12(1)Any enactment which confers power on a court to pass a sentence of penal servitude in any case shall be construed, subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, as conferring power to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding the maximum term of penal servitude for which a sentence could have been passed in that case immediately before 12 June 1950.S
(2)Any enactment which confers power on a court to pass a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour in any case shall be construed as conferring power to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding the term for which a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour could have been passed in that case immediately before 12 June 1950.
(3)Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be construed as empowering a court, other than the High Court, to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding [F1five years] .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Sch. 3 para. 12(3) substituted (1.5.2004) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 13(4), 65 (with art. 3); S.I. 2004/176, art. 2 (with art. 3)