Role of Police and Courts is the “Bedrock of Justice” - Hussey
Strabane District Policing Partnership member Derek Hussey has warned that those trumpeting the value of community-based Restorative Justice Schemes must be prepared to support the vital role of the police in criminal matters.
The UUP West Tyrone MLA argues that the schemes must be integral to current policing practice rather than being seen as a possible alternative way of dealing with crime related issues.
Mr. Hussey said:
“I welcome the Policing Board’s detailed response to the NIO’s draft guidelines on community-based Restorative Justice Schemes which makes quite clear its concern that the current draft guidelines present a very real and inherent risk of schemes becoming an ‘alternative’ to established elements of the criminal justice system.
“Any dissolution of the powers or role of the police and the courts cannot be tolerated. They must remain the bedrock of how we deal with crime in the future. I fear that too many people see these schemes as alternatives to the police service and the courts system and this must be addressed quickly. A lot of important work has been carried out in this area and the potential contribution that community based Restorative Justice Schemes have to make must continue to be assessed.
“However, I agree with the Board that as an integral part of the criminal justice system, all organisations wishing to participate must give unqualified acceptance to the role of the Police Service within the criminal justice system that the schemes will become a part of. Confidence in that system will not be promoted if there are organisations within it that are endorsed by the Government who do not acknowledge the legitimacy of one of the scheme’s key partners, namely the police.
“That is why I personally consider the draft guidelines to be unacceptable and would hope to see new guidelines drafted. There must be a clear definition of the types of ‘low level crime’ that CBRJ Schemes would deal with. The overall responsibility for ensuring that schemes are held to account should be given to an oversight body.
“Whether this role is given to a new organisation established for that purpose, or goes to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland or the Policing Board itself, is open to further consideration. A truly independent external complaints system needed to be established.”
Mr. Hussey said he also endorsed Board’s findings that schemes need to operate to the highest standards both with regard to human rights and to have in place robust human resources and training management systems to enable schemes to recruit, train and assess their staff.
“Anyone wishing to work for a scheme should have their application submitted to the oversight body who would take appropriate measures to ensure that applicants are not involved in paramilitary or criminal activity.”