Below is a summary of the offences and the time limit within which proceedings may be brought.
1. Although offences under sections 9, 59, 93, 94 and 95 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (the Act) are summary offences, section 138 of the Act extends the normal time limits. Proceedings for these offences may not be brought more than six years after the commission of the offence but subject to that may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to their knowledge. Aside from this, the normal time limits for summary offences (six months from the commission of the offence) apply to summary offences under the Act. Certain of the offences under the Act are triable either way (e.g. sections 83 and 85) and may therefore be tried on indictment without time limit.
