How long must an offence elapse before it is considered time-barred under the statute of limitations?

In the context of legal matters, the statute of limitations sets a maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. When an offence is committed, the statute of limitations specifies how long an individual or entity can be prosecuted for that particular offence.

Five years is a common period set for various types of crimes under many legal systems, which aligns with the answer provided. Once this five-year period has elapsed, any legal action related to the offence cannot be initiated, meaning that the offender can no longer be prosecuted for that crime.

This provision serves several purposes: it encourages the timely pursuit of justice, ensures evidence remains fresh, and provides certainty to individuals in society that they will not face legal action indefinitely for past actions. Other posed options reflect different time frames, which may apply to specific types of offences or civil matters but do not represent the general rule regarding the time frame for prosecuting a wider range of criminal offences.