The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Period of remand in custody or in bail N.I.

47.—(1) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Order, in adjourning any proceedings for an offence a magistrates' court may remand the accused—

(a) in custody, that is to say, commit him to custody to be brought at the end of the period of remand before that court or any other magistrates' court for the county court division for which the court is acting or before any other magistrates' court having jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings; or

(b) on bail, that is to say, take from him a recognizance conditioned for his subsequent appearance before such court;

and may, if the accused is remanded in custody, certify in the prescribed manner its consent to the accused being remanded on bail in accordance with sub-paragraph (b) in which event the court shall fix the amount of the recognizance with a view to its being taken subsequently.

(2) Subject toF1 . . . Article 49, the period for which the accused is remanded in custody shall not exceed—

[F1 (a) in the case where—

(i) the accused is before the court and he consents, or

(ii) the court has previously remanded the accused in custody for the same offence; or

(iii) the accused is already detained under a custodial sentence,

twenty-eight days;]

(b) in any other case, eight days;

commencing on the day following that on which the accused is remanded, so, however, that in a case to which[F1 sub-paragraph (a)(iii)] applies, the court shall inquire as to the expected date of the accused's release from that detention, and if it appears that he will be released before twenty-eight days have expired, he shall not be remanded in custody for a period exceeding eight days or (if longer) a period ending with that date.

Para. (3) rep. by 2003 NI 13

(4) Where the accused is admitted to bail and he and prosecution consent, the period for which the accused is remanded may exceed the period referred to in paragraph (2),F1 . . . .

[F2 (4A) In the exercise of its power under paragraph (1)(a) to remand in custody an accused to whom this paragraph applies, a magistrates' court may, on an application made under this paragraph by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary not below the rank of inspector, commit the accused to detention at a police station.

(4B) In the exercise of its power under paragraph (1)(a) to remand in custody an accused to whom this paragraph applies, a magistrates' court may, on an application made under this paragraph by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary not below the rank of inspector, commit the accused to the custody (otherwise than at a police station) of a constable.

(4C) The period for which an accused is remanded under paragraph (4A) or (4B) shall not exceed 3 days commencing on (and including) the day following that on which he is remanded.

(4D) Paragraphs (4A) and (4B) apply to an accused who—

(a) is not under the age of 21 years; and

(b) is not already detained under a custodial sentence.

(4E) An accused shall not be committed to detention at a police station under paragraph (4A) unless there is a need for him to be so detained for the purposes of inquiries into other offences; and, if a person is committed to such detention—

(a) he shall, as soon as that need ceases, be brought back before the magistrates' court which committed him or any other magistrates' court for the county court division for which that court was acting or before any other magistrates' court having jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings;

(b) he shall be treated as a person in police detention to whom the duties under Article 40 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (responsibilities in relation to persons detained) relate; and

(c) his detention shall be subject to periodic review at the times set out in Article 41 of that Order (review of police detention).

(4F) An accused shall not be committed to the custody (otherwise than at a police station) of a constable under paragraph (4B) unless there is a need for him to be kept in such custody for the purposes of inquiries into other offences; and if a person is committed to such custody, he shall, as soon as that need ceases, be brought back before the magistrates' court which committed him or any other magistrates' court for the county court division for which that court was acting or before any other magistrates' court having jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings.]

(5) The court may order the accused to be brought before it at any time before the expiration of the period for which he has been remanded.

(6) In this Article, “custodial sentence” includes—

(a) an order for detention in a young offenders centre within the meaning of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968;

[F3 (b) a juvenile justice centre order within the meaning of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998F4 .]

Sub‐para. (c) rep. by 1998 NI 9

F1 2003 NI 13

F2 1991 NI 16

F3 1998 NI 9

F4 prosp. insertion by 2002 c. 26

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 47 applied (with modifications) (3.12.2014) by The Criminal Justice and Data Protection (Protocol No. 36) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3141), regs. 1(b), 110(8) (with reg. 110(12))

C2 Art. 47(2) modified by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41), ss. 23(3)(b), 89(3)(b) (as inserted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 42, 53, Sch. 13 para. 7); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2

C3 Art. 47(2) modified by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41), s. 76B(3)(b) (as inserted (25.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 70, 116(1)); S.I. 2009/3096, art. 3(m) (with art. 4(1)(d))