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We asked the Belfast Trust to apologise to a man for taking 10 months to complete a criminal record check, thereby delaying his application to look after his grandchildren.

Read our investigation report.

Due to the adverse weather our office will be closed to the public on Tuesday 31 October.

Our phone lines will be open as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Today we've released a new report on the protection of trees in Northern Ireland.  

'Strengthening our roots: an overview report on tree protection in the planning system' found that despite 369 tree protection breaches reported between 2019 and 2022, only one resulted in enforcement action being taken, and none led to prosecution.

It also found that despite having significant enforcement powers, less than half of local councils clearly state on their websites that it is a criminal offence to carry out works to protected trees without consent.  Others do not make any reference to the consequences of breaches. 

It states that a failure to provide clear information to the public has the potential to cause confusion, and risks creating a perception that local councils and the Department for Infrastructure see the protection of trees as a low priority.

Former councillor Ian Stevenson (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council) has been disqualified from being a councillor until 30 April 2025 following an Adjudication Hearing held on 28 June.

Councillor Colin Kennedy (Ards and North Down Borough Council) has been suspended for a period of 6 weeks at an Adjudication Hearing held on 11 June 2021.

Former councillor Brian Duffin (Antrim and Newtownabbey Council) has been disqualified for a period of 5 years at an Adjudication Hearing held on 9 June 2021.

Like everyone we have been actively monitoring the developing situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on our work.

Alderman Derek Hussey (Derry City & Strabane District Council) has been disqualified for a period of 15 months following an Adjudication Hearing held in Belfast today (9 July 2019).

The Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards has today highlighted to councillors the importance of registering and declaring their pecuniary interests.

Councillor Ian Stevenson has been suspended for the remainder of his term in office (until 6 May 2019) following a decision made by the Acting Local Government Commissioner for Standards.