The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Changes over time for: Section 62

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Changes to legislation:

The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Section 62 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.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Article 62:

various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(a)
art. 62(3) words inserted by 2010 c. 17 s. 9(3)
art. 62(5)-(7) substituted for art. 62(5)-(7A) by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(4)
art. 62(8) words repealed by 2010 c. 17 s. 10(5)
art. 62(10)(a)(i) words inserted by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(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

Intimate samplesN.I.

62.—(1) An intimate sample may be taken from a person in police detention only—

(a)if a police officer of at least the rank of [F1inspector] authorises it to be taken; and

(b)if the appropriate consent is given.

[F2(1A) An intimate sample may be taken from a person who is not in police detention but from whom, in the course of the investigation of an offence, two or more non-intimate samples suitable for the same means of analysis have been taken which have proved insufficient—

(a)if a police officer of at least the rank of [F3inspector] authorises it to be taken; and

(b)if the appropriate consent is given.]

(2) An officer may only give an authorisation[F2 under paragraph (1) or (1A)] if he has reasonable grounds—

(a)for suspecting the involvement of the person from whom the sample is to be taken in a[F2 recordable offence]; and

(b)for believing that the sample will tend to confirm or disprove his involvement.

(3) An officer may give an authorisation under paragraph (1)[F2 or (1A)] orally or in writing but, if he gives it orally, he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is practicable.

(4) The appropriate consent must be given in writing.

(5) Where—

(a)an authorisation has been given; and

(b)it is proposed that an intimate sample shall be taken in pursuance of the authorisation,

an officer shall inform the person from whom the sample is to be taken—

(i)of the giving of the authorisation; and

(ii)of the grounds for giving it.

(6) The duty imposed by paragraph (5)(ii) includes a duty to state the nature of the offence in which it is suspected that the person from whom the sample is to be taken has been involved.

(7) If an intimate sample is taken from a person—

(a)the authorisation by virtue of which it was taken;

(b)the grounds for giving the authorisation; and

(c)the fact that the appropriate consent was given,

shall be recorded as soon as is practicable after the sample is taken.

[F2(7A) If an intimate sample is taken from a person at a police station—

(a)before the sample is taken, an officer shall inform him that it may be the subject of a speculative search; and

(b)the fact that the person has been informed of this possibility shall be recorded as soon as practicable after the sample has been taken.]

(8) If an intimate sample is taken from a person detained at a police station, the matters required to be recorded by paragraph (7)[F2 or (7A)] shall be recorded in his custody record.

[F4(9) In the case of an intimate sample which is a dental impression, the sample may be taken from a person only by a registered dentist.

(9A) In the case of any other form of intimate sample, except in the case of a sample of urine, the sample may be taken from a person only by one of the following—

(a)a medical practitioner;

(b)a registered health care professional.]

(10) Where the appropriate consent to the taking of an intimate sample from a person was refused without good cause, in any proceedings against that person for an offence—

(a)the court, in determining—

(i)whether to commit that person for trial; or

(ii)whether there is a case to answer; and

[F5(aa)a judge, in deciding whether to grant an application made by the accused under paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Children's Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (application for dismissal of charge of violent or sexual offence involving child in respect of which notice of transfer has been given under Article 4 of that Order); and]

(b)the court or jury, in determining whether that person is guilty of the offence charged,

may draw such inferences from the refusal as appear proper; and the refusal may, on the basis of such inferences, be treated as, or as capable of amounting to, corroboration of any evidence against the person in relation to which the refusal is material.

[F6(11) Nothing in this Article affects Articles 13 to 21 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995[F7 or Articles 18 and 19 of the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996].]

[F8(12) Nothing in this Aricle applies to a person arrested or detained under the terrorism provisions; and paragraph (1A) shall not apply where the non‐intimate samples mentioned in that paragraph were taken under paragraph 10 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000.]

[F9(12A) Nothing in this Article applies to a person arrested or detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023; and paragraph (1A) does not apply where the non‐intimate samples mentioned in that paragraph were taken under paragraph 10 of Schedule 6 to that Act.]

[F10(13) Nothing in this Article applies to a person detained under Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019; and paragraph (1A) does not apply where the non-intimate samples mentioned in that paragraph were taken under Part 2 of that Schedule.]

F1Word in art. 62(1)(a) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 32

F21995 NI 17

F3Word in art. 62(1A)(a) substituted (1.3.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(2), 32

F4Art. 62(9)(9A) substituted (1.3.2007) for art. 62(9) by Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003 (c. 6), s. 42(2)(6); S.R. 2007/177, art. 2

F9Art. 62(12A) inserted (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 18 para. 5(6) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(f)

F10Art. 62(13) inserted (13.8.2020) by Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (c. 3), s. 27(2)(d), Sch. 4 para. 20(7); S.I. 2020/792, reg. 2(i)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Art. 62(1)-(9) applied (with modifications) (1.12.2007) by Police and Criminal Evidence (Application to Revenue and Customs) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/464), arts. 3-15, Sch. 1, Sch. 2