Written evidence submitted by the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and the North West Migrants Forum (NWMF) relating to the Policing and Security in Northern Ireland inquiry
Published:
December 19, 2025
Policy Area(s):Confronting Prejudice, Policing and Justice
This written evidence, submitted jointly by the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and the North West Migrants Forum (NWMF) to the UK Parliament’s inquiry into Policing and Security in Northern Ireland, examines the effectiveness of coordination between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Home Office, and other agencies in policing the Common Travel Area (CTA).
Key themes include:
- The distinctive nature of the CTA — allowing free movement across the UK and Ireland, its legal basis, and the implications of post-Brexit arrangements.
- Evidence of discriminatory checks by immigration and policing authorities against ethnic minorities within the CTA, and questions about the legal clarity and oversight of these practices.
- Concerns about the PSNI’s role in CTA enforcement operations — including unclear involvement in cross-agency initiatives and potential impacts on compliance with human rights and equality obligations.
- The effects of these practices on trust and relationships between minority communities and policing bodies, and the need for clearer transparency and accountability.
- Overall, the evidence calls for greater legal clarity, transparency, and safeguarding of human rights in how PSNI and partner agencies operate within the CTA, especially where racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement are alleged.
You can read the full submission here.