s 59 Offence of making unauthorised disclosures
(1) A person who fails to comply with section 57(1) commits an offence. (2) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable— (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or 6 months, if the offence was committed before 2 May 2022 ), or (ii) to a fine, or to both; (b) on summary conviction in Scotland— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or (ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland— (i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or (ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; (d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both. (3) In proceedings against any person for an offence under this section in respect of any disclosure, it is a defence for the person to show that the person could not reasonably have been expected, after first becoming aware of the matter disclosed, to take steps to prevent the disclosure.