Naomi Long
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Underneath the Facebook posts to say that he had passed away, people speculated with such comments as, "Probably high on drugs", "Probably drunk", and, "Typical boy racer". There was all of that speculation. It was hurtful to the family, and it was inaccurate.”
“There are circumstances that we need to consider and be careful of. I was told, for example, that, when the issue of good character references at trial was being looked at in New South Wales — Committee members may wish to look at this for themselves — one of the groups that opposed their removal was representative of domestic abuse victi…”
“It sets out the strategic direction adopted by the Department and key partners to tackle those appalling crimes and protect vulnerable victims of exploitation.”
“The provision seeks to provide protection, via legal advice and representation for complainants, against the use of non-relevant personal material and evidence of previous sexual history being used in the court process.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the wider issue of ensuring that a withdrawal of services never happens again, I think that most of us agree that, although everyone has the right to take industrial action, no one has the right to derail and hold to ransom the entire justice system in that way.”
“Those measures will go some way towards helping to support complainants and enable them to have input into the decision-making process about what records containing their personal and sensitive information are required to be shared with the defence.”
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“We have to be alive to the potential for abuse of position and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults across all walks of life, whether those vulnerable adults are in a workplace or conducting a hobby or whether it crosses the line between the two, as so often is the case when it comes to equestrian pursuits. We need to look beyond the equestrian sector, though it is very important in Katie's case. We need to look to other areas where you have adults and young people mixing with differential power narratives between them and to how we ensure that those young people are adequately and properly safeguarded at all times from the abuse of power and trust.”
“Real issues have been highlighted. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet with Katie's family and discuss some of their concerns, particularly around safeguarding in the equestrian environment. Katie's death has exposed systemic safeguarding failures across Northern Ireland's equestrian sector. Many facilities, particularly unaffiliated yards and freelance operations, continue to operate without regulation, oversight or basic safeguarding protections. Dr Melia recommends that a phased, multi-agency approach is urgently needed, beginning with practical steps and building towards mandatory vetting, cultural reform and sector-wide accountability. That is obviously not just an issue for the equestrian sector.”
“There has to be a presumption, until it can be proven to be a suicide, that there could be sinister motives. That is really important in terms of the professional curiosity that the Chief Constable spoke of in his response to some of these cases. It is important that all the evidence is gathered and that everything is handled in the way that you would handle a homicide until such times as you are absolutely certain that it is not one. It is clear from this report that evidential opportunities were lost as a result of the acceptance at face value of what was told to officers about the death of Katie Simpson. Had that not happened, perhaps what had actually happened would have been clearer sooner.”
“I do not have those operational figures to hand. The number has changed over time in that some have been investigated and discharged as genuine suicides, whilst others have been investigated and reopened as having, potentially, more sinister motivations. However, the report shines a light on the fact that simply because something is presented as suicide, particularly by the person's partner or by somebody in a close relationship, it should not be taken for granted that what is being said and presented represents the true facts of the case.”
“Aspects of the EVAWG strategy, domestic and sexual abuse strategy and so on have been driven by operational learning predating publication of the report but linked to it. For me, whilst some areas will continue to develop over time, much in the report can be implemented straight away if there is the will to do so. With regard to cooperation to date with Dr Melia, there has been a willingness by all who were involved to engage with the report fulsomely and openly and to try to make the changes necessary to ensure that there is no repeat of what happened in that case.”
“A lot of things can change immediately. For example, I have outlined issues around the consideration of bail. That is simply a matter for the courts to consider. There is a plethora of issues that the courts can consider. Some changes have already occurred. A table at the end of the report shows the recommendations. Some have commenced, some are in progress and some are yet to be progressed, so there are opportunities even now with changes that have already happened. <BR /> <BR />The PSNI has identified and embedded learning in its death investigation manual, which I referred to earlier, and extra training has been mandated in relation to domestic abuse and coercive control, which is hugely important.”
“The fullness of the report and the detail that is in it really matter. I hope that they will see a step change in how we deal with such cases and that, if nothing else, that will be a legacy that Katie will have left behind for other young women who follow in her footsteps.”
“With or without legislation, therefore, that balance can already be considered. I encourage all involved in the justice system to read the report, read what is recommended and implement it as of today so that we do not end up with a further situation where a young woman not only loses her life but is robbed of the right to justice as a result of decisions taken. <BR /> <BR />The Member is correct: this will be a painful day for Katie's family and friends. As I said, the report is a difficult read, and they are aware of its contents. I thank them for two things. First, I thank them for their dedication and commitment to ensuring that Katie would get some measure of justice and accountability. Secondly, I thank them for allowing the report, unusually, to be produced in full rather than simply be a kind of executive summary.”
“The content of the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill and the victims and witnesses Bill at this stage in the mandate is probably fairly tightly controlled. Any change to wider bail legislation would require significant policy development. It would also require us to look carefully at the balance of responsibilities and independence of the judiciary. However, that does not preclude what is in this report being implemented today. The recommendations in the report regarding consideration of the impact on victims and families in cases where coercive control is part of the mix can be implemented by any judge sitting today making a decision about bail. Bail can be resisted by the Public Prosecution Service or the PSNI on the basis of their assessment of the risk to the safety of the victim and their family.”
“They know how to behave. They know how to get away with what other people would not get away with. They are predatory individuals. As you know, I have serious concerns about the use of things such as good character references in those categories of cases because we know that good character, as seen by those outside, means nothing in the context of the relationship that they have used to abuse another individual. Therefore, to me, they are not worth the paper they are written on. We need to be much clearer about where the law sits, and the Member will know that I am looking at that.”
“The first thing that I can commit to is to ensuring that every leader in every part of the justice system has a copy of the report and is able to reflect on its content. The Member makes the valid point that people are often referred to as "charming" or that they seemed to be reliable or trustworthy or an upstanding member of the community. I am tired of hearing people wax lyrical about abusers. It does not matter how they present to the public. It does not matter how they present to the people around them in their church or in their golf club or wherever it might be. What matters is what they do at home with the people they abuse, and that is the only thing that should matter. The fact that somebody can present themselves as a Jekyll and Hyde character should not be to their advantage. <BR /> <BR />Abusers know how to present themselves.”
“<BR /> <BR />A comprehensive review of the statutory guidance underpinning PPANI is being scoped by officials. PPANI was first introduced in 2008, and amendments have been made to the guidance to keep pace with legislative developments in recent years. However, a review of the guidance in its entirety is long overdue, so that is what we are embarking on at this point. By taking together that review, the domestic homicide reviews and, in particular, the review of Katie Simpson's case we have a robust work plan for putting the mechanisms in place that will better protect the community. However, ultimately, it will work only if those who are engaged in that work are committed to implementing it fully and faithfully on every occasion.”
“We are also looking at the implementation of the domestic abuse offence to capture coercive and threatening behaviour. Training is very much part of that. A diverse range of legislative measures aimed at addressing sexual offending, coercive control and domestic abuse has been introduced, and further measures are planned that will tackle the use of online or technologically aided abuse. Officials are also planning the introduction of domestic abuse protection notices and orders, and, hopefully, that will provide additional protections for victims of domestic abuse. A new, enhanced, multi-agency model that will replace MARAC is being developed and will be in place in 2026-27. It will deliver earlier intervention, stronger coordination and a greater focus on managing perpetrator behaviour.”
“The Member is right: the recommendations are specific to what happened in Katie's case. Although the learning from them is specific to her case, there are significant implications more widely. Such things do not happen in isolation; they form patterns of practice, thought and behaviour that can also impact on other people. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of some of the recommendations will make a tangible difference to our system. In addition, through the EVAWG strategy, we continue to work with the PSNI and the Executive Office to deliver the Power to Change public awareness campaign. I have talked a little already with Members about the need to raise awareness of why people might be asked those questions when they turn up at hospital, for example.”
“That also needs to be at the back of people's minds. If people are at least given the opportunity to make a disclosure, that is a starting point.”
“As Members will see as a result of the recommendations, there are things that the health trusts will, undoubtedly, need to do with regard to guidance on how that can be done most appropriately, but, in the majority of cases, people in the health trusts will understand the need for sensitivity and will know how to broach those subjects. <BR /> <BR />I suppose that the real challenge for hospital staff is to get the time and space privately to engage with a patient so that they can ask those questions in an appropriate way and, hopefully, elicit the right answers. Staff cannot rely on a simple denial as evidence that no abuse is taking place, because people may be under pressure, particularly where there is coercive control, to cover up the violence and abuse and to cover for the perpetrator.”
“They often have to do so in the context of visits to the maternity ward, prenatal appointments and other sensitive circumstances, particularly where there is a pattern of repeat attending or where people turn up at hospital always with the same person accompanying them, who always answers questions on their behalf. There is therefore a need for us to be willing to ask those questions and to be asked those questions. We have to accept that, while it may not be relevant to our particular case, it is part of the overall picture that staff are trying to build of what has happened in each case that comes through the doors. There are things that we, as individuals, can do to promote that approach.”
“In the case of any unexplained or sudden death, there are always opportunities to remain alert to the fact that the facts as they present themselves initially may not reflect what has happened. I think that the Chief Constable referred to it as maintaining "professional curiosity". That needs to be done. Every unexplained or sudden death, even where it is assumed to be a suicide and presents as such, needs to be treated as a crime scene until such times as it can be verified that it no longer is. That has already changed in how the PSNI conducts its investigations. Time has elapsed since Katie's case, and changes have already been instigated in that regard. <BR /> <BR />There is also a need for professional staff in hospitals to broach such issues sensitively.”
“A number of areas have been identified as part of the CJINI report and, more widely, as part of reviews that have been undertaken over recent weeks and months of the PSNI's conduct and attitude that give food for thought about where further training may be beneficial to officers, not just at the commencement of their training to become officers but throughout their time serving in the PSNI. We will continue to have that conversation with the PSNI, the PPS and the other parts of the justice system, as well as, crucially, with the Policing Board, which holds the Chief Constable to account for performance on such matters.”
“First, we will ensure that this report's specific recommendations are implemented. As I said, I have already asked Dr Melia to continue her work, which is unique in this space, to oversee the implementation of the arrangements, because it is important that there is uptake. It is also important that we monitor delivery of training. Whilst my Department is not responsible for the training of front-line police officers or of members of the judiciary or Public Prosecution Service, given that they are operational and independent, it is nevertheless important that the House and my Department have the information necessary for us to scrutinise that training and see whether its uptake has been adequate or whether more can be done.”
“There is a balance of rights. Decisions not to grant bail where bail is appropriate can, of course, be challenged, as can decisions to grant bail. There is a balance to be struck. From my perspective, I want to ensure that, when such decisions are made, particularly in cases where coercive control has been a factor, the implications for victims and witnesses are properly and thoroughly considered before any decision is reached.”
“I think that we all agree in principle, with the benefit of hindsight, that the decision to permit bail on that occasion was deeply flawed. However, such a decision is made without the benefit of hindsight, and it falls to the PSNI and the courts and not to me as Justice Minister. As I said in my statement, it is important that the risk to victims and witnesses and, indeed, the risk to any future trial should be properly considered when making a decision about granting bail. <BR /> <BR />I do not agree with the Member when he says that the pendulum has swung too far towards the rights of those who are accused, but I agree that there has to be a careful balance. That balance has to be maintained by the information that the PPS and the PSNI present to the courts and by the judiciary's careful consideration of it.”
“The planned amendments to the Police (Conduct) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 will also reflect the recently revised code of ethics in statute as a schedule to the conduct regulations. The vetting regulations will be a bespoke set of regulations that will be introduced in order to deal with officers who fail to maintain vetting standards. All the proposed amendments will be subject to the relevant statutory scrutiny process. It is important to ensure the public's trust and confidence in policing and to challenge attitudes and behaviour where they fall short of those acceptable standards.”
“The Member will also be aware that I have committed to drafting clauses for inclusion in the Justice Bill that will create a barred and advisory list for policing in Northern Ireland as well as facilitate misconduct proceedings in relation to former officers. An amendment to the Justice Bill is to be tabled at Consideration Stage in order to facilitate the lists and former officer proceedings. <BR /> <BR />I want to see a misconduct process that is as efficient as possible, and I am committed to working to take any potential steps that we can to improve those processes. In that respect, we are also working to make a number of improvements to wider misconduct procedures and to make legislative provision for matters where officers fail to meet vetting standards. That will result in two statutory rules relating to misconduct and vetting.”
“I thank the Member for her diligence and commitment to pressing this issue, even, at times, when others would have been happier had she not done so. It has shown real commitment and courage on her part that she stood up for Katie and for those who loved her and to find the truth. <BR /> <BR />I share the Member's concerns about the number of officers who have retired from the PSNI while under investigation and the impact that that has on confidence in policing. I am committed to ensuring that we work to close the gaps in the misconduct process and to ensure that officers who have committed wrongdoing do not walk away from policing with a clean slate. The Department is already progressing a number of legislative proposals in relation to police officer misconduct by way of an amendment to the police conduct regulatory framework.”
“There is, as I said, already an offence of coercing or contributing to someone taking their own life. However, proving beyond reasonable doubt that that is the cause is the biggest challenge that we face.”
“Whilst there may be learning from those cases, holding someone legally accountable, beyond reasonable doubt, for the death of another person who has died by suicide can be incredibly complex. <BR /> <BR />In this case, however, the more pressing part is for people not to accept the cognitive bias, when they are told that someone has taken their own life, and to simply accept that at face value or not to continue to collect the forensic evidence that would be necessary either to confirm the death as a suicide or, indeed, to confirm that the death was not a suicide. That is the learning that comes from the report today. <BR /> <BR />The issue of coerced suicide, particularly in domestic settings, is one that weighs very heavily on me, because I am aware of the impact that it can have on individuals.”
“I thank the Member for her question. We have corresponded on the matter for some time. There are two aspects to that, the first being that coerced suicide is already against the law. Encouraging or enabling someone to take their own life is a criminal offence. That is the first thing to say. The more challenging part of it is recognition that the person responsible for that is fully responsible for the suicide. For example, the inclusion of suicide in the sphere of domestic homicide reviews, as is happening now and is starting to be rolled out in England and Wales, is something that we are looking at. The problem can be in identifying a causal link that is beyond challenge.”
“I have already commissioned my officials to review the guidance to ensure that it continues to provide a robust and consistent framework for safeguarding and maintaining public protection so that people can have confidence that those referrals will be made and that there is clarity for all involved as to how and when to do so.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Of course, he is correct that PPANI did not have oversight of the case and that MARAC responses had not been triggered. Dr Melia's review identified that missed opportunity to bring Creswell into PPANI, and that is critical learning for everyone who is involved. Practitioners in the public protection agencies have to use their professional judgement to identify dangerous individuals and ensure that they are referred at the appropriate points. Key agencies have committed to working with Dr Melia to implement the findings of her report and ensure that dangerous offenders are referred to PPANI in the future. My Department does not have an operational role in the day-to-day delivery of those arrangements, but we have responsibility for the overall statutory framework and associated guidance.”
“I pay tribute to the family of Katie Simpson and to the many people, friends and colleagues who loved her and have campaigned for justice on her behalf. The Member is right to pay tribute to them at the beginning of this. <BR /> <BR />It is important that the report is recognised for what it is. I was clear when I initiated it that it would not hold individuals to account. The Member will be aware that there is still an ongoing inquest, and the report does not cut across that. Police Ombudsman investigations also remain open at this time. It is important that, before we discuss issues around direct accountability, we allow those processes to conclude, but I agree with the Member in principle that those who failed Katie and, indeed, other victims should be held accountable for those failures.”
“The Executive's strategy on ending violence against women and girls has now entered its second delivery phase. Both strategies quite rightly demand that the Executive work collaboratively and tenaciously to deliver on those many commitments. We must do so in Katie’s memory. We must do so in memory of all victims before and after Katie’s death. We must do so to reduce harm and save lives. I commend the report to the Assembly.”
“However, the work will be led by Dr Melia, and, therefore, I can confidently say that it will be in very capable hands. <BR /> <BR />I must also take this opportunity to remind Members of the domestic and sexual abuse strategy 2024-2031, led by my Department and the Department of Health. The initial three-year action plan contains 56 actions, which is a resounding reminder of how much work is yet to be done.”
“It is of great concern to me that, as I stand in the Chamber today, there may be other young girls or women unknowingly vulnerable or already subject to predatory and secretive abuse. <BR /> <BR />That brings me to reflect on a final recommendation, perhaps most fundamental of all, which is to develop and broaden Northern Ireland-wide campaigns on coercive control to include suicide and homicide. It is absolutely imperative that we educate all our citizens on coercive control, in all its forms and potency. <BR /> <BR />I conclude the statement today with a clear message. My Department and our partners will act on the recommendations contained in Dr Melia’s report and ensure that lessons are not simply learned but embedded in practice. I do not underestimate the scale of the task.”
“The equestrian industry was also central to Katie’s young life. Recommendation 16 makes clear the need to:”
“It is a matter for policing and the judiciary as to the granting and setting of bail conditions. However, I implore decision-makers to recognise the importance of incorporating coercive control risk indicators and including victim/family consultation when making bail decisions. <BR /> <BR />I also welcome the recommendation relating to risk assessment in PPANI, specifically the need for recognising coercive control as a continuing risk even in the absence of a current relationship. <BR /> <BR />I mentioned earlier that the lessons from Katie’s case also extend beyond the sphere of criminal justice. We are all aware of the sustained pressure on our emergency departments, but recommendation 14 is a critical learning point, and that is to:”
“<BR /> <BR />The absence of specialist domestic abuse input at the earliest stages of Katie’s investigation was also a critical failing. The review is clear: specialist domestic abuse officers must be involved from day one wherever there is any history of violence within a family. We must ensure that expertise is shared, not siloed. Police team coordination and case ownership must also improve. In Katie’s case, the investigation was passed between departments without a designated lead, causing confusion and delays. That lack of ownership contributed to missed opportunities and a failure to act on known risks. <BR /> <BR />In her recommendations, Dr Melia also sets out that, in cases involving allegations of violence, coercive control or intimate partner abuse, bail conditions must focus on the safety of victims and their families.”
“There, too, is a clear need to develop mandatory use of trauma-informed, victim-centred investigative models. Information about Katie was missing from the case. Suspicious death and suicide investigations should therefore include comprehensive victim profiling. Relatedly, we must seek to combat cognitive bias and confirmation bias. Police officers need to be fully trained to recognise and challenge gendered stereotypes or victim-blaming narratives. A lack of trust in victims and poor investigations empower perpetrators such as Jonathan Creswell. That also extends to forensic investigation standards in all sudden or unexplained deaths. Forensic protocols should reflect trauma-informed and gender-sensitive practices and require pathologists to consider coercive control and staged suicide as part of their analysis.”
“Lessons from Katie's death, however, are not confined to the criminal justice arena, so there is no hierarchy of importance. <BR /> <BR />I wish to emphasise the six critical areas that Dr Melia identified for intervention. There is much room for improvement. Katie’s death was concealed and staged as suicide, and it is abundantly clear that investigative practices and mindsets must change. <BR /> <BR />In the Chamber today, I will highlight just some of Dr Melia’s detailed recommendations. In policing, coercive control must be recognised as a serious and potentially lethal factor. Patterns of behaviour, not isolated incidents, must drive assessments of risk. The review provides a clear framework, including six new indicators of concealed homicide, which should be embedded across sudden death investigations and specialist training.”
“I also welcome the fact that the review’s report will help inform the ongoing Coroner’s Court inquest into Katie's death. <BR /> <BR />There are 16 detailed recommendations codified in a proposed action plan. In testament to Katie’s memory and her family, we must give that action plan our undivided attention without delay. I am therefore pleased to announce that Dr Melia will coordinate and chair an implementation group. That will provide much-needed continuity, which I welcome. I also hope that it provides assurance to Katie's family and friends that the action plan will be actioned. I call on the relevant agencies and organisations to fully support and cooperate with Dr Melia in that process. <BR /> <BR />The majority of the 16 recommendations are policing-focused, and the PSNI has made a number of recommendations as part of the review.”
“<BR /> <BR />The lives of Katie's family and those who loved her have been tainted and irreversibly impacted on by what happened. The only way that we can truly pay tribute to Katie’s memory is to learn the lessons from the circumstances that led to and, ultimately, resulted in Katie's untimely death. The only good that can possibly come from this tragic loss is if others are better protected from such harm in the future. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to the report itself. Dr Melia sets out, in stark and uncompromising detail, what went wrong. The review, however, is not about focusing on individual practices or apportioning blame. Its fundamental purpose is to instigate collective, system-wide learning and to implement change.”
“<BR /> <BR />In anticipation that the publication of the report may trigger distress for victims and survivors, I have asked my Department to engage proactively with support services to ensure that they are prepared for an increase in requests for help. Anyone in immediate danger should always contact the police, without delay. <BR /> <BR />The message that I hear often from victims’ representatives is that we must not shy away from difficult conversations. That is a simple but critically important point. For too long, abuse has been allowed to thrive in the shadows that are created by fear, silence, stigma and control. We need to shine a light into those shadows. We need to remove the stigma, and we need to speak openly and honestly about abuse. Avoiding those conversations does not protect victims: it entrenches harm.”
“<BR /> <BR />With the endorsement of Katie's family, the report is published today in its entirety. I urge everyone to take the time to read it and to reflect on the missed opportunities, both for Katie and the agencies that encountered her and her abuser over many years. It makes for uncomfortable reading, but that transparency is vital. <BR /> <BR />I ask Members and the general public to consider whether anything in the report resonates with their lives or the lives of people they know. If the answer is yes, please take that first step and reach out to someone you trust and can talk to. If you do not have that trusted person, then please make contact with professional services and organisations.”
“It was a bespoke review without the legislative underpinning of a domestic homicide review or a public protection arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) serious case review. However, my Department and, indeed, the Executive are committed to tackling abuse and ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG). As such,?I had to find a way to look into this case for Katie's sake and to ensure that systems change, attitudes change and we all get better at preventing harm, protecting the vulnerable and avoiding the circumstances that led to Katie's untimely death. At the outset of the work, I received a commitment to fully cooperate with the independent reviewer from the senior leaders of a range of relevant organisations. I am grateful to them for their active participation and candour throughout.”
“I publish the report today in the alarming knowledge that, since 2020, 30 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland. Murder is the ultimate manifestation of domestic and sexual violence and abuse. All abuse is reprehensible, but it is pervasive in all its forms and across all walks of life in Northern Ireland. We must therefore be relentless in our condemnation of that behaviour, and we must support victims by giving them the protection that they need to live safely and without fear. As politicians, our responsibility is to compel, facilitate and deliver tangible change. <BR /> <BR />Too often, in reviews such as this, the personal story can be overshadowed by the necessary focus on external systems and procedures. However, Dr Melia's report very much keeps Katie and her family front and centre.”
“I commissioned the review to seek to understand what can be done at the earliest stages to identify and manage serious offenders and to identify and protect potential victims. The independent review was undertaken by Dr Jan Melia, and I thank and commend Dr Melia for the integrity, sensitivity and thoroughness that she brought to the work. <BR /> <BR />I also pay tribute to Katie's family. Their lives changed irrevocably when Katie died. We cannot imagine the pain or magnitude of their loss, but we witnessed their courage and determination to seek answers to ensure that Katie's death was not in vain. <BR /> <BR />Before I continue, I ask Members to pause and remember Katie: a beautiful, talented and innocent young woman whose memory lives on among those who knew and loved her.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. We all know the name "Katie Simpson". Regrettably, we do so because of her senseless, untimely and tragic death. We also know the name "Jonathan Creswell", a convicted abuser and the man charged with Katie's rape and murder, who was found dead at home on the second day of his criminal trial. Moreover, we know that many individuals raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Katie's death and the investigation that followed.??I thank all those individuals for their moral integrity, their bravery in coming forward?and their persistence. They fought to?give?Katie a voice. As a society, we owe them a debt of gratitude. <BR /> <BR />With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the publication of the report of the independent review that I commissioned into Katie's death.”
“I am also conscious, and I have raised it here, that we do not have an Executive Budget and we are now almost two weeks into the new financial year. That, in itself, is a worry. If we do not get a Budget, we can allocate only 45% of last year's starting Budget to see us through to July/August, and then only 95% of last year's starting Budget to see us through the rest of the year. That would be even more catastrophic than the draft Budget itself.”
“We will need to look very carefully as we approach the point at which a decision must be made on that budget.”
“There are no savings left to be found in Justice. All that we can do is start to cut the services that we provide. Most Members have been saying today that they want more of a good thing: more intervention, more protection and more engagement with communities. It is almost impossible for us to do any of that, even at the current level, with the budget as it is.”