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The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
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The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, SCHEDULE 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 20 April 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.
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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 Schedule 1:
- various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(a)
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
Article 11.
SCHEDULE 1N.I.SPECIAL PROCEDURE
Making of orders by county court judgeN.I.
1. If on an application made by a constable a county court judge is satisfied that one or other of the sets of access conditions is fulfilled, he may make an order under paragraph 4.N.I.
2. The first set of access conditions is fulfilled if—N.I.
(a)there are reasonable grounds for believing—
(i)that [F1an indictable offence] has been committed;
(ii)that there is material which consists of special procedure material or includes special procedure material and does not also include excluded material on premises specified in the application [F2, or on premises occupied or controlled by a person specified in the application (including all such premises on which there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is such material as it is reasonably practicable so to specify);];
(iii)that the material is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation in connection with which the application is made; and
(iv)that the material is likely to be relevant evidence;
(b)other methods of obtaining the material—
(i)have been tried without success; or
(ii)have not been tried because it appeared that they were bound to fail; and
(c)it is in the public interest, having regard—
(i)to the benefit likely to accrue to the investigation if the material is obtained; and
(ii)to the circumstances under which the person in possession of the material holds it,
that the material should be produced or that access to it should be given.
F1Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(a)(i) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(2)
F2Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(a)(ii) added (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(3)
3. The second set of access conditions is fulfilled if—N.I.
(a)there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is material which consists of or includes excluded material or special procedure material on premises specified in the application [F3, or on premises occupied or controlled by a person specified in the application (including all such premises on which there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is such material as it is reasonably practicable so to specify);];
(b)but for Article 11(2) a search of [F4such premises] for that material could have been authorised by the issue of a warrant to a constable under a statutory provision other than this Schedule; and
(c)the issue of such a warrant would have been appropriate.
F3Words in Sch. 1 para. 3(a) added (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(3)
F4Words in Sch. 1 para. 3(b) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(4)
4. An order under this paragraph is an order that the person who appears to the county court judge to be in possession of the material to which the application relates shall—N.I.
(a)produce it to a constable for him to take away; or
(b)give a constable access to it,
not later than the end of the period of seven days from the date of the order or the end of such longer period as the order may specify.
5. Where the material consists of information[F5 stored in any electronic form]N.I.
(a)an order under paragraph 4(a) shall have effect as an order to produce the material in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible[F6 or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible form]; and
(b)an order under paragraph 4(b) shall have effect as an order to give a constable access to the material in a form in which it is visible and legible.
6. For the purposes of Articles 23 and 24 material produced in pursuance of an order under paragraph 4(a) shall be treated as if it were material seized by a constable.N.I.
Notices of applications for ordersN.I.
7. An application for an order under paragraph 4 shall be made inter partes.N.I.
8. Where notice of an application for an order under paragraph 4 has been served on a person, he shall not conceal, destroy, alter or dispose of the material to which the application relates except—N.I.
(a)with the leave of a judge; or
(b)with the written permission of a constable,
until—
(i)the application is dismissed or abandoned; or
(ii)he has complied with an order under paragraph 4 made on the application.
Issue of warrants by county court judgeN.I.
9. If on an application made by a constable a county court judge—N.I.
(a)is satisfied—
(i)that either set of access conditions is fulfilled; and
(ii)that any of the further conditions set out in paragraph 11 is also fulfilled [F7in relation to each set of premises specified in the application]; or
(b)is satisfied—
(i)that the second set of access conditions is fulfilled; and
(ii)that an order under paragraph 4 relating to the material has not been complied with,
he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises [F8 or (as the case may be) all premises occupied or controlled by the person referred to in paragraph 2(a)(ii) or 3(a), including such sets of premises as are specified in the application (an “all premises warrant”)].
F7Words in Sch. 1 para. 9(a)(ii) inserted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(5)(a)
F8Words in Sch. 1 para. 9 added (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(5)(b)
[F99A. The judge may not issue an all premises warrant unless he is satisfied—N.I.
(a)that there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is necessary to search premises occupied or controlled by the person in question which are not specified in the application, as well as those which are, in order to find the material in question; and
(b)that it is not reasonably practicable to specify all the premises which he occupies or controls which might need to be searched.]
10. A constable may seize and retain anything for which a search has been authorised under paragraph 9.N.I.
11. The further conditions mentioned in paragraph 9(a)(ii) are—N.I.
(a)that it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant entry to the premises F10. . . ;
(b)that it is practicable to communicate with a person entitled to grant entry to the premises but it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant access to the material;
(c)that the material contains information which—
(i)is subject to a restriction or obligation such as is mentioned in Article 13(2)(b); and
(ii)is likely to be disclosed in breach of it if a warrant is not issued;
(d)that service of notice of an application for an order under paragraph 4 may seriously prejudice the investigation for the purpose of which the application is sought, or other investigations.
F10Words in Sch. 1 para. 11(a) repealed (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 8(7), 41(2), Sch. 2
12.—(1) If a person fails to comply with an order under paragraph 4, a county court judge may deal with him as if he had committed a contempt of the Crown Court.N.I.
(2) Any statutory provision relating to contempt of the Crown Court shall have effect in relation to such a failure as if it were such a contempt.
CostsN.I.
13. The costs of any application under this Schedule and of anything done or to be done in pursuance of an order made under it shall be in the discretion of the judge.N.I.
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