In Today's Papers

By Maria Ahmed, Simeon Brody, Amy Taylor and Clare Jerrom

Sexes equal at mixed prison – but women do the porridge

Peterborough prison is billed as Britain’s first purpose-built mixed gender prison of modern times, with equal provision for both sexes.
But prison chiefs say that there will be only one kitchen, and in it only women will do the cooking.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 2

Children at centre of drive for fitter nation

Pedometers are to be supplied to schools for children to measure how far they walk in an attempt to improve the health of the next generation. Under government plans, pupils in more deprived areas will also get help from a personal health trainer to write their own lifestyle plans, setting out their hopes and ambitions for better food and more exercise.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 2

Scheme for criminals ‘failing’

A government initiative to get criminals on drugs to kick the habit was “more like a get out of jail free card” than a rehabilitation programme, the Commons public accounts committee says in a report released.

It says that only 25 per cent of those who accept drug treatment orders ever complete them – with wide variations across the country.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 6

Racism was ‘rife’ at Feltham

Judy Clement, the prison service’s first race equality adviser told the inquiry into the killing of the Asian teenager Zahid Mubarek yesterday that racism was rife at Feltham Young Offender Institution.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 6

Gypsy groups report the Sun to the police

Gypsy groups reported the Sun to the police and the Press Complaints Commission yesterday, claiming that its new campaign against Traveller camps was an incitement to racial hatred.

Their leaders made formal complaints following the tabloid declaring “war on gypsy free-for-all” under the headline “Stamp on camps”.
One woman living on a site has asked for police protection while others said their children were frightened by the headlines.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 8

Public sector faces spring of discontent from unions

Local government unions are confident that they will receive a huge yes vote today from their 1.2 million members for a strike on March 23, the day parliament goes on its Easter holidays.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 10 March 2005 page 10

Easing of cannabis law ‘may need a rethink’

Jack Straw has hinted that the government’s decision to downgrade the status of cannabis as an illegal drugs may have been a mistake.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 10 March 2005 page 11

Gambling curb

Children should be banned from using fruit machines, a cross-bench alliance of peers will say today as they attempt to amend the Gambling Bill.

Source: - The Times Thursday 10 March page 9

Boy convicted of knife murder

A 15-year-old schoolboy was convicted yesterday of murdering an A-level pupil who tried to stop him threatening another boy with a knife. The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, killed Robert Levy, 16, during the attack last September.

Source:- The Times Thursday 10 March 2005 page 22

Father who killed sick son “was delusional”

A former SAS soldier who smothered his terminally ill son to death at their home in Worthing last year was suffering from a condition similar to post-traumatic stress, a court head yesterday.

Andrew Wragg, who admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denies murder, had just returned from Iraq and was becoming increasingly concerned about the worsening condition of his son, Lewes Crown Court was told.

Source:- The Independent Thursday 10 March 2005 page 7

Bullies killed boy who was terrified of water by throwing him into river

Two 17-year-old boys have been convicted of manslaughter after throwing 16-year-old David Berry, who had a phobia of water and could not swim into the river Stour near Shaftesbury.

The killers were found to be 1.5 times over the drink-drive limit at the time of the attack, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.


Source:- The Independent Thursday 10 March 2005 page 14

Appeal to help “hidden” rural poor

Nearly a quarter of all rural households have a low income, but they way they are scattered across a wide area makes it more difficult to help them find jobs and access services, according to the Commission for Rural Communities.

Source:- Financial Times Thursday 10 March 2005 page 4

Thanks, Mr Prescott

Homeowners in Wickford, Essex spoke of their bitterness about John Prescott’s pro-gypsy policies, complaining they live in a cycle of fear and misery.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 10 March 2005 page 1

Girls of 15 binge drink even more than the boys

Binge drinking among teenage girls has soared to record levels, a government survey has found.

Nearly half of all 15-year-old girls drink regularly and for the first time more girls than boys are drinkers at that age.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 10 March 2005 page 9

“At risk” girl murdered with her mother

A girl of six who was on a social services “at risk” register was strangled and her mother stabbed at their flat in Camden, north London.

Social workers had been monitoring the Ukleigha Batten-Froggatt’s care for months following allegations that she was being neglected by her heavy-drinking mother.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 10 March 2005 page 19

Scottish news

Slopping-out damages to be paid

Prisoners whose health has suffered as a result of being forced to slop-out in their cells will receive compensation from the Scottish executive.

Offenders who have suffered physical injury or mental trauma through slopping-out will receive settlements.

No details were given as to how many prisoners may receive compensation or the potential total cost of damages.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 10 March

Racism daily part of pupils’ lives in Scots schools, find academics

Pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds experience racism every day in schools in Scotland, according to a report published by the Scottish executive.

The study also found that ethnic pupils felt teachers were not doing enough to tackle the problem.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 10 March

Welsh news

Former matron weeps in court

A former residential home matron was found not guilty of force feeding a 95-year-old resident to death and assaulting other older people she was looking after yesterday.

Avola Humphreys, who was matron at the Bodawen Residential Home, in Tremadog, Gwynedd, was cleared of the manslaughter of William Henry Pettener by causing him to choke to death. She was also cleared of seven assault charges.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 10 March

‘Lack of attention’ verdict in baby death

A baby who was delivered by his unqualified father at home only lived to be 27 days old, an inquest heard yesterday.

Robert Duffill was ill when he was born in April 2002 Aberystwyth Coroner’s Court was told. Ceredigion Coroner Peter Brunton recorded a verdict of want of attention at birth.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 10 March