Date:
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have launched a new five-year Joint Strategy for Investigating and Prosecuting Serious Sexual Offences.
The Strategy sets out how the PPS and PSNI will work together to improve the experience of victims, strengthen the criminal justice response to some of the most serious crimes in society, reduce delay and strengthen accountability across the criminal justice system.
Serious sexual offences have a profound impact on victims and survivors. We recognise that navigating the criminal justice system can be difficult and that delays and the complexity of investigations and prosecutions can add to the trauma experienced by victims.
The Strategy has been developed with input from statutory organisations, voluntary sector partners and people with lived experience. It sets out a programme of practical commitments over a five year period, April 2026 – March 2031, with progress monitored through annual reporting against agreed performance measures.
Our ambitions
The Strategy has two overarching ambitions:
- No victim should withdraw from the criminal justice process because of their experience of the investigation or prosecution.
- Reduce the time taken to investigate and reach prosecution decisions in serious sexual offence cases by one third over the lifetime of the Strategy. Every case is different and serious sexual offence investigations can be complex. However, we recognise that unnecessary delay can and should be addressed.
Four strategic outcomes
The Strategy is built around four key outcomes:
Improved support to victims
We will work to improve communication with victims and strengthen the support available to them throughout the criminal justice process.
This includes reviewing victim needs assessments, strengthening referral pathways to support services and continuing to develop trauma-informed approaches.
Improving timeliness and quality
We will work together to improve the quality and timeliness of investigations and prosecutions.
Actions include strengthening joint working, improving case preparation and file quality, enhancing digital processes and investing in specialist teams.
Demonstrating accountability and leadership
The Strategy establishes clear arrangements for monitoring delivery and measuring progress.
Implementation has already begun, with progress measured against agreed performance indicators and reported publicly each year.
Developing our specialist workforce
Specialist investigators and prosecutors have a vital role in responding to serious sexual offences.
The Strategy includes commitments to continued professional development, trauma-sensitive practice, specialist learning, workforce wellbeing and maintaining appropriate specialist staffing levels.
Working together
PSNI and PPS have different statutory responsibilities, and the independence of prosecution decision-making remains fundamental.
However, victims experience the criminal justice system as one journey.
By working more closely together, the PPS and PSNI aim to improve communication, reduce unnecessary delay and strengthen the quality of investigations and prosecutions, while maintaining fairness, independence and professional standards.
A commitment to continued improvement
We recognise that some victims have experienced delays and frustrations during their journey through the criminal justice system.
We have listened to those experiences and recognise that there is more work to do.
This Strategy does not suggest that the challenges facing the investigation and prosecution of serious sexual offences have been solved. Instead, it sets out a clear, long-term commitment to learning, improvement and accountability.
Trust is built through actions rather than words. Through this Strategy, the PPS and PSNI are committed to making measurable improvements.
Most importantly, every victim should be treated with dignity, professionalism and respect throughout the criminal justice process.
Victim Information
Victims can find further information including supports available to them on our Victim and Witness Information page.