Organised Crime
The criminal gangs who operate in Northern Ireland are involved in a range of crime areas in order to maximise their own gain.
Organised crime in Northern Ireland differs from the rest of the UK because of its history of paramilitary involvement and the land border with the Republic of Ireland. Many have links with criminals in other countries, highlighting the global nature of organised crime.
The Northern Ireland Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) was created in September 2000 as a mark of the Government’s determination to assist Northern Ireland make the transition from a violent to a normal, stable and peaceful society. The OCTF provides the strategic direction for the law enforcement agencies involved in confronting the threat to society posed by organised crime.
The Security Minister Paul Goggins chairs the OCTF, which includes representatives from the PSNI, HM Revenue and Customs, Home Office, Assets Recovery Agency, Serious Organised Crime Agency and other Government agencies which are represented by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
The OCTF publishes an annual report which highlights the scale of the problem, the measures being deployed to counter it and details the considerable successes achieved by the law enforcement agencies as they detect criminal activity.
The Task Force also devotes much of its efforts to raising public awareness about the true nature of organised crime and dispelling some of the myths that surround it.
News Releases
- Goggins commends PSNI success in reducing crime Friday 16 May 2008
- Shaun Woodward pays tribute to Robert Dunlop Friday 16 May 2008
- HRH The Earl of Wessex visits Balmoral Show Thursday 15 May 2008
Publications
- Letter from Home Secretary to Secretary of State about asset recovery work in Northern Ireland PDF Document, 89 KB
- Cross Border Organised Crime Assessment 2006 PDF Document, 2.6 MB
- Organised Crime Task Force Annual Report and Threat Assessment 2006 PDF Document, 960 KB
- Show all related publications
