(This note is not part of the Rules)
These Rules amend the Crown Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1979 (S.R. 1979 No. 90) to:
take account of amendments to section 9 of The Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 (2019 c.5) made by section 51 of, and paragraph 4 of Schedule 5 to, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (2022 c.32) which provide that an overseas production order shall be served on the Secretary of State or on a prescribed person (rule 2(1));
amend rule 62P(3) (requirement for service) so that it is subject to rule 62Q(7)(c) (which grants the court a discretion to waive requirements for service) (rule 2(2)(a) – (d));
provide for service of a varied overseas production order (rule 2(2)(e)); and
provide that a Court may determine an application for an overseas production order in the absence of any respondent or other person affected if it would prejudice the investigation to adjourn or postpone the application so as to allow the absentee to attend (rule 2(3)).