Naomi Long

Justice minister Naomi Long is considering whether the current system — based on case law — should be revised and whether more should be done to raise awareness of sentence reduction arrangements.

The consultation, launched today and running until 11 July 2025, is also asking whether the levels of reduction available for guilty pleas are correct.

It also seeks views on a recommendation made in the Gillen review on “really early” guilty pleas when made in relation to certain offences.

Mrs Long said: “Northern Ireland has a high level of cases where long preparations for a trial are swept away by a change of plea. 

“So, this is now the particular area that I would like considered: improvements to the way cases involving changes of plea are dealt with and the way in which subsequent sentence reduction procedures can apply. 

“Where an offender admits responsibility early in the process, it takes away uncertainty and can avoid the trauma for a victim who might otherwise have to attend court, give evidence and face cross-examination.

“In these cases, it should also reduce avoidable delay and allow cases to reach a conclusion much more quickly.

“At the same time, however, sentence reduction can be seen as being to the advantage of the offender and can damage public confidence in the court process.

“I am committed to delivering an efficient and effective justice system and my Department is keen to hear a range of views from the public and stakeholders on this crucial issue.”

She stressed that the consultation does not raise the idea of imposing a stiffer sentence in cases where a person who pleads not guilty and is later convicted.

“Under UK law, everyone is innocent until proven guilty — a fundamental principle of the justice system,” she said.

“Any proposal for longer sentences for those who plead not guilty and are then found guilty would, in effect, be punishing the individual in question for exercising their fundamental right to plead not guilty.”