Criminal Justice

The criminal justice system is the system of law enforcement used for all stages of criminal proceedings and punishment. It includes the police, lawyers, courts and corrections (prisons, parole, rehabilitations etc.)

Criminal Justice

PFC has a particular interest in various stages of the criminal justice system, including:

  • The role of the police in enforcing public order through the use of CS gas, tasers and plastic bullets and the inherent dangers involved;
  • Parading- in the past PFC has acted as human rights observers at many marches, parades and demonstrations;
  • Prison conditions- high levels of self-harm and suicides, the use of strip searching etc;
  • The revocation of licenses of some prisoners on the basis of “secret evidence” that cannot be fairly challenged in an open court. PFC has intervened in a number of these cases with the department of justice, secretaries of states, elected representatives and other relevant bodies;

From time to time the PFC is asked to monitor criminal trials. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to offer this service.

Latest Articles

  • STATEMENT FROM PFC/ JFF REGARDING DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE FORMER RUC OFFICER IN RELATION TO MULTIPLE MURDERS & ATTACKS FOLLOWING OPERATION NEWHAM INVESTIGATION

    During the course of their investigation into the Glenanne series of murders (Operation Newham), the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) sent a file relating to a former RUC officer for consideration to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). The PPS has now decided that there is insufficient...
  • File with PPS after soldier interview- McGreanery Case Update

    This article by Kevin Mullan is from the Derry Journal 16.09.22 A British soldier has been interviewed under caution in connection with the fatal shooting of William McGreanery in 1971. A file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to consider whether or not charges should be brought...
  • 'The Impact on our Family was Colossal' Billy McGreanery

    This article by Kevin Mullen appeared in the Derry Journal on 19th September 2022 William McGreanery’s nephew says each time he is interviewed about his uncle he is transported back to his 13 year old self. “Everytime you are involved with an interview or something happens you have to take yourself...
  • Police Ombudsman Report Into 19 Killings Finds Collusive Behaviour

    The Police Ombudsman has today published a report into the RUC's handling of paramilitary attacks by the UDA/UFF between 1989 and 1993 which resulted in 19 murders and multiple attempted murders. The Ombudsman has identified collusive behaviours and raised significant concerns about police conduct.
  • Jean Smyth-Campbell Art 2 PSNI Judgement

    The high court recently ruled that the PSNI legacy investigation branch was not sufficiently independent to be Art. 2 compliant in respect of killings by the British Army. This has profound implications for those families awaiting a proper investigation- and in our view strengthens the argument for...