Database of Legislation

267. COMPUTER FRAUD

(1) A person who, with intent to defraud or deceive—
(a) alters, damages, destroys or otherwise manipulates data or
programmes held in or used in connection with a
computer or computer network by adding to, erasing or
otherwise altering the data or programme; or
(b) does any act which causes an unauthorised modification
of the contents of a computer or computer network;
commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to
imprisonment for 15 years.

(2) A modification of the contents of a computer is unauthorised—
(a) if the person who causes it is not himself or herself
entitled to determine whether the modification should be
made; and
(b) if the person does not have the consent of the person who
is entitled to grant consent for the modification.

(3) In this section—
“computer” means any device for storing and processing
information;
“computer network” means the interconnection of 2 or more
computers, whether geographically separated or in close
proximity, or the interconnection of communication
systems with a computer through terminals whether
remote or local;
“modification of the contents of a computer” includes the
alteration of a programme or data held in a computer or
any addition to the contents of a computer of a
programme or data.