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The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

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Changes to legislation:

The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

  1. Introductory Text

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    PART 1 INTRODUCTORY

    1. 1.Title and commencement

    2. 2.General interpretation

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    PART 2 SENTENCING

    1. CHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION

      1. 3.Interpretation of this Part

    2. CHAPTER 2 CUSTODIAL SENTENCES

      1. 4.Interpretation of this Chapter

      2. 5.Restrictions on imposing certain custodial sentences

      3. 6.Restrictions on imposing custodial sentences on persons not legally represented

      4. 7.Length of custodial sentences

      5. 8.Length of custodial period

      6. 9.Procedural requirements for custodial sentences

      7. 10.Additional requirements in the case of mentally disordered offenders

      8. 11.Disclosure of pre-sentence reports

    3. CHAPTER 3 DANGEROUS OFFENDERS

      1. 12.Meaning of “specified offence” etc.

      2. 13.Life sentence or indeterminate custodial sentence for serious offences

      3. 14.Extended custodial sentence for certain violent or sexual offences

      4. 15.The assessment of dangerousness

    4. CHAPTER 4 RELEASE ON LICENCE

      1. Preliminary

        1. 16.Interpretation of this Chapter

      2. Duty . . . to release on licence

        1. 17.Duty to release certain fixed-term prisoners

        2. 18.Duty to release prisoners serving indeterminate or extended custodial sentences

      3. Power ... to release on licence

        1. 19.Power to release prisoners on licence before required to do so

        2. 20.Power to release certain prisoners on compassionate grounds

      4. Duration of licences

        1. 21.Duration of licences: fixed-term prisoners

        2. 22.Duration of licences: prisoners serving indeterminate custodial sentences

      5. Licence conditions

        1. 23.Power of court to recommend licence conditions for sentences of 12 months or more

        2. 24.Licence conditions

        3. 25.Licence conditions on re-release of prisoners serving sentence of less than 12 months

        4. 26.Curfew condition to be included in licence under Article 19

        5. 27.Duty to comply with licence conditions

        6. 27A.Licence conditions: national security

      6. Recall after release

        1. 28.Recall of prisoners while on licence

        2. 29.Further release after recall for certain fixed-term prisoners

        3. 30.Recall of prisoners released early under Article 19

        4. 31.Conviction while licence remains in force

      7. Concurrent or consecutive terms

        1. 32.Concurrent terms

        2. 33.Consecutive terms

      8. Licences for sexual offenders

        1. 34.Breach of licensing for sexual offenders

    5. CHAPTER 5 CURFEWS AND ELECTRONIC MONITORING

      1. Powers to impose curfew or electronic monitoring requirements

        1. 35.Powers to impose curfew or electronic monitoring requirements

        2. 36.Power of court to impose curfew or electronic monitoring requirement on making juvenile justice centre order

      2. Curfews

        1. 37.Curfew requirement

        2. 38.Requirement to avoid conflict with religious beliefs, etc.

      3. Electronic monitoring

        1. 39.Arrangements for establishing systems of electronic monitoring

        2. 40.Electronic monitoring requirement

        3. 41.Availability of electronic monitoring arrangements

        4. 42.Provision of copies of electronic monitoring requirement

      4. Release of children on bail

        1. 43.Release of child on bail: curfew and electronic monitoring requirements

      5. Rules

        1. 44.Rules

    6. CHAPTER 6 SUPERVISED ACTIVITY ORDERS

      1. 45.Supervised activity order for default in payment of certain fines

    7. CHAPTER 7 PAROLE COMMISSIONERS

      1. 46.The Parole Commissioners

    8. CHAPTER 8 ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN ORDERS MADE ON CONVICTION

      1. 47.Enforcement of certain community orders

      2. 48.Enforcement of certain youth justice orders

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    PART 3 RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

    1. 49.Interpretation of this Part

    2. 50.Guidance to agencies on assessing and managing certain risks to the public

    3. 51.Review of arrangements and report on functions

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    PART 4 ROAD TRAFFIC OFFENCES

    1. New offences

      1. 52.Causing death, or grievous bodily injury, by careless or inconsiderate driving

      2. 53.Causing death or grievous bodily injury by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers

      3. 54.Speed assessment equipment detection devices

    2. Increase in penalties

      1. 55.Driving without insurance

      2. 56.Driving while disqualified

      3. 57.Failure to stop vehicle

      4. 58.Furious driving

    3. Drink-driving, etc.

      1. 59.Power to require specimens of breath at roadside or at hospital

      2. 60.Alcohol ignition interlocks

      3. 61.Experimental period for Article 60

    4. Other provisions about offences

      1. 62.Meaning of driving without due care and attention

      2. 63.Extension of offence under Article 14 of the 1995 Order

      3. 64.Alternative verdict on unsuccessful manslaughter prosecution

    5. Seizure of vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance

      1. 65.Seizure of vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance

      2. 66.Retention etc. of vehicles seized under Article 65

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    PART 5 MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY

    1. Purchase and consumption of alcohol

      1. 67.Test purchases of alcohol

      2. 68.Alcohol consumption in designated public places

      3. 69.Fixed penalty notice for offence under Article 68

      4. 70.Designated public places

      5. 71.Effect of Articles 68 and 70 on byelaws

      6. 72.Interpretation of Articles 68 to 71

    2. Prisons

      1. 73.Removal of requirement to appoint medical officers

      2. 74.Abolition of right of justice of the peace to visit prisons

      3. 75.Assisting a prisoner to escape

      4. 76.Facilitating escape by conveying things into prison

      5. 77.Conveyance of prohibited articles into or out of prison

      6. 78.Other offences relating to prison security

    3. Live links

      1. 79.Live links: introductory

      2. 80.Use of live link at preliminary hearings

      3. 81.Use of live link at sentencing hearings

      4. 82.Evidence of vulnerable accused

      5. 83.Live links in appeals under Criminal Appeal Act

    4. Legal aid

      1. 84.Civil legal services: anti-social behaviour orders

      2. 85.Civil legal services and legal aid: proceedings under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

    5. PACE

      1. 86.Entry for purposes of arrest

      2. 87.Pre-charge bail

      3. 88.Authorisation of X-rays and ultrasound scans

      4. 89.Police officers performing duties of higher rank

    6. Penalties

      1. 90.Increase of maximum sentences for offences relating to knives, weapons etc.

      2. 91.Driving disqualification for any offence

      3. 91A.Extension of disqualification where custodial sentence also imposed

      4. 91B.Effect of custodial sentence in other cases

    7. Proving execution of arrest warrants

      1. 92.Jurisdiction of magistrates' court in relation to proving execution of arrest warrant

    8. Anti-social behaviour orders

      1. 93.Applications for interim order

      2. 94.Special measures for witnesses in proceedings for anti-social behaviour orders

    9. Youth justice

      1. 95.Rehabilitation of offenders

      2. 96.Custody of children over the age of 17

      3. 97.Remands by youth court

      4. 98.Youth conference orders

      5. 99.Welfare of children

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    PART 6 SUPPLEMENTARY

    1. 100.Regulations, orders and rules

    2. 101.Supplementary and consequential provision, etc.

    3. 102.Amendments and repeals

  8. Signature

  9. SCHEDULES

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      SCHEDULE 1

      SERIOUS OFFENCES

      1. 1.Manslaughter.

      2. 2.Rape.

      3. 3.Kidnapping.

      4. 4.Riot.

      5. 5.Affray.

      6. 6.False imprisonment.

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        The Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)

        1. 7.An offence under— section 4 (soliciting murder), section 16 (threats...

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        The Explosive Substances Act 1883 (c. 3)

        1. 8.An offence under— section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger...

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        The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (c. 69)

        1. 9.An offence under section 4 of attempted intercourse with girl...

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        The Infanticide Act (Northern Ireland) 1939 (c. 5

        1. 10.An offence under section 1 (infanticide).

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        The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 (c. 15)

        1. 11.An offence under section 25 (child destruction).

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        The Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34)

        1. 12.An offence under— section 20 (cruelty to children), or section...

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        The Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16)

        1. 13.An offence under section 8 (robbery or assault with intent...

        2. 14.An offence under section 9 of burglary with intent to—...

        3. 15.An offence under section 10 (aggravated burglary).

      14. The Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59)

        1. 15A.An offence under section 2 (hi-jacking of vehicles or ships)....

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        The Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (NI 4)

        1. 16.An offence of arson under Article 3.

        2. 17.An offence under Article 3(2) (destroying or damaging property) other...

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        The Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (NI 17)

        1. 18.An offence under Article 3 (indecent photographs of children).

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        The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 1)

        1. 19.An offence under Article 172B (aggravated vehicle-taking causing death or...

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        The Taking of Hostages Act 1982 (c. 28)

        1. 20.An offence under section 1 (hostage-taking).

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        The Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36)

        1. 21.An offence under— section 1 (hijacking), section 2 (destroying, damaging...

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        The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

        1. 22.An offence under section 134 (torture).

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        The Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)

        1. 23.An offence under— section 1 (endangering safety at aerodromes) section...

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        The Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/570)

        1. 24.An offence under Part 2 (offences relating to Channel Tunnel...

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        The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 18)

        1. 25.An offence under— Article 9 (causing death or grievous bodily...

      24. The Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)

        1. 25A.An offence under— section 54 (weapons training), section 56 (directing...

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        The International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)

        1. 26.An offence under section 51 or 52 (genocide, crimes against...

      26. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)

        1. 26A.An offence under— section 47 (use etc of nuclear weapons),...

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        The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c. 31)

        1. 27.An offence under— section 1 (female genital mutilation), section 2...

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        The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

        1. 28.An offence under— section 15 (meeting a child following sexual...

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        The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (NI 13)

        1. 29.An offence under— Article 20 (assault with intent to commit...

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        The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28

        1. 30.An offence under section 5 (causing or allowing the death...

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        The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (NI 3)

        1. 31.An offence under— Article 58 (possession with intent), Article 59...

      32. The Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)

        1. 31ZA.An offence under— section 5 (preparation of terrorist acts), section...

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        The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (NI 2)

        1. 31A.An offence under— Article 5 (rape), Article 6 (assault by...

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        Other offences

        1. 32.An offence of— (a) aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting...

        2. 34.An offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act...

        3. 35.An attempt to commit murder or a conspiracy to commit...

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      SCHEDULE 2

      SPECIFIED OFFENCES

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        PART 1 SPECIFIED VIOLENT OFFENCES

        1. 1.Manslaughter.

        2. 2.Kidnapping.

        3. 3.Riot.

        4. 4.Affray.

        5. 5.False imprisonment.

        6. The Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)

          1. 6.An offence under— section 4 (soliciting murder), section 16 (threats...

          2. 7.An offence under section 47 of assault occasioning actual bodily...

        7. The Explosive Substances Act 1883 (c. 3)

          1. 8.An offence under— section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger...

        8. The Infanticide Act (Northern Ireland) 1939 (c. 5)

          1. 9.An offence under section 1 (infanticide).

        9. The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 (c. 15)

          1. 10.An offence under section 25 (child destruction).

        10. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 28)

          1. 11.An offence under section 7(1)(b) (assault with intent to resist...

        11. The Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34)

          1. 12.An offence under section 20 (cruelty to children).

        12. The Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16)

          1. 13.An offence under section 8 (robbery or assault with intent...

          2. 14.An offence under section 9 of burglary with intent to—...

          3. 15.An offence under section 10 (aggravated burglary).

        13. The Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59)

          1. 15A.An offence under section 2 (hi-jacking of vehicles or ships)....

        14. The Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (NI 4)

          1. 16.An offence of arson under Article 3.

          2. 17.An offence under Article 3(2) (destroying or damaging property) other...

        15. The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 1)

          1. 18.An offence under Article 172B (aggravated vehicle-taking causing death or...

        16. The Taking of Hostages Act 1982 (c. 28)

          1. 19.An offence under section 1 (hostage-taking).

        17. The Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36)

          1. 20.An offence under— section 1 (hijacking), section 2 (destroying, damaging...

        18. The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 4)

          1. 21.An offence under Article 121 (ill-treatment of patients).

        19. The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

          1. 22.An offence under section 134 (torture).

        20. The Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)

          1. 23.An offence under— section 1 (endangering safety at aerodromes), section...

        21. The Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/570)

          1. 24.An offence under Part 2 (offences relating to Channel Tunnel...

        22. The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 18)

          1. 25.An offence under— Article 9 (causing death or grievous bodily...

        23. The Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 9)

          1. 26.An offence under Article 6 (putting people in fear of...

        24. The Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 32

          1. 27.An offence under section 66 (assaulting or obstructing a constable...

        25. The Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)

          1. 27A.An offence under— section 54 (weapons training), section 56 (directing...

        26. The International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)

          1. 28.An offence under section 51 or 52 (genocide, crimes against...

        27. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)

          1. 28A.An offence under— section 47 (use etc of nuclear weapons),...

        28. The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c. 31)

          1. 29.An offence under— section 1 (female genital mutilation), section 2...

        29. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28)

          1. 30.An offence under section 5 (causing or allowing the death...

        30. The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (NI 3)

          1. 31.An offence under— Article 58 (possession with intent), Article 59...

        31. The Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)

          1. 31A.An offence under— section 5 (preparation of terrorist acts), section...

        32. Other offences

          1. 32.An offence of— (a) aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting...

          2. 33.An offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act...

          3. 34.An attempt to commit murder or a conspiracy to commit...

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        PART 2 SPECIFIED SEXUAL OFFENCES

        1. 1.Rape.

        2. The Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)

          1. 2.An offence under— section 52 (indecent assault upon a female),...

        3. The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (c. 69)

          1. 3.An offence under— section 2 (procuration), section 3 (procurement of...

        4. The Vagrancy Act 1898 (c. 38)

          1. 4.An offence under section 1 (living on earnings of prostitution...

        5. The Punishment of Incest Act 1908 (c. 45)

          1. 5.An offence under— section 1 (incest by a man), or...

        6. The Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34)

          1. 6.An offence under— section 21 (causing or encouraging seduction or...

        7. The Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16)

          1. 7.An offence under section 9 of burglary with intent to...

        8. The Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (NI 17)

          1. 8.An offence under Article 3 (indecent photographs of children).

        9. The Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2)

          1. 9.An offence under section 170 (penalty for fraudulent evasion of...

        10. The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 (NI 6)

          1. 10.An offence under Article 9 (inciting girl under 16 to...

        11. The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 4

          1. 11.An offence under— Article 122 (protection of women suffering from...

        12. The Criminal Justice (Evidence, Etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (NI 17)

          1. 12.An offence under Article 15 (possession of indecent photograph of...

        13. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

          1. 13.An offence under— section 15 (meeting a child following sexual...

        14. The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (NI 13)

          1. 14.An offence under— Article 20 (assault with intent to commit...

        15. The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (NI 2)

          1. 14A.An offence under— Article 5 (rape), Article 6 (assault by...

        16. Other offences

          1. 15.An offence of— (a) aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting...

          2. 16.An offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act...

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      SCHEDULE 3

      SUPERVISED ACTIVITY ORDERS: FURTHER PROVISIONS

      1. Expand +/Collapse -

        Restrictions on power to make order

        1. 1.A court shall not make a supervised activity order in...

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        Making of order

        1. 2.(1) A supervised activity order shall specify the petty sessions...

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        Coming into force of order

        1. 3.(1) Sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) apply where a supervised activity...

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        Requirements of order

        1. 4.(1) An offender in respect of whom a supervised activity...

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        Failure to comply with order

        1. 5.(1) If at any time while a supervised activity order...

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        Amendment, extension or revocation of order

        1. 6.(1) On the application of the offender or of the...

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        Rules

        1. 7.(1) The Secretary of State may make rules for regulating...

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        Interpretation

        1. 8.(1) In this Schedule “the appropriate court”, in relation to...

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      SCHEDULE 4

      THE PAROLE COMMISSIONERS

      1. Expand +/Collapse -

        Appointment

        1. 1.(1) The Department of Justice shall appoint Parole Commissioners.

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        Tenure

        1. 2.A Commissioner— (a) shall hold office in accordance with the...

        2. 3.The Department of Justice may, after consultation with the Lord...

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        Rules

        1. 4.(1) The Department of Justice may make rules with respect...

        2. 4A.(1) The Secretary of State may make rules with respect...

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        Remuneration and allowances

        1. 5.(1) The Department of Justice shall pay to or in...

      5. Expand +/Collapse -

        Staff, premises, etc.

        1. 6.The Department of Justice shall provide for the Commissioners the...

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        Annual report

        1. 7.(1) The Chief Commissioner shall, as soon as reasonably practicable...

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      SCHEDULE 5

      AMENDMENTS

      1. Expand +/Collapse -

        The Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29)

        1. 1.In section 33(2) (interpretation) at the end add if—

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        The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)

        1. 2.In Part 3 of Schedule 1 (other disqualifying offices) at...

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        The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (NI 27

        1. 3.In Article 6(1) (sentences excluded from rehabilitation), after sub-paragraph (d)...

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        The Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c. 47)

        1. 4.(1) In section 2 (transfer out of the United Kingdom)...

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        The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 4)

        1. 5.(1) In Article 44 (power of court to order hospital...

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        The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

        1. 6.In section 36(9) (reviews of sentencing) after paragraph (ab) insert—...

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        The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 24)

        1. 7.(1) In Article 2(2) (interpretation) in the definition of “custodial...

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        The Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 (NI 2)

        1. 8.In Article 2(2) (interpretation), in the definition of “the Commissioners”...

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        The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26

        1. 9.In section 46(1)(ea) (organisations to be inspected by Chief Inspector...

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        The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

        1. 10.(1) In the table in section 82(1) (notification period for...

      11. Expand +/Collapse -

        The Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (NI 10)

        1. 11.In Article 25(2)(b)(ii) (right to representation) for “Life Sentence Review...

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      SCHEDULE 6

      REPEALS

      1. PART 1 SENTENCING

      2. PART 2 REPEALS COMING INTO OPERATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 1(3)

      3. PART 3 PRISONS

      4. PART 4 LIVE LINKS

  10. Explanatory Note

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