Intergovernmental Agreement on Criminal Justice Cooperation

Part of Ministerial Statements – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12:30 pm on 7 December 2020.

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Photo of Naomi Long Naomi Long Alliance 12:30, 7 December 2020

I do not have those figures, but, if I can obtain them, I am happy to write to the Member. The figures will be held in different formats in different jurisdictions, but I will endeavour to get some indication. I agree entirely with the Member that it is not enough simply to take the drugs out of the community. That is a huge issue, but it is also important to take the drug dealers out of the community and ensure that they face justice. All partners in the JATF are absolutely committed to that task. Part of the strategy is to disrupt criminal gangs so that they can no longer profit from dealing in drugs or, indeed, human misery via human trafficking. However, the Member is quite right that it is also important that those responsible are brought before the courts. Unfortunately, disrupting their activity is often not sufficient to disabuse them of their interest in continuing with it.