{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-scotland-act-1995/section-255A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-scotland-act-1995/section-255A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1995/46",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-scotland-act-1995",
  "path": "section/255A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "255A",
  "heading": "Proof of age.",
  "text": "Where the age of any person is specified in an indictment or a complaint, it shall, unless challenged—\n(a) in the case of proceedings on indictment by giving notice of a preliminary objection in accordance with section 71(2) or 72(6)(b)(i) of this Act; or\n(b) in summary proceedings—\n(i) by preliminary objection before the plea of the accused is recorded; or\n(ii) by objection at such later time as the court may in special circumstances allow,\nbe held as admitted.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 255A and preceding cross-heading inserted (1.8.1997) by 1997 c. 48, s. 27; S.I. 1997/1712, art. 3, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 4, 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 255A and preceding cross-heading inserted (1.8.1997) by 1997 c. 48, s. 27; S.I. 1997/1712, art. 3, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 4, 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 255A(a) substituted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 39; S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with savings in arts. 3-5)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/46/section/255A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-05T03:43:46.035735+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}