The Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 9(1) of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (c. 6) provides that sections 1 to 8 of, and Schedule 1 to, that Act, which provide for trial on indictment without a jury (“the non-jury trial provisions”), expire at the end of the period of two years beginning with the day on which section 1 comes into force (“the effective period”). Section 1 came into force on 1st August 2007. Section 9(2) provides for the Secretary of State by order to extend or, on one or more occasions, further extend the effective period. Section 9(3)(b) provides that the effect of an order extending or further extending the effective period is to extend or further extend it for the period of two years beginning with the time when the effective period would end but for the order.

The initial effective period ran until 31st July 2009. The effective period was extended by S.I. 2009/2090 so as to end on 31st July 2011. The effective period was further extended by S.I. 2011/1720 so as to end on 31st July 2013, by S.I. 2013/1619 so as to end on 31st July 2015, and by S.I. 2015/1572 so as to end on 31st July 2017.

Article 2 of this Order further extends the effective period. The effect of this Order is that the non-jury trial provisions will expire on 31st July 2019.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.