Naomi Long

Preliminary investigations and mixed committals are abolished for all new cases brought forward from today, removing the need to give oral evidence at committal hearings in magistrates’ courts.

The measures contained in the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which received royal assent in March, will reduce the impact of giving oral evidence on victims and witnesses and will remove some avoidable delay in the current system.

Justice minister Naomi Long said: “The commencement of this legislation brings much needed changes to the committal process.

“Since my appointment as justice minister, I have focused on ensuring that our laws offer the best protection they can to the most vulnerable in our society.

“These long-awaited provisions will make a tangible difference to the experiences of vulnerable victims and witnesses and aid in our mission to reduce avoidable delay in the justice system.”

She added: “I have heard all too often of the impact that the prospect of having to give traumatic evidence at the committal and then again at the trial can have. This alone can understandably deter victims and vital witnesses from proceeding with a case.

“These changes will mean that for new cases brought forward from the 17 October, no victim or witness can be put on the stand to be examined and cross-examined in a committal hearing before the actual trial.

“I have said from the outset that improving the experiences of victims and witnesses encountering the justice system was my priority and I welcome this further step towards that end.”