Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland appointed

Justice Minister, Naomi Long has today announced the appointment of Geraldine Hanna as the Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland.

The appointment was made following an open competition and Geraldine will take up office on 13 June 2022 for a term of three years with the potential for an extension of up to one year.

Naomi Long said “The Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate is a new and important role that will give all victims of crime a voice, promoting their rights under the Victim Charter, raising their issues with Government and criminal justice organisations, as well as driving forward systemic improvements for victims of crime and contributing to a more cohesive, coordinated and victim centred criminal justice system.

“I would like to congratulate Geraldine on her appointment.  This new Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate role will be challenging, but I am confident that it will strengthen and enhance existing provision to support victims of crime and will help to put the victims’ needs and interests where they should be.

“I know that Geraldine’s extensive experience and skills in working with victims of crime will be invaluable in her new role and I wish her every success.”

Notes to editors: 

1.  The Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate is a new post established to:

• provide a voice for all victims of crime;
• identify, promote, encourage and issue guidance on good practice;
• review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice;
• review the operation and delivery of Charter entitlements and promotion of the Victim Charter

• direct complaints and monitor outcomes;

• advise and make recommendations; and
• undertake or commission research.

2.  The public appointment process was carried out in the spirit of the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.

3. The Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate is a full time post for a 3 year period, with a potential extension for a further 1 year.  The time commitment for the post is 5 days per week and the remuneration for the position is equivalent to the entry point of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) Grade 5 scale (£74,912) which will be subject to review annually in line with the overall value of the annual SCS pay award on the basis of satisfactory performance.  The post is pensionable.
 

4.  Pen Picture
Geraldine Hanna has been the Chief Executive of Victim Support NI since 2015. Victim Support NI is the lead charity providing support to victims and witnesses of all types of crime across Northern Ireland.
 

5.  Geraldine has over 21 years’ experience in the victims’ sector working in both London and Northern Ireland.  She was instrumental in the expansion of Victim Support NI’s Witness Service to all criminal courts across Northern Ireland and introducing the role of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates for adults and children to the region. She has supported the development of key initiatives to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime including the Victim and Witness Charters, the introduction of Registered Intermediaries and Sexual Offence Legal Advisers. Geraldine has presented widely on the impact of crime and the criminal justice system on victims and has been a member of advisory panels to numerous reviews of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland including the Gillen review of sexual violence and the Hate Crime Review led by HHJ Marrinan.
 
Geraldine has championed the rights of victims across Europe for many years as a member of the Board of Victim Support Europe and was appointed to the role of President in May 2021. She holds a BSc in Sociology and Masters in Business Administration.

6.  Geraldine Hanna does not hold any other public appointments.

7.  The appointment of the Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate is made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.  The appointee has not declared any political activity.

8.  For media enquiries contact the Department of Justice Press Office at press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk

9.  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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