Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
2015 No. 320 (C. 26)
Justice
The Justice (2015 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015
Made
3rd August 2015
The Department of Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 106(2) of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015(1), makes the following Order:
Citation
1. This Order may be cited as the Justice (2015 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015.
Appointed day
2. The day appointed for the coming into operation of the following provisions of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 is 1st September 2015 —
(a)section 28 (the Victim Charter);
(b)section 29 (meaning of victim);
(c)section 31 (procedure for issuing Charters);
(d)section 32 (effect of non-compliance);
(e)section 33 (persons to be afforded opportunity to make victim statement);
(f)section 34 (supplementary statement); and
(g)section 35 (use of victim statement).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 3rd August 2015.
David Ford
Minister of Justice
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings sections 28, 29 and 31 – 35 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c.9) into operation on 1 September 2015.
Sections 28 and 29 relate to a Victim Charter and the meaning of a victim. Section 31 sets out the procedure for issuing a Charter, while section 32 deals with non-compliance with the Charter by a criminal justice agency. Sections 33 sets out who is to be afforded the opportunity to make a victim statement, section 34 provides for making a supplementary statement and section 35 provides that the court must have regard to a victim statement in determining a sentence.