Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

HC Deb 27 June 1996 vol 280 cc250-1W

Mr. Maginnis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish revised codes of practice prepared under article 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, and when he intends to publish a code of practice on tape-recording of interviews under article 60 of the same order. [35079]

Sir John Wheeler

My right hon. and learned Friend has today laid before both Houses draft codes of practice prepared under articles 60 and 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 with the intention of making an order to bring the codes into operation from midnight on 28 July 1996. The drafts were prepared following wide consultation last year. They cover the exercise of stop and search powers and the searching of premises and in regard to the treatment, questioning and identification of suspects by police. A draft code of practice on the tape-recording of interviews has also been included with the revised codes laid today.