Justice Minister Naomi Long seeks views on proposals to divert some offences away from courts
Date published:
Views are being sought on whether the PSNI and PPS should be given additional powers to deal with a range of offences outside the traditional court process.
Proposals for out-of-court disposals are designed to offer a timely and proportionate response to a range of offending behaviours.
This in turn enhances the capacity and resources dedicated to managing more serious cases – speeding up justice for all.
Launching the consultation, Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “Our criminal justice system continues to be under significant pressure; there are still significant backlogs in our courts, and cases are taking too long.
Tackling delay has been a longstanding priority for my Department and our partners in the criminal justice system but it is a complex issue and not one that is unique to Northern Ireland.
The benefits of dealing with cases more quickly through the use of out-of-court disposals, where appropriate, are well recognised and can deliver swift and effective justice which can help to deter future offending.
This isn’t about letting offenders off the hook, but delivering punishments in the most appropriate way and maximising court capacity to deal with the most serious cases quicker.
The proposals outlined in the consultation paper provide us with the opportunity to re-balance our system by finding better, more efficient ways of dealing with low-level offending.
The Department of Justice would like to hear from members of the public, community and voluntary organisations and anyone else with an interest in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
The consultation, which is open until 28 September, can be accessed at the Publication Section of this website .
Notes to editors:
- Out-of-court disposals are measures used to resolve some criminal offenses without the need for a formal court trial. These disposals aim to provide a more efficient and proportionate response to some offending.
- For media enquiries please contact DoJ Press Office via email.
- 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.