14.—(1) Proceedings against any person for an offence under these Regulations may be taken before the appropriate court in the United Kingdom having jurisdiction in the place where that person is for the time being.
(2) In England and Wales an information relating to an offence that is triable by a magistrates’ court may be so tried if it is laid—
(a)at any time within three years after the commission of the offence, and
(b)within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
(3) In Scotland—
(a)summary proceedings for an offence may be commenced—
(i)before the end of twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate’s opinion to justify the proceedings came to the Lord Advocate’s knowledge, and
(ii)not later than three years after the commission of the offence; and
(b)section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995(1) (time limit for certain offences) applies for the purpose of this paragraph as it applies for the purpose of that section.
(4) In Northern Ireland summary proceedings for an offence may be instituted—
(a)at any time within three years after the commission of the offence, and
(b)within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
(5) For the purposes of this regulation a certificate of the prosecutor (or in Scotland, the Lord Advocate) as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to their notice is conclusive evidence.