To ask the Minister of Justice for her assessment of (i) the increase in the number of sexual offences committed in the past five years; and (ii) the length of time taken by the justice system to clear sexual offences.

I am conscious that there has been an almost 69% increase in the number of convictions for sexual offences in the courts over the last five years which, although disturbing, is indicative of the success of the work of the PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service and the Courts in bringing perpetrators to justice.

While PSNI advise that there are no clear trends, in respect of locations, offenders or patterns in reporting, which would indicate the reasons for an increase in recorded crimes, it is, of course, a matter of concern for me and not something about which I am complacent. PSNI statistics are attached at Annex A and are available on the PSNI website.

I recently introduced a number of new sexual offences in the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. While there is already a robust legislative framework of sexual offences to deal with a wide range of sexual offending, where it is clear there is a gap in the law, I take steps to address that gap.

I have also introduced a number of measures to increase victims’ confidence to report sexual offences, knowing that they will be supported and protected through the criminal justice system. Measures include a new advocacy support service, the establishment of remote evidence centres; work to provide trauma informed training to justice professionals and; the provision of free legal advice to adult complainants.

Tackling delay is one of the biggest challenges facing the criminal justice system. My Department is working with key justice partners to take forward a number of initiatives to help speed up the justice system.

On 17 October, I introduced the first phase of Committal Reform provided for in the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (NI) 2022. These changes will help support victims and witnesses in Crown Court cases by ensuring that they cannot be called to provide oral evidence as part of committal proceedings in the magistrates’ court in advance of trial.

Reducing the time it takes to complete criminal cases is a complex issue and reforms take time to embed and for their impact to be seen. Like many other areas of public service, COVID has had a significant impact on efforts to speed up the justice system, resulting in significant backlogs, which will take time to clear.

Annex A

Statistics

Information on the number of sexual offences reported to police are included in recorded crime statistics published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Figures for sexual offences recorded by police in the years 2017/18 – 2021/22 have been provided in the following table.

Police recorded crime - sexual offences, 2017/18 to 2021/22

Note:

Statistics on police recorded crime in Northern Ireland are collated and produced by statisticians seconded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). They are recorded in compliance with the Home Office Counting Rules and further details of recording practices are available in the User Guide to Police Recorded Crime Statistics.

Figures relating to the numbers of prosecutions and convictions at courts for cases involving sexual offences have been provided in the following table.

Prosecutions and convictions at courts for sexual offences, 2017 - 2021

Note:

1. Figures relate to initial disposal at courts. Appeals are not included.

2. Figures relate to cases where there was a prosecution or conviction for at least one sexual offence.

3. Figures relate to cases dealt with at Crown Court and at magistrates' courts.

Figures relating to the average time taken for sexual offence cases completed at courts are published by the Department of Justice in an annual bulletin on case processing time for criminal cases dealt with at courts. Figures for the average time taken in each of the last five years are listed in the following table.

Time taken for sexual offence cases from date incident reported to disposal at courts, 2017/18 - 2020/21

Note:

1. Figures relate to the number of calendar days between the listed dates for each table. Court recess dates are not taken into account.

2. Figures relate to cases disposed at court during the 12 months to the end of the time period specified.

3. Figures relate to cases brought on behalf of the PSNI, Harbour and Airport police in Northern Ireland that resulted in a court disposal. Appeals are not included.

4. Figures up to end 2017/18 do not include cases where the case was dismissed but a caution was administered. Figures for 2018/19 onwards do include such cases in respect of those concluded at Crown Court.

Fixed penalty registrations, penalty notices for disorder or cases resulting from a breach of a court order were also excluded.

5. A review of offences within offence categories was conducted in early 2020. Figures for 2020/21 onwards are reported in line with the revised categorisation.

6. Figures relate to cases dealt with at Crown Court and at magistrates' courts.

7. The form of average presented in the median.

8. Figures relate to cases where the main offence at disposal was a sexual offence.