2006 No. 62

CRIMINAL EVIDENCE

The Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Categories of Offences) Order 2006

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into operation

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Article 8(4)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 20041, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and Commencement

1

This Order may be cited as the Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Categories of Offences) Order 2006 and shall come into operation on 3 April 2006.

2

1

The categories of offences set out in Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule to this Order are hereby prescribed for the purposes of Article 8(4)(b) of the 2004 Order.

2

Two offences are of the same category as each other if they are included in the same Part of the Schedule.

David HansonOne of Her Majesty’s Principle Secretaries of State Northern Ireland Office

SCHEDULE 1PRESCRIBED CATEGORIES OF OFFENCES

Article 2

PART ITHEFT CATEGORY

1

An offence under section 7 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 19692 (theft).

2

An offence under section 8 of that Act (robbery).

3

An offence under section 9 of that Act (burglary).

4

An offence under section 10 of that Act (aggravated burglary).

5

An offence under section 12 of that Act (taking motor vehicle or other conveyance without authority).

6

An offence under section 21 of that Act (handling stolen goods).

7

An offence under section 24 of that Act (going equipped for stealing).

8

An offence under Article 5 of the Theft (Northern Ireland) Order 19783 (making off without payment).

9

An offence under Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 19814 (aggravated vehicle taking).

10

An offence of—

a

aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of an offence specified in this Part of this Schedule; or

b

attempting to commit an offence so specified.

PART IISEXUAL OFFENCES (PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 17) CATEGORY

1

Rape if committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

2

An offence under section 52 of the Offences against the Person Act 18615 (indecent assault upon a female person) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

3

An offence under section 53 or 54 of that Act (abduction of a woman) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

4

An offence under section 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 18856 (procuration of a girl under 21) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

5

An offence under section 3 of that Act (procuring defilement of a woman using threats, etc.) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

6

An offence under section 4 of that Act (unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14).

7

An offence under section 5 of that Act (unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17).

8

An offence under section 7 of that Act (abduction of girl under 18).

9

An offence under section 1 of the Punishment of Incest Act 19087 (incest by males) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

10

An offence under section 2 of that Act (incest by females) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

11

An offence under section 21 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 19688 (causing or encouraging seduction, etc. of a girl under 17).

12

An offence under section 22 of that Act (indecent conduct towards a child).

13

An offence under Article 3 of the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 19789 (indecent photographs of children).

14

An offence under Article 9 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 198010 (inciting a girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse).

15

An offence under Article 15 of the Criminal Justice (Evidence, Etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 198811 (possession of indecent photographs of a child).

16

An offence under Article 19 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 200312 (buggery) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

17

An offence under Article 20 of that Order (assault with intent to commit buggery) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

18

An offence under Article 21 of that Order (indecent assault on a male) if it was committed in relation to a person under the age of 17.

19

An offence under section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 200313 (meeting a child following sexual grooming etc.).

20

An offence under any of sections 16 to 19 or 47 to 50 of that Act (abuse of trust, prostitution, child pornography).

21

An offence of—

a

aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of that offence; or

b

attempting, conspiring or inciting to commit that offence.

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under Article 8(4)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 the Secretary of State may prescribe categories of offences which are “of the same category” for use as an indicator that a defendant has a propensity to commit offences of a certain type. The categories prescribed by this Order are theft and sexual offences (persons under the age of 17). Each category consists of offences of the same type.