 | |
| Formation | 1 April 1998 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-departmental public body |
| Headquarters | Andras House 60 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BB [1] |
Chair | Anne Henderson |
| Website | www |
| Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to amend the law relating to public processions in Northern Ireland; to provide for the establishment and functions of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes. |
| Citation | 1998 c. 2 |
| Territorial extent | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 February 1998 |
| Commencement | 2 March 1998 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Parades Commission is a quasi-judicial non-departmental public body responsible for placing restrictions on any parades in Northern Ireland it deems contentious or offensive. It is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Restrictions it can impose include a prohibition on music being played, re-routing parades to avoid contentious areas, or banning certain participants based on previous breaches of its determinations. Its rulings are usually enforced by either parade stewards or the police, though there are disputes as to whether this is done to the letter of the law in certain areas. The commission acts under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 2). [2]
Contents
Parade organisers and participants are liable to arrest and prosecution for breaching any of the commission's rulings, although no-one has been charged since the commission was established in 1998.[ citation needed ] A section 6(7) offence has a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment or level five on the standard scale.
The commission was set up after the large-scale civil strife that followed the Drumcree conflict over an Orange Order parade in Portadown. It has come under strong criticism from the Order. The Grand Lodge of the Order has a policy of non-engagement with the commission, although some private and district lodges, particularly those with contentious parades, have agreed to talk to it.[ citation needed ]
