1.—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Magistrates' Courts (Sexual Offences Act 2003) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2004 and shall come into operation on 17th May 2004.
(2) In these Rules –
(a)“the Act” means the Sexual Offences Act 2003(1) and a reference to a section by number means the section so numbered in the Act and expressions used have the same meaning as in the Act; and
(b)a reference to a Form by number means the Form so numbered in the Schedule to these Rules or a form to the like effect.