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OCTF Public Awareness Campaign

Date: 19/06/2006

Everyone is a victim of organised crime but everyone can play their part in ridding society of this scourge, Security Minister and Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), Paul Goggins MP said today.

Paul Goggins was speaking today at the launch of a major public awareness campaign into the effects of organised crime in Northern Ireland, at which the successes against and continuing threat posed by it were outlined.

Paul Goggins said: "Organised crime is big business in Northern Irelandand it’s our job to put it out of business."

"Make no mistake, organised crime is harmful and impacts on every man woman and child. It creates victims in every part of the community, from shop keepers robbed at gunpoint, to families destroyed by drugs, to citizens whose safety and livelihoods are jeopardised by counterfeit goods or extortionists.

"The Government through the OCTF is totally committed to relentlessly pursuing organised criminals from whatever source.

"It is because we want to protect our communities, our environment, our public services and honest businesses and jobs that we are putting so much effort into tackling organised crime.

"In the last year, over £7 million worth of drugs and almost £10 million worth of counterfeit goods have been taken off our streets, and over £30 million worth of criminal assets have been restrained, confiscated or seized. But good as the results are we are not complacent.

"I believe that the support of the public is vital to creating a society free from the blight of organised crime, a society in which we accept the shared responsibility for tackling it."

This year’s OCTF Annual Report and Threat Assessment was also published today. The audience at the launch included representatives from all of the partner agencies including the business sector and Policing Board.

Paul Goggins continued: "In the past year the membership of OCTF has been expanded to include members of the business community and the Northern IrelandPolicing Board. The agencies that are represented on OCTF are united in a common goal to eradicate the scourge of organised crime but we need everyone inNorthern Irelandto play their part and accept responsibility in tackling the problem.

"I firmly believe that by working together - by combining effective enforcement with ongoing public support and collective responsibility - we will bear down on criminals and together we can rid our society of the economic and human costs of organised crime.

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