Department of Justice Interface Programme

The Interface Programme has been established to deliver the commitment made by the Northern Ireland Executive to remove all Interface structures by 2023 under the Together: Building a United Community Strategy. This headline action is anchored within the strategy’s key priority of Our Safe Community, and is also linked to other Executive Strategies;

• Community Safety Strategy – to seek agreement to reduce number of interface structures
• New draft Programme for Government further commits to T:BUC delivery (previously PFG 68 – to actively seek local agreement to reduce the number of peace walls)
• Fresh Start – contribute to conditions enabling peace walls removal through confidence and relationship building

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is the lead department in delivering this key commitment. 

Interface Programme Governance Structure

• Interface Programme Governance Structure

Ministerial Panel     

• To be confirmed

T:BUC Engagement Forum                        

• Together building a united community

Good Relations Programme Board

Together: Building a United Community provided for the establishment of a Good Relations Programme Board comprising senior officials from all Government Departments who act as senior responsible owners for the various aspects of the Strategy’s delivery. Programme Board meetings occur on a quarterly basis.

Interface Programme Board                        

• Membership and terms of reference

DoJ Interfaces Team

DoJ Interfaces Team  “working with communities to address physical barriers of division". Our framework document seeks to explain how DoJ will work with other Departments, agencies and within communities towards the goal of reduction or removal of interfaces by 2023.

• Interface framework document

Area Workers Contact details

From time to time DoJ receives requests for extended opening of security gates. Please see below further information and protocol for Ad Hoc Opening.

Ad Hoc Opening Protocol    

• View the protocol and request form

Interface Related Publications

2020

• Woodvale Community Consultation

2019

• Public Attitudes to Peace Walls

2017

Belfast Interface Project

• Interface Barriers Peacelines and Defensive Architecture

2016

Growing Up on an Interface

• Findings and implications for the social needs mental health and lifetime opportunities of Belfast youth

Peace walls and barrier removal

• Building sustainable communities

Residential segregation, dividing walls and mental health 

• A population-based record linkage study

Cost of Division

• A benchmark of performance and expenditure

2015

Public Attitudes to Peace Walls

• Survey Results

Removing Peace Walls and Public Policy 1

• The challenge of definition and design

Removing Peace Walls and Public Policy 2

• The challenge of delivery

Removing Peace Walls and Public Policy 3

• The challenge of engaging communities

2012

Belfast Interfaces

• Security Barriers and defensive use of space