Policy paper

2010 to 2015 government policy: Northern Ireland security

Updated 8 May 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

This is a copy of a document that stated a policy of the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government. The previous URL of this page was https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/keeping-northern-ireland-safe Current policies can be found at the GOV.UK policies list.

Issue

While day-to-day policing and justice functions are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK government retains responsibility for national security issues in Northern Ireland.

There are a small number of people who aim to destabilise the framework for the peaceful settlement of Northern Ireland’s future, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement and supported by the overwhelming majority of the population. They want to see local government fail and prevent the police in Northern Ireland from delivering effective community policing. These groups are small in number and limited in capability, but they have demonstrated the ability to murder, maim and cause disruption.

The primary targets for these terrorists are police officers, soldiers and prison officers. Yet their attacks are also attacks on the wider community – defying the democratically expressed desire for peace, and bringing disruption and discomfort to the daily lives of many people.

The Northern Ireland Office is responsible for co-ordinating the government’s strategic response to this threat. We want to reduce the risk to people and communities in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with confidence.

The Home Office leads on policies relating to protecting people in Northern Ireland from all other forms of terrorism as part of its broader remit to protect the UK from terrorism.

Actions

Supporting democracy and taking the lead against the terrorism and violence that threatens national security

We work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish government, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Security Service and An Garda Síochána. We are committed to working in partnership to protect people and communities from violence aimed at undermining democratic structures in Northern Ireland.

We support operational partners as they work to investigate and disrupt terrorist activity and prosecute those responsible. We will continue working to ensure that the PSNI and other partners have the resources they need to respond to the security situation in Northern Ireland and bring those engaged in terrorism to justice.

We support the legitimate and democratically mandated process for resolving Northern Ireland’s future, as set out in the Belfast Agreement. We support individuals and communities in rejecting those who carry out attacks and will challenge the ideology of those who seek to apply political pressure through violent means.

Protecting those who are at risk

We work to protect people and places from attack and to ensure that we respond quickly and effectively when attacks take place.

The Northern Ireland Office administers the Home Protection Scheme, which provides limited protective security measures for those in certain occupations assessed to be at significant risk of terrorist attack.

We also provide support to the Northern Ireland Committee on Protection (NICOP).

Controlling the possession of firearms in Northern Ireland

The UK government is responsible for regulating firearms licensing in Northern Ireland. The Chief Constable, through the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s firearms and explosives branch, is responsible for administrating firearms licensing.

Unlike the rest of the UK where firearms appeals are heard in the Crown Court (or by the Sheriff in Scotland), the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for deciding on appeals against decisions by the Chief Constable.

We publish guidance on firearms controls which contains further information.

Background

Responsibility for day-to-day policing and justice functions were devolved in Northern Ireland in April 2010 as part of the political process. The framework for devolution was set out in the St Andrews Agreement in 2006.

The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland is responsible for day-to-day policing and justice policy and funds the PSNI.

National security is an excepted matter – as it is in Scotland and Wales – and responsibility rests with the UK government. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland leads on the UK government’s response to the threat from Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland.

The Home Secretary leads on the government’s response to all other forms of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

The PSNI is at the forefront of the response to the threat from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland, with responsibility for mounting executive policing operations, making arrests and taking forward prosecutions. The PSNI provides the overall operational police response in countering terrorism and protecting the community.

While for day-to-day policing the PSNI is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, for national security matters the PSNI is accountable to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

As set out in the St. Andrews Agreement, the Security Service has lead responsibility for national security intelligence matters in Northern Ireland. Their role in Northern Ireland is exactly the same as it is elsewhere in the UK.

There is a wide range of accountability mechanisms in place to oversee the activities of the PSNI and the Security Service. For the police, these include the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. For the Security Service, these include the Intelligence Services Commissioner and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.