Deadly mistake putting a knife in your pocket; Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins writes for the DAILY Mirror.

Byline: Paul Goggins 

LAST week I met schoolchildren from across Belfast and sat with them to watch a powerful drama, Knives Ruin Lives.

It is about how making the wrong choice, by putting a knife in your pocket before going out with your friends, could have deadly consequences.

Afterwards I was struck by the reaction of the secondary school pupils to the drama - they clearly understood that carrying a knife puts them and others at risk.

Knives Ruin Lives has been performed in a number of theatres across Northern Ireland to thousands of 12 and 13- year-olds.

It's part of a public information campaign by the Northern Ireland Office, the PSNI, Crimestoppers and the Youth Justice Agency to support teachers, parents and everyone within the local community involved in fighting knife crime.

The campaign underlines that public protection is at the heart of what the criminal justice system exists to do.

Last November, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister published a route map which will lead to the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Parliament Buildings.

The appointment of a locally-elected and accountable Justice Minister for Northern Ireland will be an important day for everyone here.

Until that happens, I will continue to take the decisions needed to improve the criminal justice system's ability to protect the people of Northern Ireland.

And it's been a period of significant reform for Northern Ireland's criminal justice system.

Just under a year ago, I introduced the most radical shake-up of the sentencing framework in a generation with the introduction of new public protection sentences for the most dangerous sexual and violent offenders.

These changes will allow the courts to take into account the risk that these offenders could pose in the future when handing down sentences.

The new sentences, which were used for the first time last month, are part of a pounds 14million investment package of reform, and are designed to reduce the risk that dangerous offenders pose to the public.

Yesterday I introduced electronic tagging, which will allow us to enforce curfews more robustly than in the past.

I also expanded the scope of supervision on licence to everyone who receives a sentence of 12 months or more.

This means closer supervision on release from prison, and makes people subject to recall if they breach their licence conditions.

In addition, release will be controlled by a new body of Parole Commissioners, who will carefully examine the risk posed by the offender.

We cannot afford to stand still and we must continue to reform and improve.

Today brings an end to Criminal Justice Week.

A number of events have been held across Northern Ireland in an effort to explain how the criminal justice system operates.

Engaging with the community - the theme of this year's event - is a huge challenge for everyone in the system.

But everyone has a part to play in making Northern Ireland a safer place.

A joined-up approach is needed, just like that used to deliver the message on knife crime to local school children.

CAPTION(S):

LETHAL Knife crime is a growing problem