# The Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, Article 57: Legal proceedings


(1) Any person authorised by the Department. . . 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 ) 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

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1986/1888/article/57 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-northern-ireland-order-1986/article-57
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.