Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level and effectiveness of the UK's co-operation with the Irish Republic in tackling cross-border organised crime.

Crime, and especially organised crime, does not respect borders. International co-operation is therefore essential. The relationship with
the Republic of Ireland is particularly important given its land border with a part of the United Kingdom. The relationships between the law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland, who are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force and the National Crime Agency which are UK-wide bodies, and their counterparts inthe Republic of Ireland are very good. The North South cross border organisedcrime conference held on 1-2 October with all the major bodies is one example of the desire to develop that co-operation further.