Abstracting electricity

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Abstracting electricity is a statutory offence in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

England and Wales

This offence is created by section 13 of the Theft Act 1968:

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A person who dishonestly uses without due authority, or dishonestly causes to be wasted or diverted, any electricity shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.[1]

This section replaces section 10 of the Larceny Act 1916.

The following cases are relevant:

  • R v Hoar and Hoar [1982] Crim LR 606
  • Collins and Fox v Chief Constable of Merseyside [1988] Crim LR 247, DC
  • R v McCreadie and Tume, 96 Cr App R 143, CA

Visiting forces

This offence is an offence against property for the purposes of section 3 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.[2]

Mode of trial and sentence

This offence is triable either way.[3] A person guilty of this offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years,[4] or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, or to both.[5]

History

Section 10 of the Larceny Act 1916 provided:

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Every person who maliciously or fraudulently abstracts, causes to be wasted or diverted, consumes or uses any electricity shall be guilty of felony, and on conviction thereof liable to be punished as in the case of simple larceny.

Northern Ireland

This offence is created by section 13 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, which is identical to section 13 of the Theft Act 1968. It replaces section 10 of the Larceny Act 1916.

Visiting forces

This offence is an offence against property for the purposes of section 3 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.[6]

Mode of trial

This offence is an indictable offence which may be tried summarily upon consent of the accused.[7] See hybrid offence.

Sentence

A person guilty of this offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years,[8] or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, or to both.[9]

Republic of Ireland

This offence is created by section 15(2)(a) of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995. That section replaces section 10 of the Larceny Act 1916, which was repealed by section 28 of, and the Schedule to, that Act.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/13
  2. ↑ The Visiting Forces Act 1952, section 3(6) and Schedule, paragraph 3(g) (as inserted by the Theft Act 1968, Schedule 2, Part III)
  3. ↑ The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, section 17(1) and Schedule 1, paragraph 28
  4. ↑ The Theft Act 1968, section 13
  5. ↑ The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, section 32(1)
  6. ↑ The Visiting Forces Act 1952, section 3(6) and Schedule, paragraph 3(g) (as inserted by the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, Schedule 3, Part III)
  7. ↑ The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)), article 45 and paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 (as substituted by 3(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/1883 (N.I. 15)
  8. ↑ The Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, section 13
  9. ↑ The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I.26)), article 46(4)
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