CJI Conference examines justice in a changing community
17/01/2007
Criminal Justice Inspection is examining the changing nature of Northern Ireland’s justice system and the challenges that it faces at its annual stakeholder conference.
PRESS RELEASE
17 January 2007
CJI CONFERENCE EXAMINES
JUSTICE IN A CHANGING COMMUNITY
Criminal Justice Inspection is examining the changing nature of Northern Ireland’s justice system and the challenges that it faces at its annual stakeholder conference.
The event held today (Wednesday 17 January 2007) at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick, will be attended by over 100 delegates representing Northern Ireland’s criminal justice agencies and voluntary and community groups who work in the sector.
“The Stakeholder Conference provides a wonderful opportunity to bring together key players in the criminal justice system to discuss the challenges it faces and explore ways of creating a better justice system for everyone,” said Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.
“At today’s event delegates will hear about the challenges presented by the increasing diversity of Northern Ireland’s population and address how criminal justice agencies can meet the needs of our changing community,” he said.
The Stakeholder Conference also provides an opportunity for Criminal Justice Inspection to reflect on the reports it published over the last 12 months and consult on its proposed inspection programme for 2007-08.
“Having the opportunity to discuss the Inspectorate’s plans for the incoming year with our stakeholders is incredibly useful as they have a real opportunity to influence the work we undertake, and to ensure we are examining areas they feel would benefit from the inspection process,” added Mr Chivers.
Among the key speakers joining Mr. Chivers in addressing the conference will be Northern Ireland Minister for Security, Policing and Prisons Paul Goggins MP.
They will be joined by PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, Kathleen O’Toole, Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, Professor Kieran McEvoy, Queen’s University, Belfast and Brendan McAllister, Director of Mediation Northern Ireland.
A panel discussion involving Patrick Yu, from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) and James Knox from the Coalition on Sexual Orientation (COSO) also forms part of the one-day conference programme.