PART 4Trade information
I115Offence relating to disclosure under section 14
1
If a person discloses information in contravention of section 14 which relates to a person whose identity—
a
is specified in the disclosure, or
b
can be deduced from it,
the person who disclosed the information commits an offence.
2
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the person reasonably believed—
a
that the disclosure was lawful, or
b
that the information had already lawfully been made available to the public.
3
A prosecution for an offence under this section—
a
may be brought in England and Wales only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
b
may be brought in Northern Ireland only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
4
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or
b
on summary conviction—
i
in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding F2the general limit in a magistrates’ court, to a fine or to both;
ii
in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;
iii
in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.