1. Key Findings

1.1 About this bulletin

This bulletin presents information on first time entrants to the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland for the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. As well as details on demographic makeup, the bulletin also presents analysis on disposals received (see Interpreting the Data section in Appendix 1).

The justice system continued to work through the backlog of cases created by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2023-24. The numbers recorded in this bulletin, to some extent, reflect the impact of measures introduced to assist on that recovery. This bulletin was revised in December 2025, to include a small number of out of court diversionary disposals which had been excluded from the initial data totals.

Main Points in 2023-24

Diagram of main points in 2023-24 (information is provided in main text)

1.2 Overall

  • In 2023-24, 29,671 offences were recorded as dealt with by conviction or diversion in the justice system in Northern Ireland. Of these, 26.5% (7,872) were first offences. The comparative figure for 2022/23 was 25.8%.
  • Of first offences, 25.0% (1,969) were dealt with by formal diversionary disposal and 75.0% (5,903) by conviction.

1.3 Age Group and Gender

  • Of all first time entrants in 2023-24, 8.4% (660) were aged 10 to 17 and 24.5% (1,926) were aged 18 to 24.
  • Those in the age range 10 to 17 were most likely (86.8%, 573 out of 660) to receive a diversion for a first offence.
  • Of all offences committed by males1 and dealt with by conviction or diversion, 23.5% (5,499) were first offences; the comparative figure for females was 38.1% (2,373).

1 Figures for males also include organisations, transgender and gender not specified.

1.4 Offence Type and Disposals Received

  • Over half, 59.1% (4,655) of all first offences in 2023-24 were motoring offences. Of all instances where a conviction or diversion was issued for offences in this category, 37.6% were for first offences.
  • Monetary disposals made up 60.9% (4,794) of all disposals for first offences in 2023-24. First offences accounted for 33.2% of all instances where a monetary penalty was imposed in relation to a conviction or diversion. Of all instances where imprisonment was imposed as a penalty, first offences accounted for only 6.0% (216 out of 3,594).
  • 48.1% (1,969) of all cases dealt with by diversion were for first offences. Of first offences dealt with by diversion, 74.8% (1,472) were dealt with by way of caution. However, while 47.3% of all cautions were for first offences, 87.4% (264) of all informed warnings issued were for first offences.

2. Introduction

2.1 About this report

In the 2011-16 Programme for Government, the Minister outlined a commitment to reduce the level of serious crime by reshaping the approach used to tackle factors leading to criminal behaviours within Northern Ireland. A commitment was given to monitor the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time.

This bulletin, produced in accordance with the pillars and principles set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics, presents data on first time entrants to the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland for the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It provides an overview of the structure of the known offending population in 2023-24, along with information on the breakdown of offences committed by new offenders and the disposals received. Comparative information with the previous year is also provided.

Details of methodology, data coverage and quality are detailed in Appendix 1.

Data in all tables and charts in the bulletin, along with supplementary data, are available from the Department of Justice website in the accompanying spreadsheet. The next update covering the 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 will be published in June 2026. A full publication schedule is available on the Department of Justice website.

The data underpinning this report are sourced from those compiled in the production of an annual Prosecution, Convictions and Out of Court Disposals report, taking data on convictions and out of court diversionary disposals each year and merging it with a historical disposals file. As the Prosecutions bulletin is produced on a calendar year basis, the publication of first-time entrants’ data is delayed until publication of prosecutions data for the entire period to be reported on has been completed.

3. Findings

3.1 Overview

In 2023-24, a total of 29,671 (first and further) offences were recorded as dealt with by conviction or diversion in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, slightly more than the total number (29,520) in the previous year. In 2023/24, the justice system continued, to be impacted by the the backlog of cases created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The numbers recorded in this bulletin, to some extent, reflect the impact of measures introduced to assist on recovery from that event.

3.2 First time entrants

Of total offences, 7,872 (26.5%) were first and 21,799 (73.5%) were further offences. As detailed in the counting rules in Appendix 1, the number of first offences equates directly to the number of first-time entrants to the justice system. The number of first-time entrants (first offences) in 2023-24 therefore was 7,872 (26.5% of all offences), an increase of 0.7 percentage points on the previous year (7,624 first offences; 25.8% of all offences). Over the period 2014-15 – 2023-24, for all cases disposed through the courts or via out of court diversionary disposals, the proportion of first-time entrants has decreased from 30.4% to 26.5% (Table 1).

Table 1: First time entrants to the justice system as percentage of all offenders dealt with at court or by formal diversionary disposal 2014-15 to 2023-24

Year Percentage first time offenders
2014-15 30.4
2015-16 30.4
2016-17 29.8
2017-18 29.3
2018-19 27.2
2019-20 26.8
2020-21 26.6
2021-22 24.4
2022-23 25.8
2023-24 26.5

3.3 Conviction and diversion breakdown

Of all offences, 13.8% (4,090) were dealt with by diversion, and 86.2% (25,581) by conviction. Corresponding figures for all first offences were 25.0% (1,969) and 75.0% (5,903) respectively.

Figure 1: First offences and further offences of all offenders, 2023-24 [see note below]

Figure 1: First offences and further offences of all offenders. (Main points are covered in the text).

Note: The percentages shown in the diagram relate to the total number of offences committed in the top box in the figure.

3.4 Age Group

Overall, in 2023-24, 18-24 years olds (24.5%; 1,926) accounted for the highest proportion of all first offences; those in the oldest and youngest age categories accounted for the lowest (10-17: 8.4%, 660; 60 and over: 7.1%, 555). Of all offences committed by 10-17 year olds, 41.9% (660) were first offences. At 37.0% (1,926) and 39.1% (555) the comparative figures for those in the 18-24 and 60 and over age groups were relatively similar. Figures for those in each of the other four age categories tended to be lower (27.2% or less).

Of all first offences committed by 10-17 year olds, 13.2% (87) were dealt with by way of conviction. Figures for those in all the other age categories were considerably higher (75.5% or more).

Of all first offences committed by 10-17 year olds, 86.8% (573) were dealt with by way of diversion. Figures for those in all the other age categories were considerably lower (24.5% or less).

While 36.4% (448) of convictions for those aged 60 and over were for first offences, only 7.6% of all convictions for first offences were attributable to this group (Figure 2 and 3; Tables 1c and 1d in accompanying spreadsheet).

The rate of first convictions in 2023-24, whether or not it was for a first offence, was 26.8% (6,867) overall (compared with 25.7% in 2022-23). This compares to a rate of 23.1% (5,903) for convictions for first offences only (up from 21.9% in 2022-23).

Figure 2: First offences by age band, 2023-24

Figure 3: First offences as percentage of first/all convictions and diversions by age band, 2023-24

3.5 Gender

Overall, in 2023-24, 69.9% of all first offences were committed by males2 and 30.1% by females (Table 2a in accompanying spreadsheet).

Of all offences committed by males, almost one quarter (23.5%; 5,499) were first offences; the comparative figure for females was 38.1% (2,373). For all diversions and convictions handed to males, 45.7% (1,334) and 20.3% (4,165) respectively were for first offences. Comparative figures for females were 54.1% (635) and 34.4% (1,738).

The rate of first convictions in 2023-24, whether or not it was for a first offence, was 38.5% (1,949) for females (Tables 2b, 2c and 2d in accompanying spreadsheet).

2 Figures for Males also include organisations, transgender and gender not specified.

3.6 Offence Categories

During 2023-24, motoring offences accounted for 59.1% (4,655) of all first offences dealt with. Violence against the person (VAP) accounted for a further 15.2% (1,195), drugs for 6.7% (524) and theft offences for 5.0% (391) (Table 3a in accompanying spreadsheet).

Looking at individual offence categories, first offences were highest in the sexual (42.2%, 119), motoring (37.6%, 4,655), possession of weapon (27.5%, 117) and fraud (27.1%, 96) categories and lowest in the robbery (2 out of 32 cases), public order (9.7%, 224) and burglary (12.9%, 33) categories (Figure 4; Table 3a in accompanying spreadsheet).

First offences relating to possession of weapons (75.2%, 88), drugs (70.4%, 369), public order (65.2%, 146), burglary (63.6%, 21), criminal damage & arson (63.2%, 165) and theft (58.1%, 227) were dealt with mainly by diversion. First offences in the robbery (2 out of 32 cases), motoring (94.4%, 4,396), sexual (93.3%, 111), miscellaneous (71.8%, 183), fraud (70.8%, 68) and VAP (51.0%, 609) categories were mostly dealt with by conviction (Table 3e in accompanying spreadsheet).

Figure 4: First offences as percentage of all convictions and diversions by offence classification, 2023-24

Note: Robbery not shown in the figure above as low – denominator less than 50, percentage suppressed.

3.7 Disposal Type

During 2023-24, monetary penalties (60.9%; 4,794) and diversions (25.0%; 1,969) were imposed for the majority of first offences. Suspended custodial sentences, community sentences and imprisonment accounted for a further 5.1% (405), 3.8% (302) and 2.7% (216) respectively.

First offences made up 48.1% of diversions and 33.2% of all monetary penalties issued. Comparative figures for other disposal types were 11.8% for community sentences, 9.7% for suspended custodial disposals, and 6.0% for imprisonment (Figure 5; Table 4a in accompanying spreadsheet).

Looking at diversions in more detail, most first offences dealt with in this way received a caution (74.8%, 1,472). Informed warnings (13.4%, 264) and PPS ordered youth conference plans (11.8%, 233) accounted for the remainder. First offences made up 87.4% (264 out of 302) of all informed warnings issued in 2023-24. This compares to 47.3% (1,472 out of 3,110) of cautions and 34.4% (233 out of 678) of PPS ordered youth conference plans (Table 4a in accompanying spreadsheet).

Figure 5: First Offences by disposal type, 2023-24

4. Appendix 1: Methodology and Counting Rules

Who are first time entrants to the criminal justice system?

Within this publication, first time entrants to the criminal justice system are those who are recorded as having committed a proven first offence, whether it was dealt with by way of diversionary disposal or by conviction. The term ‘first time entrants’ equates directly to that of ‘first offence’, the phraseology used to describe data presented within this document. In order to calculate the proportion of first time entrants, information is also provided for ‘further offences’. Note that, under counting rules for this publication, ‘further offences’ do not relate directly to the number of offenders who have committed further offences, as an offender may have had more than one further conviction or diversionary disposal within the time period covered by the report.

What counts as a first or further offence?

An offence is defined as a ‘first offence’ if it results in the offender receiving their first diversion, warning, caution or conviction – i.e. they have no previous criminal record in Northern Ireland. Offences resulting in further diversions, warnings, cautions or convictions are known as ‘further offences’, since the offender already has a recorded criminal history.

Where an offender has had a diversion imposed, been warned, cautioned or convicted of several offences on the same occasion, only one offence, the principal offence, is counted (whether this is in relation to a first offence or, for the purposes of this bulletin, to a further offence). The basis for selection of the principal offence is laid down in rules issued by the Home Office; the Department of Justice has developed a methodology applicable to Northern Ireland based on these.

Out of court disposals not taken into account in this bulletin are Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs). PNDs are a fixed penalty designed to tackle low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending for offenders aged 18 and over and are issued for a range of minor offences. They were introduced in Northern Ireland on the 6th June 2012 as a result of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. PNDs provide police with a swift financial punishment to deal with misbehaviour and a practical deterrent to future re-offending. However, they do not require an admission of guilt and do not form part of an individual’s criminal record. Further information on PNDs can be accessed at the nidirect website.

Data source and coverage

The statistics are produced using administrative data sourced from the Causeway Data Sharing Mechanism (DSM1). They were extracted primarily based on records contained on the Criminal Records Viewer (CRV), held on Causeway. CRV utilises data that originated in the PSNI, PPS and from Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. Causeway is an interconnected information system, launched as a joint undertaking by the Criminal Justice Organisations in Northern Ireland. The information is not a sample, but a complete dataset of all relevant cases recorded within the time period reported on. As part of the preparation of the figures for the bulletin, numerous validation checks are carried out by the NISRA statisticians responsible for production of the bulletin, to ensure the data are fit for purpose.

Full details of data relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, coherence, user need, cost and confidentiality is available in the accompanying background quality report. Details of the data quality checks and processes that DoJ has in place are available in the Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) document on the DoJ website.

These statistics are produced on a financial year basis, i.e. in relation to cases dealt with or completed from 1 April to 31 March each year. The data underpinning this report are sourced from those compiled in the production of an annual Prosecution, Convictions and Out of Court Disposals report, taking data on convictions and out of court diversionary disposals each year and merging it with a historical disposals file. As the Prosecutions bulletin is produced on a calendar year basis, the publication of first time entrants data is delayed until publication of prosecutions data for the entire period to be reported on has been completed. Further, this allows for efficient sequencing of work by the small team that prepare these statistics, as they are also responsible for producing statistics on Case Processing Time Statistics and Youth Engagement statistics in Northern Ireland.

Full details of data relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, coherence, strengths, weaknesses, user need, cost and confidentiality are available in the accompanying background quality report. Details of the data quality checks and processes that DoJ has in place are available in the Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) document on the DoJ website. A summary of the strength and weaknesses of the data are included on the following page.

Interpreting the data

Figures for first time entrants to the justice system in Northern Ireland, as reported in this bulletin, are based on those who have had a conviction at any time since 1960 and those who had either a conviction or a diversionary disposal since the implementation of the Causeway system DSM1 in December 2009. This means that the reported rate of first offences may be slightly higher than the actuality, as, in some cases, first offences would have been dealt with by means of diversionary disposal, information on which is not available prior to the introduction of DSM1. However, any likely impact of this statistical effect should lessen with the passing of time.In this publication, first offences dealt with by conviction are distinct from those instances counted as a first conviction. This is because an individual receiving a first conviction may have previously been dealt with within the justice system by way of diversion. The following table compares first offences where a conviction has been imposed in 2023/24 with those cases of first convictions where diversions previously received have not been taken into consideration. The difference between the two rates is explained by the inclusion of diversions information for those cases where a diversion was an offender’s first true contact with the justice system.

First convictions and first offences dealt with by conviction 2023-24

First Conviction First offence dealt with by conviction All Convictions First convictions as a percentage of all convictions(%) First offences as a percentage of all convictions (%)
6,867 5,903 25,581 26.8 23.1

Data strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • Causeway is an integrated messaging system specifically designed to support information sharing between the five main NI Criminal Justice organisations. The information recorded within the individual organisations is used to manage day to day business and to communicate between the other organisations so needs to be highly accurate.

  • The system works well and is trusted by the staff who use it. It is reliable and needs minimal maintenance. •A number of key personnel are involved in managing Causeway and have developed a high level of competence and experience of the system.

  • The data are sourced from an administrative data system and therefore are a complete record of all cases (i.e. are not based on a sample of staff).

  • Processes and systems have been developed and refined over the years to address any quality concerns that emerged and the statisticians have developed a complex and detailed series of validation checks which are applied to the data to ensure any anomalies are corrected.

Limitations

  • The system depends on staff within five separate Criminal Justice organisations inputting details and updating records on their own systems. While there is the potential for problems to occur if details aren’t updated on a timely basis or if input errors occur, the nature of the information make accuracy critical.

Contact Details

Published by: Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice

Lead Statistician: Ivor Graham

Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.gov.uk

This bulletin is available on: Department of Justice website

Feedback on this publication can be provided directly to Analytical Services Group at the email address listed above.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing or via the OSR website.

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