The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made: 3rd February 2026

Coming into operation: 17th February 2026

The Department of Justice makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 113B(2)(b), 113BB(1), 125(1) and (5) of the Police Act 1997[^f00001] as modified by section 126A[^f00002] of that Act.

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 and shall come into operation on 17th February 2026.

Amendment of the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

2

• (1) The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008[^f00003] are amended as follows.

• (2) After regulation 9(1)(r) insert—

(s) considering the applicant’s suitability to act as a restorative justice practitioner.

• (3) In regulation 9B, after “(q) omit “or (r)” and insert “, (r) or (s).”.

• (4) In regulation 12, after “regulation” omit “91(d), (e), (f) or (r)” and insert “9(1)(d), (e), (f), (p), (q) or (r).”.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 3rd February 2026

Naomi Long MLA — Minister of Justice

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”) to make provision for enhanced criminal record checks with suitability information in relation to individuals who are seeking to act as a restorative justice practitioner, accredited by the Department of Justice.

The 2008 Regulations make detailed provision in relation to applications for criminal conviction certificates, criminal record certificates and enhanced criminal record certificates under Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”). Regulation 9 of the 2008 Regulations prescribes the purposes for which an enhanced criminal record certificate may be required. Regulation 9B prescribes the cases in which an enhanced criminal record certificate must also include suitability information relating to adults.

Regulation 2(2) of these Regulations amends regulation 9 of the 2008 Regulations, creating a new prescribed purpose for which an enhanced criminal record certificate may be required. The effect of the amendment is to enable enhanced criminal record checks to be carried out in relation to individuals who are seeking to act as a restorative justice practitioner.

Regulations 2(3) amends regulation 9B of the 2008 Regulations, to make provision for checks on suitability information (barred list information) in respect of vulnerable adults, for the new prescribed purpose set out in regulation 2(2).

Regulation 2(4) amends regulation 12 of the 2008 Regulations, to extend eligibility for an enhanced check to those under the age of 16 in circumstances where they reside in the same household as individuals being hosted under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1997 c. 50. Section 113B of the 1997 Act was inserted by section 163(2) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (2005 c. 15). Section 113BB(1) of the 1997 Act was inserted by paragraph 14(4) of Schedule 9 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (2006 c. 47) as modified by section 126(3) of the 1997 Act. Section 125(1) of the 1997 Act (as modified by section 126A(2)) provides that anything authorised or required by any provision of Part 5 of the 1997 Act to be prescribed shall be prescribed by regulations made by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.

[^f00002]: Section 126A was inserted by Article 12 and paragraph 38 of Schedule 14 to S.I. 2010/976.

[^f00003]: S.I. 2008/542; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2010 No. 229, S.R. 2012 No. 321, S.R. 2015 No. 350, S.R. 2022 No. 212 and S.R. 2023 No. 16.

Editorial notes

[^key-dad47e46b9e8b4fdaebd1ab2750d134d]: Reg. 1 in operation at 17.2.2026, see reg. 1

[^key-3003cd3cbd8dc37cc675419f365901ab]: Reg. 2 in operation at 17.2.2026, see reg. 1