The Export Control Order 2008

Offences relating to prohibitions and restrictions in the torture Regulation U.K.

36.—(1) A person who contravenes a prohibition or restriction in Article 3(1) (export prohibition) of the torture Regulation in respect of the supply of technical assistance as defined in the torture regulation commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) A person knowingly concerned in the provision of technical assistance as defined in the torture Regulation with intent to evade the prohibition on the provision of technical assistance in article 3(1) of the torture Regulation commits an offence and may be arrested.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (2) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction—

(i) in F1 ... Scotland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to both;

(ii) in Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; or

[F2 (iii) in England and Wales, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or to both; or]

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

(4) A person who contravenes a prohibition or restriction in Article 4(1) (import prohibition) of the torture Regulation in respect of the acceptance of technical assistance as defined in the torture Regulation commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) A person knowingly concerned in the acceptance of technical assistance as defined in the torture Regulation with intent to evade the prohibition on the acceptance of technical assistance in article 4(1) of the torture Regulation commits an offence and may be arrested.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (5) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction—

(i) in F3 ... Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both; or

(ii) in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to both; or

[F4 (iii) in England and Wales, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or to both; or]

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

(7) A person who fails to comply with [F5 Article 20(8)] (provision of relevant information for licence applications) of the torture Regulation commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and any licence which may have been granted in connection with the application shall be void as from the time it was granted.

(8) In [F6 paragraphs (3)(a)(iii) and (6)(a)(iii)] as it applies to England and Wales in the case of an offence committed before [F7 2nd May 2022], for “[F8 the general limit in a magistrates’ court]” substitute “six months”.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in art. 36(3)(a)(i) omitted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by virtue of The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 32(2)

F2 Art. 36(3)(a)(iii) inserted (E.W.) (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 32(3)

F3 Words in art. 36(6)(a)(i) omitted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by virtue of The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 32(2)

F4 Art. 36(6)(a)(iii) inserted (E.W.) (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 32(3)

F5 Words in art. 36(7) substituted (30.6.2019) by The Export Control (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/989), arts. 1, 2(3)

F6 Words in art. 36(8) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 32(6)

F7 Words in art. 36(8) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(2), Sch. Pt. 2

F8 Words in art. 36(8) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2 table