(1)Notwithstanding anything in section 127(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, a magistrates' court may try an information (or written charge) relating to an offence created by or under this Act if the information is laid (or the charge is issued)—
(a)before the end of the period of 3 years beginning with the date of the commission of the offence, and
(b)before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which evidence which the prosecutor thinks is sufficient to justify the proceedings comes to the prosecutor's knowledge.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)—
(a)a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which such evidence came to the prosecutor's knowledge is conclusive evidence of that fact, and
(b)a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed is to be treated as so signed unless the contrary is proved.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 64A inserted (6.4.2010 for E., 26.7.2010 for W.) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), s. 170(3)(4), Sch. 11 para. 22; S.I. 2010/708, art. 6(e) (with Sch. 2); S.I. 2010/1547, art. 2(e) (with Sch. 1)