The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Byelaws 2016

Prohibition on entry – protected land areas, protected sea area and inner sea area

3.—(1) A person commits an offence if that person—

(a) enters a protected land area, the inner sea area or the protected sea area;

(b) causes anything to enter such an area so as to obstruct the use of that area;

(c) flies or causes anything to fly over such an area at a height of less than 500 feet;

(d) causes any device used for fishing purposes to enter the inner sea area.

(2) A person in charge of a vessel commits an offence if that person fails to take reasonable measures to prevent a person on board that vessel committing an offence under byelaw 3(1)(b) or 3(1)(c) in relation to the inner sea area or the protected sea area or under byelaw 3(1)(d).

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under byelaw 3(1)(a) in relation to the inner sea area or the protected sea area that the person—

(a) entered the area whilst on board a vessel; and

(b) was not in charge of the vessel whilst it was in that area.

(4) It is a defence for a person in charge of a vessel who is charged with an offence under byelaw 3(1)(a) in relation to the inner sea area or the protected sea area that the person entered the area—

(a) for the purpose of giving assistance to a vessel or person in distress; or

(b) due to the exigencies of navigation.