Published date:
Dear Mr Heaton-Harris,
Crisis facing Policing and the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System
You may recall our correspondence from 9th February this year, in which I raised concerns regarding reductions in funding to the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland and the adverse impacts that this would have on services, support and the treatment of victims, as well as public confidence in the justice system. These budget cuts came on top of an already backlogged and stretched system, exacerbated by the restrictions brought about as a result of Covid-19.
I write to you again to express grave concerns about the current crisis facing policing in Northern Ireland and the added impact this will have on victims’ confidence in reporting crime.
The PSNI were already facing significant budgetary challenges resulting in an estimated £40m shortfall in their budget for this year and a freeze on police recruitment. The public had been warned by the former Chief Constable to expect slower response times and a reduction in visible police numbers. The human and financial impact of the data breaches, estimated to be potentially £240m, and recent resignation of the Chief Constable threatens to further impact on the level and quality of policing that the public can expect.
It has also become evident to the public that the morale amongst rank and file officers is at an all-time low which will no doubt impact on staff sickness levels and workload pressures. The impending reviews of the senior PSNI leadership team, the absence of a Chief Constable and review of the NI Policing Board only adds to my concerns that these pressures have the potential to impact negatively on the experience of victims of crime and their confidence to engage with the police.
The ongoing absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and subsequent Justice Minister leaves a local governance vacuum in the place where Northern Ireland citizens would normally look to for leadership in such unprecedented times. Whilst I fully agree with you that a fully-functioning power-sharing institution is the best framework to deliver governance in Northern Ireland and I am sure you are working hard to achieve this, the reality remains that there is no local Executive in place. Victims of crime therefore can only look to the Westminster government to help ensure that they receive similar levels of protection and support as their British counterparts.
I would urge you therefore, in your role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to step into this vacuum and act swiftly to ensure that the necessary additional funding is provided to the PSNI to address these challenges and to support the progress of the Northern Ireland Policing Board in the appointment of a new Chief Constable as quickly as possible.
I am more than happy to meet with you to discuss this issue or any aspect of my work further.
Yours Sincerely,
Geraldine Hanna
Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime