The report, which was approved by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the Northern Ireland Audit Office, highlights the work undertaken by the Inspectorate during the last financial year.
“I am pleased that the Comptroller and Auditor General of the Northern Ireland Audit Office has recorded that she had no observations to make in relation to CJI’s financial statements and issued a clean audit certificate,” said James Corrigan, Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive and Accounting Officer.
“During the financial year we published a record number of reports in the reporting period with seven full Inspection reports and five Follow-Up Reviews. I am pleased that all recommendations made by CJI during the financial year were accepted and monitoring the implementation and progress of previous report recommendations continues.
“This Annual Report and Accounts shows that CJI continues to maintain effective corporate governance arrangements.
“I am delighted to be submitting this report to the Northern Ireland Assembly today, placing on record the valuable work carried out by CJI during the course of the 2023-24 financial year to support improvement and secure a better justice system for all,” said Mr Corrigan.
CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin said: “As CJI celebrates its 20
th Anniversary this year I am privileged to be Chief Inspector at this time and reflect on how CJI has grown and changed in the last two decades.
“During 2023-24 we completed inspections in areas we had not previously inspected and published a joint pilot inspection that should inform the future of joint child protection inspection in Northern Ireland.
“At the end of the financial year three inspection reports were nearing completion with the Year One Review of effectiveness of the implementation of Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 published in April 2024. Publication of two further reports was delayed by the UK General Election and we intend to publish both reports following the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
“We have continued to be active members of the National Preventive Mechanism and hold the chair of the Northern Ireland Subgroup, with our inspections in places of detention attracting much interest in Northern Ireland and beyond.
“I am grateful to the entire CJI team for their continued commitment and professionalism to deliver the Inspection Programme.
“The adequacy of our budget for 2024-25 to deliver a relevant, risk-based inspection programme remains a concern. As a small Corporation Sole body, we are dependent on essential and inescapable governance arrangements and service costs that utilise 7% of our allocated budget.
“I understand the current funding climate is difficult for all, however, as an independent Inspectorate with a wide remit, our partnerships with other Inspectorates are vital and valued but they too are facing significant budget pressures, and developing and resourcing joint inspections and specialist support will be challenging.”
Copies of CJI’s Annual Report and Accounts can be downloaded from CJI’s website -
www.cjini.org or accessed via CJI’s social media on
X, or
LinkedIn.