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Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

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Changes over time for: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (without Schedules)

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Version Superseded: 02/02/2006

Status:

Point in time view as at 07/10/2005.

Changes to legislation:

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Extent Information

E1Act (except s. 16 which applies to England and Wales) applies to Scotland only see s. 137(9).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Act excluded (19. 12. 1991) by City of Edinburgh District Council Order Confirmation Act (c. xix), ss. 1, 12(2), Sch. Pt. V

Commencement Information

I1Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 137(2); Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1985 see S.I. 1983/201 as amended by S.I. 1984/573 and 744.

Part IS Licensing—General Provisions

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2Pt. 1 modified (3.6.1991) by S.I. 1991/1253, art. 3(2), Sch. (which S.I. was revoked (7.6.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/177, art. 9)

C3Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (7.6.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/177, art. 4, Sch. (as amended (1.10.2003) by S.S.I. 2003/463, art. 6)

1 Application of Parts I and II of this Act.S

This Part of this Act shall have effect with respect to the licensing of the activities for which licences are required under Part II of this Act.

2 Licensing authorities.S

(1)For the administration of licensing in relation to the activities in connection with which licences are required under Part II of this Act there shall be a licensing authority for [F1the area of each local authority].

(2)The licensing authority shall be the [F2local authority]within whose area the activity is, or is to be, carried on.

(3)Notwithstanding subsection (2) above, a [F2local authority]shall not be exempt from any requirement to have a licence or any other obligation under this Part or Part II of this Act and a licensing authority shall have power to entertain and dispose of an application by a [local authority] for a licence or in respect of a licence held by them.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 2(1) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(2)(a); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F2Words in s. 2(2)(3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(2)(b); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

3 Discharge of functions of licensing authorities.S

(1)For the purpose of the discharge of their functions under this Part of this Act, every licensing authority shall consider, within 3 months of its having been made to them under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act, each application so made and, subject to the following provisions of this section, reach a final decision on it within 6 months.

(2)On summary application by the licensing authority within the 6 month period referred to in subsection (1) above, the sheriff may, if it appears to him that there is good reason to do so, extend that period as he thinks fit.

(3)The applicant shall be entitled to be a party to a summary application under subsection (2) above.

(4)Where the licensing authority have failed to reach a final decision on the application before the expiry of—

(a)the 6 month period referred to in subsection (1) above, or

(b)such further period as the sheriff may have specified on application under subsection (2) above,

the licence applied for shall be deemed to have been granted or, as the case may be, renewed unconditionally on the date of such expiry and shall remain in force for one year, but this subsection is without prejudice to the powers of revocation under section 7(6)(a) of this Act, of variation under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to this Act and of suspension under paragraphs 11 and 12 of that Schedule and to the provisions of paragraph 8(5) of that Schedule.

(5)The licensing authority shall make out and deliver the licence to the applicant to whom it has been deemed to have been granted under subsection (4) above.

4 Further provisions as to licensing.S

Schedule 1 to this Act (which contains further provisions as to licensing and regulation in relation to the activities in connection with which licences are required under Part II of this Act) shall have effect.

5 Rights of entry and inspection.S

(1)Without prejudice to any other provision of this Act, an authorised officer of the licensing authority or the [F3appropriate relevant authority] or a constable may, for the purposes specified in subsection (2) below, at any reasonable time—

(a)enter and inspect any premises, vehicle or vessel used or to be used for an activity in relation to which a licence is in force or has been applied for under this Act;

(b)require production of and inspect any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade which is or is to be kept or used in connection with any such activity;

(c)require production of and inspect any records or other documents required by or under this Part or Part II of this Act to be kept by the holder of the licence and take copies of or extracts from any such record or document.

(2)The purposes referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a)where a licence is in force—

(i)seeing whether the terms of the licence are being complied with and, if they are not, obtaining information in respect of such non-compliance;

(ii)obtaining information relevant to the question whether the terms of the licence should be varied under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to this Act or whether the licence should be renewed or, under paragraph 11 or 12 of that Schedule, suspended; or

(b)where the grant of a licence has been applied for, obtaining information relevant to the question whether the application should be granted.

(3)Any person who—

(a)being a person for the time being in charge of any premises, vehicle or vessel, fails without reasonable excuse to permit a constable or an authorised officer of a licensing authority or [F4an employee of an appropriate relevant authority] who, in pursuance of subsection (1) above, demands to do so to enter or inspect the premises, vehicle or vessel or obstructs the entry thereto of a constable or such an officer, in pursuance of that subsection;

(b)being a person in respect of whom powers are exercised under subsection (1) above, on being required under that subsection to do so by a constable or an authorised officer of the licensing authority or [F5an employee of the appropriate relevant authority] , fails without reasonable excuse to produce any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade or to permit a constable or such an officer, in pursuance of that subsection, to inspect any equipment, plant, apparatus or stock-in-trade;

(c)being a holder of a licence, on being required by a constable or an authorised officer of the licensing authority or [F5an employee of the appropriate relevant authority] , in pursuance of subsection (1) above, to produce any records or other document required by or under this Part or Part II of this Act to be kept by the holder of a licence, fails without reasonable excuse to produce them;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F6level 3 on the standard scale].

(4)An authorised officer of a licensing authority or a constable may require any person who the officer or constable has reasonable ground to believe is carrying on an activity which requires to be licensed to produce his licence within 5 days of being required to do so.

(5)Any person who, having been required under subsection (4) above to produce a licence, fails without reasonable excuse to do so within the period of 5 days specified in that subsection shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F6level 1 on the standard scale].

(6)An authorised officer of a licensing authority or [F7an employee of the appropriate relevant authority] shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1) or (4) above until he has produced his authorisation—

(a)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the premises, vehicle or vessel; and

(b)in any other case, to the person in respect of whom the powers are to be exercised.

(7)A constable who is not in uniform shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1) or (4) above until he has produced his identification—

(a)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the premises, vehicle or vessel; and

(b)in any other case, to the person in respect of whom the powers are to be exercised.

6 Powers of entry to and search of unlicensed premises.S

(1)If a justice of the peace or sheriff is satisfied by evidence on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that—

(a)an activity in respect to which a licence under this Act is required is being carried on in any premises, vehicle, or vessel; and

(b)no such licence is in force,

he may grant a warrant authorising any constable to enter and search the premises, vehicle or vessel specified in the warrant.

(2)A constable may use reasonable force in executing a warrant granted under subsection (1) above.

(3)A constable who is not in uniform shall produce his identification if required to do so by any person in or upon any premises, vehicle or vessel which the constable is about to enter, is entering or has entered under the powers conferred under subsection (1) above, and if he has been so required to produce his identification, he shall not be entitled to enter or search the premises, vehicle or vessel or, as the case may be, remain there or continue to search the premises, vehicle or vessel until he has produced it.

(4)Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to permit a constable in pursuance of a warrant granted under this section to enter and search any premises, vehicle or vessel or who obstructs the entry thereto or search thereof by a constable shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F8level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

7 Offences, etc.S

(1)Any person who without reasonable excuse does anything for which a licence is required under Part II of this Act without having such a licence shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction

[F9(a)in a case where the licence so required is a public entertainment licence, to a fine not exceeding £20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; and

(b)in any other case,], to a fine not exceeding [F10level 4 on the standard scale].

(2)If a condition attached to a licence is not complied with, the holder of the licence shall, subject to subsection (3) below, be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction

[F11(a)in a case where the licence is a public entertainment licence and the condition is attached under section 41(3)(b) of this Act, to such fine or imprisonment as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above (or to both); and

(b)in any other case,], to a fine not exceeding [F10level 3 on the standard scale].

(3)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) above to prove that he used all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

(4)Any person who, in making an application under this Part of this Act to the licensing authority, makes any statement which he knows to be false or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F10level 4 on the standard scale].

(5)Any person who, being the holder of a licence—

(a)fails without reasonable excuse to notify the licensing authority of a material change of circumstances in accordance with paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 1 to this Act;

(b)without reasonable excuse makes or causes or permits to be made any material change in any premises, vehicle or vessel in contravention of paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act;

(c)fails without reasonable excuse to deliver his licence to the licensing authority in accordance with paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding, in the case of an offence under paragraph (a) or (b) above, [F10level 3 on the standard scale], and in the case of an offence under paragraph (c) above, [F10level 1 on the standard scale].

(6)Where a holder of a licence is convicted of an offence under section 5 (other than subsection (5) thereof), 6 or this section, the court by which he is convicted may, in addition to any other penalty which the court may impose, make an order in accordance with one or both of the following paragraphs—

(a)that the licence shall be revoked;

(b)that the holder of the licence shall be disqualified from holding a licence for a period not exceeding 5 years.

(7)Where the holder of a licence is convicted of an offence under this section, an extract of such conviction and sentence (if any) shall, within 6 days after the date of the conviction, be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the licensing authority which granted the licence.

(8)A person may appeal against an order under subsection (6) above in the same manner as against sentence and the court which made the order may, pending the appeal, suspend the effect of the order.

(9)A person may, at any time after the expiry of the first year of his disqualification under subsection (6) above, apply to the court which ordered the disqualification to remove it, and, on such application, the court may by order remove the disqualification as from such date as may be specified in the order or refuse the application, and, in either case, may order the applicant to pay the whole or any part of the expenses of such application.

(10)Where an offence is alleged to have been committed under subsection (2) above by an employee or agent named in a licence, proceedings in respect of that offence may be instituted against the joint licence holder who is the employer of the employee or principal of the agent, whether or not proceedings have been instituted against the employee or agent.

8 Interpretation of Parts I and II.S

In this Part and in Part II of this Act except where the context otherwise requires—

  • [F12“appropriate relevant authority”, in relation to a licensing authority’s area, means the authority discharging in that area the functions of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5);.]

  • chief constable” means, in relation to a licensing authority’s area, the chief constable for the area which includes the area of the licensing authority;

  • F13...

  • licence” means a licence granted under this Part and Part II of this Act, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

  • premises” includes land.

Part IIE+W+S Licensing and Regulation—Particular Activities

9 Application of sections 10 to 27 and 38 to 44.S

(1)Sections 10 to 27 (except section 20), any regulations made under the said section 20, and sections 38 to 43 [F14(except section 41A)] of this Act and any order made under section 44(1)(a) of this Act (which sections regulations and order are in this section called the “optional provisions”) shall have effect in the area of a licensing authority only if and insofar as the authority have so resolved in accordance with subsections (2) to (8) below.

(2)A licensing authority may, in accordance with this section, resolve that, as from a day specified in the resolution (which must not be before the expiration of the period of nine months beginning with the day on which the resolution was made) any activity provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made by the optional provisions shall require to be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to that activity and shall be regulated by those provisions.

(3)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, a resolution under this section may be made—

(a)in relation to all or any of the activities referred to in subsection (2) above;

(b)in relation to the whole or any part of the area of the licensing authority;

(c)in relation to—

(i)all classes of an activity referred to in any of the optional provisions; or

(ii)all such classes subject to exceptions; or

(iii)any particular such class or classes.

(4)A licensing authority may not make a resolution under this section relating to any of the activities provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made in sections 10 to 23 of this Act (that is to say the operation of a vehicle as a taxi, the operation of a vehicle as a hire car, the driving of a taxi and the driving of a hire car) unless it relates to all these activities.

(5)A resolution made under this section by the licensing authority relating to—

(a)the activity provision for the licensing and regulation of which is made in sections 24 to 27 of this Act (that is to say the carrying on of business as a second-hand dealer) shall specify the particular class or classes of that activity which shall thereby fall to be licensed and regulated;

(b)the activity provision for the licensing of which is made in section 41 of this Act (that is to say the use of premises as a place of public entertainment) shall specify the place or places, or class or classes thereof, which shall thereby fall to be licensed.

(6)A licensing authority shall not make a resolution under this section unless they have—

(a)published in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in their area the terms of the proposed resolution together with a notice stating—

(i)that they intend to make the resolution; and

(ii)that representations about the resolution may be made in writing to the authority within 28 days of the first publication of the notice; and

(b)considered any representations so made.

(7)A licensing authority, before proceeding to make a resolution under this section, may make such modifications to the proposed resolution as they think fit in the light of representations made to them about it provided such modifications do not extend its scope.

(8)The licensing authority shall, as soon as they have made a resolution under subsection (2) above, publish in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in their area—

(a)the terms of the resolution so made; together with

(b)a notice stating—

(i)that with effect from the date specified as that on which the resolution comes into effect it will be an offence under section 7(1) of this Act to do without a licence whatever the resolution specifies as being an activity requiring to be licensed; and

(ii)that applications for licences in respect of the activity will be considered by the authority after the expiry of one month after the date of the making of the resolution.

(9)A resolution under this section may be varied or rescinded by a subsequent resolution made in like manner except that, in relation to the time when it takes effect, a resolution under this subsection—

(a)varying a resolution under this section so as to reduce its scope; or

(b)rescinding a resolution under this section

shall take effect on such date as may be specified in it being any date subsequent to the making of the resolution.

(10)Anything which must or may be done under or by virtue of Part I or this Part of this Act may, at any time after the making by the licensing authority of the resolution, be done so far as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving full effect to the resolution at or after the time it takes effect but no application for a licence in respect of an activity requiring to be licensed in consequence of the resolution shall be considered by the authority until the expiry of one month after the making of the resolution.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4S. 9 applied (until 1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/1878, art. 3

C5S. 9(9) modified (until 1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/1878, art. 3

Licensing and regulation of taxis and private hire carsE+W+S

10 Taxi and private hire car licences.S

(1)A licence, to be known as a “taxi licence” or, as the case may be, a “private hire car licence”, shall be required for the operation of a vehicle as—

(a)a taxi; or

(b)a private hire car.

(2)A licensing authority shall not grant or renew a taxi licence or private hire car licence unless they are satisfied that the vehicle to which the licence is to relate is suitable in type, size and design for use as a taxi or private hire car, as the case may be, and is safe for that use, and that there is in force in relation to the vehicle such a policy of insurance or such security as complies with Part VI of the M1Road Traffic Act 1972.

[F15(3)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, the grant of a taxi licence may be refused by a licensing authority for the purpose of limiting the number of taxis in respect of which licences are granted by them if, but only if, they are satisfied that there is no significant demand for the services of taxis in their area which is unmet.]

(4)A vehicle shall, for the purposes of subsection (2) above, be treated by a licensing authority [F16

(a)]as being suitable in type, size and design if it complies with regulations in that regard made by the Secretary of State under section 20(2) of this Act in respect of their area[F17; and

(b)as not being so suitable if it does not so comply.]

(5)A taxi licence or private hire car licence shall extend to the operation of a vehicle substituted for the vehicle in respect of which the licence was granted or, as the case may be, last renewed if the licensing authority are as respects the substitute vehicle satisfied as to the matters specified in subsection (2) above, and where a taxi licence or private hire car licence extends under this subsection to a substitute vehicle, subsection (6) below shall not apply in respect of the vehicle replaced by the substitute vehicle.

(6)Subject to subsection (5) above, the holder of a taxi or private hire car licence shall within 28 days of his selling or otherwise disposing of the vehicle to which the licence relates deliver to the licensing authority his licence and any licence plate or other thing which has been issued by the licensing authority for the purpose of indicating that the vehicle is a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car, and if without reasonable excuse he fails to do so he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F18level 2 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F16Words in s. 10(4) renumbered as s. 10(4)(a) (5.2.2003) by Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50), ss. 39(2)(a), 70(3) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 2003/215, art. 2

F17S. 10(4)(b) and word added (5.2.2003) by Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50), ss. 39(2)(b), 70(3) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 2003/215, art. 2

Marginal Citations

11 Inspection and testing of vehicles.S

(1)The holder of a taxi or private hire car licence shall present the taxi or private hire car for inspection and testing by or on behalf of the licensing authority within such period and at such place as they may by notice reasonably require.

(2)An authorised officer of a licensing authority (as respects a taxi or private hire car licensed for the area of the authority) or a constable shall have power at any reasonable time to inspect and test, for the purpose of ascertaining its fitness, a licensed taxi or private hire car or, for the purpose of testing its fitness or accuracy, any taximeter and if he is not satisfied as to the safety of the taxi or private hire car for the carriage of passengers or as to the fitness or accuracy of the taximeter he may by notice in writing—

(a)require the holder of the taxi or private hire car licence to make the taxi, private hire car or taximeter, as the case may be, available for further inspection at such reasonable time and place as may be specified in the notice;

(b)suspend the licence until such time as an authorised officer of the licensing authority or a constable is so satisfied:

Provided that, if an authorised officer or constable is not so satisfied before the expiration of a period of 28 days from the date of the suspension of the licence, the said licence shall, by virtue of this subsection, be deemed to have been suspended by the licensing authority under paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to this Act.

12 Fees for taxi and private hire car licences.S

A licensing authority shall charge such fees in respect of taxi and private hire car licences and applications for such licences as may be resolved by them from time to time and shall seek to ensure that the total amount of such fees is sufficient to meet the expenses incurred by them in carrying out their functions under sections 10 to 23 (other than section 19) of this Act in relation to such licences.

13 Taxi and private hire car driving licences.S

(1)A licence, to be known as a “taxi driver’s licence” or, as the case may be, a “private hire car driver’s licence”, shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be required for driving or otherwise having charge of a taxi or private hire car.

(2)A private hire car driver’s licence shall not be required by the holder of a taxi driver’s licence for driving or otherwise having charge of a private hire car whilst in operation as such.

(3)A licensing authority shall not grant a licence to any person under this section unless that person has held, during any continuous period of 12 months prior to the date of his application, a licence authorising him to drive a motor car issued under Part III of the M2Road Traffic Act 1972 or a licence which would at the time of his application entitle him to such a licence without taking a test, not being a provisional licence.

(4)A licensing authority may, at any time, for the purposes of satisfying themselves that he is physically fit to drive a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car, require an applicant for or holder of a taxi driver’s licence or private hire car driver’s licence to submit to medical examination, at their expense, by a medical practitioner nominated by them.

(5)A licensing authority may require an applicant for a taxi driver’s licence to take a test of his knowledge of the area to which the licence is to relate, of the layout of roads in that area and such other matters relating to the operation of a taxi as the authority consider desirable, and the authority may refuse to grant a licence to a person who does not satisfy them that he has adequate knowledge of any of these matters.

(6)If a person holding a licence under this section ceases for any reason to be authorised by law to drive on a road . . . F19 the vehicle to which the licence relates, the licence shall cease to have effect.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

14 Signs on vehicles other than taxis.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, there shall not be displayed on or in a private hire car any word, sign, notice, mark, illumination or other feature which may suggest that the vehicle is available for hire as a taxi.

(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to any licence plate or other thing issued by the licensing authority for the purpose of indicating that the vehicle to which it relates is a private hire car or in relation to any sign required by virtue of section 21 of the M3Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971.

(3)Any person who—

(a)drives a vehicle in respect of which subsection (1) is contravened; or

(b)causes or knowingly permits that subsection to be contravened in respect of any vehicle,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F20level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

15 Operation of taxis outside licensing areas.S

(1)A licensing authority, with the agreement of another licensing authority, may name destinations or classes of destinations in the area of the other authority and, with the agreement aforesaid, fix scales under section 17 of this Act for journeys from their area by taxis licensed by them to such destinations or classes thereof.

(2)The conditions to which a taxi or taxi driver’s licence are subject shall continue to apply while the taxi or its driver is engaged in such a journey.

(3)Nothing in this section or in Part I of this Act enables a condition to be imposed in a taxi driver’s licence requiring him to make any journey to a destination outside the area in respect of which he is licensed.

16 Journeys in England and Wales by vehicles and drivers licensed under this Act. E+W+S

In section 75 of the M4 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (saving for certain vehicles from requirements of Part II of that Act as to private hire vehicles), after subsection (2) there shall be inserted—

(2A)Where a vehicle is being used as a taxi or private hire car, paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 46(1) of this Act shall not apply to the use or driving of the vehicle or the employment of a person to drive it if—

(a)a licence issued under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for its use as a taxi or, as the case may be, private hire car is then in force, and

(b)the driver holds a licence issued under section 13 of that Act for the driving of taxis or, as the case may be, private hire cars.

In this subsection, “private hire car” and “taxi” have the same meaning as in sections 10 to 22 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6The text of ss. 16, 18(11), 51(7) and 52(6) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

17 Taxi fares.S

(1)The fares for the hire of taxis in any area and all other charges in connection with the hire of a taxi or with the arrangements for its hire shall be not greater than those fixed for that area under this section and section 18 of this Act.

(2)It shall be the duty of the licensing authority to fix from time to time scales for the fares and other charges mentioned in subsection (1) above and to review these scales at intervals not exceeding 18 months from the date on which the scales came into effect (whether proceeding upon a review under this section or not).

(3)Before fixing any scales or carrying out any review under this section the licensing authority shall—

(a)consult with persons or organisations appearing to them to be, or be representative of, the operators of taxis operating within their area; and

(b)give notice of their intention by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in their area stating—

(i)the general effect of the proposals and the date when they propose that their decision will take effect; and

(ii)that any person may lodge representations in writing with respect to the proposals within a period of one month after the date of the first publication of the notice; and

(c)consider any such representations duly lodged with them.

(4)Where, under this section, the licensing authority fix any scale or carry out any review they shall forthwith give notice in writing of their decision (including, in the case of a review, a decision to do nothing) to such persons and organisations as they have consulted under subsection (3)(a) above and inform them of the general effect of section 18(1) of this Act.

(5)Notice shall be given for the purposes of subsection (4) above by—

(a)its being sent by recorded delivery letter to the last known addresses of the persons and organisations referred to in subsection (4) above so as to arrive there, in the normal course of post, not later than five days after the decision referred to in subsection (4) above; or

(b)personal service of the notice upon those persons within that time.

18 Appeals in respect of taxi fares.S

(1)Any person who operates a taxi in an area for which scales have been fixed or in respect of which a review has been carried out under section 17 of this Act may, within 14 days after the decision upon the scales or, as the case may be, upon the review, appeal against these scales to the traffic [F21commissioner] for the Scottish Traffic Area as constituted for the purpose of the M5Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.

(2)The traffic [F21commissioner] may hear an appeal under this section notwithstanding that it was not lodged with [F22him] within the time mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(3)On an appeal to them under subsection (1) above, the traffic [F21commissioner] may—

(a)confirm or alter the scales; or

(b)may decline to proceed—

(i)at any stage in the appeal, on the grounds that [F23he considers] the case for the appellant is not representative of the view of a substantial proportion of the operators of taxis operating in the area of the licensing authority;

(ii)if less than two years have elapsed since [F23he decided] an appeal against a decision of the same authority in respect of the same scale, and [F23he considers] it inappropriate that [F23he should consider] the matter again.

(4)An appeal under this section shall have the effect of suspending the decision referred to in subsection (1) above until the date when the appeal is abandoned or, as the case may be, when notice is given to the appellant advising him of its disposal.

(5)Where [F24he alters] scales under subsection (3)(a) above, the traffic [F21commissioner] may substitute a different date for the coming into effect of these scales.

(6)The Secretary of State may [F25by order made by statutory instrument] make rules as to procedure in relation to appeals under this section.

(7)The decision of the traffic [F21commissioner] on an appeal under this section shall be final.

(8)The traffic [F21commissioner] shall give notice of [F26his] decision in writing to the appellant and to the licensing authority and notice shall be given to the appellant by—

(a)its being sent by recorded delivery letter to his last known address or, as the case may be, to them so as to arrive, in the normal course of post, not later than five days after [F26his] decision; or

(b)personal service of the notice on the appellant within that time.

(9)As soon as practicable after the expiration of the period of 14 days referred to in subsection (1) above or, where an appeal has been lodged, on the date when it is abandoned or when notice is given to the appellant of its disposal, the licensing authority shall, by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in their area, give public notice of the scales which have been determined under section 17 of this Act and this section and the date when they come into effect which shall be not earlier than seven days after the date of the advertisement.

(10)A licensing authority shall pay the expenses incurred under this section by the traffic commissioners in relation to appeals under this section.

F27(11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19 Taxi stances.S

(1)A licensing authority may, after consultation with persons or organisations appearing to them to be, or be representative of, the operators of taxis operating in their area, appoint stances for taxis for the whole or any part of a day in any road within their area or on any land owned by the authority, or, with the consent of the owner, on any land owned by him.

(2)A licensing authority may—

(a)erect and illuminate signs;

(b)cause lines or marks to be made on roads;

indicating the limits of taxi stances.

(3)A licensing authority may from time to time, after consultation as mentioned in subsection (1) above, vary the number of taxis permitted to be at each stance and alter the position of such stances or revoke the appointment thereof.

(4)Before appointing any stance for taxis or varying the number of taxis permitted to be at each stance, the licensing authority shall give notice to the chief constable of the area in which the stance is situated and shall also give public notice of the proposal by advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in their area and shall take into consideration any objections or representations in respect of such proposal which may be made to them in writing within 28 days of the first publication of such notice.

(5)Nothing in this section shall empower a licensing authority to appoint any taxi stance so as unreasonably to prevent access to any premises or, without the consent of the [F28roads authority], to appoint any taxi stance on any [F29road] or erect or illuminate any sign there or cause any line or mark to be made on any road . . . F30

20 Regulations relating to taxis and private hire cars and their drivers.S

(1)Notwithstanding paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 1 to this Act, the Secretary of State may by regulations provide that licensing authorities shall, in relation to taxi, private hire car, taxi drivers’ or private hire car drivers’ licences, impose such conditions or classes of conditions as may be prescribed in the regulations and shall not impose such other conditions or classes of conditions as may be so prescribed [F31and may provide that such conditions shall be imposed or, as the case may be, shall not be imposed for different areas or classes of areas; and different conditions or classes of conditions may be prescribed in relation to different categories of taxi or private hire car.]

(2)The Secretary of State may by regulations F32... prescribe types, sizes and designs of vehicles for the purposes of section 10(4) of this Act and, in doing so, may prescribe different types, sizes or designs of vehicles in respect of different areas.

[F33(2A)Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2) above, regulations under those subsections may make such provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in relation to the carrying in taxis of disabled persons (within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) and such provision may in particular prescribe—

(a)requirements as to the carriage of wheelchairs, guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of dog;

(b)a date from which any such provision is to apply and the extent to which it is to apply; and

(c)the circumstances in which an exemption from such provision may be granted in respect of any taxi or taxi driver,

and in this subsection—

  • guide dog” means a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person;

  • hearing dog” means a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person; and

  • other categories of dog” means such other categories of dog as the Secretary of State may prescribe, trained to assist disabled persons who have disabilities of such kinds as he may prescribe.]

[F34(2AA)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such provision as appears to them to be necessary or expedient in relation to the carrying in private hire cars of disabled persons (within the meaning of section 1 (2) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50)) and such provision may in particular prescribe—

(a)requirements as to the carriage of guide dogs, hearing dogs and other categories of dogs;

(b)a date from which any such provision is to apply and the extent to which it is to apply; and

(c)the circumstances in which an exemption from such provision may be granted in respect of any private hire car or private hire car driver,

and in this subsection “guide dog”, “hearing dog” and “other categories of dog” have the same meaning as in subsection (2A) above.

(2AB)Regulations under subsection (2AA) above may provide for the creation of offences and for making offenders liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2AC)Regulations under subsection (2AA) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.]

(3)Regulations under [F35subsection (1) or (2) above] shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7S. 20: transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

21 Offences.S

(1)If any person—

(a)operates, or permits the operation of, a taxi within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed, or

(b)picks up passengers in, or permits passengers to be picked up by, a private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation requires to be but is not licensed or the driver requires to be but is not licensed,

that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F36level 4 on the standard scale].

(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to the operation of a taxi or private hire car within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if the request for its hiring was received by its driver [F37(otherwise than in a public place from the person to be conveyed in it, or a person acting on his behalf, for a journey beginning there and then)] whilst—

(a)in the area or in that part thereof in respect of which its operation and its driver are licensed;

(b)engaged on hire on a journey which began in that area or part or will end there; or

(c)returning to that area or part immediately following completion of a journey on hire.

(3)Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to the operation of a vehicle within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if there are in force—

(i)in respect of the vehicle, a licence under section 37 of the M6Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (licensing of hackney carriages) or section 48 of the M7Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (licensing of private hire vehicles); and

(ii)in respect of its driver, a licence under section 46 of the said Act of 1847 (licensing of hackney carriage drivers) or, as the case may be, section 51 of the said Act of 1976 (licensing of drivers of private hire vehicles).

[F38(3A)Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to the operation of a vehicle within an area in respect of which its operation or its driver is not licensed if there are in force—

(a)in respect of the vehicle, a licence under section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998; and

(b)in respect of its driver, a licence under section 13 of that Act.]

(4)If any person, being the holder of a taxi licence or private hire car licence in respect of a vehicle, permits another person who does not have a current taxi driver’s licence or private hire car driver’s licence, as the case may be, to operate the vehicle as a taxi or, as the case may be, a private hire car he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F36level 4 on the standard scale].

(5)If any person demands fares or other charges in respect of the hire of a taxi or for the hire of a private hire car which is fitted with a taximeter in excess of the scales established under sections 17 and 18 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F36level 4 on the standard scale].

(6)If any person without good cause breaks the seal on a taximeter or operates or drives a taxi or private hire car knowing that the seal on its meter has been broken, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F36level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.

(7)If any person, without reasonable excuse, causes or permits any vehicle other than a taxi to wait on any stance for taxis during any period for which that stance has been appointed by a licensing authority under section 19 of this Act, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F36level 2 on the standard scale].

(8)Notice of the effect of subsection (7) above shall be indicated by such traffic signs as may be prescribed as authorised for the purpose by the Secretary of State in pursuance of his powers under section 54 of the M8Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967.

22 Saving for certain vehicles etc.S

Nothing in sections 10 to 21 (with the exception of subsection (7) of section 21) of this Act shall—

(a)apply to a vehicle used for bringing passengers or goods within and taking them out of an area in respect of which the vehicle is not licensed as a taxi or a private hire car in pursuance of a contract for the hire of the vehicle made outside the area if the vehicle is not made available for hire within the area;

(b)apply to a vehicle while it is being used in connection with a funeral or wedding;

(c)apply to any vehicle while it is being used for carrying passengers under a contract for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours.

23 Interpretation of sections 10 to 22.S

(1)In sections 10 to 22 of this Act—

  • taxi” means a hire car which is engaged, by arrangements made in a public place between the person to be conveyed in it (or a person acting on his behalf) and its driver for a journey beginning there and then; and

  • private hire car” means a hire car other than a taxi within the meaning of this subsection.

(2)In subsection (1) above, “hire car” means a motor vehicle with a driver (other than a vehicle being a public service vehicle within the meaning of section 1(1)(a) of the M9Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) which is, with a view to profit, available for hire by the public for personal conveyance.

(3)Notwithstanding that a vehicle in respect of which there is a licence for its operation as a taxi is, on any occasion, engaged as a hire car otherwise than in the manner referred to in subsection (1) above, the enactments relating to its operation as a taxi, and to the driving of it as such (including any such enactments in this Act) shall nonetheless apply in relation to it; and that other manner of engagement on that occasion shall not of itself cause the operation or driving of the licensed taxi to be regarded for the purposes of this Act as the operation or driving of a private hire car within the meaning of subsection (1) above.

Marginal Citations

Licensing and regulation of second-hand dealersS

24 Second-hand dealers’ licences.S

(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, a licence, to be known as a “second-hand dealer’s licence”, shall be required for carrying on business as a second-hand dealer.

(2)In this section and in sections 25 to 27 and 36 of this Act “second-hand dealer” means a person carrying on a business as a dealer in second-hand goods or articles of any description.

(3)A second-hand dealer’s licence shall not be required for carrying on—

(a)the business of a pawnbroker (that is to say, a person who, under a regulated agreement under the M10Consumer Credit Act 1974, takes an article in pawn);

(b)a business as a wholesale dealer purchasing exclusively from second-hand dealers licensed under this Act;

(c)a business which is charitable for the purposes of the Income Tax Acts;

(d)a business as a dealer in second-hand goods or articles incidentally to another business not being that of a dealer in such goods or articles;

(e)a business either of financing the acquisition of goods by means of hire-purchase agreements, conditional sale agreements or credit sale agreements (as defined in section 189(1) of the M11Consumer Credit Act 1974) or of financing the use of goods by means of hiring agreements.

(4)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority may, after consultation with the chief constable, attach conditions to a second-hand dealer’s licence requiring the keeping of records in relation to the dealer’s stock-in-trade; and conditions so attached may, without prejudice to the authority’s power under this subsection, include provision as to—

(a)the information to be included in these records;

(b)their form;

(c)the premises where they are to be kept; and

(d)the period for which they are to be kept.

(5)A second-hand dealer acquiring a second-hand motor vehicle for the purpose of its re-sale in the course of his business shall keep a record of the mileage reading on the vehicle’s odometer when he acquired it.

(6)Any person who contravenes subsection (5) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F39level 3 on the standard scale].

(7)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (6) above to prove that he used all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

25 Disposal of stock-in-trade.S

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below and section 27 of this Act, a second-hand dealer shall not dispose of any item of his stock-in-trade until the expiry of 48 hours (excluding any time on Saturdays or Sundays) after he acquired it.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to any article acquired by the dealer in a public roup and disposed of by him without being brought to his place of business.

(3)A licensing authority may, on granting a second-hand dealer’s licence or at any time thereafter, on application by the dealer and after consultation with the chief constable, order that subsection (1) above shall not apply to the disposal by the dealer of any item, or any specified item or class of items, of his stock-in-trade or any specified part of it.

(4)An order under subsection (3) above may—

(a)be made subject to such conditions as the authority think fit;

(b)relate to stock-in-trade or items thereof still to be acquired by the dealer to whom the order relates; or

(c)be varied or revoked at any time by the licensing authority.

(5)In subsection (3) above, “specified” means specified in an order under that subsection.

(6)A holder of a second-hand dealer’s licence may appeal to the sheriff against a decision of the licensing authority under this section and paragraph 24(3) to (9) and (11) and (12) of Schedule 1 to this Act shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to an appeal under this subsection.

(7)Any person who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F40level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

26 Sellers of second-hand goods: offences etc.S

(1)Any person who, when selling anything to a second-hand dealer, gives the dealer a false name or address shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F41level 3 on the standard scale].

(2)If anything is offered to a second-hand dealer in the course of his business and he has reason to believe that it has been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained he may, subject to subsection (3) below, detain the person offering it and a constable may arrest that person and take possession of it.

(3)Nothing in subsection (2) above authorises a second-hand dealer to detain a person longer than is reasonably necessary for obtaining the attendance of a constable.

(4)No civil liability shall arise as a result only of the detention in good faith of a person under subsection (2) above.

Textual Amendments

27 Functions of the court in relation to second-hand dealers convicted of offences.S

(1)Where a second-hand dealer is convicted of an offence relating to second-hand dealing, the court by which he is convicted may make any order which it is competent to make under section 7(6) of this Act and an extract of such conviction and sentence (if any) shall, within 6 days after the date of the conviction, be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the licensing authority which granted the licence.

(2)Where a second-hand dealer is convicted—

(a)of an offence relating to second-hand dealing; or

(b)of an offence which in the opinion of the court is an offence involving dishonesty,

the court may, in addition to any other order which it is competent to make, order that he shall not dispose of any second-hand goods acquired by him until the expiry of a period of 7 days after their acquisition.

(3)In making an order under subsection (2) above, the court shall specify a period not exceeding 2 years for which it is to remain in force, but the court may revoke such an order at any time on the application of the person to whom it relates.

(4)Any person who fails to comply with an order made in relation to him under subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F42level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.

Textual Amendments

Licensing and regulation of metal dealersS

28 Metal dealers: licensing and regulation.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a licence, to be known as a “metal dealer’s licence”, shall be required for carrying on business as a metal dealer.

(2)A metal dealer’s licence shall not be required by a person in relation to whom there is in force a warrant under section 29(1) or (4) of this Act (referred to in subsection (3) below and in sections 30 to 37 of this Act respectively as “an exemption warrant” and “a temporary exemption warrant”).

(3)Sections 30 to 36 of this Act shall not apply to a person in relation to whom an exemption warrant or temporary exemption warrant is in force.

(4)A metal dealer’s licence shall, in addition to specifying the activity which he engages in, specify the premises in or from which the activity is to be carried on.

29 Metal dealers’ exemption warrants.S

(1)A licensing authority shall, on application by a metal dealer, issue an exemption warrant in relation to him if there is produced to them a certificate by the auditor of the metal dealer’s business stating that, in a financial year ending in the period of 18 months immediately preceding the production to them of the certificate, the total amount received by the dealer as a principal in the ordinary course of his business in respect of metal sold or supplied by him, without any deduction being made, exceeded £100,000 or such other sum as may be substituted for that sum by order made by the Secretary of State.

(2)An order made for the purposes of subsection (1) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3)An exemption warrant shall remain in force for 3 years from the date of its issue.

(4)A licensing authority may, on application by a metal dealer, issue a temporary exemption warrant in relation to him if they are satisfied that he has not been carrying on business as a metal dealer.

(5)A temporary exemption warrant in relation to a metal dealer shall remain in force from the date of its issue or such later date as the licensing authority may specify—

(a)for a period of 18 months; or

(b)until (if earlier that the expiry of that period) the date of the grant to that dealer of an exemption warrant; or

(c)if a metal dealer’s licence has been applied for by him within that period, until the date when it is granted or is deemed to have been granted or, if it is refused, until the expiry of the time within which he may lodge an appeal under paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to this Act against that refusal or, where he has lodged such an appeal, until it has been abandoned or determined against him.

(6)It shall be a condition of a temporary exemption warrant that the dealer to whom it relates shall acquire metal only from persons selling or otherwise disposing of it in the course of trade or business.

(7)A licensing authority may revoke a temporary exemption warrant on the grounds that the metal dealer to whom it relates has contravened the condition specified in subsection (6) above.

(8)An authorised officer of a licensing authority or a constable may require any person who the officer or constable has reasonable ground to believe is carrying on business as a metal dealer without having a metal dealer’s licence to produce his exemption warrant or temporary exemption warrant within a reasonable time of being required to do so; and any person who does not have a metal dealer’s licence and who, having been so required to produce his exemption warrant or temporary exemption warrant within that time, fails, without reasonable excuse, to do so shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F43level 1 on the standard scale].

(9)An officer of a licensing authority or a constable who is not in uniform shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (8) above until he has produced his authorisation or, as the case may be, identification to the person in respect of whom they are to be exercised.

(10)In this section—

  • auditor” means a person who is qualified under section 161 of the M12Companies Act 1948 for appointment as auditor of a company within the meaning of that Act; and

  • financial year”, in relation to a metal dealer, means the financial year of his business or, if it has no financial year, the year beginning on 6th April.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

30 Keeping of records.S

(1)This section applies to metal acquired by or disposed of by the holder of a metal dealer’s licence in the course of his business as a metal dealer.

(2)A metal dealer shall keep the following records, containing the particulars required by this section—

(a)in relation to each place occupied by him for the purposes of his business as a metal dealer—

(i)records of all metal to which this section applies received at that place;

(ii)records of all such metal processed at or despatched or otherwise disposed of from that place;

(b)records of all metal to which this section applies received or processed at or despatched or otherwise disposed of from any place other than a place occupied by him for the purposes of his business as a metal dealer,

and separate records shall be kept of the particulars with respect to metal received and metal despatched, processed or otherwise disposed of, respectively.

(3)A metal dealer shall keep records for the purposes of this section either by—

(a)keeping, at each place occupied by him for the purposes of his business as a metal dealer, books with serially numbered pages recording all metal to which this section applies received or processed at or despatched or otherwise disposed of from that place; or

(b)the use of a device for storing and processing information,

but—

(i)where he keeps books under paragraph (a) above, he shall not have in use at any one place and at any one time more than one book for recording particulars with respect to metal received at that place and more than one book for recording particulars with respect to metal processed at, or despatched or otherwise disposed of from, that place; and

(ii)where he uses a device for storing and processing information under paragraph (b) above, he shall, by means of that device or otherwise, keep particulars of all modifications made in the records kept by the device.

(4)Records kept under subsection (3) above shall be retained by the dealer for a period of two years from the day on which the last entry was made in it.

(5)The said particulars, in the case of metal received or acquired, are—

(a)the description and weight of the metal;

(b)the date and time of the receipt of the metal;

(c)if the metal is received or acquired from another person, the name and address of that person;

(d)the price, if any, payable in respect of the receipt or acquisition of the metal, if that price has been ascertained at the time when the entry in the record relating to that metal is to be made;

(e)where paragraph (d) above does not apply, the value of the metal at the time when the entry is to be made as estimated by the dealer;

(f)in the case of metal delivered at the place in question by means of a mechanically propelled vehicle bearing a registration mark (whether the vehicle belongs to the dealer or not), the registration mark borne by the vehicle.

(6)The said particulars, in the case of metal despatched, processed or otherwise disposed of are—

(a)the description and weight of the metal immediately before its despatch, processing or other disposal;

(b)the date of despatch, processing or other disposal of the metal and, in the case of processing, the process applied;

(c)in the case of metal disposed of on sale or exchange, the name and address of the person to whom the metal is sold or with whom it is exchanged, and the consideration for which it is sold or exchanged;

(d)in the case of metal disposed of otherwise than on sale or exchange, its value immediately before its disposal as estimated by the dealer.

(7)Particulars required under this section to be recorded in respect of metal received or otherwise acquired shall be so recorded immediately after the receipt or acquisition; and particulars so required to be recorded in respect of metal disposed of shall be so recorded immediately after the disposal.

(8)Any person who fails to comply with any requirement imposed upon him by this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F44level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

31 Retention of metal.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below and section 35 of this Act, no metal dealer shall dispose of or process any metal acquired by him in the course of business until the expiry of a period of 48 hours (excluding any time on Saturdays or Sundays) after its acquisition.

(2)A licensing authority may, on granting a metal dealer’s licence or at any time thereafter, on application by the dealer and after consultation with the chief constable, order that subsection (1) above shall not apply to such metal or classes of metal as may be specified in the order.

(3)An order under subsection (2) above may—

(a)be made subject to such conditions as the licensing authority think fit;

(b)relate to metal still to be acquired by the metal dealer to whom the order relates;

(c)be varied or revoked by the licensing authority.

(4)The holder of a metal dealer’s licence may appeal to the sheriff against a decision of the licensing authority under this section and paragraphs 18(3) to (9) and (11) and (12) of Schedule 1 to this Act shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to an appeal under this subsection.

(5)Any person who fails to comply with subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F45level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

32 Itinerant metal dealers.S

(1)A licence, to be known as an “itinerant metal dealer’s licence” shall be required for carrying on business as an itinerant metal dealer.

(2)An itinerant metal dealer’s licence shall have effect so as to permit the licence holder to carry on business as an itinerant metal dealer anywhere in Scotland.

33 Receipts and invoices: itinerant metal dealers.S

(1)An itinerant metal dealer shall obtain from each person who buys metal from him a receipt showing the weight and description of the metal, the name and address of the buyer and the price paid for the metal.

(2)Any such receipt shall be kept by the dealer for a period of 6 months from its date of issue.

(3)An itinerant metal dealer shall keep a record in respect of each sale to him of metal showing the weight and description of the metal, the name and address of the seller and the price paid for the metal.

(4)Any such record shall be kept by the dealer for a period of 6 months from the date of the sale to which it relates.

(5)Any person who fails to comply with any provision of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F46level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

34 Offences relating to metal dealing.S

(1)Any metal dealer or itinerant metal dealer who disposes of metal to a person apparently under the age of 16 or who acquires metal from such a person, whether that person is acting on his own behalf or on behalf of another person, shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F47level 3 on the standard scale].

(2)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above, it shall be a defence to prove that the person to whom it is alleged the metal was disposed of or from whom it is alleged it was acquired was 16 years of age or over at the time.

(3)Any metal dealer or itinerant metal dealer who knowingly or recklessly furnishes false particulars under section 30 of this Act or, as the case may be, false information on any record or receipt which he is required by section 33 of this Act to keep shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F47level 4 on the standard scale].

(4)Any person who, when selling metal to or purchasing metal from a metal dealer or itinerant metal dealer, gives the dealer a false name or address shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F47level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

35 Functions of the court in relation to metal dealers convicted of offences.S

(1)Where a metal dealer or itinerant metal dealer is convicted of an offence relating to his business as such, the court by which he is convicted may make any order which it is competent to make under section 7(6) of this Act and an extract of such conviction and sentence (if any) shall, within 6 days after the date of the conviction, be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the licensing authority which granted the licence.

(2)Where a metal dealer is convicted—

(a)of an offence relating to his business as such; or

(b)of any offence which in the opinion of the court is an offence involving dishonesty,

the court may, in addition to any other order which it is competent to make, order that he shall not dispose of or process any metal acquired by him until the expiry of a period of 7 days after its acquisition.

(3)In making an order under subsection (2) above, the court shall specify a period not exceeding 2 years for which it is to remain in force, but the court may revoke such an order at any time on the application of the person to whom it relates.

(4)Any person who fails to comply with an order made in relation to him under subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F48level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or to both.

(5)A licensing authority receiving, by virtue of subsection (1) above, an extract of conviction and sentence (if any) of an itinerant metal dealer shall notify all other licensing authorities of the particulars of the conviction.

Textual Amendments

36 Appropriate licence required.S

Where a person carries on business as a second-hand dealer and as a metal dealer and as an itinerant metal dealer or as any two of these kinds of dealer he shall require the appropriate licence in respect of each activity.

37 Interpretation of sections 28 to 36.S

(1)In sections 28 to 36 of this Act—

  • itinerant metal dealer” means a person who carries on a business which consists wholly or partly of buying and selling for scrap waste materials and old, broken, worn out, defaced or partly manufactured articles made wholly or partly of metal which he collects by means of visits from place to place and which he disposes of without causing them to be kept in a metal store or other premises (either by so keeping them himself, or by disposing of them or giving custody of them to a person who keeps a metal store);

  • metal” means any metal (including any precious metal) and any alloy of any metals, whether old or new and includes manufactured articles, whether old or new, made wholly or partly of metal, of any of the materials commonly known as hard metal or of cemented or sintered metallic carbides;

  • metal dealer” means a person carrying on business in terms of subsection (2) below but does not include an itinerant metal dealer within the meaning of this subsection;

  • metal store” means a place where metal is received or kept in the course of a metal dealer’s business;

  • processing”, in relation to metal, includes melting down and any process whereby the composition or form of the metal or of any article which is made of the metal is altered so as to make it substantially less identifiable than before the process, and “process” and “processed” shall be construed accordingly.

(2)For the purposes of sections 28 to 36 of this Act a person carries on business as a metal dealer if he carries on a business which consists wholly or partly of buying and selling for scrap old, broken, worn out, defaced or partly manufactured articles made wholly or partly of metal (whether the metal sold is in the form in which it was bought or otherwise), other than a business in the course of which metal is not bought except as materials for the manufacture of other articles and is not sold except as a by-product of such manufacture or as surplus materials bought but not required for such manufacture.

Miscellaneous licencesS

38 Boat hire licences.S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, a licence under this Act, to be known as a “boat hire licence”, shall be required for the use of a vessel, in the course of a trade or business carried on in or from any place within the area of a licensing authority, for the purpose of—

(a)letting it on hire; or

(b)carrying for reward 12 or fewer passengers,

for pleasure, recreational, educational or sporting purposes.

(2)A boat hire licence may relate to one or more vessels or classes of vessel and shall specify—

(a)the vessels or the classes of vessels to which it relates; and

(b)the maximum number of vessels or of each class of vessel which may be used under the licence.

(3)A boat hire licence shall extend to the use of any vessel added to or substituted for a vessel to which the licence relates if—

(a)the additional or substitute vessel is of identical type to a vessel of a class to which the licence relates; and

(b)the maximum number referred to in subsection (2)(b) above is not exceeded.

(4)A boat hire licence shall not be required in respect of the use—

(a)of any vessel in respect of which there is in force a passenger certificate, load line certificate or load line exemption certificate under the [F49Merchant Shipping Act 1995];

(b)for a continuous period of over 24 hours, of any vessel having overnight sleeping accommodation;

(c)of any vessel for the purpose of instruction or training in seamanship;

(d)of any vessel exclusively for fishing in non-tidal waters;

(e)of any vessel—

(i)on any inland waterway; or

(ii)at any harbour

owned or managed by the British Waterways Board; or

(f)of any vessel with the consent of the harbour authority (within the meaning of the M13Harbours Act 1964) in any harbour owned or managed by them.

(5)Before granting an application to grant or renew a boat hire licence a licensing authority may require the applicant to produce a certificate in respect of each vessel to which the application relates issued by a person appearing to the authority to be suitably qualified for the purpose of issuing such a certificate stating that the vessel is suitably designed, constructed, maintained and equipped and in a safe condition for the purpose for which, and the place or waters in which, it is to be used.

(6)Without prejudice to paragraphs 5(3), 11 and 12 of Schedule 1 to this Act a licensing authority shall—

(a)refuse an application to grant or renew a boat hire licence;

(b)suspend a boat hire licence in accordance with the said paragraph 12,

to the extent that it relates to any vessel which is in their opinion not in a safe condition for the purpose for which, and the place or waters in which, it is to be or, as the case may be, is being used.

(7)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority, on granting an application for the grant or renewal of a boat hire licence, shall attach conditions—

(a)fixing the maximum number of persons which may be carried in the vessel;

(b)specifying inland waters in their area, the inland waters adjacent to inland waters in their area and the tidal waters within which each vessel or class of vessel to which the application relates may be used.

(8)The holder of a boat hire licence shall effect and maintain in force in relation to every vessel to which the licence relates a policy of insurance to the satisfaction of the licensing authority and complying with subsection (9) below, and shall not reduce the amount or extent of the cover specified in the policy without the prior approval of the authority.

(9)A policy of insurance complies with this subsection if it insures such person, persons, or classes of persons as may be specified in the policy in respect of any liability which may be incurred by him or them in respect of the death of or bodily injury to any person caused by, or arising out of, the use of the vessel.

(10)Any person who, being the holder of a boat hire licence, uses or causes or permits any other person to use a vessel to which the licence relates without having in force in relation to that vessel a policy of insurance in accordance with subsection (8) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F50level 4 on the standard scale].

(11)Where—

(a)a vessel in respect of which a boat hire licence is in force is used—

(i)within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland; and

(ii)within any inland waters or waters specified in the licence under subsection (7)(b) above; but

(iii)outwith the area of the licensing authority which granted or last renewed the licence; and

(b)all persons carried in the vessel embark initially from places within the area of the authority,

it shall not be necessary to have in force in respect of that use of the vessel a boat hire licence granted by any other licensing authority and the conditions subject to which the licence is held shall continue to apply to such use.

Textual Amendments

F49Words in s. 38(4)(a) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 67 (with s. 312(1))

Marginal Citations

39 Street traders’ licences.S

(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, a licence, to be known as a “street trader’s licence”, shall be required for street trading by a person, whether on his own account or as an employee.

(2)In this section “street trading” means doing any of the following things in a public place—

(a)hawking, selling or offering or exposing for sale any article;

(b)offering to carry out or carrying out for money or money’s worth any service,

to any person in the public place and includes doing any of these things there in or from a vehicle or in or from a kiosk or moveable stall not entered in the valuation roll except where it is done in conjunction with or as part of a retail business being carried on in premises abutting the public place.

(3)A street trader’s licence shall not be required for—

(a)the sale of newspapers only;

(b)the sale of milk by or on behalf of a person registered under [F51regulations made under section 19 of the Food Safety Act 1990];

(c)the sale of coal, coke or any solid fuel derived from coal or of which coal or coke is a constituent;

(d)any activity in respect of which a certificate under the M14Pedlars Act 1871 has been granted;

(e)any activity in respect of which a licence is required under this Act apart from this section; or

(f)organising or participating in a public charitable collection within the meaning of subsection (16) of section 119 of this Act in accordance with permission granted under that section.

(4)Where an application for a street trader’s licence is made in respect of an activity which—

(a)consists of or includes food business within the meaning of [F52sections 1(3) of the Food Safety Act 1990]; and

(b)involves the use of a vehicle, kiosk or moveable stall,

the licensing authority shall, without prejudice to paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 1 to this Act, refuse the application unless there is produced to them a certificate by the [F53food authority (for the purposes of section 5 of the Food Safety Act 1990)] stating that the vehicle, kiosk or moveable stall complies with the requirements of any relevant regulations made under [F54section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990].

40 Market operators’ licences.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a licence, to be known as a “market operator’s licence”, shall be required for carrying on a private market.

(2)A market operator’s licence shall not be required for carrying ; on either of the following—

(a)functions held by charitable, religious, youth, recreational, community, political or similar organisations;

(b)markets held only for the sale of livestock, fodder or grain.

(3)In addition to any other condition which may be included, a licence in respect of a private market shall include conditions as to—

(a)the regulation of days and hours of opening;

(b)the provision of adequate toilet facilities;

(c)the layout of the site or premises on which the market is to be held;

(d)the maintenance of order and public safety.

(4)In this section, “private market” means a market, whether covered or not, carried on by any person other than a local or public authority at which goods are offered by more than one seller for sale by retail to the public.

41 Public entertainment licences.S

(1)A licence, to be known as a “public entertainment licence”, shall be required for the use of premises as a place of public entertainment.

(2)In this section, “place of public entertainment” means any place where, on payment of money or money’s worth, members of the public are admitted or may use any facilities for the purposes of entertainment or recreation but does not include—

(a)an athletic or sports ground while being used as such;

[F55(aa)premises in respect of which a licence is required under section 41A of this Act while such premises are being used for the purposes mentioned in that section;]

(b)an educational establishment while being used as such;

(c)premises belonging to or occupied by any religious body while being used wholly or mainly for purposes connected with that body;

(d)premises licensed under the M15Theatres Act 1968, [F56section 1 of the Cinemas Act 1985] or Part II of the M16Gaming Act 1968;

(e)premises in respect of which there is a permit under section 16 of the M17Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 while being used in pursuance of the permit;

(f)licensed premises within the meaning of the M18Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 in which public entertainment is being provided during the permitted hours within the meaning of that Act; or

(g)premises in which machines for entertainment or amusement are being provided incidentally to the main purpose or use of the premises where that main purpose or use is not as a place of public entertainment.

(3)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority may attach conditions to a public entertainment licence—

(a)restricting the use of the premises to a specified kind or specified kinds of entertainment or recreation;

(b)limiting the number of persons to be admitted to the premises;

(c)fixing the days and times when the premises may be open for the purposes of the entertainment or recreation.

(4)In this section, “educational establishment” has the meaning given by paragraphs (i) and (ii) of the definition of that expression in section 135(1) of the M19Education (Scotland) Act 1980 but includes a university and a theological college.

[F5741A Indoor sports entertainment licences.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a licence to be known as an “indoor sports entertainment licence” shall be required for the use of premises as a place of public sports entertainment.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to any occasion on which the entertainment of the public by the sport is not the principal purpose for which the premises are used but this provision does not apply in relation to a sports complex.

(3)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority may attach conditions to an indoor sports entertainment licence—

(a)restricting the use of the premises to a specified kind or specified kinds of public sports entertainment;

(b)limiting the number of persons to be admitted to the premises;

(c)fixing the days and times when the premises may be open for the purposes of public sports entertainment.

(4)In this section—

  • premises” means any permanent or temporary building and any tent or inflatable structure and includes a part of a building where the building is a sports complex but does not include a part of any other building;

  • public sports entertainment” means any sporting event to which the public are invited as spectators;

  • sporting event” means any contest, exhibition or display of any sport;

  • sports complex” means a building—

(a)which provides accommodation and facilities for both those engaging in sport and spectators; and

(b)the parts of which are so arranged that one or more sports can be engaged in simultaneously in different parts of the building; and

sport” includes any game in which physical skill is the predominant factor and any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display, except dancing (in any form).]

42 Late hours catering licences.S

(1)A licence, to be known as a “late hours catering licence”, shall be required for the use of premises between the hours of eleven o’clock in the evening and five o’clock the following morning for the sale to or consumption by the public of meals or refreshment.

(2)The reference in subsection (1) above to the sale of meals or refreshment is a reference to the sale of meals or refreshment for consumption on as well as off the premises in which they are sold.

(3)Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a licensing authority may attach conditions to a late hours catering licence fixing the days and hours during which the premises may be open for business, and different days and hours may be fixed for the sale of meals or refreshments for consumption on the premises from those fixed for the sale of meals or refreshments for consumption off the premises.

(4)A late hours catering licence shall not be required in respect of—

(a)the use as such of licensed premises within the meaning of the M20Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976; or

(b)premises being used in accordance with a public entertainment licence.

(5)A licensing authority may, on application made to them, exempt the use of premises requiring a late hours catering licence from the requirement to have such a licence—

(a)in respect of any particular occasion; or

(b)during a specified period not exceeding 2 months in any period of 12 months.

(6)The licensing authority may attach conditions to an exemption granted under subsection (5) above, and the provisions of Part I of this Act relating to the attaching of conditions to licences and subsection (3) above shall apply to the attaching of conditions to exemptions under this subsection.

Marginal Citations

43 Window cleaners’ licences.S

A licence, to be known as a “window cleaner’s licence” shall be required for carrying on the trade of, or being employed as, a window cleaner.

44 Additional activities.S

(1)The Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument, designate any activity other than one of those specified in this Part of this Act—

(a)as an activity for which, subject to a resolution of the licensing authority in relation to it under section 9 of this Act, a licence shall be required and which, subject to such a resolution, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions specified in the order; or

(b)as an activity for which a licence shall be required and which shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions specified in the order.

(2)An order made under this section may provide—

(a)that Part I of this Act, with such modifications if any as may be specified in the order, shall have effect for the purposes of the licensing of the activity designated by the order;

(b)for the regulation of the activity designated by the order;

(c)for the repeal or modification of any enactment which provides (whether consistently or not) for the same matter as the order;

(d)without prejudice to any provision of Part I of this Act which has effect, with or without modification, by virtue of paragraph (a) above, for the creation of offences and for making offenders liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or such lesser maximum period as may be specified in the order or to a fine not exceeding [F58level 3 on the standard scale] or such lesser maximum fine as may be so specified or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(3)No order shall be made under this section unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1S. 44: s. 44 power exercised by S.I. 1991/1253. For previous exercise of power see Index to Government Orders.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Part IIIS Control of Sex Shops

45 Control of sex shops.S

(1)A [F59local authority] may resolve that Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect in their area; and if they do so resolve that Schedule shall have such effect as from the day specified in that behalf in the resolution (which must not be before the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the day on which the resolution is passed).

(2)A [F59local authority] shall, not later than 28 days before the day specified in the resolution for the coming into effect of Schedule 2 to this Act in the [F59authority’s]area, publish notice that they have passed a resolution under this section in a newspaper circulating in their area.

(3)The notice shall state the general effect of that Schedule.

Textual Amendments

Part IVS Offences, Powers of Constables, etc.

Offences of annoying, offensive, obstructive or dangerous behaviourS

46 Soliciting and importuning by prostitutes.S

(1)A prostitute (whether male or female) who for the purposes of prostitution—

(a)loiters in a public place;

(b)solicits in a public place or in any other place so as to be seen from a public place; or

(c)importunes any person who is in a public place,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F60level 2 on the standard scale].

(2)In subsection (1) above, “public place” has the same meaning as in section 133 of this Act but includes—

(a)any place to which at the material time the public are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise; and

(b)any public conveyance other than a taxi or hire car within the meaning of section 23 of this Act.

Textual Amendments

47 Urinating etc.S

Any person who urinates or defecates in such circumstances as to cause, or to be likely to cause, annoyance to any other person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F61level 2 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F6248 Dogs: fouling of pavements.S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

49 Dangerous and annoying creatures.S

(1)Any person who suffers or permits any creature in his charge to cause danger or injury to any other person who is in a public place or to give such person reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F63level 2 on the standard scale].

(2)A district court may, if satisfied that any creature kept in the vicinity of any place where a person resides is giving that person, while in that place, reasonable cause for annoyance, make an order requiring the person keeping the creature to take, within such period as may be specified in the order, such steps (short of destruction of the creature) to prevent the continuance of the annoyance as may be so specified.

(3)An application to a district court for an order under subsection (2) above may be made by any person.

(4)Any person who fails to comply with an order under subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F63level 3 on the standard scale].

(5)The fact that there is a licence under the M21Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 in respect of a creature shall not of itself afford a defence in proceedings under this section relating to that creature.

(6)Where a court convicts a person of an offence under this section or discharges him absolutely or makes a probation order in relation to him, it may, whether or not (in the case of conviction) it imposes a penalty under subsection (1) or (4) above—

(a)subject to subsection (8) below, make such order as it sees fit as to the disposal of the creature to which the proceedings relate;

(b)authorise a constable, in pursuance of such an order, to take possession of the creature.

(7)An order under subsection (6) above may, subject to any enactment relating to the protection or conservation of living things, be for the destruction of the creature to which it relates.

(8)No creature disposed of under an order under subsection (6) above shall be given or sold for the purposes of vivisection.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

50 Drunkenness.S

(1)Any person who, while not in the care or protection of a suitable person, is, in a public place, drunk and incapable of taking care of himself shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F64level 2 on the standard scale].

(2)Any person who is drunk in a public place while in charge of a child under the age of 10 shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F64level 2 on the standard scale].

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) above, if a child appears to the court to be under the age of 10, the child shall be deemed to be under that age unless the contrary is proved.

(4)A constable may arrest a person for contravening subsection (2) above if he has reasonable cause to believe that the child in the charge of that person is under the age of 10.

(5)Any person who is drunk in a public place while in possession of a firearm (including a crossbow, airgun, air rifle or air pistol) shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F64level 2 on the standard scale].

(6)In this section, “public place” has the same meaning as in section 133 of this Act but includes—

(a)any place to which at the material time the public are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise; and

(b)any public conveyance other than a taxi or hire car within the meaning of section 23 of this Act.

Textual Amendments

51 Obscene material.S

(1)Subject to subsection (4) below, any person who displays any obscene material in any public place or in any other place where it can be seen by the public shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

(2)Subject to subsection (4) below, any person who publishes, sells or distributes or, with a view to its eventual sale or distribution, makes, prints, has or keeps any obscene material shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

[F65(2A)Subject to subsection (4) below, any person who—

(a)is responsible for the inclusion of any obscene material in a programme included in a programme service; or

(b)with a view to its eventual inclusion in a programme so included, makes, prints, has or keeps any obscene material,

shall be guilty of an offence under this section.]

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding [F666 months]or to both or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding [F663 years]or to both.

(4)A person shall not be convicted of an offence under this section if he proves that he had used all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

(5)Under an indictment for or on a complaint of a breach of subsection (1) above, the court may, if satisfied that the person accused is guilty of an offence under section 1(1) of the M22Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 (offence of public display of indecent matter), convict him of a breach of the said section 1(1).

(6)Nothing in this section applies in relation to any matter—

(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F67

(b)included in a performance of a play (within the meaning of the M23Theatres Act 1968).

(7)For section 5(4)(b) of the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 (saving) there shall be substituted the following—

(b)section 51 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

(8)In this section—

  • material” includes any book, magazine, bill, paper, print, film, tape, disc or other kind of recording (whether of sound or visual images or both), photograph, drawing, painting, representation, model or figure . . . F68;

  • photograph” includes the negative as well as the positive version;

  • public place” has the same meaning as in section 133 of this Act except that it includes any place to which at the material time the public are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise;

  • prescribed sum” has the same meaning as in [F69section 225(8) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995];

  • [F70programme” and “programme service” have the same meaning as in the Broadcasting Act 1990;]

and the reference to publishing includes a reference to . . . F71 playing, projecting or otherwise reproducing [F72, or, where the material is data stored electronically, transmitting that data].

Textual Amendments

F66Words in s. 51(3) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 8; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1)

F69S. 51(8): words in definition of

prescribed sum

substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 44(2)

F72Words in s. 51(8) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 20; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9The text of ss. 16, 18(11), 51(7) and 52(6) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

52 Indecent photographs etc. of children.S

(1)Any person who—

(a)takes, or permits to be taken [F73or makes], any indecent photograph [F74or pseudo-photograph of a child]

(b)distributes or shows such an indecent photograph [F75or pseudo-photograph];

(c)has in his possession such an indecent photograph [F75or pseudo-photograph]with a view to its being distributed or shown by himself or others: or

(d)publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that the advertiser distributes or shows such an indecent photograph [F75or pseudo-photograph], or intends to do so

shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

(2)[F76In subsection (1) above “child” means, subject to subsection (2B) below, a person under the age of [F7718]; and] in proceedings under this section a person is to be taken as having been a child at any material time if it appears from the evidence as a whole that he was then under the age of [F7718].

[F78(2A)In this section, “pseudo-photograph” means an image, whether produced by computer-graphics or otherwise howsoever, which appears to be a photograph.

(2B)If the impression conveyed by a pseudo-photograph is that the person shown is a child, the pseudo-photograph shall be treated for all purposes of this Act as showing a child and so shall a pseudo-photograph where the predominant impression conveyed is that the person shown is a child notwithstanding that some of the physical characteristics shown are those of an adult.

(2C)In this section, references to an indecent pseudo-photograph include—

(a)a copy of an indecent pseudo-photograph;

(b)data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into a pseudo-photograph.]

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding [F796 months] or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum within the meaning of [F80section 225(8) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995] (at the passing of this Act £1,000) or to both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding [F81[F8210 years]] or to a fine or to both.

(4)For the purposes of this section, a person is to be regarded as distributing an indecent photograph [F83 or pseudo-photograph] if he parts with possession of it to, or exposes or offers it for acquisition by, another person.

(5)Where a person is charged with an offfence under subsection (1)(b) or (c) above, it shall be a defence for him to prove—

(a)that he had a legitimate reason for distributing or showing the photograph [F83 or pseudo-photograph] or (as the case may be) having it in his possession; or

(b)that he had not himself seen the photograph [F83or pseudo-photograph] and did not know, nor had any cause to suspect, it to be indecent.

(6)In paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the M24 Visiting Forces Act 1952 (offences against the person in the case of which a member of a visiting force is in certain circumstances not liable to be tried by a United Kingdom court) the word “ and” immediately preceding sub-paragraph (b)(iii) shall be omitted and after the said sub-paragraph (b)(iii) there shall be added—

(iv)section 52(1)(a) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

(7)References in the M25Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (except in sections 171 and 368 thereof) [F84and in Part III of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (children in need of compulsory measures of care)] to the offences mentioned in Schedule 1 to that Act shall include an offence under subsection (1)(a) above.

(8)In this section—

(a)references to an indecent photograph include an indecent film, a copy of an indecent photograph or film and an indecent photograph comprised in a film;

(b)a photograph (including one comprised in a film) shall, if it shows a child and is indecent, be treated for all purposes of this section as an indecent photograph of a child;

[F85(c)references to a photograph include—

(i)the negative as well as the positive version; and

(ii)data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into a photograph.]

(d)film” includes any form of video-recording.

Textual Amendments

F73Words in s. 52(1)(a) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(a)(i) (with Sch. 9 para. 17)

F74Words in s. 52(1)(a) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 9 para. 17

F75Words in s. 52(1)(b)(c)(d) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(b); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F76Words in s. 52(2) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(c); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F78S. 52(2A)-(2C) added (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(d); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F79Words in s. 52(3)(a) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(e)(i); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F80Words in s. 52(3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 44(3)

F81Words in s. 52(3)(b) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(e)(ii); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F83Words in s. 52(4)(5)(a)(b) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(f); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F85S. 52(8)(c) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(6)(g); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11The text of ss. 16, 18(11), 51(7) and 52(6) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

[F8652A Possession of indecent photographs of children.S

(1)It is an offence for a person to have any indecent photograph [F87or pseudo-photograph of a child] in his possession.

(2)Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (1), it shall be a defence for him to prove—

(a)that he had a legitimate reason for having the photograph [F88or pseudo-photograph] in his possession; or

(b)that he had not himself seen the photograph [F88or pseudo-photograph] and did not know, nor had any cause to suspect, it to be indecent; or

(c)that the photograph [F88or pseudo-photograph] was sent to him without any prior request made by him or on his behalf and that he did not keep it for an unreasonable time.

(3)A person shall be liable

[F89(a)]on summary conviction of an offence under this section to [F90imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months or to]a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale [F91“or to both.”].

[F92(b)on conviction on indictment of such an offence to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years or to a fine or to both.]

(4)Subsections (2) [F93to (2C)] and (8) of section 52 of this Act shall have effect for the purposes of this section as they have for the purposes of that section.]

Textual Amendments

F87Words in s. 52A(1) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(7); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F88words in s. 52A(2)(a)-(c) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(7)(b); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F89Words in s. 52A(3) renumbered as s. 52A(3)(a) (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 19(1)(b), 89(2); S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, sch.

F90Words in s. 52A(3) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(7)(c)(i); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F91Words in s. 52A(3) added (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(7)(c)(ii); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F93Words in s. 52A(4) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(7)(d); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

[F9452BSections 52 and 52A: exceptions for photographs of 16 and 17 year oldsS

(1)If subsection (2) below applies, the accused is not guilty of an offence under section 52(1)(a) of this Act of taking or making an indecent photograph of a child.

(2)This subsection applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so;

(b)at the time of the offence charged or at the time when the accused obtained the photograph, the accused and the child were—

(i)married to or civil partners of each other; or

(ii)partners in an established relationship; and

(c)either—

(i)the child consented to the photograph being taken or made; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so.

(3)If subsection (4) below applies, the accused is not guilty of an offence under section 52(1)(b) of this Act relating to an indecent photograph of a child.

(4)This subsection applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so;

(b)at the time of the offence charged or at the time when the accused obtained the photograph, the accused and the child were—

(i)married to or civil partners of each other; or

(ii)partners in an established relationship;

(c)either—

(i)the child consented to the photograph's being taken or made; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so; and

(d)the showing or distributing of the photograph was only to the child.

(5)If subsection (6) below applies, the accused is not guilty of an offence under section 52(1)(c) of this Act relating to an indecent photograph of a child.

(6)This subsection applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so;

(b)at the time of the offence charged or at the time when the accused obtained the photograph, the accused and the child were—

(i)married to or civil partners of each other; or

(ii)partners in an established relationship;

(c)either—

(i)the child consented to the photograph's being in the accused's possession; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so; and

(d)the accused had the photograph in his possession with a view to its being distributed or shown only to the child.

(7)If subsection (8) below applies, the accused is not guilty of an offence under section 52A of this Act relating to an indecent photograph of a child.

(8)This subsection applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so;

(b)at the time of the offence charged or at the time when the accused obtained the photograph, the accused and the child were—

(i)married to or civil partners of each other; or

(ii)partners in an established relationship; and

(c)either—

(i)the child consented to the photograph's being in the accused's possession; or

(ii)the accused reasonably believed that to be so.

(9)Subsections (2), (4), (6) and (8) above apply whether the photograph showed the child alone or with the accused, but not if it showed any other person.

52CSection 52B: proof of exceptionsS

(1)This section applies for the purpose of determining whether a matter within a paragraph of section 52B(2), (4), (6) or (8) of this Act is the case.

(2)If sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue as to whether the matter is the case, it shall be held to be the case, except where subsection (3) below applies.

(3)This subsection applies where the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that the matter is not the case.

(4)Otherwise, the matter shall be held not to be the case.]

53 Obstruction by pedestrians.S

Any person who, being on foot in any public place—

(a)obstructs, along with another or others, the lawful passage of any other person and fails to desist on being required to do so by a constable in uniform, or

(b)wilfully obstructs the lawful passage of any other person

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F95level 2 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

54 Playing instruments, singing, playing radios, etc.S

(1)Any person who—

(a)sounds or plays any musical instrument;

(b)sings or performs; or

(c)operates any radio or television receiver, record player, tape-recorder or other sound producing device

so as to give any other person reasonable cause for annoyance and fails to desist on being required to do so by a constable in uniform, shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.

(2)This section is without prejudice to any offence under section 62 of the M26Control of Pollution Act 1974 (operation of loudspeakers in streets).

[F96(2A)Where a constable reasonably suspects that an offence under subsection (1) above has been committed in relation to a musical instrument or in relation to such a device as is mentioned in paragraph (c) of that subsection, he may enter any premises on which he reasonably suspects that instrument or device to be and seize any such instrument or device he finds there.

(2B)A constable may use reasonable force in the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (2A) above.

(2C)Schedule 2A to this Act (which makes provision in relation to the retention and disposal of property seized under subsection (2A) above) shall have effect.]

(3)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to the operation of a loudspeaker—

(a)for police, [F97fire-fighting] or ambulance purposes, by [F98Scottish Water] in the exercise of any of its functions, or by a local authority within its area;

(b)for communicating with persons on a vessel for the purpose of directing the movement of that or any other vessel;

(c)if the loudspeaker forms part of a public telephone system;

(d)if the loudspeaker—

(i)is in or fixed to a vehicle, and

(ii)is operated solely for the entertainment of or for communicating with the driver or a passenger of the vehicle or, where the loudspeaker is or forms part of the horn or similar warning instrument of the vehicle, solely for giving warning to other traffic, and

(iii)is so operated as not to give reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in the vicinity;

(e)otherwise than on a [F99road], by persons employed in connection with a transport undertaking used by the public in a case where the loudspeaker is operated solely for making announcements to passengers or prospective passengers or to other persons so employed;

(f)by a travelling showman on land which is being used for the purposes of a pleasure fair;

(g)in case of emergency.

F100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F101(4)In subsection (3)(a), the reference to fire-fighting purposes is a reference to—

(a)the purposes of a relevant authority (as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5)); or

(b)fire-fighting functions of any other employer of fire-fighters.]

Textual Amendments

F96S. 54(2A)-(2C) inserted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)

F97Words in s. 54(3)(a) substituted (2.8.2005) by Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5), s. 90, sch. 3 para. 11(a) (with s. 77); S.S.I. 2005/392, art. 2(k)

F98Words in s. 54(3)(a) substituted (1.4.2002) by Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3), s. 71(2), Sch. 7 para. 13(a), (with s. 67); S.S.I. 2002/118, art. 2

F100Words in s. 54(3) repealed (1.4.2002) by Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 3), s. 71(2), Sch. 7 para. 13(b), (with s. 67); S.S.I. 2002/118, art. 2

Marginal Citations

55 Touting.S

(1)Any person who—

(a)in a public place—

(i)touts for the purpose of selling or advertising anything or otherwise obtaining custom so as to give any other person reasonable cause for annoyance; or

(ii)importunes any other person for that purpose so as to give that, or any other, person reasonable cause for annoyance; and

(b)fails to desist when required to do so by a constable in uniform,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F102level 2 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

56 Fires.S

Any person who lays or lights a fire in a public place so as to endanger any other person or give him reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance or so as to endanger any property shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F103level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

Preventive offencesS

57 Being in or on building etc. with intent to commit theft.S

(1)Any person who, without lawful authority to be there, is found in or on a building or other premises, whether enclosed or not, or in its curtilage or in a vehicle or vessel so that, in all the circumstances, it may reasonably be inferred that he intended to commit theft there shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F104level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or to both.

(2)In this section “theft” includes any aggravation of theft including robbery.

Textual Amendments

58 Convicted thief in possession.S

(1)Any person who, being a person to whom this section applies—

(a)has or has recently had in his possession any tool or other object from the possession of which it may reasonably be inferred that he intended to commit theft or has committed theft; and

(b)is unable to demonstrate satisfactorily that his possession of such tool or other object is or was not for the purposes of committing theft

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F105level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or to both.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a person shall have recently had possession of a tool or other object if he had possession of it within 14 days before the date of—

(a)his arrest without warrant for the offence of having so possessed it in contravention of subsection (1) above; or

(b)the issue of a warrant for his arrest for that offence; or

(c)if earlier, the service upon him of the first complaint alleging that he has committed that offence.

(3)Where a court convicts a person of an offence under this section or discharges him absolutely or makes a probation order in relation to him in respect of such an offence it may order the forfeiture of any tool or other object in respect of the possession of which he was convicted or discharged absolutely, or, as the case may be, the probation order was made.

(4)This section applies to a person who has two or more convictions for theft which are not, for the purposes of the M27Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, spent convictions.

(5)In this section “theft” includes any aggravation of theft including robbery.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

Powers of constables etc.S

59 Powers of arrest and apprehension.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a constable may, where it is necessary in the interests of justice to do so, arrest without warrant a person whom he finds committing an offence to which this section applies or a person who is delivered into his custody in pursuance of subsection (3) below.

(2)A constable who is not in uniform shall produce his identification if required to do so by any person whom he is arresting under subsection (1) above.

(3)The owner, tenant or occupier of any property in, upon, or in respect of, which an offence to which this section applies is being committed or any person authorised by him may apprehend any person whom the owner or, as the case may be, the tenant, occupier or authorised person finds committing that offence and detain the apprehended person until he can be delivered into the custody of a constable.

In this subsection “property” means heritable or moveable property.

(4)This section applies to offences under sections 50, 57 and 58 of this Act.

(5)This section shall not prejudice any power of arrest conferred by law apart from this section.

60 Powers of search and seizure.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) and (3) below, if a constable has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is in possession of any stolen property, the constable may without warrant—

(a)search that person or anything in his possession, and detain him for as long as is necessary for the purpose of that search;

(b)enter and search any vehicle or vessel in which the constable suspects that that thing may be found, and for that purpose require the person in control of the vehicle or vessel to stop it and keep it stopped;

(c)enter and search any premises occupied by a second-hand dealer or a metal dealer for the purposes of his business;

(d)seize and detain anything found in the course of any such search which appears to the constable to have been stolen or to be evidence of the commission of the crime of theft

and may, in doing so, use reasonable force.

In this subsection “second-hand dealer” and “metal dealer” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by sections 24(2) and 37(1) of this Act.

(2)The power under subsection (1)(b) above to require the person in charge of a vehicle or vessel to stop it shall be exercisable only by a constable in uniform.

(3)A constable who is not in uniform shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1)(a) to (c) above until he has produced his identification—

(a)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person in respect of whom the powers are exercised;

(b)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsections (1)(b) or (c) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the vehicle, vessel or premises and to any other person in or on the vehicle, vessel or premises who, having reasonable cause to do so, requests to see it.

(4)In subsection (1) above “theft” includes any aggravation of theft including robbery.

(5)Nothing in [F106section 54(2A) of this Act or] this section prejudices any power of entry or search or any power to seize or detain property or any power to require any vehicle or vessel to be stopped [F107which is otherwise exercisable by a constable].

(6)Any person who, without reasonable excuse—

(a)fails to allow a constable [F108to enter and search—,

(i)any premises in pursuance of section 54(2A) of this Act or of subsection (1) above; or

(ii)any vehicle or vessel in pursuance of the said subsection (1)], or seize and detain anything found in the course of such searsh;

(b)when required by a constable in pursuance of subsection (1) above to stop a vehicle or vessel and keep it stopped, fails to do so; or

(c)obstructs a constable in the exercise of his powers under [F109section 54(2A) of this Act or]subsection (1) above;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F110level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F106Words in s. 60(5) inserted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(a)(i); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)

F107Words in s. 60(5) substituted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(a)(ii); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)

F108Words and s. 60(6)(a)(i)(ii) substituted for words in s. 60(6)(a) substituted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(b)(i); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)

61 Protection of insecure premises.S

(1)Where—

(a)any premises have been left open, unlocked or otherwise insecure; and

(b)in the opinion of a constable, the insecurity of the premises is likely to conduce to the commission of an offence,

the constable may take such reasonable steps as he may consider necessary to make the premises secure.

(2)Any reasonable expense incurred by a constable in making any premises secure under subsection (1) above may be recovered by the police authority from the occupier (or, where there is no occupier, from the tenant or, where there is no occupier or tenant, from the owner) of the premises.

Part VS Public Processions

62 Notification of processions.S

(1)A person proposing to hold a procession in public shall give written notice of that proposal in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) below

[F111(a)]to the [F112local authority] in whose area the procession is to be held, or if it is to be held in the areas of more than one such [F112 authority], to each such [F112authority][F113;

[F114(aa)if the procession is to be held to any extent in a National Park, to the National Park authority for the National Park;]

and

F113(b)to the chief constable.]

(2)Notice shall be given for the purposes of subsection (1) above by—

(a)its being posted to the main office of the [F112local authority][F115and (where subsection (1)(aa) above applies) of the National Park authority][F116and to the office of the chief constable] so that in the normal course of post it might be expected to arrive not later than 7 days before the date when the procession is to be held; or

(b)its being delivered by hand to [F117those offices] not later than 7 days before that date.

(3)The notice to be given under subsection (1) above shall specify—

(a)the date and time when the procession is to be held;

(b)its route;

(c)the number of persons likely to take part in it;

(d)the arrangements for its control being made by the person proposing to hold it; and

(e)the name and address of that person.

(4)A [F112local authority]may, on application in accordance with subsection (5) below by a person proposing to hold a procession in public in their area

[F118(a)] made to them [F119;

[F120(aa)if the procession is to be held to any extent in a National Park, intimated to the National Park authority for the National Park;]

and

F119(b)intimated to the chief constable,] within the period of 7 days before the date when the procession is to be held, make an order dispensing with the requirements of subsection (2) above in relation to the time limits for the giving of notice of that proposal.

(5)An application under subsection (4) above shall specify the matters mentioned in subsection (3) above and, where an order has been made under the said subsection (4), the application for it shall be treated as notice duly given for the purposes of subsection (1) above.

(6)A [F112local authority] may (whether upon application made to them or not) make an order exempting any person proposing to hold any procession in public being a procession specified in the order or one of a class of processions so specified from the requirement under this section to give notice to the [F112 authority]of the proposal to hold that procession.

(7)This section does not apply in relation to processions commonly or customarily held; but a [F112local authority]may, as respects their area, order that it shall apply to any such procession so held or any such class of processions so held as is specified in the order.

(8)An order under subsection (6) or (7) above may—

(a)provide that its application in any case or class of cases is subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order;

(b)classify processions by reference to any factor or factors whatsoever;

(c)be varied or revoked by subsequent order made in like manner.

(9)The [F112local authority] shall, before making an order under subsection (4) above or making, varying or revoking an order under subsection (6) or (7) above, consult the chief constable.

(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F121

(11)The [F112local authority] shall, as soon as possible after they make, vary or revoke an order under subsection (6) or (7) above, give public notice of that fact in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in their area.

(12)In this section and in sections 63 to 65 of this Act—

  • procession in public” means a procession in a public place;

  • chief constable” means, in relation to a [F112local authority], the chief constable of the police force for the area which comprises or includes the area of the [F112authority]; and

  • public place” has the same meaning as in [F122Part II of the Public Order Act 1986].

63 Functions of regional and islands councils in relation to processions.S

(1)The [F123local authority] may, after consulting the chief constable [F124and (where section 62(1)(aa) of this Act applies) the National Park authority] in respect of a procession notice of which has been given or falls to be treated as having been given in accordance with section 62(1) of this Act, make an order—

(i)prohibiting the holding of the procession; or

(ii)imposing conditions on the holding of it.

[F125(1A)Where notice of a proposal to hold a procession has been given or falls to be treated as having been given in accordance with section 62(1) of this Act—

(a)if a [F123local authority]have made an order under subsection (1) above they may at any time thereafter, after consulting the chief constable [F126and (where subsection (1)(aa) of that section applies) the National Park authority], vary or revoke the order and, where they revoke it, make any order which they were empowered to make under that subsection;

(b)if they have decided not to make an order they may at any time thereafter, after consulting the chief constable [F126and (where subsection (1)(aa) of that scetion applies) the National Park authority], make any order which they were empowered to make under that subsection.]

(2)The conditions which may be imposed under subsection (1) [F127or (1A)] above on the holding of a procession may include conditions—

(a)as to the date, time and duration of the procession;

(b)as to the route to be taken by it;

(c)prohibiting its entry into any public place specified in the order.

(3)A [F123local authority] shall—

(a)where notice of a proposal to hold a procession has been given or falls to be treated as having been given in accordance with section 62(1) of this Act, deliver at least 2 days before the date when, in terms of the notice, the procession is to be held, to the person who gave the notice—

(i)where they have made an order under subsection (1) [F128or (1A)] above, a copy of it and a written statement of the reasons for it; . . . F129

(ii)where they decide not to make [F130an order under subsection (1) above or to revoke an order already made under subsection (1) or (1A) above], notification of that fact;

[F131(iii)where they have, under subsection (1A) above, varied such an order, a copy of the order as varied and a written statement of the reasons for the variation; and]

(b)where they have made an order under subsection (1) [F132or (1A)] above in relation to a proposal to hold a procession, make such arrangements as will ensure that persons who might take or are taking part in that procession are made aware of the fact that the order has been made [F132and, if the order has been varied under subsection (1A) above, that it has been so varied] and of its effect [F133; and

(c)where they have revoked an order made under subsection (1) or (1A) above in relation to a proposal to hold a procession, make such arrangements as will ensure that persons who might take or are taking part in that procession are made aware of the fact that the order has been revoked.]

(4)The [F123local authority]shall comply with subsection (3) above—

(a)as early as possible;

(b)only insofar as it is reasonably practicable for them to do so.

64 Appeals against orders under section 63.S

(1)An appeal to the sheriff shall lie at the instance of a person who, in accordance with section 62 of this Act, has or falls to be treated as having given notice of a proposal to hold a procession in public [F134against

(a)an order made under section 63(1) or (1A) of this Act; or

(b)a variation under section 63(1A) of this Act of an order made under section 63(1) or (1A),

in relation to the procession.]

(2)An appeal under this section shall be made by way of summary application and shall be lodged with the sheriff clerk within 14 days from the date on which the copy of the order and statement of reasons were received by the appellant.

(3)On good cause being shown, the sheriff may hear an appeal under this section notwithstanding that it was not lodged within the time mentioned in subsection (2) above.

(4)The sheriff may uphold an appeal under this section only if he considers that the [F135local authority] in arriving at their decision to make [F136or, as the case may be, to vary] the order—

(a)erred in law;

(b)based their decision on any incorrect material fact;

(c)exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner; or

(d)otherwise acted beyond their powers.

(5)In considering an appeal under this section the sheriff may hear evidence by or on behalf of any party to the appeal.

(6)Subject to subsection (7) below, on an appeal under this section, the sheriff may

(a)uphold the appeal and—

(i)remit the case, with the reasons for his decision, to the [F135local authority] for reconsideration of their decision, or

(ii)if he considers that there is insufficient time for the case to be remitted under sub-paragraph (i) above vary the order which is the subject of the appeal or make any such order as the [F135authority] were empowered to make under section 63(1) of this Act; or

(b)dismiss the appeal,

and on remitting a case under paragraph (a)(ii) above, the sheriff may—

(i)specify a date by which the reconsideration by the [F135authority] must take place;

(ii)modify any procedural steps which otherwise would be required to be taken in relation to the matter by or under any enactment (including this Act).

(7)The sheriff shall not exercise any of his powers under subsection (6) above unless he is satisfied that all steps which in the circumstances were reasonable have been taken with a view to securing that notice of the appeal and an opportunity of being heard with respect to it have been given to the [F135 authority] whose order [F137or, as the case may be, the variation of whose order] under section 63 of this Act is the subject of the appeal.

(8)The sheriff may include in his decision on an appeal under this section such order as to the expenses of the appeal as he thinks proper.

(9)Any party to an appeal to the sheriff under this section may appeal on a point of law from the decision of the sheriff to the Court of Session within 28 days from the date of that decision.

65 Offences and enforcement.S

(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, a person who holds a procession in public—

(a)without—

(i)having given or being a person who is treated as having given notice in accordance with section 62 of this Act of his proposal to do so; and

(ii)there being in force in relation to the procession an exempting order under section 62(6) of this Act;

(b)in contravention of an order under section 63(1) [F138or (1A)] or 64(6)(a)(ii) of this Act prohibiting the holding of it;

(c)otherwise than in accordance with a condition imposed by an order under section 63(1) [F138or (1A)] or 64(6)(a)(ii) of this Act in relation to the procession; or

(d)otherwise than in accordance with the particulars of its date, time and route specified—

(i)in the notice given under section 62(1) to (3) of this Act; or

(ii)where an order has been made under subsection (4) of that section, in the application for the order

except to the extent that a condition referred to in paragraph (c) above relates to its date, time or route,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F139level 4 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or to both.

(2)Subject to subsection (3) below, a person who takes part in a procession in public—

(a)in respect of which—

(i)notice has not been or is not treated as having been given in accordance with section 62 of this Act; and

(ii)there is not in force an exempting order under section 62(6) of this Act in relation to the procession;

(b)in relation to which an order has been made under section 63(1) [F140or (1A)] or 64(6)(a)(ii) of this Act prohibiting the holding of it;

(c)which is held otherwise than in accordance with a condition imposed by an order under section 63(1) [F140or (1A)] or 64(6)(a)(ii) of this Act in relation to the procession; or

(d)which is held otherwise than in accordance with the particulars of its date, time and route specified—

(i)in the notice given under section 62(1) to (3) of this Act; or

(ii)where an order has been made under subsection (4) of that section, in the application for the order

except to the extent that a condition referred to in paragraph (c) above relates to its date, time or route

and refuses to desist when required to do so by a constable in uniform shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F139level 3 on the standard scale].

(3)This section does not apply to processions commonly or customarily held except that it applies to a procession so held if there is in force in relation to it an order under section 62(7) of this Act.

(4)Subject to subsection (5) below, a constable may arrest without warrant a person whom he reasonably suspects of committing or having committed an offence under this section.

(5)A constable who is not in uniform shall produce his identification if required to do so by any person whom he is arresting under subsection (4) above.

66 Relationship of sections 62 to 65 with [F141F141Public Order Act 1986].S

Sections 62 to 65 of this Act are subject to the [F141Public Order Act 1986]; and, without prejudice to that generality—

(a)an order under those sections, so far as relating to the same matters as those to which any directions given [F142under section 12] of that Act relate, shall be subject to those directions . . . F143; and

(b)anything done in conformity with any such directions . . . F144 or omitted, in conformity therewith, to be done shall not be an offence under section 65 of this Act.

Part VIS Lost and Abandoned Property

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C13Pt. VI (ss. 67–79) extended with modifications by Animals (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 9, SIF 4:6), s. 3(2)

67 Duty of finder.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, any person taking possession of any property without the authority of the owner in circumstances which make it reasonable to infer that the property has been lost or abandoned (“a finder”) shall take reasonable care of it and shall without unreasonable delay deliver the property or report the fact that he has taken possession of it to a constable or to any of the persons mentioned in subsection (3) below, giving a description of the property and information as to where it was found.

(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to—

(a)property found on the premises of, or used by, an undertaking which provides a transport service for the public, being premises such as omnibus stations, ports, airports or other similar places, or on any vehicle, vessel or aircraft used by the undertaking for such a service, if provision is made in relation to such lost or abandoned property by or under any enactment other than this Act;

(b)property found on the premises of, or used by, the British Railways Board or on any vehicle, train, or vessel used by the Board;

(c)motor vehicles which appear to be abandoned, whose removal is provided for by or under any enactment other than this Act; or

(d)any dog in relation to which provision is made under sections 3 and 4 of the M28Dogs Act 1906 (which relate to stray dogs).

(3)The persons referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a)the owner of the property;

(b)the person having right to possession of it;

(c)if the property has been found on land or premises, the owner or occupier thereof;

(d)any person apparently having the authority to act on behalf of any of those persons.

(4)Where a person who takes possession of property or receives a report about its finding is—

(a)a person referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (3) above, he shall deliver the property or report the fact that he has taken possession of it to a constable or to any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (d) of that subsection;

(b)a person referred to in paragraph (d) of subsection (3) above, he shall deliver the property or report the fact that he has taken possession of it to a constable or to any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of that subsection.

(5)Any person who reports the fact that he has taken possession of any property to a constable under this section shall, on being required to do so by the chief constable, deliver the property to such person at such time as the chief constable may direct.

(6)Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.

Marginal Citations

68 Functions of chief constable.S

(1)This section applies to any property which has been delivered or the finding of which has been reported to a constable under section 67 of this Act, or which has been found by a constable.

(2)The chief constable shall make such arrangements as he considers appropriate for the care and custody of the property.

(3)The chief constable shall take reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the owner or person having right to the possession of the property and to notify him where it can be collected.

(4)The chief constable may, after the expiry of a period of 2 months from the date on which the property was delivered or its finding reported to a constable under section 67 of this Act, having regard to the whole circumstances including the nature and value of the property and the actings of the finder, offer it to the finder under section 70(1)(b) of this Act or, if in his opinion so to offer it would be inappropriate, may sell it or, if in his opinion it would be both inappropriate so to offer it and impracticable to sell it, may dispose of it or make arrangements for its disposal otherwise as he thinks fit; but he shall not do any of these things before the expiry of that period other than by returning it to the claimant under section 69 of this Act or by disposing of it under subsection (5) below.

(5)If the property cannot, in the opinion of the chief constable, be safely or conveniently kept for the period mentioned in subsection (4) above he may dispose of it or arrange for its disposal within that period in such manner as he thinks fit.

(6)The chief constable shall keep a record of particulars connected with the property and shall retain the record so kept for a period of one year from the date on which the property is disposed of under the provisions of this Part of this Act.

69 Claims by owner etc. prior to disposal.S

(1)The owner or person having right to possession of any property in the possession of the chief constable by virtue of section 67 of this Act, or of another person under arrangements made by the chief constable, may at any time prior to its disposal under section 68 of this Act claim that property from the chief constable in accordance with such procedure as the chief constable may direct.

(2)The chief constable shall consider any claims to property made under subsection (1) above, and, on being satisfied that the claimant is the owner of that property or has a right to possession of it, shall deliver or arrange for the delivery of the property to the claimant on such conditions (if any) as he thinks fit, including payment of such reasonable charges (including any reasonable expenses incurred by him or on his behalf) as the chief constable may determine and payment of such sum as the claimant may be ordered to pay under section 70 of this Act.

(3)Nothing in this section affects any right to or interest in the property arising otherwise than by virtue of this section.

70 Powers of chief constable regarding rewards.S

(1)The chief constable may—

(a)in the event of a claim to property being made under section 69 of this Act by a person appearing to him to be the owner of it or having right to possession of it, order the claimant to pay to the chief constable such sum as he may determine as a reward to the finder; or

(b)in the event of any such property not being claimed by such a person, give that property or any part of it to the finder, or pay him such sum as he may determine as a reward.

(2)In determining whether to make any reward under subsection (1) above and in determining the amount of any such reward the chief constable shall have regard to the whole circumstances including—

(a)the nature and value of the property;

(b)where there is a claimant to the property, the ability of the claimant to pay; and

(c)the actings of the finder.

71 Right arising on disposal of property.S

(1)Any disposal of property under sections 68 or 70 of this Act to a person taking in good faith shall, subject to subsection (2) below, vest the ownership of the property in that person.

(2)In the case of any such disposal of property made otherwise than for value, any person who was immediately before the disposal the owner of the property (“the previous owner”) shall be entitled within the period of one year after the date of the disposal to recover possession of the property as owner.

72 Rights to compensation.S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the previous owner of any property disposed of for value under section 68 of this Act shall be entitled to compensation.

(2)A claim for compensation under subsection (1) above in respect of any property may be made within a period of one year after the date of its disposal under section 68 of this Act in such manner as the chief constable may direct.

(3)The amount of compensation payable under subsection (1) above shall be the net proceeds of the sale of the property, but no compensation shall be payable where the net proceeds of the sale of the property are less than £100 or such other amount as the Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument, specify, and any such statutory instrument shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4)In this section, “net proceeds of sale” means the sum received for any property on its disposal for value under section 68 of this Act after deduction of—

(a)any expenses incurred in connection with the disposal of the property;

(b)any amount paid as a reward by the chief constable under section 70 of this Act; and

(c)such reasonable charges (including any reasonable expenses incurred by him or on his behalf) as the chief constable may determine.

73 No right of ownership conferred by finding.S

No person who—

(a)finds any property appearing to have been lost or abandoned;

(b)is the employer of a finder of such property; or

(c)owns or occupies the land or premises on which such property is found,

shall by reason only of the finding of that property have any right to claim ownership of it.

74 Living creatures.S

Where any person who has found any living creature, other than a stray dog or livestock (which expression shall have in this section the same meaning as it has for the purposes of section 129 of this Act), has been permitted to have, at his request, care and custody of that creature under arrangements made by the chief constable under section 68(2) of this Act and the creature—

(a)has continued to be in his care and custody for a period of 2 months, and

(b)has not been claimed during that period,

that person shall at the end of that period become the owner of that creature.

75 Stray dogs. S

In the M29 Dogs Act 1906—

(a)in section 3 (seizure and disposal of stray dogs) there shall be inserted after subsection (7) the following subsection—

(7A)Where a dog is disposed of under this section to a purchaser in good faith, the sale shall vest the ownership of the dog in the purchaser. ; and

(b)in section 4 (duty of finder of stray dog)—

(i)in subsection (3) after the word “ of” , where secondly occurring, there shall be inserted the words “ subsections (1) and (2)” and for the words “ forty shillings” there shall be substituted the words “ £50” ;and

(ii)after subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

(4)Where a person has taken possession of a stray dog, and kept it in accordance with subsection (2)(a) above for a period of two months without its having been claimed by the person having right to it, the person who has taken possession of it shall, at the end of that period, become the owner of the dog.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C14The text of ss. 75, 110, 119(5) and 137(7)(8) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

76 Appeal to sheriff.S

(1)Any person mentioned in subsection (2) below may appeal to the sheriff against any decision of the chief constable made under the sections specified in relation to that person in that subsection.

(2)The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a)a claimant under section 69 of this Act;

(b)a finder or claimant mentioned in section 70 of this Act;

(c)a previous owner mentioned in section 72 of this Act.

(3)An appeal under this section shall be made by way of summary application and shall be lodged with the sheriff clerk within 21 days from the date of the decision appealed against.

(4)On good cause being shown, the sheriff may hear an appeal under this section notwithstanding that it was not lodged within the time mentioned in subsection (3) above.

(5)In upholding an appeal under this section the sheriff may—

(a)remit the case with the reasons for his decision to the chief constable for reconsideration of his decision; or

(b)reverse or alter the decision of the chief constable.

77 Financial provisions.S

(1)Any moneys received by the chief constable as the proceeds of the disposal of lost or abandoned property under the provisions of this Part of this Act shall be paid by him to the police authority, and shall be treated as part of the income of the police authority for the purposes of the M30Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

(2)The expenses incurred by the chief constable in performing his functions under this Part of this Act shall be defrayed by the police authority, and shall be treated as part of the expenses of the police authority for the purposes of section 32 of the M31Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

Marginal Citations

78 Crown application of Part VI.S

(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, this Part of this Act binds the Crown.

(2)Accordingly, rights which the Crown has in lost or abandoned property shall be capable of being extinguished in accordance with the provisions of sections 71 and 74 of this Act.

(3)Subject to subsection (2) above, nothing in this Part of this Act affects the Crown’s right of ownership in lost or abandoned property.

79 Interpretation of Part VI.S

In this Part of this Act—

  • chief constable”, in relation to lost or abandoned property, means the chief constable for the police area in which the lost or abandoned property is found and includes a constable acting under his direction for the purpose of this Part of this Act;

  • finder” has the meaning given by section 67 of this Act;

  • previous owner” has the meaning given by section 71(2) of this Act.

Part VIIS Property in Possession of Persons Taken into Police Custody

80 Application of Part VII to property.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, this Part of this Act applies to all the property which is found in the possession of a person, or in his charge, at the time when he is taken into police custody, that is to say, when he is arrested and taken into custody by a constable or when he is detained under section 2 of the M32Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

(2)This Part of this Act does not apply to—

(a)property which is, or is reasonably suspected by a constable to be, in the unlawful possession of a person taken into police custody;

[F145(b)property which the prosecutor determines is or may be required as a production in criminal proceedings or which he determines is or may be required for any other purpose relating to such proceedings;]

(c)property consisting of the personal clothing and effects of a person taken into police custody.

Textual Amendments

F145S. 80(2)(b) substituted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(2), 7(2)

Marginal Citations

81 Chief constable to take charge of property.S

(1)The chief constable may take charge of any property to which this Part of this Act applies and shall make such arrangements as he considers appropriate for the care and custody of the property.

(2)The chief constable shall keep a record of particulars connected with property of which he takes charge under subsection (1) above and shall retain the record so kept for a period of one year from the date on which the property is disposed of under the provisions of this Part of this Act.

82 Provision as to property where the person in custody is the owner etc.S

(1)If the chief constable is satisfied that the person taken into police custody is the owner or has right to the possession of the property—

(a)he shall require that person to make suitable arrangements for the collection, care and custody of the property; and

(b)if that person fails to make such arrangements as are referred to in paragraph (a) above within a reasonable time of having been required under that paragraph to do so, the chief constable—

(i)may make such arrangements as he thinks fit for the care and custody of the property;

(ii)if the property cannot in his opinion be safely or conveniently kept, may dispose of it, or arrange for its disposal, as he thinks fit.

(2)When a person in relation to whose property the chief constable has made arrangements under subsection (1)(b)(i) above ceases to be in police custody, the chief constable shall make the property available to him or to any person authorised by him to act on his behalf for the purposes of this subsection on such conditions as the chief constable thinks fit, including payment of any reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the custody of the property.

(3)Any disposal of property under subsection (1)(b)(ii) above to a person taking in good faith shall vest the ownership of the property in that person.

(4)Any right which the Crown might have in property by virtue of its abandonment by its owner shall be capable of being extinguished in accordance with subsection (3) above.

(5)Any proceeds from the disposal of the property under subsection (1)(b)(ii) above shall, after deduction of any reasonable expenses incurred by the chief constable in connection with the custody and disposal of the property, be kept by the chief constable on behalf of the person in police custody and shall be paid to that person when he ceases to be in such custody or to another person authorised on his behalf.

(6)Where the proceeds mentioned in subsection (5) above do not cover the reasonable expenses of the chief constable in connection with the custody or disposal of the property, the chief constable may recover those expenses from the person who was taken into police custody.

83 Provision as to property where the person in custody is not the owner etc.S

If the chief constable has reason to believe that the person taken into police custody is not the owner or the person having right to possession of [F146property to which this Part of this Act applies], the provisions of Part VI of this Act shall apply to the property as they apply to property to which section 67 of this Act applies [F147(the property being regarded, for the purposes of those provisions, as being found by the constable arresting or detaining the person so taken)].

Textual Amendments

F146Words in s. 83 substituted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(3)(a), 7(2)

F147Words in s. 83 added (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(3)(b), 7(2)

84 Appeal to sheriff.S

Any person taken into police custody may appeal to the sheriff against the decision of the chief constable under this Part of this Act in relation to property found in that person’s possession or in his charge when taken into custody, and subsections (3) to (5) of section 76 of this Act shall apply to an appeal under this section as they apply to an appeal under that section.

85 Financial provisions: property of persons in custody.S

(1)Any moneys received by the chief constable as the proceeds of the disposal of property to which this Part of this Act applies shall, pending their payment under section 82(5) of this Act, be paid by him to the police authority, and shall be treated as part of the income of the police authority for the purposes of the M33Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

(2)The expenses incurred by the chief constable in performing his functions under this Part of this Act shall be defrayed by the police authority, and shall be treated as part of the expenses of the police authority for the purposes of section 32 of the M34Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

Marginal Citations

86 Interpretation and Crown application of this Part.S

(1)In this Part of this Act, “chief constable” means the chief constable for the police area in which the person taken into custody, within the meaning of section 80 of this Act, is so taken and includes a constable acting under the direction of the chief constable for the purposes of this Part of this Act.

(2)This Part of this Act binds the Crown.

[Part VIIAS Property In Unlawful Possession of Persons Taken Into Police Custody and Certain Other Property to which Part VII does not apply

F14886A Application of Part VIIA to property.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, this Part of this Act applies to property to which, by virtue only of paragraph (a) or (b) of section 80(2) of this Act, Part VII of this Act does not apply.

(2)This Part of this Act does not apply to property—

(a)possession of which has passed to the prosecutor and is for the time being retained by him or, in accordance with arrangements made by him, by some person other than the chief constable or himself; or

(b)in respect of which a suspended forfeiture order or a restraint order has been—

(i)made and not recalled; or

(ii)applied for and not refused.

(3)In subsection (2) above, “suspended forfeiture order” and “restraint order” shall be construed in accordance with, respectively, [F149section 21(2) of the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 and Part 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002] .

Textual Amendments

F148Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15086B Certification by prosecutor.S

The prosecutor may certify that, notwithstanding any determination under section 80(2)(b) of this Act, property to which this Part of this Act applies is not, or is no longer, required as a production in criminal proceedings or for any other purpose relating to such proceedings (property which he has so certified being, in the following provisions of this Part, referred to as “relevant” property).

Textual Amendments

F150Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15186C Claims by owner etc. prior to disposal.S

(1)The owner, or the person having right to possession, of any property to which this Part of this Act applies and which is in the possession of the chief constable, or of another person under arrangements made by the chief constable, may at any time prior to its disposal under section 86E of this Act claim that property in accordance with such procedure as the chief constable may direct.

(2)The chief constable shall consider any claims to property made under subsection (1) above and, on being satisfied that the property is relevant property and that the claimant is the owner of it or has a right to possession of it, shall deliver it, or arrange for its delivery, to the claimant on such conditions (if any) as the chief constable thinks fit, as for example, but without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, for payment of such reasonable charges (including any reasonable expenses incurred in relation to the property by or on behalf of the chief constable) as the chief constable may determine.

Textual Amendments

F151Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15286D Duty of care etc.S

Subject to the proviso to section 17(3)(b) of the M35Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (duty to comply with instructions received from prosecutor), the chief constable shall make such arrangements as he considers appropriate for the care and custody of property to which this Part of this Act applies; and if he has reason to believe that the person taken into police custody is not the owner or the person having right to possession of it, shall take reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the owner or of the person with that right and to notify him of the procedures directed under section 86C(1) of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F152Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

Marginal Citations

F15386E Disposal of relevant property.S

(1)If relevant property cannot, in the opinion of the chief constable, safely be kept he may dispose of it or arrange for its disposal in such manner as he thinks fit.

(2)The chief constable may sell relevant property or, if in his opinion it would be impracticable to sell it, may dispose of it (or make arrangements for its disposal) otherwise as he thinks fit; but subject to subsection (1) above he shall not do so—

(a)before the expiry of a period of two months after the date on which the property was found in the possession or in the charge of the person taken into police custody; or

(b)if it would be inconvenient to keep the property until the expiry of that period, before the expiry of such shorter period as is reasonable in all the circumstances.

(3)Sections 71, 72 and 77(1) of this Act shall apply to a disposal under this section as they apply to a disposal under section 68 of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F153Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15486F Retention of relevant property by police authority.S

(1)Where a chief constable has power under section 86E(2) of this Act to sell or otherwise dispose of property and that property (not being money) has remained—

(a)for any continuous period of twelve months in his possession; or

(b)for part of any such period in his possession and for the rest of it in the possession of the prosecutor,

the police authority may, if they are of the opinion that the property can be used for police purposes, determine that the property is to be retained by the authority; and the property shall vest in them on the making of the determination.

(2)A determination under subsection (1) above shall be recorded in writing; and that record shall include the date on which the determination is made.

(3)Any person who, immediately before the date on which a determination under subsection (1) above is made, owns the property in question, shall be entitled within one year after that date to recover possession of it as owner.

(4)In subsection (1) above, “police authority” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(1), as read with section 19(9)(a), of the M36Police (Scotland) Act 1967; and “the police authority” means the police authority for the area for which the chief constable’s force is maintained.

Textual Amendments

F154Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

Marginal Citations

F15586G Appeals.S

(1)A claimant under section 86C(2) of this Act may appeal to the sheriff against any decision of the chief constable made under that section as respects the claim.

(2)The previous owner of any property disposed of for value under section 86E of this Act may appeal to the sheriff against any decision of the chief constable made under section 72 of this Act as applied by subsection (3) of section 86E.

(3)Subsections (3) to (5) of section 76 of this Act shall apply to an appeal under this section as they apply to an appeal under section 76.

Textual Amendments

F155Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15686H Crown application of Part VIIA.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, this Part of this Act binds the Crown.

(2)Rights which the Crown has in lost or abandoned property shall be capable of being extinguished in accordance with the provisions of section 71 (as applied by section 86E(3)) or 86F(1) of this Act; but nothing in this Part of this Act otherwise affects the Crown’s right of ownership in such property.

Textual Amendments

F156Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15786I Further financial provision.S

Subsection (2) of section 77 of this Act shall apply in respect of functions under this Part of this Act as that subsection applies in respect of functions under Part VI of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F157Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

F15886J References in this Part to “chief constable”.S

In this Part of this Act, “chief constable” means the chief constable for the police area in which the person taken into custody, within the meaning of section 80 of this Act, is so taken; and includes a constable acting under the direction of the chief constable for the purposes of this Part of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F158Pt. VIIA (ss. 86A-86J) inserted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(4), 7(2)

Part VIIIS Buildings, etc.

87 Local authorities’ powers in relation to buildings in need of repair.S

F159(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)For the purposes of this section, any object or structure fixed to a building or forming part of the land and comprised within the curtilage of a building shall be treated as part of the building.

(3)Where it appears to a local authority to be necessary in the interests of health or safety or to prevent damage to any property that they should repair immediately a building in their area, they may without prior notice rectify such defects in the building as could have been specified in a notice under subsection (1) above had such a notice been served and any person authorised by them may, on their behalf, for these purposes, enter the building and the land pertaining thereto.

(4)The local authority may recover from the owner of the building the expense of anything done by them under subsection (3) above or, where there is more than one owner, apportion such expense among them and recover from each the appropriate sum, but may remit any sum or any part of any sum due to them under this subsection as they think fit.

(5)A person who, in compliance with a notice served under [F160section 28 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 8)] or under section 20 of the M37Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897, carries out work on a building which is, for the purposes of [F161Part V of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987], a house shall have the same entitlement to loans and grants as he would have had if the notice had been served and to the extent that it could have been served under section [F161108 of that Act].

F162(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88 Installation of pipes through neighbouring property.S

(1)The sheriff may, on summary application by an owner of a part of a building who requires, but has been refused or otherwise has been unable to obtain, the consent of any other person for—

(a)the installation—

(i)on the outside surface of any external wall or roof of the building;

(ii)in, through or under any part of the building which is held in common by the owner and the other person or any land pertaining to the building which is so held;

(iii)in, through or under any part of the building owned by the other person or any land pertaining to the building which is so owned

of such pipes or drains as are necessary for the purpose of water supply to, or the soil, waste or rainwater drainage or the ventilation in connection with such drainage of, the owner’s part of the building;

(b)the making of connections with common water supply pipes, or soil, waste or rainwater drains or drain ventilating pipes; or

(c)access to the pipes or drains referred to in paragraph (a) above for the purpose of their maintenance and repair,

subject to subsection (2) below, grant warrant authorising such installation, making of connections or access.

(2)The sheriff shall not grant warrant under—

(a)subsection (1) above unless it appears to him that it is reasonable that the installation be carried out, the connections be made or, as the case may be, the maintenance or repair for which access is applied for under that subsection, be done;

(b)under paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection or, except for repair in an emergency, paragraph (c) of that subsection to an owner who has been otherwise unable to obtain consent unless it appears to him that the owner’s request for consent was made in writing to the other person at least 28 days before the application under that subsection.

(3)The sheriff may—

(a)make a warrant granted by him under this section subject to such conditions as he thinks fit;

(b)make such award of expenses as he sees fit in relation to an application under this section.

(4)An appeal shall lie to the Court of Session from the decision of the sheriff under this section.

(5)This section is without prejudice to any requirement to obtain approval under or any other obligation imposed by or by virtue of the Building (Scotland) Acts 1959 and 1970, the M38Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968, the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts 1972 to 1974, the M39Water (Scotland) Act 1980 or any other enactment relating to building, the provision of public sewerage services, planning or the public supply of water.

Marginal Citations

89 Safety of platforms etc. S

(1)No person shall use or permit the use of a raised structure for the purpose of providing for himself or others raised seated or standing accommodation, unless such use has been approved by the local authority in whose area the raised structure is situated.

(2)In this section a “raised structure” means a platform, stand, staging or other similar structure.

(3)The local authority shall grant their approval of the use of a raised structure under subsection (1) above if they are satisfied that it—

(a)has been safely constructed and secured; and

(b)has sufficient means of entrance and exit including means of escape in case of fire or other emergency

in relation to the circumstances in which it is to be used; but not otherwise.

(4)If the local authority are not the [F163appropriate relevant authority (being the authority discharging in the area of the local authority the functions of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5))] , they shall consult the [F164appropriate relevant authority] before reaching their decision under subsection (3)(b) above.

(5)The local authority may, when granting their approval of the use of a raised structure under this section or at any other time thereafter, impose by notice served on the person to whom approval is being or, as the case may be, has been granted such conditions as they think necessary relating to such use, and the conditions may include a condition as to the maximum number of persons permitted to use the raised structure and a prohibition on its use for so long as the conditions contained in the notice have not been complied with.

(6)Any person who—

(a)uses or permits the use of a raised structure for the purpose of providing for himself or others raised seated or standing accommodation without the approval of the local authority under subsections (1) and (3) above; or

(b)contravenes a condition contained in a notice served on him under subsection (5) above

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F165level 4 on the standard scale].

(7)This section shall not apply to—

(a)any structure in respect of which a building warrant has been granted;

(b)any structure in respect of which such a warrant, by reason only of the date when it was built, was not required; or

(c)scaffolding or similar equipment used in connection with work on a building or other structure.

In this subsection, “building warrant” means a warrant for [F166work for construction or for conversion of a building granted under section 9 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 8)] .

(8)Nothing in this section affects any requirement to obtain approval or any other obligation imposed by or by virtue of any other enactment.

(9)The local authority shall charge such fees in respect of the discharge of their functions under this section as may be resolved by them from time to time and shall seek to ensure that the total amount of such fees is sufficient to meet the expenses incurred by them in that respect.

F167(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

90 Lighting of common stairs etc.S

(1)In this section—

  • common property” means common stairs or passages or private courts;

  • owner”, in relation to common property, means the owner or owners of lands or premises having a right of access by the common property;

  • private court” means any area which—

(a)is maintained or liable to be maintained by a person other than a local authority; and

(b)forms a common access to lands or premises separately occupied.

(2)A [F168local authority] may—

(a)provide and maintain lighting in common property; and

(b)light and extinguish the lights in the common property or arrange for that to be done.

(3)A [F168local authority]may continue to provide and maintain lighting in any place where they provided and maintained it immediately before the commencement of subsection (2) above notwithstanding that the place is not common property.

(4)Where, and to the extent that, the [F168local authority]for the area in which any common property is situated has not exercised the powers conferred upon them by subsection (2) above, it shall be the duty of the owner—

(a)to provide and maintain lighting in the common property to the satisfaction of the [F168local authority]; and

(b)to light and extinguish the lights in the common property at such times as the [F168local authority]may require by order published in accordance with subsection (6) below.

(5)A [F168local authority] may by notice in writing require the owner to comply with subsection (4)(a) above within 14 days of the date of service of the notice on the owner.

(6)An order made under subsection (4)(b) above shall be published once weekly for at least two weeks in a newspaper circulating in the area of the [local authority].

(7)In the event of the owner’s failing to comply with subsection (4) above, the [F168local authority] may provide and maintain lighting or, as the case may be, light and extinguish the lights in the common property.

(8)An authorised officer of the [F168local authority] shall be entitled at any reasonable time to enter common property for the purpose of determining whether subsection (4) above is being complied with and a person authorised to do so by such a [F168 authority]shall be entitled at any reasonable time to enter such property and to do there anything which the [F168local authority] are entitled to do under subsection (2), (3) or (7) above.

[F169(9)A [F168local authority] who have, under subsection (2), (3) or (7) above, provided or maintained lighting or lit or extinguished lights shall be entitled to recover—

(a)from the owner of the lands or premises the expense incurred by the [F168 authority]; or

(b)where there is more than one owner of the lands or premises, that is, where the lands or premises are common property, from each owner such proportion of the expense thereby incurred by the council as the council may determine,

but the authority may remit any sum or part of any sum due to them under this subsection.]

91 Installation of lights in private property.S

(1)A [F170local authority]or an owner of common property may, where it is necessary to do so for the purpose of performing their or, as the case may be, his functions under section 90 of this Act, provide and maintain lights in or on any land or building in or on which they have no right (apart from this section) to do so, and any person authorised by such [F170authority] or by such owner may, at any reasonable time, enter that land or building in order to do so on their behalf.

(2)A [F170local authority]who provide and maintain or an owner of common property who provides and maintains lights under this section shall, in doing so, cause as little inconvenience and damage as possible and pay compensation for any damage done; and, in case of dispute, the amount of such compensation shall be determined summarily by the sheriff, whose decision in the matter shall be final.

(3)The person having right to any land or building in or on which lights have been provided and maintained under subsection (1) above may, on giving 14 days written notice to that effect, require the [F170local authority] or, as the case may be, the owner of the common property to remove them temporarily during any reconstruction, repair or similar works relating to the land or building, and if the [F170 authority] or, as the case may be, the owner fails to do so, the person having right as aforesaid may do so and recover the expense thereof from the [F170authority]or, as the case may be, the owner, with interest thereon at such reasonable rate as that person may determine from the date on which a demand for the expenses is served until payment.

Textual Amendments

92 Cleaning and painting of common stairs, etc.S

(1)In this section—

  • common property” means common stairs, passages, water-closets, backgreens or basements or other similar areas or private courts;

  • occupier”, in relation to common property, means the occupier or occupiers of lands or premises having a right of access by, or a right in common to, the common property.

(2)It shall be the duty of the occupier to keep the common property clean to the satisfaction of the [F171local authority]within whose area the common property is situated.

(3)A [F171local authority] may make byelaws for the regulation of the cleaning of common property by the occupier in accordance with this section and such byelaws may provide that persons contravening such provisions of the byelaws as may be specified as provisions contravention of which is an offence shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F172level 2 on the standard scale] or such lesser sum as the byelaws may specify.

(4)A [F171local authority] may by notice in writing require the occupier to comply with subsection (2) above or with byelaws made under subsection (3) above within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.

(5)Sections 99(4) and 106 of this Act shall not apply to a notice served under subsection (4) above.

(6)A [F171local authority] may by notice in writing require the owner or owners of lands or premises having a right of access by common stairs or passages to paint or otherwise suitably decorate the common stairs or passages within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.

(7)A [local authority] may remove litter from a backgreen or private court.

(8)An authorised officer of a [F171local authority]shall be entitled at any reasonable time to enter common property for the purpose of—

(a)determining whether subsection (2) above and any byelaws made under subsection (3) above are being complied with;

(b)determining whether any common stairs or passages referred to in subsection (6) above require to be painted or otherwise suitably decorated.

and a person authorised to do so by such a [F171authority] shall be entitled at any reasonable time to enter such property and to do there anything which the [F171authority] may do under subsection (7) above.

(9)A person who throws down, drops or otherwise deposits, and leaves, litter in any common property shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F172level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

93 Fire precautions in common stairs etc.S

(1)In this section—

  • common property” and “occupier” have respectively the same meanings as in section 92 of this Act;

  • combustible substance” means anything which is dangerously combustible in normal conditions and includes any container holding the combustible substance including any such container forming part of a motor vehicle but does not include anything forming part of any common property.

(2)It shall be the duty of the occupier to keep the common property free of—

(a)any combustible substances;

(b)anything which might obstruct egress from and access to the property in the event of fire.

(3)An authorised officer of the [F173appropriate relevant authority] shall be entitled—

(a)to enter common property for the purpose of determining whether subsection (2) above is being complied with; and

(b)if it is not, and there is thereby an immediate risk of fire likely to endanger life, to enter the property and to do there anything he may consider necessary to remove that risk including seizing and arranging as he sees fit for the retention of any substance or other thing until claimed by a person having a right of possession to it.

(4)The [F173appropriate relevant authority] may by notice in writing require the occupier to comply with subsection (2) above within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice by removing or rendering safe the substance or other thing (if any) there specified.

(5)Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice served under subsection (4) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F174level 3 on the standard scale].

(6)Section 105 of this Act shall apply to a notice served by [F175an appropriate relevant authority] under subsection (4) above, as it applies to notices served by local authorities.

(7)The [F176appropriate relevant authority] shall be entitled to recover the expense of doing anything under subsection (3)(b) above from the occupier or person having a right of possession to such substances or articles as are referred to in the said subsection (3)(b) but may remit any sum or any part of any sum due to them under this subsection as they think fit.

(8)This section is without prejudice to any other enactment relating to fire precautions.

(9)In this section, [F177“appropriate relevant authority” means the authority discharging in the area in which the common property is situated the functions of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5)] .

94 Disused petrol containers.S

(1)Where a fixed tank or other fixed container which has been used for the storage of petroleum spirit and is no longer used for that purpose (in this section referred to as a “disused petrol container”) is kept in any lands or premises, the occupier of the lands or premises (or, where the lands or premises are unoccupied, the owner) shall take all such steps as may be reasonably necessary to prevent danger from the container.

(2)The [F178local authority] for the area in which are situated the lands or premises in which there is a disused petrol container may by notice in writing require the occupier (or, as the case may be, the owner) of the lands or premises to comply with subsection (1) above within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.

(3)An authorised officer of a [F178local authority]shall be entitled, at any reasonable time, on producing his authorisation to any person for the time being in charge of any lands or premises in the area of the [F178authority]in which there is a disused petrol container to enter the lands or premises for the purpose of determining whether subsection (1) above is being complied with.

(4)This section shall not apply to lands or premises situated within the jurisdiction of a harbour authority (as defined in section 23 of the M40Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928).

(5)In this section “petroleum spirit” has the same meaning as in the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928.

Textual Amendments

F178Words in s. 94(2)(3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(12); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

Marginal Citations

95 Private open spaces.S

(1)It shall be the duty of the owner of every open space which is—

(a)in a populous place; and

(b)set apart for use by the owners or occupiers of two or more separate properties,

to maintain the open space and any boundary walls or fences so as to prevent danger or nuisance to the public.

(2)A [F179local authority]may by notice in writing require the owner of an open space referred to in subsection (1) above to comply with that subsection within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.

(3)An owner of an open space referred to in subsection (1) above shall be entitled to recover from each person entitled to use the open space an equal proportion of—

(a)the expense incurred by the owner in complying with that subsection; and

(b)any amount paid by the owner to the [F179local authority]under section 99(4) of this Act.

Textual Amendments

96 Statues and monuments.S

(1)A [F180local authority]may—

(a)erect, maintain, or permit the erection or maintenance of, any statue or monument in any public place;

(b)demolish or remove to another site any statue or monument maintained by them;

(c)by notice in writing require the owner of any statue or monument not maintained by them which is in a public place owned by them, within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice, to put it in good order and repair, or demolish it or remove it to another site:

Provided that the powers conferred by paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall not be exercised without the prior consent of—

(i)

the owner of the land on which the statue or monument is, or is proposed to be, situated; and

(ii)

[F181where such land is a road, the roads authority.]

and the powers conferred by paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall be exercised only where the [F180authority] consider it expedient to exercise them for reasons of public safety or the better use of the site on which the statue or monument has been erected.

(2)Sections 99 to 109 of this Act shall apply in relation to a statue or monument in respect of which a notice is served under paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above with the following modifications—

(a)any reference in these sections to the land or premises shall be construed as a reference to the statue or monument; and

(b)any reference to a tenant or other occupier of land or premises shall be construed as a reference to the tenant or other occupier of the land or premises in or on which the statue or monument is situated.

(3)This section is without prejudice to section 53 of the M41Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 (control of works for demolition, alteration or extension of listed building) or section 2 of the M42Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (control of works affecting scheduled monuments).

97 Street names and house numbers.S

A [F182local authority] may, in relation to any . . . F183 road . . . F183 in their area—

(a)give such name to it as they think fit;

(b)after advertising in a newspaper circulating in their area any proposal to alter its name and taking into account any representations thereupon made to them within 28 days after the date of the first publication of the advertisement, alter any such name;

(c)affix, paint or mark its name on any premises, fence, lamp post, pole or other structure in it so as to be readily legible to members of the public there, and erect poles or other structures there for that purpose;

(d)give each of the premises in it such distinguishing number as they think fit; alter that number when necessary; and require the owner of each of the premises, by notice served on him, to affix or paint that number on his premises so that it is readily legible from the nearest part of the public place giving access to the premises.

98 Luminous tube signs.S

(1)The Secretary of State may make regulations for ensuring the safe operation of electrical luminous tube signs, and without prejudice to that generality such regulations may include provisions—

(a)requiring the provision of switches to cut off the supply of electricity to such signs to the satisfaction of the [F184appropriate relevant authority] ;

(b)requiring the giving of notice to the [F184appropriate relevant authority] by any person proposing to install such a sign;

(c)empowering the [F184appropriate relevant authority] to serve a counter-notice prohibiting the use of such a sign if they are not satisfied that it is safe in the event of its being affected by fire or steps taken to put fire out;

(d)giving a right of appeal against a counter-notice to the sheriff by the person upon whom it has been served;

(e)making it an offence to fail without reasonable excuse to comply with any obligation imposed by the regulations which is specified in the regulations as an obligation breach of which is an offence and providing that any person guilty of such an offence shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F185level 3 on the standard scale] or such lesser sum as may be specified in the regulations.

(2)In subsection (1) above—

  • [F186“appropriate relevant authority”, in relation to an electrical luminous tube sign, means the authority discharging in the area in which the sign is situated the functions of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5);]

  • electrical luminous tube sign” means—

(a)any luminous tube sign designed to work on a voltage [F187of such description as may be specified in regulations made under subsection (1) above], or ancillary equipment so designed; and

(b)any transformer required to raise the voltage of the sign or equipment; and

F188...

(3)The power to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Powers of entry, execution of works, etc.S

99 Power to enter, execute works and recover expense.S

(1)Where, under any notice served by a local authority under this Part of this Act, anything is required to be done by the owner or occupier of land or premises in relation to the land or premises an authorised officer of the local authority may, on the expiration of any period of time specified in the notice as that in which the thing has to be done, enter the land or premises to see if whatever is required to be done under the notice has been done.

(2)Where—

(a)under any notice served by a local authority under this Part of this Act, anything is required to be done by the owner or occupier of land or premises in relation to the land or premises and the owner, or as the case may be, the occupier fails to do it in accordance with the notice; and

(b)there is no express provision in this Act, apart from this section, authorising the local authority to do whatever is required by the notice to be done,

any person authorised by the local authority may enter the land or premises and do or cause to be done whatever is required by the notice to be done.

(3)A person shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsections (1) or (2) above until he has produced his authorisation to do so to the person for the time being in charge of the land or premises.

(4)Subject to subsection (7) below, a local authority shall be entitled to recover the expense of doing anything in relation to any land or premises under subsection (2) above from the owner or, as the case may be, the occupier of the land or premises but may remit any sum or any part of any sum due to them under this subsection as they think fit.

(5)Where such expense as is mentioned in subsection (4) above is recoverable under that subsection from more than one person, the local authority may apportion such expense among them.

(6)Where a local authority claim to recover any expense as is mentioned in subsection (4) above from a person and he proves that he—

(a)is receiving the rent of the land or premises merely as trustee, tutor, curator, factor or agent for some other person; and

(b)has not, and since the date of service on him of the demand for payment has not had, in his hands on behalf of that other person sufficient money to discharge the whole demand of the authority,

his liability shall be limited to the total amount of money which he has or has had in his hands as aforesaid.

(7)Subsection (4) above does not apply in relation to any cleaning of common property done under subsection (2) above.

(8)In this section and in sections 100 to 109 of this Act references to the occupier of land or premises include references to the occupier of common property within the meaning given to those expressions by section 92 of this Act.

100 Interest on expenses.S

Where under any provision of this Part of this Act a local authority is entitled to recover expenses, they shall also be entitled to interest thereon at such reasonable rate as they may determine from the date on which a demand for the expenses is served until payment but they may remit any sum or any part of any sum due to them as interest as they think fit.

101 Offences relating to powers of entry and carrying out of works.S

Any person who—

(a)fails without reasonable excuse to permit—

(i)an authorised officer of a local authority who, in pursuance of sections 90(8), 91(1), 92(8) or 99(1) of this Act, demands to do so, to enter any land or premises; or

(ii)a person authorised by a local authority under section 87(3), 90(8), 91(1), 92(8) or 99(2) of this Act to enter any land or premises and do or cause anything to be done there who demands to do so or an owner of land, building or other premises or his contractors or workmen who having been authorised under section 88 or 104 or being entitled under section 91(1) of this Act to enter the land, building or other premises and execute work there demands or demand to do so, to enter the land, building or other premises and do there whatever is to be done; or

(b)obstructs the entry in pursuance of this Act to any land or premises of, or the doing there in accordance with this Act of anything by, any such authorised officer or other person who has demanded so to enter or so to do that thing,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F189level 3 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

102 Entry warrants.S

(1)If a justice of the peace or sheriff is satisfied by evidence on oath that—

(a)entry to any land or premises which a person is entitled to enter in pursuance of this Part of this Act has been refused to that person or he has been prevented from doing there anything which he is entitled to do in pursuance of this Part of this Act or such refusal or prevention is apprehended or that the land or premises are unoccupied or that the occupier is temporarily absent or that the case is one of emergency; and

(b)there is reasonable ground for entry to the land or premises for the purposes for which entry is required

he may grant a warrant to the person to enter the land or premises specified in the warrant if need be by force and to do whatever is to be done.

(2)A warrant issued in pursuance of this section shall continue in force for a period of one month beginning with the day on which it was granted or until the purpose for which entry is required has been satisfied, whichever is the shorter.

(3)A person who has been granted a warrant under this section to enter any unoccupied land or premises or land or premises the occupier of which is temporarily absent shall leave the land or premises as effectively secured against trespassers as he found it or them.

103 Execution of owner’s works by occupier.S

(1)If, in relation to any land or premises, the owner of the land or premises fails to do anything which he is required to do by notice served under this Part of this Act, the tenant or other occupier of the land or premises may, with the consent of the local authority which served the notice, do whatever the notice requires to be done, and may, subject to subsection (2) below, deduct the expense of doing so (with interest thereon from the date on which the expense was incurred at such reasonable rate as the local authority may determine) from any rent due or to be due by the tenant or occupier to the owner in respect of the land or premises.

(2)Nothing in subsection (1) above authorises the deduction of any expenses from any rent where the deduction would be at variance with any right or obligation arising apart from that subsection between the owner of the land or premises and the tenant or occupier thereof.

104 Powers of entry: occupier and owner.S

If the tenant or other occupier of any land or premises prevents the owner of them from executing any work which he is required to execute in pursuance of any notice served by a local authority under this Part of this Act, the sheriff may, on the application of the owner, authorise the owner and his contractors and workmen to enter the land or premises for the purpose of executing such work.

105 Contents of notices.S

Except where otherwise expressly provided under this Part of this Act, any notice issued or served by a local authority under this said Part regarding the doing of any thing in relation to land or premises shall, so far as necessary and reasonably practicable, specify—

(a)details, including the location, of the land or premises;

(b)the nature of any works which have to be carried out and of any requirements which have to be met; and

(c)the period within which the notice has to be complied with.

106 Appeals.S

(1)A person may, in accordance with subsection (3) below, appeal to the sheriff—

(a)against any requirement in any notice served on him under this Part of this Act by a local authority; or

(b)in respect of the amount of any expenses or interest claimed from him or the rate at which interest is charged against him under this Part of this Act.

(2)The owner of any land or premises may, in accordance with subsection (3) below, appeal to the sheriff in respect of any expenses or interest (including the rate at which interest is charged) claimed or deducted under section 103 of this Act.

(3)An appeal under subsection (1) or (2) above shall be made by way of summary application and shall be lodged within 14 days of—

(a)in the case of an appeal under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above, the date of service of the notice; and

(b)in other cases, the date of service of the claim for payment or, in the case of an appeal under subsection (2) above where the expense or interest has been deducted from rent, the date of that deduction.

(4)The sheriff may, on an appeal under this section—

(a)order that the requirement appealed against shall be of no effect or that it shall have effect subject to such modifications as he may specify in his order or confirm it;

(b)make such order as to the expenses which are or interest which is the subject of the appeal as appears to him appropriate.

(5)Any party to an appeal under subsection (1) or (2) above may appeal on a point of law from the sheriff’s decision to the Court of Session within 14 days from the date of that decision.

(6)No appeal shall lie from the opinion of the Court of Session given in pursuance of subsection (5) above.

107 Time for enforcing certain notices.S

A notice containing a requirement which may be appealed against under paragraph (a) of section 106(1) of this Act shall not be acted upon by a local authority or any person authorised by a local authority to do anything until the time for appealing under that paragraph has expired or, if an appeal thereunder has been lodged, until it is disposed of or abandoned.

108 Recovery of expenses incurred under section 87 by charging order.S

(1)Where, under—

(a)section 87(3) of this Act; or

(b)section 99(4) thereof (to the extent that it relates to failure to rectify a defect specified in a notice served under section 87(1) thereof)

a local authority are entitled to recover any expenses, they may make in favour of themselves an order providing and declaring that the land, building or premises is thereby charged and burdened with an annuity to pay the amount of the expenses.

(2)Paragraphs 2 to 8 of Schedule [F1909 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987] shall apply to an order under subsection (1) above as they apply to a charging order under paragraph 1 of that Schedule but with the following modifications, that is to say, in sub-paragraph (b)(i) of paragraph 4 of that Schedule at the end there shall be inserted the words “or any sum secured by virtue of section 5(5) to (8) of the M43Land Tenure Reform (Scotland) Act 1974” and in sub-paragraph (b)(ii) of that paragraph, after the word “Act”, where thirdly occurring, there shall be inserted the words “or under the M44Building (Scotland) Act 1959.”.

109 Replacement of provisions of this Part by Health and Safety Regulations.S

Subsection (1) of section 80 of the M45Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (repeal or modification of certain provisions by regulations) shall apply to any provision of this Part of this Act and to any byelaws made under any such provision as it applies to any provision mentioned in subsection (2) of that section.

Marginal Citations

Part IXS Miscellaneous and General

ByelawsS

110

(1)The M46 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 shall be amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) below.

(2)In section 202 of that Act (procedure etc. for byelaws)—

(a)for subsection (1)(c)(ii) there shall be substituted the following—

(ii)the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 ;; and

(b)in subsection (9), for the words “ Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 and 1903” there shall be substituted the words “ Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982”.

(3)After the said section 202 there shall be inserted the following sections—

202A Review of byelaws.

A local authority shall, not later than 10 years from whichever is the later of the following times—

(a)the coming into force of a byelaw which they have the power to revoke or amend ;

(b)the coming into force of this section ;

review that byelaw and do so thereafter at intervals of not more than 10 years.

202B Register of byelaws.

(2)The register kept under subsection (1) above shall contain—

(a)a description of the byelaws, including a description of any offences created and penalties imposed by the byelaws;

(b)the date or dates when the byelaws and any amenments to them were confirmed ;

(c)the date or dates when the byelaws and any amendments to them came or come into operation ; and

(d)the date when the byelaws and any amendments to them were last reviewed under section 202A of this Act.

(3)The register kept under subsection (1) above shall at such reasonable times and places as the local authority may determine be open to public inspection and any member of the public may make a copy of or extract from anything in it.

(4)No payment shall be charged or taken by the local authority for any inspection or the making of any copy or extract under subsection (3) above.

(5)The local authority may, on payment of such reasonable fee as they may determine, issue a certified true copy of an entry in the register ; and any document purporting to be certified by the proper officer of the local authority as a true copy of an entry shall be sufficient evidence of the terms of the original entry.

202C Revocation of byelaws by resolution.

(1)Byelaws may be revoked in accordance with this section by resolution of the local authority having power (apart from this section) to revoke them.

(2)At least one month before the revocation under this section of any byelaws, notice of the proposed resolution revoking them shall be given in a newspaper circulating in the area to which the byelaws apply.

(3)The local authority shall not decide the question whether or not to revoke byelaws under this section without taking into account any objections made to them in response to the notice given by them under subsection (2) above.

(4)Byelaws revoked under this section shall cease to have effect on the date of their revocation or on such later date as may be specified in the resolution revoking them.

(5)It shall not be competent under this section to revoke, separately from the set of byelaws or byelaw containing it any byelaw or, as the case may be, any part of a byelaw which was inserted into the set of byelaws or, as the case may be, the byelaw by, or otherwise wholly or substantially derives from, a modification made by the confirming authority on the making or any amendment of the set of byelaws or, as the case may be, the byelaw.

(6)It shall not be competent under this section to revoke any byelaw or any part of any byelawif the effect of the revocation would be to widen the scope of any other byelaw or, as the case may be, the remaining part of the byelaw.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C16The text of ss. 75, 110, 119(5) and 137(7)(8) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

111 Cessation of certain byelaws and saving for certain byelaws.S

(1)Byelaws—

(a)made under an enactment repealed by the M47Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947 but saved by section 381 of that Act;

(b)made under an enactment repealed by the M48Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 but saved by section 225(1) of that Act;

(c)penalising persons allowing dogs in their charge to deposit excrement on footpaths or footways (construed in accordance with section 48(4) of this Act)

shall cease to have effect.

(2)Notwithstanding—

(a)subsection (1) above;

(b)the repeal by or under this Act of any enactment conferring a power to make byelaws; and

(c)the repeal as at the end of 1984 by sections 229(1) and 225(6) of the M49Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 to 1911 and the local statutory provisions to which the said section 225(6) applies,

any byelaws which—

(i)are of a kind referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above; or

(ii)were made under any power contained in an enactment repealed by this Act or contained in those Acts of 1892 to 1911 or in those local statutory provisions and could be made under this Act

shall continue in force until the end of 1986 unless earlier revoked and, during the period for which they are continued in force under this section, may be dealt with in all respects as if having effect under the M50Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Management rulesS

112 Making of management rules.S

(1)A local authority may, in accordance with this section, make rules, to be known as “management rules”, to regulate—

(a)the use of; and

(b)the conduct of persons while on or in

any land or premises which is owned, occupied or managed by the authority or is otherwise under their control and to which the public have access, whether on payment or not.

In this section, “land” does not include land below the high water mark of ordinary spring tides.

(2)Management rules may be made notwithstanding any power under any enactment to make byelaws, whether exercised or not.

(3)Notwithstanding section 201(3) of the M51Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (byelaws for good rule and government not to be made if provision is made by, or is or may be made under any other enactment) byelaws may be made under section 201(1) of that Act as respects any area although provision as respects that area is or may be made by any management rule.

(4)At least one month before making management rules, a local authority shall—

(a)give notice in accordance with subsection (5) below of—

(i)their intention to do so;

(ii)the general purpose of the proposed rules;

(iii)the place where a copy of the proposed rules may be inspected;

(iv)the fact that and time within which objections may be made; and

(v)the address to which objections may be sent; and

(b)make copies of the proposed rules available for public inspection without payment at their offices and so far as the authority consider practicable at the land or premises to which the rules are to apply.

(5)Notice shall be given for the purposes of subsection (4)(a) above by advertisement in a newspaper or newspapers circulating in the area of the local authority.

(6)Any person may, within one month after notice has first been given by a local authority under subsection (4) above, notify in writing his objection and the ground of his objection to the authority.

(7)Before making management rules, a local authority shall take into consideration any objections timeously received by them and shall give any objector an opportunity to be heard by them.

(8)Management rules shall come into force on the date of their execution or on such later date as may be specified in the rules and shall, unless revoked, continue in force for a period of 10 years from that date.

(9)Management rules shall be executed for the purposes of subsection (8) above by being sealed with the common seal of the local authority making them and signed by the proper officer of that authority.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C17Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

Marginal Citations

113 Evidence of management rules.S

The production of a copy of any management rules purporting to be made by a local authority upon which is endorsed a certificate purporting to be signed by the proper officer of the authority stating—

(a)that the rules were made by the authority;

(b)that the copy is a true copy of the rules; and

(c)the date upon which the rules became effective

shall be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in the certificate, and that without proof of the handwriting or official position of any person purporting to sign a certificate in pursuance of this section.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C18Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

114 Publication of management rules.S

Management rules made by a local authority shall, together with a notice stating where copies of the rules may be obtained, be displayed at the entrance to the land or premises to which they apply or elsewhere so that they may be seen by members of the public intending to have access to the land or premises.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C19Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

115 Inspection and copies of management rules.S

Copies of management rules shall be open to public inspection without payment and a copy of them shall on application be furnished to any person on payment of such reasonable charge as the local authority may determine.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C20Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

116 Expulsion or exclusion for breach of management rules.S

An authorised officer of a local authority which has made any management rule may—

(a)if he has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has contravened, is contravening or is about to contravene the management rule, expel that person;

(b)if he has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is about to contravene the management rule, exclude that person,

from the land or premises to which the rule applies.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C21Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

117 Exclusion orders.S

(1)A local authority may decide that a person who has, in respect of particular land or premises, persistently contravened or attempted to contravene management rules applying to the land or premises and is, in their opinion, likely to contravene them again, shall be made subject to an exclusion order under this section.

(2)An exclusion order shall take effect upon a person under subsection (1) above on such a date as the local authority may decide which shall be not less than 14 days after their decision under that subsection.

(3)The local authority shall, in accordance with subsection (7) below, give the person subject to an exclusion order notice of their decision under subsection (1) above which notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for that decision and a statement as to his right under subsection (4) below to make representations.

(4)The person who has been made subject to an exclusion order shall be entitled to make written or oral representations to the local authority at any time up to the date when the order would, but for subsection (5) below, have taken effect upon him.

(5)On representations being so made the local authority shall suspend the effect of their decision, consider the representations and decide whether to confirm their decision or to revoke or amend it.

(6)Section 56(1) of the M52Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 shall not apply to the discharge of a local authority’s functions under this section so as to enable them to be discharged by an officer.

(7)Notice shall be given for the purposes of subsection (3) above by—

(a)its being sent by recorded delivery letter to the last known address of the person subject to the order so as to arrive there, in the normal course of post, not later than five days after the decision under subsection (1) above; or

(b)personal service of the notice upon that person within that time.

(8)An exclusion order shall have effect for such period, not exceeding one year, as the local authority making it may determine; and a local authority may at any time reduce the period of, or revoke, an exclusion order made by them.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C22Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt. VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

Marginal Citations

118 Offences.S

Any person who—

(a)on being required to leave any land or premises by an authorised officer of the local authority who has reasonable grounds for believing that the person has contravened, is contravening or is about to contravene any management rule applying to the land or premises, fails to leave;

(b)on being informed by an authorised officer who has reasonable grounds for believing that the person is about to contravene any management rule applying to any land or premises that he is excluded from the land or premises, enters or attempts to enter the land or premises; or

(c)being a person subject to an exclusion order under section 117 of this Act, enters or attempts to enter the land or premises to which the exclusion order relates

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C23Ss. 112 - 118 applied (with modifications) (9. 5. 1991) by Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. iv), ss. 1,61, Sch. Pt VII

Ss. 112-118 extended (with modifications) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 10 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

Regulation of charitable collectionsS

119 Regulation of charitable collections.S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who organises a public charitable collection in respect of which the [F191local authority] for the area in which it is to be held have not given their permission under this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F192level 3 on the standard scale].

(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to a collection which takes place in the course of a public meeting or to a collection which takes place by means of an unattended receptacle kept in a fixed position in a public place.

(3)An application for permission under this section shall be made in writing to the [F191local authority]by the organiser of the collection not later than 1 month before the date of the collection, or within such other period as the [F191authority] may fix.

(4)On receipt of an application for permission under this section the [F191local authority]shall consult the chief constable for the area which comprises or includes their area and may make such other inquiries as they think fit.

(5)In granting permission under this section a [F191local authority] may, subject to the provisions of any regulations made under subsection (13) below, impose such conditions as they think fit, having regard to the local circumstances in which the collection is to be held, including conditions—

(a)specifying the date, time or frequency of the collection;

(b)specifying the area within which it is to take place;

(c)regulating its conduct;

(d)specifying the form of collection boxes, other containers and any other articles used for the purposes of the collection; and

(e)as to any other matter relating to the local circumstances of the collection.

(6)A [F191local authority] may refuse to grant permission under this section on any of the following grounds—

(a)that the date, time, frequency or area of the collection would cause undue public inconvenience;

(b)that another collection in respect of which permission under this section has been granted or which is exempt under subsection (11) below is due to take place on the same or a proximate day;

(c)that it appears to them that the amount likely to be applied for charitable purposes in consequence of the collection is inadequate having regard to the likely amount of the proceeds of the collection;

(d)that the organiser of the collection has been convicted of an offence under section 5 of the M53Police, Factories, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 or the M54House to House Collections Act 1939, or under [F193this section or] regulations made under subsection (13) of this section, or of any other offence which involves dishonesty or the commission of which would be likely to be facilitated by the grant of permission under this section.

(7)A [F191local authority] may—

(a)if they have reason to believe that there has been a change in the circumstances which prevailed at the time when they granted a permission under this section and they are of the opinion that, in consequence, grounds of refusal under subsection (6) above apply, withdraw the permission or vary any condition imposed by them under subsection (5) above in relation to that permission;

(b)if they have reason to believe that there has been, is or is likely to be a breach of any condition imposed by them under subsection (5) above, withdraw a permission under this section.

(8)Where permission for a collection is refused under subsection (6) above or withdrawn under subsection (7) above, the [F191local authority]shall give written notice of that fact to the organiser of the collection and such notice shall include a statement of the reasons for such refusal or withdrawal.

(9)The organiser of a collection may appeal to the sheriff against the decision of a [F191local authority]

(a)under subsection (6) above, refusing permission for a collection;

(b)under subsection (7) above, withdrawing such permission;

(c)under subsection (5) above, imposing any condition;

(d)under the said subsection (7), varying any condition,

and an appeal under this subsection shall be made by way of summary application and shall be lodged with the sheriff clerk within 14 days of the date of the decision appealed against or, in a case where reasons for a decision have been given, within 14 days from the date of receipt of those reasons.

(10)In upholding an appeal under subsection (9) above, the sheriff may—

(a)remit the case with the reasons for his decision to the [F191local authority] for reconsideration of their decision; or

(b)reverse or alter the decision of the [F191local authority].

(11)If he is satisfied that a person pursues charitable purposes throughout the whole or a substantial part of Scotland, the Secretary of State may direct that that person shall, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the direction, be exempt from subsection (1) above.

A direction made under this subsection may be revoked or amended by a further direction so made.

(12)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (11) above, any person who has been exempted from subsection (1) above by a direction of the Secretary of State under subsection (11) above shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, give to the [F191local authority]in whose area he intends to organise a public charitable collection 3 months notice of that intention.

A direction under this subsection may be revoked or amended by a further direction so made.

(13)Subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may make regulations for the purposes of regulating public charitable collections and, without prejudice to that generality, regulations may include provision about the keeping and publication of accounts, provision for prevention of annoyance to the public and provision making it an offence to fail to comply with any obligation imposed by the regulations which is specified in the regulations as an obligation breach of which is an offence and making any person guilty of such an offence liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50 or such lesser sum as may be specified in the regulations.

(14)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

F194(15). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(16)In this section “public charitable collection” means a collection from the public of money (whether given by them for consideration or not) for charitable purposes taken either in a public place or by means of visits from place to place and “charitable purposes” means any charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes whether or not they are charitable within the meaning of any rule of law.

Textual Amendments

F191Words in s. 119(1)(3)-(9)(10)(a)(b)(12) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(16); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F194S. 119(15) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X Group 1

Marginal Citations

The seashore etc.S

120 Savings for Crown and other rights.S

Subject to—

(a)the provisions of the M55Coast Protection Act 1949, the M56Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts 1972 to 1974 and the Dumping at Sea Act 1974;

(b)the functions of statutory undertakers and port authorities; and

(c)any public rights of way

a [F195local authority] may exercise, with respect to the seashore and adjacent waters, the powers conferred on them by sections 121 and 122 of this Act F196....

Textual Amendments

F195Words in s. 120 substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(17); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C24S. 120 extended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 1(1) (xxxvii), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)

Marginal Citations

121 Control of the seashore, adjacent waters and inland waters.S

(1)Insofar as it is necessary to do so for the purpose of preventing nuisance or danger at, or preserving or improving the amenity of, or conserving the natural beauty of, the seashore, a [F197local authority] may, in accordance with this section, make byelaws—

(a)regulating or prohibiting any activity by way of trade or business with, or in expectation of personal reward from, members of the public on the seashore;

(b)regulating the use of vehicles on the seashore;

(c)regulating the exercise of sporting and recreational activities on the seashore.

(2)Byelaws under subsection (1) above may confine the exercise of any activity (including the use of vehicles or kinds of vehicles) specified in the byelaws to a part of the seashore specified in the byelaws and prohibit the exercise in that part of the seashore of any other activity (including such use) so specified.

(3)A [F197local authority] may, in accordance with this section, make byelaws relating to the adjacent waters for the purpose of—

(a)regulating the speed of pleasure boats in these waters;

(b)regulating the use of pleasure boats in these waters so as to prevent their navigation in a dangerous manner or without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons;

(c)requiring the use of effective silencers on pleasure boats in these waters;

(d)regulating the activities in these waters of divers, surfers, water skiers and persons engaged in similar recreational pursuits.

F198(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)Byelaws may be made under this section only if—

(a)the [F197local authority] have complied with subsection (6) below and made such other inquiries as may be reasonably necessary to ascertain the existence and identity of each person having—

(i)in the case of byelaws under subsection (1) above, a proprietorial interest in the seashore;

(ii)in the case of byelaws under subsection (3) above, a proprietorial interest in relation to the adjacent waters;

F199(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iv)in any case, a proprietorial interest in any salmon fishings;

being a proprietorial interest which may be affected by the byelaws;

[F200(b)the local authority have given notice in writing of their proposal to make byelaws to each person having a proprietorial interest such as is mentioned, in relation to the byelaws, in paragraph (a) above whose identity has been ascertained as mentioned in the said paragraph (a);]

(c)the [F197local authority] have, in connection with their proposal to make the byelaws, consulted such person or body, if any, as appears to them to be representative of persons who engage in each sporting or recreational activity which may be affected by the byelaws.

(6)The [local authority] shall give public notice of their proposal to make byelaws under this section F201. . . in a newspaper circulating in the area where the byelaws are proposed to have effect.

(7)If a [F197local authority] have complied with subsections (5)(a) and (6) above, F201. . ., the [F197 authority] may F201. . . proceed to make the byelaws but shall not proceed earlier than one month after the date of the advertisement under subsection (6) above or, if there were more than one advertisement, the later or last of those dates.

(8)Byelaws made under this section may provide that persons contravening such provisions of the byelaws as may be therein specified as provisions contravention of which is an offence shall be liable, on summary conviction thereof, to a fine not exceeding £50 or such lesser sum as the byelaws may specify; and any offence against any such provision of such byelaws committed within adjacent waters may be inquired into and dealt with as if it had been committed within the area of the [F197local authority] concerned.

(9)A [F197local authority] may on the seashore or in or on adjacent waters place notices or other indications advising the public as to any danger or health hazard connected with the seashore or those waters.

(10)A [F197local authority] may provide staff for life saving and any boats or equipment which are appropriate for life saving.

(11)A [F197local authority], when exercising their powers under this section, shall have regard to the need to protect and maintain any public rights under the guardianship of the Crown to use the foreshore, [F202and adjacent waters.]

(12)In subsection (1) above, the reference to conserving natural beauty shall be construed in accordance with section 78(2) of the M57Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967.

Textual Amendments

F197Words in s. 121(1)(3)(4)(5)(a)(c)(6)-(11) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(18); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F200S. 121(5)(b) substituted (4.1.1995) by 1994 c. 39, s. 141(a) (with s. 128); S.I. 1994/2850, art. 3(a), Sch. 2

F201Words in s. 121(6)(7) repealed (4.1.1995) by 1994 c. 39, ss. 141(b)(c), 180(2), Sch. 14; S.I. 1994/2850, art. 3(a) Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Marginal Citations

122 Power to execute works on seashore.S

(1)A [F203local authority] may, in accordance with this section, on any part of the seashore or in or on adjacent waters or the bed thereof, execute any works for the purpose of preserving, improving or restoring amenity.

(2)Works may be carried out under this section only if—

(a)the [F203authority]have complied with subsection (4) below and made such other inquiries as may be reasonably necessary to ascertain the existence and identity of each person having, in the seashore or in relation to the adjacent waters or in the bed thereof or in any salmon fishings, a proprietorial interest which may be affected by the works; and

(b)subject to subsection (5) below—

(i)every such person has consented to their being carried out; [F204and]

(ii)in the case of works by [F205any local authority other than the authority for Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands or Western Isles], they have obtained the consent of the river purification board within whose area the works are to be carried out; F206. . .

(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)A [F203local authority], when exercising their powers under this section, shall have regard to the need to protect and maintain any public rights under the guardianship of the Crown to use the foreshore and adjacent waters or the bed thereof.

(4)The [F203local authority] shall—

(a)give public notice of their proposal to carry out works under this section and of the effect of subsection (2)(b)(i) above in relation to that proposal in a newspaper circulating in the area where the works are proposed to be carried out; and

(b)notify the Crown Estate Commissioners of that proposal.

(5)If a [F203local authority] have complied with subsections (2)(a) and (4) above but the consent of a person whose consent to the carrying out of the works is required under subsection (2)(b)(i) above cannot be obtained because his existence or identity is unknown or he cannot be found or if the consent of a person whose consent is required under subsection (2)(b) above cannot be obtained because he fails to respond in any way to a request for his consent, the [F203 authority] may nevertheless proceed to carry out the works but shall not so proceed earlier than one month after the date of the advertisement under subsection (4) above or, if there were more than one advertisement, the later or last of these dates.

123 Interpretation of sections 120 to 122.S

(1)In sections 120 to 122 of this Act—

  • adjacent waters” means—

(a)waters within a distance from low water mark of ordinary spring tides not exceeding 1,000 metres; or

(b)where the width of the waters separating the area of one [F207local authority]from that of another is less than 2,000 metres, measured by the shortest distance between the respective such low water marks in these areas, the waters within the median line between those respective low water marks;

  • F208...

  • proprietorial interest” means the interest of a proprietor or lessee;

  • seashore” means the shore of the sea, that is to say, the land between the low water mark and the high water mark of ordinary spring tides and every cliff, bank, barrier, dune, beach, flat, esplanade or other land above the said high water mark adjacent to the shore, and to which the public have right of access;

  • statutory undertakers” has the meaning assigned to it by section 275 of the M58Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972, except that it also includes F209. . . F210. . . F209. . . British Telecommunications.

(2)Sections 120 to 122 of this Act and this section shall apply to Crown land, that is to say, land an interest in which belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or belongs to a government department or is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department and, for the purposes of [F211giving notice or, as the case may be,] giving or withholding consent under these sections in relation to such land, the appropriate authority shall be—

(a)in relation to land an interest in which belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown and is within the administration of the Crown Estate Commissioners, these Commissioners;

(b)in relation to land an interest in which belongs to a government department or is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department, that department;

and, if any question arises as to the authority which is the appropriate authority in relation to any Crown land, the question shall be determined by the Treasury.

Textual Amendments

F207S. 123(1): words in definition of “adjacent waters” substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(20)(a); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F209Words in s. 123(1) repealed (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(2), Sch. 2

F210S. 123(1): words in definition of “statutory undertakers” repealed (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 21, ss. 67, 68(2)(d), Sch. 9 para. 28, Sch. 11 Pt. II (with s. 40(7)); S.I. 1994/2553, art. 2

F211Words in s. 123(2) inserted (4.1.1995) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(20)(b); S.I. 1996/323, art. 2

Marginal Citations

Refuse collection and disposalS

F212124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

F213125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

126 Repeal of sections 124 and 125, savings and transitional provisions.S

F214(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)The repeal by the M59Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 or by order made under section 135(1) or 137(3) of this Act of section 108 of the M60Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 shall not affect a compulsory purchase order made under the said section 108 before the coming into force of that repeal and such compulsory purchase order may be proceeded with and shall have effect as if the said section 108 had not been repealed.

F214(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MiscellaneousS

127 Advertising on local authority lands, vehicles etc.S

(1)A local authority may enter into agreement with any person for the display of advertisements on or in—

(a)any land, premises or structure vested in or maintained by the authority;

(b)any vehicle owned or operated by the authority.

(2)This section is without prejudice to section 61 of the M61Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 (control of advertisements) or to any regulation made under that Act by virtue of that section.

Marginal Citations

128 Control of stray dogs.S

F215(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)For the purpose of extending the powers under section 3 of the M62Dogs Act 1906 of seizure and detention of stray dogs to those found on land or premises other than [F216in roads] or places of public resort, the said section 3 shall be amended as follows—

(a)in subsection (1), after the word “resort”, there shall be inserted the words “or on any other land or premises”;

(b)after the said subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

(1A)The powers under subsection (1) above shall not be exercised in relation to any dog found on any land or premises other than a highway or place of public resort unless the owner of the land or premises or person having the right of possession thereof has consented to such exercise..

(3)Any enactment in any local Act which amends section 3 of the said Act of 1906 or confers powers on a district or islands council in relation to the said section 3 as it applies to the area of the council shall cease to have effect.

[F217129 Killing of or injury to dogs worrying livestock.S

(1)In any civil proceedings in respect of the death of or injury to a dog it shall be a defence to prove—

(a)that the person alleged to have killed or injured the dog acted for the protection of any livestock and was a person entitled to act for the protection of that livestock; and

(b)that within forty-eight hours of the killing or injury notice thereof was given by him or on his behalf at a police station or to a constable.

(2)For the purposes of this section a person is entitled to act for the protection of any livestock if, and only if—

(a)the livestock or the land on which it is belongs to him or to any person under whose express or implied authority he is acting; and

(b)the circumstances are not such that the livestock was killed or injured on land on to which it had strayed and either the dog belonged to the occupier or its presence on the land was authorised by the occupier.

(3)Subject to subsection (4) of this section, a person killing or causing injury to a dog shall be deemed for the purpose of this section to act for the protection of any livestock if, and only if, either—

(a)the dog is worrying or is about to worry the livestock and there are not other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or

(b)the dog has been worrying livestock, has not left the vicinity and is not under the control of any person and there are no practicable means of ascertaining to whom it belongs.

(4)For the purposes of this section the conditions stated in either of the paragraphs of the preceding subsection shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the person alleged to have killed or injured the dog believed that the condition was satisfied and had reasonable ground for that belief.

(5)For the purposes of this section—

(a)an animal belongs to any person if he owns it or has it in his charge;

(b)land belongs to any person if he is the occupier thereof;

(c)livestock” means cattle, horses, asses, mules, hinnies, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry, deer not in the wild state and while in captivity, pheasants, partridges and grouse; and

(d)poultry” means the domestic varieties of the following that is to say, fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea-fowls, pigeons and quails.]

Textual Amendments

F217S. 129 (except as it has effect for the purposes of s. 74) repealed by Animals (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 9, SIF 4:6), s. 8(2), Sch.

GeneralS

130 Offences by bodies corporate.S

(1)Where an offence under this Act or any regulation or byelaw made under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) above applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

131 Application to Crown.S

The provisions of [F218Parts VI and VIIA] and sections 120 to 123 of this Act apply to the Crown as provided in those provisions but otherwise this Act shall not bind the Crown.

Textual Amendments

F218Words in s. 131 substituted (19.5.1997) by 1997 c. 30, ss. 6(5), 7(2)

132 Expenses.S

There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament any increase attributable to the provisions of this Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under any other enactment.

133 Interpretation.S

In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

  • local authority” means a [F219council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994];

  • proper officer” shall be construed in accordance with section 235(3) of the M63Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;

  • public place” means any place (whether a thoroughfare or not) to which the public have unrestricted access and includes—

(a)the doorways or entrances of premises abutting on any such place; and

(b)any common passage, close, court, stair, garden or yard pertinent to any tenement or group of separately owned houses; and

  • [F220public road”, “road” and “roads authority” have the same meanings as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;]

  • vessel” means any kind of water-craft including a hovercraft within the meaning of the M64Hovercraft Act 1968 but not including a vessel in Her Majesty’s service.

Textual Amendments

F219S. 133: words in definition of

local authority

substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 129(21); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

Marginal Citations

134 Postponement of repeal of Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts and local statutory provisions.S

[F221(1)The repeal of—

(a)the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 to 1911; and

(b)the local statutory provisions to which subsection (6) of section 225 of the M65Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 applies,

which by virtue, respectively, of

(i)subsection (1) of section 229 of the said Act of 1973; and

(ii)the said subsection (6),

falls to take place at the end of 1982 shall, subject to subsection (2) below, sections 135 and 137 of this Act and any order thereunder, be postponed until the end of 1984 and in each of the said subsections, at the beginning there shall be inserted the words “Subject to sections 134(2), 135 and 137 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and any order under these sections,” and for the words “1982” there shall be substituted the words “1984”.]

F222(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F222(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F222(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F221S. 134(1) repealed (5.11.1993 so far as it relates to the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 to 1911) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X Group2.

F222S. 134 (2)-(4) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X Group2.

Marginal Citations

F223135. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

Textual Amendments

F223S. 135 repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X Group2.

136 Consequential, transitional and supplementary provisions.S

(1)Anything done or treated by virtue of any enactment as having been done under any provision of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 to 1911 or under any local statutory provision to which subsection (6) of section 225 of the M66Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 applies which could be done by or under any provision of this Act shall, on the repeal of the provision of the said Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 to 1911 or of the local statutory provision, be treated as having been done under the provision of this Act.

(2)The Secretary of State may by order make such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision as may appear to him to be necessary, proper or expedient for the general or any particular purpose of this Act or in consequence of any of the provisions thereof or for giving full effect thereto and nothing in any other provision of this Act shall be construed as prejudicing the generality of this subsection.

(3)Without prejudice to section 13 of the M67Interpretation Act 1978 (anticipatory exercise of statutory powers) anything which must or may be done under any provision of Part I or II of this Act may, notwithstanding that that provision is not in force, be done for the purposes of giving full effect to that provision at or after the time when it comes into force and the Secretary of State may, in making transitional provision by order under subsection (2) above, modify any provision of Part I or II of this Act for the purposes of this subsection.

(4)An order under subsection (2) above—

(a)may be made at any time, whether before, at the same time as or after the commencement of any provision of this Act to which the provision made by the order relates;

(b)shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Marginal Citations

137 Citation, commencement, repeals and extent.S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

(2)This Act, other than sections 134 to 136 and subsections (1) above, (3) to (6) and (9) below and this subsection, shall come into force on such date or dates as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint and different dates may be appointed under this section for different provisions of this Act or for different purposes of the same provision.

(3)An order under subsection (2) above shall of itself have the effect of repealing—

(a)any provision of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts 1892 to 1911;

(b)any local statutory provision (whether or not subject to an order under section 225(6) of the M68Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (exemption from and postponement of repeal of local statutory provision))

to the extent that the provision provides for any matter which is also provided for (whether consistently or not) by or under any provision of this Act commenced by that order.

(4)A repeal under subsection (3) above shall take effect on the date of commencement of the provision of this Act the commencement of which gives rise, under that subsection, to that repeal.

(5)In this section “local statutory provision” means—

(a)a provision of a local Act, the Bill for which was promoted by a local authority;

(b)a provision of an Act confirming a provisional order made on the application of a local authority;

(c)a provision of an order made on such an application which was subject to special parliamentary procedure,

not being a provision relating to a statutory undertaking or a protective provision for the benefit of any person.

(6)In subsection (5) above, “statutory undertaking” means any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, ferry, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, any market undertaking, or any undertaking for the supply of electricity, gas, hydraulic power, water or district heating.

(7)The enactments specified in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments there specified.

(8)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 4 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

(9)This Act (except section 16, which applies to England and Wales) applies to Scotland only.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C26Power of appointment conferred by s. 137(2) fully exercised: S.I. 1983/201, 1984/573, 774

C27The text of ss. 75, 110, 119(5) and 137(7)(8) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

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