(This note is not part of the Rules)
These Rules amend the Crown Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1979 (S.R. 1979 No. 90) to—
take account of The Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 (2019 c. 5) which enables law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to apply to the courts of the United Kingdom for a court order requiring service providers outside the UK to produce or grant access to electronic data for the purposes of investigating and prosecuting serious crimes. The Rules prescribe procedural matters relating to such applications; and
insert rules relating to hearing evidence by telephone under The Crime (International Co- Operation) Act 2003 (2003 c. 32).