{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-act-1993/section-38",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-act-1993/section-38.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1993/12",
  "legislation_title": "Radioactive Substances Act 1993",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-act-1993",
  "path": "section/38",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "38",
  "heading": "Restriction on prosecutions.",
  "text": "(1) Proceedings in respect of any offence under this Act shall not be instituted in England or Wales except—\n(a) by the Secretary of State,\n(b) by the Environment Agency, or\n(c) by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.\n(2) Proceedings in respect of any offence under this Act shall not be instituted in Northern Ireland except—\n(a) by the head of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, or\n(b) by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 30-46 repealed (S.) (1.9.2018) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/219), reg. 1, sch. 7 para. 1 (with reg. 78, sch. 5 paras. 3, 4, 6 and with transitional provisions and savings (25.11.2021) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1309), arts. 1(1), 3-5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 38 repealed (E.W.) (6.4.2010) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/675), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. 26 para. 11(2)(kk), Sch. 28 (with reg. 1(2), Sch. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 38(1)(b) substituted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 222 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 38(3) repealed (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), s. 87(1), Sch. 13; S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 21(p)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/12/section/38",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:35:14.428372+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."
}