Kerrie
Youth Assembly Member
On Wednesday 26 March, my fellow Youth Assembly Members and I met with the Minister of Justice, Naomi Long MLA, at Castle Buildings in the Department of Justice. Prior to this meeting we had prepared extensively for weeks discussing the Justice Bill and what it entailed through multiple online meetings. However, at this point we had no idea we would be meeting the Minister so when I found out that this work would lead to speaking to the person who made the Bill, I was very excited.
I was so nervous to meet the Minister, and I doubt I was the only one, but I quickly realised that she was going to make this experience informative and friendly.
We put questions to the Minister and her Departmental officials about biometric data, bail, remand, and custody in relation to children and young people. I asked the Minister why there is no young people’s version of the Bill and what consultation there was with young people and marginalised groups in the creation of the Bill. This is very relevant to our aim of involving young people in the creation of laws and issues affecting them.
We also asked why the 75:50:25 model for the retention of biometric data was chosen. This proposes that the length of time fingerprints and DNA are kept after a crime should depend on the severity of crime and age of offender. We raised other issues in the Bill such as child custody arrangements. The Minister explained why she adopted the 75:50:25 model emphasising her aim to create a more practical and reasonable approach by balancing the human right of privacy and autonomy and safety of civilians/ punishment of crime.
Overall, I found that the discussion was constructive and extremely useful. This was a day that I will remember. Thank you to the Minister, for taking the time to speak with us.
The Youth Assembly subsequently gave evidence on the Bill to the Committee for Justice on 10 April. You can read what we discussed on the Committee’s webpage:
https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/committees/2022-2027/justice/.
