Board To Rule On Closures

Contentious proposals to sell off some 26 police stations and close others across Northern Ireland are to be put to the NI Policing Board later today. As previously reported, unionists are opposed to the move, claiming it could make it easier for dissident republicans to operate, while Sinn Féin agrees with the closure plan. The board is legally responsible for the buildings and could refuse the request to dispose of them even though the PSNI said "they do not have to get the board's approval because it is an operational matter". See: Police Station Closure 'List' Revealed

Arrest Follows Tourist Attack

A 46-year-old man has been arrested about the armed robbery of a Spanish tourist who was assaulted after being lured to a flat in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Police said it was understood he had been socialising in the city centre on Monday night and shared a taxi from the City Hall with a man who had a local accent. The victim was assaulted and forced to hand over his credit card and pin number and was detained in the flat by one man while his accomplice used the card to withdraw cash from a nearby ATM.

TV Licence Dodgers Caught

More than 214,000 people were caught watching TV without a licence across the UK during the first six months of 2009. This included more than 10,300 people in Northern Ireland. TV Licensing revealed that, across the UK, approximately 5,000 more evaders were caught compared to the same period last year. However, the average evasion rate is currently just over 5%, meaning that almost 95% of properties are correctly licensed.

Gates Curb Anti-Social Activity

NI Housing Executive residents in Crumlin, Co Antrim, have welcomed the installation of new 'alley gates' in the area. Controlled access to the area has now been provided under a local community safety project. The gates are designed to counter anti-social behaviour incidents, which have caused considerable concern for residents in the past.

Invest NI Helps Peak 'Peak'

A Newcastle-based corporate teambuilding company, Peak Discovery, is to boost export sales by 15% thanks to help from Invest Northern Ireland. Co Down's Peak Discovery specialises in delivering corporate teambuilding events, at various venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, which include a range of physically and mentally challenging activities such as archery, 3D problem solving tasks, Canadian canoeing and city centre treasure hunts. Supported by over £8,000 from Invest NI, the company is upgrading its IT systems to introduce a computerised customer relationship management (CRM) system, improve monitoring of internal information and enhance the attractiveness and ease of use of its website. Peak Discovery will also also use its RIB boat to provide an exclusive water taxi service to the forthcoming Belfast Tall Ships event on 13-16 August.

'Down Helicopters': SDLP

The SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has said night-time disruption of families and farming activity along the Lough Neagh shore by low-flying helicopters must stop. "The helicopters came low over Ardboe at about a quarter to midnight on Tuesday and at nearly one o'clock they were back. Besides the disruption to families they frightened cattle which ran against barbed wire fences and ended up loose on the road. This has to end," he said. "The British Army is going to have to find somewhere else to do its training," he stormed.

SIDS In Focus

The tragedy of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is back in focus as the Department of Health has updated its leaflet aimed at reducing cot deaths. The leaflet contains simple steps to follow to reduce the risk and will be provided to all first-time mothers. Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell said: "The unexpected death of a baby is a tragedy, but we know that since parents and carers have been following the risk reduction advice, the number of cot deaths has fallen by over 70%. The revised leaflet also contains new advice in relation to breastfeeding and use of dummies to reduce the risk of cot death."

(BMcC/KMcA)