Sexual Offences Act 2003

136 Part 2: Northern Ireland

(1) This Part applies to Northern Ireland with the following modifications.

(2) References to a chief officer of police are to be read as references to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(3) References to police areas are to be read as references to Northern Ireland.

(4) References to a complaint are to be read as references to a complaint under Part VIII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)) to a court of summary jurisdiction.

(5) Subject to subsection (6), references to a magistrates' court are to be read as references to a court of summary jurisdiction.

(6) References to a magistrates' court for the area in which the defendant resides are to be read as references to a court of summary jurisdiction for the petty sessions district which includes the area where the defendant resides.

(7) References to a youth court for the area in which the defendant resides are to be read as references to a youth court for the petty sessions district which includes the area where the defendant resides.

(8) References in sections 101, 110(1), (2), (3)(b), (4) and (5), 119 and 127 to the Crown Court are to be read as references to a county court.

(9) Any direction of the county court made under section 89(1) on an appeal under Article 143 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (appeals in other cases) (other than one directing that an application be re-heard by a court of summary jurisdiction) is, for the purposes of section 90, to be treated as if it were made by the court from which the appeal was brought and not by the county court.

(10) Any order of the county court made on an appeal under Article 143 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (other than one directing that an application be re-heard by a court of summary jurisdiction) is, for the purposes of section 108, to be treated as if it were an order of the court from which the appeal was brought and not an order of the county court.