Thursday 13 November 2003

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson.
Men face curb even if cleared of attack on partner
Men who are found not guilty of domestic violence could have
restraining orders placed on them under new powers announced in the
Queen’s speech this month.
The new power would mean that if a woman withdrew her complaint
about a violent partner before the end of a trial the judge would
still be able to protect her if he thought there was sufficient
evidence.
There are also plans to give women anonymity when they take
domestic violence complaints to court and to make breaches of civil
non-molestation orders a criminal offence.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 13 November page 2
Children’s minister faces fresh call to resign over
‘smear’
A sex abuse victim who was attacked in a children’s home run by
Islington council while children’s minister Margaret Hodge was head
of the local authority  is threatening to sue her for libel.
There were fresh calls for Hodge’s resignation last night after is
was revealed that she had described Demetrious Panton as “extremely
disturbed” in a letter to the BBC. She was writing to complain
about their inquiries into the child abuse scandal that took place
in Islington in the 1980s and 1990s.
Panton had spoken to Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme about the abuse he
had suffered.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 13 November page 4
Britain admits ‘no limit’ to inflow of
migrants
On the eve of publication of new figures expected to show net
migration is at a record level, home secretary David Blunkett said
that there was “no obvious limit” on the number of foreigners who
could move to Britain.
Although Blunkett said that he recognised that in some areas people
felt swamped by new arrivals, he would not place on record how many
he thought Britain could hold comfortably.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 13 November page 2
Huntley comforted Holly’s father, court told
Ian Huntley comforted Holly Well’s father shortly after the family
made a televised appeal for her safe return, the Old Bailey heard
yesterday.
Huntley, who denies murdering Holly and her friend Jessica Chapman,
is alleged to have told villagers and the police that he had seen
the girls outside his home in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on the night
they disappeared, but changed the time he said he saw them three
times.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 13 November page 1
Council learns lesson of Climbie tragedy
The government praised social workers last night as performance
tables published today show over half of social services
departments have gained the top two grades.
The praise comes after a period of prolonged criticism over the
death of Victoria Climbie.
The new figures show that 60 per cent of social services
departments have gained two or three stars, the highest grades,
compared with 42 per cent last year.
Eight authorities did not receive a star, but do not face
sanctions.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 13 November page 12
Scottish newspapers
Strategy for a healthier Scottish attitude to sex
Parents and teenagers must be more grown up about sex if they are
to combat Scotland’s appalling sexual health record, experts
warned yesterday.
A network of specialised health workers throughout Scotland should
help families transform the nation’s attitude to sex in a bid
to cut soaring teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted
diseases, according to the panel which unveiled Scotland’s
long-awaited sexual health strategy.
The wider distribution of free condoms were recommended.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 13 November
Schools ‘fail to help children reach full
potential’
Scotland’s chief inspector of schools has warned that
thousands of children across the country are failing to reach their
full potential.
Graham Donaldson called on primary school headteachers to go
further in tackling “significant underachievement” at
the Association of Head teachers in Scotland annual
conference.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 13 November page 1
Local deals may scupper nursery staff strike
action
Plans for nursery nurses to carry out a nationwide strike in
Scotland may be hindered by the fact that three councils have
reached local pay settlements.
Perth and Kinross Council joined Aberdeen Council and South
Lanarkshire Council in agreeing local terms and ending the threat
of industrial action.
However, a Unison spokesperson said the three councils which sought
local settlements were acting in isolation, and insisted future
industrial action would go ahead.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 13 November page 2
Dishwasher poisoning accidental
An inquest jury ruled yesterday that the deaths of three women, who
were given dishwasher cleaning fluid instead of a fruit juice
cordial at a care home, were accidental.
No-one at the Lady Astor care home in Berkshire had admitted to the
mistake, but a coroner in East Berkshire heard that a French chef
who worked in the kitchens had since disappeared.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 13 November page 4
US doctor dismisses ‘baby battering’ view as
rubbish
A specialist from the United States dismissed the controversial
views of a Scottish expert on ‘baby battering’ cases as
“a lot of rubbish”.
Dr Colin Paterson, formerly of Dundee University, believes that
injuries to children under one-year-old can often be caused by a
condition called “temporary brittle bone  disease”, and
not necessarily as a result of violent treatment to children.
However, Dr Betty Spivack from Washington DC told a disciplinary
hearing at the General Medical Council in London that she wished
Paterson would show her the evidence because she thought it was
“ a lot of rubbish”.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 13 November page 10
Children still at risk
Vulnerable children in Cardiff are still at risk more than a year
after a damming report said that they were being let down by
Cardiff social services.
A follow-up report on children’s services in the city
highlights child protection concerns and shortages in childcare
social workers.
Welsh assembly social services minister Jane Hutt has issued a
statement outlining her concerns. But Cardiff Council has hit back
at the criticism claiming that Hutt’s comments have been
unhelpful and that she has ignored the progress that has been
made.
Source:- South Wales Echo Wednesday 12 November pages 1-2
Blocking of beds reaches record level
Bed blocking in Wales has reached new heights as figures show that
1,110 patients are facing delayed discharge from hospital
beds.
The first quarterly statistics for the number of delayed transfers
of care has shown that 806 people are waiting to be discharged from
community and acute hospitals. A further 310 people are classed as
delayed transfers of care in mental health facilities in
Wales.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 13 November page 3