Naomi Long

The Department of Justice is seeking views on whether the PSNI and PPS should be given additional powers to deal with a range of offences outside the traditional court process.

The proposals are intended to reduce the number of low-level cases entering the magistrates’ courts.

Naomi Long, the justice minister, said: “Our criminal justice system continues to be under significant pressure — there are still significant backlogs in our courts, and cases are taking too long.

“Tackling delay has been a longstanding priority for my Department and our partners in the criminal justice system but it is a complex issue and not one that is unique to Northern Ireland.

“The benefits of dealing with cases more quickly through the use of out-of-court disposals, where appropriate, are well recognised and can deliver swift and effective justice which can help to deter future offending.

“This isn’t about letting offenders off the hook, but delivering punishments in the most appropriate way and maximising court capacity to deal with the most serious cases quicker.

“The proposals outlined in the consultation paper provide us with the opportunity to re-balance our system by finding better, more efficient ways of dealing with low-level offending.”

The consultation will run until 28 September 2025.