The PSNI has welcomed the publication of the independent report by Fleur Ravensbergen on Paramilitary Group Transition to Disbandment.

Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said that the police service will now take the time to fully consider the reports findings and recommendations, but stressed that "police will not tolerate paramilitary criminality of any kind".

ACC Beck said: "Paramilitarism has absolutely no place in our society and we will continue to work closely with partners and communities to robustly investigate all forms of paramilitary activity and influence.

"People involved in this type of crime maintain control through fear, intimidation and violence, exploiting local communities particularly young people, and carrying out illegal activities such as drug dealing, money lending and extortion. "We will continue to target these groups through the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, a multi-agency partnership involving the PSNI, the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue & Customs.

"Formed in 2017, with funding from the Northern Ireland Executive's Tackling Paramilitarism Programme, the Task Force brings together specialist resources, capacity and expertise to disrupt paramilitary crime groups and help make communities safer. While this approach has been successful, we are not complacent, and there remains much work to be done.

"We recognise that robust investigative action, effective neighbourhood policing and close working arrangements with communities, are all necessary if we are to address paramilitary criminality.

"We remain firmly committed to tackling paramilitary groups and the lasting damage they cause."