Explanatory note

These Rules amend the Prison and Young Offenders Centre Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995 (“the principal rules”).

Rule 2 amends rule 34(1) of the principal rules to remove the illustrative list of prohibited articles which may be confiscated by the governor and clarifies when articles can be confiscated by the governor under rule 34(2).

Article 77 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 inserted sections 34 to 34B into the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (“the 1953 Act”). In consequence, rule 3 inserts a new rule 34A into the principal rules which lists for the purpose of section 34 of the 1953 Act the List C articles which it is an offence to bring, or attempt to bring into a prison intending to give to a prisoner, or intending to come into a prisoner’s possession, or to take out of a prison on a prisoner’s behalf.