Willie Hay says he is concerned the PSNI does not have enough resources to properly tackle cross-border organised crime gangs.

Transcript

00:00I want to briefly bring the noble Lord back to the whole issue of resources. I do welcome

00:07the status instrument, but I do worry about resources. In Northern Ireland, you will continue

00:15to hear the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland talk about the lack of resources. Certainly,

00:21with these new powers, there need to be additional resources. The Minister will be aware that,

00:29a former Minister in Northern Ireland, sometimes these criminal gangs work fairly freely,

00:37not only in Northern Ireland but across the border as well. These criminal gangs will have

00:46all the resources they need to do what they are doing. Unfortunately, when it comes to

00:52the different agencies that have to deal with these criminal gangs, they do not have the

00:56resources to do what they need to do. I think that is a worry more than anything else. I keep

01:03coming back to the Chief Constable. Most times, when he has been interviewed, he will say,

01:09no, I do not have the resources. Within policing, you do what needs to be done.

01:14The other issue is whether there has been any dialogue between the Justice Minister

01:20in the Assembly and you here at Westminster when it comes to this particular status instrument,

01:28which would be important as well. Has there been any dialogue with the Executive,

01:36or at least with the Justice Minister? Certainly, new powers are welcome. Anything

01:42that stifles criminal gangs in Northern Ireland or elsewhere has to be welcomed.