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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“Like many other crimes that are committed by cowards under cover of darkness to intimidate and threaten, it can be very difficult to identify the individual perpetrators or actors in those situations. I encourage people to continue to report, because patterns of reporting can, in themselves, help the PSNI when it decides where to deploy resources, where needs more attention in order to protect the public and what may be able to be done. <BR /> <BR />It is important that people report crime, because without those reports we are unable to measure what is happening. I understand the Member's concerns, given the rate of hate crime in his city, and particularly around the increase in sectarian hate crime. It is not acceptable.”
“Sectarianism and racism are two sides of the same coin. The work of PCSPs includes actions to tackle hate crime at that local community level. <BR /> <BR />The question of addressing sectarian hate is, however, not solely the role of my Department. That also requires sustained cross-governmental action beyond the criminal justice system if we are to prevent harm from occurring. We all need to redouble our efforts to tackle not just hate crime but the attitudes and language that are the root causes of hate and prejudice and to promote more positive community relations proactively.”
“It can be difficult to draw a direct evidential line between paramilitary groups and hate crimes, but let us be clear: communities know what is going on and who is involved. They feel it and see it, and that speaks to the coercion that paramilitary organisations and those who are linked to them still choose to force on people and communities who want nothing to do with racism and hate. <BR /> <BR />Legislative provisions in the proposed sentencing Bill and victims and witnesses of crime Bill will modernise our hate crime law in Northern Ireland and will provide a more robust system to sanction offenders. Direct support for victims of sectarian hate crime is provided though the hate crime advocacy service, which supports victims through the criminal justice process and signposts them to relevant support services.”
“There is no place in society for that type of hate. Every person and every family, regardless of religion or background, is entitled to feel safe and free from threat or intimidation. My Department is engaged in a wide range of work to respond to sectarian hate attacks and to strengthen support for victims of hate crime or for people who feel vulnerable to attack, whether at home, in school, at work or on our streets. <BR /> <BR />What is always evident is that sectarianism, racism and paramilitarism do not help our communities. Paramilitary organisations are an unwanted relic of a troubled past and hold no legitimacy. As I have said many times before, they should disband and allow our communities to move forward.”
“I have raised the treatment of those people, particularly in cases of paramilitary-style attacks, in writing with the UK Government and the president of the Victims' Payments Board. Shootings and beatings by paramilitary organisations, whether they are intra-community or inter-community, need to be addressed in the same way. Unfortunately, that is not how the legislation sits. It would require amendment at Westminster. However, I have raised my concerns about the differentiation between victims who were beaten by people who ostensibly came from the same community versus those who were beaten by people viewed as being from a different community.”
“In addition, for those who are victims of specific sexual offences, we have sexual offences legal advisers and child sexual offences legal advisers, who can give pre-court and pre-trial legal advice to victims to help to guide them through the many requests that they will face around issues such as disclosure.”
“We provide over £2·4 million of funding for the general work that we do to support victims, and to ensure that victims and witnesses of crime can access the support services that they need. Those services are delivered by Victim Support NI and the NSPCC's young witness service. Through the witness support services, victims and witnesses get emotional support, information and practical assistance, which helps them to give their best evidence. It includes opportunities to visit court before giving evidence; an explanation of the court process; accompanying the victim or witness into the courtroom, live-link room or remote evidence centre; and offering the opportunity to talk to someone when the case has ended.”
“Hopefully, that provides the reassurance that Members and families are looking for. Nothing that we did in that debate, and nothing that we voted for or against, in any way changes our view that those who go out with the intent to cause harm should be held accountable for their actions, and that there is no moral equivalence between those who go out to cause harm and those who are harmed by their actions. I was simply pointing out a matter of fact: at different points in a person's life, they can be both a victim and a perpetrator. It is important that we provide trauma-informed support based on what will lead to reconciliation and recovery and will end the cycle of intergenerational trauma that blights this community.”
“I certainly understand the hurt felt by victims' families and the sensitivity of the issue, which is why it is particularly disappointing that there has been so much politicking, particularly around the interview that I gave after the event. What I said has been thoroughly and deliberately misrepresented. To provide reassurance, I will put on record what I actually said about the difference between victims. I will read the part of it that was curiously edited out of what was shared on social media:”
“My Department funds support services to assist all victims of crime on an equal basis. The entitlements and services that victims of crime in Northern Ireland can expect to receive from criminal justice organisations are set out in the statutory Victim Charter. The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for administering the courts. It is impartial in upholding the rights of all to seek justice through the court system.”
“Policing and community safety partnerships are jointly funded by my Department and the Policing Board, and they lead on the Department's operational response to specific concerns at a local level. They work with designated partners, local statutory bodies and agencies, and the voluntary and community sector to tackle community safety issues right across the community. They can fund and support initiatives such as awareness campaigns, diversionary programmes for young people and local addiction initiatives. In a number of areas, PCSPs also help to fund community safety wardens to help ensure that our towns and cities are safe. Through those PCSPs, communities have a direct voice in shaping responses to alcohol misuse and ensuring that local concerns are reflected in practical actions.”
“However, as I said, it will be a cross-cutting matter, given that the powers lie between legislation that we can create in the Department of Justice and work that can be done by the Department for Communities.”
“Conversations with partners are ongoing. The previous joint consultation with DFC on the issue indicated a strong desire for change. We are proposing providing PSNI officers with the additional power to seize and dispose of alcohol in exceptional circumstances, such as certain public order situations. We are also exploring whether any other agencies may wish to use enforcement powers, although it is important to note that any power of seizure would be limited to the PSNI. The overall aim is to deliver a modern, enforceable and proportionate framework that balances effective enforcement with individual rights and signposting to support services. There is no desire to penalise vulnerable individuals.”
“In addition, the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 gives police the power to require those under 18 to surrender alcohol in public, with refusal constituting an offence. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that there is a desire for the legislative framework to be updated, and, as that is likely to be a cross-cutting issue, my Department is working with the PSNI and the Department for Communities to ensure that it is fit for purpose, with a view to bringing forward legislation, if needed, in the next mandate.”
“Police powers around drinking in public in Northern Ireland derive from a mix of local by-laws and broader public order legislation. Councils can prohibit drinking in designated public areas by way of local by-laws made under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. Consuming alcohol in those areas is an offence. Police can take an offender's name and address. However, prosecutions are brought by councils. The PSNI can address several alcohol-related public order offences via penalty notices for disorder provided for by the Justice Act 2011. That allows officers to quickly address offences such as being drunk in a public place, disorderly behaviour or conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.”
“If anybody actually cared about dogs and their welfare, they would not want to see a happy, well-adjusted and well-cared-for dog taken out of its routine environment.”
“As I have just said, prison officers are trained in the deployment of emotional support dogs, which is pretty much like looking after any other dog in that environment. The dogs are not there for protection, for guarding or to work as sniffer dogs, where there is a particular skill engaged in training the dogs and a particular level of vigilance required of the dogs. The dogs are simply there to show companionship to prisoners. The dogs do not need specific training, but they need to have a particular temperament. They have to be good around people, and they have to be calm and assured. Bailey fitted all those categories. Sadly, now, his life has been disrupted due to a threat received from outside the prison.”
“That is why we are able to do this. To say that there was no pre-assessment of suitability is, again, factually incorrect. There was one issue around whether the dog was well socialised with men, and that was dealt with before the dog was selected and brought to the prison. Those are further facts relating to further misinformation, and they show the further inability of some to accept a detailed and evidence-based response and to take it into account.”
“My greater concern is the amount of time that has been consumed by Prison Service staff in responding to an issue that was based on nothing but lies and smears. In fact, the Member himself had to admit in public that he had not even read the independent welfare report, despite tweeting consistently and persistently about the matter for, I think, over three weeks. <BR /> <BR />If we want to be serious about our concern for animals, the first thing to do is to look at what the animal welfare experts said about Bailey. They said that he was a dog in excellent condition, well adjusted and well cared for. These are not working dogs in the traditional sense. The training that goes with them is for those prison officers who deploy them in certain circumstances. They are treated, for all intents and purposes, as a family pet would be treated.”
“I disagree entirely with the picture that has been painted by the Member when she says that the way in which the situation was dealt with by the Prison Service, originally, was wrong. What is scandalous is the whipping up of false information, misinformation and disinformation in the public domain — in social media and the wider media. The truth is that, when the dog was inspected in place, it was found to be in excellent condition, happy, well adjusted and enjoying the work that it was doing. Sadly, because of the hysteria that was whipped up outside, a threat was received regarding Bailey, and he was removed from the prison for his own safety, because, let us be clear, the welfare and safety of the animals in our care are our primary concern in all these matters.”
“If a policy is required to satisfy the ongoing interests of all animals within prisons, I am certain that Prison Service and its staff have the measure of that task. However, that work will be appropriately prioritised among the many other challenges that face the service at this time, not least the rising prison population and the increasingly complex needs of that population. <BR /> <BR />Legislative matters relating to animals are not the responsibility of my Department.”
“The provision of emotional support animals within Northern Ireland Prison Service establishments is an operational matter for the Prison Service. It is more than 20 years since the service introduced support dogs into the prison setting, and it is not aware of a single occasion when a dog has been placed at risk. Support dogs are highly valued and well-cared-for team members and have helped countless prisoners who have been in crisis. That is the same for all support animals within prisons. <BR /> <BR />Every day, prison officers perform their roles with judgement, diligence and care. I have been disappointed and surprised that others think that those same officers are not up to the job of introducing an emotional support dog at Magilligan prison.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I draw to your attention the remarks that have just been made, which, again, directly challenge the advice that was provided to Members by the Speaker on the matter. It is a challenge not to my authority — I know where the boundaries are, and I can read the legislation — but to the ruling of the Speaker.”
“<BR /> <BR />A significant range of measures have been implemented over recent years to contribute to the transformation and modernisation of the criminal justice system. Undoubtedly, challenges remain, not least in light of the funding challenges that we face. However, at the end of the day, money that is invested in other Departments is not invested in Justice. Every time a Minister makes a call for additional resource, that is money that could go into the justice system to speed up justice, improve outcomes and give better support to victims and witnesses. When people come to the House, make demands and want to see things change, I hope that they will also go to their colleagues in the Executive and make it clear that the funding needs to follow what we want.”
“That will initially support women to remain in the community while awaiting trial and will provide them with wraparound support to live independently while addressing their offending behaviours. <BR /> <BR />It is notable that, despite that backdrop, some of the best prison inspection results that we have seen have happened in the past number of years. Our prisons, which were treated as basket cases and were among the most dangerous prisons in Europe, are now among the best. They are seen as exemplary, so let us not say that things have not and cannot change. <BR /> <BR />A key priority for the Department is the reduction of offending and reoffending. I am more than happy to go to the Committee and give an account of the work that we are doing in that space.”
“That, combined with the long case-processing times, can lead to individuals being released with their time having been served on remand with little to no rehabilitative work completed. We cannot compel people to engage when they are on remand. They are not guilty until the point of conviction, so we cannot compel them, but the offer is always there if people want to take it up. It is also a driving factor to progress the speeding up justice projects at pace, and I welcome the work that has been completed to date. That is why I am also keen, where it is appropriate and possible, to offer the judiciary viable alternatives to remand in custody, including a new bail support scheme that we hope to pilot in early 2026.”
“For example, long case-processing times can result in individuals spending longer in custody on remand, awaiting trial. That not only puts a strain on our prisons but can have a detrimental impact on the individuals involved, the victims, their families and, indeed, those who are on remand. <BR /> <BR />Contrary to what was said, the Prison Service does not deny support for people who are on remand. It is not the case that there is no support. In fact, on the contrary, the Prison Service strives to encourage individuals who are held on remand to engage in purposeful activity whilst they are in custody. However, the reality is that the engagement can often be seen as an admission of guilt, and many fear that it will impact on their court outcomes.”
“In recognition of the fact that victims and witnesses are impacted on across many areas of justice, the strategy and action plan that are currently in development have been planned in collaboration with criminal justice organisations, Victim Support NI, the NSPCC and the Commissioner for Victims of Crime and will complement and inform related work streams, including tackling delay, which, I believe, will support ongoing system-wide improvement. As I pointed out, significant improvements have already been made as a result of the remote evidence centres, which I also championed. It is important to recognise that that breakthrough technology will allow people to have their cases heard and to get the outcomes that they want. <BR /> <BR />I recognise that delays in the justice system can contribute to pressures elsewhere in the system.”
“It is a significant boost to progressing the important programme of work, but, ultimately, progress will be dictated by decisions made in the House, and whether those decisions are based on evidence or populism will be a test for the Assembly, not solely for the Department. <BR /> <BR />The Department is also finalising the new victims and witnesses of crime strategy. Our mission statement is:”
“The programme takes a whole-system approach and focuses on reducing avoidable delay, reducing demand, freeing capacity and facilitating more proportionate and effective responses to offending behaviours. It also aims to take advantage of technological developments to improve operational processes and the communication between justice organisations and the public. Earlier this year, the Department successfully secured £20·5 million of transformation funding to support the programme's delivery. That has already been used to accelerate ongoing work in the early engagement and out-of-court-disposals projects.”
“The programme is a joint, cross-justice, collaborative effort under the direction of the CJB, on which senior leaders of the criminal justice system are represented, including me, the Lady Chief Justice, the Chief Constable, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the director of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service, as well as a number of senior officials, including the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime, who, I believe, has to be at the heart of transformation because of my personal commitment to ensuring that the system services victims.”
“<BR /> <BR />Delay is one of the biggest challenges that the justice system faces, and it has been identified as a key priority by me as Minister and, indeed, by the Criminal Justice Board and other justice agencies. Delaying criminal cases has a negative impact on those who come into contact with the system, as well as on wider confidence in the community. The speed with which cases progress is of huge importance to victims, witnesses, the accused, their families and wider society. <BR /> <BR />The delivery of a speeding up justice programme is a Programme for Government commitment under the safer communities priority.”
“<BR /> <BR />In this age and at this time, we recognise the necessity of providing secure, trusted and user-friendly technology to support those working in the justice system and those who need to engage at any point with justice organisations. It is a cross-justice strategy that has been developed in partnership with stakeholders right across the system and aims to ensure that technological developments are used to enhance processes and access to services and to embed a culture of digital transformation in years to come. In addition, we are continuing to progress work across a range of topical issues that the report highlighted as being long-term issues for the system.”
“I will not at this point. As I was saying, they felt that their work was sufficiently different and distinct from the work of some of the other boards that it would not necessarily be appropriate to make changes to them, but we are revisiting some of the review's findings at the moment. <BR /> <BR />The CJINI report also noted a lack of cross-justice investment in and development of technology and that individual organisations did not always consider the impact of specific changes on other organisations in the system. In the coming months, my Department will publish a new digital justice strategy to tackle those issues. It is a pivotal initiative that aims to support the delivery of a modern digital justice system.”
“Not at this point. CJINI accepts that position, and we will have the work finalised in the coming months. The vision will be key to embedding a collaborative, cross-justice approach to issues affecting the criminal justice system. <BR /> <BR />The Chair of the Committee also asked about the review of the purpose and membership of boards and fora aimed at reducing duplication and freeing up capacity. That was undertaken in May, and no significant issues emerged as a result of the review. Most people felt that the work that was being done by the boards that they sat on was sufficiently different and distinct from the work of some of the other boards that it would not be —.”
“Given the scale and significance of the ambition, however, combined with the complexity and independence — yes, independence — of independent parts of the system, it is important that it be done properly, that we do not encroach on their independence sphere by bringing it forward and that they all buy into the vision. That work is therefore ongoing, and CJINI is aware of that work and is being engaged as part of the wider consultation process to develop the shared vision. It is important that the process be collaborative and inclusive but also that it recognise the independence of the constituent members of the justice system.”
“<BR /> <BR />I, along with colleagues across the criminal justice system, recognise that long-term sustainability is dependent on reform and modernisation in order to enable the optimisation of resources to deliver a more efficient and timely service. In response to the strategic recommendation in the CJINI report, my Department is leading on work to develop a criminal justice vision that will be used to define system-wide strategies, objectives and actions. The shared vision and priorities, when finalised, will be communicated and embedded in justice organisations' planning in order to provide a shared sense of direction. <BR /> <BR />CJINI recommended that the work be completed within six months.”
“That leaves the system with less than 0·5% of discretionary spend, making it extremely difficult to engage in meaningful transformation and to sustain that transformation. Although we have an appetite for change, it is only now, through successful bids and through initiatives such as the public-sector transformation board that we can find the significant funding that is needed to sustain our endeavours. <BR /> <BR />It is important to raise those issues for context, but I want to focus on key developments in the Department and in the wider justice system that I believe will address the questions posed and allay some of the concerns that have been raised, assuming, of course, that Members raised them in good faith.”
“That underfunding continues to hamper efforts to transform the justice system, as funding is, quite rightly, prioritised to demand-led, front-line activities, including policing, prisons and courts. It is also in contrast with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, which have seen massive increases in the proportion of the block grant that they get, yet they have delivered precious little by way of transformation.”
“It has fallen from just under 11% in 2011-12 — I would argue that that was not sufficient, given that there was no anticipation that we would still be dealing with the overhang of legacy at this remove — to just over 8% in 2025-26.”
“Absolutely. They led the working group that led to the proposals on which I am now consulting on behalf of the Criminal Justice Board. We try to be collective, but some people will try to unpick even that. <BR /> <BR />The long-standing and ongoing funding challenges for Justice are also well articulated in the Chamber. They will, undoubtedly, impact on what can be delivered. To be clear, I cannot do everything with nothing. I either have the resources or I do not, and that will have an impact on what the Department can achieve. The DOJ's share of the Northern Ireland block grant has fallen continually over the past 14 years.”
“All of that noise affects the risk appetite of justice partners in the system. It does not affect my risk appetite, because I recognise that it needs to happen.”
“Its removal for victims and witnesses meant that they would not have to give oral evidence more than once during committal proceedings. <BR /> <BR />Measures were also introduced to divert low-level cases from the formal criminal justice system through the use of penalty notices in 2012 and community resolution notices in 2016. However, despite efforts to date, the number of cases prosecuted in court remains relatively high, which is having an impact on the finite Justice resources and contributing to pressure on the system. Of course, that is not helped when people make a clamour and say that every case must go to court, irrespective of whether it is serious or otherwise or when people argue that every criminal must go to jail, because anything that is not jail is not effective.”
“New measures were introduced to simplify the summons process and to encourage earlier guilty pleas. I will come to the issue of early guilty pleas, because, of course, there is a court ruling that constrains the amount of credit that a judge can give, depending on the timing of the guilty pleas. That is something that we are actively looking at. More proportionate forensic reporting and the first phase of committal reform have been delivered. It was not thanks to the Chamber that we got there on committal reform, because, in 2015, the first attempt by an Alliance Minister to come forward with committal reform was shot down in the House by one of Mr O'Toole's colleagues at the time and Mr Gaston's colleague. However, we managed to get there eventually.”
“The Chair of the Committee asked how we can have all of this technology and not make efficiencies. Of course, the criminals also have access to all of that technology, which makes the investigation of many offences much more complex and time-consuming. I would have thought that that was apparent without my having to spell it out. Cases are becoming ever more complex. The increasingly digital world in which we live is reflected in investigations, where, often, technology is used in the commission of offences and digital devices need to be analysed for evidential material that may be relevant to deciding whether to prosecute. Those are significant challenges that create pressure across the system. <BR /> <BR />I will look back slightly further. Since devolution, a number of measures have been introduced to help improve the system.”
“That, in particular, will have long-term implications, because a reduction in youth offending among our young male population will feed through the system. We know that young people will graduate from one part of the system to another, so that is critical. The achievements also include the continued development of the Causeway system to facilitate the electronic sharing of information on criminal cases between key justice agencies and the use of live links, to name but a few. The use of live links is critical when it comes to discussing not only the speeding up of justice but the impact on victims and witnesses. <BR /> <BR />It is also important to note that the nature of the crime that the criminal justice system is dealing with is not standing still.”
“The combined absence of the Northern Ireland Assembly for prolonged periods, poor annual budget allocations year-on-year and the challenges of business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic added to the challenges that the criminal justice system has faced in recent years. It is worth noting that work to speed up justice was starting to reduce the time that it took for cases to proceed through the Crown Court in the first two quarters, until COVID hit in 2019. <BR /> <BR />It is also important to acknowledge that the CJINI report highlighted a number of notable achievements in recent years, including the reform of youth justice, which reduced the number of children in custody and the number of cases prosecuted at Youth Court.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I very much welcome the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland report, 'Transforming the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland: A Strategic Overview', which was published in November 2024. I acknowledge that it provides a challenge to the justice system to reflect on our pace and approach to change and transformation. The report, however, also acknowledges the difficulties that the system has faced in making such progress, including the inheritance of issues that existed prior to devolution, such as delay, access to justice, victim and witness care and the effective rehabilitation of offenders.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. The matter of accountability mechanisms in the Chamber and those that lie elsewhere has been ruled on by the Speaker in the past. I ask that the Speaker reviews the comments that have just been made with respect to my accountability to the House. They are wholly inappropriate and disingenuous. They also misrepresent an established rule by the Speaker.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. On the point that has just been made, I would be grateful if you could review the transcript because it seems to suggest that I dictate what party members ought to say on the Floor of the House. I also do not appreciate the reference to "their master's voice", because it is certainly not how we operate as a party. Those disparaging and personal remarks are inappropriate.”