Contacting the PSNI and not sure what number to use?

999 – Use for all emergency calls including crimes in progress.

0845 600 8000 – Use this for reporting a crime that has taken place and does not need an emergency response. You will be put through to the Contact Management Unit who will take this information from you and the appropriate response will be given.

0845 600 8000 – Again use if you do not have the officers Blackberry number and are looking to make contact with a specific officer or department.

www.psni.police.uk/d-district - Visit this site if you are looking for information and details particular to D District including contact information on the Sector Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

******** OR ********

0800 555 111 – Use this if you are looking to pass on information about crime anonymously to Crimestoppers who are a UK charity and not the police. They will not ask for your details nor will your call be traced.

www.crimestoppers-uk.org – Use this if you want to pass on information about crime anonymously but want to so online.

All areas - Pay Day Money Lenders

POLICE SUPPORT WARNING AND ADVICE ABOUT PAYDAY MONEY LENDERS

Trading Standards Service warns Payday Lenders to raise standards or face enforcement action
On the 16/3/12 The Trading Standards Service issued a warning to payday lenders to raise standards or face enforcement action following a recent survey.

Over the past month, the Trading Standards Service has conducted a survey into the lending practices of payday loan businesses operating in all the major towns and cities in Northern Ireland. The survey was carried out to check compliance with consumer credit legislation and the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Guidance on Irresponsible Lending.

Payday loans are short-term, high interest, unsecured loans, typically repaid when the borrower receives his next pay cheque usually within 30 days of having been granted the loan.

The survey revealed a number of areas of concern for TSS. Many lenders failed to carry out credit checks, adequately explain the borrowing costs involved, as well as offering to roll over loans so that charges escalate and the loans become unaffordable.

As part of the mystery shopping exercise, visits were made to the premises of 29 payday lending businesses throughout Northern Ireland. The Trading Standards Service uncovered the following:

• One payday lender agreed to provide a loan within 24 seconds.
• In almost a third of the visits, the payday lender indicated that they would not carry out a credit reference check on the borrower.
• Half of the premises visited indicated that they would still be willing to lend £100 even if a borrower failed a credit check.
• Almost half of the payday loan companies visited indicated that they would be prepared to ‘roll over’ the loan for another month if a debtor could not repay on time.
• In every case, the payday lender was unwilling or unable to quote the Annual Percentage Rate (APR).
• In the majority of cases, the lender was unable to adequately explain the consequences for failing to repay the loan on time. Most lenders indicated that there would be a £25 default fee charge but could not give further information about any additional charges or interest being applied.

Damien Doherty of Trading Standards said: "Payday loans are usually expensive and are offered at high rates of interest. Unfortunately, many of the consumers that take out such loans are already in debt, vulnerable and have nowhere else to turn to."

"In many instances, the borrower will be able to repay the loan when it is due. However, if a consumer is unable to repay the loan on time and is forced to roll-over the loan into another month they can quickly get into difficulty due to the additional default and interest charges. We have seen examples where payday loans have spiralled out of control, which only adds to the indebtedness of the consumer."

Mr. Doherty added: "We are highly concerned by the results of this survey. It would appear that many lenders are giving out loans, more or less immediately, without checking adequately that the borrower can afford them or that they fully understand the cost of the product."

"All payday loan companies are well aware that they should be adhering to their legal obligations under the Consumer Credit Act as well as meeting the standards set out by OFT’s guidance on irresponsible lending. The findings of this survey are unacceptable. We will be contacting those businesses that were non-compliant to ensure that they raise their standards, but we will also not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary. TSS can make representations to the OFT about a trader’s fitness to hold a consumer credit licence. If minded to do so, the OFT can impose requirements on a business and, in more serious cases, even revoke the licence."

The Trading Standards Service is advising people who decide to use a payday loan to make sure they understand the costs and charges first. People who are worried about their financial circumstances should seek independent debt advice.

For free independent debt advice, consumers can contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau at http://www.citizensadvice.co.uk/ or Advice NI, under the banner of ‘Debt Action NI’, at http://www.debtaction-ni.net

Alternatively, consumers can use the DETI sponsored telephone debt advice service, 'advice4debtni' on 0800 917 4607 or log onto http://www.advice4debtni.com

Consumers who have a complaint about a payday loan should contact Consumerline on 0300 123 62 62 or 028 9025 3900 or alternatively log on to the Consumerline website at http://www.consumerline.org

Further information can be found at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/different-ways-of-borrowing-money and http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/managing-money

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Ballinderry Burglary

Burglary

Between 1030am and 1245pm today a burglary occurred at Ogales Road, Ballinderry Upper.

The occupant returned home to find the kitchen window and patio doors forced open. A number of items were stolen after thieves had searched the house.

If you noted any suspicious activity, strangers or unfamiliar vehicles in the area please contact police with details.

Infotainment 2 Glenavy Tuesday, 20th March, 2012

Today was Infotainment 2 in Glenavy.........

Nearly 90 were in the hall and due to the size and accoustics it appeared more intimate than Info 1.

The reaction from the audience was superb and all involved in the presentation were simply excellent.

"Our Willie" tied it all beautifully together and I just had a feeling that there was possibly a greater impact than in Moira due only to the size of the hall. The audience were very responsive.

 

If Willie would kindly pass our grateful thanks to Stephen and his team.

The only poignant observation raised was that maybe the Chief Constable needs to look at the after care for retired police sergeants !!!!!!

 

 

Suspicious Vehicles - all areas

Suspicious Vehicles

Reports of a dark blue van with registration similar to SCZ2017 operating in the Lisburn Road area of Moira yesterday around 2pm. Two males on board called at houses in the area. The van had ladders on the roof.

This vehicle may be involved in cold calling / rogue trading.