Article 57 Legal proceedingsF1

(1)

Any person authorised by the DepartmentF2. . . in that behalf may conduct any proceedings under the benefit Acts before a magistrates' court although not a barrister or solicitor.

(2)

Notwithstanding anything in any statutory provision—

(a)

proceedings for an offence under the benefit Acts. . . may be begun at any time within the period of three months from the date on which evidence, sufficient in the opinion of the Department to justify a prosecution for the offence, comes to its knowledge or within a period of twelve months from the commission of the offence, whichever period last expires;. . .

Sub.‐para. (b) rep. by 1992 c. 9

(3)

For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a F3)

a certificate purporting to be signed by the Head or a secretary, under secretary or assistant secretary of the Department. . . as to the date on which such evidence as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of that paragraph came to its knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that date;. . .

Sub‐para. (b) rep. by 1992 c. 9

Para. (3A) rep. by 1992 c. 9
Paras. (4), (5) rep. by 1989 NI 12

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: mod. (exc. (2)(b),(3)(b)) by SR 1988/137
F2: 1992 c. 9
F3: mod. by SR 1988/137

Notes on the whole Order

Textual amendments

F1: functions transf. by SR 1999/481
F2: mod. by SR 1989/427