- Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)
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Northern Ireland 
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The Department of Justice is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The current Minister of Justice is David Ford, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Executive. The department was established on 12 April 2010 as part of the devolution of justice matters to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Contents
Minister
The Minister of Justice is elected by a cross-community vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly, unlike all other Northern Ireland Executive posts, which are allocated by the d'Hondt method; the exception was made to resolve a dispute between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein. [1]
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland successfully nominated its party leader, David Ford, on 12 April 2012.[2] Ford was re-elected to the position on 16 May 2010 [3] and is the incumbent Minister. [4]
Aim
The department supports the Minister of Justice in "building a fair, just and safer society". It has four stated objectives: to "work in partnership" to produce a safer society and reduce the risk, and fear, of crime; to ensure that everyone in Northern Ireland has access to justice, without undue delay; to protect the public by reducing offending and managing offenders; and to contribute to the Shared Future strategy (now known as the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy) for Northern Ireland through the operation of the justice system and assist in "enhancing decision-making and strategic resource management". [5]
Structure
The Department of Justice's headquarters is located in Castle Buildings in Belfast. Its remit includes the following executive agencies:
- the Compensation Agency for Northern Ireland
- the Forensic Science Northern Ireland
- the Northern Ireland Prison Service
- the Youth Justice Agency
- the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland is responsible to it as a non-departmental public body. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is operationally independent and accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board; the Minister of Justice has overall responsibility.
Responsibilities
The Department of Justice is responsible for most everyday policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland. These include:[6]
- criminal law
- policing
- prosecution
- public order
- courts
- prisons and probation
- Criminal history disclosure service (AccessNI)
Some policing and justice powers remain reserved to Westminster:[7]
- the prerogative of mercy in terrorism cases
- drug classification
- the Serious Organised Crime Agency
- accommodation of prisoners in separated conditions
- parades
- security of explosives
A limited number of justice matters remain excepted and were not considered for devolution. These include:[8]
- extradition (as an international relations matter)
- military justice (as a defence matter)
- immigration
- national security (including intelligence services)
The Department of Justice’s main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government are:
- the Home Office (on policing, drugs and public order);[9]
- the Ministry of Justice (on criminal law, courts, prisons, probation);[10]
- the Northern Ireland Office (on national security in Northern Ireland).[11]
In the Irish Government, its main counterpart is the Department of Justice and Equality.[12]
Ministers of Justice
Minister Party Took office Left office Office created David Ford Alliance 12 April 2010 See also
- Northern Ireland Executive
- List of government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland law
References
- ^ "Deal brokered to end NI deadlock". BBC News. 2008-11-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7735489.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "David Ford secures justice job". BBC News. 2010-04-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8615741.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "New Stormont ministers announced". BBC News. 2011-05-16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13408394. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
- ^ http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministers-and-their-departments.htm Northern Ireland Executive
- ^ Northern Ireland Budget 2011-15, page 86
- ^ "Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2010". Opsi.gov.uk. 2010-07-15. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/uksi_20100977_en_1. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office. "''Policing and Justice'' motion, Northern ireland Assembly, 12 April 2010". Niassembly.gov.uk. http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100309.htm#4. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 2". Opsi.gov.uk. 1998-06-25. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_11#sch2. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "About us". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "Ministry of Justice: About us". Justice.gov.uk. http://www.justice.gov.uk/about.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Office: About the NIO". Nio.gov.uk. 2010-04-12. http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/about-the-nio.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
- ^ "Department of Justice and Equality: What We Do". Justice.ie. http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/What_we_do. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
External links
- Department of Justice
- Policing and Justice Process Paper
- BBC News video of Secretary of State's statement
- The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999PDF (37.0 KB)
- Criminal Justice System of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive Headquarters: Stormont CastleHeads of government John O'Dowd (acting)Departments Jonathan BellJohn O'Dowd (acting)JusticeNot allocated by d'HondtWebsite: www.northernireland.gov.ukCategories:- Northern Ireland Executive
- Organisations based in Northern Ireland
- Law in Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland peace process
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