Notwithstanding anything in any other enactment, proceedings for an offence under this Part of this Act may, subject to subsection (2) below, be commenced within the 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.

No such proceedings shall be commenced by virtue of this section more than three years after the commission of the offence.

For the purposes of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in his opinion to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

A certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.

In relation to proceedings in Scotland, subsection (3) of F1section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (date of commencement of proceedings) shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that.