Parades Commission

{{Short description|Northern Ireland public body}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox organization | name = Parades Commission | logo = Parades Commission logo.svg | logo_size = 200 | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | nickname = | named_after = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = 1 April 1998 | founder = | founding_location = | extinction =  | merger = | type = Non-departmental public body | vat_id = | registration_id =  | status = | purpose = | professional_title = | headquarters = Andras House <br /> 60 Great Victoria Street <br /> Belfast <br /> BT2 7BB<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://www.paradescommission.org/Contact-Us.aspx |website=Parades Commission}}</ref> | location = | coordinates =  | origins = | region_served = | products = | services = | methods = | fields = | num_members = | num_members_year = | language = | owner =  | secretary_general =  | leader_title = Chair | leader_name = Anne Henderson | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = 13 (2024/25)<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Ireland Parades Commission Annual Report |url=https://www.paradescommission.org/getmedia/9c1b42a4-f416-4b8b-9a01-905c01d0a548/NorthernIrelandParadesCommission.aspx |website=Northern Ireland Parades Commission |access-date=29 November 2025}}</ref>{{rp|28}} | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | website = {{Official URL}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = | bodystyle = }} {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998{{efn|Section 19(1).}} | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | 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. | year = 1998 | citation = 1998 c. 2 | territorial_extent = Northern Ireland{{efn|Section 19(5).}} | royal_assent = 16 February 1998 | commencement = 2 March 1998{{efn|Section 19(2)–(4). The Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Commencement) Order 1998.}} | repeal_date = | amends = {{ubli|House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975}} | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = Amended | original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/2/contents/enacted | revised_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/2/contents | use_new_UK-LEG = yes | UK-LEG_title = Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 | collapsed = yes }}

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 '''{{visible anchor|Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998}}''' (c. 2).<ref>{{Cite legislation UK | type = act | year = 1998 | chapter = 2 | number = | act = Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 }}</ref>

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|date=April 2011}} 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|date=December 2021}}

==Commissioners== As of April 2021, the commissioners are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paradescommission.org/About-Us/Commission.aspx|title=Commission - Northern Ireland Parades Commission|website=www.paradescommission.org|access-date=2021-04-09}}</ref>

*Graham Forbes (chair) *Joelle Black *Derek Wilson *Marian Cree *Eimear McAllister *Billy Gamble

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}}

Category:Quasi-judicial bodies Category:Orange Order Category:The Troubles (Northern Ireland) Category:Northern Ireland peace process Category:1998 establishments in Northern Ireland Category:Northern Ireland Office Category:Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government Category:Organizations established in 1998 Category:Freedom of assembly