Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Northern Ireland Office
I refer to the committee's letter of 9 November
to David Lavery, Director of the Northern Ireland Court Service.
You asked whether the Court Service intend to produce briefing
material about the Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland)
Order 2004 for people working within the criminal justice system.
I understand David has written that the Northern Ireland Office
should be able to advise the Committee on this issue. The information
you requested follows below.
Copies of the legislation, Explanatory Memorandum
and advisory notes were provided to, inter alia, the Northern
Ireland Court Service, the professional judiciary associations,
the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Office of The Director
of Public Prosecutions, the Crown Solicitor's Office, the Probation
Board for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights
Commission and the professional legal associations. In addition,
organisations representing groups protected by the legislation
were advised of the new provisions. This included racial, religious,
disabled and sexual orientation groups. Guidance on the content
of the new legislation was also published in the Writ,
the official journal of The Law Society of Northern Ireland. Access
to the legislation and Explanatory Memorandum is available through
the NIO intranet site and website.
The commencement of the new powers coincided
with the introduction, by the Police Service of Northern Ireland,
of the new hate crime recording arrangements and will be included
in their Hate Crime Policy. The new legislation will also be included
in updated Student Officer training notes.
The Minister of State, John Spellar, launched
the new legislation by appearing on local television and radio,
as well as providing a feature interview in the main evening newspaper
for Northern Ireland. The commencement of the new legislation
was further publicised by issuing press releases and placing notices
in the main local newspapers.
22 November 2004
|
