A person commits an offence if the person breaches section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1).
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the person reasonably believed—
that the disclosure was lawful, or
that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public.
A prosecution for an offence under this section—
may be brought in England and Wales only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions ...;
may be brought in Northern Ireland only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
This section is without prejudice to the pursuit of any remedy or the taking of any action in relation to a breach of section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1) (whether or not this section applies to the breach).
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to a fine, or to both;
on summary conviction—
in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates' court, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.
In relation to an offence under this section committed before 2 May 2022, the reference in subsection (5)(b)(i) to the general limit in a magistrates' court has effect as if it were a reference to 6 months.