A consultation on the contents of the list of Qualifying Offences as specified under Article 53A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Overview

The Department of Justice (DoJ) is seeking your views on the proposed updates to the list of qualifying offences contained in Article 53A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (PACE NI).

The Qualifying Offences list is a key component of the legislative framework governing the retention of DNA and fingerprints in Northern Ireland, contained within the Justice Bill, that is currently being scrutinised by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

We would encourage everyone with an interest in this matter to read the consultation paper available in the introduction section, which sets out the proposed updates to the qualifying offences list and the reasons for the updates.

Why your views matter

The consultation will allow all stakeholders to comment on the proposed updates to the list of qualifying offences. 

The consultation is particularly relevant to anyone who is involved in, or interested in, the taking and retention of DNA samples and profiles and fingerprints and we would encourage everyone with an interest to submit a response.