Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

12Registration of bands taking part in public processions

(1)The Secretary of State may by order provide for the registration of bands.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), an order under that subsection may provide for—

(a)applications for registration or the renewal of registration to be made to such court or other body or person as may be specified in the order;

(b)the procedure for the making and hearing of such applications (including the making and hearing of objections);

(c)the grounds on which such applications may be refused;

(d)the issue and duration of certificates of registration;

(e)appeals against decisions made in relation to such applications;

(f)the cancellation of registration and the procedure in relation thereto;

(g)registration to be subject to such conditions as may be specified in or determined under the order;

(h)the order not to apply to such bands or bands of such descriptions as may be specified in or determined under the order;

(i)such other matters as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the proper functioning of the system of registration provided for by the order.

(3)Any power to make rules of court regulating the practice or procedure of a court specified as mentioned in subsection (2)(a) includes power to make such provision as may be necessary or expedient for carrying into effect the provisions of an order under subsection (1).

(4)A person who knowingly takes part in a public procession as a member of a band which—

(a)is one to which an order under subsection (1) applies, but is not registered under that order; or

(b)does not comply with any condition subject to which it is registered under such an order,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(5)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.