34.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in Article 19(1) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 M1, a Magistrates' Court may hear and determine a complaint relating to an offence under these Regulations if the complaint is made—
(a)before the end of the period of three years beginning with the date of the commission of the offence; and
(b)before the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which evidence which the prosecutor thinks is sufficient to justify the proceedings comes to the prosecutor's knowledge.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)—
(a)a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which such evidence came to the prosecutor's knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and
(b)a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be treated as so signed unless the contrary is proved.
Marginal Citations
M11981 No. 1675 (N.I. 26)