Doug Beattie MC MLA said, “Initially, the level of first-time offending in Northern Ireland, sitting at 26.5%, is encouraging. However, this needs to be placed in context, which means 73.5% of all offences committed that year were repeat offenders; that should set the alarm bell ringing. It is even more worrying that of the 26.5% of first-time offenders, 7,871 individuals, 42% were offences of a sexual nature, and a further 22% were violence against the person. Yet only 2.7% of all first-time offenders received a custodial sentence.

“This raises several questions; is rehabilitation working if we are still seeing a reoffending rate of over 70%. That isn’t a question of should do it or not; clearly, we must and should, but is it actually having an effect? Do we need to have a fundamental rethink of rehabilitation, which is based on outcomes and how it links into social support networks? Do we need a zero tolerance of sexual crimes and violence against the person, particularly, yet not exclusively, if they are repeat offenders? We must also look at how we reach those repeat offenders who do not get a custodial sentence to see how their rehabilitation is monitored, and again, focus on the outcomes. If it is obvious they are not responding to rehabilitation, then we must think about safeguarding the public.

“Without a doubt, these figures are only part of the story; we must look at how health, social deprivation, poverty, and addiction are having an impact on offending and re-offending. However, the reason for giving custodial sentences is about rehabilitation, safeguarding the public, deterrence, and punishment. It seems, by these figures, that the last 2 are being largely ignored, meaning re-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024; this is hardly a ringing endorsement of our rehabilitation programme.  

“I am also struck by the age range of first-time offenders, with the majority being between 18 and 24 years of age and 30 to 39 years of age, with the majority being male. However, one aspect that does leave me slightly confused is why the figure attributed to male first-time offenders includes those who are transgender, while those attributed to women do not include transgender individuals. Surely, a data field in this regard should rely on the sex of the offender, not their gender.

“I have long raised the issue of sentences not matching the crime, particularly violence, abuse and sexual crimes against women, girls and children. It is time the Justice Minister gave a clear direction of travel for our judiciary, not just guidance.”