Criminal Justice Act 1991

Community service orders: Northern Ireland

4 (1) Where a court considering the making of a community service order is satisfied that the offender resides in Northern Ireland, or will be residing there when the order comes into force, section 14 of the 1973 Act shall have effect—

(a) in the case of an offender aged sixteen, as if the reference in subsection (1A) to 240 hours were a reference to 120 hours; and

(b) in any case, as if for subsection (2A) there were substituted the following subsection—

“(2A) A court shall not make a community service order in respect of any offender unless it appears to the court that provision can be made by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland for him to perform work under the order.”

(2) Where a community service order has been made and—

(a) a magistrates' court acting for a petty sessions area for the time being specified in it is satisfied that the offender proposes to reside or is residing in Northern Ireland; and

(b) it appears to the court that provision can be made by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland for him to perform work under the order,

it may amend the order by specifying that the unpaid work required to be performed by the order be so performed and, where the offender is aged sixteen, by making any such reduction in the aggregate number of hours specified in the order as is required by sub-paragraph (1)(a) above.

(3) A community service order made or amended in accordance with this paragraph shall—

(a) specify the petty sessions district in Northern Ireland in which the offender resides or will be residing when the order or amendment comes into force; and

(b) require the Probation Board for Northern Ireland to select an officer who will discharge in respect of the order the functions in respect of community service orders conferred on the relevant officer by the [S.I. 1976/226 (N.I. 4).] Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.