Debate contribution: Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on 30 June 2026.

MLA: Mrs Naomi Long
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 30 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5653436

Text

Thank you. I feel the Member's pain about being in the Chamber too much today. The issue that he raises is one that I raised in my opening remarks. I said that it is a complex area of law, because it weighs the rights of the defendant and the victim. By the way, good character references can be introduced as part of the trial or as part of the sentencing. We are looking at it based on the case law that is available to us. For example, there is case law that says that character references are virtually worthless in cases of rape, and there is other case law to say that, in serious offending, they should carry very little weight. We are looking at whether it is possible, at this stage, for us to do something as an amendment around good character references at sentencing. If we were do anything around good character references during trial, that would require a much more considered approach through engagement with the sector to ensure that the balance of rights was properly struck. We have not ruled out doing that as an amendment, if we are able to find a simple solution.

199 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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