Even greater determination required to tackle ongoing criminality – Coghlan

Speaking at the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, Government Chief Whip in the Seanad, and Chair of the Sovereign Matters Committee of the Assembly, Paul Coghlan had an addendum to the plenary report, which proposed the new Joint Agency Task Force accepted unanimously.

“As part of the Stormont Agreement reached in Belfast, it was agreed that the recommendation of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly plenary report would be adopted and that a new Joint Agency Task Force would be set up to tackle cross-border crime. Yesterday (Tuesday) the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly met and passed an addendum to this report which called for even greater determination to tackle ongoing cross-border crime.

“Cross-border cooperation between justice and law enforcement officials and agencies is excellent and those involved have demonstrated great courage in tackling cross-border crime. However even greater determination is required to tackle criminality, especially in border areas.

“Criminality and organised crime associated with the legacy of paramilitarism cannot be tolerated in a democratic society and cross-border police cooperation is vital in tackling this scourge.

“The committee has recommended that cooperation be reinforced and scaled up; that additional officers be deployed in border areas and every opportunity explored to enhance interagency and cross border cooperation.

“There are real concerns about the existence of unofficial community alert notices purporting to be public security notices in some parts of south Armagh. These signs undermine a culture of lawfulness and respect for the rule of law and their removal forthwith is sough.

“The concentration of border crossing within such a short distance present a real problem for law enforcement and measures must be taken to optimise the capacity of law enforcement officers to operate effectively.

“The publication by HM Revenue and Customs of a six-month evaluation of the new fuel-marker introduced in March 2015 showed that though it is early in the evaluation process, indicators point to a shift in the right direction. It was decided that the committee may explore further why the level of prosecutions in this area remains so low.”