{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-badgers-act-1992/section-12",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-badgers-act-1992/section-12.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1992/51",
  "legislation_title": "Protection of Badgers Act 1992",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-badgers-act-1992",
  "path": "section/12",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "12",
  "heading": "Penalties and forfeiture.",
  "text": "(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 1(1) or (3), 2 or 3 above 2(1)(d), 3(1)(a) to (c) or (e) above or under section 3(2) above a provision mentioned in subsection (1ZA) below (in relation to an act made unlawful by section 3(1)(a) to (c) or (e) above) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six twelve months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale £40,000 or both; and a person guilty of an offence under section 4, 5 (1) or (2) or 10(8) above or 13(7) below is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding that level level 5 on the standard scale.\n(1ZA) The provisions referred to in subsection (1) above are—\n(a) section 2(1)(d) above or section 2(3) above (in relation to an act made unlawful by section 2(1)(d) above); ...\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(1A) A person guilty of an offence under a provision mentioned in subsection (1B) below is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both,\n(b) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine or both.\n(1B) The provisions referred in subsection (1A) above are—\n(a) section 1(3) and (6) (in relation to an act made unlawful by section 1(3)),\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(d) section 4(1) and (2) above.\n(1C) A person guilty of an offence under a provision mentioned in subsection (1D) is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000 or both,\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine or both.\n(1D) The provisions referred to in subsection (1C) are—\n(a) section 1(1) and (6) (in relation to an act made unlawful by section 1(1)),\n(b) section 2(1)(a) to (c) and (3) (in relation to an act made unlawful by section 2(1)(a) to (c)),\n(c) section 3.\n(2) Where an offence was committed in respect of more than one badger the maximum fine which may be imposed under subsection (1) , (1A)(a) or (1C)(a) above shall be determined as if the person convicted had been convicted of a separate offence in respect of each badger.\n(3) A person guilty of an offence under section 1(5) above is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.\n(4) The court by which a person is convicted of an offence under this Act shall order the forfeiture of any badger or badger skin in respect of which the offence was committed and may, if they think fit, order the forfeiture of any weapon or article in respect of or by means of which the offence was committed.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 33(9)(a)(i), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), s. 59(2), Sch. 6 para. 26(9)(a)(i); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 12(1) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(a)(i), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Sum in S. 12(1) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(a)(ii), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 12(1) repealed (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), s. 59(2), Sch. 6 para. 26(9)(a)(ii); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 33(9)(a)(ii), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(a)(iii), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 12(1ZA) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 33(9)(b) , 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 12(1ZA)(b) and preceding word repealed (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(b), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 12(1A) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), s. 59(2), Sch. 6 para. 26(9)(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1A) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 33(9)(c)(i) , 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Word in s. 12(1A)(a) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), s. 33(9)(c)(ii) (A) 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(1A)(a) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), s. 33(9)(c)(ii) (B) 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "S. 12(1B) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 33(9)(d), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "S. 12(1B)(a) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(c)(i), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "S. 12(1B)(b)(c) repealed (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(c)(ii), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "S. 12(1C)(1D) inserted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(d), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 12(2) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 8(2)(e), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/51/section/12",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:35:35.665494+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."
}