§ 13. Colin BurgonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what strategic issues are being considered by the organised crime task force; and if he will make a statement. [65811]
§ Jane KennedyOn 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual organised crime task force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
964WThe OCTF's strategy for countering the threat sets priority stress for concerted multi-agency action by the OCTF partners. These are extortion, drugs, oils-related fraud, tobacco and alcohol duty evasion, money-laundering, counterfeit goods and armed robbery.
In the year, the OCTF, which I chair, will keep a watching brief on emerging and new organised crime trends. The OCTF strategy also explains how we will measure and report on the overall impact we are having on organised crime in Northern Ireland.
§ 16. Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the areas of criminality in which organised crime networks are involved in Northern Ireland. [65814]
§ Jane KennedyOn 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
The OCTF threat assessment shows that organised criminals engage in a wide range of criminal activities in Northern Ireland. These include: trade in illegal drugs; extortion; tobacco and alcohol smuggling and duty evasion; oils fraud; counterfeit goods; money laundering; counterfeit currency; organised vehicle theft; armed robbery and hijacking; abuse of social security payments; illegal livestock trade; evasion of tax and VAT; various financial frauds; identity fraud; motor vehicle licensing fraud; hi-tech crime; illegal immigration; and prostitution.
In the year, the OCTF, which I chair, will keep a watching brief on emerging and new organised crime trends. The OCTF strategy also explains how we will measure and report on the overall impact we are having on organised crime in Northern Ireland.
§ 18. Linda GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to tackle counterfeiting operations by organised crime gangs. [65816]
§ Jane KennedyOn 23 May, the Secretary of State launched the second annual Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) threat assessment and strategy.
Recognising the adverse impact of the counterfeit goods trade on the Northern Ireland business community and on society more generally, the OCTF has made this crime a priority for concerted multi-agency action by the OCTF partners.
There have been some significant operational successes in the last year. The police are doing excellent work every week to tackle the trade in counterfeit goods. At the last OCTF meeting, a strategy prepared by PSNI for tackling the counterfeit goods trade was agreed. The strategy includes raising awareness of the wider harm caused by this illicit trade, understanding better the reasons why people purchase such goods, working with the business community to address those reasons, and considering whether the existing legislation is sufficient.