A summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Examination after arrest showed killer had six
personality disorders

Jill Dando’s killer, Barry George, suffered a variety of
psychological disorders throughout much of his adult life.

Doctors who examined him after the arrest diagnosed six separate
personality disorders. Experts believe he should have received
treatment from an early age, but it is understood he was only
referred once for psychiatric treatment.

Michael Howlett, director of the Zito Trust for mental health
reform, said: “Barry George is not someone who should have been out
in the community. As an adult he had a criminal record involving
numerous offences of aggression and violence towards women,
culminating in the brutal murder of Jill Dando.

“This may never have happened had Barry George received proper
services,” he added.

The various disorders that George has include:- psychopathic
personality characteristics where people appear charming, but are
callous and self-serving; narcissistic personality disorder,
characterised by a sense of self importance; histrionic disorder
where people perceive themselves to be more intimate with others
than they actually are; paranoid personality disorder characterised
by unwarranted suspicion.

He also has a rare form of autism, Asperger’s
syndrome.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Tuesday 3 July page 4

He raped me, but he could not kill

The woman formerly married to Jill Dando’s killer, spoke
out yesterday of the deeply disturbed man, who was not only a liar,
but a sexual menace.

Itusko Toide was married to Barry George for 11 months. Toide
explained how George once raped her after she rejected his
advances, but remains convinced that her former husband did not
murder the television presenter.

“I am sure that my ex-husband is not a murderer, I know that 100
per cent,” she said, and added that he had become a scapegoat by
Scotland Yard as he had no money, job or friends.

Today she believes her ex-husband was let down by the social
services department in Hammersmith and Fulham and the NHS.

“Britain’s social welfare institutions are supposed to be
among the most advanced in the world, and I thought the system
could take care of people like Barry. But the reality is quite
different,” she concluded.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 3 July page 3

Prison suicide keeps watch on George

Barry George is being under suicide watch by prison officers, as
they attempt to assess his mood.

George has been returned to Belmarsh prison near Woolwich in
south-east London and is being held in the prison’s
healthcare centre.

He will remain in the healthcare centre or be transferred to a
unit for prisoners who are vulnerable to attacks from fellow
inmates, such as child killers or paedophiles.

During the next 28 days, prison staff will decide where George
should be detained while a detailed assessment of his needs is
prepared.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 3 July 2001 page 5

Cannabis user’s 100 mile trip for safe
joint

Lambeth’s new relaxed approach to cannabis possession was
tested yesterday as a paraplegic cannabis smoker lit a joint of
marijuana on the steps of Brixton police station, south London.

On the first day of the six-month pilot scheme, Chris Baldwin,
who smokes cannabis to ease spasms in his legs, travelled 50 miles
from his home in Worthing for a “safe” joint. Officers following
the new guidelines not to arrest people carrying small amounts of
the drug, confiscated it and issued a brief warning.

The project has divided members of the community. Some believe
it will free the police’s time to concentrate on hard drugs
such as cocaine, and others believe they are washing their hands of
young people living on some of Britain’s toughest
estates.

The Lambeth scheme could be adopted nationwide if it is deemed a
success.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 3 July page 6

Tories criticise cannabis plan

The six-month experimental plan in Lambeth to soften the
approach to cannabis users has been criticised by senior Tories
yesterday.

The project, where cannabis users will be cautioned and have
their drugs confiscated, was bringing the police, the law and
parliament into disrepute, they said.

Home secretary David Blunkett denied the scheme amounted to
decriminalisation of the drug.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 3 July 2001 page 11

Blair woos unions with more talks

The prime minister is to hold regular talks with union leaders
in a bid to defuse the growing conflict over the private sector
involvement in public services.

Tony Blair has agreed to meet union leaders on a semi-official
basis up to six times a year.

The initiative follows last Wednesday’s meeting where
Blair met heads of Unison, TGWU, and GMB among other union
leaders.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 3 July 2001 page 8

Children in court over OAP death

As six children appeared before magistrates yesterday, accused
of killing a pensioner, one of the accused – a 10-year-old boy
smirked and giggled.

The children are said to have terrified Sheila Bridge so much,
that she collapsed and died of a heart attack in her bungalow.

Bridge’s alleged killers – boys and girls aged between 10
and 15 – were led to Reedley magistrates’ court.

The 10-year-old is said to have been the third youngest child
accused of murdering someone. Only James Bulger’s killers
were younger by days.

They face charges of manslaughter and burglary.

All six were remanded for a week into care.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Tuesday 3 July 2001 page 9

Scottish newspapers

Lone parents offered £1,000 childcare
grants

Lone parents in Scotland are being offered £1,000 childcare
grants to help them attend higher education, get back to work and
beat the poverty trap. The £24 million Scottish executive
initiative announced by Jackie Baillie, social justice minister, is
the first scheme of childcare grants offered to Scottish students.
The new system was criticised by the opposition SNP who claimed
that the grants would result in decreased spending in deprived
areas. Baillie was adamant the scheme would help reduce poverty by
making it easier for about 8,500 lone parents to access education
and gain employment.

Source:- The Scotsman 3/7/01 page 7