20% of respondents to DOJ survey feel that organised crime is 'very widespread' in Northern Ireland

The Department of Justice (DOJ) today published Research and Statistical Bulletin 9/2017 ‘Perceptions of Organised Crime and Human Trafficking: Findings from the October 2016 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey’. This is an Official Statistics Publication.

These findings provide baseline information in relation to perceptions of Organised Crime and Human Trafficking in Northern Ireland.

Key findings

Organised Crime and Paramilitarism

A fifth of respondents (20.1%) stated that they felt that organised crime was very widespread throughout Northern Ireland, 24.8% stated that it was widespread, 45.2% stated that it was fairly widespread, 9.7% thought it was not widespread and 0.1% stated that organised crime does not occur in Northern Ireland.
91.5% of respondents stated that drug dealing was one of the main types of crimes they associated with organised crime in Northern Ireland.
Overall, 49.6% strongly agreed and 42.1% agreed that the proceeds of any one form of organised crime may ultimately contribute towards other forms of organised crime.
Of all respondents asked, 83.2% stated that ‘Yes’ they believed there was a link between organised crime and ongoing paramilitary activity.
89.2% stated ‘Violence’ was a type of harm associated with organised crime
When respondents were asked their perceptions of the impact of organised crime, personally and within the community, 47.8% stated ‘fear in the community’.
97.8% of respondents stated that the ‘PSNI’ had a role in tackling organised crime. When asked about the role that the public can play in tackling organised crime, 73.9% stated that they can ‘report to the police’, 55.3% stated ‘contact Crimestoppers’ and 48.8% stated that they could ‘refuse to purchase counterfeit or illicit goods or services’.
60.0% stated ‘fear’ prevented people from reporting an incident or suspected incident.

Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Overall, 5.6% of respondents stated that they felt that human trafficking and modern slavery was very widespread throughout Northern Ireland, 14.6% that it was widespread and 39.7% fairly widespread, 35.5% not widespread and 4.6% that it did not occur.
84.6% of respondents stated ‘sexual exploitation’, 71.7% stated ‘forced labour’ and 60.6% stated ‘forced begging’ were types of exploitation occurring in Northern Ireland.
Just over a quarter (26.8%) stated that they would recognise signs of human trafficking and modern slavery.