Effective investigation and prosecution of crime by organisations other than the police key contributor to public safety

A new report by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) has examined the work of six organisations that investigate and prosecute criminal cases including some of the most serious offences and public safety issues in Northern Ireland.

The inspection published today (Wednesday 11 June 2025) looked at the work of the Benefit Security Division and Child Maintenance Service in the Department for Communities, Veterinary Service Animal Health in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Tourism NI, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service in the Department for the Economy.

“Investigating crime and bringing offenders to justice in Northern Ireland reaches into many aspects of our lives and far beyond policing.  It is the work of a range of Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments, Arm’s Length Bodies and organisations with statutory powers aimed at upholding the law and keeping us safe,” said Jacqui Durkin, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.

“While these cases represent about 1% of all criminal files submitted for prosecution during 2023-24, they include serious offences and public safety concerns that affect our community such as death and serious injuries caused through breaches of health and safety legislation and procedures, failures in maintaining animal health standards in local farms, ferry ports and food factories, scams and online crime including the sale of counterfeit goods or misleading or unfair trading practices, suspected or alleged fraudulent benefit claims or misrepresentation or failure to pay child maintenance payments.

“The effective investigation and prosecution of any individual or organisation that breaks the law is critical to protecting the public and fostering confidence in the criminal justice system.  All organisations with criminal law enforcement, investigatory and prosecution powers can contribute to this,” said the Chief Inspector.

“The Inspection Team found that dedicated and professional staff were involved in producing quality cases files.  They liaised well with the Police Service of Northern Ireland when needed, had developed effective links with their counterparts in England and Wales and worked well with Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) Prosecutors or in the case of Tourism NI, a private legal firm to prosecute cases at Court.

“But there was a heavy reliance on paper-based processes and file preparation that were resource intensive and not environmentally friendly in the 21st century.  This needs to be addressed and Inspectors have recommended the inspected bodies should, in conjunction with the PPS, explore and implement the digitalisation and electronic transfer of cases files,” she said.

As part of the inspection Ms Durkin said CJI Inspectors looked at the strategies and policies in place in each inspected organisation and how they shaped the organisation’s approach to investigating and prosecuting criminal cases. 

They also examined the enforcement and engagement activities undertaken and assessing how these influenced each organisation’s strategic direction. 

“At a strategic level, each organisation had governance structures for enforcement work, shaped by their specific governance and funding arrangements and Inspectors found most had clear lines of responsibility and direction.

“Documents examined from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and in particular the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service were of high quality providing clear, concise information on the role, aims and goals of enforcement,” said Ms Durkin.

Information on enforcement provided by Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service also provided clarity for consumers and businesses around when and what enforcement action could be taken, what they could and could not do and what was possible within the resource and funding limits of the organisation.

However, Inspectors found that both Tourism NI and the Child Maintenance Service required greater and more transparent strategic direction for their enforcement work.  This was important to ensure that each organisation was effectively fulfilling its statutory responsibilities. 

“Inspectors recognise engagement was an important part of the enforcement process and each organisation’s approach to crime prevention and working with individuals and business to support and prevent offending and reoffending,” said Ms Durkin.

“Inspection fieldwork revealed some organisations such as the Benefit Security Division had very distinct and clear lines of engagement in place and clarity as to when enforcement action would be taken which involved the establishment of monetary limits, while others such as the Child Maintenance Service, focused almost all their efforts on engagement with the best interests of children at the heart of their approach.

“While Inspectors evidenced the success both organisations had in adopting these approaches, all the organisations we looked at would benefit from clearly established lines on when engagement takes place and when enforcement action was necessary.  Steps should also be taken to improve communication between specific engagement and enforcement teams,” she said.

The inspection also identified opportunities where organisations could learn from one another and benefit from the sharing of knowledge, skills and resources with others working in similar criminal justice related roles.

“We have recommended that each organisation needs to consider how they report their outcomes internally to their own staff and with their sponsoring Departments as well as externally to build public confidence and inform the community about the vital, high-quality work that was evident through this inspection and the successes they have achieved.

“This inspection report includes four recommendations to improve how investigations and prosecutions are managed, both within and across organisations to create greater cohesion and efficiency, and a recommendation to review our own statutory remit that is outdated. “I look forward to working with the Department of Justice to progress this and ensure it accurately reflects the changes to Northern Ireland Departments and organisations that have occurred over the years,” said the Chief Inspector.