The Justice (2015 Act) (Commencement No.8) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

This Order brings into operation provision made in Part 8 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c.9 (N.I.) ) (“the Act”) for the Violent Offences Prevention Order (VOPO), and as listed in Article 2 of this Order, to the extent that they are not already in force. The provisions of this Order come into operation on 1st December 2016.

Under Part 8 of the Act, the court will be able to impose a VOPO on qualifying offenders on conviction, or following an application made by the Chief Constable, where it considers it is necessary for the purpose of protecting the public from the risk of serious violent harm from the individual concerned.

The VOPO can place prohibitions or requirements on the behaviour of the individual subject to the Order and the individual will also be required to notify certain information to police under the terms of the Act, both at the outset, and thereafter.