Niacro

NIACRO works to reduce crime and its impact on people and communities

APRIL 2007

NIACRO’S RESPONSE TO THE NIO’S CONSULTATION DOCUMENT “DELIVERING A BETTER SERVICE TO VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIME – A NORTHERN IRELAND STRATEGY”

INTRODUCTION:

NIACRO, the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, is a voluntary organisation, working for 35 years to reduce crime and its impact on people and communities.  NIACRO provides services under the headings of: working in communities; working with children and young people who offend; working with offenders and ex-prisoners; working with prisoners, their families and children; influencing policy and practice; and applying resources effectively.

NIACRO’s Vision is to be acknowledged as making a unique contribution to the development of a society in which the rights of everyone, including offenders, are equally respected.

NIACRO’s Mission Statement is “working to reduce crime and its impact on people and communities.”

NIACRO welcomes the opportunity to respond to 

“Delivering a better service to victims and witnesses of crime – a  Northern Ireland Draft Strategy” as all of its activities are concerned with reducing crime and those affected by crime, specifically victims.

RESPONSES:

Objective 1:  Access to information

NIACRO welcomes the proposals in this objective and notes that the onus is on the Criminal Justice system to explain to the general and specific publics how it is delivered.  In order that this is achieved it is necessary to proactively engage with victims and groups that have an interest in victims.  This does not only include organisations such as NIACRO but also groups in the voluntary and community non Criminal Justice sector such as Age Concern etc.  The Consultation does not reference Community Restorative Justice projects who are of course working directly with victims of crime.  This should be rectified.

Objective 2:  Case Progression

NIACRO supports the development of (an) information system(s) that keep victims and witnesses informed about specific cases.  This should include a telephone service and an opportunity for victims and witnesses to engage in face to face discussions.  NIACRO has no fixed view as to a drop-in centre being established and located in a specific place.  In NIACRO’s view it is more important that the needs of victims and witnesses are responded to rapidly.  Having a centre in, for example, Belfast, may place additional stresses on victims and witnesses located in rural areas.  An outreach service should be given consideration.

Objective 3:  A Quality Service

Partnership working should be defined as there may be other relationships that may be more appropriate to deliver services eg contracting and the establishment of service level agreements.   With regard to the development of an overarching Victims’ Code of Practice this needs to take account of not only existing complaints mechanisms but also how this interfaces with the actual case itself and the possibility for appeal.

Some explanation as to what corporate accountability actually means is required as in some cases victims feel that organisations hide behind such a concept.

Objective 4:  Supporting Victims

NIACRO supports the proposals in this objective and believe that they should be subject to regular review with the involvement of representatives from the statutory, voluntary and community and private sectors.   

Objective 5:  Listening to Victims

This objective should incorporate the potential offered by community restorative justice schemes and NIACRO would support the development of programmes with adult offenders whether these are delivered by statutory, voluntary or community organisations. 

General:

As referred to above, the delivery of services to victims and witnesses should be subject to regular review with the involvement of representatives from the statutory, voluntary and community and private sectors.  This would enable the development of good practice by examining what was actually happening within and beyond the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland.  Such a review body should have victims and witness representation contained within it. 

As a final point NIACRO notes the list of organisations contained within Section 8 of the consultation paper.  The organisations listed are funded to the tune of ?1.85m per annum.  This funding represents less than 1% of the overall criminal justice budget.  This is quite telling but does not represent non direct costs.  Consideration should be given to the establishment of an audit that specifies activities that impact on victims and witnesses and consideration should also be given to quantifying how changed practice contributes to the needs of victims and witnesses.