Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the steps being taken to address cross-border crime involving (1) people, and (2) fuel smuggling, between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The UK’s approach to the Common Travel Area (CTA) is that there are no routine immigration controls on journeys to the UK from Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. Both the UK and Irish Governments are committed to taking all necessary measures to continue to protect this joint agreement and secure the CTA.
The Home Office, Ireland’s Garda National Immigration Bureau and Border Management Unit, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other police forces work together to tackle abuse of the Common Travel Area by conducting intelligence-led checks and enforcement operations.
Our priority will always be to keep the British public safe and we are determined to remove foreign criminals from the UK wherever it is legal and practical to do so.
The Government remains committed to tackling all forms of tax evasion and avoidance. The estimated tax gap for diesel in Northern Ireland remains at 6% maintaining an all-time low.
Extensive multi-agency, cross border cooperation is a key element of the operational response to fuel fraud. HMRC chairs a multi-agency cross border Smuggling Group, a sub-group of the NI Organised Crime Task Force. The group shares intelligence and information, and coordinates targeted joint operations to tackle criminals who deal in illicit fuel and cheat the exchequers in the UK and Ireland.
HMRC has maintained its capacity for fuel testing and investigation of fuel fraud in NI. HMRC activity focuses on detecting and deterring outlets facilitating the supply of illicit fuel, with special units performing risk-based interventions throughout the fuel supply chain; at fuel retailers, wholesalers, and at “huckster” sites.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of trends in the level of unsolved crime in rural areas across the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Justice and policing is devolved to Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Government does not hold relevant data on levels of unsolved crime in rural areas across England and Wales.
Across England and Wales, it is the responsibility of Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to make sure criminal cases are investigated properly. Together with the Crown Prosecution Service they must make sure cases are charged where there is sufficient evidence, and it is in the public interest to do so.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of illegal immigrants living in the UK; and what action they are taking to address that problem.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Any estimate of the exact size of the illegal population is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around it.
Exit checks were introduced in April 2015 and are, over time, providing more detailed insights into the behaviour of migrants and how they comply with the restrictions placed upon their length of stay in the UK. Instead of producing inaccurate numbers, the Government is focused on making it harder for people to live in the UK illegally.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with ministers of the government of the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive on cross-border efforts to tackle organised crime.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Home Office Ministers have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Executive. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
UK and Irish law enforcement work together closely to combat serious and organised criminality. Since 20 May 2015, the National Crime Agency has been operating with full powers in Northern Ireland. The National Crime Agency has put in place dedicated resources to work with Ireland’s law enforcement agencies to tackle the threat from organised crime affecting both countries.