13 Proceedings
1 Proceedings against any person for an offence may be taken before the appropriate court in the United Kingdom having jurisdiction in the place where that person is for the time being.
2 In England and Wales, summary proceedings for an offence may be tried by a magistrates' court if any information is laid—
(a) before the end of twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge, but
(b) not later than three years from the commission of the offence.
3 In Scotland—
(a) summary proceedings for an offence may be commenced—
(i) before the end of twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate’s opinion to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge, but
(ii) not later than three years from the commission of the offence; and
(b) section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (time limit for certain offences) applies for the purpose of this paragraph as it applies for the purpose of that section.
1995 c. 46.
4 In Northern Ireland, summary proceedings for an offence may be instituted—
(a) before the end of twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge, but
(b) not later than three years from the commission of the offence.
5 For the purposes of this article—
(a) a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor or the Lord Advocate as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to in paragraphs (2) to (4) came to his knowledge is conclusive evidence of that fact, and
(b) a certificate purporting to be so signed is presumed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
6 In Scotland, where a constable reasonably believes that a person has committed or is committing an offence, he may arrest that person without a warrant.
7 In Northern Ireland, article 26 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (arrest without warrant for arrestable offences) applies to an offence which is not an arrestable offence by virtue of the term of imprisonment for which a person may be sentenced in respect of it, as if it were mentioned in paragraph (2) of that article.
S.I.1989/1341 (N.I. 12), to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.
8 No proceedings for an offence, other than for a summary offence, may be instituted in England, Wales or Northern Ireland except with the consent of the Treasury or the Attorney General or, as the case may be, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
9 Irrespective of whether such consent has been given, paragraph (8) does not prevent—
(a) the arrest of any person in respect of an offence, or
(b) the remand in custody or on bail of any person charged with an offence.
10 In this article, “offence” means an offence under this Order.