Ulster Unionist Party Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has welcomed the long awaited Sentencing Bill’s arrival at the Assembly, stressing that it represents an important opportunity to strengthen victim rights and restore public confidence in Northern Ireland’s justice system.

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“I welcome the Sentencing Bill finally coming before the Assembly, albeit later than was first proposed.  This will be an important piece of legislation, and as the Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, I will be focusing our efforts on the rights of victims and ensuring that the bill addresses several issues that are currently undermining confidence in our Criminal Justice System.

“To improve confidence, we need more than just a review of sentence guidelines; we need a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland in line with England, Wales, and the Irish Republic to give direction to our judiciary. Remission of sentences process needs overhauling, particularly for late guilty pleas, where presently you can plead guilty on the day your trial starts and still get up to 25% off your sentence.  Given some of our most serious trials can be delayed up to three years, this is an excessive sentence discount. I will also be proposing that our judiciary is subject to continuous and compulsory personal development training, and the judge’s findings at the end of a trial are provided to the victims, free of charge, and in a format they can understand.

“Finally, having raised the issue of victims not being informed of issues pertaining to the perpetrator who made them a victim because they didn’t sign up to the Victims Information Scheme, I will be proposing that the Victims Information Scheme moves to an opt-out system instead of an opt-in option. This will mean more victims will get more information in a timely manner than they do at present.

“Many of the Ulster Unionists’ proposals have already been put before the Assembly in June 2025 with our motion titled Improving Sentencing Practices in Northern Ireland, where it received support right across the chamber with no party voting against any of the proposals. It is in that spirit that we will scrutinise the Sentencing Bill over the coming months.”