MPs have approved a further two-year extension to rules allowing criminal trials without a jury to take place in Northern Ireland.

Chloe Smith, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Northern Ireland, moved the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2017 in the House of Commons yesterday.

Non-jury trials are available in exceptional circumstances where the administration of justice is at risk of jury tampering, whereby intimidation, violence or the threat of violence against members of a jury could result in a perverse conviction or acquittal.

In 2017 so far, the Director of Public Prosecutions has issued four certificates to allow a non-jury trial to take place.

In 2016, 19 certificates were issued and one was refused.

Ms Smith (pictured), MP for Norwich North, told MPs: “I want to assure honourable members that the Government wish to end the exceptional system of non-jury trials as soon as it is no longer necessary.

“But that should happen only when the circumstances allows, otherwise we risk allowing violence and intimidation to undermine the criminal justice process in Northern Ireland.”