Former Republican prisoner part of committee to scrutinize the new Department of Justice

Policing in the community, prisons and the Public Prosecution Service are all top of the agenda for North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín who takes her seat on the new justice committee today (Thursday).
The Sinn Féin assembly woman attended the first meeting of the cross party committee of assembly members which will scrutinize the new Department of Justice.
Described as the "final piece in the devolution jigsaw", powers of policing and justice were transferred to the North's politicians on Monday 12 April, the first time locally elected politicians have controlled policing in 38 years.
The new minister David Ford now takes responsibility for many functions and agencies previously controlled by the London-based NIO.
As well as taking over responsibility for the police, the new ministry will oversee bodies like the Prison Service, the Public Prosecution Service, the Court Service, the Probation Board and the forensic science service.
Carál said she is eager to get in to resolving the big issues she feels are important such as the role of the Prison Officers Association, (POA) the work of the PPS and building a policing system the community can have confidence in.
As the MLA for the area in which North Belfast teenager Thomas Devlin was murdered she said she has particular interest in the role of the PPS. The PPS was heavily criticized by Thomas’ parents Jim Devlin and Penny Holloway after it initially decided not to prosecute the men who were subsequently convicted of murdering the 15-year-old.
"Looking at the PPS, particularly after the Thomas Devlin case, people feel it is an institution that needs a lot of accountability and transparency. If the Devlin family had not courageously fought for justice the case would not have been heard."
The former republican prisoner said she also wants to scrutinise the prison system, in particular the role of the Prison Officers Association, the treatment of prisoners on Maghaberry and the treatment of women prisoners.
"The POA are operating on a work to rule basis - locking up prisoners for 23 hours a day- this is totally unacceptable. The POA are a law into themselves and I am going to try and get this resolved. There needs to be a whole regime change.
"The prisoners are being denied a right to education, educational materials, free association and this is totally unacceptable.
“The criminal justice inspectorate pointed out the POA needs to change. It is not representative of Catholics, women or ethnic backgrounds and this has to change. We need almost a Patten-like approach to the prison system and we will certainly be asking for it."
Carál will use her role to be calling for tougher sentences on repeat offenders, as well as new legislation to address issues the North Belfast community feel strongly about. The MLA said communities are justifiably angry that constant trouble makers in their areas seem to be regularly bailed and soon back involving themselves in antisocial behaviour.
"We have sat in multi agency meetings for well over a year. No one wants children to go through the criminal justice system. Even residents tortured by them will say they don't want kids ending up with criminal records.
"But where it has been demonstrated time and time again that children are proving themselves to be out of reach, haven't availed of help and support, the parents have no influence and the communities have no influence, then action needs to be taken.
“I'm not talking about draconian action but they need to feel like if they do something they aren't just getting away with it.
"Something that affects residents all the time such as antisocial families, kids who are repeat offenders, antisocial behaviour on interfaces, robbing and damaging areas and in the long-term damaging themselves.
"In the first instance communities have been sympathetic and understanding but these communities need justice themselves and need to know someone is listening to them and taking them seriously and valuing them."
Policing Board figures show that the PSNI tripled their use of stop-and search in the North in the year 2008/9 compared to the previous year. Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to act without reasonable suspicion, is used regularly in North Belfast.
""We are very clear and on the record that some stop and search use in particular areas is having an adverse influence. It is infringing on people's civil liberties. Some people are getting stopped and questioned and not getting searched, some are getting asked ridiculous questions and it smacks of some of the stuff people complained about years ago and rightly so."
She also hopes to push for legislation that will have a direct impact on local people.
"The transfer of powers may not mean much to people now but on a community level it will make a difference. Even small things such as the legislation around quads or on-street drinking. Drinking is currently dealt with the council, the PSNI can't arrest someone or take drink off them if there's no signs. Silly things like that, that we can get stuck into and get sorted."
As the North settles into the first few weeks with local politicians in charge of its own policing and justice powers, the New Lodge woman believes her past experiences will help her in the task ahead.
"I am a republican ex prisoner, I have been through the justice system from one side to the other. It’s been a journey for me too as someone who was convicted under a Diplock court, went through Castlereagh, strip searched in Maghaberry and now I am scrutinising the Minister for Justice.
"It will be a challenge but one I am looking forward to. There are areas that before I even see a paper in committee I know need changed and there are areas I won't have mentioned here that we can work on. Overall I am looking forward to helping implement a human rights based approach to policing and justice."