evidence: The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin has called for consultation on legislative reform to improve the bail and remand system in Northern Ireland in a new inspection report published today (11 January 2023). [...] "Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates for remanding people in custody in Europe – with figures double compared to England and Wales. In 2021-22, almost 80% of all prison committals were remand prisoners and nearly 40% of our prison population were unsentenced prisoners," said Deputy Chief Inspector James Corrigan who led the inspection of bail and remand. [...] "With the current position becoming increasingly difficult to justify and the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the backlog of criminal cases that need to progress to conclusion, Inspectors have recommended the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the PSNI should develop an options paper for police bail to include the use of time limits, scrutiny arrangements and enhanced protections for victims and witnesses," said the Chief Inspector.