Enforcement
Sections 12 and 13 of the Act set out the new offences to be created for the purposes of enforcing the UK ivory ban. Existing legislation provides for offences which may be committed in association with illegal trade in ivory and are therefore not duplicated in this Act, for example, offences under the Serious Crime Act 2007. Sections 12 and 13 of the Act provide for a mixed regime of criminal and civil sanctions to be applied to those who have committed an offence under the Act, in line with the existing sanctions regime under COTES. Section 12 allows for a maximum criminal sanction of five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine to be applied. Summary convictions up to the statutory maximum allowed in each devolved administration are also allowed for. A range of civil sanctions are also provided for in Sections 12 and 13. Further details are set out in Schedule 1.
	Sections 14 to 21 confer the necessary powers on the police and customs officers in order to enforce the ban. Schedule 2 provides further details with regard to search warrants obtained by police and customs officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The powers of police and customs officers are derived from, and applied in line with, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Sections 22 and 23 provide powers for accredited civilian officers of the regulator to enter premises that are not dwellings and examine evidence. Sections 24 to 28 contain further provisions to detail the powers of seizure, entry and search.
	Sections 29 to 33 provide for the necessary processes for the retention and disposal or return of seized items, including the processes by which an application of forfeiture and an appeal against this application can be made.
	Section 35 provides that acquisitions of ivory items in pursuance of an existing contract of insurance are not treated as purchases or sales for the purposes of the Act. If a claim is made by an owner against an ivory item subject to a contract of insurance, and a payment is made by the insurer in respect of that claim, it will not be treated as a purchase or sale for the purposes of the Act. If the item is subsequently recovered and returned to the original owner in return for the repayment of this sum, it will not be treated as a purchase or sale of the purpose of the Act.
	Finally, sections 34 and 36 to 42 provide for general provisions necessary for the operation of the Act.