An independent prosecution service and a new judicial appointments system are among the main recommendations in a British government initiative aimed at overhauling the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
The Review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland, published yesterday, also contains proposals that would see the removal of British symbols inside courts, but their maintenance outside. Pro-agreement Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and civil liberties' representatives generally welcomed the 447-page document containing 294 proposals. Sinn Fein is withholding reaction until it studies the report. Anti-agreement unionists said the proposals struck at the heart of the "Britishness" of the justice system. The 18-month review was carried out under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. A six-month consultation period will now begin after which, barring major changes to the report, the British government is due to bring in legislation enacting the proposals.
Under the recommendations, a single independent prosecuting authority would be established, building on the current framework of the office of the DPP.
The new authority would appoint about 150 prosecutors (solicitors or barristers) who would have responsibility for prosecuting all cases from the lower magistrates' courts to the higher courts. At present RUC officers handle about 30,000 or 75 per cent of all cases dealing with matters such as minor theft, assault and motoring offences.
Contingent on the executive being re-established, a judicial appointments commission would be created, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice, but also comprising lay members.
