Major reform needed in criminal justice system – Burrows

Major reforms are required within Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system so that it can “reconnect” with the public, police officer turned politician Jon Burrows has said.

The new Ulster Unionist MLA for North Antrim said he believed that some sentences handed out in courts in the region were “horrendously soft”.

Mr Burrows is a former superintendent within the PSNI, where he served as the force’s head of discipline.

Since leaving policing, Mr Burrows has often appeared as a voice in the media expressing his views about law and justice issues.

On his first day as an MLA, he said he was concerned that confidence in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland was low.

He added: “We have a criminal justice system that is slow.

“I think sometimes the sentencing is horrendously soft, particularly for repeat offenders, particularly for those who engage in violent crime against vulnerable people in our community.

“We have got a terrible problem with violence against women and girls and children.

“What the criminal justice system needs to do is reconnect with the public.”

Mr Burrows added: “It needs to make sure it is protecting the public, the most vulnerable.

“I think there are major reforms required so that it is in tune with the public, it protects the public and it looks after the interests of the law-abiding citizens.”

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said he would not be fast-tracking Mr Burrows onto the Policing Board, the scrutiny body for the PSNI.

He said: “I think what John wants to do is the right thing and it is what I want him to do.

“To re-embed himself in the North Antrim constituency.

“He has already worked there for a spell in his previous career as a police officer.

“He has got plans for the rest of this wee, he is hitting the ground running.

“It is time to embed himself there.

“We will, of course, tap into his expertise on policing and he will work closely with Doug Beattie, our justice spokesperson and Alan Chambers, our representative on the Policing Board.”