News, analysis, and updates on legal reforms, law enforcement, judicial processes, and public safety measures upholding justice in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Justice has launched a public consultation on proposals to increase maximum compensation for miscarriage of justice victims in Northern Ireland. The primary proposal would raise statutory caps by 30%, aligning the region with recent changes in England and Wales, whilst also seeking views on more fundamental reforms […]
The Department of Justice has published official statistics showing that just over one in four people entering Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system in 2024/25 were first-time offenders, with the vast majority of young people diverted away from formal court processes. The First Time Entrants to the Criminal Justice System 2024/25
A powerful new short film exploring the lives of women caught in Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system will premiere at Belfast’s historic Crumlin Road Gaol. Bubble, written and directed by acclaimed playwright Patricia Downey of Spanner in the Works Theatre Company, adapts her award-winning stage play Runny Honey for the
Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a public Call for Views to shape a new strategy aimed at reducing offending and reoffending across Northern Ireland. The consultation, which opened on 18 June 2026 and runs until 13 August 2026, seeks input from communities, frontline workers, and crucially, those with direct
The Department of Justice has published official statistics revealing a significant decline in court prosecutions across Northern Ireland during 2025, with cases dropping by nearly ten per cent in magistrates’ courts and a smaller decrease at Crown Court level. The annual bulletin, which tracks prosecutions, convictions, and out-of-court disposals, also
Justice Minister Naomi Long has paid tribute to prison officers and police staff recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, praising their courage during a period of significant pressure on Northern Ireland’s justice system. The announcement, published by the Department of Justice on 12 June 2026, acknowledges recipients of the
Justice Minister Naomi Long has issued a stark condemnation of disorder that erupted across Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening, warning that masked groups are “weaponising” genuine community anger following a recent knife attack in north Belfast. The Minister’s statement, released late on 9 June 2026, came just hours after she
Justice Minister Naomi Long has issued an urgent appeal for calm following a brutal overnight knife attack in north Belfast that has left a man in his 40s with life-threatening injuries. The Minister praised the bravery of bystanders who intervened to stop the assault, which the Police Service of Northern
The Department of Justice has launched a recruitment drive to fill two critical governance positions at the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT), with applications closing in just over two weeks. The Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, which provides psychological therapies, physiotherapy and coaching to retiring police officers, seeks both a
Justice Minister Naomi Long has agreed to implement an additional 8.66% increase to all criminal legal aid fees in Northern Ireland, accepting every recommendation from an accelerated review aimed at resolving the long-running dispute that has seen barristers withdraw from Crown Court cases. The move, announced on 3 June 2026,
