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Organised Crime
7. Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the organised crime taskforce. [18099]
11. Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives the Government have put in place to tackle organised crime in Northern Ireland. [18104]
20. Mr. McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the organised crime taskforce. [18113]
Jane Kennedy: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall), Official Report, columns 320-21.
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 319W
22. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle (a) paramilitary and (b) organised crime in Northern Ireland. [18115]
Jane Kennedy: The Government utterly condemn all paramilitary violence and intimidation and remain resolute in the fight against the illegal activities of paramilitary organisations. We will continue to ensure that the Chief Constable and the GOC have the resources at their disposal to meet the threat. With regard to organised crime, the Government are tackling this on a number of fronts. The organised crime problem is sophisticated and our response is too.
The organised crime taskforce has been in operation for just over a year and has overseen structural improvements in the way organised crime is tackled. Links between the various agencies are developing. This is leading to operational success such as the 42.5 million cigarettes seized in Warrenpoint Harbour during a search of a vessel which had just arrived from Latvia: the largest ever such seizure in the United Kingdom.
We must keep up the fight against organised crime and we must continue to increase the effectiveness of our response. We are in this for the long haul and everyone in Northern Ireland has a role to play in tackling organised crime.
Paramilitary Violence
8. Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland since 1 November. [18101]
Jane Kennedy: The main republican paramilitary groups' ceasefires are still holding. However, dissidents continue to pose a threat.
The main loyalist paramilitary groups UDA/UFF, and the smaller group LVF, have been specified on 23 October. The Secretary of State keeps all ceasefires under review.
However, during the month paramilitary groups on both sides have continued to exercise control over their communities through fear and acts of intimidation.
The Government utterly condemn all paramilitary violence and intimidation and remain resolute in the fight against terrorism.
A copy of the security statistics from 15 November to 27 November is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 1 |
| Shooting incidents | 27 |
| Bombing incidents | 17 |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary: | |
| Assaults | 6 |
| Shootings | 13 |
Notes:
1. Includes all deaths due to the security situation.
2. The following types of incidents are included:
Shots fired by terrorists
Shots fired by the security forces
Paramilitary style attacks involving shootings
Shots heard (and later confirmed)
Other violent incidents where shots are fired (eg armed robbery)
3. An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.
4. 2001 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 320W
16. Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the level of violence and intimidation by paramilitary groups. [18109]
Jane Kennedy: Terrorist violence has remained at a significant level. The following table gives a breakdown of that violence from 1 January 2001 to 26 November 2001.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 14 |
| Shooting incidents | 329 |
| Bombing incidents | 325 |
| Casualties as a result of Paramilitary: | |
| Assaults | 128 |
| Shootings | 174 |
Notes:
1. 2001 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
2. Includes all deaths due to the security situation.
3. The following types of incidents are included:
Shots fired by terrorists
Shots fired by the security forces
Paramilitary style attacks involving shootings
Shots heard (and later confirmed)
Other violent incidents where shots are fired (eg armed robbery)
4. An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.
Religious Bigotry
9. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce religious bigotry as part of the peace process. [18102]
Dr. John Reid: In my speech at the recent Labour party conference I reiterated the Government's commitment to eradicating all forms of intolerance in Northern Ireland, and promised to criminalise such manifestations of hatred, whether based on racism or based on sectarianism. To that end it is my intention to consult in the new year on how best to tackle crime committed because of either racial or religious intolerance.
Security
13. Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [18106]
Jane Kennedy: We continue to monitor the activities of all paramilitary groups who are on ceasefire. There is a significant threat from dissident republican paramilitaries and from disaffected elements within loyalism who are intent in continuing with their campaign to disrupt the peace process. We congratulate the security
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 321W
forces on their continued success against these groups as evidenced by the recent discovery last month of a fully primed bomb in Armagh.
Voting Procedures
14. Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals the Government have introduced for changes to the voting procedures in the Northern Ireland Assembly. [18107]
Dr. John Reid: The Government have not made proposals to change Assembly voting procedures. However, I have established a review under paragraph 36 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement to look at whether there is scope for some amendment, to which all of the Assembly parties have been invited to participate. The review group will issue a statement after it concludes its discussions next week.
Police Recruitment
15. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the new police recruitment process; and if he will make a statement. [18108]
Jane Kennedy: The new recruitment arrangements for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as recommended by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, have been implemented in full. The first recruitment competition to be run in accordance with these procedures will enable the Chief Constable to appoint around 300 recruits on a 50 per cent. Catholic, 50 per cent. non-Catholic basis, as the Commission envisaged. The first tranche of new recruits began training on 4 November.
18. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet the Chief Constable to discuss recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [18111]
Jane Kennedy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the Chief Constable on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including recruitment. The first recruitment competition to be run in accordance with the new procedures will enable the Chief Constable to appoint around 300 recruits on a 50 per cent. Catholic, 50 per cent. non-Catholic basis, as the Commission envisaged. The first tranche of new recruits began training on 4 November.
Police Service
17. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Gaelic Athletic Association on the promotion of a police service that attracts support from all sections of the community in Northern Ireland. [18110]
Dr. John Reid: I have not had any discussions with the Gaelic Athletic Association on either matter.
21. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the ability of the police service of Northern Ireland to carry out its duties in the absence of a full-time reserve. [18114]
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 322W
Jane Kennedy: As the published Implementation Plan on the Patten report states, a review of the prevailing security situation and policing requirements is to be carried out by the Chief Constable next spring when the first new recruits complete their training. A decision on the phasing out of the full-time reserve will be taken in the light of the findings of that review.
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