A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

‘Danger of disorder’ in deporting
asylum-seekers

David Blunkett will be warned of the danger of disorder as
immigration officers enter ethnic minority communities to detain
failed asylum seekers prior to deportation.

Sir John Stevens, Metropolitan police commissioner, will insist
immigration officers take heed of police intelligence that might
suggest that a particular arrest could spark street disorder.

The huge resource implication and potential for public disorder
in meeting the government’s target of removing 30,000 failed
asylum seekers in the year to next March, has been highlighted by
the commissioner and other senior police officers.

Teams of immigration officers trained to carry out arrests and
search premises are to carry out low risk detentions, but when
intelligence suggests an arrest could lead to trouble, the
immigration service will be able to seek help from the police in
making the arrest.

Three teams of enforcement officers are expected to be trained
and operational in London by the end of next month.

The removal of failed asylum seekers is likely to become more
sensitive as the numbers increase. Home secretary David Blunkett
insists that difficult decisions have to be made in order to
achieve the removal targets.

Source:- The Times Thursday 20 August page 4

Five paddle across Channel

Five illegal immigrants paddled across the Channel with their
hands yesterday, in a desperate bid to reach Britain.

In the latest in a number of desperate attempts by immigrants to
reach the country, four Russian men and a boy paddled more than 20
miles in an inflatable boat before being picked up off the Kent
coast.

They had been paddling for 24 hours and were exhausted and
suffering hypothermia. A Dover lifeboat picked them up and they
were taken ashore and handed to immigration officials.

A spokesperson for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said
the immigrants refused help initially, changing their mind when
they were told they would be taken to Britain.

Immigration officials believe the series of desperate measures
follows crackdowns at French ferry terminals against stowaways
aboard lorries.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 30 August page 4

Scottish newspapers

Hepatitis C fight to go on

Hepatitis C victims vowed to continue their fight for
compensation following an announcement by health minister Susan
Deacon that some sufferers are to receive financial
settlements.

Deacon announced that those who contracted the virus through
routine operations after the implementation of the Consumer
Protection Act 1988 are to receive payments. This decision is
unlikely to benefit haemophiliacs since the health services were
already providing them with Hep C-free blood products by that time.
The Scottish executive’s decision will benefit only a very
small proportion of Hep C sufferers.

Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 30 August page 2

Youngest council leader deposed

Scotland’s youngest council leader, Andy White of West
Dunbartonshire, was deposed last night as four Labour rebels voted
with opposition groups to appoint a new leader.

White, in his early 30s, had been under considerable pressure
since an employment tribunal found that former deputy chief
executive of West Dunbartonshire, Ian Leitch, had been
constructively dismissed after a long-running period of conflict
with White. Also deposed was deputy leader councillor John Trainer,
a practising social work manager. Councillor Danny McCafferty was
appointed as the new leader and councillor Mary Collins as deputy
leader.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 30 August page 9