A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

November 14, 2001 in Community Care

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Trial for murder of Sarah Payne begins

The parents of murdered school-girl Sarah Payne arrived at Lewes
crown court yesterday on the first day of the trial of the man
accused of abducting and murdering their child.

Roy Whiting spoke only to confirm his name. He denies murdering
and abducting Sarah from Hersham, Surrey, in July last year.

She disappeared while playing near her grandparents’ home,
and her body was found on a field in Pulborough 16 days later.

Michael Payne sat in the public gallery, but his wife Sara did
not attend the hearing.

The trial of Whiting is expected to last up to five weeks.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 14 November page 15

Migrants seized

Fifty Afghans, six Iraqis and an Iranian were arrested by police
in Folkestone after they smuggled themselves into Britain through
the Channel Tunnel by clinging to a freight train.

Police in Dover detained 28 Chinese illegal immigrants “squashed
like sardines” inside a coach’s seat panels.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 14 November page 15

New powers designed to help slam the door on
terrorism

Detention and asylum

Government legislation published yesterday means foreign
terrorists suspected of living in Britain could be detained
indefinitely without ever being told the details of the evidence
against them.

The new powers were drawn up in response to the September 11
atrocities, and form the centrepiece of the 125-clause
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill.

The legislation will go before the commons for its second
reading next week and committee stages.

The bill seeks to address the difficulties the government has
faced in deporting people whom it suspects of being terrorists.

Under the 1951 UN convention of refugees and the European
Convention on Human Rights, it is forbidden to return someone to a
country where they may suffer torture or “degrading treatment”.

But the government is to use special powers to allow a small
group of around 20 to be detained if those “persons whose presence
in the UK…is believed to be a risk to national security.”

The detention powers – which will apply retrospectively
against people who have already been granted asylum – must be
renewed by Parliament.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Wednesday 14 November page
12

Parents back head over teenage lover

The parents of a village school have backed a headmaster who
left his wife to set up home with their 16-year-old foster
daughter.

Malcolm Hayes returned to work at Horsmonden County Primary
School in Kent last month with the support of the governors. A
police investigation cleared him of criminal wrongdoing.

Hayes and Rhoxan Kenward now share a flat, and he is being
divorced by his wife Paula on the grounds of adultery.

Kenward was 15 when she was fostered by the Hayes family in June
last year.

But parents dropping their children off to school yesterday gave
Hayes their whole-hearted backing.

One mother said: “He is the best thing that’s happened to
this school.”

Source:- Daily Telegraph Wednesday 14 November page
18

Guardian Society

Rooms for doubt

The number of homeless families living in temporary
accommodation where conditions are often cramped and stressful, has
reached a record high. Will the government’s newly appointed
‘tsar’ make a difference?

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 14 November page
2-3

Global gains and losses

Employers undervalue skills gained by overseas volunteers

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 14 November page
4

Professional edge

Homeless charity forced to recruit paid executives

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 14 November page
4

Two of a kind

Sharing experiences with mainstream schoolchildren is making
young people with severe learning disabilities make positive
choices about their future.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 14 November page
5

Vital support

A new scheme is working holistically to prevent young criminals
from re-offending.