Section 241 — Time limit for prosecution

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

This version in force from 2025-04-06

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) No proceedings for an offence under section 237 may be commenced after the earlier of—

(a) the end of the period of 3 years beginning with the date of the commission of the offence, or

(b) the end of the period of 1 year beginning with the date of discovery of the offence by the prosecutor.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)—

(a) a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which the prosecutor discovered the offence is conclusive evidence of that fact, and

(b) a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed is to be treated as so signed unless the contrary is proved.