Telecommunications Act 1984

75 Alteration of penalties and mode of trial for certain offences under the 1949 Act

(1) The following offences under the 1949 Act shall be triable on indictment as well as summarily, that is to say—

(a) any offence under section 5(a) of that Act (sending false or misleading messages likely to prejudice the efficiency of any safety of life service, etc.); and

(b) any offence under section 13 of that Act (using any apparatus for the purpose of interfering with wireless telegraphy).

(2) Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of—

(a) incorporating the amendment made by subsection (1) above and certain other amendments made as respects Great Britain by the [1982 c. 48.] Criminal Justice Act 1982 in the text of section 14 of the 1949 Act (which gives the penalties for offences under that Act) as that section has effect both in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland ; and

(b) making certain other amendments of that section as it so has effect;

and for other connected purposes.

(3) Nothing in this section or in any provision of Schedule 3 to this Act—

(a) shall affect the mode of trial in proceedings for an offence commenced before the date on which this section comes into force; or

(b) shall render a person liable in respect of an offence committed before that date to a punishment more severe than the punishment applicable in the case of that offence immediately before that date ;

but except as provided above in this subsection the provisions of section 14 of the 1949 Act, as amended by Schedule 3 to this Act and by section 82 below, shall have effect in relation to any conviction on or after that date of an offence under that Act.