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8c. 45
Criminal Law Act 1977

Part II

(c) there has been issued to him by or on behalf of the authority referred to in paragraph (a) above a certificate stating that the authority is one to which this subsection applies, being of a description specified in the certificate, and that he has been authorised by the authority to occupy the premises concerned as a residence.

(5) Subsection (4) above applies to the following authorities:—

(a) any body mentioned in section 14 of the 1977 c. 42.Rent Act 1977 (landlord’s interest belonging to local authority etc.);
(b) the Housing Corporation; and
(c) a housing association, within the meaning of section 189(1) of the 1957 c. 56.Housing Act 1957, which is for the time being either registered in the register of housing associations established under section 13 of the 1974 c. 44.Housing Act 1974 or specified in an order made by the Secretary of State under paragraph 23 of Schedule 1 to the 1975 c. 6.Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975.

(6) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that he believed that the person requiring him to leave the premises was not a displaced residential occupier or protected intending occupier of the premises or a person acting on behalf of a displaced residential occupier or protected intending occupier.

(7) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above it shall be a defence for the accused to prove—

(a) that the premises in question are or form part of premises used mainly for non-residential purposes; and
(b) that he was not on any part of the premises used wholly or mainly for residential purposes.

(8) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above where the accused was requested to leave the premises by a person claiming to be or to act on behalf of a protected intending occupier of the premises—

(a) it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that, although asked to do so by the accused at the time the accused was requested to leave, that person failed at that time to produce to the accused such a statement as is referred to in subsection (2)(d) above or such a certificate as is referred to in subsection (4)(c) above; and