PSNI & Security Service [MI5]: “a sound working partnership and one that is to be commended”

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, has “received and welcomed a report from Lord Carlile of Berriew on the operation of arrangements for handling national security matters in Northern Ireland for the year to date.”  But he’ll not be publishing it “given its sensitive nature”.  From the NI Secretary of State’s statement

The report points out that there have been serious incidents during 2011, including the murder of P.C Ronan Kerr in Omagh in April and states that the overall picture is of a very dangerous, unpredictable terrorist threat.  The situation is faced with additional challenges due to the many connections which terrorists appear to have with organised crime.  Lord Carlile points out that organised crime is an area which helps fund their politically motivated activities.

Lord Carlile believes that, compared with last year, this year has seen more success in containing and stabilising the threat, and notes that there have been fewer incidents and fewer major attacks.  He is also satisfied that there are no difficulties of any significance in the inter-operability between the PSNI and the Security Service and identifies this is a sound working partnership and one that is to be commended.  [added emphasis]

[Are you listening, Declan? – Ed]  Indeed.

Pete Baker