The Ending the Harm public awareness campaign is making a difference in how people view the harms caused by paramilitary gangs in Northern Ireland, according to new market research from the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime.

The campaign, launched in October 2024, highlights the various ways paramilitaries exploit vulnerable individuals and encourages open conversations about these issues.

An online survey with a representative sample of the Northern Ireland population found that 77% of respondents considered the campaign believable, 66% thought it was impactful, and 89% fully supported its aims.

The majority of respondents agreed with 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 these statements was higher among those already familiar with the campaign, reinforcing its importance in raising awareness of hidden paramilitary harms.

The campaign has had a significant impact, with the majority of respondents agreeing 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%).