Representation of the People Act 1983

176 Time limit for prosecutions. U.K.

(1) A proceeding against a person in respect of [F1 any offence under any provision contained in or made under this Act] shall be commenced within one year after the offence was committed, and the time so limited by this section shall, in the case of any proceedings under the M1 Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (or, in Northern Ireland, the M2 Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981) for any such offence, F2 . . . be substituted for any limitation of time contained in that Act or Order.

[F3 (2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) in England and Wales, the laying of an information;

(b) in Scotland, the granting of a warrant to apprehend or cite the accused (if, in relation to an offence alleged to have been committed within the United Kingdom, such warrant is executed without [F4 undue] delay); and

(c) in Northern Ireland, the making of a complaint,

shall be deemed to be the commencement of a proceeding.]

F5 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 61(a)

F2 Words repealed by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 28, Sch. 5

F3 S. 176(2) substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 61(b)

F4 Word inserted (S.) by virtue of Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 73, SIF 36:1, 39:1), ss. 23, 59(1), Sch. 2 para. 32

F5 S. 176(3) repealed by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), ss. 24, 28, Sch. 4 para. 61(c), Sch. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 176 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)-(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

S. 176 applied (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

S. 176 applied (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art. 6, Sch. 2

C2 S. 176 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

S. 176 applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 1

S. 176 applied (with modifications) (11.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/787, art. 85(1)-(3), Sch. 6 Pts. I, II (which S.I. was revoked (21.11.2002 except for specified purposes) by S.I. 2002/2779, arts. 1, 2 (which S.I. was revoked (15.3.2007) by S.I. 2007/937, art. 2(a)))

S. 176 applied (with modifications) (2.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1298, regs. 8, 10(4), Sch. 3 Table 2 (subject to regs. 9-12, 15-17, 20, 25)

S. 176 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

S. 176 applied (with modifications) (21.11.2002 except for specified purposes) by The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/2779), arts. 1, 81, {Sch. 6 Pts. I, II} (which S.I. was revoked (15.3.2007) by S.I. 2007/937, art. 2(a))

S. 176 applied (W.) (24.3.2004) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/870), reg. 8, {Sch. 3 Table 2} (which S.I. was revoked (24.7.2008) by S.I. 2008/1848)

S. 176 applied (23.7.2004) by The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1962), art. 6(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1980 c. 43.

M2 S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26).