Justice Minister Naomi Long has introduced legislative consent motions in the Assembly that will see new criminal offences and amendments to existing ones brought into law in Northern Ireland. These measures will extend certain provisions of the UK Government's Crime and Policing Bill to the region.

Among the most significant additions is a new standalone offence for spiking. Minister Long emphasised the importance of this change: "Spiking is a despicable act that leaves victims feeling violated, vulnerable and confused. Whilst spiking can happen to anyone, it is predominately an attack against women and girls, and one which often goes unreported. I hope by making spiking an offence, it provides additional reassurance and protections to women and girls and will give victims the courage to report attacks to the PSNI."

The legislative consent motion, brought forward in the Assembly, seeks to include Northern Ireland within the scope of the comprehensive Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. This wider Bill supports the UK Government's "Safer Streets Mission" to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade, while also aiming to increase public confidence in policing and the broader criminal justice system. It grants police enhanced powers to address anti-social behaviour, crime, and terrorism.

Key Measures to be Extended to Northern Ireland:

In addition to the new spiking offence, other crucial measures from the Crime and Policing Bill set to be extended to Northern Ireland include: • An offence of cuckooing.

• An updated offence regarding the possession of advice or guidance related to the creation of child sexual abuse images.

• Strengthening and streamlining the current sex offender notification requirements (often referred to as the 'sex offender register').

• An offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm.

• Offences concerning electronic devices used in vehicle theft.

• Reforms to the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

• Provisions related to the proceeds of civil recovery: costs and expenses.

• Implementation of international law enforcement information sharing agreements.

• Clarification on the criminal liability of bodies corporate and partnerships where a senior manager commits an offence (Identification Doctrine).

Separately, Minister Long also brought forward a legislative consent motion to extend four measures from the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to Northern Ireland. These include:

• Supply of trailer registration information.

• Two offences relating to articles for use in serious crime.

• An offence of breach of an Interim Serious Crime Prevention Order.

• A fourth measure, which falls under the responsibility of the Department for the Economy, concerns the validation of fees charged in relation to qualifications.

Concluding her remarks, Minister Long stated: "It is, of course, my preference to legislate for devolved matters through the Assembly. However, the extension of the provisions will ensure consistency across the UK in tackling certain types of criminality and provide important safeguards for victims."