By Amy Taylor, Shirley Kumar, Clare Jerrom and Alex
Dobson.
Man who abused child on video escapes prison
A man who was caught on video swinging a young girl around his
head while holding her leg walked free yesterday.
Jamie Thompson was caught by a camera set up by the girl’s
mother.
Thompson, of South Wigston in Leicestershire, was served with a community rehabilitation order on condition that he seeks treatment for post traumatic stress disorder at Leicester Crown Court.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 19 May page 5
Role for parents in child law change
The role of parents in safeguarding children is to be written
into the Children Bill after concern that the legislation leaves
out the family.
While some see the move as just recognition of parent’s role,
others see it as an opportunity to provide a check on the
states’ ability to act in families.
The Conservative peer Lord Lucus who pushed for the change said: “Too often the easy solution is taking the child away from the troubled family, rather than supporting the family. Where the child might be in danger, fine, but there are many cases in which the right answer is to work with the family.”
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 19 May page 6
Clash of Cultures
Margaret Hodge felt confident that the radical agenda for change in children’s services would be widely applauded. But as crossfire continues over the proposed new bill, David Brindle hears how the minister is now setting a 10-year target to achieve her aims.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page 2
Benefit Trap
Private schools can currently claim the tax breaks of charitable status, yet pressure groups can’t. Tash Shifrin reports on whether the forthcoming charities bill will address this imbalance.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page 6
Age old conflict
Death threats have been issued over the building of much-needed social housing for elderly people in Belfast. Laura Haydon reports on a plan that has inflamed tensions across the city’s notorious sectarian divide.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page 8.
Mixed Emotions
Transracial fostering gained popularity in the 1950s when many Africans came to Britain and paid for childcare while they studied. But a new report reveals the unresolved cultural problems it has caused.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page 10
Scottish newspapers
Church’s attack on first minister
Jack McConnell’s address to the General Assembly yesterday was overshadowed by opposition to his plans to crackdown on antisocial behaviour.
McConnell became the first first minister to address the annual assembly on the Mound in Edinburgh but this was overshadowed by opposition to his high-profile crackdown on troublesome youngsters.
Although McConnell was invited to watch the proceedings, he did
not stay long enough to hear a report from the Kirk’s church
and nations committee which criticised the use of electronic
tagging for under-16s, set out in the Antisocial Behaviour
(Scotland) Bill.
The first minister was also not present to hear repeated concerns
for the lack of funding for the Scottish youth justice system.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 19 May
Brain-damage woman wins £1m payout
A woman who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a faulty heater was yesterday awarded damages in an out of court settlement.
Hazel Brown was left with severe brain damage following the poison gas accident in a local authority flat which claimed the life of her boyfriend, Mark Taggerty.
Lawyers were seeking compensation of £3.5 million from Fife Council at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. But negotiations led to a £1 million plus agreement.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 19 May
Reliance under fire again as seventh prisoner goes free
Reliance custodial services faced fresh criticism last night as a seventh prisoner was mistakenly allowed to walk free from a Scottish court.
Joseph Finnan was allowed to walk free from Hamilton Court where he had been scheduled to make two separate court appearances yesterday.
Seven prisoners have now been mistakenly released since Reliance Security won a prisoner escort contract from the Scottish executive two months ago.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 19 May
Home manager who assaulted woman, 92, walks free
A nursing home manager who assaulted a 92-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease walked free from court yesterday after it emerged she had been “stressed” at the time of the incident.
Susan Boyd lifted Annie Edgar from her wheelchair and put her on the floor in Abbeyfield Nursing Home in Glasgow to clean up a bowl of soup that the older woman had spilt in order to “teach her a lesson”.
Alasdair Gillies defending Boyd said she had not acted maliciously but had been suffering stress at the time and had continued to undergo treatment.
Sheriff John Baird said Boyd should be admonished.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 19 May
Asylum seeker’s body found in flat
Police are investigating the death of a man, believed to be an asylum seeker, after his body was found in a city flat.
The 27-year-old was found at an address in Glasgow used to house
asylum seekers. Police do not think the death is suspicious.
A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 19 May
Welsh newspapers
‘People trafficking at Chinese takeaway’
A Chinese takeaway in a Welsh seaside town is alleged to have been the headquarters of a multi-million pound people smuggling operation, a court was told.
Xing Cheng, a waiter at the Dragon Palace in Aberystwyth, is believed to have banked more than £5 million in 20 months as he collected final installments from Chinese people transported to the UK.
Cheng and two other men deny conspiracy to assist illegal entry into the country. The case is expected to continue for another three days.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 19 May page 1
Opposition parties attack Hutt’s ill health policies
Opposition parties in the Welsh assembly have attacked Health minister, Jane Hutt’s policies, which they claim lack direction and have resulted in the NHS in Wales being in a worse state than England.
The attack came following an assembly debate on a highly critical Audit Commission report that concluded that the NHS in Wales was trapped in a “vicious circle” of ineffectiveness and inefficiency.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 19 May page 1
Move to help children break the cycle of domestic violence
A project aimed at breaking the cycle of domestic violence within families is to be extended across south Wales.
NSPCC Cymru staff are working with child victims of domestic violence who show signs of becoming aggressive or violent themselves. The project, which evolved from the south Wales Domestic Violence Prevention Service, will draw on Canadian experience of working with children in such situations.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 19 May page 2
