The Sentencing Bill, which is being brought forward by the Department of Justice, will deliver more stringent sentences for a range of offences.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “Today is an important day for victims; legislation that will make a significant difference to sentencing policy is one step closer to coming into force.

“Victims of crime, and their families and representatives, have been integral to the development of this Bill.

“We have listened to the concerns they raised and we have responded.

“With levels of racially motivated hate crime in Northern Ireland at record levels, the Bill will make key changes to how we prosecute such offences.

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with all those with an interest in sentencing policy as this Bill proceeds through the Assembly.”

The Bill will increase the maximum penalty for causing death, or serious injury by dangerous driving or careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, from 14 years to 20 years.

It will also introduce a new offence and higher sentences for assaulting those providing a service to the public or performing a public duty.

Drawing on a review of hate crime legislation led by Judge Desmond Marrinan, the Bill will also help victims of hate crime by modernising hate crime laws in Northern Ireland.

Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Neil Johnston had previously welcomed the Bill, and along with representatives from Usdaw, had met with the Justice Minister last October to champion the cause of giving retail workers better legal protection from assault.

“Retailers have campaigned strongly for this measure alongside the shop workers union, Usdaw. We were happy to engage with the Justice Minister on the subject, delighted that she has incorporated this measure into her Bill and very much welcome her introduction of the Bill to the Assembly,” said Mr Johnston.

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The 21 individuals were identified as having at least one conviction quashed by the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024, and 160 convictions have been identified as quashed.

Each count that an individual is found guilty of is considered a conviction, and many of the 21 individuals have multiple convictions arising from the same prosecution.

The Act was passed into legislation in May 2024, as a response to the scandal in which innocent subpostmasters were pursued for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in the Horizon accounts system.

Justice Minister Naomi Long made the announcement and said the Department of Justice had issued correspondence to the 21 individuals to notify them accordingly.

“It is a significant and welcome development that 21 people in Northern Ireland have now received confirmation their convictions have been quashed and that these will be removed from their records,” said the Minister.

“I hope by having their convictions quashed and their records updated, those affected get some sense that justice has been served.”

Minister Long encouraged anyone who believes they have a relevant conviction and has not received a letter to date, to make contact with the Department so their convictions can be reviewed.

“Similarly, I would encourage those who think they may be eligible for the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme to apply to the programme,” added the Minister.

“Whilst no amount of financial redress can fully compensate for the years of stress and suffering that subpostmasters have experienced, I hope it goes some way to alleviating any financial hardship that has been experienced.”

The Department for Business and Trade is responsible for the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme for those who have had their convictions quashed by the legislation.

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Retail trade union Usdaw and the employers’ organisation Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) have jointly written to Naomi Long MLA, Minister of Justice, urging action to protect retail workers from violence and abuse, amid a huge increase in the number of incidents in recent years.

The call comes after an epidemic of retail crime, with the latest recorded crime statistics from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) showing that shoplifting had more than doubled since the pandemic. Usdaw and the NIRC are seeking Stormont support for a Scottish-style protection of shop workers’ law, which the new Labour Government in Westminster included in the recent King’s Speech, although that will only apply in England and Wales.

Usdaw’s latest annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff across the UK showed that 18% of shop workers suffered a violent attack last year, compared to 8% in 2022. Six in 10 respondents said that incidents of violence, threats and abuse they’d experienced were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery. The British Retail Consortium’s Crime Survey reports similar results, despite record spending on crime prevention by retailers.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary said: “It is deeply disturbing for our members to see a doubling in theft from shops. Shoplifting has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers.

“The case for a separate criminal offence for abusing or assaulting a retail worker is clear – Usdaw’s survey shows that physical assaults are at an all-time high. We fear retail crime is in danger of becoming normalised if action is not taken.

“A separate criminal offence will ensure greater visibility and awareness of the scale of the problem, prioritisation and resourcing from the police, certainty from courts and will send a clear message to members of the public that abuse and attacks against retail workers are wholly unacceptable. It will also allow the tracking of the data around cases as they progress through the criminal justice system.

“Retail workers in Scotland already have the protection of a separate, standalone criminal offence and now retail workers in England and Wales are set to have similar protections. Like the NIRC, we believe that there is a real danger that retail workers in Northern Ireland will get left behind. Together we strongly urge that legislation is introduced as soon as possible. When the retail trade union and retail employers come together, it should be time for politicians to sit up and listen.”

Neil Johnston, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium added: “It is imperative that the Minister for Justice, her colleagues on the Executive and indeed all members of the Assembly pause for a moment and consider the scale of the problem of assault on retail workers.

“Then they must act to legislate in a manner similar to the rest of the country. Our workers deserve the same protection as their colleagues in GB.”

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