Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Civil Partnership: England and Wales.Introduction Chapter 6 – Miscellaneous Section 80: False statements etc. with reference to civil partnerships
163.Subsection (1) makes it an offence knowingly to make certain false statements or representations. For example, a person who signs a declaration under section 8 that he is free to form a civil partnership, knowing that the declaration is false, commits an offence. A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment, for a term not exceeding 7 years, or to a fine (or both) and on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum. These provisions are similar to those in section 3(1) of the Perjury Act 1911 under which it is an offence to make false statements or representations with reference to marriage. The effect of subsection (4) is that all the other relevant provisions in the Perjury Act 1911 will apply, without having to replicate them in the Civil Partnership Act. So, for example, section 7(1) of the Perjury Act, which applies to people who aid, abet etc offences under that Act, would apply to a person who helps another person to commit an offence under section 80.