Man Arrested Over Banbridge Arson

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a car fire in Banbridge.

The arrest was made on Wednesday, 20 August in the Banbridge area. It follows an investigation into an arson attack on a car in the Castlewellan Road area on Tuesday, 19 August. The man remains in custody.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with CCTV footage to come forward. If you have any information that could help, contact police on 101, quoting reference 1976 19/08/25.

Alternatively, you can report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

SF Welcomes Investment to homelessness services

Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has welcomed a £2.5 million investment in homelessness prevention services. Gildernew, The party's communities spokesperson, said: "Tackling homelessness and ensuring everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home must be a priority.

"That's why I am progressing legislation which would more than double the amount of days the Housing Executive must support those who could become homeless.

"We must do all we can to tackle homelessness in our society, and I'll continue working with the minister and the other parties to do just that."

UUP Welcomes New Initiative To Protect Children Online

Ulster Unionist Party Justice spokesman Doug Beattie has welcomed a new initiative by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) to raise awareness of the online dangers children face.

Mr Beattie highlighted that over 2,000 sexual offences against children were recorded in 2024, many of which involve online grooming and blackmail.

He said the initiative would help tackle this "increasing crime trend" and reminded the public that it is a crime for an adult to possess or send indecent or sexually explicit images involving a child under 18.