Debate contribution: Criminal Justice System: Failure to Transform

Debate contribution by Miss Deirdre Hargey on 6 October 2025.

MLA

Miss Deirdre Hargey

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

6 October 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Criminal Justice System: Failure to Transform

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5157485

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Sinn Féin believes in a justice system that works for all in a timely manner and that is human rights-compliant and, importantly, victim-centred. We also believe in effective rehabilitation in order to build healthy and safe communities, where reoffending and crime are reduced. Our engagement at a constituency level and our work on the Justice Committee show that many people in our communities believe that the justice system is too slow in delivering fairness, timeliness or accountability. That undoubtedly impacts on public confidence. We all have a duty to address that issue collectively in the Chamber and outside it. The CJI report last November was timely, as the Justice Committee had been looking at those issues and raising concerns around delays in the system, the impact of that on victims and witnesses and, of course, the ongoing dispute around legal aid. It is important to restate, however, that the report also recognised that, with the transfer of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, it also:

"inherited a criminal justice system that already had historic significant areas for improvement".

Those included delays, access to justice, rehabilitation and the impact on victims and witnesses. At that time, the transfer was not matched with the adequate resources to tackle those historical gaps that were left under direct rule. It is also concerning that, as the report laid out, we have seen limited improvements in performance and, more importantly, little or no improvement in the experience of victims, witnesses or front-line staff. Those areas must be a priority, and we want to work with the Minister to address them. I know that she is bringing legislation forward in this mandate in that area. The report rightly highlights long police investigations, slow decision-making by the PPS, cases arriving in court that are not ready to proceed and continued issues around legal aid. Those issues are not new. They have been raised time and again by the legal profession and, more importantly, by victims and families. We have seen the development of a number of strategies since 2010, but the report, rightly, highlights that, despite those changes, change has often been slow. Despite areas of investment, outcomes have been static. That needs to change. The real concern with all that is a lack of joined-up thinking or a clear coherent strategy and, importantly, an agreed strategic vision. We know that CJI gave the Department six months to allow for the development of a shared future vision. The Committee has been asking for updates on that. I am keen to hear from the Minister about a timeline for the publication of that vision. As others stated earlier, a lot of that work includes recognising the importance of cross-departmental working, whether it is the Health Department, the Education Department or the Department for Communities. Slippage in any of those areas in relation to housing or access to a social worker further feeds the delay in the justice system.

One of the most concerning issues highlighted in the report is the delay in establishing a proper needs assessment service for victims and witnesses. The consequences of that can be devastating. Not only are victims left re-traumatised by drawn-out, complex processes but there is the knock-on effect of a growing lack of trust in the system. Notwithstanding those challenges, it is important to recognise that last year's CJI report identified areas of improvement and key achievements, such as the reform of youth justice, a reduction in the numbers of children in custody and in the Youth Court and, of course, the importance of investing in data sharing across the agencies. Sinn Féin stands ready to play our part in building a justice system that reflects the values of fairness, equality and accountability. We will work with the Minister and across the Chamber to deliver that. Consistent access to justice, including legal aid, is a core public service, not a privilege. We must ensure that the justice system is properly resourced and that the agreements that are being negotiated with the profession are implemented as soon as possible. Defending the rights of all in the justice system is important, so —

— we are keen to work with the Minister, and —

— I am keen to get the update.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:26 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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