Section 49

in the case of a body corporate, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate;

in the case of a partnership, every partner in the partnership at the time of the commission of the offence;

or

National Wages Consultative Council 35

in the case of a society, every office-bearer of the society at the time of the commission of the offence, may be charged severally or jointly in the same proceedings with the body corporate, partnership or society and if the body corporate, partnership or society is found to have committed the offence, shall be deemed to have committed that offence unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all circumstances, he proves—

that the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance; and

that he had taken all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

Public Authorities Protection Act 1948