The Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001

PART IN.I.INTRODUCTORY

Title and commencementN.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appointF1.

(3) An order under paragraph (2) may make such transitional provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in connection with the provisions brought into operation by the order.

F1fully exercised by SR 2001/337

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954F2 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(2) In this Order—

  • “the appointed day” means the day on which this Order comes into operation;

  • “the Commissioners” means the [F3Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland];

  • “the release provisions” means the provisions of paragraphs (3) to (7) of Article 6;

  • “life prisoner” means a person serving one or more life sentences;

  • “life sentence” means either of the following imposed for an offence, whether committed before or after the appointed day, namely—

    (a)

    a sentence of imprisonment for life;

    (b)

    a sentence of detention during the pleasure of the [F4Minister in charge of the Department of Justice] under Article 45(1) of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998F5;

  • “prison” includes—

    (a)

    a young offenders centre; and

    (b)

    any other place in which a person may be detained under Article 45(1) of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

[F6(3) In this Order “protected information” means evidence or information the disclosure of which may, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be against the interests of national security.]