Treatment of offendersN.I.

Periodic reviewsN.I.

10.—(1) A drug treatment and testing order shall—

(a)provide for the order to be reviewed periodically at intervals of not less than one month;

(b)provide for each review of the order to be made, subject to paragraph (6), at a hearing held for the purpose by the court responsible for the order (a “review hearing”);

(c)require the offender to attend each review hearing;

(d)provide for the responsible officer to make to the court, before each review, a report in writing on the offender's progress under the order; and

(e)provide for each such report to include the test results communicated to the responsible officer under Article 9(7)(c) and the views of the treatment provider as to the treatment and testing of the offender.

(2) At a review hearing the court, after considering the responsible officer's report, may amend any requirement or provision of the order.

(3) The court—

(a)shall not amend the treatment or testing requirement unless the offender expresses his willingness to comply with the requirement as amended;

(b)shall not amend any provision of the order so as to reduce the treatment and testing period below the minimum specified in Article 8(2), or to increase it above the maximum so specified; and

(c)except with the consent of the offender, shall not amend any requirement or provision of the order while an appeal against the order is pending.

(4) If the offender fails to express his willingness to comply with the treatment or testing requirement as proposed to be amended by the court, the court may—

(a)revoke the order; and

(b)deal with him, for the offence in respect of which the order was made, in any manner in which it could deal with him if he had just been convicted by the court of the offence.

(5) In dealing with the offender under paragraph (4)(b), the court—

(a)shall take into account the extent to which the offender has complied with the requirements of the order; and

(b)may impose a custodial sentence notwithstanding anything in Article 19(2) of the [1996 NI 24.] Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(6) If at a review hearing the court, after considering the responsible officer's report, is of the opinion that the offender's progress under the order is satisfactory, the court may so amend the order as to provide for each subsequent review to be made by the court without a hearing.

(7) If at a review without a hearing the court, after considering the responsible officer's report, is of the opinion that the offender's progress under the order is no longer satisfactory, the court may require the offender to attend a hearing of the court at a specified time and place.

(8) At that hearing the court, after considering that report, may—

(a)exercise the powers conferred by this Article as if the hearing were a review hearing; and

(b)so amend the order as to provide for each subsequent review to be made at a review hearing.

(9) In this Article any reference to the court, in relation to a review without a hearing, shall be construed—

(a)in the case of the Crown Court, as a reference to a judge of the court;