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Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975

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Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

SCHEDULES

Section 1.

SCHEDULE 1N.I. Offences in Republic of Ireland Triable in Northern Ireland

Part IN.I.

Common law offencesN.I.

1N.I.Murder.

2N.I.Manslaughter.

F13N.I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

4N.I.Kidnapping.

5N.I.False imprisonment.

[F2Criminal damageN.I.

Textual Amendments

F2Sch. 1 Pt. I paras. 6, 6A and cross-heading substituted (1.11.1992) for para. 6 by S.I. 1991/1711, art. 6; S.R. 1992/468, art.2

F36N.I.Any offence under section 35 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861 (interference with railways).

Textual Amendments

F3Sch. 1 Pt. I paras. 6, 6A and cross-heading substituted (1.11.1992) for para. 6 by S.I. 1991/1711, art. 6; S.R. 1992/468, art.2

F46AN.I.Any offence under Article 3(1) and (3) or Article 3(2) and (3) of the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (arson).]

Textual Amendments

F4Sch. 1 Pt. I paras. 6, 6A and cross-heading substituted (1.11.1992) for para. 6 by S.I. 1991/1711, art.6; S.R. 1992/468, art.2

Offences against the personN.I.

7N.I.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the M1Person Act 1861—

(i)section 18 (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm);

(ii)section 20 (causing grievous bodily harm).

Marginal Citations

Explosive substancesN.I.

8N.I.An offence under any of the following provisions of the M2Explosive Substances Act 1883—

(i)section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or damage property);

(ii)section 3 (attempting to cause any such explosion, and making or possessing explosive with intent to endanger life or damage property);

(iii)section 4 (making or possessing explosive in suspicious circumstances).

Note. The said sections 2 and 3 are amended by section 7 of this Act.

Marginal Citations

FirearmsN.I.

[F59N.I.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—

(i)Article 58(1) (possession of firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property);

(ii)Article 59(1) (use of firearm or imitation firearm with intent to resist arrest);

(iii)Article 59(2) (possession of firearm or imitation firearm when committing or arrested for specified offences) where the specified offence is one under Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (taking and driving away motor vehicle);

(iv)Article 60 (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit indictable offence or prevent arrest of self or another);

(v)Article 64 (possession of firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances).]

Textual Amendments

Aggravated theftN.I.

10(1)An offence under any of the following provisions of the M3Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969—N.I.

(i)section 8 (robbery);

(ii)section 10 (aggravated burglary).

(2)Robbery and aggravated burglary are included in this Schedule only where it is charged that an explosive, firearm, imitation firearm or weapon of offence was used to commit the offence; and expressions defined in the said section 10 have the same meaning when used in this sub-paragraph.

Marginal Citations

HijackingN.I.

11N.I.An offence under section 1 of the [F6the Aviation Security Act 1982] (hijacking aircraft).

Textual Amendments

[F7 Endangering safety at aerodromesN.I.

11AN.I.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (endangering safety at aerodromes).]

[F8 Offences relating to ships and fixed platformsN.I.

11BN.I.An offence under section 9 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (hijacking of ships) or under section 10 of that Act (seizing or exercising control of fixed platforms).]

Part IIN.I.

12(1)The provisions of the law of Northern Ireland which are referred to in Part I of this Schedule, as applied by this Act to acts or ommissions in the Republic of Ireland, shall be read with any necessary modifications, and in particular as if references to what is lawful or unlawful included what is lawful or unlawful under the law of the Republic of Ireland.N.I.

(2)In applying [F9Article 23 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981] (possession of firearms or ammunition in suspicious circumstances) to acts or omissions in the Republic of Ireland, the absence of the licence or other authority requisite under the law of the Republic of Ireland relating to firearms, or a breach of a condition attached to the licence or other authority, is a circumstance which may give rise to a reasonable suspicion that possession is not for a lawful object.

The provisions of this sub-paragraph are without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above.

(3)The reference in section 1(3) of this Act to an offence under subsection (1) includes all offences to which subsection (1) applies whether or not the act or omission in the Republic of Ireland is, under the M4Explosive Substances Act 1883 or any other enactment, an offence under the law of Northern Ireland apart from the provisions of the said subsection (1).

Textual Amendments

F9Words substituted by S.I. 1981/155, (N.I. 2), Sch. 4 para. 1(b)

Marginal Citations

SCHEDULE 2N.I. Amendments of M5Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973

Marginal Citations

1N.I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10

2(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11N.I.

(2)If the indictment was presented before the coming into force of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, sections 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the said Act of 1973 shall not apply to the trial of the indictment.

(3)If an offence becomes a scheduled offence on the date of the coming into force of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, and the indictment has not been presented then [F12on that date any committal for trial of the offence by a county court or by a court of assize other than the Belfast City Commission shall be treated as a committal to that Commission].

Textual Amendments

F12Words substituted by Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1975 (c. 62), s. 6(2) (b) (3) except as they apply to a trial on indictment where the accused was committed to the Belfast Recorder's Court before 21.8.1975

3N.I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13

Section 4(4).

SCHEDULE 3U.K. Extra-Territorial Offences

Exclusion of Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 M6U.K.

Marginal Citations

F141U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F14Sch. 3 para. 1 repealed (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41), s. 221, Sch. 4; S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (with arts. 3-5) (as amended (11.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3258, art. 2 and (18.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3312, art. 2)

Right of accused to opt for trial in Republic of IrelandN.I.

2(1)If a person is accused of an extra-territorial offence, and a judge of the High Court, or the court of trial, is satisfied that a warrant has been duly issued in the Republic of Ireland on an information laid by a member of the police force (Garda Síochána) in the Republic of Ireland for his arrest for the corresponding offence in respect of the same act or omission, the judge or court shall, if the accused so requests, issue an order directing—N.I.

(a)that the accused be delivered as soon as may be at some convenient point of departure from Northern Ireland into the custody of a member of the said police force in the Republic of Ireland, and

(b)that he be kept in custody in Northern Ireland until so delivered.

[F15(2)If the accused is serving a sentence imposed for any other offence, the order under this paragraph shall not take effect until service of the sentence is completed.]

[X1(2)If at the time when the order under this paragraph is made the accused stands charged with or convicted of an offence other than the extra-territorial offence, so much of the order as directs him to be delivered as aforesaid shall not take effect until the conclusion of the proceedings (including any appeal or retrial) in respect of that other offence and of any sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed in those proceedings.]

(3)An order may be made under this paragraph at any time before entry of the plea of the accused on arraignment on the indictment for the extra-territorial offence.

Editorial Information

X1Sch. 3 para. 2(2) beginning with the words “If at the time ...” substituted (N.I) for para. 2(2) by Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (c. 26, SIF 48), s. 6

Textual Amendments

F15Sch. 3 para. 2(2) beginning with the words “If at the time ...” substituted (N.I) for para. 2(2) substituted by Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (c. 26, SIF 48), s. 6

Safeguards for persons brought to Northern Ireland under warrant of arrestN.I.

3(1)If a person is accused of an extra-territorial offence, and a judge of the High Court, or the court of trial, is satisfied that—N.I.

(a)he was brought to Northern Ireland pursuant to a warrant of arrest which was endorsed in the Republic of Ireland under the law of that country corresponding to the M7Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and which does not specify the extra-territorial offence; and

(b)he has not, since being so brought, been at liberty for a continuous period of seven days or more; and

(c)he is not a person as respects whom an order under paragraph 2 above has been made, or would be made if the accused so requests,

the court or judge shall, if the accused so requests, issue an order that proceedings for the trial of the extra-territorial offence shall be suspended.

(2)For the period from the date of making of the order until such time as the accused has been at liberty for a period of seven continuous days the accused shall be immune from arrest or detention, and from any other proceeding whatsoever, relating to the extra-territorial offence, or any other extra-territorial offence committed prior to his surrender (not being an offence specified in the warrant).

For the purposes of this sub-paragraph a person shall not be treated as being at liberty at any time when he is on bail.

(3)An order may be made under this paragraph at any time before entry of the plea of the accused on arraignment on the indictment for the extra-territorial offence.

Marginal Citations

Rights of accused under paragraphs 2 and 3 aboveN.I.

4(1)When a person charged with an extra-territorial offence appears before the court of trial, the court shall, so far as appropriate, inform him of his rights under paragraphs 2 and 3 above.N.I.

(2)The circumstances under which, and the procedure by which, a person so charged may apply under paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 above to a judge of the High Court, instead of applying to the court of trial, shall be such as may be prescribed by rules of court.

Safeguards for persons previously tried in Republic of IrelandN.I.

5N.I.It is hereby declared that a person duly tried for an offence under the law of the Republic of Ireland which is also an extra-territorial offence is entitled to plead his acquittal or conviction in the trial in the Republic of Ireland as a bar in any proceedings in Northern Ireland for the extra-territorial offence.

Section 5(1).

SCHEDULE 4N.I. Examination of Witnesses Out of Court

Part IN.I. Examination in Northern Ireland to Assist Court in Republic of Ireland

1N.I.This Part of this Schedule applies where under the law of the Republic of Ireland corresponding to Part II of this Schedule a court issues a letter of request to the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland for the taking of evidence in Northern Ireland from a witness specified in the letter of request for the purposes of the trial in the Republic of Ireland of an extra-territorial offence under the law of the Republic of Ireland, or the hearing of an appeal arising out of the trial of such an offence.

2(1)The evidence shall be taken on oath by a judge of the High Court designated by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.N.I.

(2)The judge so designated (hereafter referred to as “the Commissioner”) shall sit in private except at such times and on such occasions as he otherwise directs.

(3)If the witness—

(a)on being duly summoned as a witness before the Commissioner makes default in attending, or

(b)being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required by the Commissioner to be taken, or to produce any document or thing in his power or control legally required by the Commissioner to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which the Commissioner may legally require an answer, or

(c)does any other thing which would, if the Commissioner had been a court of law having power to commit for contempt, have been contempt of that court,

the witness shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

(4)The witness shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness in a trial on indictment for an offence under the law of Northern Ireland, and questions as to the exclusion of any evidence, or the withholding of any document or thing on the ground of public interest, shall be determined in accordance with the law of Northern Ireland.

Attendance of members of courtN.I.

3(1)Any judge of the court which issued the letter of request shall be entitled to attend the examination of the witness, and shall have a right to suggest to the Commissioner questions to be put to the witness.N.I.

(2)The Commissioner shall arrange his sittings so as to facilitate the attendance of any such judge and, subject to paragraph 2(4) above, shall put to the witness any questions suggested to him under this paragraph.

Attendance of accusedN.I.

4(1)The accused shall have—N.I.

(a)a right to attend the examination of the witness, and

(b)a right to be represented by counsel or a solicitor in the proceedings (whether or not the accused is present), and

(c)a right, if not represented by counsel or solicitor, to question the witness, and to make submissions or representations to the Commissioner.

(2)So long as the accused is in Northern Ireland pursuant to this Part of this Schedule—

(a)he shall be kept in custody, and

(b)while duly kept in custody, he shall be immune from arrest or detention, and from any other proceeding whatsoever, related to any criminal or civil matter which arose prior to his arrival in Northern Ireland in custody pursuant to the provisions of the law of the Republic of Ireland corresponding to paragraph 5(4) below.

(3)If the accused has exercised his right to attend the examination of the witness, he shall, unless the Commissioner otherwise directs, remain in Northern Ireland until the examination is completed.

(4)Either the prosecutor or the accused may apply to the Commissioner for a direction under sub-paragraph (3) above.

(5)At the conclusion of the proceedings, and on any occasion when a direction is given under sub-paragraph (3) above, the Commissioner shall direct that the accused be delivered (at some convenient point of departure from Northern Ireland) into the custody of a member of the police force (Garda Síochána) in the Republic of Ireland.

Part IIN.I. Examination in Republic of Ireland to Assist Court in Northern Ireland

5(1)For the purposes of—N.I.

(a)the trial in Northern Ireland of an extra-territorial offence, or

(b)the hearing of an appeal under the M8Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) [F16Act 1980] concerning an extra-territorial offence,

the court of trial, or as the case may be the court entertaining the appeal, may issue a letter of request for the taking of evidence by a judge of the High Court in the Republic of Ireland from a witness specified in the letter of request.

The letter of request shall be addressed to the Chief Justice.

(2)If the prosecutor or the accused applies to the court of trial for the issue of a letter of request under this paragraph, the court shall comply with the application unless satisfied that it is not in the interests of justice.

(3)Where the court issues a letter of request, the court shall inform the accused that he has, in accordance with the law of the Republic of Ireland corresponding to paragraph 4(1) of this Schedule, a right to attend the examination of the witness in the Republic of Ireland and the other rights specified in the said paragraph 4(1).

(4)If the accused exercises his right to attend the examination of the witness, the court shall issue an order directing—

(a)that the accused be delivered (at some convenient point of departure from Northern Ireland) into the custody of a member of the police force (Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland, and

(b)that he be kept in custody in Northern Ireland until so delivered.

(5)If the accused is serving a sentence imposed for any other offence, the order of the court shall be carried out notwithstanding the sentence, and the time spent by the accused as directed by the court shall count towards service of the sentence.

(6)Where, under an enactment of the law of the Republic of Ireland corresponding to paragraph 4(3) of this Schedule, a Commissioner in the Republic of Ireland authorises the accused to return temporarily to Northern Ireland, the court shall issue any further order required under sub-paragraph (4) above in order to deal with the accused when he is again to go to the Republic of Ireland.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

Admissibility of statement of evidenceN.I.

6(1)A statement of evidence of a witness taken in compliance with the letter of request shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, be admissible in the proceedings for which the letter of request was issued as evidence of any fact stated therein of which evidence by the witness would be admissible if given in the course of those proceedings.N.I.

(2)The statement shall be so admissible if—

(a)all the members of the court were present throughout the taking of the evidence, and

(b)the statement was certified by the judge of the High Court in the Republic of Ireland who took it to be a true and accurate statement of the evidence so taken.

(3)A document purporting to be such a certificate and to be signed by the said judge shall be deemed to be such a certificate and to be so signed unless the contrary is shown.

Part IIIN.I. Supplemental

Protection of witnessesN.I.

7(1)In proceedings under Part I of this Schedule the Commissioner may direct that the name and address of any person specified in the letter of request shall not be disclosed to any person other than—N.I.

(a)the Commissioner and the Commissioner’s officers,

(b)the parties to the proceedings and their counsel and solicitors,

(c)any judge of the court in the Republic of Ireland issuing the letter of request, and any officers designated by the court, and

(d)where the Commissioner considers it to be in the interests of justice, any other person whom the Commissioner specifies in the direction, or any subsequent direction.

(2)In proceedings under paragraph 5(1) of this Schedule the court may direct that the name and address of any witness as respects whom a letter of request is sought, or of any witness in the proceedings, shall not be disclosed to any person other than—

(a)the court and the officers of the court,

(b)the parties to the proceedings and their counsel and solicitors, and

(c)where the court considers it to be in the interests of justice, any other person whom the court specifies in the direction, or any subsequent direction.

(3)A person contravening a direction under this paragraph shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

ProcedureN.I.

8(1)Subject to the preceding provisions of this Schedule, the procedure in Northern Ireland pursuant to, or as respects, letters of request received from, or transmitted to, the Republic of Ireland may be prescribed by rules of court.N.I.

(2)The rules of court may apply, or make provision comparable to, the procedure in civil proceedings for letters of request received from, or transmitted to, the Republic of Ireland or any other country, with or without any modifications or exceptions.

(3)In the application of this Schedule to letters of request issued, in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland, in connection with an appeal, references to the accused shall be taken as references to the appellant.

Section 14(4)

SCHEDULE 5U.K. Consent to Prosecutions

Consequential AmendmentsU.K.

1U.K.In section 1(2) of the Public Order Act 1936 M9 for the words from “except such” to “person charged” there shall be substituted the words “except such as are authorised by section 12 of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The text of ss. 7, 14(4)(5), Sch. 3 para. 1, Sch. 5 paras. 1, 2(1)(2), and Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M91936 c. 6.(1 Edw. 8 & 1 geo. 6.).

2(1)At the end of section 30 of the Theft Act 1968 M10 (husband and wife) there shall be added the following subsection—U.K.

(5)Notwithstanding section 12 of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 subsection (4) of this section shall apply—

(a)to an arrest (if without warrant) made by the wife or husband, and

(b)to a warrant of arrest issued on information laid by the wife or husband.

(2)Proviso (b) to the said section 30(4), which is superseded by the said section 12, shall cease to have effect.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2The text of ss. 7, 14(4)(5), Sch. 3 para. 1, Sch. 5 paras. 1, 2(1)(2), and Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

3U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17

Textual Amendments

F17Sch. 5 para. 3; amendment of the Public Order (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 repealed by S.I. 1981/609, (N.I. 17) Sch. 2

SCHEDULE 6U.K. Repeals

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3The text of ss. 7, 14(4)(5), Sch. 3 para. 1, Sch. 5 paras. 1, 2(1)(2), and Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

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