Irish republicans 'aiming for more young recruits'

Police in Northern Ireland say that violent dissident groups are becoming more organised and more determined to recruit new, younger members.

There's been a rise in the number of explosives being used, with many targeting officers and their families.

Police dealt with 75 bombs in an eight month period to April 2010, up from 50 during the previous 12 months.

The biggest blast was last year when a cab driver was forced at gunpoint to drive a bomb to a police station.

The explosion damaged several businesses nearby, though no one was hurt.

Barricades are now in place to stop another attack on the police station

Several people have been charged over the attack, including a 22-year-old man.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin, in charge of policing in Derry, told Newsbeat: "These people are undoubtedly better organised.

"They've developed their technology and there seems to be a greater level of co-operation between the small number of groups that exist.

"They will be trying to get young people interested in their cause, and then to try to progress them into doing things which none of us would want them to do."

'Temptation'

Superintendent Martin says a lack of jobs in parts of Northern Ireland is having an impact too.

He said: "If all of a sudden you lose that job you're back in your old community, and maybe certain respect that you once had has gone.

"It's very easy to succumb to temptation."

Nathan doesn't support republican violence, but says it's 'inevitable'

There are several dissident republican groups operating in Northern Ireland.

They believe Ireland should be united and see the police as British forces occupying their country.

Officers have been accused of victimising republican families by stopping and searching people, raiding their homes and following them.

Eighteen-year-old Nathan Hastings is a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, a republican pressure group seen as the political arm of the Real IRA.

Nathan is not involved in violence but says it is "inevitable" as long as Ireland is occupied.

Newsbeat asked how he felt about the police station bomb.

He said: "To say I support it makes it sound as though I like violence and that it's the way to sort anything, when that's not the case.

"It would be perfect if the Irish people were given their own solution, but until that happens then these attacks are inevitable."

Police and politicians from all the major parties in Northern Ireland say there's very little support for the bombing campaign.