To ask the Minister of Justice (i) for her assessment of the cross-Executive Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime programme; (ii) to detail any engagement she has had with Executive colleagues in relation to the importance of the outcomes of the programme; (iii) how the actions being taken in this programme are reducing paramilitarism; and (iv) whether any assessment has been made on community safety since the programme began.

The Programme is now into its second phase (2021-2025) and has evolved into a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to violence and harm reduction. Utilising a multi-agency approach to violence reduction, the Programme has been able to document and evidence the extent and nature of the problem. This helps to ensure that responses are evidence-based and effective. The Programme has developed a unique, robust framework for measuring progress across its c100 interventions, measuring positive change across 18 measures. Significant and positive outcomes are being seen across multiple domains. This includes major disruptions to criminal groups, increases in protective factors for those vulnerable to criminal exploitation and measurable reductions in risk, intent to engage in violence, and complex trauma. There are also less obvious but equally important outcomes such as increase collaboration across the public sector and within the Executive. The Programme’s work is also driving systems change in relation to trauma informed approaches and child criminal exploitation. Many more findings are detailed by the Independent Reporting Commission in their 6th report (December 2023), the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (February 2024) and in an Independent Peer Review (March 2024) of the Programme.

There is unfortunately a persistent misconception that the Programme is focussed only on Justice-related issues. The issues the Programme works to address may be most visible in the justice space, but they are relevant to all aspects of work undertaken by the Executive and support, particularly in the form of early intervention across the Executive, is needed to address the issue of paramilitarism and crime.

The Programme’s governance structures reflect that this is a truly whole of government approach, which allows engagement across the Executive. The Political Advisory Group represents views of all the parties in the Executive. A Sponsor Group, meeting regularly, comprising of senior leads from each department (and chaired by HOCS) provides the Programme with senior leadership and links back to individual Departments and their Ministers.

Through robust evaluation, projects are demonstrating how they are making a difference in dealing with the harm in the here and now as well as helping to break the cycle of harm by building individual and community resilience. Some examples of impact include:

over 1200 victims of extreme paramilitary violence supported through bespoke projects. This includes young people supported in multiple ways: through youth work, including in two hospital emergency departments, and a multi-agency project, individuals supported through a bespoke project for victims of paramilitary violence and those signposted through multiple projects;

Hundreds of boys and young men at risk of paramilitary harm and/or involvement were supported through social work and bespoke mentoring. This project promotes life and social skills development, and also offers bespoke mental health and substance use support. Clients find improvements in their mental health, wellbeing, drugs, alcohol, use of time and offending behaviours. There has been an increase in the ability of these young men to live a crime free life, with 93% noting the support has helped them resist negative influences with the community.

There is a downward trend (seen in multiple data sources) in the number of intimidations and in the types of paramilitary activity that cause the highest harm, including murder and violent assaults and shootings;

13,000 individuals have been involved in place-based initiatives; with young people taking part in a project there was a reduction from 43% to 3% in intent to engage in violence, with PTSD reducing by 23% in young people and 39% in women; and

Communities in Transition projects provide an opportunity for people in communities to get involved in community life, empowering people and groups to take part in local programmes that have a positive impact on themselves and their community. This has included tens of thousands of participants in social action projects, volunteering and community events.

iv)‘Community safety’ tends to embrace a much wider policy remit that examines crime type trends and interventions aimed at addressing a variety of issues, including: reducing ASB; improving awareness of cyber-crime; addressing hate crime; highlighting risk-taking behaviour; tacking domestic violence; youth diversionary work; and increasing confidence in the PSNI. No specific assessment of the impact the Programme has had on improving community safety has been undertaken, however, in working to implement a recent recommendation from Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) - that the Department should bring forward a new community safety vision, strategy and action plan for delivery - it is anticipated that clear links will be made to the overarching aims of the EPPOC; not least as improving community safety across NI requires the same whole of Government response as needed to tackle the scourge of paramilitarism and organised crime affecting our society.