The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Changes over time for: Section 61

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Section 61 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 November 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.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Article 61:

various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(a)
art. 61(6C) words inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(6)(a)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 61(7) substituted by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(1)
art. 61(7) words substituted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(6)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 61(7A) words inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(6)(a)(iii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 61(7A) words substituted by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(2)(a)
art. 61(7A)(a) words substituted by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(2)(b)
art. 61(8) words substituted by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(3)
art. 61(8A) substituted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(4)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:

Order applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 150(1)(a)
Order excluded by 2012 c. 9 Sch. 1 para. 7(5)
Order extended by 2003 c. 6 Sch. 4 para. 23A (as inserted) by S.I. 2007/912 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 5

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):

Sch. 2A para. 1(4) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(a)(ii)
Sch. 2A para. 2(2)(c) and word inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(b)(ii)
Sch. 2A para. 9(4) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(c)(ii)
Sch. 2A para. 10(5) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(d)(ii)
Sch. 2A para. 2(2)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(b)(i)
art. 62(10(ab) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
art. 3(9ZA)(9ZB) inserted by 2019 c. 17 s. 12(5)
art. 19(1)(cc) inserted by S.I. 2007/916 (N.I.) art. 18(2)
art. 53(3A)(3B) inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)
art. 53(3A) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 15(4)
art. 53(4) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(6)
art. 53B inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 3
art. 56(13A)(b)(iii) and word substituted for word by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(1)(b)
art. 56(13A)(b)(iii) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(1)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
art. 56A(9)(b)(iii) and word substituted for word by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b)
art. 56A(9)(b)(iii) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
art. 61(5A) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(1)
art. 61(5A)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(a)
art. 61(5B) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(2)
art. 61(5B)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(a)
art. 61(5C) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(b)
art. 61(6)-(6ZD) substituted for art. 61(6) by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(3)
art. 61(6D)-(6G) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(1)
art. 61(6BA) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(2) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 62(2A) (2B) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(2)
art. 62(10)(ab) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b)
art. 62(10)(ab) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
art. 63(3A)(c)(i) word substituted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 4
art. 63(3B)-(3BD) substituted for art. 63(3B) by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(7)
art. 63(3C) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 63(3D)-(3G) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(4)
art. 63(3AA) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(2)(c)
art. 63(3ZA) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(5)
art. 63(3ZA)(b)(iii) and word inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(2)(a)
art. 63A(1E) (1F) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 11(1)
art. 63A(6A) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(4)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 63B-63R inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 2
art. 63D(1)(a) substituted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(a)
art. 63D(1)(a)(i) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(5)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
art. 63D(14) words inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(b)
art. 63D(14) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(5)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
art. 63N substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 86
art. 63R(4A) inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 4 para. 20(9)
art. 63R(4B) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 18 para. 5(8) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of art. 63R by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 2 remains prospective at 31.12.2023.)
art. 63R(5) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 87(a)
art. 63R(5A)(5B) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 87(b)
art. 63DA inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(3)
art. 63DA heading words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
art. 63DA(1)(a) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
art. 63DA(4) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
art. 63GA inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 84
art. 63KA inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 85
art. 64(1AA) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(5) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
art. 64(1AB) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 15(5)
art. 89(2A) inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 5

FingerprintingN.I.

61.—(1) Except as provided by this Article no person's fingerprints may be taken without the appropriate consent.

(2) Consent to the taking of a person's fingerprints must be in writing if it is given at a time when he is at a police station.

[F1(3) The fingerprints of a person detained at a police station may be taken without the appropriate consent if—

(a)he is detained in consequence of his arrest for a recordable offence; and

(b)he has not had his fingerprints taken in the course of the investigation of the offence by the police.

(4) The fingerprints of a person detained at a police station may be taken without the appropriate consent if—

(a)he has been charged with a recordable offence or informed that he will be reported for such an offence; and

(b)he has not had his fingerprints taken in the course of the investigation of the offence by the police.]

[F2(4A) Where a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3) or (4) has already has his fingerprints taken in the course of the investigation of the offence by the police, that fact shall be disregarded for the purposes of that paragraph if—

(a)the fingerprints taken on the previous occasion do not constitute a complete set of his fingerprints; or

(b)some or all of the fingerprints taken on the previous occasion are not of sufficient quality to allow satisfactory analysis, comparison or matching (whether in the case in question or generally).

(4AA) The fingerprints of a person who has answered to bail at a court or police station may be taken without the appropriate consent at the court or station if—

(a)the court, or

(b)an officer of at least the rank of inspector,

authorises them to be taken.

(4B) A court or officer may only give an authorisation under paragraph (4AA) if—

(a)the person who has answered to bail has answered to it for a person whose fingerprints were taken on a previous occasion and there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not the same person; or

(b)the person who has answered to bail claims to be a different person from a person whose fingerprints were taken on a previous occasion.”

(5) An officer may give an authorisation under paragraph (4AA) orally or in writing, but if he gives it orally he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.]

(6) Any person's fingerprints may be taken without the appropriate consent if

[F3(a)he has been convicted of a recordable offence; or

(b)he has been given a caution in respect of a recordable offence which, at the time of the caution, he has admitted.]

[F4(6A) A constable may take a person's fingerprints without the appropriate consent if—

(a)the constable reasonably suspects that the person is committing or attempting to commit an offence, or has committed or attempted to commit an offence; and

(b)either of the two conditions mentioned in paragraph (6B) is met.

(6B) The conditions are that—

(a)the name of the person is unknown to, and cannot be readily ascertained by, the constable;

(b)the constable has reasonable grounds for doubting whether a name furnished by the person as his name is his real name.

(6C) The taking of fingerprints by virtue of paragraph (6A) does not count for any of the purposes of this Order as taking them in the course of the investigation of an offence by the police.]

(7) In a case where by virtue of[F1 paragraph (3), (4) [F5, (6) or (6A)]] a person's fingerprints are taken without the appropriate consent—

(a)he shall be told the reason before his fingerprints are taken; and

(b)the reason shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the fingerprints are taken.

[F6(7A) If a person's fingerprints are taken at a police station, [F7or by virtue of paragraph (6A) at a place other than a police station,] whether with or without the appropriate consent—

(a)before the fingerprints are taken, an officer [F8(or, in a paragraph (6A) case, the constable)] shall inform him that they may be the subject of a speculative search; and

(b)the fact that the person has been informed of this possibility shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the fingerprints have been taken.]

(8) If he is detained at a police station when the fingerprints are taken, the reason for taking them[F6 and, in the case falling within paragraph (7A), the fact referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph] shall be recorded on his custody record.

[F9(8A) The fingerprints of a person detained at a police station may be taken without the appropriate consent by a constable.]

(8B) F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9) Nothing in this Article—

(a)affects any power conferred by paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971[F11, section 141 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or regulations made under section 144 of that Act]; or

[F12(b)applies to a person arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions [F13or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,] [F14 or detained under Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019]]

[F15(10) Nothing in this Article applies to a person arrested under an extradition arrest power.]

F12004 NI 9

F2Art. 61(4A)-(5) inserted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(2)

F3Words in art. 61(6) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(3)

F4Art. 61(6A)-(6C) inserted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(4)

F5Words in art. 61(7) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(5)

F61995 NI 17

F7Words in art. 61(7A) inserted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(6)(a)

F8Words in art. 61(7A)(a) inserted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 30(6)(b)

F92003 c. 6

F10Art. 61(8B) repealed (12.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 112(1)(2), 116(6), Sch. 7 para. 128(2), Sch. 8 Pt. 13

F111999 c. 33