Northern Ireland Policing & justice conference
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Northern Ireland policing and justice conference
The devolution of policing and justice heralds a new era for the local justice system. For the first time in 38 years a local Minister will have responsibility for policing and justice powers. Now that devolution has finally taken place, this important conference will explore the strategic issues facing the newly devolved policing and justice system.
Devolution in practice:
Overcoming the challenges
Following the long and difficult path towards the Hillsborough Agreement which made devolution possible, there could be a temptation to see the actual act of devolution, which took place on 12th April as the final stage in the process. Whilst it may be the final part of the political process, it is in reality only the beginning of the hard work. While the powers have been devolved, much remains to be done in understanding how the whole system of devolution will work in practice in Northern Ireland, and most importantly how the various organisations within the system will work together. Some of the key challenges facing the new Department of Justice and its Minister, include:
- The need to keep the Police Service of Northern Ireland independent;
- Cutting Northern Ireland’s legal aid bill, which is significantly higher than elsewhere in the UK;
- Reducing delays in the Northern Ireland criminal justice system, and the number of people in prison on remand as a result of that delay;
- Funding and driving through improvements to Northern Ireland’s prisons, Magilligan and Maghaberry;
- Creation of a new system of local Crime Reduction Partnerships to take over the existing functions of District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) and Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs);
- Finding an acceptable way of working out disputes around parading and achieving a peaceful ‘marching season’;
- Improving services for victims;
- Dealing with the ongoing challenge of a ‘severe’ terrorist threat level for Northern Ireland, understood to be at its highest since the Omagh bombing in 1998;
- Delivering a ‘joined-up’ justice system ensuring efficient interaction between all the various agencies within the sector and the many oversight bodies.
Featured speakers include:
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David Banks Group Managing Director for Care & Justice & Global Product Champion Justice G4S |
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Jim Coupland Senior Director of Investigations Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland |
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Jacqui Durkin Head of Business Development and Services Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service |
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Alan Hunter Chief Executive The Law Society of Northern Ireland |
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Dr Bill Lockhart Chief Executive Youth Justice Agency |
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Olwen Lyner Chief Executive NIACRO |
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Dr Michael Maguire Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland |
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Brian Rea Acting Chairman, Northern Ireland Policing Board |
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James Taylor Director Strategy Practice, Deloitte |
* View the full speaker line-up and conference programme.
