Debate contribution: Sentencing: Drug Dealing

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 21 April 2026.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

21 April 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Sentencing: Drug Dealing

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5498099

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to respond to this important motion on drug-related sentencing in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Minister of Justice. The figures quoted in the motion are shocking, and the Minister of Justice is in full agreement that it is a matter of serious concern to see the number of drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland increase so significantly over the 10-year period in question. On behalf of the Justice Minister, I acknowledge the overwhelming impact that drugs can have across society. All too often, lives are blighted, with devastating consequences.

Behind the statistics are lives that did not need to be lost and families left devastated. One drug-related death is one too many. Drug use continues to have a profound impact on people and neighbourhoods. Addressing the harm that arises is an important priority for the Minister of Justice and, indeed, for the wider Executive. The Justice Minister is therefore committed to approaches that combine prevention, support and enforcement, delivered in partnership across sectors. The Minister is understandably focused on the criminal justice response, which includes enforcement of the law and actions aimed at reducing drug-related harm and offending in Northern Ireland. We must, however, be mindful of the fact that there is no easy solution. As is stated in the motion, issues to do with drugs cut across the whole Executive, involving, for example, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, the Department for Communities and the Department of Education. We can succeed in improving outcomes only if we see substance use in that broader context and work collectively to target supplies and educate and raise awareness among young and vulnerable people to prevent them from turning to drugs.

Yes.

I thank the Member for his intervention. It is critical that we have a supportive environment that enables rehabilitation. It is important that we do that across government. While enforcement remains necessary as a means of tackling those who supply drugs, it is clear that a complementary approach is necessary. Such an approach includes focusing on harm reduction, treatment and support for those affected by drug use. The Department of Health leads on the development of a public health intervention to address problematic substance use, but, given the complexities of addressing the underlying social determinants, it is recognised that input from key partners is critical to success, with action required from those in education, safeguarding, criminal justice, housing and employment. That joint responsibility is manifested in the 10-year-old Department of Health-led substance use strategy, which is titled 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery' and was co-produced by Departments, agencies, health professionals, the community and voluntary sector and service users. The strategy has specific outcomes that focus on harm reduction, including drug deaths. As part of that work, the Department of Justice is a member of the Department of Health-led substance use strategy programme board, helping to oversee and drive forward the implementation of the strategy. As for specific actions that contribute to the delivery of the strategy, the justice system is involved in a range of initiatives. Initiatives include promoting and supporting a preventative approach to drug misuse and harm and to vulnerability issues associated with addiction through local interventions delivered through policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs) and support hubs; supporting young people who are referred to youth justice services and their families; developing problem-solving justice approaches, such as the Substance Misuse Court; supporting offenders in the prison environment; and supporting individuals under supervision through a range of targeted Probation Board services. The Department of Justice also supports the organised crime task force (OCTF), which is a unique partnership that supports law enforcement, relevant partners and wider civic society. An example of the work of the OCTF's drugs subgroup is its oversight of the Northern Ireland contribution to Operation Pangaea, which is an annual global Interpol operation to safeguard public health and to disrupt and take down criminal activity relating to the trafficking of illegal pharmaceuticals and medical devices that have been purchased online and distributed via the postal system. The link between paramilitary groups and the illegal drugs trade, as reflected in the amendment, is also well documented. Paramilitary groups are criminal gangs that seek to exert control in communities through drugs, violence and intimidation, exploiting vulnerability for their own financial gain. 'Drug Related Intimidation in Northern Ireland', the report commissioned by the Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime (EPPOC) and published last year, is clear that paramilitary groups are perpetrators of drug-related intimidation in Northern Ireland, are operating as organised crime gangs and are engaged in drug supply and enforcement. We know that organised paramilitary gangs deliberately exploit vulnerable individuals, drawing them into drug use and drug supply, after which they maintain control of them through intimidation, coercion and the threat of harm, including threats related to drug deaths. EPPOC plays a crucial role in addressing the harms caused by paramilitary groups and is leading our preventative effort.

Although law enforcement partners work hard to combat the sale of those illicit substances and remove them from our streets, organised crime groups continue to try to line their own pockets. Those criminals have no regard for individuals or the communities that they purport to protect. We all have a role to play in protecting our communities, and, on behalf of the Justice Minister, I encourage anyone who has any information on that type of criminality to report it to the police. Members will be aware that the Justice Minister is creating two new offences in the Justice Bill to tackle serious and organised crime. The offences, which will be added by amendment at Consideration Stage, are participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and directing the criminal activities of an organised crime group. That legislation is intended to provide law enforcement with a further tool to tackle organised crime and to criminalise those who, at any level, are involved in the commission and undertaking of serious organised crime. It is important that, in any area of criminal law, the offences and penalties available to the judiciary act as an adequate deterrent and properly reflect the harm caused by the offence. In relation to drug supply and possession offences, Members will be aware that drugs misuse policy is a reserved matter, with significant penalties for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, including the possibility of a life sentence for the most serious production and supply offences. Therefore, any changes to classifications and statutory sentencing maxima would require either Westminster legislation or the consent of the Secretary of State if taken forward by an Assembly Bill. It is also important to note that the court will take into account aggravating factors when sentencing offenders for those offences, including where there is evidence of supply to vulnerable persons, including children, as a possible aggravating factor. The Justice Minister is aware of concerns around the adequacy of sentencing in specific cases of drug offences in this jurisdiction and is keenly aware of the Jasmin’s law campaign, which seeks to introduce a statutory aggravating factor that would apply when the court is sentencing someone for a drugs supply offence and it can be proven that they have supplied drugs to a vulnerable person, which has resulted in serious injury or death. The Justice Minister has asked me to commend Pauline Duddy, Jasmin's mother, for her dedication and tireless campaigning on the issue. Minister Long has met Pauline on several occasions and is continually impressed by her tenacious advocacy for victims of drug dealers. I, as Minister, personally thank her today. Furthermore, the Minister of Justice shares her desire to ensure that the sentencing framework available for those offences adequately reflects the severity of the crimes and the impact that they have on the community. Therefore, based on the strength of the Jasmin’s law campaign, Minister Long's review of sentencing policy will consider current sentencing practice in Northern Ireland in relation to drugs misuse offences, and departmental officials are undertaking research to better understand how sentencing is operating. The review will also conduct an assessment of sentencing guidelines mechanisms, including the utility of a sentencing guiding council, as proposed in the amendment tabled today. If the review suggests that changes to current sentencing arrangements may be necessary, any proposals will be subject to public consultation, with a view to informing legislative proposals in the next mandate. Subject to resources, it is anticipated that public consultation on policy proposals arising from the review will take place in 2027. I have limited time, but I will seek to wrap up my contribution. The Justice Minister believes that the sentencing review is an appropriate mechanism to give full and informed consideration to these important matters, rather than rushing to legislate in this mandate. Although the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill already contains other statutory aggravators and amendments to the sentencing framework and may appear to provide an appropriate vehicle for legislating quickly, it is critical to remember that those clauses have been drafted following a thorough policy development process. Minister Long is of the view that undertaking adequate research and consultation into the proposals in the motion and the amendment is the appropriate approach going forward. In closing, the Justice Minister welcomes the opportunity to discuss this important issue and looks forward to working with Members collectively to strengthen the government response to drug misuse and supply, both in the wider public health response and in the strengthening of enforcement arrangements.

1,588 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:26 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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