Criminal Justice (No. 2) Bill 1997

Public bill · Government · Presented

Would create a new offence of possessing drugs worth at least £10,000 for supply, with a minimum 10-year prison term except in exceptional circumstances, and strengthen the confiscation of drug-trafficking profits. It would also streamline criminal trials by ending preliminary examinations, set rules for guilty pleas and evidence certificates, protect intimidated and relocated witnesses, make threatening witnesses or jurors an offence, update extradition procedures, allow prisoners to be arrested for investigating other offences, and abolish the “year and a day” limit for linking an act to a later death.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to create a new drug offence, to amend the law relating to proceedings in criminal matters, to amend the law relating to enforcement of penalties against drug traffickers, to establish rules relating to the sentencing of persons who have entered guilty pleas, to provide for evidence by certificate in relation to exhibits, to amend the law relating to the certification, for extradition purposes, of certain offences under the law of Northern Ireland and Scotland, and to provide for other related matters

Last updated 20 November 2019