Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Conclusion 1

Second Report - The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland Published 1 Feb 2024 Paragraph 14 Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Conclusion (the committee's words)

The term ‘paramilitarism’ is complex and contested in Northern Ireland. We heard how use of the term can risk romanticising the presence of gangs who engage in overt criminality and attempt to exercise coercive control over the communities they seek to prey upon. At the same time, however, terms such as organised crime gangs can fail to capture the complex historical and political context which leads to these groups remaining embedded in communities. Following evidence we heard, we decided to rename our inquiry from ‘the effect of paramilitaries on society in Northern Ireland’ to ‘the effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland’. We did so to make clear the criminal nature of many of the activities undertaken by paramilitary groups and to take account of evidence we had received outlining the potential social capital that can be conferred on individuals involved in criminality when they are referred to as ‘paramilitaries’.

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Second Report - The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland (HC 43), paragraph 14, 1 February 2024

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 23 May 2024 (deadline 23 May 2024).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says tackling paramilitarism needs a "whole of government approach", but states that most of the levers lie with the restored Northern Ireland Executive, and it commits only to independent scoping work on a formal process of paramilitary group transition.

On the scope of national security, the government's "assessment is that roles and responsibilities are well understood" and it will keep the effectiveness of coordination mechanisms "under ongoing review".
On police numbers, the government states that the increase to 7,500 officers "is not a UK Government commitment" but is listed under Executive priorities. On wider police funding, it says Additional Security Funding has been confirmed at £32m per year through to 2024/25.
On future funding of the Programme, the government says the current phase is being reviewed and it "will engage with the NI Executive" on a future phase, "including on any proposals for multi-year funding".
On transition, the government says it is "committed to taking forward further work, including through independent scoping and engagement" to assess "whether there is merit in and support for" a formal process.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error