Publication date:
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) held an engagement event yesterday for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The ‘Meet the Public Prosecution Service: Fair, independent and effective criminal justice for all’ event was an opportunity for MLAs to engage with, and ask questions of, the PPS senior leadership team.
This session, which comes in the PPS’s 20th anniversary year, focused on discussing the vital role the independent PPS plays in the wider criminal justice system. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Herron, along with the entire PPS senior team, was pleased to welcome MLAs from a cross section of parties. The team and MLAs had constructive discussions about the PPS’s role and work, the experience of victims, and how an adequately funded and modernised PPS can improve outcomes for victims, witnesses, and wider society.
The DPP spoke about the efforts to ensure the PPS remains responsive to evolving challenges, including a rise in the most serious cases being referred to it. The event included a panel discussion and question and answer session with the DPP, PPS Deputy Director Michael Agnew, and PPS Senior Assistant Director and Victim Champion Marianne O'Kane.
The DPP said: “Yesterday’s event was a valuable opportunity to build our relationships with MLAs and share with them the important work of the PPS, as well as answering their questions directly. Some of the themes raised by MLAs included the governance of the PPS, how cases involving young people are treated, our collaboration with police, and signposting and support for victims during the prosecution process.
“I want to thank Stewart Dickson MLA, Chair of the All-Party Group on Access to Justice, for sponsoring the event, and every MLA who was able to attend including the Justice Minister Naomi Long, the Chair of the Justice Committee Joanne Bunting and other members of the Committee. I and the rest of the senior team were delighted to be able to meet and speak to so many MLAs directly.
“This event was part of the PPS’s ongoing commitment to transparency, openness, and playing our part in providing an effective and modern criminal justice system for Northern Ireland. It was also a valuable chance to outline some key issues facing the PPS and the wider criminal justice system, including resourcing pressures and ongoing efforts to modernise and transform our service to continue to meet the interests of justice.
"The feedback and discussions from yesterday are invaluable as we move forward. We look forward to more engagement to come, including on issues affecting victims and witnesses, whose confidence is central to the criminal justice system.”
Notes to editors:
Media queries for the PPS should be referred to the Communications Unit by emailing ppspressoffice@ppsni.gov.uk inside office hours. The out of hours press officer can be contacted on 07920 271804, 07920 418844 or 07341 800254.