CJI conference examines the challenges devolution will present for criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has examined the benefits and challenges the devolution of policing and criminal justice will bring for criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland at its annual Stakeholder Conference.
The event held on Thursday 17 January 2008 at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast, was attended by over 100 delegates representing Northern Ireland’s criminal justice agencies and voluntary and community groups that work in the sector.
The conference was opened by the Attorney General, the Rt. Hon Baroness Scotland QC.
CJI was also pleased to welcome the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Rt. Hon Elish Angiolini QC; the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Sir Patrick Cormack MP; Aideen Gilmore, from the Committee on the Administration of Justice and Steve Costello, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland to the event.
Each year Criminal Justice Inspection endeavours to choose a theme that will provoke genuine discussion. This year we chose to look at the issue of devolution and the challenges it would present, not just for members of the various political parties, but for the criminal justice agencies both collectively and individually,” said Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.
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“At the event, delegates heard about the challenges greater local accountability would bring and the difficult decisions that would have to be made in the future surrounding the allocation of budgets,” he said.
Address to Conference - CJI Chief Inspector Kit Chivers
The Stakeholder Conference also provided an opportunity for Criminal Justice Inspection to review its activities during the last financial year, and to consult stakeholders on its draft inspection programme for 2008-09.
“As our current three year Corporate Plan is coming to an end, we were also able to use this year’s conference to commence discussion with delegates about the ideas they had and priorities they feel we should be focusing on in the coming years in order to improve the criminal justice system,” said Mr Chivers.
Discussion on the draft Inspection programme for 2008-09 was led by Brendan McGuigan who provided delegates with an overview of the work CJI had undertaken so far. He then went on to outline the various topics and areas for inspection CJI intended to look at during the incoming financial year.
Mr McGuigan explained that the current workplan included inspections involving the Police Service, Prison Service and an inspection within the Northern Ireland Court Service. A thematic study of how the criminal justice system manages individuals who present themselves with mental health illness or learning disabilities is also included.
A copy of the Deputy Chief Inspector’s presentation to conference and the draft Inspection Plan for 2008-09 can be viewed here.
A copy of the conference evaluation form can be viewed here. CJI would be grateful if anyone who attended the conference but did not complete their evaluation form could do so. Forms can be returned by fax (028 90 9025 8033) or by post
To view other photos from the Conference visit our photograph library.
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