Under s8(7) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, what constitutes 'making off without payment'?

The phrase "making off without payment" refers to the act of leaving a venue after obtaining goods or services without making the requisite payment for them. This provision is aimed at preventing individuals from enjoying the benefits of goods or services while deliberately choosing not to fulfill their payment obligations.

In this context, when someone leaves a shop, restaurant, or other establishment without paying for what they received, they are effectively committing an offense under this section of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The law recognizes that this behavior can undermine the integrity of commercial transactions and can lead to significant losses for businesses.

The other options, while related to concepts of fraud or improper conduct, do not specifically address the act of leaving a venue without settling a bill. Refusing to pay for services rendered may involve a dispute or complaint about the quality or nature of the service, but it does not fit the definition of “making off” since it does not necessarily involve leaving without payment at the moment. Accruing false debts through deception pertains to fraudulent activity typically involving manipulation or lies concerning financial obligations. Lastly, misdirection of funds in financial transactions deals with the misallocation or misuse of money in financial dealings, which again does not correlate with simply