Kennedy voices concerns over SOCA’s Assets Recovery Role
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy has voiced his concerns over the Serious Organised Crime Agency’s (Soca) capacity to take on the role of assets recovery in Northern Ireland.
The Party is seeking a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss these matters at the earliest opportunity.
In a statement, Mr Kennedy said: “Earlier this week we had the Home Secretary issuing warm reassurances regarding assets recovery and Soca.
“But now we have Stephen Lander, the head of Soca, stating that the organisation ‘is not running at full speed’. He went on to suggest that organised criminals of long-standing may only have a 5% chance of getting caught.
“Mr Lander’s comments will cause great discomfiture here. If Soca is not running at full speed now, how well can it possibly cope after taking on the ARA’s role in Northern Ireland?
He added: “The opinion on the ARA was, overwhelmingly, that it had been doing a good job. Our view remains the same – if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
“Soca is vital in the fight against organized crime, as was the ARA. Any legislative obstacle that hampered the work of these agencies ought to have been removed. But the government didn’t do that. Instead it opted to abolish the ARA. This just doesn’t make sense.
“We intend to raise these and other issues with the Home Secretary at the earliest opportunity.”