Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and the government of the Republic of Ireland about addressing cross-border crime during the Christmas period.

We continue to engage regularly with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to work towards the successful delivery of north-south policing and security. I commend the excellent work already carried out by the PSNI and An Garda Síochána in tackling cross-border criminality.

The Joint Agency Task Force was established under the Fresh Start Agreement to enhance cross-border law enforcement cooperation aimed at tackling organised crime and criminality. This Task Force brings together expertise from across law enforcement agencies, including PSNI, HMRC, NCA and Border Force and their counterparts in Ireland. This is an excellent example of how UK-based agencies and bodies collaborate effectively with those in Ireland to tackle illegal activity. Its work is ongoing and will cover the Christmas period.