§ 5. Mr. HendrickTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána. [25595]
§ Dr. John ReidOn 13 December, the Government issued a timetable for the implementation of Patten's recommendations on north/south policing co-operation. The British and Irish Governments have been working closely together to make progress, building on the existing good co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána. The practical benefits of joint operations can be seen in a recent example of co-operation between law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border which resulted in nine people being charged with offences relating to the smuggling and laundering of fuel.