The number of homophobic incidents recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland has jumped by 12% in the last year, according to figures released in August. Catríona Ruane MLA, of Sinn Féin, raised the issue of homophobic crime at … Continue reading Homophobic incidents in the North of Ireland up by 12%
Badge Holders * may usually park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours except where there is a ban on loading or unloading and at a few locations where local schemes apply. A guide for Blue Badge holders published by Roads Service, 2003 Blue Badges: Park where you like It seems that there are some rules which are unenforceable in those parts of Northern Ireland that are not in the Greater Belfast area. Those of us who are lucky enough to be deemed not to need a blue badge may not know all the rules for … Continue reading blue, yellow, and red: but not parking in Bucharest
This afternoon I had a meeting with Constable Stevie Wilson of York Road Neighbourhood Police team concerning the incident that happened on 20 October 2010 in North Queen Street. read more on Michael Carchrie Campbell Continue reading North Queen Street Homophobic incident – an update
I want to reassure my friend Stephen that he is most certainly ‘not the only gay in the Province’. Although I suspect that the TUV and others would almost certainly wish that he were. Indeed, I am only now getting to see his post as this morning I was with other representatives of the Northern Ireland LGBT Sector including from The Rainbow Project, NIGRA, and Cara-Friend at a meeting with Will Kerr, Asssistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, regarding the forward working of the LGBT Independent Advisory Group to the PSNI. It was certainly clear there … Continue reading Pink Paper fails its Northern Ireland readership
Earlier I posted elsewhere about the continuing bomb alert in the north of the city of Belfast. I said: The bomb alert that is causing disruption in the York Road area of the city near the Alexandra Bar is concerning. There are many young children who live in this area. The roads around it, particularly Mountcollyer Avenue, are roads where children happily play in the street. read rest here Continue reading blogged elsewhere: bomb alerts continue to disrupt lives
In East Tyrone Magistrates Court yesterday a phrase was used by a detective constable in a bail hearing that has my brain considering whether this is correct or not. The defendant was arrested at the scene of the finding of some ammunition and a holdall containing a revolver in a car in which he claims he was being taken to be a victim of a “so-called punishment shooting”*, lying face down on the back seat with a blanket over his head. His solicitor said, bail should be permitted as his client had no previous record. Yet the detective constable replied: … Continue reading “known to police”: the whole truth?
A visitor to our city was walking along North Queen Street last evening, and suffered a homophobic verbal assault in the vicinity of the Chinese takeaway in North Queen Street. He contacted me as he knew of my involvement with the Liberal Democrats in the area and that I am Vice Chair of the LGBT Independent Advisory Group to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Read the rest of the story here Continue reading posted elsewhere: homophobic abuse close to home
Today is Anti Slavery Day in the United Kingdom and EU Anti-Trafficking Day. Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, David Ford MLA, launched a new campaign last week called Visitor or Victim. The campaign is run in conjunction with the Police Service of Northern Ireland through the Organised Crime Task Force. Below is the front cover of the leaflet. The leaflet is in nine languages (English, Mandarin, French, Romanian, Lithuanian, Russian, Thai, Czech and Albanian) will be placed at all points of entry to Northern Ireland, as well as in other venues like doctor’s surgeries and hospitals. David Ford MLA said at … Continue reading visitor or victim? UK Anti-Slavery Day 18 October 2010
Northern Ireland for the relatively uninformed people of the rest of the United Kingdom is peaceful. Or so they think. Last night, a police officer was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury in Ballyclare, County Antrim. He was on a routine patrol. He has subsequently been released. Some time later, other police vehicles and officers were attacked by petrol bombs. Who are these attackers? They are masked men thugs. Thugs who hide behind masks rather than showing their faces. Thugs who know that the vast majority of Northern Irish society is not behind them. But they seem intent … Continue reading we must not let the thugs take us back in time
I have condemned the city centre stabbing in Belfast’s Royal Avenue here I condemn the stabbing in Belfast city centre’s Royal Avenue earlier this evening. I trust that the people of Belfast who may have been in the area around 1815 will assist the Police Service of Northern Ireland by giving witness statements if required. Continue reading city centre stabbing – condemned
Gyronny Herald 