The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Destruction, Retention and Use of Biometric Data) (Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2022

This Order extends by two years the duration of transitional provisions for Northern Ireland in connection with the coming into force of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9) (“the Act”) (destruction, retention and use of biometric data).

Articles 7, 7A and 7B of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Destruction, Retention and Use of Biometric Data) (Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1813) (“the 2013 Order”) provide that material taken, held or (in the case of a DNA profile) derived from a sample taken in Northern Ireland, under the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11), the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (c. 28) or the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 (c. 23) before the coming into force of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Act (“pre commencement material”) is not subject to the relevant destruction requirements contained in Schedule 1 to the Act until 31st October 2022.

Article 2 of this Order amends article 7A of the 2013 Order. This extends by two years the transitional period in respect of Northern Ireland pre-commencement material, with the effect that such material is not subject to the destruction requirements contained in Schedule 1 to the Act until 31st October 2024.

This Order revokes the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Destruction, Retention and Use of Biometric Data) (Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/657) and the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Destruction, Retention and Use of Biometric Data) (Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/688).

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