Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Recommendation 7

Second Report - The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland Published 1 Feb 2024 Paragraph 53 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 ↗

Recommendation (the committee's words)

Low prosecution rates for those who commit violent crime can act as a barrier to reporting the crimes of paramilitary groups and serve to perpetuate the impunity with which these groups act. An effective criminal justice system able to identify perpetrators of paramilitary violence and bring them to justice is of paramount importance. The Government must set out how it plans to support the Executive in 2024 to improve clearance rates for paramilitary-style attacks, and work with the NI Department of Justice to embed a safeguarding approach to paramilitary activity to enable its prosecution as coercion, modern slavery and child criminal exploitation.

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Second Report - The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland (HC 43), paragraph 53, 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.

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