Gang membership offence
Deputy Durkan asked whether membership of a criminal gang should itself be made an offence under promised criminal justice legislation. The Justice Minister said the relevant Bill was nearing Government approval and current legislation was already robust enough to cover the issue.
I will address the previously mentioned issue regarding terrorist offences in the form of ongoing killings between criminal gangs. The criminal justice (terrorist offences) Bill is promised legislation. Would there be consideration to making membership of a criminal gang a criminal offence?
Comment on this
The general scheme of the criminal justice (money laundering and terrorist offences) Bill has been approved by Government. I look forward to the Bill being submitted to Government, which I understand will take place shortly. In direct response to the Deputy's question, criminal justice legislation is constantly under review but there is currently a robust scheme of legislation which will cover the specific issue raised by the Deputy as far as criminal gang membership is concerned.