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The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
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- Northern Ireland Orders in Council
- 1989 No. 1341 (N.I. 12)
- PART IX
- Convictions and acquittals
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Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Convictions and acquittals
Changes to legislation:
The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Cross Heading: Convictions and acquittals is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 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.
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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 Part IX Crossheading Convictions-and-acquittals:
- various legislation applied by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 161(2)(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
Convictions and acquittalsN.I.
Proof of convictions and acquittalsN.I.
71.—(1) Where in any criminal proceedings the fact that a person has in the United Kingdom been convicted or acquitted of an offence otherwise than by a Service court is admissible in evidence, it may be proved by producing a certificate of conviction or, as the case may be, of acquittal relating to that offence, and proving that the person named in the certificate as having been convicted or acquitted of the offence is the person whose conviction or acquittal of the offence is to be proved.
F1(1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) For the purposes of this Article a certificate of conviction or of acquittal—
(a)shall, as regards a conviction or acquittal on indictment, consist of a certifi;cate, signed by the clerk of the court where the conviction or acquittal took place, giving the substance and effect (omitting the formal parts) of the indictment and of the conviction or acquittal; and
(b)shall, as regards a conviction or acquittal on a summary trial, consist of a copy of the conviction or of the dismissal of the information, signed by the clerk of the court where the conviction or acquittal took place or by the clerk of the court, if any, to which a memorandum of the conviction or acquittal was sent; F2...
F2(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
and a document purporting to be a duly signed certificate of conviction or acquittal under this Article shall be taken to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.
(3) References in this Article to the clerk of a court include references to any other person having the custody of the court record.
(4) The method of proving a conviction or acquittal authorised by this Article shall be in addition to and not to the exclusion of any other authorised manner of proving a conviction or acquittal.
F1Art. 71(1A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(2)(a) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F2Art. 71(2)(c) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(2)(b) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Conviction as evidence of commission of offenceN.I.
72.—(1) In any criminal proceedings the fact that a person other than the accused has been convicted of an offence by or before any court in the United Kingdom F3... or by a Service court outside the United Kingdom shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving[F4 that that person committed that offence, where evidence of his having done so is admissible], whether or not any other evidence of his having committed that offence is given.
(2) In any criminal proceedings in which by virtue of this Article a person other than the accused is proved to have been convicted of an offence by or before any court in the United Kingdom F5... or by a Service court outside the United Kingdom, he shall be taken to have committed that offence unless the contrary is proved.
(3) In any criminal proceedings where evidence is admissible of the fact that the accused has committed an offence,F6. . . if the accused is proved to have been convicted of the offence—
(a)by or before any court in the United Kingdom F7...; or
(b)by a Service court outside the United Kingdom,
he shall be taken to have committed that offence unless the contrary is proved.
(4) Nothing in this Article shall prejudice—
(a)the admissibility in evidence of any conviction which would be admissible apart from this Article; or
(b)the operation of any statutory provision whereby a conviction or a finding of fact in any criminal proceedings is for the purposes of any other criminal proceedings made conclusive evidence of any fact.
F3Words in art. 72(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(a) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F4Words in art. 72(1) substituted (3.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1501 (N.I. 10)), arts. 1(3), 46(1), Sch. 1 para. 3(2); S.R. 2006/63, art. 2
F5Words in art. 72(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(b) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6Words in art. 72(3) repealed (3.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1501 (N.I. 10)), arts. 1(3), 46, Sch. 1 para. 3(3), Sch. 2; S.R. 2006/63, art. 2
F7Words in art. 72(3)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(c) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Provisions supplementary to Article 72N.I.
73.—(1) Where evidence that a person has been convicted of an offence is admissible by virtue of Article 72, then without prejudice to the reception of any other admissible evidence for the purpose of identifying the facts on which the conviction was based—
(a)the contents of any document which is admissible as evidence of the conviction; and
[F8(b)the contents of the complaint, indictment or charge-sheet on which the person in question was convicted,]
shall be admissible in evidence for that purpose.
(2) Where in any criminal proceedings the contents of any document are admissible in evidence by virtue of paragraph (1), a copy of that document, or of the material part of it, purporting to be certified or otherwise authenticated by or on behalf of the court or authority having custody of that document shall be admissible in evidence and shall be taken to be a true copy of that document or part unless the contrary is shown.
(3) Nothing in any of the following—
Sub‐para. (a) rep. by 1996 NI 24
[F9(aa)section 187 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (which makes similar provision in respect of service convictions);]
(b)section 13 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973F10 (which makes provision similar to section 8 of that Act of 1950); and
(c)section 392 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975F11 (which makes similar provision in respect of convictions on indictment in Scotland);
shall affect the operation of Article 72; and for the purposes of that Article any order made by a court of summary jurisdiction in Scotland under section 182 or 183 of the said Act of 1975 shall be treated as a conviction.
(4) Nothing in Article 72 shall be construed as rendering admissible in any criminal proceedings evidence of any conviction other than a subsisting one.
F8Art. 73(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Criminal Justice (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/780), regs. 1(1), 28(4) (with reg. 31) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1520, regs. 1(1), 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F9Art. 73(3)(aa) inserted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378(1), 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 120; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
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