By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.
Hundreds of child abusers to get convictions reviewed
Hundreds of people jailed for child abuse are to have their convictions re-examined amid growing concern that they were found guilty in the absence of any objective evidence.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission announced yesterday it had set up a working party to look for flaws in cases of child abuse and rape, where individuals had been convicted solely on the word of the victim.
The commission’s legal adviser, John Wagstaff, said: "There may well be miscarriages of justice…where, with very little corroboration, one person’s view has been taken against another’s."
The decision comes amid controversy about police methods in child abuse prosecutions and particularly in relation to the practice of 'trawling' children’s homes and prisons for complaints against care workers.
Source:- The Independent Thursday 25 July page 1
British people smuggler jailed for ten years
A British man detained by the Greek coastguard four days ago for trying to smuggle 72 asylum seekers into the country, was jailed yesterday for 10 years and fined £275,000.
Michael Wood, from Morecambe, said he was forced to do it and that he was conned.
Prosecutors sought a two-year sentence, but the presiding judge ruled that the offence deserved 10 years, the maximum sentence.
Many of the immigrants were thought to be Kurds from Iraq and Syria, who had paid up to £12,700 for passage from Turkey to Athens.
Source:- The Times Thursday 25 July page 1
World watches as disabled athletes win equality
An experiment to treat disabled and able-bodied competitors at the Commonwealth games as equals is being closely watched by organisers of the sporting event.
For the first time medals won by disabled competitors will count towards the countries' final totals.
Disabled competitors will join the procession of national teams, they will reside in same village and their events will be staged at the same stadium at peak times.
Disabled groups are hoping that their leading role in Britain’s largest sporting event will persuade other countries to do likewise.
Source:- The Times Thursday 25 July page 3
Woman arrested in case of dead boy
A woman was being questioned yesterday over the death of a toddler found drowned in a rock pool on a beach in west Wales.
The 32-year-old black woman was arrested at Carmarthen railway station earlier this week, several hours after the body of an Afro-Caribbean boy aged around two-years-old, was found by walkers at Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire.
Police refused to identify the woman or to confirm whether she was the child’s mother, but both are said to have come from the Midlands.
Source:- The Times Thursday 25 July page 5
Asylum seekers see Iron Lady as figurehead
Asylum seekers are more likely to be influenced by the legacy of Margaret Thatcher when deciding to come to Britain than by Britain’s immigration laws or welfare benefits, according to home office research.
The study, which looked at why asylum seekers chose Britain, said few knew about Britain’s asylum policy or had any in-depth knowledge about the benefit system.
Instead the report by the migration unit at the University of Wales, in Swansea, found their images of Britain were a more important factor in their choice of destination.
The British figure they were most familiar with was Margaret Thatcher. They cited Manchester United football club as evidence that they saw Britain as a rich country and the Beatles and Spice Girls contributed to the idea that the country was progressive and tolerant.
Source:- The Guardian Thursday 25 July page 5
Lawrence case suspects are found guilty of race abuse
Two suspects in the Stephen Lawrence case were in prison last night after being convicted of racially abusing a black policeman.
The incident in Eltham, south London, in May last year, occurred half a mile from the spot where Lawrence was stabbed by white youths in 1993.
Dc Gareth Reid was off duty and walking home when Neil Acourt approached in a car. The passenger, David Norris, shouted "nigger" and hurled a container of drink at the officer while Acourt drove at him. The car then sped off.
Prosecuting Ian Darling told Woolwich crown court that the men had been motivated for "one reason and one reason alone: his colour".
The jury took two hours to convict Norris and Acourt of racially aggravated harassment.
Judge Michael Carroll remanded them in custody for reports to determine the length of sentence. They could face up to two years in jail.
Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 25 July page 6
Ministers ‘fear councils’
MPs criticised ministers yesterday for being unduly frightened of giving local councils greater independence.
The Labour dominated committee on transport, local government and the regions made the comment in a report on the draft Local Government Bill.
The bill is intended to change the relationship between central and local government by giving more freedom to councils that provide good services.
The committee said: "Central government seems to be terrified of trusting local authorities and allowing them their independence."
Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 25 July page 12
Scottish newspapers
Top judge warns against closure of Peterhead’s sex offenders’ unit
Lord Cullen, Scotland’s most senior judge, has warned the executive against closing Peterhead Prison and moving its world-renowned sex offenders’ treatment unit.
In an unprecedented move, Lord Cullen has written to Jim Wallace, justice minister, expressing his concern at the executive’s plans, and warning that there should be no "adverse effect on the sex offenders’ programme".
Lord Cullen reminds Wallace that the programme "exists for the protection of the public". The letter was apparently sent to Wallace about three months ago. Wallace has faced severe criticism since he announced the executive’s plans to close Peterhead Prison, and move the sex offenders’ treatment unit to existing prisons in the central belt.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 25 July page 1
Welsh newspapers
NHS in Wales doomed to failure
The NHS in Wales is doomed to failure as there is not enough money in the budget to pay for care, politicians have warned.
The service currently exists on a shoestring as millions of pounds earmarked for treatment is lost. Clinical negligence bills and overspending by NHS trusts have plunged the service into a "financial quagmire", they say.
Welsh politicians are warning that the NHS will continue to struggle to meet the demands of Wales' ageing and ailing population, unless the country can renegotiate a better deal with the Treasury.
Dafydd Wigley, chairperson of the audit committee at the Welsh assembly, said that the health service is living on a shoestring, and increasing demands from the demographic age block mean that there will be increasing cost demands placed on the health service.
He added that even if Wales was to get all the money from the comprehensive spending review it would not be able to keep up, and that what is needed is a more sensitive funding formula.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 25 July page 9
