(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a person guilty of an offence under any of the preceding provisions of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
(2)Where an offence under any of the preceding provisions of this Act was committed in respect of more than one deer the maximum fine which may be imposed under subsection (1) above shall be determined as if the person convicted had been convicted of a separate offence in respect of each deer.
[F1(3)Proceedings for an offence under this Act may be brought within the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge.
(4)But subsection (3) does not authorise the commencement of proceedings for an offence more than 2 years after the date on which the offence was committed.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (3), a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in his opinion to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
(6)A certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 9(3)-(6) inserted (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), s. 107, Sch. 6 para. 5; S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2