Northern politicians to administer justice system
The British government today announced proposals to transfer responsibility for policing and the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland to locally-elected politicians in the North after assembly elections in May 2003.
But Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said a final decision on what he described as the British "government target date’’ could only be taken at the time, taking into account ‘‘security and other relevant considerations’’.
The date was disclosed as the British government published a plan for a major overhaul of the criminal justice system in the North.
Under the proposals, responsibility for administering criminal justice would be transferred to the devolved assembly at Stormont.
Among the major recommendations were the creation of a new independent prosecution service responsible for taking on all prosecutions in Northern Ireland.
A judicial appointment commission would be created to propose the appointment or removal of judges.
The draft Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill also provides for the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland to head the judiciary in the North, rather than the Lord Chancellor in London, who does so at present.
An attorney general for Northern Ireland would also be appointed, as would a Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice and a Northern Ireland Law Commission.
Newly-appointed judges would no longer swear an oath to the queen but to the office to which they were appointed.
All symbols of the crown would be removed from the inside of courtrooms and they would not be placed on the outside of newly-built courts.
But symbols already on the outside of existing court buildings would remain.
Judges and barristers would wear wigs and gowns at their own discretion.
The legal age at which juveniles were dealt with in youth courts, currently from 10 to 16, would be extended to 17.
There would also be a new restorative justice system, based on a New Zealand model of youth conferences, at which victim and offender could be brought together by a co-ordinator.
Northern Ireland minister Des Brown, who announced the proposals at a Belfast press conference, said: ‘‘Today marks another key step in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.
‘‘As one of the cornerstones of the agreement, the review of criminal justice will deliver a modern, progressive and forward-looking system of justice for the people of Northern Ireland.’’
The draft Justice Bill was the British government’s response to how it would take forward recommendations for a review of the criminal justice system.
The review group report was published in March last year and the minister said the British government’s response showed that it intended to implement the vast bulk of his recommendations in full.
Mr Browne said: ‘‘I am confident that the review will put human rights, respect for victims and other fundamental principals - such as fairness, impartiality, transparency and accountability - at the heart of the new criminal justice system.’’
He announced a period of consultation on the proposals and encouraged anyone wishing to have their say to do so by December 12.
