The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

1.—(1) The Secretary of State shall appoint Parole Commissioners.

(2) The Secretary of State shall so far as reasonably practicable ensure that at any time—

(a) at least one of the Commissioners is a person who holds or has held judicial office in any part of the United Kingdom or who is—

(i) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland of at least 10 years' standing; or

(ii) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland of at least 10 years' standing; or

(iii) a person who has a 10 year general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41);

(b) at least one is a registered medical practitioner who is a psychiatrist;

(c) at least one is a chartered psychologist;

(d) at least one is a person appearing to the Secretary of State to have knowledge and experience of the supervision or aftercare of discharged prisoners;

(e) at least one is a person appearing to the Secretary of State to have knowledge and experience of working with victims of crime; and

(f) at least one is a person appearing to the Secretary of State to have made a study of the causes of delinquency or the treatment of offenders.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2)—

“chartered psychologist” means a person for the time being listed in the British Psychological Society’s Register of Chartered Psychologists;

“registered medical practitioner” means a fully registered person within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983 (c. 54).

(4) The Secretary of State shall appoint a Chief Commissioner from among the Commissioners.

(5) The Secretary of State may appoint a deputy Chief Commissioner from among the Commissioners.