Explanatory note

This Order brings sections 28, 29 and 31 – 35 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c.9) into operation on 1 September 2015.

Sections 28 and 29 relate to a Victim Charter and the meaning of a victim. Section 31 sets out the procedure for issuing a Charter, while section 32 deals with non-compliance with the Charter by a criminal justice agency. Sections 33 sets out who is to be afforded the opportunity to make a victim statement, section 34 provides for making a supplementary statement and section 35 provides that the court must have regard to a victim statement in determining a sentence.