Section 14: Criminal proceedings
42.Subsection (1) ensures that an offence arising by virtue of the provisions of this Chapter may be prosecuted in any part of the United Kingdom, regardless of the offshore location at which the offence may have been committed.
43.Subsections (3) and (4) ensure that prosecutions for such offences alleged to have been committed in a controlled place (i.e. within the territorial sea or a Gas Importation and Storage Zone) may be brought only by the Secretary of State (or by a person authorised by the Secretary of State), or by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland). Such provision is unnecessary in relation to Scotland as there all prosecutions are brought by or on behalf of the Lord Advocate. Subsection (5) provides that the same restrictions will apply to any prosecution for an offence created by regulations under section 13 except that references to a person authorised by the Secretary of State are to be read as references to an inspector.