Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Justices of the peace

5.—(1) There shall be a commission of the peace for Northern Ireland—

(a) issued under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland; and

(b) addressed generally, and not by name, to all such persons as may from time to time hold office as justices of the peace for Northern Ireland.

(2) Justices of the peace for Northern Ireland—

(a) shall be appointed by the Department by instrument on behalf and in the name of Her Majesty, and

(b) may be removed from office in the same manner.

(3) A justice of the peace shall have as regards the whole of Northern Ireland the jurisdiction and duties which immediately before commencement were vested in or imposed on a justice of the peace as regards a county court division.

(4) Accordingly, so much of any existing statutory provision as requires or authorises anything to be done by, or in relation to, a justice of the peace acting for a particular county court division shall be disregarded; and that thing may be done by, or in relation to, any justice of the peace.

(5) The Department shall make arrangements—

(a) for keeping a copy of any instrument appointing or removing a justice of the peace; and

(b) for keeping, and from time to time rectifying, a record of all persons for the time being holding office as justice of the peace.