Written question asked by Iris Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 1 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 December 2004. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 December 2004 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the involvement of paramilitaries in counterfeiting. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the involvement of paramilitaries in counterfeiting. [202595] Mr. Pearson: The Organised Crime Task Force has carried out detailed analysis of the scale of paramilitary involvement in counterfeiting and piracy and its assessment is that paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland, with loyalist and republican gangs equally heavily involved. The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of 4 November 2004 also highlights paramilitary involvement in this form of criminality. This year the Police Service of Northern Ireland have seized £4.595 million of counterfeit goods and I pay tribute to the PSNI for their ongoing efforts to tackle organised criminals who seek to line their pockets from the sale of illicit goods.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 202595; 428 c1205W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Counterfeit manufacturing Northern Ireland Organised crime Terrorism Seized articles
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk