Paragraph 1 – Offence of breaching condition
301.Paragraph 1(1) sets out the circumstances in which a person breaches a liberation condition and thereby commits an offence. A “liberation condition” includes investigative liberation conditions imposed before charge under section 16 (2) or requirements imposed by an undertaking given after charge under section 26(3).
302.Paragraph 1(2) provides that paragraph 1(1) does not apply when a person breaches a liberation condition by reason of committing an offence. Such breaches are dealt with in accordance with paragraph 3. An example of a breach of condition which may, of itself, not constitute a separate offence is a condition not to enter a particular street. If the person subject to the condition is subsequently found in that street, then a breach of liberation has occurred, but not a separate offence. If the condition was that the person was not to approach a particular witness in the case and the person does contact the witness then not only has a breach of condition occurred, but a more serious offence (attempting to defeat the ends of justice) may have taken place.
303.Paragraph 1(3) provides that a complaint may be amended to add an additional charge of an offence of breaching a liberation condition at any time before the trial of an accused for either the original offence (see paragraph 1(4)) or an offence arising from the same circumstances as that offence.
