In Today's Papers

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson.
Serious doubts raised on accuracy of census
An independent watchdog has called for a repeat of the 2001 census population count in Westminster in 2006, four years before it is officially meant to be repeated.
The Statistics Commission said that a recount as necessary as census officials might have failed to count a high number of people living in the London borough.
They added that the Office for National Statistics "failed to cope adequately" with the issues thrown up by the transient nature of inner London populations.

Source:- Financial Times Friday 24 October page 6
Appeal court jails two paedophiles
Judges at the court of appeal jailed a retired headmaster and a former church minister for sex offences against children yesterday, after ruling that their original non-custodial sentences were too lenient.
Jeffrey Carney, aged 66, a former church school head, had his three-year community rehabilitation order, originally given out at Reading crown court last June when he admitted to three offences of indecent assault against two boys, increased to 15 months in jail.
The judges went on to overturn a two-year suspended sentence, given at the same court in July, received by Emyr Evans, aged 82, a former church minister, and jailed him for 12 months for sexually abusing two boys over 25 years ago.
Sex offenders in nine other cases have also had their  sentences increased.
Source:- The Guardian Friday 24 October page 6
Child protection scheme in disarray
Inaccuracies in local records and legal concerns about data protection are hampering ministers' plans to set up a database on every child in England to improve child protection services.
A survey, published by Headstar, an electronic data provider, found major differences between the details on children and families held by the NHS and the council.
It goes on to say that most councils are unlikely to meet the two-year deadline, set in January by the Victoria Climbie inquiry, for an IT system that can monitor children's contact with welfare services.
Meanwhile, an identification, referral and tracking project in Bolton has been put on hold after legal advice said that it may be illegal for a primary care trust to share data with a local authority.
The advice concerns the legality of the PCT passing information on every child in the area to Bolton council.
Source:- The Guardian Friday 24 October page 13
Asylum children reach Britain in their thousands
A massive strain is being put on schools, hospitals and social services by the high number of unaccompanied children arriving in Britain and seeking asylum.
It is estimated to cost the taxpayer £150 million a year to care for the children, with this having most impact on channel port areas such as Kent.
A record 6,200 unaccompanied children reached the country last year.
Source: The Daily Mail Friday 24 October page 2
Scottish newspapers
Louisa murdered by man she called dad
A former soldier who stabbed a baby girl to death was jailed for life yesterday.
Harry Caldwell, whom Louisa McDaid called ‘dad’, picked the toddler up by her ankles and smashed her head against a wall before plunging a bread knife into her heart.
Lord Bracadale said the violence had been extreme and “almost unimaginable in character”, and said that Caldwell must serve at least 20 years in prison.
Caldwell denied the murder, but accepted killing the child, claiming he was suffering from "an abnormality of the mind” at the time.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 24 October page 15
Flood of prisoners sinks jail reform
Scotland’s prisons are unable to rehabilitate offenders successfully because of the problems of overcrowding, the Scottish chief inspector of prisons said yesterday.
Dr Andrew McLellan said attempts to deal with overcrowding had been ruined by the fact that the number of prisoners held on remand had increased by almost 40 per cent in the last two years.
Source:- The Herald  Friday 24 October
Move to challenge growth of sex trade
A new organisation to campaign against the growth of the sex industry in Scotland was launched yesterday.

The Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation said it aimed to challenge “the growing acceptability” of premises such as sex shops, and called for debates about the sexual exploitation of women to involve a Scottish-wide response.
Source:- The Herald Friday 24 October
Groups baulk at tagging plan
Many of the Scottish executive’s plans to tackle antisocial behaviour are backed by the public, but  some major public organisations have serious concerns, according to a study yesterday.
Most local residents backed Jack McConnell’s plans including the electronic tagging of children under 16, the Glasgow University study found. But a majority of voluntary organisations, faith groups and charities were opposed to such hard-line measures.
Source:- The Scotsman Friday 24 October page 6
Welsh newspapers
Our Champions
A two-page feature on an award ceremony that celebrated the achievements of children who overcome adversity.
Hugh Battrick, aged 11, was one of eight winners at the ceremony, hosted by the ‘South Wales Echo’. He overcame a life threatening brain haemorrhage and has managed to return to school after undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme.
Source:- South Wales Echo Thursday 23 October pages 4-5
Porn Shock Church ‘So Very Sorry’
The Presbyterian Church of Wales has spoken of its sadness after a former mission worker admitted downloading pornographic images of children from the internet.
In a statement the church said that they were satisfied that the interview process for Dewi Lloyd Howell, who regularly came into contact with children as part of his work, was thorough. The church also said that it took the safety and well-being of children seriously, and had recently appointed a child protection panel alongside other denominations.
Source:- South Wales Echo Thursday 23 October page 17
Race Group boss back on the payroll
The head of a south Wales race equality group has been reinstated after winning an employment tribunal.
Dr Mashiq Ally lost his job as director of the South East Wales Racial Equality Council (SEWREC), in July following allegations of an improper personal relationship with an employee. There were also claims that he bullied and harassed another staff member.
But a hearing in Cardiff ruled that Dr Ally should be reinstated as director.
Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 23 October page 6
Care in cancelled
Parents of autistic children in Torfaen are threatening action after the council cut a respite service.
Torfaen social services is facing an overspend of  £2.2 million for the current year and around 30 families have been affected by the cut to the babysitting service that provides care for autistic children.
The Gwent Autistic Society has passed a motion condemning the action and chairperson Tim Davies said that they believed the council had contravened both the Carers Act and the Children Act.
Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 23 October page 10
Councils given £3.2bn support
Councils in Wales will receive almost £3.2 billion in revenue support from the Welsh assembly next year, to support frontline services.
Announcing the award, minister for finance and local government, Sue Essex said that the 5 per cent increase in the general support grant was almost double the rate of inflation. She added that it was a fair deal that reflected her view that local authorities should be adequately resourced.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 24 October page 8