Consultation
7.4.A proposal for a draft Order was prepared; referred to the Northern Ireland Assembly under Section 85(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and put out to public consultation on 8 November 2007. The Assembly produced a formal Report on the draft Order on 28 January 2008, which contained a number of recommendations while being broadly supportive of the proposals. The consultation period formally ended on 31 January 2008, with a total of 54 responses received.
7.5.The Assembly welcomed the draft proposals referring to them as timely and relevant to the protection and safety of communities. The emphasis on public protection was welcomed by all respondents as were the proposals to put violent and sex offender risk management arrangements on a statutory footing. Providing for supervision and rehabilitation of offenders was equally welcomed. The majority of responses were supportive of the sentencing proposals.
7.6.A number of provisions were changed in light of the representations made. These were detailed in a Statement laid before Parliament with the draft Order, a copy of the Assembly’s Report and a Statement and Summary of Representations.