Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA has again called for the National Crime Agency to be given the powers to operate in Northern Ireland to the same extent as it does in the rest of the UK so that it can target criminal assets.
Speaking after meeting at Stormont with representatives from the NCA, including Chief Executive Keith Bristow, Mr Elliott said:
“Law-abiding people in theUnited Kingdomshould be well pleased with the progress of the NCA as it approaches its first year in operation.
“It is unfortunate that the citizens ofNorthern Irelandare being severely disadvantaged because nationalists and republicans refuse to approve the full operational powers of the NCA in this part of theUK.
“Why shouldNorthern Irelandbe permitted to be a criminals’ paradise, which allows those involved in major crime schemes, both locally and internationally, the freedom of not having the full powers of law enforcement implemented here?
“One of things which I learned at today’s meeting was the ludicrous situation which has been allowed to develop with regard to asset recovery in Northern Ireland.
“Criminal gangs based in Great Britain who have assets abroad can have those assets targeted by the NCA. Criminal gangs based in Northern Ireland with assets outside the UK will find that their assets are safe.
“This is simply unacceptable and exposes the absurdity of the position adopted by the SDLP and Sinn Fein which risks turning Northern Ireland into a safe haven for criminal gangs to ply their trade and use the Province as a base to conduct criminal activities on the UK Mainland.
“The NCA’s own website describes it as ‘a new crime-fighting agency with both national and international reach and the mandate and powers to work in partnership with other law enforcement organisations to bring the full weight of the law to bear in cutting serious and organised crime.’
“To that should be added the phrase, ‘except in Northern Ireland, where thanks to the SDLP and Sinn Fein, the NCA has lesser powers than it does on the UK Mainland and as a result Northern Ireland is more vulnerable to serious and organised criminal gangs who engage in activities such as people trafficking, drugs, cyber- crime and child exploitation.’