February 2010 Archives

Campaigners have welcomed news that Iain Duncan Smith's influential think tank the Centre for Social Justice will look into raising the age of criminal responsibility.
 
At the launch of a new work programme earlier this month, the chair of the CSJ's working group on youth justice said the issue would be looked into in the group's upcoming body of research.

Hot on the heels of Tory frontbencher Nick Herbert's calls for more gay adopters, a children's book about gay adoption is about to hit the shelves.

Published by Nottingham City Council's Ed Merchant, 'Dad David, Baba Chris and Me' has been described as a "charming picture book for young children that explores the world of eight year old Ben, a little boy who was adopted by a gay couple..."

25 February marks 10 years since Victoria Climbie's death. Lord Laming's inquiry into her death led to far-reaching changes in children's services. But have they actually made any difference? We would like to find out your views in a short survey.

Here's another chance to see oscar-nominated actress and former looked-after child Samantha Morton's acclaimed directorial debut about a young girl growing up in care.

First shown during Channel 4's 'Britain's Forgotten Children' season, 'The Unloved' - based on Morton's own experiences of growing up in care - is showing until March 4th at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Channel 4's mini-series Tower Block of Commons - which saw four MPs travel to some of Britain's poorest estates to live on the minimum wage with host families - has produced a variety of responses.

Some of the MPs were branded "out of touch" by critics, while one viewer pointed out that the programme only scratched the surface of poverty in the UK.

An inspection of a young offender institution in Leicester has revealed that young offenders are being held in "appalling" and "unacceptable" conditions, including leaks in plumbing from cell toilets, "shabby buildings", smashed windows and overcrowding.

It also found that although "a great deal of money" was being spent on makeshift solutions at Glen Parva YOI, this was "failing to resolve the totally unsatisfactory issues identified."

So the Conservatives are looking at plans to transfer all youth prisons to the private sector - if we're to believe reports in the FT - following a tory trip to privately-run Ashfield YOI.

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve has reportedly argued that the Ashfield approach of an "educational establishment with fences" should become a blueprint for all YOIs.

Appeal court judges have delayed ruling on whether Diana Smith - one of three officers who restrained Gareth Myatt before he died - should be awarded compensation for trauma.

When 14 year old Gareth Myatt died at a secure training centre in 2004, he was being held down by officers using a home office-approved technique called the 'double-seated embrace'.

Last year recorded the lowest youth custody figures of the past decade, according to latest data which coincides with the web launch of a campaign to reduce the number of children in custody.  

Youth Justice Board figures revealed the number of children in custody fell from 3175 in October 2002 to 2203 in December 2009, the lowest figure since the YJB began collecting data.

To mark Safer Internet Day today, YoungMinds are raising awareness of the perils of excessive internet use among children and young people.

The children's mental health charity warn that we are "sitting on a time bomb" when it comes to the long term effects on young people's health.

A safeguarding report, due to be discussed by Lambeth Council's children and young people's scrutiny board tomorrow , has revealed that over 80 cases of alleged child abuse by council workers were investigated in the last financial year.

TV bosses have teamed up with adoption experts to develop a package of support for adoptive parents and social workers following the success of channel 4's Find Me A Family, fronted by adoption campaigner David Akinsanya.

The series followed prospective adopters through the adoption process, and aimed to challenge their perceptions about the sorts of children they wanted to adopt.

Amid reports that Norfolk is to cut £1 million from its children's services budget - with the cuts falling on the voluntary sector - Norfolk-based charity Break has more positive news.

Break, which has been working with vulnerable children and families for over 40 years, will be opening a new residential and short breaks facility for children with complex needs.

The mother of a teenager who died in custody after being restrained has launched a legal challenge to the coroner's handling of his inquest, according to local reports.

Carol Pounder's son, Adam Rickwood, 14, became the youngest person to die in state custody when he killed himself at Hassockfield secure training centre in 2004.

Mike Stein, a research professor at the University of York, has researched the problems and challenges faced by care leavers for 30 years.

He shares his views on the government's guidance, 'Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children' - which is now up for consultation - with Community Care.

A young offender who murdered a teenage army cadet escaped custody for prior offences because sentencers had shown "remarkable leniency" over his "dysfunctional background", according to reports. 

As reported in The Liverpool Echo, James Moore - who was 16 when he stabbed Joseph Lappin, 17, to death - had offended on a "monthly basis" and had "more than 45 breaches to his name."

The former social worker and Labour MP for Stockport is calling for planning law to be clarified after her constituents suffered abuse and property damage at the hands of young people living in children's homes.

Coffey says planning laws need to "change and adapt to suit the times."

"Nowadays most younger children are placed with foster families and children's homes are used for the most difficult and challenging young people who often have multiple problems and complex needs," she said.