Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill: Consideration Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 4:45 pm on 15 February 2022.

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Photo of Mervyn Storey Mervyn Storey DUP 4:45, 15 February 2022

I thank the Member for giving way. This has come up on a number of occasions. By definition, anything in section 18 is conditional on the support that is provided on the basis of assessed need. Therefore, what, the Minister says, could happen is not as likely to happen, provided it stays within the confines of section 18, particularly section 18(5). That gives assurance. We are dealing with — my colleague will allude to this — individuals who have ended up in a dire situation. The numbers may not be as large as they are for some other crimes, but the impact is equally severe. The last Member to speak referred to the dramatic increase over the past year.