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Report of the Independent Reviewer for National Security Arrangements 2024
08 July 2025
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Northern Ireland Office
At a Glance
Issue Summary
Hilary Benn presents a summary of Dr Jonny Byrne's report on the Independent Reviewer for National Security Arrangements in Northern Ireland for 2024.
Action Requested
The minister provides a detailed summary of the report, highlighting compliance with Annex E of the St Andrews Agreement and noting significant reductions in security-related incidents in 2024. The report also discusses the challenges in defining 'national security issues' and the potential implications for future policy discussions on normalisation.
Key Facts
- Dr Jonny Byrne is the Independent Reviewer of National Security Arrangements in Northern Ireland.
- There were no national security attacks in Northern Ireland in 2024, compared to one each in 2023 and 2022.
- The NIRT threat level was lowered from SEVERE to SUBSTANTIAL on 6 March 2024.
- Six bombing incidents and seventeen shooting incidents occurred in 2024, compared with eight bombings and thirty-three shootings in 2023.
- There were sixty-seven security related arrests under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, with nine persons subsequently charged.
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