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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 15% of MI5 workload is NI-related | 15% of MI5 workload is NI-related |
| (1 day later) | |
| The intelligence service MI5 is still devoting considerable resources to Northern Ireland, according to a report from an oversight committee. | |
| The Intelligence & Security Committee Report has revealed MI5 allocated 15% of its resources in 2007/08 to what it calls "Irish-related terrorism". | The Intelligence & Security Committee Report has revealed MI5 allocated 15% of its resources in 2007/08 to what it calls "Irish-related terrorism". |
| However, this was down from 17% in 2006/07. | However, this was down from 17% in 2006/07. |
| The committee reports that dissident republicans continue to pose a threat in NI and the rest of the UK. | The committee reports that dissident republicans continue to pose a threat in NI and the rest of the UK. |
| It said some loyalist groups continue to engage in violence and other forms of serious crime. | It said some loyalist groups continue to engage in violence and other forms of serious crime. |
| The report covers the period from December 2007 to November 2008. | The report covers the period from December 2007 to November 2008. |
| On Wednesday, it emerged that the government and security services believe dissident republicans pose a greater threat than ever. SECURITY REPORT Having a base in Northern Ireland also facilitates the Service's relationships with other organisations in Northern Ireland, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland Security Committee Report Read the report | On Wednesday, it emerged that the government and security services believe dissident republicans pose a greater threat than ever. SECURITY REPORT Having a base in Northern Ireland also facilitates the Service's relationships with other organisations in Northern Ireland, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland Security Committee Report Read the report |
| The threat assessment has been raised to "severe", meaning an attack is regarded as highly likely. The decision to upgrade the level was made by MI5 - responsible for gathering intelligence on dissident republicans. | |
| For a number of years the threat posed by dissidents was "substantial", meaning attacks were regarded as a strong possibility. | For a number of years the threat posed by dissidents was "substantial", meaning attacks were regarded as a strong possibility. |
| While dissident groups remain relatively small and do not have a central command structure - intelligence information suggests groups in some areas are becoming much better organised and more technically sophisticated. | While dissident groups remain relatively small and do not have a central command structure - intelligence information suggests groups in some areas are becoming much better organised and more technically sophisticated. |
| Their level of activity has also increased. Security sources have said that police have prevented a large number of planned attacks in recent months. | Their level of activity has also increased. Security sources have said that police have prevented a large number of planned attacks in recent months. |
| But the determination to carry out attacks has increased, and the police and security services are having to work much harder to stop them. | But the determination to carry out attacks has increased, and the police and security services are having to work much harder to stop them. |