By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.
Northern youth courts tougher on working class
Magistrates around the country are imposing different sentences for similar crimes leaving teenage offenders suffering a justice by geography situation.
Youths in the north east, north west and south Wales are likely to be treated more harshly than those in high crime areas like inner London.
One criminal justice expert said: "The further north you get, the more serious sentencing becomes for adults as well as juveniles. It is a working class culture thing."
Lord Warner, chairperson of the youth justice board, said: "The board is concerned at the wide disparity in sentencing. This is resulting in a significant element of ‘justice by geography’, which is inherently unfair."
Source:- The Times Friday 24 August page 8
Dementia is ‘excuse’ for neglect by homes
Older people are suffering neglect with the excuse being made of dementia, according to a survey of residential homes published yesterday.
In a study of 17 homes published in the British Medical Journal, none of those which cater for older people with dementia came close to offering a decent standard of living.
All seven NHS homes needed radical changes to come up to scratch, as did the five private ones. The five remaining private homes needed many improvements, according to researchers from the Royal College of Psychiatry.
The Alzheimer’s Society said it hoped the study would emphasise the need for more to be invested in care home staff and design.
Source:- The Times Friday 24 August page 9
Blair warned of rough ride ahead
Tony Blair will face a tough ride in his second term of office with "angry and anxious" trade unions concerned about the government’s plans to reinvigorate public services with private funding.
TUC general secretary John Monks said that the "shortest honeymoon on record" between Labour and the trade unions would be replaced by a "very difficult relationship".
Downing Street is bracing itself for the hostility when Blair outlines his plans to the congress next month.
Source:- The Guardian Friday 24 August page 2
Persistent offenders unconvinced by £100m rehabilitation scheme
Hundreds of persistent offenders are refusing to undertake the £100 million home office programme designed to reform offenders, according to probation staff.
The programme includes hundreds of questions for the offender to answer as part of American devised psychometric tests.
Probation officers have called the tests "unrealistic" and "too complicated", and believe the biggest probation scheme to be undertaken in the country, will fail to meet home office targets.
The home office wants 60,000 offenders to go through the programme, but the National Association of Probation Officers believes the figure will be closer to 15,000.
Source:- Independent Friday 24 August page 5
Desperate struggle to reach UK ‘El Dorado’
Every 30 minutes a Sangatte refugee makes it through the Channel
Source:- The Times Friday 24 August page 5
Scottish newspapers
Child abuse trial told girl was thrashed
A woman who claims she was sexually and physically abused while a living in a children’s home in the 1960’s, told Glasgow high court yesterday how she heard "the terrible screams" of other small girls. The woman was giving evidence at the trial of Samuel McBrearty who denies 19 charges of physical and sexual abuse alleged to have been committed while he was a care worker at a Quarriers’ children’s home. The trial continues today.
Source:- The Herald Friday 24 August page 15
Justice minister’s pledge over asylum seekers
Jim Wallace, justice minister, will next week become the first government minister to visit Sighthill in Glasgow since the killing of asylum seeker Firsat Dag three weeks ago.
In an exclusive interview with The Herald, Wallace spoke of his anger and shame at the physical abuse and attacks on asylum seekers in Scotland. Wallace said that the Scottish executive would not seek to replace the voucher scheme independently, but would encourage home secretary, David Blunkett, to learn from events in Scotland and scrap the system. Wallace pledged to improve circumstances for all refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.
Source:- The Herald Friday 24 August page 6
Youngest convicted drug dealer back in court
Scotland’s youngest known convicted drug dealer was back in court yesterday.
In 1997 David Sneddon was only 14-years of age when found guilty of being in possession of a suitcase of Ecstasy with intent to supply.
At that time, the sheriff in Falkirk broke from protocol by naming him – unusual in for a child under 16-years of age. Yesterday, now aged 18 years, Sneddon was back in Falkirk sheriff court pleading guilty to the supply of heroin and housebreaking. Sheriff Craig Caldwell sentenced him to 200 hours community service and one year’s probation with a condition that he attend the 'Airborne Initiative', a residential project which works with young offenders.
Source:- The Herald Friday 24 August page 7
