News

Alliance Policing Board member John Blair MLA has called for urgent action to tackle the rise of sexual assaults on girls.

The call for action follows figures released by the PSNI to media which revealed 791 incidents of sexual assault of girls over the age of 13 has been reported to the police in the past year, a rise of nearly 60 per cent on the previous year, with 267 reports of sexual assault on girls under 13.

The South Antrim MLA said he would table questions to the Chief Constable this week to see how much resource has been dedicated to tackling the issue.

“I am painfully aware I am asking these questions of police in the context of serious budget cuts which appear to be imminent. I understand where additional resource is urgently required, such as that needed to tackle the issue against violence against women and girls, these cuts will bring financial pressures so serious this essential additional work might not be possible,” he said.

“This has been demonstrated through the postponement in recent days of a police recruitment campaign and the Justice Minister has highlighted her Department was bearing “disproportionate pain” in the draft Budget. It follows that policing, which accounts for 70 per cent of that Department’s budget, has taken a very serious hit as a consequence.

“The budgetary position will be a particular worry not only to those trying to deliver more safety on our streets for women and girls, but also and especially for women and girls who have a right to expect better outcomes, given the increased attention on this issue and the tragic headlines of recent times.”

South Antrim Alliance MLA John Blair is pleased to have received an update after having written to the Department for Infrastructure urgently request a timeframe in which it intends to resurface key roads in South Antrim

 

Blair has said “I am delighted that the Minister of Infrastructure has confirmed that Hillhead Road, Ballyclare. Largy Road, Crumlin and Gobrana Road, Glenavy will be resurfaced in the financial year 21/22”

 

He also received further updates that Grange Road, Parkgate. Rashee Road and Ballycorr Road, Ballyclare will be included in the resurfacing plans for the 22/23 financial year.

 

The South Antrim MLA has also said that he is “disappointed” that the Minister hasn’t given any reassurance on when the Dunadry Road, Antrim. Antrim Road, Dunadry. Ballylagan Road, Straid and the Kiln Road, Newtownabbey will be resurfaced.

 

He said “I am disappointed I have not been given reassurance that these roads, which are in a dire state, will not be resurfaced in the 21/22 or 22/23 financial years but I will carry on lobbying DfI to make sure that the residents of this area have their voices heard and have an infrastructure network that is up to standard. I urge all constituents who are affected by these roads or any roads to get in touch so the necessary upgrades can be requested and progressed.”

Alliance MLA, John Blair has encouraged the public to sign a petition calling for a ban on hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland.

The call comes after his historic Bill, to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, was blocked by Stormont. The proposed legislation was debated in the Assembly on Monday 6 December, when it was defeated by 45 votes to 38. The majority of the opposition was from Sinn Féin MLAs.

Mr Blair, who also chairs the All-Party Group on Animal Welfare, expressed his disappointment, but said he was not “deterred” and hopes to re-introduce the Bill to ban on hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland in the new Assembly mandate.

“Animal welfare will remain a high priority for the Alliance Party, and I will, if re-elected, take the earliest opportunity to bring this Bill forward again and reform legislation on hunting wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland, and bring our legislation in line with that in England, Scotland and Wales where the practice has been illegal for close to 20 years.”

“The result of the debate is contrary to the views of the public, and that’s why I am urging the public to add their voice to this campaign to outlaw the cruel and unnecessary sport of hunting with dogs.”

USPCA Chief Executive Brendan Mullan, said “Hunting wild mammals with dogs is sadistic and cruel and has no place in an advanced and compassionate society. We are staggered that half the members of the Assembly do not share this view and have allowed this barbaric ‘sport’ to continue here in Northern Ireland. By signing this petition, members of the public can put on record their opposition to hunting wild mammals with dogs, sending a clear message to the Assembly to end this cruel practice which causes unthinkable pain and suffering for innocent wild animals.”

The petition is available by visiting www.allianceparty.org/ban_hunting_with_dogs.

There has never been a greater need for political leaders to work together and avoid hyping up rhetoric, Alliance MLA John Blair has said, following the hijacking and burning of a bus in Rathcoole yesterday.

The South Antrim MLA was speaking after four masked men armed with a hammer and petrol, boarded the bus in the estate around 7.45pm on Sunday, before driving it a short distance and setting it alight. It was the second such incident in a week, with masked men burning out a bus in Newtownards last Monday.

“I cannot condemn strongly enough the latest violence on our streets, including a bus hijacking and burning in Rathcoole, close to my own constituency,” said Mr Blair.

“I would like to pass on my support to the bus driver and passengers, who thankfully were not injured but who will still be understandably traumatised by this deeply disturbing act of violence. Such incidents bring fear to local communities and tarnish the image of Northern Ireland to onlookers. They also seriously undermine the good work being done, by good people, at community level in Rathcoole and elsewhere.

“These incidents have been reported to have been in connection to dissatisfaction with the Northern
Ireland Protocol, following other such occurrences, the effects of which are still impacting some areas. There appears to be increasing violence since the expiry of supposed political deadlines on the Protocol.

“When political speeches or actions raise tensions, they often spill over and affect people trying to get on with their lives. There has never been a greater need for political leaders to work together and avoid hyping up rhetoric, so we can end these senseless acts of destruction. Hijacking and burning a bus achieves nothing, except terrorising local people. It needs to stop.”

Alliance Policing Board member John Blair has said it is vital efforts are maintained and stepped up to ensure the PSNI is representative of the community it serves and represents, as he marked the 20th anniversary of the service.

Speaking ahead of the latest public policing board meeting, Mr Blair said it was important to recognise the effort of serving officers and all those who have transformed local policing over the last 20 years, and remember those who have given their lives in protecting the public.

He added: “All of us involved in politics and public life more widely have a role to play in building confidence in policing and creating as diverse and inclusive police service as possible.

“This should be done through continued and public engagement with police, encouraging robust discussion on policing matters and maximising community involvement in policing structures such as PCSPs. When there are difficulties, discussion must be respectful and ever watchful of those inclusive and representativeness goals.

“The PSNI, together with the Policing Board and Police Ombudsman’s Office have made great strides in bringing Northern Ireland from a darker to a better and safer place and all of those involved in these bodies should be especially thanked this week.”