Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Penalties N.I.

24—(1) In Article 27 of the Wildlife Order (penalties) for paragraphs (1) to (6) substitute—

“(1) Subject to paragraph (7), a person guilty of an offence under—

(a) any of Articles 4 to 14,

(b) Article 15B,

(c) Article 16,

(d) Part 3,

(e) Article 24, or

(f) Article 25B(7),

shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under Article 15 or 15A shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine, or to both.

(3) Except in a case falling within paragraph (4), a person guilty of an offence under Article 25A(4), 25B(8) or 25C(7) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under Article 25B(8) or 25C(7)(a) in relation to a wildlife inspector entering premises to ascertain whether an offence under Article 15 or 15A is being or has been committed shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.”.

(2) This section does not apply in relation to an offence committed before this section comes into operation.