Last amended by Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 in 1975. Inserted s.1A, creating an offence of making a false unsworn statement for the purposes of evidence requested by a court in another jurisdiction.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Perjury Act 1911 codifies the offence of perjury and a range of related offences of making false statements. The core offence (s.1) is committed where a person lawfully sworn as a witness or interpreter in a judicial proceeding wilfully makes a statement, material to that proceeding, which they know to be false or do not believe to be true; it carries up to seven years' imprisonment. The Act extends to false statements made on oath outside judicial proceedings (s.2), false statements relating to marriage (s.3) and to births and deaths (s.4), and false statutory declarations and other unsworn false statements (s.5). It also penalises aiding, abetting, and suborning perjury (s.7), and requires corroboration — a person cannot be convicted solely on the evidence of one witness as to the falsity of the statement (s.13).
Key Points
- Perjury — wilfully making a false material statement on oath in a judicial proceeding (s.1); up to 7 years' imprisonment
- False statements on oath made otherwise than in a judicial proceeding (s.2)
- False statements relating to marriage (s.3) and to births or deaths (s.4)
- False statutory declarations and other false statements without oath (s.5)
- Aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring, or suborning perjury (s.7)
- Corroboration required — no conviction on the uncorroborated evidence of a single witness as to falsity (s.13)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
1975 — Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975
Inserted s.1A, creating an offence of making a false unsworn statement for the purposes of evidence requested by a court in another jurisdiction.