Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 2)

Supplementary N.I.

15 Powers of arrest. N.I.

A constable in uniform may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this Act.

16 Regulations and orders. N.I.

(1) Any power of the Secretary of State to make orders or regulations under this Act, except an order under section 11, shall be exercised by statutory instrument.

(2) A statutory instrument containing any regulations under this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(4) A statutory instrument containing—

(a) an order under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 made without a draft having been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament; or

(b) an order under section 6(5)(b) or 12(1) or paragraph 2(2) or 12(6) of Schedule 1,

shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) An order or regulations under this Act—

(a) may make different provision for different cases, circumstances or areas; and

(b) may contain such incidental, supplemental or transitional provisions and savings as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

17 Interpretation. N.I.

(1) In this Act—

• “area” means the whole or any part of Northern Ireland;

• “band” means a group of two or more persons who carry for the purpose of playing or sounding, or engage in the playing or sounding of, musical instruments;

• “the Code of Conduct” has the meaning assigned by section 3(1);

• “the Commission” means the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland;

• “constable” means a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve;

• “the guidelines” has the meaning assigned by section 5(1);

• “intoxicating liquor” and “licensed premises” have the same meanings as in the M1 Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;

• “passenger vehicle” means a motor vehicle (within the meaning of the M2 Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995) which is adapted to carry more than 8 passengers;

• “the procedural rules” has the meaning assigned by section 4(1);

• “protest meeting” means an open-air public meeting (within the meaning of the M3 Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987)—

(a) which is, or is to be, held—

(i) at a place which is on or in the vicinity of the route or proposed route of a public procession; and

(ii) at or about the same time as the procession is being or is to be held; and

(b) the purpose (or one of the purposes) of which is to demonstrate opposition to the holding of that procession on that route or proposed route;

• “public place” means—

(a) any road within the meaning of the M4 Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993; and

(b) any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission;

• “public procession” means a procession in a public place, whether or not involving the use of vehicles or other conveyances.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a protest meeting is “related” to a public procession if the purpose (or one of the purposes) of the meeting is to demonstrate opposition to the holding of that procession on its route or proposed route.

(3) References in this Act to the Chief Constable are to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; but the Chief Constable may delegate, to such extent and subject to such conditions as he may specify, any of his functions under this Act to a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary not below the rank of Assistant Chief Constable.

Marginal Citations

M1 1996 NI 22.

M2 1995 NI 18.

M3 1987 NI 7.

M4 1993 NI 15.

18 Amendments and repeals. U.K.

(1) The enactments set out in Schedule 3 shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule.

(2) The enactments set out in Schedule 4 are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule.

Extent Information

E1 Except for s.18(1) which extends to UK, s. 18 extends to NI only as mentioned in s.19(5)

Commencement Information

I1 S.18 wholly in force at 2.3.1998: s. 18(1) wholly in force at Royal Assent and s. 18(2) in force 2.3.1998 by S.I. 1998/717

19 Short title, commencement, transitional provision and extent. N.I.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), this Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint.

(3) The following provisions come into force on the passing of this Act, namely—

(a) section 1 and Schedule 1;

(b) sections 3 to 5 and Schedule 2;

(c) section 8(6);

(d) sections 16 and 17;

(e) paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 and section 18(1) so far as relating thereto; and

(f) this section.

(4) Nothing in this Act shall apply in relation to any public procession or protest meeting held, or proposed to be held, in the period of one month beginning with the day appointed under subsection (2).

(5) Except for—

(a) paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 and section 18(1) so far as relating thereto; and

(b) this section,

this Act extends to Northern Ireland only.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 19(2) power fully exercised (25.2.1998): 2.3.1998 appointed day where otherwise not in force by S.I. 1998/717