7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, an applicant shall not be entitled to compensation unless he or some other person having an estate or interest in the property to which the applicant's claim to such compensation relates has, within ten days from the day on which the act giving rise to that claim was committed, served or caused to be served a preliminary notice of intention to apply for such compensation on—
(a)the Secretary of State;
(b)the divisional commander of police for the police division in which the damage or removal giving rise to that claim or the greater part of that damage or removal occurred; and
(c)such other persons, if any, as may be prescribed.
(2) A preliminary notice shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall fully and truthfully disclose the following facts, in so far as they are within the knowledge and belief of the person by or on behalf of whom the notice is served, that is to say—
(a)the place, date and time at which the act giving rise to the claim to compensation was committed; and
(b)the nature of the property damaged or removed.
(3) Subject to Article 15(1), the Secretary of State may, upon a request being submitted to him in writing within six months of the commission of the act giving rise to the claim for compensation, extend the period within which a preliminary notice may be served in respect of that claim.