(1)A prosecution for an offence under section 53, 54 or 55 shall not be instituted except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions; except that a person charged with such an offence may be arrested, or a warrant for his or her arrest may be issued and executed, and the person may be remanded in custody or on bail, notwithstanding that the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions to the institution of a prosecution for the offence has not been obtained; but no further or other proceedings shall be taken until that consent has been obtained.

(2)Notwithstanding any rule of law or practice to the contrary, in any prosecution for an offence mentioned in subsection (1), for the purpose of establishing the existence of a society, evidence may be adduced and shall be admitted which—

(3)Any person who attends a meeting of an unlawful society shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a member of the society.

(4)Any person who has in his or her possession or custody or under his or her control any of the insignia, banners, arms, books, papers, documents or other property belonging to an unlawful society, or wears any of the insignia, or is marked with any mark of the society, shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a member of the society.

(5)Any office bearer of an unlawful society shall be permitted o become an office bearer of another society or may manage or assist in the management of another society, two years after the date on which the unlawful society became unlawful or, at any time, if the Minister gives him or her permission.