AQO 1467/22-27 Oral question to the Minister of Justice
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the roll-out of the Sexual Offences Legal Advisers scheme.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 23 January 2025
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 23 January 2025
- Answer due by
- 3 February 2025
- Answered
- 3 February 202511 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Justice
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 3 February 2025. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mrs Long
In November 2024, I announced the extension of the adult sexual offences legal adviser — SOLA — pilot scheme for a further two years until 31 March 2027. The SOLA service is available to all adult complainants in serious sexual offence cases up to the point of trial and has provided free, independent legal advice to 2,000 complainants since its launch in April 2021. The pilot service, which is delivered by Victim Support NI, was initially established for two years with the option to extend in order to test the arrangements further. My Department is also consulting on legislative proposals for inclusion in a victims and witnesses of crime Bill that would allow SOLAs to provide representation for complainants at court pre-trial in certain circumstances. I encourage all those with an interest to respond to those proposals.
Ms Egan
Minister, will you provide an update on whether you have any plans to include a similar service for children?
Mrs Long
The Member will be aware that I am keen to extend the service to young people. I am delighted to be able to update Members on that: later this week, in partnership with Victim Support NI, I will officially launch the children's sexual offences legal adviser scheme. The scheme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of child complainants in serious sexual offence cases and will run for an initial two-year pilot phase. The new children's service will run in tandem with the adult SOLA service until March 2027, when both pilots will be fully evaluated to inform the development and procurement of mainstream services. The new pilot will provide support to some of the most vulnerable of children and marks another important step towards improving victims' experiences in sexual offence cases and helping them to navigate the criminal justice system. One key benefit is that free advice on the criminal justice system will be available even prior to any offence being reported, which will help victims to make informed decisions and may help to increase reporting.