Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

CHAPTER 2 CONDUCT AT REGULATED MATCHES

Throwing of articles capable of causing injury

36.—(1) It is an offence for a person at any time during the period of a regulated match to throw any article to which this subsection applies at or towards—

(a) the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, or

(b) any area in which spectators or other persons are or may be present,

without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for that person to prove).

(2) Subsection (1) applies to any article capable of causing injury to a person struck by it.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Chanting

37.—(1) It is an offence for a person at any time during the period of a regulated match to engage or take part in chanting falling within subsection (3).

(2) For this purpose “chanting” means the repeated uttering of any words or sounds (whether alone or in concert with one or more others).

(3) Chanting falls within this subsection if—

(a) it is of an indecent nature;

(b) it is of a sectarian or indecent nature; or

(c) it consists of or includes matter which is threatening, abusive or insulting to a person by reason of that person’s colour, race, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins, religious belief, sexual orientation or disability.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Going onto the playing area

38.—(1) It is an offence for a person at any time during the period of a regulated match to go onto the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for that person to prove).

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Possession of fireworks, flares, etc.

39.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if P has an article or substance to which this section applies in P’s possession—

(a) at any time during the period of a regulated match when P is in any area of the ground from which the match may be directly viewed, or

(b) while entering or trying to enter the ground at any time during the period of a regulated match at the ground.

(2) It is a defence for P to prove that P had possession with lawful authority.

(3) This section applies to any article—

(a) which is a firework; or

(b) which is an article or substance whose main purpose is the emission of a flare for purposes of illuminating or signalling (as opposed to igniting or heating) or the emission of smoke or a visible gas;

and in particular it applies to distress flares, fog signals, and pellets and capsules intended to be used as fumigators or for testing pipes, but not to matches, cigarette lighters or heaters.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.