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 had conversations with the PSNI, particularly in light of the cross-party amendment that was brought to the Justice Bill and, thankfully, was passed and will become law. It is useful that the Member's party colleague and my party colleague, under the leadership of Mr McGlone, were able to bring that forward as successfully as they did. The PSNI would welcome the ability to be able to seize those vehicles, where they are being used to create nuisance. At the moment, the challenge for the PSNI is that, whilst it has powers of seizure, it must, on the first occasion, issue a warning. Having to have contact with those who are doing it for a second time creates genuine problems in being able to nip the activity in the bud.”
“There can be a prurient interest in people's personal lives that is not appropriate, but that needs to be shaken out from the wider points around criminal offending, and that is the bit of this that it is important to focus on. What people did in their private lives is, in many ways, a matter between them and their god.”
“First. if there was intelligence gathering, that would fall outside my remit. Again, intelligence, particularly at a national security level, is a reserved matter. However, I am aware that colleagues in Westminster have been raising these issues with the House authorities in Westminster and, indeed, more widely with the NIO and others. <BR /> <BR />It is important that people distinguish between people's private and public lives. People have a right to their privacy, even where that may speak to a degree of hypocrisy. I understand that there are reasons, known to us all, for that in a society that can be very sanctimonious, very judgemental, very homophobic and very challenging about an individual's sexuality.”
“As soon as this week, there will be opportunities at the Policing Board for its members to also raise questions about what was known and when. However, there is no suggestion that the PSNI knew of serious offending and turned a blind eye to it, insofar as I am aware.”
“There are a few things to say. First, I pay tribute to the PSNI officers, the PPS and the courts, which saw justice delivered for the two victims last week. When information was brought to the police, they handled it appropriately and swiftly, and it is to their credit that they did so. It is also to the credit of the two women involved that they were willing to come forward and subject themselves to such a difficult process as a full trial. <BR /> <BR />On what the PSNI may or may not have known or, indeed, what previous police services or the Security Service may or may not have known over the years, that is not a matter for me, particularly where it pertains to the Security Service. However, I believe that there are questions to be asked, and I have raised those, as you know, in my capacity as leader of the Alliance Party.”
“This includes at the committal interview stage when foreign national prisoners are asked whether, if they meet the criteria for the early removal scheme, they would be interested in applying for consideration by the Home Office. Information is also contained in a sentence booklet that every prisoner receives when meeting their sentence manager for the first time. Any queries can also be addressed at monthly foreign national forums.”
“The Northern Ireland Prison Service has no input into the Home Office’s decision-making process. A warranted immigration officer is embedded within the Northern Ireland Prison Service estate at HMP Maghaberry, HMP Magilligan and HMP Hydebank Wood to manage immigration matters relating to foreign national individuals in custody. Their role includes progressing appropriate enforcement action, including removals and deportations. The scheme is promoted by the immigration officer to every remand and sentenced foreign national prisoner verbally within a month of committal and by the issuing of an explanatory leaflet. NIPS staff will explain the early removal process to any prisoner who is eligible to apply under the scheme when completing planned contacts.”
“The provisions apply to determinate-sentence prisoners only. That is where the exact length of the sentence is fixed by the court. Prisoners serving an extended custodial sentence, indeterminate sentence for public protection or a life sentence cannot be removed under the scheme.”
“The Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 introduced the early removal scheme for foreign national prisoners. The scheme allows fixed-term foreign national prisoners who are confirmed by Home Office immigration enforcement to be removed from the UK up to a maximum of 135 days before the end of their requisite custodial period. The early removal scheme is a non-mandatory scheme, and prisoners must be willing to leave the country voluntarily and apply for the scheme themselves.”
“Those people may have chosen to work illegally. They may have come here to work illegally, and that would need to be looked at. Were they trafficked here or brought here for financial and criminal exploitation purposes? Are they working because they choose to work, or are they engaged, against their will, in modern-day slavery? All those things have to be investigated by the PSNI, because it may not be the individuals who are working here who are the criminals; it may be those who trafficked them here and those who employ them, often paying them less than minimum wage and not giving them any employment rights. Those issues need to be properly investigated. None of us wants to live in a society in which any section of that society is exploited for commercial or financial gain.”
“I am not sure, because the Member sits behind me, whether he was here when I answered the original question. The enforcement of immigration is a matter for Border Force, which is an agency of the UK. The PSNI's only role is to act in support of Border Force when it deems that to be necessary. Where buses are stopped, going either north or south, it is by immigration officers from Border Force, rather than officers from PSNI. It is already the case that people who have made false or illegal claims can be repatriated, but again that is a matter for the Home Office, not the Department of Justice or the PSNI. However, when it is brought to the PSNI's attention that illegal activity is happening, it is a matter for the PSNI to investigate that. <BR /> <BR />There are two elements with respect to those who are working illegally.”
“The facts and figures behind it are often spurious, but they are stated with great confidence by those who do not do their own research. It is incredibly dangerous for people to base their decisions on the figures and supposed facts that they pick up from social media, because it is clear that many of those who own social media companies are not good-faith actors in that space.”
“A number of things. The community safety partnerships receive funding from the Department of Justice and the PSNI. The work that they do and how they invest that resource is a matter for them. They take account of the local situation and the wider policing plan. In areas where there has been a particular focus on issues of migration and tensions around immigration, particularly in areas where, to our shame, we have seen race hate spilling over in recent weeks and months, I would hope that they would use that money wisely to counter misinformation and would encourage them to do so. <BR /> <BR />This is a much bigger issue than something that can be dealt with at community level. Misinformation is peddled on social media on an industrial scale. It is driven internationally, not just nationally.”
“It will generally be those who have applied for and been refused asylum and whose appeals have expired. It is for the Home Office, not the Department of Justice, to deal with such situations.”
“It sets out the strategic direction adopted by the Department and key partners to tackle those appalling crimes and protect vulnerable victims of exploitation. <BR /> <BR />Responding to illegal migration remains a matter for the UK Government, but it is important at every stage that we disentangle that from those who come here undocumented and make a claim for asylum, which is not illegal; those who come here with documentation and make a claim for asylum, which is not illegal; those who arrive here from other safe countries and make a claim for asylum, which is not illegal; and those who come here as economic migrants to work in the health service, build their own businesses or serve in other parts of society, which is not illegal. There are very few people in Northern Ireland who fit comfortably into the illegal migration space.”
“That is an area on which I can engage helpfully when I attend those quadrilateral meetings that I spoke about earlier, because we have a policy and strategic responsibility for modern slavery and human trafficking, as well as responsibility for supporting those identified as victims of such in Northern Ireland. The majority of the victims of modern slavery and human trafficking identified in Northern Ireland are migrants who have been exploited outside the UK. Modern slavery and human trafficking are separate and distinct crimes based on exploitation, coercion and control, from illegal migration and people smuggling to the consented facilitation of illegal entry, usually for financial gain. Therefore, it is important that we look to the 2024 to 2027 modern slavery and human trafficking strategy, which I published in July 2024.”
“It is of real concern to me that a young lady who happens to be Sudanese was distraught because she felt a level of guilt, responsibility or association with a Sudanese individual who potentially committed a very serious crime. We need to be careful about our language. <BR /> <BR />We also need to remember that our job as elected representatives is to inform the public. It is not simply to amplify concerns that they may hold dearly but may be based on misinformation. It is for us to find the facts of the situation, to challenge misinformation where we see it and to provide people with reassurance where appropriate, rather than simply amplify concerns that are often built on social media platforms where truth, frankly, is an unknown quantity.”
“Yes, I agree. It is incredibly dangerous for us to ascribe responsibility for the crimes of an individual to a group of people with whom they associate. I think that many Members in the Chamber today will be particularly sensitive as to why that is inappropriate. People make their own decisions, commit offences and will be held guilty of the crimes that they have committed. It is not right that that should be used to besmirch those with whom they may previously have had association. It is important that the same dignity and respect that we offer to those who share our skin colour and perhaps religious background be extended to all those who live in Northern Ireland.”
“The Member will be aware of the dire funding situation for the Department of Justice and the PSNI. Unless and until the Department receives higher levels of funding from the Executive and, in turn, the Executive receive higher levels of funding from Westminster commensurate with our level of need, it will be hard to achieve what the Member suggests. We have to make difficult calls between whether to have more police officers to police the community and engage at the neighbourhood level or to spend money on other projects at ground level. It is a challenging situation. The work that PCSPs do is certainly valuable. I do not want it to be damaged or frustrated in any way, but there is a real challenge when it comes to the funding available and how far we can stretch it.”
“All those problems are best dealt with by conversation and engagement, not by violence on our streets.”
“Much of that will fall outside my remit, but I meet my Southern counterpart, Minister O'Callaghan, regularly on the work of the organised crime task force and the JATF. I have had good conversations with him about ensuring that the border is not allowed to be exploited for illegal means. <BR /> <BR />The Member talks about the concerns of the wider community. There are, of course, many different concerns in the wider community. Some people are concerned about the rise of racism and race hate; some are concerned about the rise of xenophobia and Islamophobia; and some are concerned about the burning of public services and infrastructure and damage to properties and homes. Some people are concerned about the levels of migration; and some are concerned about the levels of integration in our society.”
“There have been claims and counterclaims about the direction of travel, whether north or south, in cross-border exploitation of the common travel area. I have discussed the issue not only from an immigration perspective but from the wider perspective of organised crime groups who try to exploit any opportunity that they have to traffic goods and, indeed, human beings across borders. Immigration falls outside my remit, but organised crime does not. With the joint agency task force (JATF), the organised crime task force and the work that is done between an Garda Síochána, the PSNI, border security and border security in the South, there are many opportunities for people to coordinate the work that goes on.”
“Policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs) funded by the DOJ and the Northern Ireland Policing Board provide an important mechanism for communities to raise local concerns and help shape practical responses to community safety issues at a local level. My Department also provides support for families and individuals who have been victims of racist incidents or crimes through the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, which is jointly funded by my Department and the PSNI.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to note that, where criminality is identified, regardless of source or context, operational responsibility rests with the appropriate law enforcement agencies. I know that robust arrangements are in place to tackle criminality. I am committed to ensuring that law enforcement has the tools needed. That is why I introduced, by amendment to the Justice Bill, two new offences of directing and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group. <BR /> <BR />My Department contributes to addressing community concerns through its wider community safety responsibilities and through supporting local partnership working.”
“Mr Speaker, with permission, I will answer questions 3 and 5 together, which may result in the answer being slightly longer than usual. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I remind Members that immigration is not a devolved matter and therefore does not fall within my responsibilities as Minister of Justice. However, I assure Members that there are established mechanisms through which relevant matters can be considered across government. One example is the UK-wide inter-ministerial group for safety, security and migration, where Northern Ireland is represented by the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and me. My role in that forum is focused on safety and security matters within the justice remit.”
“I am, however, making enquiries into what we can do to ensure that witnesses cannot be used as a form of leverage in such a situation. The way that some victims were treated throughout the recent period was particularly distasteful. We can deploy a range of measures to that end, including, as I said, enhancing solicitors' rights of audience and the alternative delivery models that I have previously mentioned. We are at an early stage, but I will, of course, keep the House updated. The important thing now is to rebuild some of the trust that has been damaged throughout the period and to, hopefully, move forward more constructively and positively.”
“I spoke earlier about the more regular and routine review of legal aid fees and delivery of the enabling access to justice delivery programme. If we can work together on those issues to ensure that citizens get the best possible access and that the taxpayer gets value for money, we will be in a much better position.”
“As I said, none of us, including the CBA, wishes to be in that position again. There are a number of things that we can do.”
“Members should bear in mind that new cases will be added to the system throughout that period that will also need to be dealt with.”
“As I said, the listing of cases is a matter solely for the judiciary. It is something that I cannot control, but I have sought updates from the LCJ, who has now issued a direction on how she intends to take the matter forward. I will keep myself abreast of the impact that that has on the backlogs that have been created, but those backlogs will not disappear in a matter of weeks or months. We are talking about over six months of disruption to the system. On the previous occasion that that happened, it took almost two years for the system to recover. Members should therefore be cognisant of the fact that that relatively small period of disruption will not simply allow the system to recover immediately or in a similar six-month period.”
“That is something on which we can work with the Law Society of Northern Ireland and others to expand further, as it may provide the system with some more stability, as opposed to where we are at at this time.”
“<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. The withdrawal has been incredibly damaging to victims and witnesses, and, ultimately, justice delayed is justice denied for many people. It is therefore important that we find ways of ensuring that a range of options for advocacy is available in Northern Ireland so that we do not find ourselves in that situation again, should the criminal Bar decide to withdraw its services again in future. We are still in the early stages of looking at those options, but there is already provision for, for example, solicitor advocates to work in some of the higher courts.”
“In answer to the first question, we invested additional money in Victim Support NI and other support services so that people who needed particular support during the suspension of court processes could benefit from that. Hopefully, those services will also be able to support people through this period. I encourage anyone who is awaiting information on listing to contact the PPS and Victim Support, because both are a good point of contact. Victims will potentially also have a PSNI family liaison officer who will be able to keep them abreast of developments. Hopefully, between that and the wider approach that the judiciary is taking, some certainty will be brought to what will happen.”
“As I said at the time of the withdrawal, however, the resources available to the Department of Justice are already limited, and the money that is being spent on expanding legal aid comes at the expense of other services, including recovery. I simply wish that the withdrawal had never happened, because, as the family and civil Bar can attest to, the outcome would not have been any different had the CBA continued to work through that period rather than withdraw its services.”
“<BR /> <BR />Trials that were taken out during the withdrawal of services will be relisted, and an early date will be offered, with priority being given as follows: to cases proceeding under the under-13 protocol and under-16 arrangements; to cases involving rape, serious sexual offences and fatalities; and then to all other cases. Arraignments will be listed in phase 2 in a similar order. To allow further progress to be made, the Lady Chief Justice has also directed that plea and sentencing hearings and arraignments may be listed over summer recess at the discretion of the judge and with the agreement of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and the defence. <BR /> <BR />We will obviously need to take a fluid approach and review progress to ensure that the necessary resources to support recovery are available.”
“There is no doubt that the CBA withdrawal has created a significant backlog. We were already working hard to address the delays, and those have now been supplemented. Listing is a judicial function, and work on recovery is being led by the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ) for that reason. There will be a phased approach to allow initial focus on cases involving the most vulnerable victims and witnesses. That initial phase will focus on plea and sentencing hearings that are ready to proceed. Those will be listed as soon as possible; it may be possible for them to be listed over the summer period.”
“The accelerated review produced the necessary evidence to support fees that will result in a further £4·94 million annual increase in legal aid expenditure, and I am happy to follow that evidence. <BR /> <BR />The CBA’s decision to return to service and recognise the significance of the additional investment that I am making is a positive step. However, I trust that it will take the more constructive approach of its solicitor colleagues in future and engage in good faith with the Department without seeking to leverage damage to the system and the victims, so that we can collectively focus on delivering the justice system that citizens deserve.”
“My decision to accept in full the recommendations of the accelerated review follows the 16% uplift in fees that I implemented earlier this year, and which I took the unprecedented step of backdating to 2024 at a cost of £11·5 million. I reprioritised my programme delivery plan in response to feedback. I established a working group to consider other fee changes and appointed Judge Burgess to lead that work, as the professions desired, and, when the CBA reneged on our agreement and withdrew full services, I established the accelerated review. <BR /> <BR />Implementation of the review is yet another act of good faith on my part. From the outset, I have been committed to providing fair remuneration on the basis of evidence to ensure that we provide quality service and that public funds are protected.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will address questions 2 and 4 together. <BR /> <BR />For the sake of victims and witnesses, I am pleased that the unnecessary and unwarranted service withdrawal by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has finally come to an end. The CBA is finally following the example of its solicitor colleagues and delivering the services that its clients deserve rather than leveraging their suffering. However, the CBA action has caused untold damage to the system, and the ending of that action is long overdue. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that I have taken many steps to address the evolving concerns of the CBA throughout the dispute and have met the asks of the CBA at every turn.”
“It is fair to say that much of that is budget dependent and, therefore, without proper investment in the justice system and in the prison system, particularly, we will struggle to meet the demands of those being committed to our care.”
“Recruitment plays a key role in the Prison Service's ability to deliver a consistent and productive regime for those who are committed to our care. It is encouraging that so many people applied to become prison officers in response to the recent campaign. Between January and March this year, 67 newly recruited prison officers have commenced or completed training at Prison Service College. A further recruitment intake is being planned this year to ensure that the Prison Service has the staff needed in response to population pressures. We work towards target staffing levels in line with an agreed budget. The target staffing level is also kept under review to take into account population changes and, indeed, the complexity of the population.”
“Some Members will be aware of restrictions on book deliveries to prisoners because of the risk of people illicitly impregnating the paper with drugs to get them through the system. We have to be constantly on our guard. <BR /> <BR />I am not aware of any situation where prison officers have become inadvertently intoxicated on any form of medication that has been given to prisoners. I struggle to imagine how that could have taken place, but, if the Member has a specific incident in mind, I would be grateful if he would bring it to my attention.”
“If not, I have no details with which to furnish the House. However, I take the point that the Member is making. <BR /> <BR />Our work in the Prison Service and across the estate to reduce the flow of drugs into prisons from outside has been quite successful. The introduction of X-ray body scanners means that we are much more able to control that flow. As a result, we now recognise, as the CJINI reports have recognised, that the premium placed on prescription drugs and medication is much higher. Therefore, it is important that we work with Healthcare in Prison, because, of course, it is its staff, not Prison Service staff, who prescribe and control the drugs in the prison system. It is also important that we look to alternative methods that people might use for contraband.”
“In fact, there have been three: one at Magilligan and two at Hydebank Wood — one at the women's prison and one at the college — all of which found no significant issues in that regard, so, obviously, the issues that had existed there have been addressed. Given the sensitivities, we keep that under constant review.”
“Since the publication of the particular report on a special inspection of care and supervision units, which I commissioned, huge progress has been made on the recording of contact between prison officers and prisoners in the care and supervision units and on access to productive activity. The care and supervision units are an important part of the prison estate, particularly in controlling the flow of illegal drugs and other substances and items of contraband into prisons. It is important, however, that they are properly managed and, again, that people are kept safe and that their dignity is protected while in those units. <BR /> <BR />Since the publication of the report, there have been two further inspections of the Northern Ireland prison system.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As a former prison officer, he will be aware of the delicate balance that has to be struck around those issues. It is, of course, always our intent that every prisoner, irrespective of who they are, will be held in custody that is dignified and safe, and that will be the same in this case. We do not discuss the housing of individual prisoners, but, of course, higher-profile prisoners can cause a ripple in the prison and will certainly draw some public attention. It is important, however, that we ensure that every prisoner is treated equally and fairly in the system and that their rights, insofar as they have not been removed by their being held in custody, are respected, including their right to privacy.”
“I will continue to work to secure appropriate funding for the justice system, including prisons, in order to support operational demands and those relating to the wider rehabilitative ambition.”
“The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) assesses that current staffing levels are sufficient to maintain the safe and secure operation of houses, units and landings across the estate. However, sustained increases in the prison population have placed pressures on staffing, requiring difficult decisions at times on staff deployment and the delivery of regimes in order to prioritise safety and security. NIPS is actively recruiting and training additional prison officers and continues to keep staffing requirements under close review in light of population pressures. <BR /> <BR />While safe and secure custody is fundamental, the ambition is to ensure that prisons are also properly resourced to support rehabilitation through education, training and other interventions that reduce reoffending.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. May I get some clarity, please? I opened the debate on this group of amendments, but I was advised that, because a petition of concern had already been laid, I could not move the amendment at that time. Is it therefore not in order that the amendment now has to be moved formally before the vote can be taken?”
“I think that we were advised at the start of the debate that the amendment could not be moved.”