A person who fails to comply with a general direction or a special direction is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) it is a defence for the person charged to prove that they took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

In addition to the defence in paragraph (2), in any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) related to failure to comply with a special direction given under article 7(1)(h), it is a defence for the person charged to prove that they had reasonable excuse for failing to comply with that special direction.