Trials on indictment without a jury

1 Issue of certificate

(1) This section applies in relation to a person charged with one or more indictable offences (“the defendant”).

(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland may issue a certificate that any trial on indictment of the defendant (and of any person committed for trial with the defendant) is to be conducted without a jury if—

(a) he suspects that any of the following conditions is met, and

(b) he is satisfied that in view of this there is a risk that the administration of justice might be impaired if the trial were to be conducted with a jury.

(3) Condition 1 is that the defendant is, or is an associate (see subsection (9)) of, a person who—

(a) is a member of a proscribed organisation (see subsection (10)), or

(b) has at any time been a member of an organisation that was, at that time, a proscribed organisation.

(4) Condition 2 is that—

(a) the offence or any of the offences was committed on behalf of a proscribed organisation, or

(b) a proscribed organisation was otherwise involved with, or assisted in, the carrying out of the offence or any of the offences.

(5) Condition 3 is that an attempt has been made to prejudice the investigation or prosecution of the offence or any of the offences and—

(a) the attempt was made on behalf of a proscribed organisation, or

(b) a proscribed organisation was otherwise involved with, or assisted in, the attempt.

(6) Condition 4 is that the offence or any of the offences was committed to any extent (whether directly or indirectly) as a result of, in connection with or in response to religious or political hostility of one person or group of persons towards another person or group of persons.

(7) In subsection (6) “religious or political hostility” means hostility based to any extent on—

(a) religious belief or political opinion,

(b) supposed religious belief or political opinion, or

(c) the absence or supposed absence of any, or any particular, religious belief or political opinion.

(8) In subsection (6) the references to persons and groups of persons need not include a reference to the defendant or to any victim of the offence or offences.

(9) For the purposes of this section a person (A) is the associate of another person (B) if—

(a) A is the spouse or a former spouse of B,

(b) A is the civil partner or a former civil partner of B,

(c) A and B (whether of different sexes or the same sex) live as partners, or have lived as partners, in an enduring family relationship,

(d) A is a friend of B, or

(e) A is a relative of B.

(10) For the purposes of this section an organisation is a proscribed organisation, in relation to any time, if at that time—

(a) it is (or was) proscribed (within the meaning given by section 11(4) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)), and

(b) its activities are (or were) connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.

2 Certificates: supplementary

(1) If a certificate under section 1 is issued in relation to any trial on indictment of a person charged with one or more indictable offences (“the defendant”), it must be lodged with the court before the arraignment of—

(a) the defendant, or

(b) any person committed for trial on indictment with the defendant.

(2) A certificate lodged under subsection (1) may be modified or withdrawn by giving notice to the court at any time before the arraignment of—

(a) the defendant, or

(b) any person committed for trial on indictment with the defendant.

(3) In this section “the court” means—

(a) in relation to a time before the committal for trial on indictment of the defendant, the magistrates' court before which any proceedings for the offence or any of the offences mentioned in subsection (1) are being, or have been, conducted;

(b) otherwise, the Crown Court.

3 Preliminary inquiry

(1) This section applies where a certificate under section 1 has been issued in relation to any trial on indictment of a person charged with one or more indictable offences.

(2) In proceedings before a magistrates' court for the offence or any of the offences, if the prosecution requests the court to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the offence the court must grant the request.

(3) In subsection (2) “preliminary inquiry” means a preliminary inquiry under the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)).

(4) Subsection (2)—

(a) applies notwithstanding anything in Article 31 of that Order,

(b) does not apply in respect of an offence where the court considers that in the interests of justice a preliminary investigation should be conducted into the offence under that Order, and

(c) does not apply in respect of an extra-territorial offence (as defined in section 1(3) of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59)).

4 Court for trial

(1) A trial on indictment in relation to which a certificate under section 1 has been issued is to be held only at the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, unless the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland directs that—

(a) the trial,

(b) a part of the trial, or

(c) a class of trials within which the trial falls,

is to be held at the Crown Court sitting elsewhere.

(2) The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland may nominate any of the following to exercise his functions under subsection (1)—

(a) the holder of one of the offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26);

(b) a Lord Justice of Appeal (as defined in section 88 of that Act).

(3) If a person is committed for trial on indictment and a certificate under section 1 has been issued in relation to the trial, the person must be committed—

(a) to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, or

(b) where a direction has been given under subsection (1) which concerns the trial, to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction;

and section 48 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) (committal for trial on indictment) has effect accordingly.

(4) Where—

(a) a person is committed for trial on indictment otherwise than to the Crown Court sitting at the relevant venue, and

(b) a certificate under section 1 is subsequently issued in relation to the trial,

the person is to be treated as having been committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting at the relevant venue.

(5) In subsection (4) “the relevant venue”, in relation to a trial, means—

(a) if the trial falls within a class specified in a direction under subsection (1)(c) (or would fall within such a class had a certificate under section 1 been issued in relation to the trial), the place specified in the direction;

(b) otherwise, Belfast.

(6) Where—

(a) a person is committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast in accordance with subsection (3) or by virtue of subsection (4), and

(b) a direction is subsequently given under subsection (1), before the commencement of the trial, altering the place of trial,

the person is to be treated as having been committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction.

5 Mode of trial on indictment

(1) The effect of a certificate issued under section 1 is that the trial on indictment of—

(a) the person to whom the certificate relates, and

(b) any person committed for trial with that person,

is to be conducted without a jury.

(2) Where a trial is conducted without a jury under this section, the court is to have all the powers, authorities and jurisdiction which the court would have had if the trial had been conducted with a jury (including power to determine any question and to make any finding which would be required to be determined or made by a jury).

(3) Except where the context otherwise requires, any reference in an enactment (including a provision of Northern Ireland legislation) to a jury, the verdict of a jury or the finding of a jury is to be read, in relation to a trial conducted without a jury under this section, as a reference to the court, the verdict of the court or the finding of the court.

(4) No inference may be drawn by the court from the fact that the certificate has been issued in relation to the trial.

(5) Without prejudice to subsection (2), where the court conducting a trial under this section—

(a) is not satisfied that a defendant is guilty of an offence for which he is being tried (“the offence charged”), but

(b) is satisfied that he is guilty of another offence of which a jury could have found him guilty on a trial for the offence charged,

the court may convict him of the other offence.

(6) Where a trial is conducted without a jury under this section and the court convicts a defendant (whether or not by virtue of subsection (5)), the court must give a judgment which states the reasons for the conviction at, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, the time of the conviction.

(7) A person convicted of an offence on a trial under this section may, notwithstanding anything in sections 1 and 10(1) of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 47), appeal to the Court of Appeal under Part 1 of that Act—

(a) against his conviction, on any ground, without the leave of the Court of Appeal or a certificate of the judge of the court of trial;

(b) against sentence passed on conviction, without that leave, unless the sentence is fixed by law.

(8) Where a person is convicted of an offence on a trial under this section, the time for giving notice of appeal under section 16(1) of that Act is to run from the date of judgment (if later than the date from which it would run under that subsection).

(9) Article 16(4) of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1500 (N.I. 9)) (leave of judge or Court of Appeal required for prosecution appeal under Part IV of that Order) does not apply in relation to a trial conducted under this section.

6 Rules of court

(1) Rules of court may make such provision as appears to the authority making them to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of sections 1 to 5.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), rules of court may in particular make provision for time limits which are to apply in connection with any provision of sections 1 to 5.

(3) Nothing in this section is to be taken as affecting the generality of any enactment (including a provision of Northern Ireland legislation) conferring powers to make rules of court.

7 Limitation on challenge of issue of certificate

(1) No court may entertain proceedings for questioning (whether by way of judicial review or otherwise) any decision or purported decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in relation to the issue of a certificate under section 1, except on the grounds of—

(a) dishonesty,

(b) bad faith, or

(c) other exceptional circumstances (including in particular exceptional circumstances relating to lack of jurisdiction or error of law).

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to section 7(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (claim that public authority has infringed Convention right).

8 Supplementary

(1) Nothing in sections 1 to 6 affects—

(a) the requirement under Article 49 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/595 (N.I. 4)) that a question of fitness to be tried be determined by a jury, or

(b) the requirement under Article 49A of that Order that any question, finding or verdict mentioned in that Article be determined, made or returned by a jury.

(2) Schedule 1 (minor and consequential amendments relating to trials on indictment without a jury) shall have effect.

(3) The provisions of sections 1 to 7 and this section (and Schedule 1) apply in relation to offences committed before, as well as after, the coming into force of those provisions, but subject to any provision made by virtue of—

(a) section 4 of the Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act 2006 (c. 4) (transitional provision in connection with expiry etc of Part 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)), or

(b) section 53(7) of this Act.

(4) An order under section 4 of the Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act 2006 may make provision disregarding any of the amendments made by Schedule 1 to this Act for any purpose specified in the order.

9 Duration of non-jury trial provisions

(1) Sections 1 to 8 (and Schedule 1) (“the non-jury trial provisions”) shall expire at the end of the period of two years beginning with the day on which section 1 comes into force (“the effective period”).

(2) But the Secretary of State may by order extend, or (on one or more occasions) further extend, the effective period.

(3) An order under subsection (2)—

(a) must be made before the time when the effective period would end but for the making of the order, and

(b) shall have the effect of extending, or further extending, that period for the period of two years beginning with that time.

(4) The expiry of the non-jury trial provisions shall not affect their application to a trial on indictment in relation to which—

(a) a certificate under section 1 has been issued, and

(b) the indictment has been presented,

before their expiry.

(5) The expiry of section 4 shall not affect the committal of a person for trial in accordance with subsection (3) of that section, or by virtue of subsection (4) or (6) of that section, to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast or elsewhere in a case where the indictment has not been presented before its expiry.

(6) The Secretary of State may by order make any amendments of enactments (including provisions of Northern Ireland legislation) that appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the expiry of the non-jury trial provisions.

(7) An order under this section—

(a) shall be made by statutory instrument, and

(b) may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Juries

10 Restrictions on disclosure of juror information

(1) After Article 26 of the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1141 (N.I. 6)) insert—

“26A Restriction on disclosure of juror information

(1) A person to whom any of paragraphs (2) to (7) applies must not disclose juror information (see Article 26C) except with lawful authority (see Article 26B).

(2) This paragraph applies to a person—

(a) who is or has been an electoral officer or a court official (see Article 26C); and

(b) who obtained the juror information in the course of his functions as an electoral officer or court official.

(3) This paragraph applies to a person—

(a) who is or has been a person providing services to the Northern Ireland Court Service or the employee of such a person; and

(b) who obtained the juror information for or in connection with the provision of services to the Court Service.

(4) This paragraph applies to a person—

(a) who is or has been a member of the police service (see Article 26C); and

(b) who obtained the juror information for or in connection with the making of checks, in accordance with jury check guidelines (see Article 26C), on the person to whom the information relates.

(5) This paragraph applies to any person, other than a court official or a member of the police service, to whom the juror information was disclosed in accordance with jury check guidelines.

(6) This paragraph applies to a person—

(a) who is or has been a juror or summoned as a juror; and

(b) who obtained the juror information as a result of having been a juror or summoned as a juror;

but this paragraph does not apply to a person in so far as the juror information is information about himself.

(7) This paragraph applies to a person who knows, or ought reasonably to have known, that the juror information had previously been disclosed in contravention of paragraph (1).

(8) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.

(9) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this Article to prove that he reasonably believed that the disclosure by him was lawful.

26B Disclosure of juror information: lawful authority

(1) For the purposes of Article 26A, juror information is disclosed with lawful authority if any of paragraphs (2) to (9) applies to the disclosure.

(2) This paragraph applies to a disclosure by an electoral officer—

(a) to another electoral officer; or

(b) in accordance with Article 4.

(3) This paragraph applies to a disclosure by a court official—

(a) to another court official;

(b) to the judge of any court; or

(c) to a juror or a person summoned as a juror.

(4) This paragraph applies to a disclosure—

(a) to a person providing services to the Northern Ireland Court Service; or

(b) to the employee of such a person,

for or in connection with the provision of services to the Court Service.

(5) This paragraph applies to a disclosure—

(a) by a person providing services to the Northern Ireland Court Service; or

(b) by the employee of such a person,

if the disclosure is required or authorised to be made by an officer of the court (see Article 2(2)) for or in connection with the provision of services to the Court Service.

(6) This paragraph applies to a disclosure—

(a) by an officer of the court to a member of the police service;

(b) by a member of the police service to another member of the police service; or

(c) by a member of the police service to an officer of the court,

for or in connection with the making of checks, in accordance with jury check guidelines, on the person to whom the juror information relates.

(7) This paragraph applies to a disclosure to a person other than a member of the police service or an officer of the court if the juror information is disclosed in accordance with jury check guidelines.

(8) This paragraph applies to a disclosure for the purposes of criminal proceedings (but not for the purposes of any proceedings in relation to which the person to whom the juror information relates may be, is, or has been, a juror).

(9) This paragraph applies to a disclosure made with leave of a court.

26C Interpretation of Articles 26A and 26B

(1) This Article applies for the purposes of Articles 26A and 26B.

(2) “Court official” means—

(a) an officer of the court (see Article 2(2)); or

(b) a court security officer.

(3) “Electoral officer” means—

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland; or

(b) a person to whom any of his functions are delegated under section 14A(2) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 or Article 9(2) of the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

(4) “Juror information” means information which identifies (or from which it is possible to identify) a particular person as being or as having been—

(a) a juror;

(b) listed on any Divisional Jurors List or on any panel prepared under Article 5; or

(c) selected for inclusion on any such List under Article 4(1) and (2).

(5) “Jury check guidelines” means guidelines issued by the Attorney General relating to the making of additional checks on jurors and the exercise by the Crown of its right under Article 15(4).

(6) “Member of the police service” means—

(a) a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

(b) a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;

(c) a member of the police support staff (within the meaning of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000).”

(2) Schedule 2 (restrictions on disclosure of juror information: further amendments) shall have effect.

(3) Subsection (1) does not have effect in relation to—

(a) any information which identifies (or from which it is possible to identify) a particular person as having been a juror before the date on which that subsection comes into force, or

(b) any information made available for inspection under Article 4 or 7 of the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1141 (N.I. 6)) before that date.

11 Chief Electoral Officer to provide additional information to Juries Officer

(1) The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 4 (preparation of Jurors Lists), in paragraph (3), omit “whose name is”.

(3) In Article 4, after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A) The list referred to in paragraph (3) shall include the following information in respect of each person included in it—

(a) the person’s full name;

(b) the person’s address;

(c) the person’s date of birth; and

(d) the person’s national insurance number or a statement that he does not have one.”

(4) In Article 4, in paragraph (7)—

(a) for the words from “full name” to “the occupation” substitute “following information in respect”;

(b) at the end insert—

“(a) the person’s full name;

(b) the person’s address;

(c) the person’s date of birth;

(d) the person’s national insurance number or a statement that he does not have one; and

(e) subject to paragraph (10)(b), the person’s occupation.”

(5) In Article 6 (form of panel), in paragraph (1), omit “with their addresses, and (subject to Article 4(10)(b)) occupations”.

(6) In Article 6, after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) The panel shall include the following information in respect of each of the persons selected—

(a) the person’s address;

(b) the person’s date of birth;

(c) the person’s national insurance number or a statement that he does not have one; and

(d) (subject to Article 4(10)(b)) the person’s occupation.”

12 Jurors found to be disqualified before being summoned

In Article 8 of the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1141 (N.I. 6)) (summoning of jurors), after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) But if the Juries Officer is satisfied, as a result of a check undertaken by an officer of the court for the purpose, that a juror whose name is included in a panel is—

(a) disqualified for jury service; or

(b) not qualified for jury service in the court to be specified in the jury summons,

the Officer shall not summon the juror under paragraph (1).”

13 Abolition of peremptory challenge in criminal cases

(1) Article 15 of the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (challenges in criminal cases) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1), omit sub-paragraph (a) (including the word “and” at the end).

(3) In paragraph (2), for “shall challenge only” substitute “may challenge any juror or jurors”.

(4) After paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) In addition and without prejudice to any powers which the court may possess to order the exclusion of the public from any proceedings, the judge may order that the hearing of a challenge for cause shall be in camera or in chambers.”

Human Rights Commission

14 Legal proceedings

(1) In section 71(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (Human Rights Commission: Convention rights proceedings: restrictions) for “section 6(2)(c), 24(1)(a) or 69(5)(b)” substitute “section 6(2)(c) or 24(1)(a)”.

(2) After section 71(2) of that Act insert—

“(2A) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Commission.

(2B) In relation to the Commission’s instituting, or intervening in, human rights proceedings—

(a) the Commission need not be a victim or potential victim of the unlawful act to which the proceedings relate,

(b) section 7(3) and (4) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (breach of Convention rights: sufficient interest, &c.) shall not apply,

(c) the Commission may act only if there is or would be one or more victims of the unlawful act, and

(d) no award of damages may be made to the Commission (whether or not the exception in section 8(3) of that Act applies).

(2C) For the purposes of subsection (2B)—

(a) “human rights proceedings” means proceedings which rely (wholly or partly) on—

(i) section 7(1)(b) of the Human Rights Act 1998, or

(ii) section 69(5)(b) of this Act, and

(b) an expression used in subsection (2B) and in section 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998 has the same meaning in subsection (2B) as in section 7.”

15 Investigations: evidence

After section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Human Rights Commission functions) insert—

“69A Investigations: evidence

(1) For the purpose of an investigation under section 69(8) the Commission may by notice in writing require a person—

(a) to provide information in his possession,

(b) to produce documents in his possession, or

(c) to give oral evidence.

(2) A notice may include provision about—

(a) the form of information, documents or evidence;

(b) timing.

(3) A notice—

(a) may not require a person to provide information that he is prohibited from disclosing by virtue of an enactment,

(b) may not require a person to do anything that he could not be compelled to do in proceedings before the High Court, and

(c) may not require a person to attend at a place unless the Commission undertakes to pay the expenses of his journey.

(4) The Commission may issue a notice under subsection (1) only if it has—

(a) considered whether the matter to which the notice relates has already been sufficiently investigated by another person, and

(b) concluded that it has not.

(5) The recipient of a notice may apply to a county court to have the notice cancelled on the grounds that the requirement imposed by the notice—

(a) is unnecessary having regard to the purpose of the investigation to which the notice relates,

(b) contravenes subsection (4) or section 69D, or

(c) is otherwise unreasonable.

(6) Subsection (7) applies where the Commission thinks that a person—

(a) has failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice, or

(b) is likely to fail without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice.

(7) The Commission may apply to a county court for an order requiring a person to take such steps as may be specified in the order to comply with the notice.

(8) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he—

(a) fails to comply with a notice,

(b) fails to comply with an order under subsection (7),

(c) falsifies anything provided or produced in accordance with a notice or order, or

(d) makes a false statement in giving oral evidence in accordance with a notice.

(9) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (8) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(10) A notice under this section may not require the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland to supply documents or evidence about a decision whether or not to institute or continue criminal proceedings.

69B Investigations: national security

(1) Where a person is given a notice under section 69A(1) he shall disregard it, and notify the Commission that he is disregarding it, in so far as he thinks it would require him—

(a) to disclose sensitive information within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (c. 13) (Intelligence and Security Committee),

(b) to disclose information which might lead to the identification of an employee or agent of an intelligence service (other than one whose identity is already known to the Commission),

(c) to disclose information which might provide details of processes used in recruiting, selecting or training employees or agents of an intelligence service,

(d) to disclose information which might provide details of, or cannot practicably be separated from, information falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c),

(e) to make a disclosure of information relating to an intelligence service which would prejudice the interests of national security, or

(f) to make a disclosure of information relating to the Police Service of Northern Ireland which would prejudice the interests of national security.

(2) Where in response to a notice under section 69A(1) a person gives a notice to the Commission under subsection (1) above—

(a) section 69A(7) and (8) shall not apply in relation to that part of the notice under section 69A(1) to which the notice under subsection (1) above relates,

(b) the Commission may apply to the tribunal established by section 65 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23) for an order requiring the person to take such steps as may be specified in the order to comply with the notice,

(c) the following provisions of that Act shall apply in relation to proceedings under this subsection as they apply in relation to proceedings under that Act (with any necessary modifications)—

(i) section 67(7), (8) and (10) to (12) (determination),

(ii) section 68 (procedure), and

(iii) section 69 (rules), and

(d) the tribunal shall determine proceedings under this subsection by considering the opinion of the person who gave the notice under subsection (1) above in accordance with the principles that would be applied by a court on an application for judicial review of the giving of the notice.

(3) Where the Commission receives information or documents from or relating to an intelligence service in response to a notice under section 69A(1), the Commission shall store and use the information or documents in accordance with any arrangements specified by the Secretary of State.

(4) The recipient of a notice under section 69A(1) may apply to the High Court to have the notice cancelled on the grounds that the requirement imposed by the notice is undesirable for reasons of national security, other than for the reason that it would require a disclosure of a kind to which subsection (1) above applies.

(5) An investigation under section 69(8) may not consider—

(a) whether an intelligence service has acted (or is acting) in a way which is incompatible with a person’s human rights, or

(b) other matters concerning human rights in relation to an intelligence service.

(6) In this section “intelligence service” means—

(a) the Security Service,

(b) the Secret Intelligence Service, and

(c) the Government Communications Headquarters.”

16 Investigations: access to prisons, &c.

(1) After section 69B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (inserted by section 15 above) insert—

“69C Investigations: places of detention

(1) For the purpose of an investigation under section 69(8) a person authorised in writing by the Commission may enter a specified place of detention in Northern Ireland on one or more occasions during a specified period.

(2) In subsection (1) “specified” means specified in the terms of reference of the investigation.

(3) In subsection (1) “place of detention” means—

(a) a prison specified in the Schedule to the Prisons and Young Offenders Centres Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995,

(b) a place used for the purpose of detaining arrested persons in a police station designated under Article 36 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)),

(c) a place designated under paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (detention),

(d) in a building where a court sits, a place used for the purpose of detaining arrested persons,

(e) a juvenile justice centre provided under Article 51 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9)),

(f) the secure accommodation in Bangor provided and used in accordance with Article 44 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)),

(g) a removal centre or short-term holding facility within the meaning of section 147 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33), and

(h) any accommodation (including accommodation in a hospital) provided for the purpose of detention under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/595 (N.I. 4)).

(4) The Commission may specify a place of detention in the terms of reference of an investigation only if it has—

(a) considered whether the matter in respect of which the place is specified has already been sufficiently investigated by another person, and

(b) concluded that it has not.

(5) The power under subsection (1) may not be exercised—

(a) during the period of 15 days beginning with that on which copies of the terms of reference of the investigation are provided in accordance with section 69D(1)(b), or

(b) while an application under subsection (6), made during that period, has not yet been determined.

(6) A county court may, on the application of a person who appears to the court to be responsible for a place of detention specified in terms of reference—

(a) order that the power under subsection (1) may not be used to enter the place of detention;

(b) impose restrictions on the exercise of the power in relation to the place of detention;

(c) require the Commission to amend the terms of reference.

(7) An order may be made under subsection (6) only if the court thinks that—

(a) access to the place of detention is unnecessary having regard to the purpose of the investigation,

(b) it would be unreasonable to allow the Commission access to the place of detention, or

(c) the Commission has failed to comply with subsection (4) or section 69D.

(8) In considering whether to make an order under subsection (6), and in considering the terms of an order under subsection (6)(b), the court shall have regard, in particular, to the likely impact of the use of the power under subsection (1) on the operation of the place of detention.

(9) If a person obstructs the Commission in the exercise of the power under subsection (1) the Commission may apply to a county court for an order requiring the person not to obstruct the Commission.

(10) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he fails to comply with an order under subsection (9).

(11) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (10) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(12) The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (3).”

(2) In section 96(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (orders) after “55,” insert “69C(12),”.

17 Investigations: terms of reference

(1) After section 69C of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (inserted by section 16 above) insert—

“69D Investigations: terms of reference

(1) A power under section 69A(1) or 69C(1) may be used in relation to an investigation only if the Commission has—

(a) prepared terms of reference for the investigation in advance, and

(b) sent a copy of the terms of reference to—

(i) any person identified in them,

(ii) a person responsible for any place of detention specified in them, and

(iii) any other person whom the Commission thinks may be affected by the investigation.

(2) Terms of reference must specify a period within which the investigation must be concluded.

(3) Subsection (2) does not prevent the Commission from commencing (in accordance with this Part) a new investigation of matters arising out of, or incompletely considered in, an earlier investigation.”

18 Investigations: duty to report

(1) After section 69(8) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (Commission: investigations) insert—

“(8A) The Commission shall publish a report of its findings on an investigation.”

(2) In section 69(9) omit “and investigations”.

19 Recommendations

Section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Commission to make recommendations about its functions) shall have effect in relation to the Commission’s functions as amended by each of sections 14 to 18 of this Act as if the reference to the commencement of section 69 included a reference to the commencement of each of those sections.

20 Timing

(1) The Commission may exercise a power conferred by section 15 or 16 only for the purpose of investigating matters arising, and situations that exist, on or after 1st August 2007.

(2) The Commission may not exercise a power conferred by section 15 to require a person—

(a) to provide information recorded before that date,

(b) to provide information relating to a time before that date,

(c) to produce a document created before that date,

(d) to produce a document relating to a time before that date, or

(e) to give oral evidence relating to a time before that date.

(3) Where a document relates partly to a time before 1st August 2007 and partly to a time on or after that date, subsection (2)(d) applies to the document only in so far as it relates to a time before that date.

(4) For the purposes of sections 69A(5) and 69C(7) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (as inserted by sections 15 and 16 above), a county court may make an order if it thinks that the Commission has failed to comply, or is not complying, with subsection (1) or (2) above.

Powers

21 Stop and question

(1) A member of Her Majesty’s forces on duty or a constable may stop a person for so long as is necessary to question him to ascertain his identity and movements.

(2) A member of Her Majesty’s forces on duty may stop a person for so long as is necessary to question him to ascertain—

(a) what he knows about a recent explosion or another recent incident endangering life;

(b) what he knows about a person killed or injured in a recent explosion or incident.

(3) A person commits an offence if he—

(a) fails to stop when required to do so under this section,

(b) refuses to answer a question addressed to him under this section, or

(c) fails to answer to the best of his knowledge and ability a question addressed to him under this section.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) A power to stop a person under this section includes a power to stop a vehicle (other than an aircraft which is airborne).

22 Arrest

(1) If a member of Her Majesty’s forces on duty reasonably suspects that a person is committing, has committed or is about to commit any offence he may—

(a) arrest the person without warrant, and

(b) detain him for a period not exceeding four hours.

(2) A person making an arrest under this section complies with any rule of law requiring him to state the ground of arrest if he states that he is making the arrest as a member of Her Majesty’s forces.

(3) For the purpose of arresting a person under this section a member of Her Majesty’s forces may enter and search any premises in which he knows, or reasonably suspects, the person to be.

(4) A member of Her Majesty’s forces may seize, and detain for a period not exceeding four hours, anything which he reasonably suspects is being, has been or is intended to be used in the commission of an offence under section 31 and 32.

(5) The reference to a rule of law in subsection (2) does not include a rule of law which has effect only by virtue of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).

23 Entry

(1) A member of Her Majesty’s forces on duty or a constable may enter any premises if he considers it necessary in the course of operations for the preservation of the peace or the maintenance of order.

(2) A constable may not rely on subsection (1) to enter a building unless—

(a) he has authorisation, or

(b) it is not reasonably practicable to obtain authorisation.

(3) Authorisation must be—

(a) written authorisation from an officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland of at least the rank of superintendent, or

(b) if it is not reasonably practicable to obtain written authorisation, oral authorisation from an officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland of at least the rank of inspector.

(4) Written authorisation must relate to a specified area of Northern Ireland.

(5) An officer giving oral authorisation shall make a written record as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(6) Where a constable enters a building in reliance on subsection (1) he must ensure that as soon as is reasonably practicable a record is made of—

(a) the address of the building (if known),

(b) the location of the building,

(c) the date of entry,