70Time limit for prosecutionsU.K.
(1)In section 176 of the 1983 Act (time limit for prosecution of offences) after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)A magistrates' court in England and Wales may act under subsection (2B) if it is satisfied on an application by a constable or Crown Prosecutor—
(a)that there are exceptional circumstances which justify the granting of the application, and
(b)that there has been no undue delay in the investigation of the offence to which the application relates.
(2B)The magistrates' court may extend the time within which proceedings must be commenced in pursuance of subsection (1) above to not more than 24 months after the offence was committed.
(2C)If the magistrates' court acts under subsection (2B), it may also make an order under subsection (2D) if it is satisfied, on an application by a constable or Crown Prosecutor, that documents retained by the relevant registration officer in pursuance of rule 57 of the parliamentary elections rules may provide evidence relating to the offence.
(2D)An order under this subsection is an order—
(a)directing the relevant registration officer not to cause the documents to be destroyed at the expiry of the period of one year mentioned in rule 57, and
(b)extending the period for which he is required to retain them under that rule by such further period not exceeding 12 months as is specified in the order.
(2E)The making of an order under subsection (2D) does not affect any other power to require the retention of the documents.
(2F)An application under this section must be made not more than one year after the offence was committed.
(2G)Any party to—
(a)an application under subsection (2A), or
(b)an application under subsection (2C),
who is aggrieved by the refusal of the magistrates' court to act under subsection (2B) or to make an order under subsection (2D) (as the case may be) may appeal to the Crown Court.”
(2)In Schedule 1 to that Act, in rule 57(1) (retention and public inspection of documents) for “or the High Court” substitute “ , the High Court, the Crown Court or a magistrates' court ”.