In Today's Papers

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson

Convicted paedophiles return to sex websites using same credit cards

Paedophiles convicted of downloading images of child sex abuse from the internet under Operation Ore are continuing to pay for more images with the same credit cards, it emerged yesterday.

Officers involved in the operation, which involved an international swoop on paedophiles who view images online, announced yesterday that it had rescued 102 children from child abusers in Britain.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 15 April page 6

1.5m council workers may walk out in battle over pay

Up to 1.5 million council workers are threatening a national strike over pay after negotiations with employers broke down.

Services such as rubbish collections and schools could be thrown into chaos by the walk out.

The disgruntled workers include social workers, cleaners and teaching assistants.

Source:- The Daily Mail Thursday 15 April page 31

Doctors warn media campaign puts children at risk

A group of leading doctors working in child protection have accused the media of biased reporting that threatens vulnerable children.

The group, consisting of 37 consultant paediatricians and one paediatric radiologist, argue that the reporting has demonised paediatricians.

Dr Chris Hobbs, consultant paediatrician and designated child protection doctor at St James University hospital in Leeds, said that the current system was failing children and that one reason was the enormous pressure on paediatricians.

"Nobody wants to do the work. It's a serious crisis in the system," he said.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 15 April page 1

Scottish newspapers

Executive fails to enforce security guard vetting process

Scotland is falling behind the rest of the UK in licensing private security guards, it has emerged.

In England and Wales, guards who escort prisoners face tough licensing and vetting procedures following legislation passed in 2001.

However, the Scottish executive has confirmed that it had failed to secure a legislative slot at Westminster to amend the private Security Industry Act 2001 to include Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP justice spokesperson, denounced the failure to provide a vetting framework before allowing Reliance Custodial Services to begin its £11 million contract.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 15 April

Work-related stress claim raises concern

A former council worker is trying to become the first person in Scotland to win damages for work related stress.

Stuart McKay claims he returned to duties as a housing officer after being off sick and continued to be exposed to an excessive workload.

Renfrewshire Council deny liability and insist that after his return, McKay never complained of work-related stress.

McKay, who is seeking £150,000 damages, claims his case resembles a landmark action in England in which a former social worker from Tyne and Wear was awarded £175,000.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 15 April

Ministers are urged to create community prisons

Community prisons should be created in Scotland to allow offenders to remain close to home, according to a report by the Scottish Consortium on Crime and Criminal Justice.

The umbrella organisation for organisations including the Howard League for Penal Reform and Sacro, has called for a radical rethink on sentencing in its official response to the Scottish executive’s consultation on how to reduce re-offending.


The consultation, launched by justice minister Cathy Jamieson last month, asks for ways to tackle the high rate of imprisonment and re-offending in Scotland.

Source:- The Herald  Thursday  15 April

15-year-old boy charged with Jodi Jones murder

A teenage boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of school girl Jodi Jones.

A prolonged police investigation over 12 months failed to discover any leads until this arrest despite the involvement of 40 police officers.

The 15-year-old boy is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow charged with murdering Jodi, whose body was found near her home in Dalkeith in June.

Source:- The Scotsman  Wednesday 14 April

Better sex education for disabled

People with learning difficulties are to be offered better sex education under a new initiative in the Lothians.

Health bosses at NHS Lothian hope the move will give people with disabilities clear guidance on their rights and reduce cases of abuse.

Source:- Evening News  Wednesday 14 April

Welsh newspapers

Teacher call for right to sue over pupil allegations

Pupils will be deterred from complaining about abuse if teachers win the right to sue families who make false allegations against them, children’s groups in Wales have warned.

Both the NSPCC and Children in Wales criticised a controversial move at the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers conference in Llandudno to punish children who `peddle’ false, malicious allegations against staff.

Delegates at the conference said they were concerned about the rise in the numbers of allegations being made. Union figures show that 69 out of 1,782 claims against members in the past 10 years have led to convictions. 

Source:- Western Mail Thursday April 15 page 1

Outrage over sick refugee warning letter

An anonymous campaign claiming that people will be forced to sell their homes to make way for immigrants has been referred to police.

Leaflets claiming that Caerphilly Council has secret plans for immigrant settlements have been condemned by the council as distorted, inaccurate and unfounded.

Source:- South Wales Echo Wednesday April 14 page 11

Ward patrols to continue

Police patrols at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital are to continue following a successful operation to clamp down on attacks on staff. 
Operation Alice was launched following allegations that staff had been threatened by patients carrying axes and machetes.

Source:- South Wales Argus Wednesday April 14 page 6