Time to examine PPS representation in Northern Ireland Assembly, report says

The relationship between Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and elected representatives and the information the organisation provides to the Assembly should be examined, a new report has said.

The chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin, said the time was right for a discussion to take place between the director of public prosecutions, the attorney general and relevant government ministers around the appropriateness of the existing accountability arrangements.

The PPS was established in Northern Ireland 20 years ago. It is the principal prosecuting authority in the region.

Ms Durkin said the PPS is a “key part of our criminal justice system”.

She added: “The governance and accountability structures put in place when the new PPS was formed were focused on safeguarding prosecutorial independence while promoting partnership working and an effective criminal justice system.

“Since the devolution of justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly and given the demands of our criminal justice system in the 21st century it is timely to now revisit these arrangements, to ensure they remain fit for purpose and that the PPS’s interests and the challenges it faces are appropriately represented in and apparent to the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

Her report also found there was a need for greater openness and public awareness of the organisation’s performance.

Ms Durkin said: “Public attention and debate tends to focus on high profile, individual cases rather than how the PPS is providing efficient and effective services on our behalf.

“Even though its performance is affected by and can impact directly on other parts of the criminal justice system, efforts to reduce avoidable delay in case progression and secure improved services for victims and witnesses have not produced the outcomes needed.”

The inspection highlighted a need for the PPS to develop a workforce strategy, that is better informed by future demands and would enable better management of its staff resources and budget to achieve key priorities and the greater use of digital processes and technology.

It also said greater engagement with the PSNI is needed to help the PPS better understand the types and volume of criminal case files being prepared for submission and allow it to plan to meet this requirement.

The chief inspector said: “While inspectors found the number of criminal case files being submitted to the PPS had declined to 38,682 in 2024-25, they also heard of the increasing complexity and seriousness of these cases and the impact the rise in police body-worn video and other multi-media evidence, and the introduction of new legislation, was having on the length of time taken to make prosecution decisions and prepare cases for court hearings.”

Ms Durkin said the future effectiveness of the PPS relied on “professional and committed prosecutors and staff who feel part of one organisation, and who at every level, were engaged and committed to its strategic direction”.

Director of public prosecutions in Northern Ireland Stephen Herron welcomed the report.

He said: “These recommendations are designed to improve transparency and accountability mechanisms and to assist the organisation to transform service delivery to meet the objectives set out in our strategic vision, PPS 2030.

“As the report highlights, we are already carrying out a range of ongoing work with our partners including the Police Service of Northern Ireland on initiatives to manage demand, reduce delay, stabilise our workforce and improve our service delivery.

“This includes the establishment of a new Working Together programme with police, which focuses on challenges including improving file quality and disclosure processes. By working more effectively together and streamlining procedures, we aim to reduce delays across the system.”

He added: “The legislation underpinning the creation of the PPS 20 years ago rightly ensured its independence in operational decision making.

“However, this had an unintended consequence of isolating the PPS without a political voice or appropriate representation in the Assembly.

“This was always intended to be addressed by the amendment of Assembly standing orders.

“I have aimed to strengthen accountability and information sharing by volunteering to appear before the Justice Committee twice a year.

“The changing complexity of our workloads requires much wider public conversations about criminal justice priorities, and I am supportive of finding new pathways to allow for more structured political engagement.

“The time is right to discuss how this can be taken forward.”