Part 2: Prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime Chapter 4: Other provisions Section 62: Increase in penalty for offences related to game etc
Section 62 amends section 1 of the Night Poaching Act 1828, section 30 of the Game Act 1831 and section 4A of the Game Laws (Amendment) Act 1960.
	Subsections (3) and (4) increase the maximum penalty upon conviction for an offence under section 1 of the Night Poaching Act 1828 (taking or destroying game or rabbits by night or entering land for that purpose) from a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale to a fine of any amount and/or a custodial sentence of six months (if the offence is committed prior to the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, after which it will be a term not exceeding 51 weeks).
	Subsections (5) to (8) increase the maximum penalty upon conviction for an offence under section 30 of the Game Act 1831 (trespass in daytime in search of game etc.) from a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (where fewer than five people are involved in committing the offence) and a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (where five or more people are involved in committing the offence) to a fine of any amount and/or a custodial sentence of six months (if the offence is committed prior to the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, after which it will be a term not exceeding 51 weeks). It applies the same maximum penalty in all cases no matter how many people are involved in committing the offence.
	Subsection (9) amends section 4A of the Game Laws (Amendment) Act 1960 (forfeiture of vehicles) so that the court may now order forfeiture of a vehicle upon conviction for an offence under section 30 of the Game Act 1831 where fewer than five people are involved in committing an offence (the forfeiture power currently applies only where five or more persons are involved in committing the section 30 offence).
	Subsection (10) provides that these amendments do not have retrospective effect and only apply to offences committed on or after the section comes into force.