Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a consultation on proposals to improve the experience of services for victims and witnesses of crime.
The Department of Justice is seeking the views of the public as it develops its Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill.
The proposals on which views are sought relate to:
- The establishment of a statutory Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime.
- A provision to compel criminal justice organisations to provide or publish statistical victim information, including evidence of Victim Charter compliance.
- The right to pre-trial independent legal representation for complainants in serious sexual offence cases.
- Enhanced protections relating to disclosure applications in serious sexual offences cases.
The proposed changes will build upon steps already taken by the Department of Justice to improve support services for victims and witnesses of crime, including the introduction of the Sexual Offences Legal Advisers (SOLA) pilot scheme, and the development of Remote Evidence Centres and the Victim and Witness charters.
Launching the consultation, Minister Long said: “Many victims and witnesses come into contact with the criminal justice system every year. Some victims will have positive outcomes and they may feel that justice has been delivered for the harm they have experienced.
“For others, engaging with the system can leave victims feeling that their role is not clear, or that they did not have the opportunity to participate effectively about decisions that affect them.
“That is why my Department is consulting on these important proposals which aim to support victims to have a voice and to engage so that their rights and entitlements within the system are upheld.
“An independent, statutory Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime will bring tangible benefits, by highlighting where change is needed most. I want to hear views from as many people as possible to make sure we get these changes right.”
The closing date for the consultation is 20th February 2025.
You can respond online via Citizenspace https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doj/proposals-for-victims-and-witnesses-bill or alternatively via the Department of Justice website Consultation on proposals for a Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill | Department of Justice
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Justice has already put in place a range of measures to support victims and witnesses; rights and entitlements are enshrined under the Victim Charter and Witness Charter, and the Victim and Witness Strategy sets out priorities and goals to improve the journey and prevent further harm.
- The Victim Charter sets out the entitlements and services that victims of crime in Northern Ireland can expect to receive from a range of service providers. It was placed on a statutory footing in late 2015.
- The Witness Charter sets out the standards of care and entitlements you can expect if you are a witness to a crime in Northern Ireland. The services and measures provided under the Charter are free of charge to witnesses. The Charter sets out the provisions for both prosecution witnesses, who give evidence for the prosecution, and defence witness who give evidence for the defence.
- Geraldine Hanna was appointed Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime for Northern Ireland in March 2022. The post responsibilities include providing a voice for all victims of crime, directing complaints and monitoring outcomes, and reviewing the operation and delivery of Charter entitlements and promotion of the Victim Charter.
- The Adult SOLA scheme was launched as a pilot in April 2021 and provides free, independent legal advice and advocacy to adult complainants in serious sexual offence cases up to the point of trial.
- Remote Evidence Centres enable vulnerable or intimidated victims and witnesses to provide their evidence to the court, using live link video technology.
- It is anticipated the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill will also include two provisions in relation to hate crime: for victims of hate crime to be automatically considered for special measures in court; and for the prohibition of in-person cross-examination when defendants are representing themselves in court. The Department of Justice has previously consulted on these provisions and therefore they are not included within the scope of this consultation paper.
- The Department of Justice is also planning a new Victim and Witness Strategy 2025 – 2030 and aims to issue a full public consultation in Spring 2025.
- For media enquiries contact the Department of Justice Press Office at press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted out of hours on 028 9037 8110.
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