Debate contribution: Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill: Extension of Committee Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Paul Frew on 21 September 2026.

MLA

Mr Paul Frew

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

21 September 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill: Extension of Committee Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5742017

Read the official Assembly record

Text

As Chairperson of the Committee for Justice, I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion and set out the Committee's position in seeking this extension, which is until 22 January 2027. As I have done previously, I begin by placing on record the Committee's thanks to the Minister and her officials for their engagement to date on the Bill. The Bill establishes a statutory commissioner for victims and witnesses of crime and introduces special measures in cases aggravated by hostility and measures to protect complainants in proceedings for serious sexual offences. The Bill was introduced on 22 June, and the Committee's engagement began in advance of that. We received a pre-legislative briefing in October 2025, during which officials outlined the provisions in the draft Bill. The Committee has also considered the victims and witnesses of crime strategy during this mandate and most recently received a briefing from officials in February 2026. The officials outlined the link between the strategy and the Bill, and it is good to see themes and objectives in that work borne out in the Bill. Part 1, which contains 23 clauses, deals with putting the commissioner on a statutory footing. These are technical and detailed provisions about the commissioner's function and powers that set out how the commissioner will interact with other bodies to best deliver for victims and witnesses of crime. I have previously spoken about the importance of the work of the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime, with whom the Committee has had good engagement throughout the mandate. Indeed, the commissioner designate will give evidence to the Committee tomorrow on the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill. I suspect that every Member in the Chamber has heard about the importance of making sure that the justice system is victim-focused. The role of the commissioner will be of huge importance in that regard. The Committee has heard from the commissioner designate and departmental officials about the difference that can be made by placing the office on a statutory footing and about the powers that will enable the commissioner to better advocate for victims. It is therefore important that we get that aspect of the legislation right so that it benefits victims and witnesses and they can see the tangible benefits associated with the commissioner role. The call for evidence on the Bill is live, and responses are still coming in. Submissions received so far indicate a particular interest in Part 2, which may contain only four clauses, but those clauses have the potential to be hugely important in providing further protections for victims and witnesses. Judge Marrinan's review of hate crime legislation highlighted serious concerns that victims might be discouraged from giving evidence if special measures were not considered. As well as providing for special measures in crime aggravated by hostility, Part 2 includes provisions that prohibit anyone charged with offences under the new statutory aggravation model from personally cross-examining the victim. The Committee is scrutinising the sentencing Bill, which introduces the aggravator model, and it is fair to say that there has been a good deal of discussion on that aspect. The Bill also reflects recommendations from the Gillen review, with clause 26 containing measures to protect complainants in cases of serious sexual assaults. The Bill will allow complainants in such cases to make oral or written representations, to be legally represented and to attend hearings concerning applications to disclose their sensitive personal material. We, as a Committee, will undoubtedly welcome those provisions and the extra support for those most vulnerable of victims. We also have to ensure that the right balance is struck between the need for privacy and not to re-traumatise victims and the right of defendants to a fair trial. Overall, the measures in the Bill aim to give victims and witnesses greater confidence and protection when engaging with the criminal justice system. The Bill must deliver for victims and witnesses of crime; people who, through no fault of their own, have had what are often traumatic and horrific experiences. It is therefore vital that the Committee properly scrutinise the Bill's intention and outworkings. I have said previously in the Chamber that the Committee recognises the importance of giving legislation priority and that we need to be effective and efficient in the work that we carry out. Our scrutiny must be robust. In order to do that, the Committee needs time, which, as we all know, is at a premium as we approach the end of the mandate. I recognise the concerns about the amount of legislation that will be compressed into a very small time in the latter stages of the mandate. However, as I mentioned earlier, the Committee is undertaking scrutiny of the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill, which is complex, detailed and impactful legislation. In order to make both pieces of legislation as good as they can be, we have to balance our work. The Committee will only just have completed hearing evidence on the Sentencing Bill and will be undertaking our detailed deliberations on that Bill as we go straight into oral evidence on the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. We expect to meet twice a week over the coming months in order to manage the legislation that we have before us. The Committee has also agreed to return earlier than it normally would after the Christmas recess to make sure that we meet the timescale that I am proposing today. It is a tight timescale, and, with another Bill in front of us and the normal and important work of the Committee continuing unabated, it is ambitious. However, the Committee is focused on delivering. We will, of course, try to complete the work as quickly as possible. If we are satisfied that our work is completed and if it is possible to do so, we will report early. However, we need to make sure that we have the time to properly scrutinise this important legislation, so the Committee believes that the extension is proportionate and necessary and that it affords us the best chance of doing so. Therefore, on behalf of the Committee for Justice, I ask Members to support the extension of the Committee Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill to 22 January 2027.

1,044 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:26 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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