This campaign shows some examples of the hidden harms that paramilitaries and those associated with them cause. The psychological and emotional effects can be as harmful as the physical violence which gangs carry out. The coercion and intimidation from paramilitaries means that it is common for victims of this crime to feel that they have no-one to turn to. Support and help is available.
The current Ending the Harm campaign has been developed to specifically call out a number of ways that paramilitary groups control, coerce and harm communities. Child Criminal Exploitation, Drug Dealing, Violence Against Women and Girls, and so-called ‘protection money’ demanded from local businesses are just some examples of the often ‘hidden’ harms that are perpetrated by paramilitary and organised crime groups against their communities.
These statements have been extensively researched, developed, and tested. They are backed by independent academic research, project data from EPOOC, witness and survivor testimony, and lived experience. This is supported by a wide range of specialist organisations and representatives. To view some of this research, click here.
Many people and communities have been made to feel that the harm they feel at the hands of paramilitaries and criminals is normal and inescapable. The longer harms are hidden and not exposed and talked about, the longer these paramilitary bullies will have power. Paramilitarism is not just about bombs, bullets and obvious violence, it’s about the quiet, insidious coercion that hides away beneath the surface, hurting people and communities. Victims’ voices need to be heard and acted upon.
“So called paramilitary gangs are criminals who commit some of the worst crimes against innocent people in their community. We know that these groups abuse and control women and girls and force young people into criminality. These gangs prevent victims from seeking support or justice through coercion and fear. “There can be no place for these organisations in our public life and we must not allow them to be legitimised in any way. I hope this campaign can help to call out these gangs for what they are, criminals who are a scourge on our society.”
“The launch of the next stage of the Ending the Harm campaign is incredibly important and I fully endorse its purpose and need to address paramilitary control. Children are being coerced, abused, and groomed by these criminals who prey on the most vulnerable - it needs to be called out for what it is, and it needs to stop immediately. My office and I have and will continue to ensure that the rights and best interests of children and young people are safeguarded and promoted. We will continue to work to provide advice to the government on adopting a strategic and unified approach to protect children from harm. This will involve tackling and eradicating poverty, addressing educational inequalities, and supporting vulnerable families. Those who seek to harm, abuse and exploit children, families and communities must be pursued and prosecuted. Children and their families need to feel safe to thrive and I will do everything I can to protect them.”
“We have a lot to be thankful for. For the most part, people's lives are better and safer than they were only a few decades ago. However, this isn't the case for everyone. Some people, and some communities have never really recovered from the trauma of violence and conflict. It is here that people's pain is still being manipulated and exploited. There is a convincing body of research that captures their voices and experiences. The harm they experience takes many forms, affecting children, families and communities in different ways. Victims sometimes don't even see themselves as victims as we saw in the recent unrest. “People are still being caught up in cycles of violence, recycling harm over and over again. The launch of this new Ending the Harm campaign by the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime is important because it shines a light on a harm that is all too often hidden. It will hopefully start a conversation about the type of place this can be. Freedom from violence, exploitation and abuse isn't a luxury, it's a right. This campaign is a call to action.”
“So called ‘paramilitaries’ are criminal gangs who exploit people for their own gain and have no place in our society. It is important we recognise the hidden reality that these gangs sexually exploit women and children. Women and children are then silenced and intimidated and so don’t reach out for the help they so desperately need. This campaign will highlight these hidden crimes and give confidence to survivors of exploitation to come forward for support, regardless of whether they want to report the crime to the PSNI.”
“The SBNI wholeheartedly supports this campaign, highlighting the harms committed by paramilitaries on communities. In particular we are pleased that the voices of children have been heard. That children’s experience of abuse, perpetrated against them by individuals who are paramilitaries and or sanctioned in the name of paramilitary gangs is being called out for what it is; child abuse. Child abuse robs children of their childhood and we must all work together to build a system in which children feel safe to disclose their abuse, in the confidence that abusers will be held to account and justice will be served. All children have a right to live a life free from harm and abuse.”
“Paramilitaries are criminal enterprises who we know exploit the security industry for their own ends. The impact this has on undermining public safety across communities in Northern Ireland cannot be overstated. The SIA wants a safe business environment that provides a level playing field for all. We work with a range of authorities in Northern Ireland to help protect local businesses and communities from organised criminality. We fully support the work of EPPOC in their aim to end the harm caused by organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland.”
“At FSB NI we represent small businesses across Northern Ireland and are committed to helping them succeed. They are the backbone of the economy, creating jobs and driving innovation, despite myriad challenges. What they should not have to be dealing with is the continued existence of paramilitary gangs using intimidation to demand ‘protection money’.
The Belfast Agreement was signed over 25 years ago and these criminal gangs only exist to line their own pockets at the expense of hardworking men and women who are doing their best to bring jobs and prosperity to their local communities.
We welcome this initiative from the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC). Menacing threats from paramilitary gangs are designed to intimidate businesses and prevent them going to the authorities. We hope the new EPPOC campaign puts a spotlight on the issue and encourages any business facing this type of intimidation to come forward to the police. By working together I hope that we can help end the scourge of paramilitary intimidation.”
“Paramilitaries have a negative and controlling influence on communities throughout Northern Ireland, affecting the lives of vulnerable young people, women, and girls through insidious behaviours such as grooming, criminal and sexual exploitation, coercive control, and violence. Victims of paramilitary harm must not be allowed to fall through the cracks. They should be safeguarded and protected to reach their full potential, instead of living in a culture of fear and resigned to a life of exploitation and crime. Victim Support NI support this campaign from The Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime and are here to offer free and confidential support to anyone who has experienced, or is currently experiencing paramilitary harm. We welcome such powerful messages calling out paramilitary gangs for their part in these damaging criminal activities and would encourage victims to reach out and seek support.”
“We support today’s launch of this important campaign. Crimestoppers is here for all communities in Northern Ireland that are being impacted by harm. If you know of anyone being harmed by criminal activity, please contact Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers is a charity and is independent of the police. They guarantee you stay 100% anonymous. Always. Visit Crimestoppers-uk.org or call the 24/7 Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.”
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