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The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
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Changes over time for: Section 53A
Changes to legislation:
The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Section 53A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 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 53A:
- various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(a)
- art. 53A(2)(h) words substituted by 2013 c. 7 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 2
- art. 53A(2)(t) renumbered as53(A)(2)(u) by 2022 c. 19 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 1(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
[F1“Qualifying offence” etcN.I.
53A—(1) In this Part, “qualifying offence” means—
(a)an offence specified in paragraph (2), or
(b)an ancillary offence relating to such an offence.
(2) The offences referred to in paragraph (1)(a) are—
(a)murder;
(b)manslaughter;
(c)false imprisonment;
(d)kidnapping;
(e)an offence under section 4, 16, 18, 20 to 24 or 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861;
(f)an offence under section 2 or 3 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883;
(g)an offence under section 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34 (N.I.));
(h)an offence under section 9 or 10 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16 (N.I.));
(i)an offence under Article 3 of the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (S.I. 1977/426 (N.I. 4)) required to be charged as arson;
(j)an offence under Article 3 of the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I.1978/1047 (N.I. 17);
(k)an offence under Article 172B of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1)) involving an accident which caused a person's death;
(l)an offence under section 1 of the Aviation Security Act 1982;
(m)an offence under Article 4 of the Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1638 (N.I. 17));
(n)an offence under section 9 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990;
(o)an offence under sections 57 to 59 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003;
(p)an offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004;
(q)an offence under Article 58, 59 or 60 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/702 (N.I. 3));
(r)an offence for the time being listed in section 41(1) of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008;
(s)an offence under any of Articles 5 to 26, 32, 33, 37 to 40, 43 to 54, 62, 63, 65 [F2to 71B, 72A], 73 and 74 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1769 (N.I. 2)).
[F3(t)an offence under section 1 or 2 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.]
[F4[F5(u)]an offence under paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Space Industry Act 2018.]
[F6(v)an offence under section 28 of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation).]
[F7(v)an offence under any of sections 144 to 146 and 156 to 158 of the Health and Care Act 2022 (offences relating to virginity testing and hymenoplasty).]
[F8(w)an offence under section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 or for the time being listed in section 33(3)(a) of that Act.]
(3) The Secretary of State may by order amend paragraph (2) (subject to Article 89).
[F9(3A) The power to make an order under paragraph (3) is exercisable by the Department of Justice (and not by the Secretary of State) so far as the power may be used to make provision which could be made by an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly without the consent of the Secretary of State (see sections 6 to 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998).]
(4) In paragraph (1)(b) “ancillary offence”, in relation to an offence, means—
(a)aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of the offence;
(b)an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (encouraging or assisting crime) in relation to the offence (including, in relation to times before the commencement of that Part, an offence of incitement);
(c)attempting or conspiring to commit the offence.]
F1Art. 53A inserted (1.6.2021 for specified purposes) by Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17), ss. 13(1), 59(1); S.R. 2021/135, art. 2; S.I. 2021/621, art. 2
F2Words in art. 53A(2)(s) substituted (27.11.2023) by Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 19), s. 30(2), Sch. 1 para. 1; S.R. 2023/188, art. 3(b)
F3Art. 53A(2)(t) added (14.1.2015) by Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 2), s. 28(2), Sch. 4 para. 3
F4Art. 53A(2)(t) inserted (29.7.2021) by Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 12 para. 15; S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 116 (with reg. 3)
F5Art. 53A(2)(u): second art. 53A(2)(t) renumbered as art. 53(2)(u) (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 16 para. 2(a); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F6Art. 53A(2)(v) inserted (26.6.2023) by Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 19), s. 30(2), Sch. 4 para. 1(b); S.R. 2023/87, art. 2(b)
F7Art. 53A(2)(v) inserted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 16 para. 2(b); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F8Art. 53A(2)(w) inserted (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 18 para. 5(2) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(f)
F9Art. 53A(3A) inserted by 2010 c. 17, s. 13(1) (as inserted (18.10.2012) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2595), arts. 1(2), 22(2)(a) (with arts. 24-28))
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