In Today's Papers

By Maria Ahmed, Derren Hayes and Amy Taylor

Paedophile freed

A convicted paedophile who hoarded more than a million digital images of child abuse was freed yesterday.

John Harrison, from Denton, in Manchester, was jailed for two and a half years, but was freed after lawyers found that he had served sufficient time while on remand. He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 4

School staff defy appeal panel over teacher assault

Teachers at a school in Hampshire are defying orders from an independent appeal panel that they must teach a 15-year-old boy who has been expelled for assaulting a member of staff. Staff at Hurst Community College, in Tadley, claim that their safety is at risk after the panel of appeal overruled the school and said that the teenager should be allowed back.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 6

We’re doing God’s work – and John Prescott’s

A former stockbroker turned fundamentalist pastor has ended homelessness in Southport. Would his scheme work nationwide?

Pete Cunningham, minister of the Assemblies of God church, has housed 300 people through his company.

Source:- The Times T2 Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 4-5

Who cares for the carers?

It’s a carer’s worst nightmare – what happens when they fall ill or are called away?

Source:- The Times T2  Tuesday 8 February 2005 pages 10-11

The disability standard-bearer

John Knight’s life experiences provide an almost tailor-made qualification to champion the rights of disabled people.

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 5

Children: victims of party politics

Children are getting caught up in a political battle as Labour and the Conservatives each strive to show how tough they are on asylum.

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 6

Prescott’s housing plan ‘lacks vision’

Source:- The Times Public Agenda Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 7

Labour’s migration squeeze targets unskilled

The government is to close the door on low-skilled migrants from the developing world who come to Britain legally under existing work permit schemes, Charles Clarke announced yesterday.

The measure is part of Labour’s five-year plan for immigration and asylum, which includes a “points system” for new migrants that critics fear will lead to a “two-tier guest-worker” labour force.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 1

Cell conditions ‘gross’ for 20 per cent

More than one in five prison inmates is kept in conditions that are “nothing short of gross,” the head of the prison and probation service said yesterday.

Martin Narey was testifying before the public inquiry into the murder of teenage prisoner Zahid Mubarek.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 8

Howard revives ‘prison works’ message

Michael Howard revived his ‘prison works’ message of the 90s as he launched the Tories’ hardline sentencing policies yesterday.

The proposals, which include mandatory minimum terms for burglars and drug dealers convicted for a third time, would lengthen time served by about a fifth and add 14,000 offenders to a prison population already near its historical peak.


Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 11

The mother suing the CSA in case that could cost £300m

A mother of three is suing the Child Support Agency for miscalculating maintenance payments owed by her former husband.

Alison Davies is the first parent to challenge the agency through the courts for negligence and lost income.

Source:- The Daily Mail Tuesday 8 February 2005 page 24

Scottish newspapers

Immigration U-turn rocks McConnell's bid to attract 'fresh talent' into Scotland

The UK government’s aim to reduce the number of immigrants allowed to stay in the country will hamper the Scottish executive’s plans to attract more immigrants to boost the economy and meet the fall in population.

The first minister has championed a series of initiatives to help attract new, skilled migrants to Scotland.

Source:- The Scotsman Tuesday 8th February

Stop bidding war over immigration

Labour have been accused of starting an immigration 'bidding war' with the Tories to win votes.

Scottish National Party MPs and human rights groups said the government’s plans to cut immigration were unpleasant.

Source:- Daily Record Tuesday 8th February

Welsh newspapers

‘Cardiff prison mad me a smack-head’

The introduction of a drug-testing regime at Cardiff prison nine years ago has increased the drug abuse problem amongst prisoners, it was claimed today.

An ex-prisoner from West Wales said that the mandatory drug-testing is causing prisoners to move away from cannabis and towards heroin because they are less likely to get caught.

The claims are made in tonight’s S4C current affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar.

Source:- Western Mail February 8 Tuesday

Depression theory over stabbing

A man who stabbed his partner to death may have had severe depression at the time due to his marriage breaking up, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

Paul Viner stabbed himself in the stomach after attacking Donna Brough.

Consultant psychiatrist Philip Huckle told the court that Viner’s self-injury was a “major suicide attempt”.

Viner denies murder and wounding with intent but has pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 8 February

Call to cap council bills

A pensioner yesterday called on the public to oppose council tax rises.

Brian Williams, 72, carried out an open-air protest meeting in Cardiff to encourage people to stand up to proposed increases of at least 6.4 per cent.

He was one of one hundred people invited onto a citizens’ forum by Cardiff Council to give their views on three options for council tax rises.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 8 February