Time limit for prosecution of offences
11.—(1) In England and Wales an information relating to an offence under these Regulations that is triable by a magistrates’ court may be so tried if it is laid within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
(2) In Scotland—
(a)summary proceedings for an offence may only be commenced within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate’s opinion to justify the proceedings came to the Lord Advocate’s knowledge, and
(b)section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995(1) (time limit for certain offences) applies for the purpose of this paragraph as it applies for the purpose of that section.
(3) In Northern Ireland summary proceedings for an offence may be instituted within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.
(4) No proceedings are to be brought more than three years after the commission of the offence.
(5) For the purposes of this regulation a certificate of the prosecutor (or in Scotland, the Lord Advocate) as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to their notice is conclusive evidence of that fact.
(6) This regulation has effect subject to paragraph (1)(n) of Schedule 2 (enforcement powers of the Health and Safety Executive and the Office for Nuclear Regulation under the 1974 Act) and to paragraph (1)(n) of Schedule 3 (enforcement powers of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland under the 1978 Order).