1Application of Act

(1)

Sections 2 to 4 apply where—

(a)

a person who is mentioned in subsection (3) (referred to in this Act as “the prosecutor”) has brought proceedings for an offence under section 1 of the M1Protection of Animals Act 1911 (referred to in this Act as “the 1911 Act”) against the owner of the animals to which the offence relates; and

(b)

the proceedings have not been discontinued or otherwise disposed of.

(2)

But those sections only apply in relation to an animal which the owner keeps or has kept for commercial purposes.

(3)

The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a)

the Director of Public Prosecutions;

(b)

a Crown Prosecutor;

(c)

a government department;

(d)

a local authority;

(e)

in relation to a prosecution in England, a person who, at the request of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has entered into a written agreement under which he may perform the functions conferred on a prosecutor by virtue of this Act;

(f)

in relation to a prosecution in Wales, a person who, at the request of the National Assembly for Wales, has entered into a written agreement under which he may perform the functions conferred on a prosecutor by virtue of this Act.