Campaign to highlight paramilitary harms is making a difference
Date published:
The Ending the Harm public awareness campaign is actively changing perceptions about the harms perpetrated by paramilitary gangs in Northern Ireland.
This was the clear message from the publication of new market research insight into the public awareness campaign by the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime.
The current Ending the Harm campaign was launched in October 2024 and gives a name to the many ways that paramilitaries exploit vulnerable people. It helps to raise awareness and encourage the difficult conversations that are vital to keep people safe from the harm caused by paramilitary gangs.
In a recent online omnibus survey with a representative sample of people from Northern Ireland, 77% of respondents regarded the campaign as believable, 66% of respondents thought it was impactful and 89% of respondents fully supported what the campaign was saying and trying to do.
The research has highlighted that the majority of respondents agreed with the campaign statements that paramilitary gangs:
- Controlled communities with violence, intimidation and drug dealing (67%)
- Exploited hard-working local businesses (65%)
- Forced children into violence, stealing their future (63%)
- Robbed businesses by taking their hard-earned money (61%)
- Groomed children to force them to sell drugs (59%)
Agreement with the campaign statements was higher with respondents who were already aware of the campaign verses those who were looking at the posters for the first time, helping to validate the importance of this campaign to highlight a range of ‘hidden’ paramilitary harms.
Finally, the impact of the campaign on respondents was both significant and powerful, with the majority in agreement that ‘paramilitaries are just criminals’ (79%), ‘there was no place for paramilitary gangs in Northern Ireland’s future’ (77%), ‘paramilitaries don’t protect you, they intimidate their own communities’ (76%), and they exploit women and children (69%).
Notes to editors:
1.In December 2024 campaign tracking research was undertaken for the current Ending the Harm campaign. Approximately 1,000 people were surveyed through an Online Omnibus Survey, with the sample being representative of the Northern Ireland adult (18+) population.
2.The current campaign, which highlights issues including child criminal exploitation, grooming, violence extortion of local businesses and violence against women and girls, was launched in October 2024 and utilises a wide range of outdoor advertising spaces, including large-size billboards, smaller poster sites and bus stops. It has appeared in communities right across Northern Ireland. The campaign is also present on bus advertising, giving us further visibility in geographical areas where there may be a lack of advertising space.
3.You can view the campaign posters and the survey report here: https://www.endingtheharm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/018742-ETH-Statements.pdf
4.The Political Advisory Group to EPPOC, comprised of representatives from Executive parties Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance, and UUP, has welcomed the campaign at its launch, issuing the following collective statement:
“We continue to support the vital work aimed at supporting communities and individuals vulnerable to paramilitary harm. The Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC), which was recently extended until 2027, plays a critical role in coordinating, understanding and raising awareness of this issue. This is evident in the latest phase of the Ending the Harm campaign being launched today which draws on EPPOC’s knowledge of the often hidden harms inflicted on communities by violent groups using paramilitary names. Collectively, we believe that it is important to call this criminality out for what it is and facilitate a whole-of-society conversation about that activity, its consequences and causes. This will better enable all of us to ensure that the focus on addressing this harm is best placed, now and in the future.”
5.At the launch of the campaign, a wide range organisations also provided statements of support for the campaign. They can be found here: https://www.endingtheharm.com/research-papers/widespread-support-for-campaign-that-challenges-harms-hidden-in-plain-sight/
6.The original campaign launch news article can be found here: https://www.endingtheharm.com/news-and-events/new-campaign-highlights-ongoing-paramilitary-harm/
7. For further information, contact the Programme team at EPPOC@endingtheharm.info