The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) have launched a joint five-year Strategy for Investigating and Prosecuting Serious Sexual Offences, outlining how both organisations will work together to improve victims' experiences and deliver a more effective response to some of the most serious crimes.

The initiative is the first jointly developed strategy between PSNI and PPS. It was shaped through engagement with statutory partners, the voluntary sector and people with lived experience, and sets out a model for closer collaboration while respecting the separate and independent roles of investigators and prosecutors.

The strategy is anchored by two overarching ambitions: that no victim withdraws from the criminal justice process because of their experience of investigation or prosecution; and that the time taken to investigate serious sexual offences and reach prosecution decisions is reduced by one third over the lifetime of the plan.

Delivery will focus on four outcomes: better, trauma-informed support and clear communication for victims; faster progression and consistently high-quality case files; stronger leadership and accountability to build confidence, encourage reporting and assist prevention and detection; and continued development of specialist investigators and prosecutors.

At present, the median time from initial police report to a prosecution decision is 224 days. PSNI and PPS are jointly aiming to reduce this by around 75 days. A detailed two-year action plan underpins the strategy, with work already under way and annual public reporting against agreed performance measures.

The Head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Public Protection Branch, Detective Chief Superintendent Zoe McKee said: "Every report of a serious sexual offence represents a person who has placed their trust in us at what may be one of the most difficult moments of their life. That trust carries a profound responsibility.

"We know that victims expect investigations that are thorough, compassionate and as timely as possible. We also recognise that the criminal justice process can sometimes add to the trauma experienced by victims, particularly where cases become protracted.

"This Strategy reflects our determination to improve. It has been shaped by listening carefully to victims, partner organisations and our own staff, and by recognising that meaningful change requires sustained partnership across policing and prosecution.

"We are making clear commitments that the public can judge us against. By working even more closely with the Public Prosecution Service we want to improve communication with victims, reduce avoidable delay and strengthen the quality of investigations while maintaining the highest professional standards.

"Most importantly, we want every victim to know that they will be treated with dignity, professionalism and respect throughout the criminal justice process."

PPS Senior Assistant Director and Victim Champion Marianne O'Kane said: "Victims are at the heart of this Strategy. We know that the decision to report a sexual offence takes immense courage, and we want every victim to feel supported, informed and treated with empathy throughout the prosecution process. "For many victims, their experience of the criminal justice system can be just as important as the outcome of a case. That is why the PPS is committed to improving communication, offering greater support and ensuring that victims understand what is happening in their case and why.

"A key ambition of this Strategy is that no victim withdraws support for a case because of their experience of the investigation or prosecution process. We also want to reduce by one third the time it takes to investigate these offences and reach a prosecution decision, helping to minimise the additional trauma that delay can cause.

"By working closely with the PSNI, victim support organisations and partners across the justice system, we have an opportunity to make meaningful improvements for victims that strengthen confidence and deliver a better experience for every victim at each stage of their journey. However, achieving these ambitions will require sustained investment across the criminal justice system to ensure specialist teams have the resources needed to deliver the change victims deserve."

The strategy is supported by the testimony of survivors, including Nicola Bannon, who was abused by a teacher as a teenager. William Lloyd Lavery was sentenced on 28 April this year to two years' imprisonment for six counts of indecent assault of a child. Between 1976 and 1978, Lavery sexually assaulted four girls, each around 13 years old. Nicola is endorsing the new approach, urging others to report sexual abuse and highlighting the value of measures designed to support victims through the process.

She said: "My loss of innocence at the hands of a trusted teacher, nearly half a century ago, is a trauma that will live with me to the end of my days. I have been left with a near-video-perfect recall of my abuse. Silence is a prison with no bars, but speaking up is freedom and the path to justice.

"There has been a significant evolution in society's understanding of a victim's journey over the past few years, but I appreciate the recognition from this new strategy that more can and should be done.

"I was fortunate that my case came at a time when a new Special Measure for victims and witnesses was being introduced, the use of Remote Evidence Centres. My successful application to the court for this measure was supported and handled by the PPS.

"It was a huge relief to be able to give a pre-recorded interview to my dedicated PSNI case manager. That interview was later played in court, meaning I did not have to give my evidence live from the witness box. During the trial, I was then cross-examined by Video-Link in a remote room with my nominated Victim Support NI companion at my side throughout. My abuser was not visible to me from the dock when I was giving my evidence remotely, which allowed me to give my very best evidence to the court. These are the things that mean so much to victims and are the reasons why we stay in the system to get justice and accountability.

"The relief I have experienced in speaking out has been well worth it. I feel a genuine acceptance about the abuse that I endured and an inner calm I never had before. The profound sense of injustice that I have carried for nearly five decades has now been lifted and replaced with a renewed drive to live my life to the full, unencumbered by the past."

Covering 2026–2031, the Joint Strategy introduces new governance arrangements, including a Sexual Violence and Abuse Strategic Oversight Board and an Independent Consultation Group, with annual progress reports to demonstrate delivery.

The full strategy and further information are available on the PSNI website, alongside the latest official statistics on police-recorded crime in Northern Ireland.