Victim and Witness Experience of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System: 2008/09 – 2016/17 published today

The Department of Justice (DOJ) today published Research and Statistical Bulletin:

31/2017 ‘Victim and Witness Experience of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System: 2008/09 – 2016/17’. The Bulletin is being treated as an Official Statistics Publication.

This bulletin outlines the findings from the latest (6th) sweep of the Northern Ireland Victim and Witness Survey (NIVAWS). The findings from the survey provide a benchmark against which to monitor progress in the area of service delivery to victims and witnesses in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The specific focus of this particular bulletin is to provide a summary of the 2016/17 findings and, in particular, to highlight any significant changes in the findings compared with the 2011/12 survey.  

Research and Statistical Bulletin 31/2017: Victim and Witness Experience of the Criminal Justice System: 2008/09 – 2016/17

The key findings for NIVAWS across the six sweeps of the survey from 2008/09 to 2016/17 are as follows:-

Giving a Statement

Across all sweeps of the survey, the proportion of respondents who reported being satisfied with the way they had been treated while giving their statement to the police has been consistently in excess of 90%.

Information Regarding Case Progression

Compared with the 2011/12, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of respondents who reported that they had been kept informed by a CJS source on how their case was progressing (up from 70% in 2011/12 to 79% in 2016/17);

The proportion of respondents who reported that they had been kept informed by the police increased significantly over the same period (49% in 2011/12 and 56% in 2016/17).

Pre-Trial Court Familiarisation Visit

There has been a consistent year-on-year increase in the proportion of respondents who reported been offered the opportunity of a pre-trial court familiarisation visit (up from 48% in 2011/12 to 59% in 2016/17).

Information Received in Lead up to the Trial

Compared with the 2011/12, there were significant increases in 2016/17 in the proportion of respondents who reported having received enough information on where to go on arrival at court (up from 66% to 81%), who to contact on arrival at court (up from 63% to 73%) and what would happen in court (up from 55% to 65%).

Satisfaction with How Dealt with in Lead up to the Trial

The proportion of respondents who reported being satisfied with the information received prior to the trial date to prepare them for going to court has been consistently high across all six sweeps of the survey, peaking at 89% in 2016/17.

 Attendance at Court

Compared with 2011/12, there was no statistical difference in 2016/17 in the proportion of respondents who reported having to attend court on just the one day (62% in 2011/12; 68% in 2016/17).   

Waiting Time at Court

There has been a consistent year-on-year increase in the proportion of respondents who reported that they had been put in a separate waiting room from the witnesses from the ‘other side’. The 84% of respondents to the 2016/17 survey who reported that this had been their experience represented a significant increase on the 74% of respondents who reported such experience in 2011/12.

The Court Experience

Across all years of the survey, there have been high proportions of respondents reporting that they understood what was happening in court while they were there. The proportions peaked at 94% and 93% in 2013/14 and 2016/17 respectively;

The proportion of respondents who reported being generally satisfied with the consideration shown to them before giving evidence at court, has been consistently high at over 70% across all sweeps of the survey. The proportion satisfied in 2016/17 (93%) was significantly higher than the proportion satisfied five years earlier in 2011/12;

In the 2016/17 survey, all respondents who had met the PPS lawyer before entering the courtroom, felt that he/she had been courteous towards them. The equivalent figures for all other years were also high at over 90%;

By contrast, much lower proportions of respondents who had been cross-examined felt that the barrister for the other side had been courteous towards them (all 50% or under);

Across all years of the survey, the vast majority of respondents who ultimately gave evidence, reported that the magistrate or judge had been courteous towards them (all 84% or higher and peaking at 93% in 2016/17);

The proportion of respondents who reported having given evidence were asked whether they had been dealt with fairly or unfairly whilst giving evidence. The 91% of respondents to the 2016/17 survey who reported that they had been dealt with fairly, represented a significant increase on the 80% of respondents to the 2011/12 survey who expressed this view.

Feelings of Safety

Across all sweeps of the survey, the vast majority of respondents who attended court reported that they had felt safe before going into the court room (all in range 74% to 80%);

Of respondents who ultimately gave evidence in court, the vast majority reported feeling safe while in the courtroom (in range 82% to 92% across all years of the survey; 91% in 2016/17).

Likelihood of Future Engagement with the Criminal Justice System (CJS)

The proportion of victims who suggested that, were they to become the victim of a similar crime again, they would report it to the police, peaked at 85% in 2016/17. Responses to this question have not varied to any great extent across the various sweeps of the survey.

Overall Satisfaction with the Criminal Justice System (CJS)

Having answered a series of questions regarding their specific experiences with various aspects of the criminal justice system, survey respondents were then asked to rate their satisfaction on four more global type indicators. Compared with 2011/12, there were no statistically significant changes in 2016/17 in the proportion of respondents overall who expressed satisfaction on any of the four indicators. The findings were as follows:- 

Information received about the CJS process (69% of respondents satisfied in 2011/12; 72% satisfied in 2016/17);

How well kept informed of the progress of their case (61% satisfied in 2011/12; 64% satisfied in 2016/17);

How well treated by staff in the criminal justice system (83% in both 2011/12 and 2016/17), and

Contact with the CJS (70% satisfied in 2011/12; 72% satisfied in 2016/17).

Analysis of the responses of victims, however, showed that, compared to 2011/12, there was a significant increase in 2016/17 in the proportion of victims satisfied with how well they had been kept informed of the progress of their case (Indicator (ii) above)(up from 57% in 2011/12 to 65% in 2016/17).

Notes to editors: 

1. The Northern Ireland Victim and Witness Survey (NIVAWS) is an interview based survey, conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI).  The survey questionnaire is extensive in scope covering all aspects of the victim and witness experience of the criminal justice system from the point of initial contact with the police at the time of the crime right through to the point of sentencing and beyond. 
2. The survey is administered to approximately 1,000 victims and witnesses involved in criminal cases which closed during the first six months of the calendar year in question.  Thus the 2016/17 survey targeted cases closed during the January to June 2016 period.  Cases involving certain types of crimes are excluded from the survey (e.g. cases involving a fatality or involving sexual or domestic violence, drugs offences, motoring offences and fraud and forgery). In addition expert witnesses (e.g. police officers or other criminal justice officials) are excluded.
3. Official Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.  They are also subject to restrictions in terms of pre-release access. 
4. View the bulletin or alternatively contact Analytical Services Group, Laganside House, Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA (Telephone: 028 9072 4527; Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.x.gsi.gov.uk.
5. Press queries about this publication should be directed to the DOJ Press Office on telephone number 028 9052 6444.

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