A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Labour split over dedicated tax to support the
NHS

Gordon Brown’s opposition to a dedicated “health tax” was
challenged by health secretary Alan Milburn yesterday when he said
it would be a way of proving to the public that big new spending on
health was working.

Milburn called for a government debate over “hypothecated” taxes
hours after the Chancellor rejected the idea. He emphasised that
Brown’s promise of new investment in the health service, to
be paid for if necessary by higher taxes, must be matched by far
reaching reforms.

Source:- The Times Thursday 29 November page 1

‘Billion to one chance hair was not
Sarah’s’

The theory that Sarah Payne was in Roy Whiting’s van
before her body was found, was met with “extremely strong
support’ from the massive scientific investigation into her
murder.

On the ninth day of the trial, Raymond Chapman, who led the
forensic scientists team based in Lambeth, south London, said that
a single hair belonging to Sarah was found on a red sweatshirt
seized from Whiting’s van.

Chapman said that five fibres found on a Velcro strap of
Sarah’s shoe found on the roadside, matched two items found
in Whiting’s van.

He concluded: “If you assume that the shoe was Sarah’s,
and I take into consideration the hair, and fibres found on the
shoe, then, in my opinion, there’s extremely strong support
between the association of Sarah and the van.”

Whiting denies kidnap and murder.

The trial continues.

Source:- The Times Thursday 29 November page 5

‘Admission’ by carer

The childminder accused of murdering a baby boy admitted to the
Old Bailey that she had shaken him when he started to cry.

A mother of another child in Linda Bayfield’s care Annette
Hewish said the childminder had said she had shaken him
slightly.

Bayfield denies murder.

The trial continues.

Source:- The Times Thursday 29 November page 5

Raids net child porn suspects

Nine suspected paedophiles were arrested yesterday as part of
the largest international crackdown on child pornography.

Police acting simultaneously in 19 countries issued 130 warrants
in the operation to target internet users who download child
pornography and distribute it.

The operation pinpointed 10,000 people worldwide who regularly
access sites portraying child pornography.

The police uncovered 320,000 illegal images.

Detective superintendent Peter Spindler said: “These young
victims need to be identified and protected as quickly as
possible.”

Source:- The Times Thursday 29 November page 10

Drive against violence in the home

A government drive to make domestic violence one of the most
serious criminal offences in British law was spearheaded by Cherie
Booth yesterday.

Booth helped launch guidelines from the crown prosecution
service designed to increase the number of successful
prosecutions.

The guidance suggests cases could still be pursued even when
women drop the allegations, faced by domestic pressure.

The change of policy enables police to spend time collecting
additional evidence to support what the victim says.

Nearly half of all domestic violence cases are dropped before
they reach the court, and almost four fifths of these are dropped
because the woman withdraws her complaint.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 29 November page 15

Scottish newspapers

Free personal care passes through stage 1

Yesterday MSPs voted unanimously to support the introduction of
free personal care. The Scottish parliament heard from new health
and community care minister, Malcolm Chisholm, that he will agree
to introduce a definition of personal care as demanded by the
influential health committee in the form of an amendment at the
second stage of the bill. Chisholm said that the proposed
legislation was based on “equity and fairness”.

Source The Scotsman Thursday 29 November page13

Glasgow to press for more money to protect social
work

Glasgow council will press new first minister, Jack McConnell,
for extra funds to protect essential services such as social care
and housing.

The council is frustrated that little progress has been made in
the ‘Cities Review’ which is examining the reallocation of block
grant funding to the poorest populations of Scotland’s
cities.

Charles Gordon, leader of Glasgow council, said that the new
funding arrangements are essential to protect services. As an
example, he revealed that the council had to find £25 million
last year to protect basic social work services.

Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 29 November page 4