Published: 23 Oct 2025
An Inspection report looking at the strategy, governance, delivery and outcomes around the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s use of Community Resolution Notices.
Community Resolution Notices (CRNs), formerly known as Discretionary Disposals, were introduced in 2016 and have become the most common out of Court disposal used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
CRNs deal with ’lower level’ offences instead of a case being prosecuted at Court. They are issued at the discretion of Police Officers in appropriate circumstances and are a swifter way of providing an outcome for offenders and for victims.
In August 2024, the range of offences where a CRN could be used was expanded and between December 2023 and November 2024, they were used to dispose of nearly 6,600 crimes including drug, theft and violence against the person offences as well as a low number of domestic abuse and hate related offences.
It is important that the community has confidence in both the circumstances in which CRNs can be used and the safeguards that apply as well as how well CRNs work and how they are used to reduce demand within the Courts. That’s why this Inspection highlighted the need for a better understanding of the outcomes that CRNs aim to achieve, as well as more publicly available information about them.
Oversight was assigned to the Out of Court Disposals Working Group, a subgroup of the Criminal Justice Board’s ‘Speeding Up Justice’ programme. Inspectors found the group was committed but still developing its role.
Inside the PSNI, the Criminal Justice Branch monitored compliance against its CRN Guidance. Inspectors highlighted the need for stronger governance structures and better monitoring of data to ensure CRNs were being used appropriately and equitably.
Inspectors found some positive examples of how CRNs were being used. Some children who received a CRN were referred to the Youth Justice Agency, where they could agree to community resolutions and access programmes.
Pilot initiatives, such as a drug awareness programme and a community resolution scheme, showed potential but needed more development.
Training for Student and Probationary Police Officers on CRNs was made more streamlined and included clear, detailed guidance to help Officers understand and deliver CRNs effectively.
A case file review showed that most CRNs complied with the PSNI’s CRN Guidance, which was a positive finding. However, Inspectors also found examples where the Guidance had not been fully followed. In some cases, checks were not thorough enough to identify previous offences, existing bail conditions or Court Orders.
Inspectors also noted a few cases where a CRN was issued for an offence allowed under PSNI Guidance but was inappropriate given the offence circumstances or the offender’s background.
The Inspection highlighted the importance of strong supervision by PSNI Officers, clear written reasons for decisions and regular quality assurance checks, especially in cases involving victims of domestic abuse or hate crimes.
The police’s partnership with the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland was important in providing independent oversight through joint quality assurance. At the time of fieldwork, it was two years since this partnership work was undertaken, but CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin welcomed confirmation that, as recommended in the draft report, these arrangements had recommenced.
This Inspection Report makes Strategic and Operational Recommendations for improvement to strengthen oversight arrangements, provide assurance on how CRNs are used and the to support better outcomes for offenders and victims, as well as contributing to safer communities and increased confidence in the criminal justice system.
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