Published date:
The Victim Survey Report can be read here.
Over 80% of victims in Northern Ireland are not confident they will receive justice by reporting a crime.
This is one of the key findings from the second victim survey by the Commissioner for Victims of Crime Office Northern Ireland (CVOCNI) published today.
The findings show there have been some improvements in victim perceptions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) and other organisations providing services to victims compared to findings of the first survey carried out in 2023 and published in 2024.
Some of the key findings from this survey are:
- 82% of respondents were not confident they could receive justice by reporting a crime (compared to 88% in 2023)
- 56% of respondents felt the police did not investigate the allegations thoroughly (compared to 55% in 2023)
- 40% of respondents were dissatisfied with how they were treated by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) (compared to 50% in 2023)
- 48% of respondents felt they were not given enough support during the court process (compared to 77% in 2023)
Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna said,
“It is positive to see some improvements in how victims view our criminal justice system, however the findings of this survey are by no means cause for celebration.
“We must look beyond these numbers and think about what they really mean for victims.
“If someone is the victim of a crime and isn’t confident they’ll receive justice, they’ll be much less likely to report the crime, which has implications not just for those victims, but for public safety.
“Despite improvements, we’re still looking at around half of victims who aren’t receiving the services and support they deserve.
“Our criminal justice system can only function properly, it can only keep us all safe, when we are all confident in its effectiveness and fairness.
“This matters because our justice system is just as important as our health and education systems when it comes to providing a safe, prosperous place for us all to live.
“I know that the vast majority of those working in our criminal justice system are dedicated public servants determined to do their best for those victims who need their help.
“We need long-term, strategic investment and planning, co-ordinated across Executive departments to properly support victims of crime.”
This is the second annual survey of victims carried out by CVOCNI and is the only victim survey in Northern Ireland open to victims of all crime types.
The survey was conducted online with respondents completing the survey independently between 21 September and 23 December 2024. The survey was open to any victim of crime who reported their experience to the police since 2019 as well as those who chose not to report.
257 responses were received, which represents an increase of 55% on the previous victim survey.