The Disclosure of Victims’ and Witnesses’ Information (Prescribed Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made: 7th January 2026

Coming into operation: 2nd February 2026

The Department of Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 36 of, and paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 3 to, the Justice Act (Northern Ireland 2015[^f00001] makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Disclosure of Victims’ and Witnesses’ Information (Prescribed Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 and shall come into operation on 2nd February 2026.

Amendment of the Disclosure of Victims’ and Witnesses Information (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

2

The Disclosure of Victims’ and Witnesses’ Information (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015[^f00002] are amended as follows─

• (1) For regulation 3, substitute─

(3) (1) The following bodies are prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 3 to the Act- (a) Victim Support Northern Ireland; and (b) Advocacy Support Safety Information Services Together Northern Ireland, but only in so far as it relates to the provision of advocacy support services by that body. (2) In this regulation, “support services” has the same meaning as in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to the Act.

• (2) For regulation 4, substitute─

(4) (1) The following bodies are prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 3 to the Act─ (a) Victim Support Northern Ireland, (b) the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; and (c) Advocacy Support Safety Information Services Together Northern Ireland, but only in so far as it relates to the provision of advocacy support services by that body. (2) In this regulation, “support services” has the same meaning as in paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 3 to the Act.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 7th January 2026.

Naomi Long — Minister of Justice

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 3 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 makes provision for a police officer or a member of the police support staff to disclose relevant information (as set out in paragraph 1(2)) relating to a victim to a prescribed body for the purposes for enabling that body to advise the victim about support services provided by the body, or to offer or provide support services for the victims.

Paragraph 1(2) defines “support services” as services involving the provision of information, advice, support or any other form of assistance to victims.

These regulations prescribe the following bodies for the purposes of Paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Act:

Victim Support Northern Ireland; and

Advocacy Support Safety Information Services Together Northern Ireland.

Paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 3 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 makes provision for a member of staff of the Public Prosecution Service to disclose relevant information (as set out in paragraph 2(2)), relating to a witness for the prosecution to a prescribed body for the purposes of enabling that body to advise the witness about support services provided by the body, or to offer or provide support services to the witness.

Paragraph 2(2) defines “support services” as services involving the provision of information, advice, support or any other form of assistance to witnesses in criminal proceedings.

These regulations prescribe the following bodies for the purpose of paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act:

• (a) Victim Support Northern Ireland,

• (b) the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; and

• (c) Advocacy Support Safety Information Services Together Northern Ireland.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2015 c.9 (N.I).

[^f00002]: S.R. 2015 No.330 to which recent amendments were made by S.R. 2021 No.173

Editorial notes

[^key-601608060310e952527cbf24a7e9a784]: Reg. 1 in operation at 2.2.2026, see reg. 1

[^key-ae2c21180cc2013cc68972900a7f89ff]: Reg. 2 in operation at 2.2.2026, see reg. 1