The victims of crime commissioner designate Geraldine Hanna said she has spoken to victims who would not report a crime again after their experience in the justice system
By Stephen Dempster & Elaine Forrester
BBC NI Spotlight
The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland is at breaking point, a leading voice for victims has warned.
Geraldine Hanna, the victims of crime commissioner designate, said “people talk about the health service being broken, I think our justice system is not far off”.
It comes after a report warned that victims were being failed by long delays to cases going through court.
Police and prosecutors both say budget cuts have contributed to the situation.
On average, criminal cases take twice as long to conclude in Northern Ireland compared to England and Wales.
Victims in serious criminal cases – including murder – have told BBC News NI’s Spotlight programme that delays have put their lives on hold and traumatised them further.
Some cases are lasting five years and longer. One recent case, involving child cruelty, concluded after eight and a half years.
‘Not fit for purpose’
Speaking to Spotlight, Ms Hanna said: “Anecdotally from victims and police, I have heard of examples being given where the victim has maybe said that delay has impacted on their decision to withdraw (from a case).”
She said she has spoken to victims who told her they would not report a crime again because of their experience in the justice system.
“For me, when the people who are going through it are coming away saying they wouldn’t report it again and when we see an increase in that, that for me is a sign that the system is not fit for purpose,” she added.
On Monday, a report by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) warned that victims are being failed by long delays to court cases.
The report said Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) evidence files of “poor quality” continued to contribute to delays and this could have “significant consequences” in terms of slowing down the progression of cases.
When inspectors looked at police practice, they found 54% of files prepared for crown court cases “did not meet, or only partially met, the file build standards”.
It was a similar figure for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
The PSNI and PPS have both told Spotlight they have been working together to address delay.
Both organisations said the increased complexity of cases, which require investigation of phones and computers, and disruption caused by the pandemic have slowed cases down.
You can watch BBC Spotlight: The Price of Justice on BBC iPlayer later on Tuesday or on BBC One Northern Ireland at 22:40 BST.
