27/02/2004

Minister announces review of PACE legislation

Security Minister Jane Kennedy has announced to Parliament that a review of Police & Criminal Evidence (PACE) legislation in Northern Ireland and the accompanying Codes of Practice is underway.

In a written ministerial statement Jane Kennedy said the review, "which aims to bring the existing PACE legislation and the Codes of Practice in Northern Ireland into line with that in England and Wales, will adopt much of the new or amended legislation and revisions to the Codes of Practice introduced by the Home Office as a result of their fundamental review of PACE in 2002".

"It is my intention to issue a draft Police & Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order and associated Codes of Practice for consultation in Autumn 2004 with the aim of them becoming operational by summer 2005," she added.

The Police & Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 currently provides the legislative framework for the operation of non-terrorist police powers in Northern Ireland.

The planned review aims to consolidate into a single new PACE Order the many changes made to the 1989 legislation over the years, and it will also take account of recent developments in England & Wales flowing from their own review of PACE in 2002.

(MB)

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