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Communities across Newry, Mourne and Down are being targeted by an increasing number of scams, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and varied, and much harder to detect. Scammers are targeting people of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels, with older and vulnerable people being particularly susceptible. To combat this, Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and […]

Successful partnership working between Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was highlighted at the recent International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. The international conference is the largest and most significant global law enforcement event. It was originally scheduled to take place in […]

Statement by TUV party chairman and East Londonderry representative Jordan Armstrong: “Unionists, who this week unitedly spelt out their “unalterable position” that the Protocol must be rejected, will be disgusted with the Prime Minister’s comments this evening. “The simple truth is that far from the Protocol not working it is working exactly as intended when […]

East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen MBE, has called on the Minister for Finance to commit to ensuring that the Department for Communities is allocated the Barnett consequential arising from the £500M UK Government scheme announced today to support vulnerable households over winter. Mr Allen said: “I welcome the commitment from […]

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has launched the first new longer walk-through train into passenger service today as part of a £66million project to further transform Northern Ireland’s railway infrastructure. Three new train carriages, delivered in March, have been integrated with the fully refurbished existing donor Class 4000 trains to create a more accessible and high-quality […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has launched a new £40m Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) that will significantly improve the delivery of clinical diagnostic services for key areas of healthcare.  Health and Social Care (HSC) pathology services perform around 40m diagnostic tests in Northern Ireland each year, the results of which inform over 80% of all […]

Justice Minister Naomi Long has paid tribute to prison staff across Northern Ireland during a visit to Maghaberry Prison as part of Hidden Heroes Day 2021. Hidden Heroes Day was established by the Butler Trust to pay tribute to the people working in prisons, youth justice and probation across the UK.  During her visit to […]

The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccine boosters to NI’s care homes is underway, Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed. Health Trust vaccinator teams are bringing the boosters to care home residents and staff in a planned programme. First doses will also be available for anyone who has not yet been vaccinated. The wider NI booster dose […]

The first changes from new legislation to reform liquor licensing laws here will come into effect on 1 October 2021, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. The first phase will mostly involve the extension of opening and drinking-up times, which will be a welcome boost for the hospitality sector in the lead up to the […]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging Working Tax Credit (WTC) customers to check if they need to update their working hours if these have reduced as a result of coronavirus. During the pandemic, WTC customers have not needed to tell HMRC about temporary short-term reductions in their working hours as a result of coronavirus […]

First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, together with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, have called on the Westminster Government to reverse their decision to withdraw the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the leaders of the three administrations highlighted the damaging impact […]