ARK, Northern Ireland’s Social Policy Hub, and the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland would like to invite you to an event to discuss children’s and young people’s online experiences.

‘Screens, Safety and Social Media: What Young People in Northern Ireland Are Telling Us’ will take place on 8^th September from 12.00-15.00 in the Canada Room at Queen’s University Belfast. Registration and Refreshments from 12.00 with the seminar starting at 12.30 sharp.

Children and young people spend increasing amounts of time on the internet and on social media platforms. The 2025 Young Life and Times (YLT) survey asked 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland about their experiences of using social media. How much time do young people spend on average on social media? What platforms do they use? What adverse experiences have they had and who were the perpetrators? How easy or difficult would they find it to seek help and support? All these findings are summarised in a report that will be published at this event.

Professor Michelle Butler, Professor of Criminology at Queen’s University, who has worked with ARK on this study, will present the key findings of the report. We will also hear from Peter Toogood, Deputy Secretary for the Social Care and Public Health Policy Group.

Places for the event are free, but advance registration is required – follow this link:  Screens, Safety and Social Media: What Young People in NI Are Telling Us Tickets, Mon 8 Sep 2025 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

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.