Alliance Justice spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed the decision by the Justice Minister David Ford to roll out the'Reducing Offending in Partnership' scheme throughout Northern Ireland.

The scheme provides a multi-agency approach that includes the Youth Justice Agency, Probation Board, Prison Service and the PSNI. It delivers early identification and intervention, the close monitoring of offenders and support and assistance for them. A pilot scheme operating in Ballymena and Coleraine achieved a 68% reduction in offences by priority offenders in 2011/12.

Mr Dickson said: "Reducing offending is a difficult and complicated issue, but through a joined-up approach such as that offered by'Reducing Offending in Partnership', we can make Northern Ireland a safer place.

"Through this partnership, we can reduce the level of offending by seeking to work with priority offenders and offering them the necessary assistance and support. This scheme will also enable the Department of Justice to work with other Departments and agencies towards early identification and intervention in situations affecting those at risk of offending. This is an example of joined-up government that other Ministers ought to adopt.

"It is another part of the wider reforms that David Ford is introducing to build safer, shared and confident communities."

ENDS

Alliance Chief Whip Stewart Dickson MLA has said the OFMDFM must keep to their promise to publish their shared future strategy on Thursday and that it must offer new and radical proposals to tackle the deep divisions in our society.

Mr Dickson said: "OFMDFM must honour their commitment. Any delay will be added to the long list of failures and broken promises by OFMDFM to produce a challenging and ambitious shared future strategy.

"When they do produce a strategy, it must not simply be a regurgitated or a watered down version of the failed Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy.

"Peter Robinson claimed as far back as October that a strategy was ready to be published. If they release the same document, then questions must be asked about why they sat on their hands for nearly nine months.

"We need radical and innovative proposals to tackle the biggest challenge facing the Executive.

"The public should check the strategy against the proposals that my party put forward in our 'For Everyone' shared future document. It is comprehensive, aiming to increase the number of children in integrated education and develop shared spaces and shared communities with respect for all cultures and traditions.

"If the proposals in their document amount to anything less, then the OFMdFM publication will be viewed as a missed opportunity to build a shared future."

ENDS

Alliance East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has pledged his support to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust campaign to retain paediatric cardiac surgery in Belfast.

Mr Dickson said that for his party, the health and welfare of children is of paramount importance. He also said that the health and wellbeing of children, parents and families must be safeguarded and protected:

“A few weeks ago I signed a petition with 80 other MLAs to retain children’s heart surgery services in Belfast.

“However, since then the Health and Social Care Board has recommended that these services should be moved from Belfast to Dublin.

“There are, of course, questions about the sustainability of the current service model in Belfast. However, if it not possible to maintain a fit-for-purpose service in Belfast alone, then my strong expectation is that the Health Minister fully explores the possibility of delivering services between both Belfast and Dublin.

“This would need to be a genuine partnership, with appropriate aspects of the service based in Belfast.

“The Health Minister should ensure that this delivers a service that is as good, or even better than, that currently on offer in England.

“It was a pleasure to meet Allan and his son Jay. I understand that this is a very distressing and uncertain time for parents and families. That is why a solution needs to be found as soon as possible.

“I pay tribute to all those involved in the Children’s Heartbeat Trust campaign to save these services.

“My party and I will continue to give them support and will play an active role in seeking to ensure the best possible paediatric cardiac surgery provision for children in Northern Ireland.”

ENDS