Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Codes of Practice) (No. 3) Order 2007

Citation and Commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Codes of Practice) (No. 3) Order 2007 and shall come into operation on 1st March 2007.

Codes of Practice

2.  Subject to Article 3, the code of practice referred to in Article 60A and the code of practice for the statutory power of arrest referred to in Article 65 of the Order, and the revised codes of practice referred to in Articles 60 and 65 of the Order laid in draft before Parliament on 6th February 2007 shall come into operation on 1st March 2007.

Transitional Provisions

3.—(1) The revised code of practice for the exercise by police officers of statutory powers to stop and search shall apply to any search by a police officer which commences after 28th February 2007 notwithstanding that the person or vehicle in question may have been detained by him in that behalf before that time.

(2) The revised code of practice for the searching of premises by police officers and the seizure of property found by police officers on persons or premises shall apply—

(a) to any application for a warrant to search premises made after 28th February 2007; and

(b) to any search of premises or seizure of property taking place after 28th February 2007, notwithstanding that the search or seizure in question may have taken place in the pursuance of a warrant granted or applied for before that time.

(3) The revised code of practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers shall apply—

(a) in so far as it relates to the exercise of powers conferred by Part V of the Order, to persons who are in police detention where the period of police detention commenced after 28th February 2007; and

(b) as to its other provisions, to persons in police detention after 28th February 2007, notwithstanding that their period of detention may have commenced before that time.

(4) The revised code of practice for the identification of persons by police officers shall apply to any procedures to which the code relates which are carried out after 28th February 2007.

(5) The revised code of practice for the audio recording of interviews of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences which are held by police officers at police stations shall apply to any procedures to which the code relates which are carried out after 28th February 2007 notwithstanding that such a procedure may have commenced before that time.

(6) The code of practice for the visual recording of interviews of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences which are held by police officers at police stations shall apply to any procedures to which the code relates which are carried out after 28th February 2007 notwithstanding that such a procedure may have commenced before that time.

(7) The code of practice for the statutory power of arrest by police of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences shall apply to procedures to which the code relates which are carried out after 28th February 2007.

4.  The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Codes of Practice) (No. 2) Order 1996(1) is hereby revoked.

Paul Goggins

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Northern Ireland Office

2nd February 2007