By Amy Taylor, Nicola Barry and Alex Dobson.
New rules 'force asylum-seekers to sleep on street'
The Government's decision to remove the right to benefits from immigrants who claim asylum late is forcing some new arrivals to sleep on the streets the High Court heard yesterday.
Kier Starmer QC said that their lack of access to food and shelter was damaging them physically and mentally and reducing their ability to pursue their asylum claims.
He was representing five of six asylum-seekers bringing a test case against new rules that came into effect on Saturday.
There are already 150 similar cases waiting to be heard.
Source:- The Times Tuesday 11 February page 2
Officials ready to send hundreds of Kurds back to Iraq
Refugee groups have said there will be uproar if Home Office plans to return hundreds of failed asylum-seekers to the Kurdish region of Iraq go ahead while allied troops are being sent to the Gulf.
The groups branded the region unsafe and Kurdish groups said there are up to 3,000 Iraqi Kurds who have had their asylum claims rejected and are sleeping in mosques or at friends' houses.
Source:- The Independent Tuesday 11 February page 4
Judge challenges asylum cash curb
The judge presiding over the High Court challenge to the Government's new rules that prevent asylum seekers being entitled to benefits unless they claim asylum as soon as they arrive in this country has condemned certain aspects of the new regulations.
Mr Justice Collins said: "What lies behind this is the hope that they (asylum seekers) will go away. If we starve them they will go home, which in itself is a breach of Article 3 (of the European Convention of Human Rights)."
The rules are preventing some asylum seekers being entitled to shelter and food because they haven't claimed asylum in time.
Source:- The Daily Mail Tuesday 11 February page 15
I will stem the tide, pledges Blair
Tony Blair has promised to take personal control over the asylum issue to make sure his target of halving the numbers of asylum seekers arriving in this country by September is reached.
His assurance goes against previous Home Office assertions that the target was unobtainable.
Source:- The Daily Mail Tuesday 11 February page 15
Scottish news
Racism splits city more than religion
Intolerance of refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow is far greater than the city’s traditional religious divide, according to a major new study.
While sectarianism emerged as a relatively small problem, racism and homophobia were widespread.
The findings are revealed in the largest ever survey into sectarian bigotry in Scotland, commissioned by Glasgow City Council.
Source: The Herald Tuesday 11 February page 10
Parole for killer who shot abusive husband
A woman, who shot dead her policeman husband after claiming she suffered years of abuse, left Cornton Vale Prison yesterday, having served four years for the killing.
Kim Galbraith, 33, who killed her husband, Ian, as he slept, was understood to be joining her daughter, Lauren, four, in England.
Source: The Scotsman Tuesday 11th February page 7
Three year old girl had more than 50 injuries, murder trial told
Pathologists found more than 50 injuries on three-year-old Chloe Highley’s body, a murder trial heard yesterday.
The child, from Edinburgh, had sustained bruises as well as burns from a cigarette lighter and had received multiple blows to the head, body and genitals.
It is alleged the girl's uncle, Mark Smith, 20, sexually assaulted Chloe. He is accused of punching and kicking her and throwing her against a wall. He denies murder.
Source: The Scotsman Tuesday 11th February page 7
Welsh news
Clywch: Crucial report had inaccuracies
A former director of education has told the Clywch inquiry that a crucial report advising governors on the disciplinary action to be taken against a teacher, contained factual inaccuracies.
The Clywch inquiry was set up by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales to look into the activities of alleged paedophile, John Owen, who taught at a school in south Wales.
Source: Western Mail Tuesday 11 F-February page 2
Gun pupil’s reinstatement criticised
Teaching unions have warned that allowing a child expelled for shooting his teacher back into school, encourages a gun culture in Welsh schools.
Two months after shooting a teacher in the neck with a ball bearing, an independent panel have ruled that 11-year-old Geraint Pilcher should be allowed back to Llantwit Major Comprehensive in the Vale of Glamorgan, despite a decision by governors to permanently exclude him.
Source: Western Mail Tuesday 11 February page 3
Rachel, 15, flying out for Turkey trial
Runaway schoolgirl Rachel Lloyd is due to fly back to Turkey this week to give evidence in the trial of her boyfriend.
Source: Western Mail Tuesday 11 February page 9
