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Author: DOJ Team

Latest research paper explores Public Health Approaches for Youth Violence Prevention

Posted on by DOJ Team

The latest paper published by Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), in conjunction with the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme is a rapid review of public health approaches to prevent youth violence. The report, which analysed 60 sources, found some consistency in principles but differences in how these were put into practice.

 

The report outlines five key themes that make up public health approaches: priorities like good data; principles like addressing root causes; policies to support prevention; practices like identifying risks and evaluating programs; and evidence-based programs at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.  These themes offer a framework for complex prevention which often requires multiple programs being delivered concurrently.

 

The report concludes that core parts of public health approaches to youth violence and gaps need to be addressed. Important practical factors like making programs adaptable and fitting them to context are underexplored and more detailed evaluations of real-world programs could improve understanding.

 

Dr Colm Walsh from QUB said: “Key practical details to make evidence-based programs more achievable are often missing from research. For example, there is little on ‘adaptability’ – how new organisations can successfully copy programs. This paper begins that discussion but also highlights that more research on these practical factors is needed.”

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

download pdf

Reviewing the threat to life process in Northern Ireland

Posted on by DOJ Team

A new report by Queens University Belfast (QUB), which was funded by this programme, highlights the need for greater collaborative working and a public health focus to tackle paramilitary threats and intimidation in Northern Ireland.

 

Despite being 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, paramilitary activity and threats to life continues to impact victims and communities across Northern Ireland. The current system for handling threats to life is managed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and it was found that the current practice of issuing warning letters often leaves victims traumatized and feeling abandoned.  The report found that this process could benefit from a more consistent approach in the future.

 

The report notes that current issues around community trust in policing and the impact of ongoing paramilitary intimidation in communities has had an impact in reporting threats and accessing essential services.

 

Proposed options include reforming PSNI guidance on threats to life, extending coordination protocols to at-risk adults, formulating minimum standards for data collection, and establishing a centralised process for the threat management process.

 

The report suggests that a greater focus on partnership working and a public health approach (which involves early intervention and co-operation across professional sectors), aligned with a review of guidance for those deemed ‘at risk’ and a greater focus on data analysis and accountability mechanisms, will help to improve support for victims and increase community confidence in policing.

 

To read the report, please click the link below: 

 

https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/527115081/Human_rights_fin.pdf

Northern Ireland’s political parties collectively endorse Ending The Harm public awareness campaign

Posted on by DOJ Team

The programme’s Political Advisory Group, made up of representatives from Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance party, UUP and SDLP have today issued the following collective statement in support of the Ending The Harm campaign.

 

“In 2015 we all agreed that we would work together to end Paramilitarism in our society. For the last eight years there has been an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to keep people safe, break the cycle of harm caused by paramilitaries, and build resilience and confidence in communities.

 

Today we stand to support the latest phase of the Ending the Harm campaign.

 

Paramilitary and criminal gangs exploit vulnerable members of our society and they control communities using illegal moneylending, drugs, violence, and intimidation. The campaign is a reminder of that to us all and shows us what this means for people who are struggling with the cost of living; those who may have an addiction or mental health issues, or sometimes just being in the wrong place or making a bad decision when they felt they had no choice.

 

No-one should be a victim of paramilitary coercion or influence in any shape or form. For those who are directly affected, know that help is available without having to rely on criminals. The campaign website provides information on support for those who need it: Get Support – Ending The Harm .

 

We reject the existence of paramilitary or armed criminal groups in our society as normal because the harm it causes affects us all. It stymies the ability for our post-conflict society, which has come so far, to further prosper and reach its full potential. Everyone has a role to play here. For our part, we continue to support the efforts of the Executive’s Programme on Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime which delivers over 200 interventions to make a positive and tangible difference to the lives of people most affected by the harm caused by paramilitarism.”

 

EPPOC Political Advisory Group