/td>\n<td>2 years on indictment; 6 months on summary conviction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1983\/54\/section\/49\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Medical Act 1983, section 49<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Falsely pretending to be a registered doctor<\/td>\n<td>Fine on summary conviction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2001\/12\/section\/5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Private Security Industry Act 2001, section 5<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Using an unlicensed security operative<\/td>\n<td>5 years on indictment; 6 months on summary conviction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"s5\">Where to read next<\/h2>\n<p>For how these apply to particular documents, see <a href=\"\/uk\/buy-a-driving-licence\/\">buying a driving licence<\/a>, <a href=\"\/uk\/buying-fake-passport\/\">fake passports<\/a> and <a href=\"\/uk\/fake-driving-licence\/\">fake driving licences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>Is having a fake driving licence a crime in the UK?<\/summary>\n<p>It can be. A UK driving licence is an identity document under section 7 of the Identity Documents Act 2010, and possession without reasonable excuse can carry up to two years.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What is the maximum penalty for forgery?<\/summary>\n<p>The Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 provides up to ten years on indictment for the most serious offences. Lower maximums apply to others.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is the maximum penalty the sentence people usually get?<\/summary>\n<p>No. A maximum is the upper limit set by Parliament. Sentences depend on the facts and the court.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"related\">\n<h2>Keep reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/buy-a-driving-licence\/\">Can you buy a driving licence in the UK?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/buying-fake-passport\/\">Fake passports for sale<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-driving-licence\/\">Fake driving licences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/using-a-fake-degree-legal-consequences\/\">Using a fake degree<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-nurse-consequences\/\">Fake nurses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-ielts-certificate\/\">Fake IELTS certificates<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-marriage-certificate\/\">Fake marriage certificates<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-cscs-card\/\">Fake CSCS cards<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/cloned-sia-licence\/\">Cloned SIA licences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/case-log\/\">Case log: prosecutions and warnings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sources\">\n<h2>Sources and official links<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/4\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Identity Documents Act 2010, section 4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/6\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Identity Documents Act 2010, section 6<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2010\/40\/section\/7\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Identity Documents Act 2010, section 7 (definition of identity document)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/35\/contents\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Fraud Act 2006 on legislation.gov.uk<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1981\/45\/contents\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 on legislation.gov.uk<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author\"><strong>About the author<\/strong><br \/>Written by <a href=\"\/uk\/authors\/\">Mark Dent<\/a> from official GOV.UK guidance, UK legislation and public reporting. We do not sell, issue or arrange any licence or document, and we are not part of DVLA, DVSA or any government body. See our <a href=\"\/uk\/editorial-policy\/\">editorial policy<\/a> or <a href=\"\/uk\/contact\/\">report a mistake<\/a>.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \u203a UK law on fake documents Reference UK law on fake documents: the main offences and their penalties Short answer: Several Acts cover false documents in the UK. The Identity Documents Act 2010 covers false identity documents, including a UK driving licence. The Fraud Act 2006 covers false representation and supplying articles for fraud. 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