A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Judges told to jail fewer women

Judges were urged to think long and hard before jailing women by
the head of the prison service yesterday.

As the third prison for men was converted to hold women, Martin
Narey said there was no waiting list: the prisons simply had to
accept everyone the courts sent to them.

“I hope sentencers look very carefully before using custodial
sentences for women,” he said.

Narey also called for shorter sentences for women who are
jailed.

Officials admitted yesterday that converting Buckley Hall prison
near Rochdale, may not be enough and other jails may need to follow
suit.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 27 November page 2

Baby boy ‘shaken to death by
carer’

An eight-month-old baby died from brain injuries after a
childminder shook him in a fit of temper, the Old Bailey was told
yesterday.

Registered childminder Linda Bayfield cared for Joshua Osborne
for five weeks alongside other young children including his elder
sister Katrina.

The court was told that Joshua’s parents Libby and Ken
Osborne had noticed Bayfield complain about health problems and
snap at other children. But their children seemed happy in her
care.

Bayfield suffered arthritis, asthma, chronic back pain and a
skin allergy.

It is alleged she lost her temper with the baby and shook him
violently resulting in his eyes and brain haemorrhaging.

Bayfield denies manslaughter and murder.

The trial continues.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 27 November page 11

Sarah Payne accused ‘kept refusing to
comment’

The man accused of abducting Sarah Payne replied: “No comment”
when asked if he had kidnapped, indecently assaulted and murdered
the eight-year-old schoolgirl.

In 12 different police interviews, Roy Whiting repeated the
phrase to almost every question put to him.

The reply was the same when he was asked if he knew where Sarah
was buried, if he had used a shovel found in his van to bury her
and if there was an “innocent explanation” for the blow lamp police
retrieved from his van. “Yes,” he replied. “No comment.”

Lewes crown court how Whiting repeated the phrase after his
solicitor advised him to.

His reply was the same even when he was issued with a warning
that a court “might draw an inference” if he failed to explain how
he received three scratches to his arms and chest, or what a roll
of masking tape, rope and baby oil was doing in his van.

The details emerged on the seventh day of the trial for the
kidnapping and murder of Sarah.

Whiting denies kidnapping and murder.

The case continues.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 27 November

Man dies in immigration raid

A man has died after falling from the third floor of a building
as immigration officials and police arrived to detain him in
Streatham Hill, south London.

Police were talking to other members of the house when he fell
from a ledge.

A police complaints authority inquiry will follow.

Source:- The Guardian Tuesday 27 November page 9

Mercy for couple who spent £40,000 on heroin for
son

A couple will not be prosecuted for raising £40,000 to buy
heroin for their son to help cure his addiction, the police said
yesterday.

Ian and Julie Gell said they weaned their son off the drug after
18 months of buying it for him and reducing it slowly. The said the
money was raised by selling possessions including their car and
caravan.

Because they admitted buying the drug from street dealers, they
faced being charged.

But a Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “Parents are often
less concerned with breaking the law than they are with trying to
help their children.”

Source:- Daily Telegraph Tuesday 27 November page
15

Worker saw Victoria four times

The social worker responsible for Victoria Climbie saw her for
just 30 minutes during the seven months leading up to her death, an
inquiry has heard.

During four meetings with Victoria, Lisa Arthurworrey said she
did not have sufficient evidence to suspect the child was at
serious risk.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 27 November
page 9

One year on, Damilola’s legacy is still one of
fear

For the people who live on the North Peckham estate in south
London, where Damilola Taylor was stabbed to death a year ago, the
fear of mugging, burglary and vandalism remain a feature of daily
life.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 27 November
page 11

Scottish newspapers

Poverty tackled through breakfast

Two initiatives were started on the same day, tackling lack of
nourishment and opportunity in the most disadvantaged areas by
providing breakfasts to children.

The Scottish executive launched a £250,000 drive targeting
poverty stricken areas across Scotland.

Glasgow council announced a £965,000 scheme to provide a
cooked breakfast to every primary school pupil in the city.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 27 November page 5