8.—(1) Where a life prisoner is released on licence, the licence shall, unless previously revoked under Article 9(1) or (2), remain in force until his death.
(2) A life prisoner subject to a licence shall comply with such conditions (which may include on his release conditions as to his supervision by a probation officer) as may for the time being be specified in the licence; and the [F1Department of Justice] may make rules for regulating the supervision of any descriptions of such persons.
(3) The [F1Department of Justice] shall not include on release, or subsequently insert, a condition in the licence of a life prisoner, or vary or cancel any such condition, except in accordance with recommendations of the Commissioners.
[F2(4) Rules made under paragraph (2) shall be subject to negative resolution.]
[F3(5) The Secretary of State may exercise any power of the Department of Justice to include, insert, vary or cancel conditions in a licence but only if his decision to exercise the power is arrived at (wholly or partly) on the basis of protected information; and, in relation to the exercise of such a power by the Secretary of State, in paragraph (3) the reference to the Department of Justice is to be read as a reference to the Secretary of State.
(6) The Department of Justice must exercise its powers subject to anything done by the Secretary of State by virtue of paragraph (5).]
F1Words in art. 8(2)(3) substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 6(a) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F2Art. 8(4) substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 6(b) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
9.—(1) If recommended to do so by the Commissioners, in the case of a life prisoner who has been released on licence, the [F4Department of Justice or the] Secretary of State may revoke his licence and recall him to prison.
(2) The [F5Department of Justice or the] Secretary of State may revoke the licence of any life prisoner and recall him to prison without a recommendation by the Commissioners, where it appears to [F6it or] him that it is expedient in the public interest to recall that person before such a recommendation is practicable.
(3) A life prisoner recalled to prison under this Article—
(a)on his return to prison, shall be informed of the reasons for his recall and of his right to make representations; and
(b)may make representations in writing to the [F7Department of Justice or (as the case may be) the] Secretary of State with respect to his recall.
(4) The [F7Department of Justice or (as the case may be) the] Secretary of State shall refer the case of a life prisoner recalled under this Article to the Commissioners.
(5) Where on a reference under paragraph (4) the Commissioners direct the immediate release of a life prisoner on licence under this Article, the [F8Department of Justice] shall give effect to the direction.
[F9(5A) The Commissioners shall not give a direction under paragraph (5) unless they are satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm that the prisoner should be confined.]
(6) On the revocation of the licence of any life prisoner under this Article, he shall be liable to be detained in pursuance of his sentence and, if at large, shall be deemed to be unlawfully at large.
[F10(7) The Secretary of State may revoke the licence of a life prisoner and recall him to prison under this Article only if his decision to revoke the licence and make the recall is arrived at (wholly or partly) on the basis of protected information.]
F4Words in art. 9(1) inserted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(a) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F5Words in art. 9(2) inserted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(b)(i) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F6Words in art. 9(2) inserted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(b)(ii) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F7Words in art. 9(3)(4) inserted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(c) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F8Words in art. 9(5) substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 6(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(d) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)