Agency 'must tackle gangs'

About 235 gangs are estimated to be operating in the province

The British and Irish Governments should set up an all-Ireland agency up to target the assets of criminal and paramilitary gangs on both sides of the border, the SDLP has said.

A delegation from the party is expected to put the idea to Irish Minister for Justice Michael McDowell at a meeting in Dublin on Thursday.

SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness said increasing levels of activity by these gangs on both sides of the border required action on an all-Ireland basis.

The fourth annual report from the Organised Crime Task Force published earlier this month found paramilitaries were linked to almost seven out of ten crime gangs operating in Northern Ireland.

It said there were about 235 organised crime gangs in the province alone.

The Northern Ireland Organised Crime Task Force was established in September 2000 to provide the strategic direction for a multi-agency approach to tackling organised crime.

Bringing together government, law enforcement and a wide range of other agencies, it is a forum where partner agencies can discuss problems, share information and agree priorities.

In the past year, the task force's successes include the disruption or dismantling of 60 gangs.

Millions of pounds worth of drugs and counterfeit goods and millions of cigarettes were also seized.

Almost £1m of criminal assets were confiscated and assets of about £3m were frozen by the Assets Recovery Agency.