Debate contribution: Drug-related Intimidation
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 10 November 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Drug-related Intimidation
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5224664
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I welcome the publication of 'Drug Related Intimidation in Northern Ireland', which was commissioned by the Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime (EPPOC) and delivered by the Public Health Agency, and was pleased to be at its launch with Minister Nesbitt. The report shines a light on and recognises the seriousness and impact of drug-related intimidation on individuals, families and communities right across Northern Ireland. It provides a valuable evidence base and highlights the complexity of the challenges involved, including the role of organised crime, paramilitary influence and the vulnerabilities of those affected. It also demonstrates the widespread and pervasive impact of the harm caused by drug-related intimidation. Nearly 40% of the general population are aware of suspected or real drug-related intimidation happening in the community, and one in eight reports direct experience of it in the past three years, involving either themselves, someone known to them or a family member. The Department is already progressing a number of measures that will help address the report's findings. They include introducing new offences in legislation such as participating in and directing the criminal activities of an organised crime group and developing new legislation to address the vulnerabilities created by cuckooing and child criminal exploitation. Work is also under way to improve child referrals to the national referral mechanism concerning child criminal exploitation. The work of the speeding up justice programme focuses on reducing delay, and we are working on the sentencing review, proposals from which I hope to introduce later this year. There is much more to do, however, and, over the coming months, my officials will engage with the Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime team and wider criminal justice partners to consider the recommendations in more detail. I also note that the outworkings of the report go wider than the Department of Justice, and I am committed to working with all sectors, including health, housing, education and community organisations, to build safer, more resilient communities.
328 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.85).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.95).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.85 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.95 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.05 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.73 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.25 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.01 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:42 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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