Justice ministers agree to enhance cross-border co-operation

At a virtual meeting, northern justice minister Naomi Long and southern justice minister Helen McEntee heard updates from PSNI officers and gardaí on the work of the cross-border joint agency task force.

Officers highlighted the “continuing high level of co-operation and operational activity” between the law enforcement agencies involved in tackling rural crime, drugs, financial crime, trafficking in human beings including children, excise fraud, and organised immigration crime, the Irish government said.

The new work plan agreed by ministers provides a basis to continue and enhance the work of the ministers under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters (IGA), signed by the two governments in 2005.

Mrs Long said: “Cross-border co-operation on justice matters is vital to both of our jurisdictions. I welcome the opportunity to meet with minister McEntee to discuss the range of cross-border initiatives and shared learning that are ongoing on issues such as offender mental health, hate crime, youth justice, forensic science and support for victims. The IGA contributes greatly to ensuring we are doing everything we can to promote good practice in these areas.”

Mrs McEntee added: “It is clear from today’s meeting that excellent cross border cooperation is taking place in a range of criminal justice areas via the IGA and the collaborative north-south relationship is now strongly embedded in many of the areas of cooperation.

“Much practical cooperation takes place, along with valuable learning and information sharing. Supporting victims, tackling hate crime, collaborative work in forensics, the management of high risk offenders, and early intervention strategies to combat youth offending are just some of the areas of cooperation.”