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Category: NEWS & EVENTS

New strategy supporting women and girls in contact with justice system

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Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a strategy to support women and girls in contact with the justice system.

The strategy focuses on women and girls who are at risk of offending or who have offended, and seeks to intervene at the earliest opportunity to improve outcomes for all those affected, including victims, families and communities.


Naomi Long said:

“Women and girls in contact with the justice system are thankfully small in number.

However, we know that what we do as a justice system can have a significant and long-lasting ‘ripple’ effect not only on their lives but the lives of their families and wider society.


“This strategy presents a significant opportunity to create and deliver meaningful and positive change. It focuses on what can be done to prevent and divert women and girls from crime, supporting them to change in the community, and helping improve their lives and circumstances on the occasion they enter and leave custody.


The Minister added:
“In shaping the strategy we have spoken to some of the women and girls who have a lived experience of the justice system, as well as various partners in the voluntary and community sector. By understanding the circumstances which brings a girl or woman into contact with the justice system, and, by providing alternatives to resolve some of the underlying issues, we can deliver better outcomes for all.

“The strategy also, importantly, encourages women and girls to take responsibility for their own actions and address the harm that has been caused by their behaviour.”


The new strategy, which runs from 2022 to 2029, will be delivered under three key themes; ‘Supporting Change: Early, ‘In the Community’, and ‘In and beyond Custody’ and will provide guidance, training and services to support women and girls to move away from offending; tackle offending behaviour by focusing on and addressing underlying issues, including addiction, mental health and a history of trauma; and support women and girls in and beyond custody.


At the official launch of the strategy in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, the Spanner in the Works Theatre Company performed the ‘Runny Honey’ play by Patricia Downey, which, in an engaging and thought-provoking way, highlights the issues and challenges that many women and girls in contact with justice, and in custody face.

Hargey launches ‘Active Living’ – the sport and physical activity strategy

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A strategy launched today will deliver its vision of a lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity, delivering an active, healthy, resilient and inclusive society which recognises and values both participation and excellence, says Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.

‘Active Living,’ the new Sport and Physical Activity Strategy was launched at an event in Stormont where 240 primary school children got the opportunity to try out a range of activities including Boccia, GAA sports, Hockey, Cricket, Rugby, Football, Orienteering, Climbing, Skateboarding and Boxing.

 

At the event guests heard Olympians Paddy Barnes (Boxing) and Shirley McCay (Hockey) and Paralympian Claire Taggart (Boccia) discuss with Professor Marie Murphy (UUJ) the importance of physical activity and sport and how it influenced them as they grew up, how they developed their talents and the experiences they have had while competing at the highest levels.

 

The Minister said:

“The strategy aims to get more people, more active, more of the time.  That must begin with children having access to more opportunities, exposure to different sports and making sure that they have fun and enjoy a quality experience.”

 

“There is a need to have a focus on not just competitive sport but on our communities, where everyone, regardless of ability or gender has the opportunity to be physically active and potentially competitively successful.”

 

‘Active Living’ was developed through engagement with over 200 groups and was refined following a full public consultation. Using a co-design approach, it has taken over four years of research, sectoral engagement, community engagement and consultation.

 

The Minister concluded:

“I want this strategy to bring about change, to challenge the normal approach by removing barriers to inclusion. I want it to drive participation rates upwards by increasing opportunities for as many people as possible to take part in sport and physical activity.

“Our clear and simple aim for the future of sport and physical activity is to get more people, more active, more of the time.”

 

Click here to view the strategy document.

Justice Minister launches a new Strategic Framework for Youth Justice

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Justice Minister, Naomi Long, today launched a new Framework setting out the strategic direction for the future of youth justice in Northern Ireland.

The Framework is accompanied by a 5-year Action Plan and recognises the developments which have taken place in the youth justice system over the course of the past decade. 

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Naomi Long said:

“We have made significant inroads into addressing offending behaviour by children in recent years and this has resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of children and young people entering the formal criminal justice system.  This benefits everyone in our society, from the children themselves and their families, to their victims and the wider communities in which they live.

 

“My Department’s new Strategic Framework for Youth Justice recognises that in order to build upon past successes and make further improvements, the continued adoption of a “children first” approach is vital.  This, and other key principles set out in the Framework will underpin all our interactions with children in the justice system.”

 

The Strategic Framework aims to deliver on a number of high level outcomes in order to realise the Department’s vision of “a progressive youth justice system – delivering better outcomes for children and communities.”  Key to this work will be the continued delivery of, and investment in, initiatives aimed at diverting young people from the youth justice system at the earliest possible stage and the development of further measures aimed at ensuring custody for children is a last resort.

 

Minister Long continued:

“I do not believe that criminalising children as young as 10 is in their best interests. A key action within the Framework, therefore, is to engage the public in a debate on this, with the aim of increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland to 14.

The vast majority of children in Northern Ireland will thankfully never enter into contact with the youth justice system.  For those who do, I am pleased that we now have a Framework dedicated to improving their life chances and ensuring they receive the support that every child deserves.”

 

The Strategic Framework for Youth Justice and associated documents (including a 5-year Action Plan) is available here.