Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Supply of information by relevant Northern Ireland departments or Secretary of State

73.—(1) A report compiled under section 72 may be supplied to the Chief Constable by—

(a) the relevant Northern Ireland department,

(b) the Secretary of State, or

(c) a person within section 72(2)(c).

(2) Such a report may contain any information held—

(a) by the relevant Northern Ireland department or the Secretary of State in connection with the exercise of a relevant function, or

(b) by a person within section 72(2)(c) in connection with the provision of services as mentioned there.

(3) Where such a report contains information within subsection (2), the Chief Constable—

(a) may, subject to subsections (4) to (8), retain the information, whether or not used for the purposes of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences under this Part, and

(b) may use the information for any purpose related to the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences (whether or not under this Part), but for no other purpose.

(4) The information must be destroyed no later than the date on which the offender ceases to be subject to notification requirements unless it is retained by virtue of an order under subsection (5).

(5) The Chief Constable may apply to a District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) for an order extending the period for which the information may be retained.

(6) An application for an order under subsection (5) must be made within the period of 3 months ending on the last day on which the offender will be subject to notification requirements.

(7) An order under subsection (5) may extend the period for which the information may be retained by a period of 2 years beginning when the offender ceases to be subject to notification requirements.

(8) The following persons may appeal to the county court against an order under subsection (5), or a refusal to make such an order—

(a) the Chief Constable;

(b) the person in relation to whom the order was sought.

(9) Subsections (4) to (7) of section 72 apply in relation to this section as they apply in relation to section 72.