Clause 33 - Discontinuance of proceedings before court appearance
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Peter Pike (Burnley, Labour)
I remind the Committee that with this we are considering the following: Amendment No. 177, in page 20, line 8, at end insert—
'(2A) Where proceedings against a person in relation to an offence are discontinued under subsection (1), the Director must give reasons for the discontinuance of proceedings to those persons listed under subsection (2), unless in the Director's judgement to do so would be against the interest of justice or the public interest.'.
New clause 2— Provision of reasons not to institute or continue proceedings—
'(1) Where the Director decides not to institute proceedings against a person or discontinues such proceedings he shall provide the Attorney General with reasons for his decision.
(2) The Attorney General shall, if requested by a person properly connected to the matter, provide a copy of those reasons to that person unless to do so would be against the interests of justice or the public interest.'.