Part II Proscribed Organisations
Offences
11 Membership.
1
A person commits an offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation.
2
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove—
a
that the organisation was not proscribed on the last (or only) occasion on which he became a member or began to profess to be a member, and
b
that he has not taken part in the activities of the organisation at any time while it was proscribed.
3
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, to a fine or to both, or
b
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
4
In subsection (2) “proscribed” means proscribed for the purposes of any of the following—
a
this Act;
b
the M1Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996;
c
the M2Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991;
d
the M3Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989;
e
the M4Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984;
f
the M5Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978;
g
the M6Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976;
h
the M7Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974;
i
the M8Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973.
12 Support.
1
A person commits an offence if—
a
he invites support for a proscribed organisation, and
b
the support is not, or is not restricted to, the provision of money or other property (within the meaning of section 15).
2
A person commits an offence if he arranges, manages or assists in arranging or managing a meeting which he knows is—
a
to support a proscribed organisation,
b
to further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or
c
to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation.
3
A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting and the purpose of his address is to encourage support for a proscribed organisation or to further its activities.
4
Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2)(c) in respect of a private meeting it is a defence for him to prove that he had no reasonable cause to believe that the address mentioned in subsection (2)(c) would support a proscribed organisation or further its activities.
5
In subsections (2) to (4)—
a
“meeting” means a meeting of three or more persons, whether or not the public are admitted, and
b
a meeting is private if the public are not admitted.
6
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, to a fine or to both, or
b
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
13 Uniform.
1
A person in a public place commits an offence if he—
a
wears an item of clothing, or
b
wears, carries or displays an article,
in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.
2
A constable in Scotland may arrest a person without a warrant if he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is guilty of an offence under this section.
3
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to—
a
imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months,
b
a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or
c
both.