Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1975

Offences against public security and public order

12 Invitations to join, or carry out directions given by, proscribed organisation

In section 19(1) of the principal Act (belonging to or soliciting or inviting financial support for a proscribed organisation) after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted the following paragraph:—

“(c) solicits or invites any person to become a member of a proscribed organisation or to carry out on behalf of a proscribed organisation orders or directions given, or requests made, by a member of that organisation,”.

13 Extension of classes of information in s. 20 of principal Act

For section 20(1) of the principal Act (unlawful collection, etc. of information) there shall be substituted the following subsection:—

“(1) No person shall, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof of which lies on him)—

(a) collect, record, publish, communicate or attempt to elicit any information with respect to any person to whom this paragraph applies which is of such a nature as is likely to be useful to terrorists:

(b) collect or record any information which is of such a nature as is likely to be useful to terrorists in planning or carrying out any act of violence; or

(c) have in his possession any record of or document containing any such information as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above ;

and if any person contravenes this section, he shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £400, or both ;

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

(1A) Subsection (1)(a) above applies to any of the following persons, that is to say—

(a) any constable or member of Her Majesty's forces ;

(b) any person holding judicial office;

(c) any officer of any court; and

(d) any person employed for the whole of his time in the prison service in Northern Ireland.”

14 Riotous and disorderly behaviour

Section 22 of the principal Act (amendment of provisions relating to punishment for riotous, disorderly and indecent behaviour, etc.) shall cease to have effect; and accordingly, section 9(1) of the [1968 c. 28 (N.I.).] Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 shall have effect as originally enacted.

15 Training in making or use of firearms, explosives or explosive substances

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, any person who instructs or trains another or receives instruction or training in the making or use of firearms, explosives or explosive substances shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £400, or both;

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

(2) In any prosecution for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that the instruction or training was given or received with lawful authority or for industrial, agricultural or sporting purposes only or otherwise with good reason.

(3) The court by or before whom a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order the forfeiture of any thing which appears to the court to have been in his possession for purposes connected with the offence.

(4) Without prejudice to section 33 of the [1889 c. 63.] Interpretation Act 1889 (offences under two or more laws), nothing in this section shall derogate from the operation of the [1819 c. 1.] Unlawful Drilling Act 1819.

16 Wearing of hoods, etc. in public places

Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof of which lies on him), wears in a public place or in the curtilage of a dwelling-house (other than one in which he is residing) any hood, mask or other article whatsoever made, adapted or used for concealing the identity or features shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £400, or both.