AQO 1477/22-27


Mr Peter McReynolds
Alliance Party
East Belfast


Tabled Date: 23/01/2025
Answered On Date: 24/07/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline how her Department is working to help people move away from group violence and gangs.


Answer:
ORAL QUESTION No 12 - AQO 1477/22-27
ANSWER
The Department of Justice currently hosts the cross-Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC). This is a truly cross-sectoral initiative. The Programme works across Northern Ireland through statutory and community organisations to support people and communities that experience paramilitary harm. A key part of this is helping those who want to move away from involvement in paramilitary activity.
Significant outcomes are being seen across the Programme. On top of major disruptions to criminal groups, we are seeing reductions in youth violence, and in paramilitary style assaults and public order offences. This Programme has also been at the forefront of work on trauma informed approaches and child criminal exploitation.
In response to evidence gathered by EPPOC that showed the lack of specific initiatives to help people exit groups, the Programme has completed a feasibility study of what is called the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV). This started in Boston, USA and has been used successfully in Scotland and England. It aims to identify and support those who genuinely want to move away from, or avoid joining, violent gangs.
Following the completion of a feasibility study, a project team is working towards the implementation of a 12-month pilot phase in South and East Belfast, due to commence in April 2025. Through collaborative partnerships with community organisations and statutory partners, the initiative aims to create targeted support systems to help individuals desist from reoffending by helping them safely move away from gang involvement and group violence.
CIRV is aimed at young people, aged 18-24, and will take a personalised problem-solving approach, encouraging participants to make positive life changes through the support of, for example, mentorship programmes, and education and employment opportunities. It will draw on already successful initiatives in EPPOC helping to join up existing supports.