THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2006

Police Asbo powers are curbed
Police powers to tackle street disturbances under the Antisocial Behaviour Act were curbed yesterday when the High Court ruled that specific reasons must be given for their use. Sarah Ann Sierney, 20, successfully appealed against her conviction for defying an order to disperse from the Shiregreen area of Sheffield on the ground that no reasons were given.
Source:- The Times, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 13

CSA will stick with troubled IT system
The Child Support Agency will have to rely on its troubled computer system even though it will not be fully functional for another two years. Replacing the system is outside the remit of the CSA review announced last week.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 14

Gang evidence at Damilola trial
A woman told the Old Bailey that a boy aged 12 had admitted being in the gang that killed Damilola Taylor. She said that the boy, now 17, and one of three accused of the murder, had beaten up Damilola days before the ten year old was killed in Peckham, south London, in 2000. The trial continues.
Source:- The Times, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 4

Iraq: the forgotten victims
At least 1.333 servicemen and women – almost 1.5 per cent of those who served in the Iraq war – have returned from the Middle East with serious psychiatric problems. Many are now receiving little or no treatment for a variety of mental health problems.
Source:- The Independent, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 1

Home abortions backed after pilot scheme success
Women may soon be offered “home abortions” following the success of a Department of Health pilot which found that none of the 172 women who underwent nurse-supervised terminations in a GP surgery rather than a hospital or private clinic suffered any complications.
Source:- The Independent, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 11

Jump in jobless is biggest for 13 years
Unemployment has jumped by the biggest figure in 13 years, with 108,000 people losing their jobs last year, according to the Office of National Statistics. It prompted warnings that an employment “golden age” had come to an end.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 1

Plagued by teenagers? You’ll like the sound of this
Police have given their backing to a gadget that sends out an ultra high-pitched noise that can only be heard by those under 20 and becomes so distressing they have to move on. Adults are completely immune to the sonic teenager deterrent, because of the natural deterioration of their hearing, and it has been so successful in warding off gangs from troublespots that it has been endorsed by the police and local authorities.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 16 February 2006, page 3

Scottish news
 
Toddler falls to his death
A toddler died after falling from a balcony in the office where his mother works. Ben McCreath is thought to have crawled through a gap in a glass partition before plunging to the foyer. The 21-month-old was visiting the offices in Edinburgh’s financial district with his mother Louise when the tragedy occurred.
Source:- The Herald, Thursday 16 March 2006

Challenge over council tax pledge
Chancellor Gordon Brown is being challenged by the SNP over his commitment to pensioners.The challenge came from Nicola Sturgeon, who claimed Mr Brown “completely dodged” his 2005 commitment to a £200 council tax refund for pensioners. The SNP Holyrood leader made the call ahead of a visit to an over-60s social club at the Southside community centre in Edinburgh.
Source:- The Scotsman, Thursday 16 March 2006

New treatment to ease osteoporosis
A new treatment for osteoporosis will bring relief for thousands of Scots women, health charities said. The improved drug, which builds up brittle bones, was approved for use on the NHS on Monday. Taken just once a month, Bonviva can prevent spinal fractures – one of the most common symptoms of the condition. Previous drugs had to be taken every day and under strict guidelines.
Source:- The Scotsman, Thursday 16 March 2006

Welsh news

Labour forced to drop promise to disabled people
Labour has dropped one of its top 10 pledges from its National Assembly election campaign yesterday after deciding that it would be unable to afford it.
The ditching of the promise to end home care charges for disabled people was announced by health minister Brian Gibbons.
Gibbons told the national assembly that research had shown that at this time the policy was unaffordable.
Source:- Western Mail, Thursday 16 February 2006