Debate contribution: Courts: Good-character References
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Courts: Good-character References
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5795807
Read the official Assembly record
Text
You will be aware that, on 8 October, my Department launched its consultation on good-character references at sentencing in criminal proceedings, which will run until Thursday 3 December 2026. If the Department can identify a straightforward legislative approach to introducing reform based on the feedback to that consultation, it is my intention to take that forward during the current Assembly mandate, subject to Executive approval and Assembly time. Any legislative changes will require careful policy development to ensure that they comply with ECHR rights, including the article 6 rights of the defendant. Any remaining issues, including the framework governing character references at trial, will be taken forward in the review of sentencing policy. In the meantime, I again strongly urge everyone to exercise personal responsibility when it comes to providing character references for use by a court.
137 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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