DOJ - Holistic Support for Victims of Paramilitary Violence

The Department of Justice (DoJ) was established in April 2010, following the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Tackling Paramilitarism Programme Board, chaired by the Head of the Civil Service, has oversight of delivery of the action plan and the Tackling Paramilitarism Programme Team, which coordinates delivery across Executive Departments, ALBs and the voluntary and community sector, is based in the DoJ. An Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) has been set up by the UK and Irish Governments to oversee progress in tackling paramilitarism, including on delivery of the action plan and publishes an annual report. Delivery of the Executive action plan for tackling paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime (published in 2016) is one of the commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach agreement and is reflected in the Programme for Government/Outcomes Delivery Plan and DoJ Corporate Plan for 2020/21. One of the key issues that remains to be addressed in delivery of the action plan is the continuation of violent attacks on individuals by paramilitary groups. There are a number of voluntary and community sector and oversight bodies pressing for action to address this particular type of violence, including the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Independent Reporting Commission, and the #Stopattacks group. The PSNI has a duty to investigate attacks but often finds its work limited by the unwillingness of victims and witnesses to come forward out of fear and intimidation. Each year there are around 60-80 victims of paramilitary violence (this reflects the numbers recorded in PSNI Statistics; some attacks may go unrecorded and the statistics do not cover threats and intimidation that might precede an attack). In addition to new victims each year, there are victims of historic attacks who may have not yet received any support following their attack and who may benefit from access to a bespoke programme. These attacks occur across Northern Ireland but particular areas of activity include Belfast, Londonderry, Ards, Coleraine, and Newtownabbey / Glengormley. Victims are often unwilling to contact statutory or other service providers for support out of fear, stigma and intimidation; they fall between gaps in service provision or existing providers may be unaware of their needs or feel unable to take on the role of supporting this challenging client group. Victims need support with a range of issues, most pressingly trauma or counselling support, but also with issues such as drug misuse, debt, self-esteem, training and employment, access to benefits, housing, and family relations. There are existing programmes providing support for these issues but they are not always accessible by victims of paramilitary violence and do not address the specific circumstances (i.e. the attack) that gave rise to their need for support. Some existing programmes, including those being delivered as part of the Executive action plan, focus on specific geographical areas (e.g. specific areas of Belfast, Londonderry, Larne, Carrickfergus, Bangor and Lurgan) or target groups (e.g. preventative work with young men vulnerable to becoming involved in criminality or paramilitary activity). The aim is not to duplicate provision, but to address the specific needs of victims and support them to access existing provision, particularly in areas or with target groups not being picked up in existing programmes (e.g. older men or those in areas with high levels of paramilitary activity, such as Ards, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, other areas within Londonderry). DoJ are therefore seeking to: 1. put in place a programme to support victims of paramilitary violence. 2. provide support to victims 3. build capacity among service providers to work with victims of paramilitary violence. 4. learn about effective approaches and inform work on tackling violence and paramilitarism more generally.