Home > NEWS > CJI News Archive > 2006

2006

18/12/2006
CJI publish reports on volume crime and the use of police bail
Two separate reports by Criminal Justice Inspection into how the PSNI deals with volume crime and the use of police bail have been laid before the Houses of Parliament today.
13/12/2006
Magilligan Report published
A report of the findings of a joint unannounced follow-up inspection of Magilligan Prison carried out by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and Criminal Justice Inspection has been published.  The report indicated that improving accommodation was the key to unlocking the potential of the prison and its staff. Inspectors visited the prison between 10 and 19 May 2006.
11/12/2006
CJI publish 2005-06 Annual Report
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.
04/12/2006
Interim review report publish on Management of Sex Offenders
Criminal Justice Inspection has published its interim review on the management of sex offenders in light of the murder of Strabane pensioner Attracta Harron.  The review was carried out by CJI at the request of Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson MP.
23/11/2006
Kit Chivers chairs conference on Managing Change
“Chief Inspector Kit Chivers chairs the Specialist Accommodation Forum conference on Managing Change and Improving Outcomes for Young People at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick.”
23/11/2006
CJI publishes report on Added Value
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.
20/11/2006
CJI Inspector recruitment
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 [email protected] or from the following web page www.loadzajobs.co.uk
09/11/2006
Community Safety Partnerships report published
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.
01/11/2006
Chief Inspector gives evidence to Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
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
01/11/2006
New Inspection Support Officer
Amanda Hannan has taken up the post of Inspection Support Officer with CJI.
26/10/2006
CJI publishes its first follow-up review

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.

12/10/2006
Chief Inspector letter publish in The Times
A letter from Chief Inspector Kit Chivers on the Government’s proposal to merge the Prisons Inspectorate into a unified Justice and Community Safety Inspectorate in England and Wales was published in The Times. The proposal was defeated in a vote in the House of Lords on 10 October and now needs to be re-considered by the Commons.
12/10/2006
CJI publish report on Corporate Governance in the Probation Board for Northern Ireland
09/10/2006
Brendan McGuigan participates in Your Turn young people program

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.

29/09/2006
CJI visit Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority
The CJI Inspection team visited the Belfast offices of the Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to discuss how the two agencies could work together in the future.  The meeting was attended by the Chief Executive of the RQIA Stella Burnside and members of her senior team.
07/09/2006
CJI meet Alex Attwood MLA
Kit Chivers and Paul Mageean met with Alex Attwood the SDLP’s Policing spokesman and West Belfast MLA to discuss a number of issues including the protocols for community based restorative justice schemes.  Mr Attwood was joined at the meeting by his party colleague Brian Barrington.
04/08/2006
CJI to carry out independant inspection
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.
24/07/2006
CJI publishes repot on Causeway IT program
CJI published its first report on the Causeway IT programme.  Causeway is an electronic case management system which assists criminal justice agencies to exchange information between one another.
23/06/2006
PUP meet with CJI

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.

22/06/2006
Ulster Unionst meet with CJI

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.

19/06/2006
Deputy Chief Inspector gives a presentation to Iraq officals

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.

30/05/2006
CJI meet Alliance Party
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.
25/05/2006
Social Security Agency’s Benefit Investigation Service report published

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

18/05/2006
CJI publish report on Avoidable Delay
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.
04/05/2006
Maghaberry Prison report published
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.
04/05/2006
Chief Inspector meets Craigavon District Policing Partnership
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.
25/04/2006
Common Purpose
CJI (Kit Chivers and Paul Mageean) again set the challenge for Common Purpose’s annual Challenge Day on the criminal justice system. A total of 37 participants in the Common Purpose programme spent a day wrestling with topical issues in the field of criminal justice, starting with a morning in Maghaberry Prison and visiting a range of agencies and voluntary organisations in the afternoon. The evening feedback session featured a panel comprising Resident Magistrate Fiona Bagnall, Alice Chapman (YJA), Fiona Greene (VSNI), Debbie Watters (NI Alternatives), Adrian Arbuthnot (NIO), Pat Conway (NIACRO) and Kit Chivers.
21/04/2006
CJI publish Corporate Plan for 2006-09 and Business Plan for 2006-07

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

19/04/2006
Kit Chivers re-appointed as Chief Inspector
Secretary of State Peter Hain has re-appointed Kit Chivers as Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice for a further two years commencing on the 4 August 2006. Kit was appointed in 2003 for three years with the possibility of extension to five.
04/04/2006
Chief Inspector and Prison Ombudsman co-operation
The Chief Inspector signs a protocol for co-operation with the NI Prisoner Ombudsman, Brian Coulter.
03/04/2006
New Media and Communications Officer joins CJI
Meloney McVeigh joins CJI as Media and Communications Officer.
28/03/2006
Sinn Fein call on CJI to discuss issues around community restorative justice

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.

20/03/2006
Secretary of State states that CJI will inspect effectiveness ASBO's
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.
 
20/02/2006
Community-based restorative justice response published
CJI published its response to the consultation on community-based restorative justice.
16/02/2006
Chief Inpsector gives a presentation to the NI Policing Board

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

10/02/2006
Dan Mulholland leaves CJI
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.
 
06/02/2006
Representatives of community-based restorative justice schemes meet with the Chief Inspector
Representatives of community-based restorative justice schemes meet with the Chief Inspector to discuss CJI’s proposed response to the Government’s consultation.
31/01/2006
Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, called on the Chief Inspector to discuss the current work
David Lidington MP,  Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, called on the Chief Inspector to discuss the current work of CJI .
26/01/2006
Irish News article about Target-setting
The Irish News (p28) carried an article by CJI Inspector Paul Mageean about the Target-setting and Performance Management report, concentrating on the issue of improving public confidence in the criminal justice system.  The article was commented on favourably in the editorial (p10).
25/01/2006
CJI publish report on Target-setting
CJI published its report on the thematic review of Target-setting and Performance Management in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
19/01/2006
Justice Oversight Commissioner lauches fifth report
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".
 
18/01/2006
CJI annual Stakeholder Conference

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

12/01/2006
CJI publish Annual Report and Accounts for 2004-05
CJI Annual Report and Accounts for 2004-05 published.  The Annual Report without the accounts had been presented to Parliament in July 2005.
09/01/2006
Alex attwood MLA calls on Chief Inspector

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

03/01/2006
CJI publish Compensation Agency report

CJI published its report on the inspection of the Compensation Agency.