Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a public consultation which is asking whether the PSNI and PPS should be provided with additional powers to deal with a range of low-level offences outside of the traditional court process.

The plans for Out of Court Disposals are designed to offer a timely and proportionate response to low-level offending behaviours and enhance the capacity and resources dedicated to managing more serious cases – speeding up justice for all.

Launching the consultation today, the Minister said:

“Our criminal justice system continues to be under significant pressure; there are still significant backlogs in our courts, and cases are taking too long.

Tackling delay has been a longstanding priority for my Department and our partners in the criminal justice system but it is a complex issue and not one that is unique to Northern Ireland.

The benefits of dealing with cases more quickly through the use of out of court disposals, where appropriate, are well recognised and can deliver swift and effective justice which can help to deter future offending. This isn’t about letting offenders off the hook, but delivering punishments in the most appropriate way and maximising court capacity to deal with the most serious cases quicker.  

The proposals outlined in the consultation paper provide us with the opportunity to re-balance our system by finding better, more efficient ways of dealing with low-level offending.”

The Department of Justice would like to hear from members of the public, community and voluntary organisations and anyone else with an interest in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

The consultation, which is open until 28 September, can be accessed here.