AQW 6162/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 12/02/2024
Answered On Date: 21/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice (i) for her assessment of the links between the cost of living crisis and the increase in organised criminal action, including (a) illegal money-lending; (b) drug dealing; and (c) violence; and (ii) to detail any plans she has to develop strategies to combat the exploitation by criminal gangs of (a) people in need; and (b) disadvantaged communities.

Answer:

Tackling organised crime continues to be a priority for my Department. Criminals will exploit any opportunity for their own means and the ongoing cost of living crisis is no exception. It can increase the risk of cash thefts as well as the likelihood of consumers to consider counterfeit goods from which criminal gangs can profit.

Demand for illicit drugs remains high, with the current cost of living crisis manifesting in a growing use of alternative substances, including synthetic drugs, increasing abuse of prescription medicines and multi substance abuse.

Addressing the harm caused by paramilitarism and organised crime now, and preventing it happening in the future, is a critical part of the overall response. The Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC) is active across Northern Ireland to support communities and individuals who are vulnerable to paramilitary influence and harm. Over one hundred projects are delivered collaboratively by government departments, statutory agencies, and partners in the voluntary and community sector. These help keep people safe, reduce the risk of exploitation and over time, help to build community resilience to criminality and paramilitarism. This is a long-term endeavour that requires action across the Executive.

On the specific issue of illegal money lending, EPPOC’s ‘Ending the Harm’, public awareness campaign (www.endingtheharm.com) has led the way in consciously highlighting the devastating impact that criminal gangs have on victims, families, communities, and wider society. The current campaign focuses on how gangs use illegal money lending to control and coerce vulnerable people. It has been instrumental in raising understanding through preventative messaging and provides signposting to support for those who have become victims.

EPPOC, which is a cross Executive programme co-ordinated from within the Department of Justice, works in tandem with my Department’s Organised Crime Team and with a range of operational partners through the Organised Crime Taskforce. Work is underway to develop an addendum workplan to the current Organised Crime Strategy to further tackle organised criminality and more effectively respond to this.