Time limit for prosecutions
39.—(1) In section 176 of the 1983 Act(1), the reference in subsection (1) to any offence under any provision contained in the 1983 Act includes any offence under any such provision as applied by this Schedule.
(2) Subsections (2) to (2G) of section 176 of the 1983 Act have effect in relation to such an offence (“a referendum offence”) with the following modifications.
(3) Subsection (2C) has effect in relation to a referendum offence as if for “rule 57 of the parliamentary elections rules” there were substituted “regulation 58 of the European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016”.
(4) Subsection (2D) has effect in relation to a referendum offence as if for paragraph (a) there were substituted—
“(a)directing the registration officer not to cause the documents to be destroyed at the expiry of the period of one year mentioned in regulation 58 of the European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016,”.
Section 176 was amended by paragraph 61 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c.50) and section 70 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c.22).