Part 3Enforcement of consumer protection law

Chapter 3Consumer protection orders and undertakings

Jurisdiction etc

175Evidence

(1)

Proceedings under this Chapter are civil proceedings for the purposes of—

(a)

section 11 of the Civil Evidence Act 1968 (convictions admissible as evidence in civil proceedings);

(b)

section 10 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1968 (corresponding provision in Scotland);

(c)

section 7 of the Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (c.36 (N.I.)) (corresponding provision in Northern Ireland).

(2)

In proceedings under this Chapter any finding by a court in civil proceedings that a person has engaged in infringing conduct—

(a)

is admissible as evidence that the conduct has occurred;

(b)

unless the contrary is proved, is sufficient evidence that the conduct has occurred.

(3)

But subsection (2) does not apply to any finding—

(a)

which has been reversed on appeal;

(b)

which has been varied on appeal so as to negate it.

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (2), a person engages in “infringing conduct” if—

(a)

the person has engaged in a commercial practice that constitutes a relevant infringement, or

(b)

the person is an accessory to such a practice.