The UK and Irish governments should establish a formal transition mechanism for paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, a new report has recommended.
The Independent Report On Paramilitary Group Transition To Disbandment found there is “sufficient merit” in such a process provided certain conditions are met, including no financial rewards for paramilitaries.
The two governments last year appointed Fleur Ravensbergen to explore the merits of talks with paramilitary groups about disbandment.
The report said there was a continuing threat from dissident republican groups (Mark Marlow/PA)
PA Archive
The initiative was criticised at the time by Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long as inappropriate.
Ms Ravensbergen has taken part in a year-long scoping and engagement exercise, which has included meeting representatives of loyalist and republican organisations.
She has also recommended strengthening neighbourhood policing, so that officers can maintain a “sustained focus on their core role within the communities they serve”.
The report also calls for targeted and sustained initiatives aimed at benefiting young people in communities affected by paramilitary harm.
The report said that manifestations of paramilitarism have changed but the “wider infrastructure associated with paramilitarism has proven more persistent than many had anticipated”.
It said: “Stakeholders described the increasing prominence of drug-related crime, extortion, illegal money-lending, exploitation and other forms of criminal activity in areas where a paramilitary presence remains.”
It said there is a “continuing national security threat from some dissident republican paramilitary groups which requires significant policing and security resources”.
The report stated: “The nature, extent and impact of paramilitary influence vary considerably between paramilitary groups, communities and geographical areas.
The initiative was criticised at the time it was announced by Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long as inappropriate (Liam McBurney/PA)
PA Wire
“However, it is clear that residual paramilitary structures continue to cause harm in some communities.”
Ms Ravensbergen said her report was “not just about dealing with remnants of the past but also about reducing future risks”.
She said: “Many stakeholders acknowledged that although good work has been done and progress made, something more is needed to advance progress towards ending paramilitarism.
“On the whole, I found that the majority were willing for the governments to explore something new, including direct engagement with paramilitary groups via a formal process, provided certain conditions were met.”
The report said the conditions were credible monitoring and verification of progress, a “robust” law enforcement and criminal justice response, and no financial rewards for paramilitary groups.
Ms Ravensbergen added: “I have concluded that there is sufficient merit in and support for a formal process of paramilitary group transition.
“I found moderate but sufficient support for a formal process among stakeholders, significant willingness to engage among loyalist and republican paramilitary groups, and broad agreement across stakeholders regarding the outcomes that a transition process should seek to achieve.
“In my engagements with paramilitary groups, there was limited support for the term ‘disbandment’ as the endpoint of a transition process.
“However, objections to disbandment appeared to be less about what transition should achieve and more about the wording.”
Ms Ravensbergen met representatives of loyalist and republican organisations during the year-long scoping and engagement exercise (Paul Faith/PA)
PA Archive
The author said agreeing the transition process was more important than terminology.
She said: “I believe that the risks of the persistence of paramilitary structures, continued drift and unmanaged fragmentation outweigh the risks associated with attempting a structured and time-bound transition process.
“Inaction is not a neutral option.
“My consultations suggest that a window of opportunity exists to pursue further progress, but that this may weaken over time.
“For these reasons, I recommend the establishment of an independent, time-bound transition mechanism without delay.
“The UK government and the government of Ireland should work together to develop this mechanism.
“Its purpose would be to provide a structured and accountable framework through which progress towards paramilitary group transition can be facilitated, monitored and verified.”
The report said the mechanism would have a number of core functions – an authorised point of contact, developing a common transition framework, and monitoring, verifying and reporting.
Ms Ravensbergen said: “This recommendation is not about replacing existing efforts with a formal group transition process: it is about building on these efforts and strengthening them in an evidence-led way, whilst introducing a pathway for paramilitary group transition as a complement to existing efforts.
“Throughout my consultations, it was consistently emphasised that effective policing, robust criminal justice responses and strong and resilient communities are not only crucial goals in themselves, but also enabling conditions for a formal transition process.
“Stakeholders consistently emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Police Service of Northern Ireland commands community confidence and is able to police with communities.
“Neighbourhood policing is particularly important in this respect.
“I recommend strengthening neighbourhood policing so that officers can maintain a sustained focus on their core role within the communities they serve.
“Stakeholders consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening those communities most affected by paramilitary harm, without reinforcing gatekeeping, dependency or coercive control.
“Amongst other community-strengthening initiatives, I recommend targeted and sustained initiatives aimed at benefiting young people.
“This is particularly important for looking ahead and furthering a sense of optimism in communities affected by paramilitary harm.”