NCA To Operate In NI

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is to operate in Northern Ireland, after a motion to introduce it in the region passed through the Assembly with 68 votes for and 26 against.

The NCA has been described as the UK's FBI and will operate in Northern Ireland from as early as May this year.

Last year a motion to introduce the NCA was dropped after it was blocked by Sinn Féin and the SDLP. But a decision by the SDLP to back its introduction this time round meant the motion passed.

SDLP Leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP said: "A long negotiation during 2014 and into 2015 has secured real progress. This was another Patten moment. We negotiated hard and have delivered significant concessions.

"Accountability is being established. The Policing Board has a full and proper role. The PSNI must agree to NCA intelligence activities. NCA officers will be subject to the same Code of Ethics as the PSNI. The powers of the Police Ombudsman will be fully in place.

"All of this means that, not least with the unrelenting threat of organised crime, now is the right time and the right circumstances to move on the NCA."

Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott said: "The situation which existed up until today’s Assembly vote was one in which the citizens of Northern Ireland were severely disadvantaged because the SDLP and Sinn Fein refused to approve the full operational powers of the NCA in this part of the UK.

"Thankfully today the SDLP saw sense and voted to enable the NCA to operate within Northern Ireland and end the situation whereby Northern Ireland was more vulnerable to serious and organised criminal gangs who engage in activities such as people trafficking, drugs, cyber-crime and child exploitation."

But Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the SDLP had "jumped too early".

"We were involved in a negotiation on the NCA and significant gains had been made on accountability of the NCA to the Policing Board and the Police Ombudsman, the Criminal Justice Inspectorate and the HMIC," he said.

"However, in my view the SDLP has jumped too soon as they did on Patten and gave away the leverage to achieve more. The issue of accountability is at the core of the debate on the NCA.

"It is the view of Sinn Féin that the PSNI is more than capable and has the duty to tackle all crime and we fully support them in that endeavour, however, they must be accountable.

"Under this proposal, the British Home Secretary can extend the powers and remit of the NCA without reference to the Executive, the Assembly or even Westminster. This opens up questions about the NCA's relationship with MI5 and other security services. MI5 have no arresting arm in the North and we do not want the NCA to assume that role."

He continued: "Sinn Féin has also problems with the process used to bring this motion to the Assembly. The Justice Minister’s name is not on the motion. This process was about circumventing the Executive and in my opinion the SDLP should have not been involved in undermining the Good Friday Agreement."

(IT/CD)