Part IIIOffences against Public Security and Public Order
32Possession of items intended for terrorist purposes
1
A person is guilty of an offence if he has any article in his possession in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion that the item is in his possession for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.
2
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that at the time of the alleged offence the article in question was not in his possession for such a purpose as is mentioned in subsection (1).
3
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or a fine or both;
b
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.
4
Subsections (1), (2) and (5) of section 13 shall apply where a person is charged with possessing an article in such circumstances as to constitute an offence under this section as they apply where a person is charged with possessing a proscribed article in such circumstances as are there mentioned.