TSN Annual Report - Annex 7: Northern Ireland Office Draft New TSN Action Plan

The first New TSN Annual Report

November 1999

Annex 7: Northern Ireland Office Draft New TSN Action Plan

The NIO retains a strong commitment to securing a lasting peace based on the Good Friday Agreement (of 10 April 1998) with full respect for the rights and identities of all traditions in Northern Ireland.

The equality agenda was a key issue in the multi-party negotiations which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement envisaged "...a new more focused Targeting Social Need initiative and a range of measures aimed at combating unemployment...." (page 9 paragraph iii). The New TSN policy, which derives from the Partnership for Equality White Paper, is wholly compatible with the Good Friday Agreement.

The NIO will maintain its strategic input to the development of the equality agenda. In addition, although the Department is not a major provider of the type of services which are susceptible to New TSN treatment, certain parts of the Department have a contribution to make. These are:

Core Department	Next Steps Agencies	NDPB’s etc
Central Services Directorate Criminal Justice Directorate Policing & Security Directorate Political Directorate Statistics and Research	Northern Ireland Prison Service Compensation Agency	Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) Police Authority for Northern Ireland (PANI) Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)

The RUC is neither a Next Steps Agency nor an NDPB, but has agreed to contribute to the development of New TSN within the criminal justice system.

In terms of service delivery to the public such opportunity as exists lies mainly in the bodies related to the NIO and their voluntary sector partners rather than the core Department itself.

The action required by each part of the NIO involved with New TSN and relevant partner bodies is set out below in tabular form. The Compensation Agency is not directly included in these tables since payments made by the agency (in respect of criminal injuries and criminal damage) are governed by statute and provide no scope for the skewing of resources. Nevertheless, by its very nature, the work of the Agency targets social need in particular circumstances and is characteristic of the "best efforts" approach.

Business Area:	Central Services Directorate
Social need to be tackled:	Disadvantage experienced by people, groups and areas in Northern Ireland
Desired outcome:	Greater understanding and awareness of the priority to be given to New TSN in all key areas of the Department
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
NIO 1 To include New TSN objectives in the Department’s strategic documentation.	a. Secure Board-level agreement to a text conveying the political and strategic importance of New TSN by the end of January 2000. b. Communicate the Board text to all staff in the NIO core by the end of February 2000.
NIO 2 Ensure staff have appropriate knowledge and awareness about New TSN.	a. Secure an appropriate budget allocation to incorporate New TSN training in the management development programme by 1 April 2000. b. Prepare and present New TSN awareness training to staff at Grades A and B1 in the NIO core and relevant staff in the Prison Service, within 2000-2001

Business Area:	Political Directorate
Social need to be tackled:	Disadvantage among people, groups and areas in Northern Ireland
Desired outcome:	a. Political parties to have an understanding of New TSN b. Support for victims of the Troubles
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
NIO 3 To promote understanding of New TSN among political parties.	a. Maintain and promote an understanding of the Equality Agenda across political parties in Northern Ireland throughout the period of this Plan.
NIO 4 To provide support and funding to organisations who assist victims of the Troubles.	a. Take forward implementation of the Bloomfield Report We Will Remember Them which considered the needs of victims of the Troubles. b. Through regular meetings, support the Touchstone Group which comprises representatives of the victim community and provides advice to Government on the needs and views of this diverse group of interests. c. Distribute a Ł3m package of funding for groups supporting victims of the Troubles. d. On the basis of a funding package published in September 1999, to provide funding for the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund which is developing programmes to assist victims of the Troubles. e. Commission, support and disseminate research which might determine the needs of victims and/or the outcome of initiatives. Ongoing.

Business Area:	Criminal Justice Directorate
Social need to be tackled:	Disadvantage among people, groups and areas in Northern Ireland
Desired outcome:	New TSN considerations built into the work of the Directorate, the Compensation Agency, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and funded voluntary organisations
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
NIO 5 To encourage relevant Agencies and NDPBs to develop New TSN Action Plans.	a. Encourage the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Compensation Agency to develop New TSN Action Plans and to have them in place by January 2001.
NIO 6 To ensure relevant voluntary organisations take account of New TSN.	a. Ensure by April 2000, that voluntary organisations funded by Criminal Justice Services Division are made aware of New TSN and they take account of it where possible.
NIO 7 To build New TSN considerations into relevant policies.	a. Within financial year 2000-2001, along with partnership organisations and other Departments, review drugs, crime prevention, juvenile justice, and victims of crime programmes for New TSN applicability.
NIO 8 To develop the information base so as to inform the implementation of New TSN by the Directorate.	a. By April 2001, develop a system that will examine patterns of crime and the provision of services against population structures, indices of deprivation and geographical location. b. Explore the possibility of using proxy measures for monitoring by religion within the criminal justice system by April 2001.

Business Area:	Policing and Security Directorate – Police Division
Social need to be tackled:	Disadvantage among people, groups and areas in Northern Ireland
Desired outcome:	New TSN considerations built into the work of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland (PANI) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
NIO 9 To work with PANI and RUC so that they can build New TSN considerations into their work.	a. Work with PANI and the RUC to explore the scope for implementing New TSN, including addressing training needs, while recognising the potential impact of the Patten report on both organisations. b. Maintain contact with PANI and RUC leading to the production of an Action Plan for both by January 2001. c. Work with PANI and RUC once the Action Plan has been developed to ensure its implementation. d. Work with PANI and RUC to consider the types of data required to support their Action Plan and the best method of collecting it. e. Explore with RUC the possibility of using postcodes as proxy indicators of community background.

Business Area:	Northern Ireland Prison Service
Social need to be tackled:	Disadvantage among people, groups and areas in Northern Ireland
Desired outcome:	New TSN considerations built into the work of the work of the Prison Service
New TSN objectives	Targets or actions and timescales
NIO 10 To build New TSN considerations into Prison Service strategic documentation.	a. As part of the Quinquennial Review of the Service, consideration will be given to including New TSN in Prison Service objectives by March 2000.
NIO 11 To operate the Assisted Visits Scheme.	a. To continue to operate the Assisted Visits Scheme and ensure that uptake is maximised. b. Expenditure on the Assisted Visits Scheme to be collated and reported on in the 1999-2000 Prison Service Annual Report.
NIO 12 To implement the New Deal for Young People.	a. To implement the New Deal for Young People and run two further courses by March 2000. b. Monitor those who take part in the New Deal and report on progress in the 1999-2000 Prison Service Annual Report.