Justice Bill
Clause 17: Removal of powers to remand or commit a child to custody
Clause 17 amends the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 to raise the age limit for being committed to a young offenders centre from 15 to 18 and removes a provision from the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 which allowed a court to detain a child on remand solely for the purpose of obtaining information about them.
Clause 17
Removal of powers to remand or commit a child to custody
17.—(1) In the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968—
(a) in section 2(a)(ii) (detention in young offenders centre of certain persons remanded or committed in custody) for “fifteen” substitute “18”;
(b) in section 5(3)(a) (detention in young offenders centre of persons not less than 16 but under 21 years of age for default) for “sixteen” substitute “18”.
(2) Omit Article 31 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (remand for purpose of obtaining information).