Counterfeiting Currency (Section 14 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981)

Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, s.14

Either way
10 years' custody

Definition

It is an offence for a person to make a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin, intending that he or another shall pass or tender it as genuine. (Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, s.14(1)) It is an offence for a person to make a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin without lawful authority or excuse. (Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, s.14(2))

Points to prove

A person
makes a counterfeit
of a currency note or of a protected coin
intending that he or another shall pass or tender it as genuine (s.14(1))
or without lawful authority or excuse (s.14(2))

Counterfeiting Currency is an offence under s.14 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. It is an offence for a person to make a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin, intending that he or another shall pass or tender it as genuine (s.14(1)), and it is an offence for a person to make a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin without lawful authority or excuse (s.14(2)). Maximum sentence for the s.14(1) offence: on conviction on indictment, a fine, imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or both; on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both (s.22(1) and (2)). Maximum sentence for the s.14(2) offence: on conviction on indictment, a fine, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both; on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both (s.22(3) and (4)).

In practice

This is an either-way offence: it may be tried at the magistrates' court or the Crown Court. Mode of trial depends on the seriousness and the defendant's election. The suspect must be cautioned in accordance with Code C PACE 1984 before any questions about the offence are put to them. Interviews must be audio-recorded (Code E) or, for indictable offences, may be visually recorded (Code F).

Last updated 20 October 2026. Reviewed 20 October 2026

Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum sentence: 10 years' custody
Act and section: Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, s.14
Power of arrest: A constable may arrest without a warrant anyone who is about to commit an offence, anyone who is in the act of committing an offence, anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be about to commit an offence and anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing an offence (s.24(1)); if a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence has been committed, he may arrest without a warrant anyone whom he has reasonable grounds to suspect of being guilty of it (s.24(2)); if an offence has been committed, he may arrest without a warrant anyone who is guilty of the offence or whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it (s.24(3)). The power is exercisable only if the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that for any of the reasons mentioned in s.24(5) it is necessary to arrest the person in question (s.24(4)) (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.24).
Search on arrest: Where a person has been arrested at a place other than a police station, a constable may search the arrested person for anything which he might use to assist him to escape from lawful custody or which might be evidence relating to an offence, and, the offence being an indictable offence, may enter and search any premises in which he was when arrested or immediately before he was arrested for evidence relating to the offence (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.32(2)). A constable may enter and search any premises occupied or controlled by a person who is under arrest for an indictable offence if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is on the premises evidence, other than items subject to legal privilege, that relates to that offence or to some other indictable offence which is connected with or similar to that offence; the power may not be exercised unless an officer of the rank of inspector or above has authorised it in writing, save where the presence of the person at a place other than a police station is necessary for the effective investigation of the offence (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.18(1), (4), (5) and (5A)).
Detention clock: A person shall not be kept in police detention for more than 24 hours after the relevant time without being charged (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.41(1)). The offence is an indictable offence, the Interpretation Act 1978 Schedule 1 defining that term to include an offence triable either way, so a police officer of the rank of superintendent or above who is responsible for the police station may authorise detention for a period expiring at or before 36 hours after the relevant time where detention without charge is necessary to secure or preserve evidence relating to the offence or to obtain such evidence by questioning and the investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously (s.42(1)); a magistrates' court may issue a warrant of further detention for a period not longer than 36 hours (s.43(1) and (12)) and may extend it, each extension being not longer than 36 hours and ending not later than 96 hours after the relevant time (s.44(1) and (3)).
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/45/section/14