Chief Inspector says ‘time is right’ to examine PPS representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin, has called for the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland’s (PPS’s) relationship with elected representatives and the information it provides to the Northern Ireland Assembly to be examined 20 years after the organisation was established.

Speaking today (20 November 2025) following the publication of an inspection report looking at the management of organisational performance in the PPS, Ms Durkin said the time was right for a discussion to take place between the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland and relevant Government Ministers around the appropriateness of the existing accountability arrangements.

“The PPS is a key part of our criminal justice system and has a pivotal role to play in achieving criminal justice system priorities within the current Programme for Government including its contribution to Safer Communities, Speeding Up Justice and Ending Violence against Women and Girls,” said Ms Durkin.

“The governance and accountability structures put in place when the new PPS was formed, were focused on safeguarding prosecutorial independence while promoting partnership working and an effective criminal justice system.

“Since the devolution of justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly and given the demands of our criminal justice system in the 21^st Century it is timely to now revisit these arrangements, to ensure they remain fit for purpose and that the PPS’s interests and the challenges it faces, are appropriately represented in and apparent to the Northern Ireland Assembly,” she said.

Inspectors also found there was a need for greater openness and public awareness of the organisation’s performance.

“Public attention and debate tends to focus on high profile, individual cases rather than how the PPS is providing efficient and effective services on our behalf.  Even though its performance is affected by and can impact directly on other parts of the criminal justice system, efforts to reduce avoidable delay in case progression and secure improved services for victims and witnesses have not produced the outcomes needed,” said the Chief Inspector.

The inspection highlighted a need for the PPS to develop a Workforce Strategy, that is better informed by future demands and would enable better management of its staff resources and budget to achieve these key priorities and the greater use of digital processes and technology.

Greater engagement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland was also needed to assist the PPS better understand the types and volume of criminal cases files being prepared for submission and allow it to plan to meet this requirement.

“While Inspectors found the number of criminal case files being submitted to the PPS had declined to 38,682 in 2024-25, they also heard of the increasing complexity and seriousness of these cases and the impact the rise in police body-worn video and other multi-media evidence and the introduction of new legislation, was having on the length of time taken to make prosecution decisions and prepare cases for Court hearings,” said the Chief Inspector.

“In recent years the PPS has sought to manage its staffing and business pressures by redeploying Prosecutors across its Regions and to its Specialist Crime Unit and increasing the use of agency staff and Counsel to prosecute cases in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

“While this has enabled PPS Prosecutors to focus on making prosecution decisions, it presents a reputational risk for the organisation as Court prosecutions are the most public facing aspect of the PPS’s work.

“To mitigate this risk Inspectors have recommended that in the next six months, the PPS should design and implement a new framework to measure, assess and quality assure its work and performance in Court,” she said.

Looking to the future, Ms Durkin said the PPS had outlined its long-term ambitions for the organisation in its ‘PPS 2030’ document alongside its intention to improve efficiency and target resources towards its biggest priorities and where it could add most value.

“Inspectors identified an opportunity to improve the oversight, accountability and transparency of the organisation’s performance by developing and publishing an Outcomes Framework that would enable the PPS to set objectives and targets against which it could report results, highlight successes and the impact of its services, and demonstrate progress against its longer-term priorities and vision.

“We have recommended this Outcomes Framework should be developed and published by the PPS in the next six months,” said Ms Durkin.

In conclusion the Chief Inspector said the future effectiveness of the PPS relied on professional and committed Prosecutors and staff who feel part of one organisation, and who at every level, were engaged and committed to its strategic direction, the Director of Public Prosecutions’ priorities, required quality standards, and their consistent delivery across Northern Ireland.

“I look forward to seeing the full implementation of the three strategic and four operational recommendations made in this inspection report which the PPS have accepted.  We believe they will enable the PPS to improve its management of organisational performance, support more transparency for the public and better outcomes across the criminal justice system that help deliver its PPS 2030 vision,” said Ms Durkin.