By Clare Jerrom, Nicola Barry and Alex Dobson.
Blunkett plans to end asylum seekers’ automatic right to claim benefit
The government’s latest "mini crackdown" on "unfounded" asylum claims, which will see the reintroduction of a list of safe countries and an end to the automatic right of asylum seekers to claim welfare benefit, was given a lukewarm welcome by the Liberal Democrats and Conservative parties yesterday.
But refugee groups were last night scathing in their criticism of the plans which are to be implemented through last minute amendments to the nationality, immigration and asylum bill. It starts its final stages in the House of Lords tomorrow.
Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson Simon Hughes welcomed the "long overdue" managed migration schemes, but criticised the end to automatic benefits for those who failed to apply for asylum when they first reached Britain or who lied about who they were and how they got there.
The Refugee Council questioned whether this proposal meant a return to Conservative legislation that left thousands destitute on the streets and reliant on soup kitchens.
It also criticised the "white list" of safe countries as failing to recognise the abuse of the Roma people across eastern Europe, and would constitute a breach of the refugee convention.
Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 8 October page 9
Murder conviction for handicapped man ‘a miscarriage’
A man with learning difficulties, who has served a 16-year prison sentence for murdering an elderly pools collector, was the victim of a "miscarriage of justice" the court of appeal was told yesterday.
Geoffrey Foster made "unreliable" confessions that should never have been admitted at his trial, and this led him to be jailed for life, the court was told.
Police recorded that Foster was "subnormal", but he was given no support from social services, or legal services until the 10th interview conducted in March 1985. He was only offered a solicitor after he admitted the killing in his penultimate interview. A social worker was only present for the final interview.
Foster’s counsel, Edward Fitzgerald QC said Foster was not cautioned at the first two interviews.
During evidence at the murder trial of Harold Cheetham, Foster denied he had killed the 74-year-old but said he had admitted it in an interview after the police pressurised him.
Foster, from Knutsford claims one police officer "clouted" him while another had tried to put an electric flex around his neck.
The jury found him guilty and he was given a life sentence.
At the beginning of his appeal in London, Fitzgerald asked three judges to find that they could not be "sure" that the confession evidence including that made from the witness box, was reliable.
Source:- The Independent Tuesday 8 October page 4
Parents told ‘don’t shout’
A £50,000 publicity campaign by the National Family and Parenting Institute encouraging parents not to shout at their children, is to be backed by the home office minister Beverley Hughes.
Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 8 October page 6
Scottish newspapers
Strike by key staff affects service for homeless
Scotland’s largest homeless service was thrown into disarray yesterday after 70 key staff went on indefinite strike.
The walk-out was the culmination of a long-running dispute between the workers and Glasgow council over the proposed reform of its homelessness service.
The strike is expected to lead to a rapid build-up of people in bed and breakfast accommodation, as the strikers hold the keys to 900 furnished council flats
Source:- The Herald October 8 page 9
Child hearing flaws attacked
The Scottish executive and the children’s hearing system have been accused of failing to forge adequate policy links in a formal review of the body that administers juvenile justice.
A report on the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration said that despite an increase in referrals and resource pressures, a core organisation had been established both sound in structure and process.
Source:- The Herald October 8 page 6
£9m plan to tackle drink and drug abuse
A new strategy has been launched in Glasgow to combat the significant numbers of teenagers experimenting with alcohol and drugs.
The projects will include improving education on drug and drink abuse in every city school.
Source:- The Scotsman October 8 page 9
Welsh newspapers
Wales is ‘leader for kids’
England has been told to catch up with Wales and appoint a children’s commissioner.
The call comes in a survey from UNICEF, the body that campaigns for children, which showed that nine out of 10, English children wanted a commissioner to look after their wellbeing.
UNICEF’s UK director, David Bull said they were looking at the work of Welsh commissioner Peter Clarke to see what lessons could be learnt.
Source:- Welsh Mirror Tuesday 8 October page 11
Warning of increase in suicides
Leading prison reform groups were warning last night that more suicides were likely in institutions like Bridgend’s Parc Prison unless the huge numbers entering the prison system were reduced.
Seventeen-year-old Ian Powell, who was on remand for motoring offences, was found hanged in his cell at the prison on Sunday. It was the ninth suicide death at the private prison in five years, and the second in a fortnight.
A spokesperson for the Howard League said that Parc prison was holding many remand prisoners anxious about trial and prison, and that they were the most vulnerable people in terms of suicide.
But a spokesperson for Securicor, which runs the prison, said that when tragic events occur there were a series of steps that were followed, and that prisoners on the same wing and unit would be offered counselling.
Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 8 October page 5
Nurse shortages ‘hit recovery of elderly’
Nursing shortages are so bad that older patients may not get the care they need to make full recoveries.
Basic nursing care is now at such a premium nationwide, that older patients may face delays in help with dressing, escorting them to the toilet or even getting a glass of water.
The Royal College of Nursing blames the problem on staff shortages on the wards, and in Wales the situation is so acute that there are almost 1,000 vacancies in nursing, midwifery and health visiting.
Robert Taylor, director of Age Concern Cymru, said that older people had the right to expect high quality treatment, and that medical and nursing staff needed to understand that many older people in hospital were very frail - physically or mentally - and may need extra care and attention to aid their recovery.
Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 8 October page 7
