Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level and effectiveness of the United Kingdom's co-operation with the Irish Republic in tackling cross-border serious and 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 in the Republic of Ireland, are very good. A North South cross border organised crime conference was held on 1-2 October involving all the major bodies. This is one example of the desire to develop that co-operation further. There are also plans for a cross border forum on human trafficking and forced labour in January of next year.