HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) marks its 20th anniversary on Friday 18 April 2025. The department was established in April 2005 through the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, combining tax administrations to reduce overlap and enhance service delivery. The creation of HMRC by the thenContinue Reading

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has today (16/04/2025) accepted the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA)’s recommendation to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of engine oils and hydraulic fluids from Lithuania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following evidence of dumping that has caused injury to UK industry. These measuresContinue Reading

Officers are urging the public to remain vigilant after three suspected parcel fraudsters have been arrested across the region after victims lose almost £20k. On Friday (March 28), officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) arrested a 23-year-old man in Newcastle believed to be linked to postalContinue Reading

Controversial podcaster James English, best known for his YouTube show Anything Goes with James English, has appeared in court facing serious domestic abuse allegations. The 42-year-old former reality TV star is accused of carrying out a sustained campaign of abuse against his ex-partner over a 16-month period. English, who hasContinue Reading

A body has sadly been found in the search for missing man Craig Sutton. The 26-year-old was reported missing from the Gateshead area on Sunday, March 2. Since then, extensive enquiries have been carried out by officers to locate Craig. Specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit discovered a body in theContinue Reading

The medals awarded to the eldest of four North East brothers who all fought with valour in the First World War are now back in his home county. The Trustees of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) bought Colonel Sir Thomas Bradford’s medals at auction, including a Distinguished Service Order. Today,Continue Reading

Officers are appealing to the public for help to locate a missing teenager from Houghton-le-Spring. Layla Anderson, 15, was last seen at about 11.15pm on Tuesday (March 11) in the area of Scott Street. Officers and her family are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare. Anyone with information on Layla’sContinue Reading

Over 100 women from across the North East’s business community gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) at the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Inspiring Women in Business event, highlighting the achievements of women and the steps needed to drive gender equality forward. The event featured inspiring talks from leadingContinue Reading

State-of-the-art upgrades have been unveiled at one of Middlesbrough’s hugely popular community hubs as part of a major investment programme. The high-tech improvements at Thorntree Community Hub & Library mark the final phase of a three-year project made possible through the Libraries Improvement Fund. The Hub’s IT area has been completelyContinue Reading

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward as they investigate a report of attempted robbery in North Tyneside. At 5.40am yesterday, (Monday) police received a report that a man was walking on a path that runs alongside the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, leading from Station Road into Percy Main,Continue Reading

Motorists are being warned of a brief period of disruption while essential works are carried out to a central Middlesbrough building. Temporary lane closures will be in place next week around the junction of Borough Road and Linthorpe Road while a survey and structural works are undertaken at The Crown.Continue Reading

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed the launch of a national pilot placing domestic abuse specialists in the 999 control rooms of five police forces. ‘Raneem’s Law’ follows the murders of Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem, and sees specialists joining the control rooms of theContinue Reading

Detectives are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a house in Middlesbrough, causing significant damage. The incident occurred around 7:20 pm on Sunday evening on Albourne Green, Easterside, near Broadwell Road. Police were called to reports that a vehicle had reversed into the entrance of a terraced house. Photographs fromContinue Reading

Officers are appealing for footage and witnesses as they investigate a report of robbery in South Tyneside – for which a man has already been charged. At about 10.40pm on Friday, March 7, it was reported that a man had robbed a woman on Beach Road in South Shields, directlyContinue Reading

Officers have released images of people they would like to trace in connection with a report of theft in South Shields. At around 4.30am on January 1, police received a report of people attempting to gain access to vehicles parked outside of addresses in the Chichester and Westoe areas. ItContinue Reading

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen today reiterated her calls for urgent national intervention to tackle a broken justice system that is causing serious and profound additional trauma to victims of crime.   The County Durham and Darlington PCC has responded to a new report from Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner forContinue Reading

In just a few short weeks since it was launched, Hartlepool’s new Stop Smoking Service is already supporting 45 local smokers to quit the habit. Commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council, the service is delivered by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and Hartlepool & Stockton Health. It complements existingContinue Reading

MIDDLESBROUGH – A brand-new destination for high-quality nail services has arrived at The Parkway Centre, promising excellence in customer care and artistry. Newham Nail Bar, which officially opened its doors on July 22, 2024, has quickly made an impression with its commitment to premium service and skilled craftsmanship. At theContinue Reading

Businesses have been warned they face tough action after a string of Middlesbrough stores illegally sold corrosive substances to a teenager. Retailers are being told to clean up their act after all those visited during a Trading Standards operation failed to carry out the required checks. One premises even askedContinue Reading

More than 30 community projects are to benefit from a new £1 million Opportunity Fund set up by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness The first round of grants from the new Mayor’s Opportunity Fund has seen £264,210 awarded to 33 small charities and community groups. Funding has been targeted at organisationsContinue Reading

A North East council has selected nationwide placemaker, Muse, as its joint venture partner to deliver the first phase of a new innovation district. The first phase comprises the Durham County Council-owned Aykley Heads site, which is currently home to the authority’s County Hall headquarters. The 15-hectare site already hasContinue Reading

A teenager has been jailed for six years – after a one-punch attack tragically killed a much-loved family man and serving soldier in Blyth last year. Shortly after 3.15am on Sunday, October 6, 2024, police were alerted to a disturbance on Stanley Street, just outside of Déjà Vu nightclub. EmergencyContinue Reading

Officers issue warning to football fans to remain vigilant following reports of Newcastle United cup final ticket scam. Northumbria Police have been made aware of a number of reports via Action Fraud of an alleged fake ticket scam circulating on social media in recent weeks. It was reported that ticketsContinue Reading

Increasing access to free school meals, providing warm and welcoming spaces, supporting rural communities and helping businesses to thrive are just some examples of partnership work in action in County Durham. Next week, Durham County Council’s Cabinet will receive an update on the issues being addressed by the County DurhamContinue Reading

A key milestone has been reached in one of the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat projects, with work now underway. Durham County Council is working with a number of organisations to deliver the project, which will ultimately see mine water used to heat homes on a new sustainable community,Continue Reading

A MIDDLESBROUGH resident has praised a specialist team for preventing her from being admitted to a hospital and bringing care closer to her home.      Mavis Ann Connors, 88, was rushed to the emergency department at The James Cook University Hospital after having two falls within 24 hours and noticing aContinue Reading

Police investigating a report of rape in Newcastle are appealing for potential witnesses. It was reported that shortly before 2am on Sunday, February 9, a man in his 20s had been raped near Pottery Lane. An investigation was immediately launched by detectives from Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department and the victimContinue Reading

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a road traffic collision in Northumberland left a woman with serious injuries. Shortly before 3.30pm yesterday (Tuesday), police received a report of a collision on the A1068 in the Widdrington area of Northumberland. It was reported that a black Ford Focus carContinue Reading

CareScan, the innovative system developed by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has been reviewed by a prestigious not-for-profit organisation. CareScan uses barcodes and hand-held scanners to ensure care is delivered to the right patient, at the right location, using the right equipment and products. It was introducedContinue Reading

The scale of change taking place at Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery is now clearly visible, following the construction of a large steel frame on the site. The new structure will form an extension to the Durham city venue, almost doubling its original size. Work to redevelopContinue Reading

A paedophile who sexually abused two children and boasted online about his offending has been jailed. Ian Campbell threatened to share indecent photographs of one of his victims online if she did not follow his orders, and his abuse lasted over a two-year period. In March 2021, he unwittingly braggedContinue Reading

A large-scale clean-up operation has been launched to enhance County Durham’s communities. Durham County Council has allocated an additional £150,000 to its Clean and Green team to carry out a clean-up operation across the county. The team used the money to take on eight additional staff as well as purchaseContinue Reading

Three people have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Robert Scott Clive. Robert Scott Clive, known as ‘Scott’, was last seen shortly after 11pm on October 10, 2002, in the Coronation Street area of North Shields. Scott, originally from Stranraer, was reported missing by concerned family members, andContinue Reading

A man who assaulted his girlfriend’s brother causing catastrophic internal injuries has been jailed for more than nine years. Pearse Kavanagh, now 47, attacked his then partner before turning on Philip McQueeney as the trio socialised inside a South Shields house on July 19, 2022. As a result of theContinue Reading

The owner of a Chinese takeaway has been ordered to pay out more than £4,000 following the discovery of a fly-infestation and unhygienic conditions on the business premises. Environmental health officers from Durham County Council carried out an unannounced inspection at Hello 7 in Framwellgate Moor, near Durham City, afterContinue Reading

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man sadly died following a collision in Northumberland. Shortly after 1am today (Monday), police attended a one-vehicle collision on Fairfield Drive in Ashington. For reasons yet to be established, a black Skoda Kodiaq car was travelling South on Fairfield Drive, towards the junction withContinue Reading

Officers searching for a wanted man are appealing to the public to help locate him. Robert Bradford, 35, is wanted on breach of bail conditions and failure to appear at court and is understood to be actively evading arrest. Extensive searches have been ongoing across the region to locate him.Continue Reading

Police are appealing to the public for information after two men were seriously injured in a collision in Newcastle. Shortly before midnight yesterday (Wednesday), police received a report of a one-vehicle collision on Great North Road, Gosforth. It was reported that a grey Volkswagen Passat car was travelling northbound whenContinue Reading

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness joined basketball champions Newcastle Eagles, Britain’s most successful basketball team, to promote togetherness, unity and tackle racism in the North East.   The Mayor teamed up with Newcastle Eagles stars Darius Defoe, Sauveur Kande, Kendall Currence and Tierra Hodges in a special workshop with pupils fromContinue Reading

A group of bereaved families is calling for a public inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, accusing the organization of failing to keep their loved ones safe and causing emotional and physical harm. The families claim that the Trust’s systemic failures have led to unnecessary sufferingContinue Reading

The BBC issued nearly 41 million enforcement letters between 2023 and 2024, marking a sharp increase of four million compared to the previous year, as figures reveal a decline in licence fee revenue. These letters, often criticised for causing distress, warn recipients that not having a TV licence could beContinue Reading

Total Healing World Outreach was established to advance the Christian faith in the UK and overseas, and to prevent and relieve poverty. The Charity regulator for England and Wales began engaging with the charity in June 2023 as trustees had failed to supply the charity’s accounts and financial information on timeContinue Reading