23.—(1) Amend section 97 (confiscation orders) as follows.
(2) In subsection (1) omit—
(a)the “or” after paragraph (a),
(b)paragraph (b), and
(c)the words “or Northern Ireland (as the case may be)”.
(3) After subsection (1) insert—
“(1A) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may by order make such provision as the Department considers appropriate for or in connection with enabling confiscation orders under Part 4 of the 2002 Act(1) (confiscation: Northern Ireland) to be made by magistrates’ courts in Northern Ireland.”
(4) In subsections (2) and (3) after “(1)” insert “or (1A)”.
(5) In subsection (3)—
(a)after “2002 Act” insert “(as the case may be)”;
(b)for “either (or any provision) of those Parts” substitute “that Part (or any provision of that Part)”.
The “2002 Act” is the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29).