16.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (a) or (b) of regulation 13 is liable—
(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or to both.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (c) of regulation 13[F1, or regulation 14,] is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5,000.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the reference to £5,000 in relation to a fine in Northern Ireland shall be read as meaning the statutory maximum.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2), the reference to £5,000 in relation to a fine in Scotland or Northern Ireland shall be read as meaning level 5 on the standard scale.
(5) Notwithstanding section 127 of the Magistrates Court Act 1980 M1 (limitation of time) or article 19 of the Magistrates Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 M2 (time within which complaint charging offence must be made to give jurisdiction), if the relevant condition in paragraph (6) is met in respect of an offence under regulation 13—
(a)a magistrates' court in England and Wales, may try an information;
(b)a magistrates' court in Northern Ireland, may try a complaint.
(6) The condition is that, within three years of the date of the offence or within one year from the discovery of the offence by the prosecutor, whichever is earlier—
(a)in the case of England and Wales, the information is laid;
(b)in the case of Northern Ireland, the complaint is made.
(7) In Scotland, summary proceedings for an offence under regulation 13 may be commenced within three years of the date of the offence or within one year of the discovery of the offence by the prosecutor, whichever is earlier.
(8) For the purposes of paragraph (7), section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 M3 will apply as it applies for the purposes of that section.
(9) For the purposes of this regulation—
(a)a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which the prosecutor first knew of evidence sufficient to justify the proceedings is conclusive evidence of that fact; and
(b)a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed is deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 16(2) inserted (11.10.2015) by The Nagoya Protocol (Compliance) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1691), regs. 1, 2
Marginal Citations