National Security Act 2023

Type Public General Act
Publication 2023-07-11
Last updated 2025-07-01
State In force
Department Statute Law Database
articles 1
Reform history JSON API
  • (b) in the case of a DNA profile, the period of 3 years beginning with the date on which the DNA sample from which the profile was derived was taken (or, if the profile was derived from more than one DNA sample, the date on which the first of those samples was taken).
  • (6) The responsible chief officer of police or a specified chief officer of police may apply to a relevant court for an order extending the retention period.
  • (7) An application for an order under sub-paragraph (6) must be made within the period of 3 months ending with the last day of the retention period.
  • (8) An order under sub-paragraph (6) may extend the retention period by a period which—
  • (a) begins with the date on which the material would otherwise be required to be destroyed under this paragraph, and
  • (b) ends with the end of the period of 2 years beginning with that date.
  • (9) The following persons may appeal to the relevant appeal court against an order under sub-paragraph (6) or a refusal to make such an order—
  • (a) the responsible chief officer of police;
  • (b) a specified chief officer of police;
  • (c) the person from whom the material was taken.
  • (10) In Scotland—
  • (a) an application for an order under sub-paragraph (6) is to be made by summary application;
  • (b) an appeal against an order under sub-paragraph (6), or a refusal to make such an order, must be made within 21 days of the relevant court’s decision, and the relevant appeal court’s decision on any such appeal is final.
  • (11) Nothing in this paragraph prevents the start of a new retention period in relation to paragraph 19 material if a person is detained again under section 27 when an existing retention period (whether or not extended) is still in force in relation to that material.
  • “relevant court” means—in England and Wales, a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts),in Scotland, the sheriff—in whose sheriffdom the person to whom the material relates resides,in whose sheriffdom that person is believed by the applicant to be, orto whose sheriffdom that person is believed by the applicant to be intending to come, andin Northern Ireland, a district judge (magistrates’ court) in Northern Ireland;
  • the “relevant appeal court” means—in England and Wales, the Crown Court,in Scotland, the Sheriff Appeal Court, andin Northern Ireland, the County Court;
  • a “specified chief officer of police” means—in England and Wales—the chief officer of the police force of the area in which the person from whom the material was taken resides, ora chief officer of police who believes that the person is in, or is intending to come to, the chief officer’s police area, andthe chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, where—the person who provided the material, or from whom it was taken, resides in Scotland, orthe chief constable believes that the person is in, or is intending to come to, Scotland, andthe Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, where—the person from whom the material was taken resides in Northern Ireland, orthe chief constable believes that the person is in, or is intending to come to, Northern Ireland.
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  • (1) For the purposes of paragraph 20, a person is to be treated as having been convicted of an offence if—
  • (a) in relation to a recordable offence in England and Wales or Northern Ireland—
  • (i) the person has been given a caution or youth caution in respect of the offence which, at the time of the caution, the person has admitted,
  • (ii) the person has been found not guilty of the offence by reason of insanity, or
  • (iii) the person has been found to be under a disability and to have done the act charged in respect of the offence,
  • (b) the person, in relation to an offence in Scotland punishable by imprisonment, has accepted or has been deemed to accept—
  • (i) a conditional offer under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995,
  • (ii) a compensation offer under section 302A of that Act,
  • (iii) a combined offer under section 302B of that Act, or
  • (iv) a work offer under section 303ZA of that Act,
  • (c) the person, in relation to an offence in Scotland punishable by imprisonment, has been acquitted on account of the person’s insanity at the time of the offence or (as the case may be) by virtue of section 51A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995,
  • (d) a finding in respect of the person has been made under section 55(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to an offence in Scotland punishable by imprisonment,
  • (i) the fixed penalty, or
  • (ii) (as the case may be) the sum which the person is liable to pay by virtue of section 131(5) of that Act, or
  • (f) the person, in relation to an offence in Scotland punishable by imprisonment, has been discharged absolutely by order under section 246(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
  • (2) Paragraph 20 and this paragraph, so far as they relate to persons convicted of an offence, have effect despite anything in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 or the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27)).
  • (3) But a person is not to be treated as having been convicted of an offence if that conviction is a disregarded conviction or caution by virtue of section 92 or 101A of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
  • (a) a person has no previous convictions if the person has not previously been convicted—
  • (i) in England and Wales or Northern Ireland of a recordable offence, or
  • (ii) in Scotland of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment, and
  • (b) if the person has previously been convicted of a recordable offence in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the conviction is exempt if it is in respect of a recordable offence, other than a qualifying offence, committed when the person was under 18 years of age.
  • (5) In sub-paragraph (4) “qualifying offence”—
  • (a) in relation to a conviction in respect of a recordable offence committed in England and Wales, has the meaning given by section 65A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, and
  • (b) in relation to a conviction in respect of a recordable offence committed in Northern Ireland, has the meaning given by Article 53A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)).
  • (6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4)—
  • (a) a person is to be treated as having previously been convicted in England and Wales of a recordable offence if—
  • (i) the person has previously been convicted of an offence under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and
  • (ii) the act constituting the offence would constitute a recordable offence under the law of England and Wales if done there (whether or not it constituted such an offence when the person was convicted);
  • (b) a person is to be treated as having previously been convicted in Northern Ireland of a recordable offence if—
  • (i) the person has previously been convicted of an offence under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and
  • (ii) the act constituting the offence would constitute a recordable offence under the law of Northern Ireland if done there (whether or not it constituted such an offence when the person was convicted);
  • (c) a person is to be treated as having previously been convicted in Scotland of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment if—
  • (i) the person has previously been convicted of an offence under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and
  • (ii) the act constituting the offence would constitute an offence punishable by imprisonment under the law of Scotland if done there (whether or not it constituted such an offence when the person was convicted);
  • (d) the reference in sub-paragraph (4)(b) to a qualifying offence includes a reference to an offence under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom where the act constituting the offence would constitute a qualifying offence under the law of England and Wales if done there or (as the case may be) under the law of Northern Ireland if done there (whether or not it constituted such an offence when the person was convicted).
  • (a) “offence”, in relation to any country or territory outside the United Kingdom, includes an act punishable under the law of that country or territory, however it is described;
  • (b) a person has in particular been convicted of an offence under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom if—
  • (i) a court exercising jurisdiction under the law of that country or territory has made in respect of such an offence a finding equivalent to a finding that the person is not guilty by reason of insanity, or
  • (ii) such a court has made in respect of such an offence a finding equivalent to a finding that the person is under a disability and did the act charged against the person in respect of the offence.
  • (8) If a person is convicted of more than one offence arising out of a single course of action, those convictions are to be treated as a single conviction for the purposes of calculating under paragraph 20 whether the person has been convicted of only one offence.

Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)

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  • (1) Paragraph 19 material may be retained for as long as a national security determination made by a chief officer of police has effect in relation to the material.
  • (2) A national security determination is made if a chief officer of police determines that it is necessary for any paragraph 19 material to be retained for the purposes of national security.
  • (3) A national security determination—
  • (a) must be made in writing,
  • (b) has effect for a maximum of 5 years beginning with the date on which the determination is made, and
  • (c) may be renewed.
  • (a) a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,
  • (b) the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland,
  • (c) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland,
  • (d) the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police,
  • (e) the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police Force, or
  • (f) the Director General of the National Crime Agency.

Fingerprints and relevant physical data: further provision

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  • (1) This paragraph applies where paragraph 19 material is or includes a person’s fingerprints (“the original fingerprints”).
  • (2) A constable may make a determination under this paragraph in respect of any further fingerprints taken from, or provided by, the same person (“the further fingerprints”) if conditions 1 and 2 are met.
  • (3) Condition 1 is met if the further fingerprints—
  • (b) are taken or provided under or by virtue of—
  • (ii) Part 5 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
  • (iv) any provision, power or authority mentioned in section 18G(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995,
  • (v) paragraph 10 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000,
  • (vi) paragraph 1 or 4 of Schedule 6 to the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011, or
  • (vii) paragraph 34 of Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, or
  • (c) are material to which section 18 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 applies.
  • (4) Condition 2 is met if—
  • (a) in a case where the further fingerprints are material to which section 18 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 applies, the original fingerprints and the further fingerprints are held under the law of the same part of the United Kingdom;
  • (b) in any other case, the original fingerprints and the further fingerprints were taken from or provided by the person in the same part of the United Kingdom.
  • (5) Where a determination under this paragraph is made in respect of the further fingerprints—
  • (a) the further fingerprints may be retained for as long as the original fingerprints are retained under any power conferred by paragraph 20 or 22, and
  • (b) a requirement under any enactment to destroy the further fingerprints does not apply for as long as their retention is authorised by paragraph (a).
  • (6) Sub-paragraph (5)(a) does not prevent the further fingerprints being retained after the original fingerprints fall to be destroyed if the continued retention of the further fingerprints is authorised under any enactment.
  • (7) Any determination under this paragraph must be recorded in writing.
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  • (1) If fingerprints or relevant physical data are required by paragraph 19 to be destroyed, any copies of the fingerprints or relevant physical data held by a police force must also be destroyed.
  • (2) If a DNA profile is required by that paragraph to be destroyed, no copy may be retained by a police force except in a form which does not include information which identifies the person to whom the DNA profile relates.

Samples: further provision

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  • (2) Samples to which this paragraph applies must be destroyed if it appears to the responsible chief officer of police that—
  • (a) the sample was taken or required to be provided unlawfully, or
  • (b) the sample was taken from, or provided by, a person in connection with that person’s arrest under section 27 and the arrest was unlawful or based on mistaken identity.
  • (4) A DNA sample to which this paragraph applies must be destroyed—
  • (a) as soon as a DNA profile has been derived from the sample, or
  • (b) if sooner, before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the sample was taken.
  • (5) Any other sample to which this paragraph applies must be destroyed before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which it was taken.
  • (6) The responsible chief officer of police may apply to a relevant court for an order to retain a sample to which this paragraph applies beyond the date on which the sample would otherwise be required to be destroyed by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) or (5) if—
  • (a) the sample was taken from a detained person in connection with the investigation of a qualifying offence, and
  • (b) the responsible chief officer of police considers that the condition in sub-paragraph (7) is met.
  • (7) The condition is that, having regard to the nature and complexity of other material that is evidence in relation to the offence, the sample is likely to be needed in any proceedings for the offence for the purposes of—
  • (a) disclosure to, or use by, a defendant, or
  • (b) responding to any challenge by a defendant in respect of the admissibility of material that is evidence on which the prosecution proposes to rely.
  • (9) If, on an application made by the responsible chief officer of police under sub-paragraph (6), the relevant court is satisfied that the condition in sub-paragraph (7) is met, it may make an order under this sub-paragraph which—
  • (a) allows the sample to be retained for a period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the sample would otherwise be required to be destroyed by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) or (5), and
  • (b) may be renewed (on one or more occasions) for a further period of not more than 12 months from the end of the period when the order would otherwise cease to have effect.
  • (10) An application for an order under sub-paragraph (9) (other than an application for renewal)—
  • (a) may be made without notice of the application having been given to the person from whom the sample was taken, and
  • (b) may be heard and determined in private in the absence of that person.
  • (11) In Scotland, an application for an order under sub-paragraph (9) (including an application for renewal) is to be made by summary application.
  • (12) A sample retained by virtue of an order under sub-paragraph (9) must not be used other than for the purposes of any proceedings for the offence in connection with which the sample was taken.
  • (13) A sample must be destroyed if retention of the sample by virtue of an order under sub-paragraph (9) ceases to be allowed.
  • (14) Nothing in this paragraph prevents a relevant search, in relation to samples to which this paragraph applies, from being carried out within such time as may reasonably be required for the search if the responsible chief officer of police considers the search to be desirable.
  • “ancillary offence”, in relation to an offence, means any of the following—being art and part in the commission of the offence;inciting a person to commit the offence;attempting or conspiring to commit the offence;
  • “qualifying offence”—in relation to the investigation of an offence committed in England and Wales, has the meaning given by section 65A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,in relation to the investigation of an offence committed in Scotland, means a relevant offence, an offence listed in section 33(3)(a), or an ancillary offence in relation to such an offence, andin relation to the investigation of an offence committed in Northern Ireland, has the meaning given by Article 53A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12));
  • “relevant court” means—in England and Wales, a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts),in Scotland, the sheriff—in whose sheriffdom the person to whom the sample relates resides,in whose sheriffdom that person is believed by the responsible chief officer of police to be, orto whose sheriffdom that person is believed by the responsible chief officer of police to be intending to come, andin Northern Ireland, a district judge (magistrates’ court) in Northern Ireland;
  • “relevant offence” has the same meaning as in section 19A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995;

Restrictions on use of retained material

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  • (1) Any material to which paragraph 19 or 25 applies must not be used other than—
  • (a) in the interests of national security,
  • (b) for the purposes of investigating foreign power threat activity,
  • (c) for the purposes of a terrorist investigation (within the meaning of the Terrorism Act 2000),
  • (d) for purposes related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution, or
  • (e) for purposes related to the identification of a deceased person or of the person to whom the material relates.
  • (2) Subject to sub-paragraph (1), a relevant search (within the meaning given by paragraph 19(6)) may be carried out in relation to material to which paragraph 19 or 25 applies if the responsible chief officer of police considers the search to be desirable.
  • (3) Material which is required by paragraph 19 or 25 to be destroyed must not at any time after it is required to be destroyed be used—
  • (a) in evidence against the person to whom the material relates, or
  • (b) for the purposes of the investigation of any offence.
  • (a) the reference to using material includes a reference to allowing any check to be made against it and to disclosing it to any person,
  • (b) the reference to crime includes a reference to any conduct which—
  • (i) constitutes one or more criminal offences (whether under the law of a part of the United Kingdom or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom), or
  • (ii) is, or corresponds to, any conduct which, if it all took place in any one part of the United Kingdom, would constitute one or more criminal offences, and
  • (c) the references to an investigation and to a prosecution include references, respectively, to any investigation outside the United Kingdom of any crime or suspected crime and to a prosecution brought in respect of any crime in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.
  • (5) Sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) do not form part of the law of Scotland (but see instead section 19C of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (use of samples etc) (as amended by Schedule 18).

Material disclosable in connection with a criminal investigation

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  • (1) Paragraphs 19 to 26 do not apply to material relating to a detained person which is, or may become, disclosable under—
  • (a) the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, or
  • (b) a code of practice prepared under section 23 of that Act and in operation by virtue of an order under section 25 of that Act.
  • (2) A sample that—
  • (b) but for that sub-paragraph would be required to be destroyed under paragraph 25,

must not be used other than for the purposes of any proceedings for the offence in connection with which the sample was taken.

  • (3) A sample that once fell within sub-paragraph (1) but no longer does, and so becomes a sample to which paragraph 25 applies, must be destroyed immediately if the time specified for its destruction under that paragraph has already passed.

Interpretation

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  • “DNA profile” means any information derived from a DNA sample;
  • “DNA sample” means any material that has come from a human body and consists of or includes human cells;
  • “fingerprints” has the meaning given by section 65(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or, in Northern Ireland, Article 53(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I.12));
  • “police force” means any of the following—the metropolitan police force;a police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 (police forces in England and Wales outside London);the City of London police force;the Police Service of Scotland;the Scottish Police Authority;the Police Service of Northern Ireland;the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;the Ministry of Defence Police;the National Crime Agency;the British Transport Police Force;
  • “recordable offence”—in relation to a conviction in England and Wales, has the meaning given by section 118(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, andin relation to a conviction in Northern Ireland, has the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12));
  • “relevant physical data” has the meaning given by section 18(7A) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995;
  • “responsible chief officer of police” means—in relation to fingerprints or samples taken by a constable of the Ministry of Defence Police, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police;in relation to fingerprints or samples taken by a constable of the British Transport Police Force, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police Force;in relation to fingerprints or samples taken by a constable who is a National Crime Agency officer, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the Director General of the National Crime Agency;otherwise—in relation to fingerprints or samples taken in England or Wales, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the chief officer of police for the relevant police area;in relation to relevant physical data or samples taken or provided in Scotland, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;in relation to fingerprints or samples taken in Northern Ireland, or a DNA profile derived from a sample so taken, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
  • (2) In the definition of “responsible chief officer of police” in sub-paragraph (1), in paragraph (d)(i), “relevant police area” means the police area—
  • (a) in which the material concerned was taken, or
  • (b) in the case of a DNA profile, in which the sample from which the DNA profile was derived was taken.

Part 5 — Review of detention under section 27

Requirement

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  • (1) A person’s detention must be periodically reviewed by a review officer.
  • (2) The first review must be carried out as soon as is reasonably practicable after the time of the person’s arrest.
  • (3) Subsequent reviews must be carried out at intervals of not more than 12 hours.

This is subject to paragraph 30.

  • (4) A person’s detention may not be reviewed after a warrant has been issued under Part 6 of this Schedule extending the detention period.

Postponement

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  • (1) A review may be postponed if, at the latest time at which it may be carried out in accordance with paragraph 29—
  • (a) the detained person is being questioned by a constable and the review officer is satisfied that an interruption of the questioning to carry out the review would prejudice the investigation in connection with which the person is being detained,
  • (b) no review officer is readily available, or
  • (c) it is not practicable for any other reason to carry out the review.
  • (2) Where a review is postponed it must be carried out as soon as is reasonably practicable.
  • (3) For the purposes of ascertaining the time within which the next review is to be carried out, a postponed review is to be treated as if it were carried out at the latest time at which it could have been carried out in accordance with paragraph 29.

Grounds for continued detention

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  • (1) A review officer may authorise a person’s continued detention only if satisfied that it is necessary—
  • (a) to obtain relevant evidence, whether by questioning the person or otherwise,
  • (b) to preserve relevant evidence,
  • (c) pending the result of an examination or analysis of any relevant evidence,
  • (d) pending the result of any examination or analysis which is being carried out, or which is to be carried out, with a view to obtaining relevant evidence,
  • (e) pending a decision whether to apply to the Secretary of State for a deportation notice to be served on the person,
  • (f) pending the making of an application to the Secretary of State for a deportation notice to be served on the person,
  • (g) pending consideration by the Secretary of State of whether to serve a deportation notice on the person, or
  • (h) pending a decision as to whether the person should be charged with an offence.
  • (2) The review officer may not authorise continued detention by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(a) to (d) unless satisfied that the investigation in connection with which the person is detained is being conducted diligently and expeditiously.
  • (3) The review officer may not authorise continued detention by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(e) to (h) unless satisfied that the process pending the completion of which detention is necessary is being conducted diligently and expeditiously.
  • (4) In this paragraph “relevant evidence” means evidence which relates to the detained person’s involvement in foreign power threat activity.
  • (5) In sub-paragraph (1) “deportation notice” means notice of a decision to make a deportation order under the Immigration Act 1971.

Review officer

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  • (1) The review officer must be an officer who has not been directly involved in the investigation in connection with which the person is detained.
  • (2) In the case of a review carried out within the period of 24 hours beginning with the time of arrest, the review officer must be an officer of at least the rank of inspector.
  • (3) In the case of any other review, the review officer must be an officer of at least the rank of superintendent.
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  • (a) the review officer is of a rank lower than superintendent,
  • (b) an officer of higher rank than the review officer gives directions relating to the detained person, and
  • (c) those directions are at variance with the performance by the review officer of a duty imposed on the review officer under this Schedule.
  • (2) The review officer must refer the matter at once to an officer of at least the rank of superintendent.

Representations

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  • (1) Before determining whether to authorise a person’s continued detention, a review officer must give either of the following persons an opportunity to make representations about the detention—
  • (a) the detained person, or
  • (b) a solicitor representing the detained person who is available at the time of the review.
  • (2) Representations may be oral or written.
  • (3) A review officer may refuse to hear oral representations from the detained person if the officer considers that the person is unfit to make representations because of the person’s condition or behaviour.

Rights

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  • (1) A review officer who authorises continued detention must inform the detained person—
  • (a) of any rights under paragraphs 6 and 7 which the person has not yet exercised, and
  • (b) of any delay to the exercise of any of the person’s rights which has been authorised in accordance with paragraph 9.
  • (2) Where a review of a person’s detention is being carried out at a time when the person’s exercise of a right under paragraph 6 or 7 is being delayed, the review officer must—
  • (a) consider whether the reason or reasons for which the delay was authorised continue to apply, and
  • (b) if, in the review officer’s opinion, the reason or reasons have ceased to apply, inform the officer who authorised the delay of that opinion (unless the delay was authorised by the review officer).
  • (4) Article 8(1) of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9)) (requirement to bring an accused person before the court after arrest) does not apply in relation to a detained person.

Record

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  • (1) A review officer carrying out a review must make a written record of the outcome of the review and of any of the following which apply—
  • (a) the grounds upon which continued detention is authorised,
  • (b) the reason for postponing the review,
  • (c) the fact that the detained person has been informed as required under paragraph 35(1),
  • (f) the fact that the detained person is being detained by virtue of section 27(6) or (7).
  • (2) The review officer must—
  • (a) make the record in the presence of the detained person, and
  • (b) inform the detained person at that time whether the review officer is authorising continued detention, and if so, of the grounds for such authorisation.
  • (3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply where, at the time when the record is made, the detained person is—
  • (a) incapable of understanding what is said to them,
  • (b) violent or likely to become violent, or
  • (c) in urgent need of medical attention.

Part 6 — Extension of detention under section 27

Warrants of further detention

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  • (1) Each of the following—
  • (a) in England and Wales, a Crown Prosecutor,
  • (b) in Scotland, the Lord Advocate or a procurator fiscal,
  • (c) in Northern Ireland, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,
  • (d) in any part of the United Kingdom, a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent,

may apply to a judicial authority for the issue of a warrant of further detention in relation to a person.

  • (2) A warrant of further detention is a warrant—
  • (a) authorising the further detention under section 27 of a person for the specified period, and
  • (b) stating the time at which it is issued.
  • (4) A judicial authority may issue a warrant of further detention in relation to a person which specifies a shorter period as the period for which the person’s further detention is authorised if—
  • (a) the application for the warrant is an application for a warrant specifying a shorter period, or
  • (b) the judicial authority is satisfied that there are circumstances that would make it inappropriate for the specified period to be as long as the period of 7 days mentioned in sub-paragraph (3).
  • (5) In this Part “judicial authority” means—
  • (a) in England and Wales, a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) who is designated for the purpose of this Part by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales,
  • (b) in Scotland, a sheriff, and
  • (c) in Northern Ireland, a district judge (magistrates’ courts) in Northern Ireland who is designated for the purpose of this Part by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
  • (6) The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise the functions under sub-paragraph (5)(a).
  • (7) The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland may nominate any of the following to exercise the functions under sub-paragraph (5)(c)—
  • (a) the holder of one of the offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002;
  • (b) a Lord Justice of Appeal (as defined in section 88 of that Act).

Time limit

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  • (1) An application for a warrant must be made—
  • (b) within 6 hours of the end of that period.
  • (2) The judicial authority hearing an application made by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must dismiss the application if it considers that it would have been reasonably practicable to make it during the period mentioned in section 27(3).
  • (3) For the purposes of this Schedule, an application for a warrant is made when written or oral notice of an intention to make the application is given to a judicial authority.

Notice

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An application for a warrant of further detention may not be heard unless the person to whom it relates has been given a notice stating—

  • (a) that the application has been made,
  • (b) the time at which the application was made,
  • (c) the time at which it is to be heard, and
  • (d) the grounds upon which further detention is sought.

Grounds for extension

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  • (1) A judicial authority may issue a warrant of further detention only if satisfied that—
  • (a) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the further detention of the person to whom the application relates is necessary as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), and
  • (b) the investigation in connection with which the person is detained is being conducted diligently and expeditiously.
  • (2) The further detention of a person is necessary as mentioned in this sub-paragraph if it is necessary—
  • (a) to obtain relevant evidence whether by questioning the person or otherwise,
  • (b) to preserve relevant evidence,
  • (c) pending the result of an examination or analysis of any relevant evidence, or
  • (d) pending the examination or analysis of anything which is being carried out, or is to be carried out, with a view to obtaining relevant evidence.
  • (3) In this paragraph “relevant evidence” means, in relation to the person to whom the application relates, evidence which relates to the person’s involvement in foreign power threat activity.

Representation

41
  • (1) The person to whom an application relates—
  • (a) must be given an opportunity to make oral or written representations to the judicial authority about the application, and
  • (b) subject to sub-paragraph (3), is entitled to be legally represented at the hearing.
  • (2) A judicial authority must adjourn the hearing of an application to enable the person to whom the application relates to obtain legal representation where—
  • (a) the person is not legally represented,
  • (b) the person is entitled to be legally represented, and
  • (c) the person wishes to be so represented.
  • (3) A judicial authority may exclude any of the following persons from any part of the hearing—
  • (a) the person to whom the application relates;
  • (b) anyone representing that person.
  • (4) A judicial authority may, after giving an opportunity for representations to be made by or on behalf of the applicant and the person to whom the application relates, direct—
  • (a) that the hearing of the application must be conducted, and
  • (b) that all representations by or on behalf of a person for the purposes of the hearing must be made,

by such means (whether a live television link or other means) falling within sub-paragraph (5) as may be specified in the direction and not in the presence (apart from by those means) of the applicant, of the person to whom the application relates or of any legal representative of that person.

  • (5) A means of conducting the hearing and of making representations falls within this sub-paragraph if it allows the person to whom the application relates and any legal representative of that person (without being present at the hearing and to the extent that they are not excluded from it under sub-paragraph (3))—
  • (a) to see and hear the judicial authority and the making of representations to it by other persons, and
  • (b) to be seen and heard by the judicial authority.
  • (6) If the person to whom the application relates wishes to make representations about whether a direction should be given under sub-paragraph (4), the person must do so by using the facilities that will be used if the judicial authority decides to give a direction under that sub-paragraph.
  • (7) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to the hearing of representations about whether a direction should be given under sub-paragraph (4) in the case of any application as it applies to a hearing of the application.
  • (8) A judicial authority may not give a direction under sub-paragraph (4) unless—
  • (a) it has been notified by the Secretary of State that facilities are available at the place where the person to whom the application relates is held for the judicial authority to conduct a hearing by means falling within sub-paragraph (5), and
  • (b) that notification has not been withdrawn.
  • (9) If in a case where it has power to do so a judicial authority decides not to give a direction under sub-paragraph (4), it shall state its reasons for not giving it.

Information

42
  • (1) A person who has made an application for a warrant may apply to the judicial authority for an order that specified information upon which the person intends to rely be withheld from—
  • (a) the person to whom the application relates, and
  • (b) anyone representing the person.
  • (2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a judicial authority may make an order under sub-paragraph (1) in relation to specified information only if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that if the information were disclosed—
  • (a) evidence of an offence under any of the provisions mentioned in section 33(3)(a) would be interfered with or harmed,
  • (b) evidence of an offence under section 18 would be interfered with or harmed,
  • (c) the recovery of property obtained as a result of an offence under any of those provisions would be hindered,
  • (d) the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who is suspected of being involved in foreign power threat activity would be made more difficult as a result of the person being alerted,
  • (e) the prevention of foreign power threat activity would be made more difficult as a result of a person being alerted,
  • (f) the gathering of information about the commission, preparation or instigation of foreign power threat activity would be interfered with, or
  • (g) a person would be interfered with or physically injured.
  • (3) A judicial authority may also make an order under sub-paragraph (1) in relation to specified information if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that—
  • (a) the detained person has benefited from their criminal conduct, and
  • (b) the recovery of the value of the property constituting the benefit would be hindered if the information were disclosed.
  • (4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) the question whether a person has benefited from their criminal conduct is to be decided in accordance with Part 2, 3 or 4 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
  • (5) The judicial authority may direct that the following be excluded from the hearing of the application under this paragraph—
  • (a) the person to whom the application for a warrant relates, and
  • (b) anyone representing that person.

Adjournments

43
  • (1) A judicial authority may adjourn the hearing of an application for a warrant only if the hearing is adjourned to a date before the expiry of the period mentioned in section 27(3).

Extensions of warrants

44
  • (1) Each of the following—
  • (a) in England and Wales, a Crown Prosecutor,
  • (b) in Scotland, the Lord Advocate or a procurator fiscal,
  • (c) in Northern Ireland, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,
  • (d) in any part of the United Kingdom, a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent,

may apply for the extension or further extension of the period specified in a warrant of further detention.

  • (2) The person to whom an application under sub-paragraph (1) may be made is a judicial authority.
  • (3) Where the period specified is extended, the warrant must be endorsed with a note stating the new specified period.
  • (4) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), the period by which the specified period is extended or further extended is the period which—
  • (b) ends with whichever is the earlier of—
  • (i) the end of the period of 7 days beginning with that time, and
  • (ii) the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the time of the arrest of the person to which the warrant relates.
  • (a) in the case of a warrant specifying a period which has not previously been extended under this paragraph, the end of the period specified in the warrant, and
  • (b) in any other case, the end of the period for which the period specified in the warrant was last extended under this paragraph.
  • (6) A judicial authority may extend or further extend the period specified in a warrant by a shorter period than is required by sub-paragraph (4) if—
  • (a) the application for the extension is an application for an extension by a period that is shorter than is so required, or
  • (b) the judicial authority is satisfied that there are circumstances that would make it inappropriate for the period of the extension to be as long as the period so required.
  • (8) A judicial authority may adjourn the hearing of an application under sub-paragraph (1) only if the hearing is adjourned to a date before the expiry of the period specified in the warrant.

Detention - conditions

45
  • (b) the detention is not authorised by virtue of section 27(6) or (7) or otherwise apart from the warrant.
  • (2) If, at any time, it appears to the police officer or other person in charge of the detained person’s case (“the officer in charge”) that any of the matters mentioned in paragraph 40(1)(a) and (b) on which the judicial authority last authorised the person’s further detention no longer apply, the officer in charge must—
  • (a) if the officer in charge has custody of the detained person, release the person immediately, and
  • (b) if the officer in charge does not, immediately inform the person who does have custody of the detained person that those matters no longer apply in the detained person’s case.
  • (3) A person with custody of the detained person who is informed in accordance with this paragraph that those matters no longer apply must release the detained person immediately.

Part 7 — Emergency power when Parliament dissolved etc. for temporary extension of maximum period for detention under section 27

46
  • (1) The Secretary of State may make temporary extension regulations if—
  • (a) either—
  • (i) Parliament is dissolved, or
  • (ii) Parliament has met after a dissolution but the first King’s Speech of the Parliament has not yet taken place, and
  • (b) the Secretary of State considers that it is necessary by reason of urgency to make such regulations.
  • (2) Temporary extension regulations are regulations which provide, in relation to the period of three months beginning with the coming into force of the regulations, for paragraphs 44 and 45 to be read as if—

This is subject to sub-paragraphs (1A) to (1I).

,

(1A) Sub-paragraph (1B) applies in relation to any proposed application under sub-paragraph (1) for the further extension of the period specified in a warrant of further detention where the grant (otherwise than in accordance with sub-paragraph (6)(b)) of the application would extend the specified period such that it ends at a time that is more than 14 days after the time of the arrest of the person to whom the warrant relates. (1B) No person may make such an application— (a) in England and Wales, without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, (b) in Scotland, without the consent of the Lord Advocate, and (c) in Northern Ireland, without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, unless the person making the application is the person whose consent is required. (1C) The Director of Public Prosecutions must exercise personally any function under sub-paragraph (1B) of giving consent. (1D) The only exception is if— (a) the Director is unavailable, and (b) there is another person who is designated in writing by the Director acting personally as the person who is authorised to exercise any such function when the Director is unavailable. (1E) In that case— (a) the other person may exercise the function but must do so personally, and (b) the Director acting personally— (i) must review the exercise of the function as soon as practicable, and (ii) may revoke any consent given. (1F) Where the consent is so revoked after an application has been made or extension granted, the application is to be dismissed or (as the case may be) the extension is to be revoked. (1G) Sub-paragraphs (1C) to (1F) apply instead of any other provisions which would otherwise have enabled any function of the Director of Public Prosecutions under sub-paragraph (1B) of giving consent to be exercised by a person other than the Director. (1H) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland must exercise personally any function under sub-paragraph (1B) of giving consent unless the function is exercised personally by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland by virtue of section 30(4) or (7) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (powers of Deputy Director to exercise functions of Director). (1I) Sub-paragraph (1H) applies instead of section 36 of the Act of 2002 (delegation of the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland to persons other than the Deputy Director) in relation to the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland under, or (as the case may be) by virtue of, sub-paragraph (1B) above of giving consent.

,

— (a) in the case of an application falling within sub-paragraph (2A), a judicial authority, and (b) in any other case, a senior judge

,

(2A) An application for the extension or further extension of a period falls within this sub-paragraph if— (a) the grant of the application otherwise than in accordance with sub-paragraph (6)(b) would extend that period such that it ends at a time that is no more than 14 days after the time of the arrest of the person to whom the warrant relates, and (b) no application has previously been made to a senior judge in respect of that period.

,

  • (e) the insertion, after “judicial authority” in both places in sub-paragraph (6) where it appears, of “or senior judge”,

but, in relation to an application made by virtue of sub-paragraph (2)(b) to a senior judge, as if— (a) references to a judicial authority were references to a senior judge, and (b) references to the judicial authority in question were references to the senior judge in question

,

  • (g) the insertion, after “judicial authority” in sub-paragraph (8), of “or senior judge”, and

(10) In this paragraph and paragraph 45 “senior judge” means a judge of the High Court or of the High Court of Justiciary.

  • (5) Temporary extension regulations apply, except so far as the regulations provide otherwise, to any person who is being detained under section 27 when the regulations come into force (as well as any person who is subsequently detained under that section).

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