Criminal Justice Inspection has published two follow-up reviews on Forensic Science Northern Ireland and Scientific Support Services within the PSNI. Both reports examine progress on recommendations contained in the Inspectorate’s original reports which were published in 2005.  The acknowledge the progress which has been made by both organisations while highlighting areas where further improvements can be made.

An inspection report on the Northern Ireland Resettlement Strategy has been published by Criminal Justice Inspection.  The report looked at the work that has been undertaken by the Prison Service, Probation Service and other statutory and voluntary agencies since the strategy was launched in 2004.  The inspection found good work is being done to prepare prisoners for settling back into the community on their release from prison and reduce their likelihood of re-offending, but it has urged the Prison Service to strike a greater balance between security and resettlement work.

An inspection report on Human Resource Management in the PSNI which CJI made a contribution to has been published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).  Copies of the report can be downloaded from the HMIC website http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/

Further information on the findings of the inspection can be obtained from HMIC North of England Region on (01924) 237700.

Kit Chivers gave a presentation to participants on the 2007 Common Purpose Crime Challenge Day who were examining the issue of how to re-integrated sex offenders into the community.  As part of the event, participants visited Maghaberry Prison and met with stakeholders involved in the assessment and management of sex offenders.  The challenge day concluded with a panel discussion involving the Chief Inspector and Tom McGonigle from CJI as well as William McCauley, Strategy and Policy Co-ordinator with the Northern Ireland Sex Offenders Management Committee and Andrew Rooke, Assistant Director with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

CJI has published its initial inspection of four community-based restorative justice schemes supervised by Northern Ireland Alternatives.  The Inspectorate was asked to inspect the schemes by Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson, MP.  The report assessed whether or not the schemes had the potential to meet the standard required for accreditation under the Government Protocol.  The report has been presented to the Minister for his consideration.

Paul Mageean has co-authored an essay examining Article Two of the European Convention of Human Rights.  The essay is included in a new book entitled Judges, Transition and Human Rights (OUP, 2007) edited by Professors John Morison, Kieran McEvoy and Gordon Anthony from the School of Law at Queen’s University, Belfast.

The book was published in memory of Prof. Stephen Livingstone, a former Professor of Law at QUB who died in 2004. Paul was asked to contribute to the book because of his personal understanding of Article Two and the cases he was involved in during his time with the Committee on the Administration of Justice.

19-20

April

CJI’s Paul Mageean represented the Inspectorate at a two-day conference on the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Torture.  The international conference hosted by the University of Bristol School of Law, was attended by representatives of organisations from around the world which may be designated as National Preventative Mechanisms (NPMs) to ensure torture or ill-treatment does not occur in places of detention in their jurisdiction.

Kit Chivers gave a presentation on the findings of CJI's recent inspection on how hate crime is managed by the criminal justice system to the All-Party Working Group on black and ethnic minority people at Belfast City Hall.  The group is made up of MLAs of all political parties and representatives of voluntary organisations from across Northern Ireland.

CJI  has welcomed the Government’s publication of its consultation paper on a new strategy for Victims and Witnesses, in response to CJI’s report of July 2005.  The paper can be viewed on the Criminal Justice System website www.cjsni.gov.uk or on the NIO website -- www.nio.gov.uk.

Criminal Justice Inspection has published its thematic report on Improving Procurement in the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice Inspection’s Annual Stakeholder Conference is held at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick.

The event which brings together representatives of Northern Ireland’s Criminal Justice system and voluntary and community groups who work within the sector this year is looking at the issue of Justice in a Changing Community.  Among the speakers joining  Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland in addressing delegates at the one-day conference are Paul Goggins MP, Minister for Security, Policing and Prisons, Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Kathleen O’Toole, Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate.  They will also be addressed by Professor Kieran McEvoy, Queen’s University, Belfast, Brendan McAllister, Director of Mediation Northern Ireland, Patrick Yu from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) and James Knox from the Coalition on Sexual Orientation (COSO).  During the course of the day, CJI Inspectors will consult Stakeholders on the proposed Inspection Programme for 2007-08.

A thematic inspection on how the Criminal Justice system in Northern Ireland manages hate crime has been published by Criminal Justice Inspection.  The report recommends a more consistent, integrated and systematic approach to the reporting, recording, investigation and prosecution of these offences would improve the existing system.  It also recognises the commendable commitment displayed by the various criminal justice agencies to tackling the issue.

Criminal Justice Inspection has published its Annual Report for 2005-06. The report charts the progress of the organisation over the last financial year and provides a brief outline of all inspections carried out and published between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006. Hard copies of the Annual Report can be obtained by writing, phoning or e-mailing CJI directly.

Criminal Justice Inspection has published its review of the contribution made by the voluntary and community sector to the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.  The review recognises the important contribution voluntary and community sector groups currently make and the challenges they will face in the future.

“Chief Inspector Kit Chivers chairs the Specialist Accommodation Forum conference on Managing Change and Improving Outcomes for Young People at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick.”

CJI has advertised to recruit an Inspector with experience in Human Resources.  Candidates can obtain further information on the selection criteria and the duties and responsibilities of the post by contacting John McClenaghan at Grafton Recruitment on 028 90 895803 or via e-mail jnmcclenaghan@graftonrecruitment.com or from the following web page www.loadzajobs.co.uk

Criminal Justice Inspection has published its report on Community Safety Partnerships.  The report recognised the dedication shown by CSP members and co-ordinators to the concept of community safety, but indicated that CSPs need a firmer legislative basis for their work.

CJI Chief Inspector Kit Chivers gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on community restorative justice. Also giving evidence at this session were Lord Clyde, the former Justice Oversight Commissioner, and the Chairman and Chief Officer of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.  To view a transcript of the evidence please click on the following link http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk

Criminal Justice Inspection has published its first follow-up review. The review examined progress made on 30 recommendations included in the inspection report on the State Pathologist’s Department which was published in June 2005. The follow-up review revealed that 15 of the recommendations had not yet been achieved.  In light of this, CJI’s Chief Inspector Kit Chivers has given a commitment that CJI will conduct a further review in 2007.

Brendan McGuigan participated in the Ballymena ‘Your Turn’ programme with students from local schools and colleges.  The event, held in the Leghinmhor Hotel was organised by Common Purpose.  The programme encourages young people from different backgrounds to come together to face up to common problems and to think in news ways about the area where they live.

CJI is to carry out an independent inspection of the action taken by criminal justice agencies to strengthen arrangements for the management of sex offenders following the sentencing of Trevor Hamilton for the murder of Strabane pensioner Attracta Harron.  Chief Inspector Kit Chivers was asked to carry out the inspection work by the Minister for Criminal Justice David Hanson MP.

Kit Chivers, Brendan McGuigan and members of the CJI Inspection team welcomed Dawn Purvis and David Ervine, MLA of the Progressive Unionist Party to CJI headquarters as part of the CJI’s efforts to engage with all political parties and key opinion formers.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey and North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon met with CJI as part of on-going efforts by the Chief Inspector and his staff to engage with different political parties and key opinion formers.

19 June

Brendan McGuigan gave a presentation to a group of senior police officers, judges and prison governors from Iraq who were attending a course at Bramshill Police Staff College in Hampshire on the challenges faced post conflict for a criminal justice system.  During the presentation, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice explained how inspection could contribute positively towards the change and improvement of criminal justice systems.

Kit Chivers and Brendan McGuigan met with three representatives of the Alliance Party as part of ongoing efforts to develop greater understanding of the work of CJI and to engage with members of different political parties and key opinion formers.  The meeting was attended by Dr Stephen Farry Alliance Party Justice spokesman, Allan Leonard, Alliance Party General Secretary and Robert Logan, a member of Carrickfergus DPP.

CJI published its inspection report of the Social Security Agency’s Benefit Investigation Service.

CJI published its thematic inspection on Avoidable Delay within the criminal justice system.  The report was handed over to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain and other Ministers following a presentation on its findings by Kit Chivers Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice and CJI Inspector James Corrigan in London.

The Chief Inspector addressed a private meeting of Craigavon District Policing Partnership.  Mr Chivers spoke to the Chairman and DPP members about the work of CJI and the part they would play in a forthcoming inspection of Community Safety Partnerships that includes Craigavon.

CJI and HM Inspector of Prisons published a joint Inspection of Maghaberry Prison.  The Inspection report into Maghaberry Prison and press release can be found on the CJI website.

CJI published its Corporate Plan for 2006-09 and Business Plan for 2006-07.

Sinn Fein representatives Raymond McCartney, Ciaran Kearney and Mike Ritchie call on CJI to discuss CJI’s published reports, the future work programme, and issues around community restorative justice.

The Secretary of State, Peter Hain states that CJI will inspect the effectiveness of Anti-Social Behavioural Orders (ASBOs) in Northern Ireland.  He also mentions that there is to be an in-house evaluation of the ASBO scheme this year. CJI’s inspection will take place in 2007.

CJI published its response to the consultation on community-based restorative justice.

The Chief Inspector gives a presentation to the NI Policing Board on proposed changes in the arrangements for inspection and on CJI’s plans for future inspections of the PSNI.  The plans will be published in April, subject to Ministerial approval.

Dan Mulholland leaves CJI.  Dan was the NIO project manager who brought CJI into existence.  He is replaced as Business Manager by CJI Inspector Tom McGonigle on a part-time basis.  Tom will continue to lead inspections in his field of expertise.

David Lidington MP,  Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, called on the Chief Inspector to discuss the current work of CJI .

31 Jan

CJI published its report on the thematic review of Target-setting and Performance Management in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

Launching his Fifth Report , the Justice Oversight Commissioner, Lord Clyde, said: "I should like to stress the importance of the role of the Chief Inspector.  That office has a continuing and vital part to play in the improvement of standards of conduct and of efficient and effective performance".

CJI held its annual Stakeholder Conference at the Dunadry Hotel,

Antrim.  The event, which was attended by about 100 people from the

criminal justice agencies, non-statutory organisations and other interested parties, was opened by the Criminal Justice Minister, David Hanson MP. In the morning Kit Chivers gave a speech on the past and present work of CJI.  This was followed by a session, introduced by Conal Devitt (Head of the Community Safety Unit) and Olwen Lyner (Chief Executive of NIACRO) on the role of the voluntary and community sector in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.  In the afternoon CJI Deputy Chief Inspector Brendan McGuigan presented for consultation CJI’s proposed inspection plans for the next three years.

CJI Annual Report and Accounts for 2004-05 published.  The Annual Report without the accounts had been presented to Parliament in July 2005.

Alex Attwood MLA called on the Chief Inspector to discuss the Government's proposals on community-based restorative justice.