Background and Policy Objectives
3.The Criminal Justice Act 2003 gained Royal Assent on 20 November 2003. Although primarily an Act for England and Wales several provisions were also extended to Northern Ireland, either directly on the face of the Act or by means of negative resolution Order in Council.
4.This Order in Council is made only for purposes corresponding to the purposes of Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It amends the law in Northern Ireland relating to the admissibility of evidence of bad character, hearsay evidence, evidence given by way of video recording in criminal proceedings and the use of documents to refresh memory in such proceedings.