Commentary on Sections Part 1, Chapter 3 – Miscellaneous Provision Section 31: Guidance on data collection
This provides that the Department of Justice may issue guidance to relevant bodies about the sort of information which it seeks to obtain from them for the purpose of the assessment by it of the operation of Part 1 of the Act.  It also requires the Department of Justice to have regard to information which it obtains from the relevant bodies in relation to the operation of Part 1 when determining the steps (if any) that could be taken by it for the purpose of ensuring the effectiveness of the operation of legislation around the new offence.  The relevant bodies are the PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service other bodies as the Department considers appropriate.