CHAPTER 1Animal welfare, animal health and wildlife: offences and penalties

Wildlife offences: penalties

9Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994: penalties for offences

(1)

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/2716) are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 39 (protection of certain wild animals), for paragraph (12) substitute—

“(12)

A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable—

(a)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000 (or both),

(b)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both).”.

(3)

In regulation 41 (prohibition of certain methods of taking or killing wild animals), for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6)

A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable—

(a)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000 (or both),

(b)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both).”.

(4)

In regulation 102 (proceedings for offences: venue, time limits), in paragraph (2), after first “offence” insert “ (other than for an offence under regulation 39 or 41) ”.