Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Second Report - The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
HC 43
Published 1 February 2024
Recommendations
5
Accepted
Introduce a system-wide and Government-wide commitment to trauma-informed practice in Northern Ireland.
Recommendation
There is a correlation between paramilitary activity, deprivation, mental health issues and trauma. We therefore support the trauma-informed and public health approach of the Tackling Paramilitarism Programme. The Government must collaborate with the Executive to introduce forthwith a system-wide and …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to collaborating with the Executive to further embed trauma-informed approaches in Northern Ireland, welcomes the EPPOC Sponsor Group's commitment to develop a trauma-informed Programme for Government, and will promote trauma-informed policymaking within UK Government departments in NI.
Northern Ireland Office
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6
Accepted
Para 48
Undertake an audit of Northern Ireland’s framework for safeguarding children from paramilitary exploitation.
Recommendation
To counter the risk and reality of people romanticising paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, it is crucial that public agencies and wider civic society use language rooted in safeguarding and child protection when describing the activities of these criminal gangs …
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Government Response Summary
The government notes that the NI Executive's Child Criminal Exploitation Task and Finish Group is developing a CCE definition aligned with Home Office guidance, with updated policies expected by year-end. The CCE action plan and draft MSHT Strategy also aim to improve awareness of child exploitation offences and NRM referrals.
Northern Ireland Office
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8
Accepted
Share good practice to improve NRM awareness and use among NI welfare and justice agencies.
Recommendation
We are concerned about the lack of use of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in NI. The NRM is a tool for public agencies to provide a strategic safeguarding response to paramilitary activity. While we acknowledge that support for modern …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the NRM, noting that the NI Executive's Child Criminal Exploitation Task and Finish Group's action plan includes increasing NRM awareness among agencies, and the draft Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Strategy also aims to improve NRM use.
Northern Ireland Office
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16
Accepted
Para 102
Conduct a scoping exercise to assess public support for a paramilitary group transition process.
Recommendation
We have heard evidence both for and against the establishment of formal process of Group Transition. On the one hand, we are concerned that a Group Transition process aimed at the disbandment of paramilitary groups could inadvertently risk reinforcing the …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation for a formal paramilitary group transition process and is committed to taking forward further work, including independent scoping and engagement, to assess public support and merit for such a process.
Northern Ireland Office
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