The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Service of summons and execution of warrants N.I.

Summons or process lawfully issued may be served anywhere in Northern Ireland N.I.

157.  Any summons, notice or other process lawfully issued in connection with any proceedings before a magistrates' court may be served in any part of Northern Ireland upon the person to whom it is addressed.

Execution of warrants N.I.

158.—(1) A warrant issued in connection with proceedings before a magistrates' court by a resident magistrate or [F1 lay magistrate] shall remain in force until it is executed or until it is withdrawn by the person who issued it, or if he is unable to act, by any resident magistrate.

(2) Notwithstanding any other enactment, any warrant for arrest or search or of commitment or distress lawfully issued in connection with proceedings before a magistrates' court may be executed in any part of Northern Ireland and it may be executed either by any person to whom the warrant was originally directed or by any constable.

(3) Where the person against whom any such warrant or his property, as the case may be, is to be found in Northern Ireland, the provisions of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851F2 relating to the certifying and endorsing of warrants shall not apply.

(4) Any warrant for the arrest of any person or any warrant of commitment lawfully issued in connection with proceedings before a magistrates' court may be executed by any constable at any time notwithstanding that the warrant is not in his possession at that time, but the warrant shall, on demand of the person arrested or committed, be shown to him as soon as practicable.

(5) The issue or execution of any warrant for arrest or search or of commitment in connection with proceedings before a magistrates' court shall be as effectual on Sunday as on any other day.

F1 2002 c. 26

F2 1851 c. 98