(1)If a report is published or included in a relevant programme in contravention of section 52A above, each of the following persons is guilty of an offence—
(a)in the case of a publication of a written report as part of a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, editor or publisher of the newspaper or periodical;
(b)in the case of a publication of a written report otherwise than as part of a newspaper or periodical, the person who publishes it;
(c)in the case of the inclusion of a report in a relevant programme, any body corporate which is engaged in providing the service in which the programme is included and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of the editor of a newspaper.
(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(3)Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not, in England and Wales, be instituted otherwise than by or with the consent of the Attorney General.
(4)Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not, in Northern Ireland, be instituted otherwise than by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(5)Subsection (11) of section 52A above applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 52A, 52B inserted (18.6.2012 for E.W.S. except for the insertion of s. 52B(4)) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 19(1); S.I. 2012/1320, art. 3(d)(iii)