A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom.

Drug war on wealthy

Affluent middle class cocaine users are being targeted by the
police in a new tactical blitz on drug abuse, it emerged
yesterday.

‘Zero tolerance’ policy is being introduced in the
heart of London’s theatre-land following complaints from
residents about drug loitering.

City professionals will be prosecuted if found in possession of
small amounts of Class A drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy.

According to police, professionals such as bankers and other
office workers buy a quarter of all drugs sold in the West End.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 8 November page 39

Church charity chiefs face financial crisis

The Children’s Society is to scrap its work in Wales and
drastically scale down its projects in England in a bid to rectify
its financial crisis.

The withdrawal from Wales will save the charity £1.3
million, and another £5.1 million will be saved by closing 26
projects in England and cutting fund raising budgets.

Ian Sparks, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said:
“These have been tough decisions to take, but in the circumstances,
and given our financial situation we feel there is no
alternative.”

Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 8 November page
15

Parents told: you are free to smack

It is expected the government will tell parents in England and
Wales that they can continue to smack their children without
interference from the state.

Alan Milburn will not follow the example set in Scotland where
the administration is preparing to outlaw all physical punishment
of under threes.

Ministers have decided there is no need to change the law to
comply with a European Court of Human Rights ruling that the UK
failed to protect a boy whose stepfather beat him with a cane.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 8 November page 1

Prisons chief keeps his job

Martin Narey became the first director general of the prison
service to have his contract renewed for a second three-year
term.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 8 November page 12

Children get royal support

Queen Rania of Jordan showed her support for children’s
rights yesterday as she unveiled an NSPCC undercover unit in south
London, which investigates paedophile activity and other crimes
against young people.

Queen Rania, who is accompanying her husband on a three-day
state visit to Britain, has been a campaigner against child abuse
since she became queen in 1999.

Source:- The Times Thursday 8 November page 5

Scottish news

Pupils made ecstasy from internet

One of Scotland’s best-known independent schools has
expelled four boys for making an ecstasy-type substance from
internet instructions.

The 17-year-old pupils at Glenalmond College became ill on
Saturday after trying the substance on school premises.

School spokesperson Jeremy Poulter said the school had a strict
policy on drugs and the teenagers had to be expelled.

“Teenage boys will be tempted to experiment and it is a cause of
great concern that such information should be on the net,” Poulter
added.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 8 November page 5

Cancer warning kept from Deacon

Health minister Susan Deacon never saw a letter warning of a
crisis at Scotland’s largest cancer centre, even though the
letter was addressed to her.

The letter, sent in April, warned her that Glasgow’s
Beatson cancer centre was “lurching from crisis to crisis”, but was
replied to by a junior civil servant without Deacon being aware of
the crisis.

Deacon has now made public a series of emergency measures in a
bid to solve the problems. She has called for outside experts to
sort out the beleaguered North Glasgow Trust, which runs the
centre. Consultants will have more say in decision-making and extra
support will be given to cancer clinicians.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 8 November

Charity payout just 3.6p in pound

A Glasgow-based charity raised almost £150,000 from the
public in its first year, but distributed only £5,405 to good
causes for children.

The payout means the equivalent of 3.6p in every pound went
directly to the disabled and disadvantaged.

The Children’s Appeal Foundation kept almost two thirds of
the income for a director’s remuneration, staff wages and
commission to collectors. It also spent £13,000 on travel
expenses.

The charity is under investigation by a division of the crown
office.

A spokesperson from the crown said: “The Scottish Charities
Office is aware of this charity. They closely monitored its
operations last year, and are awaiting its accounts to February
2001, which are expected within weeks. If there is cause for
concern, like any charity that is investigated, then action will be
taken. That will depend on the outcome of inquiries.”

Source:- The Herald Thursday 8 November