F1129 Time-limit for prosecutions.U.K.
(1)No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be commenced after the expiration of three years from the commission of the offence or one year from its discovery by the prosecutor, whichever is the earlier.
(2)Notwithstanding anything in [F2section 127(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980], a magistrates’ court may try an information for an offence under this Act if the information was laid within twelve months from the commission of the offence.
(3)Notwithstanding anything in [F3section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995], summary proceedings in Scotland for an offence under this Act may be commenced within twelve months from the commission of the offence, and [F3subsection (3) of the said section 136] shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that section.
(4)In the application of this section to Northern Ireland, for the references in subsection (2) to [F4section 127(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980] and to the trial and laying of an information there shall be substituted respectively references to [F5Article 19(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981] and to the hearing and determination and making of a complaint [F6and as if in that subsection for the words “an offence under this Act” there were substituted the words “an offence under section 30(1) or 46(2) of this Act”].
Textual Amendments
F1S. 129 applied (28.8.1996) by S.I. 1996/2199, reg. 26
F2Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 154, Sch. 7 para. 118
F3Words in s. 129(3) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(a)(b)
F4Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 154, Sch. 7 para. 118
F5Words substituted by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26), art. 170(2), Sch. 6 para. 30
F6Words added (22.6.1980) by S.I. 1980/704 (N.I. 6), Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 70