AQW 20368/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/01/2025
Answered On Date: 13/01/2025
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice whether she is able to commission a serious case review under the Public Protection Arrangements for Northern Ireland to consider the potential referral failures in the case of Jonathan Creswell.

Answer:

The Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) bring agencies together to assess and manage the risk posed by certain sexual and violent offenders. PPANI must operate in line with statutory guidance issued by my Department under Article 50 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

This statutory guidance makes provision for Serious Case Reviews where someone who is being managed through the public protection arrangements is charged with a further serious sexual or violent offence, or there has been a significant failure in how they were managed. As Jonathan Creswell was not being managed under PPANI at the time of Katie Simpson’s murder, such a review would be speculative and beyond the scope of a meaningful SCR.

However, I recognise that there may have been points at which Jonathan Creswell could have been referred into PPANI for management under those arrangements. It is vital that we fully understand the circumstances and take account of any learning around the management of serious offenders. I have therefore commissioned the independent Lay Advisers, who are appointed by statute to oversee and monitor PPANI, to review the general robustness and operation of the referral process.

I am also committed to a specific review of the Creswell case. This review is intended to establish when he came into contact with any of the PPANI agencies; if there were opportunities to refer him into the arrangements; and to identify learning. The review will also consider those points which have been raised in correspondence to my Department and to the PPANI co-ordinator. The full terms of reference are being finalised and it is my intention to appoint an independent reviewer to undertake this work.