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Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
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There are multiple versions of this provision on screen. These apply to different geographical extents.
Status
The term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.
Sometimes the text of a provision is changed, but the change(s) only apply to a particular geographical area. In some limited cases where this happens, the editorial team create a version for each different geographical area. Multiple versions are only created in this way where the change in question is a substitution so that there are different versions of the text for the different extents. Insertions and repeals of text do not give rise to such multiple versions.
Changes to legislation:
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 20 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 February 2025. 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.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 20:
- s. 11(2A) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 1(6)(b)
- s. 12A-12G and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(2)
- s. 16A(ab) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(b)
- s. 16A(1A) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(a)
- s. 16A(5B) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(c)
- s. 21(ga)(gb) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(6)
- s. 26(2)(c) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(7)(a)(ii)
- s. 26(3)(c) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(7)(b)(ii)
- s. 53(3)(c)(ia) inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 2(b)
- s. 53B(4A)(4B) inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 4
- s. 53ZA inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 3
- s. 54B 54C inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 5
- Sch. 13A inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 6
- Sch. 14A inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 7
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 11(2A) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 1(6)(b)
- s. 12A-12G and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(2)
- s. 16A(ab) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(b)
- s. 16A(1A) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(a)
- s. 16A(5B) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(4)(c)
- s. 21(ga)(gb) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(6)
- s. 26(2)(c) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(7)(a)(ii)
- s. 26(3)(c) inserted by 2024 asp 4 s. 7(7)(b)(ii)
- s. 53(3)(c)(ia) inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 2(b)
- s. 53B(4A)(4B) inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 4
- s. 53ZA inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 3
- s. 54B 54C inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 5
- Sch. 13A inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 6
- Sch. 14A inserted by 2015 c. 20 Sch. 7 para. 7
20[F1Proceedings for summary offences].E+W
F2(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)[F3Proceedings for a summary offence under this Part] may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge; but no such proceedings shall be brought by virtue of this section more than two years after the commission of the offence.
(3)For the purpose of this section a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which such evidence as aforesaid came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
Extent Information
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only
Textual Amendments
F1S. 20 heading substituted (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 53, 107, Sch. 6 para. 3(3); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2
F2S. 20(1) repealed (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 81(1), 102, 103(2), Sch. 12 para. 9(1)(a), Sch. 16 Pt. IV (with Sch. 12 para. 9(2))
F3Words in s. 20(2) substituted (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 53, 107, Sch. 6 para. 3(2); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2
20[F4Proceedings for summary offences]S
(1)F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)[F6Proceedings for an offence under this Part which is triable only summarily] may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge; but no such proceedings shall be brought by virtue of this section more than [F7three] years after the commission of the offence [F8or, in the case of a continuous contravention, after the last date on which the offence was committed].
(3)For the purpose of this section a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which such evidence as aforesaid came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.
Extent Information
E2This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only
Textual Amendments
F4S. 20 title substituted (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 7(5), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)
F5S. 20(1) repealed (S.) (26.3.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 77, 89(2)(b), Sch. 3 para. 5(a)
F6Words in s. 20(2) substituted (S.) (30.11.2020) by Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 14), ss. 7(4), 22(2); S.S.I. 2020/379, reg. 2(1), sch. (with reg. 3)
F7Word in s. 20(2) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 18(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F8Word in s. 20(2) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 18(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
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