Regulation 68 Time limit for prosecution of offences
Subject to paragraph (4), in England and Wales an information relating to an offence under regulation 64 (offences) that is triable by a magistrates' court may be so tried if it is laid within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
Subject to paragraph (4), in Scotland—
summary proceedings for an offence under regulation 64 may be commenced before the end of 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate's opinion to justify the proceedings came to the Lord Advocate's knowledge; and
section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 F1 (time limit for certain offences) applies for the purpose of this paragraph as it applies for the purpose of that section.
Subject to paragraph (4), in Northern Ireland summary proceedings for an offence under regulation 64 may be instituted within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
No proceedings may be brought more than three years after the commission of the offence.
For the purposes of this regulation a certificate of the prosecutor (or in Scotland, the Lord Advocate) as to the date on which the evidence referred to paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) came to light, is conclusive evidence.
This regulation has effect subject to paragraph 1(n) of Schedule 6 and paragraph 1(n) of Schedule 7.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Notes on the whole SI
Textual amendments
- F1
- F2
1972 c.68. Section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and by Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7). The enabling powers of section 2(2) were extended by virtue of the amendment of section 1(2) by section 1 of the European Economic Area Act 1993 (c.51).
- F3
Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and amended by Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008.