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The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
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Changes to legislation:
The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Section 39 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 May 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Article 39:
- various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(a)
- art. 39 applied (with modifications) by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 76(2)(g)(3)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:
- Order applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 150(1)(a)
- Order excluded by 2012 c. 9 Sch. 1 para. 7(5)
- Order extended by 2003 c. 6 Sch. 4 para. 23A (as inserted) by S.I. 2007/912 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 5
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
- Sch. 2A para. 1(4) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(a)(ii)
- Sch. 2A para. 2(2)(c) and word inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(b)(ii)
- Sch. 2A para. 9(4) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(c)(ii)
- Sch. 2A para. 10(5) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(d)(ii)
- Sch. 2A para. 2(2)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(3)(b)(i)
- art. 62(10(ab) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
- art. 3(9ZA)(9ZB) inserted by 2019 c. 17 s. 12(5)
- art. 19(1)(cc) inserted by S.I. 2007/916 (N.I.) art. 18(2)
- art. 53(3A)(3B) inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)
- art. 53(3A) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 15(4)
- art. 53(4) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(6)
- art. 53B inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 3
- art. 56(13A)(b)(iii) and word substituted for word by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(1)(b)
- art. 56(13A)(b)(iii) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(1)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
- art. 56A(9)(b)(iii) and word substituted for word by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b)
- art. 56A(9)(b)(iii) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
- art. 61(5A) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(1)
- art. 61(5A)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(a)
- art. 61(5B) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(2)
- art. 61(5B)(b) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(a)
- art. 61(5C) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(1)(b)
- art. 61(6)-(6ZD) substituted for art. 61(6) by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(3)
- art. 61(6D)-(6G) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(1)
- art. 61(6BA) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(2) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
- art. 62(2A) (2B) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(2)
- art. 62(10)(ab) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b)
- art. 62(10)(ab) words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(e)
- art. 63(3A)(c)(i) word substituted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 4
- art. 63(3B)-(3BD) substituted for art. 63(3B) by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(7)
- art. 63(3C) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
- art. 63(3D)-(3G) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(4)
- art. 63(3AA) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(2)(c)
- art. 63(3ZA) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 8(5)
- art. 63(3ZA)(b)(iii) and word inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 83(2)(a)
- art. 63A(1E) (1F) inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 11(1)
- art. 63A(6A) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(4)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
- art. 63B-63R inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 2
- art. 63D(1)(a) substituted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(a)
- art. 63D(1)(a)(i) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(5)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
- art. 63D(14) words inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(b)
- art. 63D(14) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(5)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
- art. 63N substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 86
- art. 63R(4A) inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 4 para. 20(9)
- art. 63R(4B) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 18 para. 5(8) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of art. 63R by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 2 remains prospective at 31.12.2023.)
- art. 63R(5) words substituted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 87(a)
- art. 63R(5A)(5B) inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 87(b)
- art. 63DA inserted by 2019 c. 3 Sch. 2 para. 5(3)
- art. 63DA heading words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
- art. 63DA(1)(a) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
- art. 63DA(4) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1386 Sch. para. 9(6)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertions of ss. 63D and 63DA by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.), Sch. 2 and 2019 c. 3, Sch. 2 para. 5 respectively are still prospective)
- art. 63GA inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 84
- art. 63KA inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) s. 85
- art. 64(1AA) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 12(5) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 12 omitted (14.12.2011) by virtue of 2011 c. 23, ss. 29, 31(2), Sch. 7 para. 5(3))
- art. 64(1AB) inserted by 2008 c. 28 s. 15(5)
- art. 89(2A) inserted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 5
Duties of custody officer after chargeN.I.
39.—(1) Where a person arrested for an offence otherwise than under a warrant endorsed for bail is charged with an offence, the custody officer shall order his release from police detention, either on bail or without bail, unless—
(a)if the person arrested is not an arrested juvenile—
(i)his name or address cannot be ascertained or the custody officer has reasonable grounds for doubting whether a name or address furnished by him as his name or address is his real name or address;
[F1(ia)in the case of a person arrested for an imprisonable offence, the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary to prevent him from committing an offence;]
(ii)the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessaryF2. . . to prevent him from causing physical injury to any other person or from causing loss of or damage to property;F3. . .
(iii)the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person arrested will fail to appear in court to answer to bail or that his detention is necessary to prevent him from interfering with the administration of justice or with the investigation of offences or of a particular offence;[F4 or
(iv)the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary for his own protection;]
(b)if he is an arrested juvenile—
(i)any of the requirements of sub‐paragraph (a) is satisfied; or
(ii)the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that he ought to be detained in his own interests.
[F1(1A) In paragraph (1) “imprisonable offence” means an offence for which a person over the age of 21 years is liable, on first conviction, to a term of imprisonment.]
(2) If the release of a person arrested is not required by paragraph (1), the custody officer may authorise him to be kept in police detention.
[F5(2A) The custody officer, in taking the decisions required by paragraph (1)(a) and (b) (except (a)(i) and (iv) and (b)(ii)), shall have regard to such of the following considerations as appear to him to be relevant—
(a)the nature and seriousness of the offence;
(b)the character, antecedents, associations and community ties of the person;
(c)the person's record as respects the fulfilment of his obligations under previous grants of bail, and
(d)the strength of the evidence of the person's having committed the offence,
as well as to any other considerations which appear to be relevant.]
(3) Where a custody officer authorises a person who has been charged to be kept in police detention, he shall, as soon as practicable, make a written record of the grounds for the detention.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5), the written record shall be made in the presence of the person charged who shall at that time be informed by the custody officer of the grounds for his detention.
(5) Paragraph (4) shall not apply where the person charged is, at the time when the written record is made—
(a)incapable of understanding what is said to him;
(b)violent or likely to become violent; or
(c)in urgent need of medical attention.
(6) Where a custody officer authorises an arrested juvenile to be kept in police detention under paragraph (1), the custody officer shall, unless he certifies that it is impracticable to do so, make arrangements for the arrested juvenile to be taken to a place of safety and detained there; and it shall be lawful to detain him in pursuance of the arrangements.
(7) A certificate made under paragraph (6) in respect of an arrested juvenile shall be produced to the court before which he is first brought thereafter.
[F6(8) In paragraph (6) “place of safety” means any juvenile justice centre, any hospital or surgery, or any other suitable place, the occupier of which is willing temporarily to receive the arrested juvenile.]
F2Words in art. 39(1)(a)(ii) repealed (12.3.2007) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1247 (N.I. 13)), arts. 1(3), 7(a)(i), Sch. 2; S.R. 2007/56, art. 2
F3Word in art. 39(1)(a)(ii) repealed (12.3.2007) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1247 (N.I. 13)), arts. 1(3), 7(a)(i), Sch. 2; S.R. 2007/56, art. 2
F4Art. 39(1)(a)(iv) and preceding word added (12.3.2007) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1247 (N.I. 13)), arts. 1(3), 7(a)(ii); S.R. 2007/56, art. 2
F5Art. 39(2A) inserted (12.3.2007) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1247 (N.I. 13)), arts. 1(3), 7(b); S.R. 2007/56, art. 2
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