286Liability of officers of partnerships and unincorporated bodies or associations

286 Liability of officers of partnerships and unincorporated bodies or associations (1) Subject to subsection (2), if— (a) this Act imposes a duty on a person or provides that a person is guilty of an offence; and (b) the person is a partnership or an unincorporated body or association (including a partnership or an unincorporated body or association representing the Crown)— the reference to the person is taken to be instead a reference to each officer of the partnership, body or association (as the case may be). (2) If an offence against this Act is committed by an officer of a partnership or an unincorporated body or association because of the effect of subsection (1), the officer is only guilty of the offence if the commission of the offence is attributable to the officer failing to take reasonable care. (3) The penalty to which an officer of a partnership or an unincorporated body or association is liable for an offence committed by him or her because of the effect of subsection (1) is a fine not exceeding the maximum fine that could be imposed by a court on a natural person found guilty of the same offence committed at the same time (otherwise than because of the effect of subsection (1)). (4) In determining whether an officer of a partnership or unincorporated body or association is guilty of an offence, regard must be had to— (a) what the officer knew about the matter concerned; and (b) the extent of the officer's ability to make, or participate in the making of, decisions that affect the partnership, body or association in relation to the matter concerned; and (c) whether the commission of the offence is also attributable to an act or omission of any other person; and (d) any other relevant matter. (5) An officer of a partnership or unincorporated body or association who is a volunteer is not liable to be prosecuted under this section for anything done or not done by him or her as a volunteer. **Notes** 1 ***Officer*** of a partnership or unincorporated body or association includes a person who makes or participates in the making of decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of the business of the partnership, body or association and a person who has the capacity to affect significantly the financial standing of the partnership, body or association (see section 3). 2 For ***volunteer***, see section 3. Part 8.6—Proceedings against the Crown 287 Responsible agency for the Crown (1) If proceedings are brought against the Crown for an offence against this Act or the regulations the responsible agency in respect of the offence may be specified in any document initiating, or relating to, the proceedings. (2) In this section, the ***responsible agency*** in respect of an offence is the agency of the Crown— (a) whose acts or omissions are alleged to constitute the offence; or (b) if that agency has ceased to exist, that is the successor of that agency; or (c) if that agency has ceased to exist and there is no clear successor, that the court declares to be the responsible agency. (3) The responsible agency in respect of an offence is entitled to act in proceedings against the Crown for the offence and, subject to any relevant rules of court, the procedural rights and obligations of the Crown as the accused in the proceedings are conferred or imposed on the responsible agency. (4) The person prosecuting the offence may change the responsible agency during the proceedings with the court's leave. Part 8.7—Review of decisions