3.—(1) In Article 4(8) of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984F1 (maximum fine on summary conviction of an offence punishable on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction), in the definition of “prescribed sum” for “£2,000” there shall be substituted “£5,000”.
(2) For Article 5(2) of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (standard scale of fines) there shall be substituted—
“(2) The standard scale is shown below—
| Level on the scale | Amount of fine |
|---|---|
| 1 | £200 |
| 2 | £500 |
| 3 | £1,000 |
| 4 | £2,500 |
| 5 | £5,000” . |
Para. (3) rep. by 1998 NI 9
(4) In the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981F2
(a)in Article 54(1)(b)(i) (fine in lieu of imprisonment), for “£400” there shall be substituted “level 3 on the standard scale”;
(b)in Article 119(1) (penalty for failure to appear or failure to comply), for “£50” there shall be substituted “level 4 on the standard scale”.
(5) In the statutory provisions specified in column 1 of Schedule I (the general description of which is given in column 2 of that Schedule), for the amount specified in column 3 of that Schedule there shall be substituted the amount specified in column 4 of that Schedule.
4.—(1) In section 35 of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945F3 (powers of Crown Court or county courts in relation to fines and forfeited recognizances) for subsection (2) there shall be substituted—
“(2) The periods set out in the second column of the following Table shall be the maximum periods of imprisonment or detention which may be fixed under subsection (1)(c) applicable respectively to the amounts set out opposite thereto—
| An amount not exceeding £200 | 7 days |
| An amount exceeding £200 but not exceeding £500 | 14 days |
| An amount exceeding £500 but not exceeding £1,000 | 28 days |
| An amount exceeding £1,000 but not exceeding £2,500 | 45 days |
| An amount exceeding £2,500 but not exceeding £5,000 | 3 months |
| An amount exceeding £5,000 but not exceeding £10,000 | 6 months |
| An amount exceeding £10,000 but not exceeding £20,000 | 12 months |
| An amount exceeding £20,000 but not exceeding £50,000 | 18 months |
| An amount exceeding £50,000 but not exceeding £100,000 | 2 years |
| An amount exceeding £100,000 but not exceeding £250,000 | 3 years |
| An amount exceeding £250,000 but not exceeding £1 million | 5 years |
| An amount exceeding £1 million | 10 years” . |
(2) For the Table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981F4 (maximum periods of imprisonment for default in paying sums adjudged to be paid by a conviction), there shall be substituted the following Table—
| An amount not exceeding £200 | 7 days |
| An amount exceeding £200 but not exceeding £500 | 14 days |
| An amount exceeding £500 but not exceeding £1,000 | 28 days |
| An amount exceeding £1,000 but not exceeding £2,500 | 45 days |
| An amount exceeding £2,500 but not exceeding £5,000 | 3 months |
| An amount exceeding £5,000 but not exceeding £10,000 | 6 months |
| An amount exceeding £10,000 | 12 months”. |
5.—(1) After section 35(4) of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945F5 (powers of Crown Court or county courts in relation to fines and forfeited recognizances) there shall be inserted—
“(4A) Where—
(a)the Crown Court has imposed a fine on a company; and
(b)the court has issued a warrant of distress under section 3 of the Fines Act (Ireland) 1851 for the purpose of levying the amount of the fine; and
(c)it appears on the return to the warrant that the money and goods of the company are insufficient to satisfy the amount of the fine with the costs and charges of levying the same,
the chief clerk may make an application in relation to the company under Article 22 or 104 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (administration or winding up).”
(2) After Article 92 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981F6 there shall be inserted—
92A.—(1) Where—
(a)a magistrates' court has, or is treated by any statutory provision as having, adjudged a company by a conviction to pay a sum; and
(b)the court has issued a warrant of distress under Article 92(1)(a) for the purpose of levying the sum; and
(c)it appears on the return to the warrant that the money and goods of the company are insufficient to satisfy the sum with the costs and charges of levying the same,
the clerk of petty sessions may make an application in relation to the company under Article 22 or 104 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (administration or winding up).”.