By Clare Jerrom.
Term in jail can be an education
A period in custody often enables young men the only opportunity for a decent education, according to the director general of the prison service yesterday.
Martin Narey said many young people received benefits in prison they would not receive in their community.
He admitted custody should be the last resort, although it did have some benefits: "But the reality is that once in custody, some young people are getting their only really serious chance of a decent education and, with it, the prospect of social inclusion."
Narey told the annual conference of the Howard League for Penal Reform that since last April, more than 4,000 qualifications had been gained by young offenders.
In a report today, former chief inspector of prisons said the service should develop a strategy for the growing number of older prisoners held in jail.
Sir David Ramsbotham suggests that the service should contact social services departments to provide health care for pensioner prisoners.
Source:- The Times Thursday 13 September page 10
Unions ask Blair for more reassurance
The prime minister has yet to convince trade unions that his plans for public services do not amount to privatisation.
Tony Blair did not deliver a speech to the TUC conference, but distributed it to delegates and it reaffirmed his deep commitment to the public service ethos.
But as the TUC conference closed early out of respect for the deaths in America’s terrorist attack, TUC general secretary John Monks said Blair had not managed to convince the unions of the scope of the government’s plans.
He said: "It’s still a major issue of concern to trade unionists, and the way it’s been handled so far is not, shall we say, widely admired."
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 13 September page 18
Women to benefit in plan to relax rules on asylum
Women fleeing "gender discrimination" will be able to claim political asylum in European Union member states under rules proposed yesterday.
Plans to broaden refugee status would cover victims of cultural persecution in plans by the European Commission.
The text cites the example of female circumcision widely practised in Africa and the Middle East.
Britain already allows some asylum claims from people fleeing "non-state" persecution, such as victims of Islamic extremists in Algeria.
Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 13 September page 17
Grandparents who bring up children ‘need more help’
Grandparents who bring up their grandchildren are given inadequate support, a report will warn today.
At least 1 per cent of British grandparents make huge sacrifices to prevent grandchildren going into care after a parent death or family breakdown, according to research funded by the home office.
Many are forced into early retirement so they can look after children, but are frequently denied benefits and rarely receive help from social services.
The report, compiled by the Family Rights Group, calls for a series of measures including the creation of a special benefit or tax credit to reduce the financial pressure on grandparents.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 13 September page 18
Britain to help France with Tunnel defences
British security will aid French police to tighten defences in a bid to curb the flow of illegal immigrants into Britain, under plans to be announced by the two governments today.
A plan was devised between home secretary David Blunkett and his French counterpart Daniel Vaillant in Paris last night.
It is likely to mirror the joint patrols at the Eurostar terminal in Paris. The British people sent to the Calais end of the Tunnel may be police officers, but details are likely to be finalised today.
The two governments are also expected to pledge to work together within the European Union towards a common policy on asylum seekers.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 13 September page 19
Internet anti-porn filters ‘do not work’
Filtering software on the internet is still allowing pornography to be accessible to children, according to a study.
Websites giving details of illegal drugs, bomb making and Nazi propaganda also slipped past devices tested by Computing Which? Magazine.
Millions of parents in the UK have paid £35 to install filtering devices on computers but despite using them, the magazine’s researchers were able to access dozens of sexually explicit photographs.
Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 13 September page 53
Scottish newspapers
Law firms 'failing asylum seekers'
The lack of legal support to asylum seekers has been highlighted by the Law Society of Scotland in a letter to the country's solicitors.
The letter says the government's dispersal programme of asylum seekers could be jeopardised by the lack of legal back-up for people seeking asylum status.
Michael Clancy, director of the society, has written to deans of faculties and presidents of bar associations, the organisations which represent solicitors.
Some firms which have only handled a few cases in the past are now dealing with hundreds of clients. There is shortage of solicitors with expertise in asylum law, and access to interpreters is also a problem.
Source:- Glasgow Herald Thursday 13 September
