Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Frew on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Frew
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 15 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5614826
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Member makes a really good point. That is why we need to do more of it and more extensively in order to save more victims and get more child perpetrators away from reoffending, crime and organised crime gangs. We do justice differently for young people and children than we do for adults, and that has been the case for a long time. That is why we do not send children to prison. That is why we have youth courts and restorative justice for children. That is why we have diversionary tactics and programmes for children. We already do that, and we need to make sure that, at the age of 10, 11, 12 and 13, children can avail themselves of those programmes. That is important. If we pass this today, those children will not be able to avail themselves of a system that is already tried and tested and works to some effect. I worry that we have done this about-face. We should have the frameworks in place with end-to-end pathways, whatever that means, and with specific protocols, whatever that means, to do away with harmful behaviour, whatever that means, before we tackle the age of criminal responsibility. We have got it the wrong way round, and that is why it is so important to take stock, take a beat and consider what we are going to do tonight. It is really important that people address the two issues that I have raised. How do you plead to a lesser charge if you cannot be convicted of that lesser charge in a court? That is fundamental to our court system. No one has been able to make an intervention tonight that solves that issue. Does a child have the right to plead to a lesser charge that is not listed in the amendments, or does that child walk from court? There is also the issue of the PPANI arrangements. When a child aged 12, 13 or 14 commits a sexual activity — we are not sure yet whether it is a crime or an offence —
I will give way in a minute, Minister. — will that be recorded and will they fit into the PPANI arrangements? That is a fundamental question that we need to assure ourselves of before we walk into a Lobby. I will give way to the Minister.
393 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.06 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.95).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.03 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.04 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.04 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.95 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.88 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.09 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.03 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:56 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
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