The Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Statutory Instruments

2004 No. 1991 (N.I. 15)

The Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

27th July 2004

Title, commencement and interpretation N.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.

(2) This Order comes into operation on the expiration of the period of two months from the date on which it is made.

(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c.33) applies to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Increase in sentence for offences aggravated by hostility N.I.

2.—(1) This Article applies where a court is considering the seriousness of an offence.

(2) If the offence was aggravated by hostility, the court—

(a) shall treat that fact as an aggravating factor (that is to say, a factor that increases the seriousness of the offence); and

(b) shall state in open court that the offence was so aggravated.

(3) For the purposes of this Article an offence is aggravated by hostility if—

(a) at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrates towards the victim of the offence hostility based on—

(i) the victim's membership (or presumed membership) of a racial group;

(ii) the victim's membership (or presumed membership) of a religious group;

(iii) the victim's membership (or presumed membership) of a sexual orientation group;

(iv) a disability or presumed disability of the victim; or

(b) the offence is motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards—

(i) members of a racial group based on their membership of that group;

(ii) members of a religious group based on their membership of that group;

(iii) members of a sexual orientation group based on their membership of that group;

(iv) persons who have a disability or a particular disability.

(4) It is immaterial for the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (3) whether or not the offender's hostility is also based, to any extent, on any other factor not mentioned in that sub-paragraph.

(5) In this Article—

“disability” means any physical or mental impairment;

“membership”, in relation to a racial, religious or sexual orientation group, includes association with members of that group;

“presumed” means presumed by the offender;

“racial group” has the same meaning as in the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 6);

“religious group” means a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief;

“sexual orientation group” means a group of persons defined by reference to sexual orientation.

Inciting hatred or arousing fear on grounds of sexual orientation or disability N.I.

3.—(1) Article 8 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 7) (which defines “fear” and “hatred” for the purposes of Part III of that Order) is amended as follows.

(2) In the definition of “fear” after “religious belief,” insert “ sexual orientation, disability ”.

(3) In the definition of “hatred” after “religious belief,” insert “ sexual orientation, disability ”.

Increase of penalties N.I.

4.—(1) In section 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100) (malicious wounding or grievous bodily harm) for the words from “shall be guilty” to the end substitute “ shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years. ”.

(2) In section 47 of that Act (assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault)—

(a) for the words “to be kept in penal servitude” substitute “ to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years ”;

(b) for “one year” substitute “ two years ”.

(3) In Article 6(2) of the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (NI 4) (penalties for offences under the Order other than arson or an offence under Article 3(2)) for “ten years” substitute “ fourteen years ”.

(4) In Article 4 of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 9) for paragraph (2) (maximum sentence on summary conviction of offence of harassment) substitute—

“(2) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both; or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both.” .

(5) In Article 6(4)(a) of that Order (maximum sentence on conviction on indictment of offence of putting person in fear of violence) for “five years” substitute “ seven years ”.

(6) Article 6(6) of that Order (which is unnecessary in consequence of paragraph (4)) shall cease to have effect.

(7) In Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 10) in the entry relating to an offence under Article 10 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 18) in column 4 for “2 years” substitute “ 5 years ”.

(8) Nothing in this Article affects the punishment for an offence committed before the coming into operation of this Article.

New offences of aggravated vehicle-taking N.I.

5.—(1) After Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 1) (taking vehicle without authority) insert—

“Aggravated vehicle-taking

172A.— (1) Subject to paragraph (3), a person is guilty of aggravated taking of a motor vehicle if—

(a) he commits an offence under Article 172(1) (in this Article referred to as a “basic offence”) in relation to a motor vehicle; and

(b) it is proved that, at any time after the vehicle was unlawfully taken (whether by him or another) and before it was recovered, the vehicle was driven, or injury or damage was caused, in one or more of the circumstances set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph (2).

(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are—

(a) that the vehicle was driven dangerously on a road or other public place;

(b) that, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurred by which injury was caused to any person;

(c) that, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurred by which damage was caused to any property, other than the vehicle;

(d) that damage was caused to the vehicle.

(3) A person is not guilty of an offence under this Article if he proves that, as regards any such proven driving, injury or damage as is referred to in paragraph (1)(b), either—

(a) the driving, accident or damage referred to in paragraph (2) occurred before he committed the basic offence; or

(b) he was neither in nor on nor in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle when that driving, accident or damage occurred.

(4) If a person who is charged with an offence under this Article is found not guilty of that offence but it is proved that he committed a basic offence, he may be convicted of the basic offence.

(5) For the purposes of this Article a vehicle is driven dangerously if—

(a) it is driven in a way which falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver; and

(b) it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving the vehicle in that way would be dangerous.

(6) For the purposes of this Article a vehicle is recovered when it is restored to its owner or to other lawful possession or custody.” .

(2) After Article 172A of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 1) (inserted by paragraph (1)) insert—

“Aggravated vehicle-taking causing death or grievous bodily injury

172B.— (1) A person is guilty of an offence under this Article if—

(a) he commits an offence under Article 172A(1) (in this Article referred to as a “basic offence”) in relation to a motor vehicle; and

(b) it is proved that, in circumstances falling within Article 172A(2)(b), the accident caused the death of, or grievous bodily injury to, the person concerned.

(2) If a person who is charged with an offence under this Article is found not guilty of that offence but it is proved that he committed a basic offence or an offence under Article 172A, he may be convicted of that offence.” .

(3) In the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 10) in Part I of Schedule 1 (prosecution and punishment of offences under the Road Traffic Orders) after the entry relating to Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 insert—

Article 172A	Aggravated vehicle-taking.	(a) Summarily	The statutory maximum or six months or both	Obligatory	Obligatory	3–11
		(b) On indictment	5 years or a fine or both.
Article 172B	Aggravated vehicle-taking causing death or grievous bodily injury.	On indictment	14 years or a fine or both	Obligatory	Obligatory	3–11

(4) In Article 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 10) (disqualification for certain offences) after paragraph (1) (obligatory disqualification except for special reasons) insert—

“(1A) Where a person is convicted of an offence under Article 172A or 172B of the 1981 Order (aggravated vehicle taking) the fact that he did not drive the vehicle in question at any particular time or at all shall not be regarded as a special reason for the purposes of paragraph (1).” .

(5) F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In Article 14 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (NI 15) (compensation orders against convicted persons) in paragraphs (3) and (4) after “Article 172” insert “ , 172A or 172B ”.

(7) Nothing in Article 172A or 172B of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 applies to—

(a) an offence under Article 172 of that Order which was committed before this Article comes into operation; or

(b) any driving, injury, death or damage which occurred before this Article comes into operation.

F1 Art. 5(5) repealed (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 41(2), Sch. 2