UUP Cautiously Welcomes PSNI Funding Boost

Policing Board Member Alan Chambers MLA has welcomed the announcement of a £200 million funding package for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) but has raised significant questions about its sudden appearance and the lack of clarity surrounding its approval within the Executive.

Mr Chambers acknowledged the Chief Constable's consistent warnings regarding the PSNI's severe financial situation and his recent direct appeal to the Prime Minister for more funding. "There’s no doubt that the PSNI will welcome any amount of additional budget made available," he said.

However, Chambers, an Ulster Unionist Party MLA, strongly criticised the long-standing failure to meet the officer numbers recommended in the Patten Report, which emerged from the Good Friday Agreement. "Patton recommended a police service made up of 7,500 full-time officers, supported by a locally recruited reserve complement of some 2,500 officers. We are still not even within hailing distance of the numbers of full-time officers recommended by Patton, and the 2,500 reserve officers are never even mentioned," he stated.

Greens Blasts SDLP Call to 'Unpick' Climate Act For A5 Road Project

Mal O'Hara, leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, has criticised the SDLP for suggesting the "unpicking" of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to facilitate the A5 road project.

O'Hara labelled the call "shocking" and warned against what he perceives as a populist move that undermines crucial climate legislation.

"I was flabbergasted yesterday to hear the SDLP call for the unpicking of the Climate Act for Northern Ireland," Mal O'Hara stated.

"To suggest this course of action in favour of an outdated road project is shocking. The Climate Act 2022 was hard fought for and it was long overdue, with Green MLAs instrumental in making it happen."

The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 sets a target of at least a 100% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for Northern Ireland.

Alliance Criticises Those Behind Ards Security Alert

Alliance Newtownards Councillor and Ards and North Down Deputy Mayor, Vicky Moore, has strongly condemned the discovery of a viable device inside a residential property in Newtownards, stating that those responsible showed "a horrific disregard for life."

Properties surrounding the incident site were evacuated yesterday, Wednesday, 25 June 2025, for several hours as police and ammunition technical officers worked to examine and remove the device. Residents were permitted to return to their homes shortly after midnight today, Thursday, 26 June 2025.

Councillor Moore expressed the community's shock and horror at the incident. "This was a downright sinister display of intimidation and the local community is united today in shock and horror," she said. "It shows a flagrant disregard for human life and public safety, both for those who live at the house where the device was found, and those in nearby properties who had to be evacuated."

She extended thanks to the PSNI for their swift action. "We can only be thankful, due in no small part to the swift and professional work of local PSNI, that nobody was killed or seriously injured, and I want to thank officers for their efforts."

Councillor Moore urged anyone with information to come forward: "Those responsible for such reprehensible actions do not represent us, and I would encourage anyone who has any information that may help bring them to justice to contact police or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers without delay."