A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Every parent’s nightmare

As Roy Whiting was ordered to spend the rest of his life in
prison yesterday for the kidnap and murder of Sarah Payne, it
emerged that he had a previous conviction for kidnapping and
sexually assaulting a child.

Whiting spent two-and-a-half years in jail for kidnapping and
sexually assaulting a nine-year old girl in 1995.

Mr Justice Curtis branded Whiting “every parent and
grandparents’ nightmare come true”, at Lewes crown court. He
instructed that Whiting should never be released to attack
again.

Outside the court Sarah’s parents Sara and Michael called
on the government to do more to prevent paedophiles
re-offending.

Source:- The Times Thursday 13 December page 1

Brown aims to cut child poverty

Gordon Brown will announce plans aimed at cutting child poverty
today as he pre-empts next year’s Budget.

The Chancellor will emphasise that all government departments
are engaged in initiatives to meet Labour’s manifesto pledge
of taking a further one million children out of poverty in its
second term.

Brown will suggest that child poverty can be tackled not only by
increasing incomes, but by improving public services.

Source:- The Times Thursday 13 December page 2

Duncan Smith pledge on care of elderly

Long term care for older people is one of Iain Duncan
Smith’s “personal priorities” he announced yesterday in his
review of Conservative policy.

The Tory leader said the government’s mismanagement has
led to the closure of almost 50,000 care home beds since 1997.

He added that improving public services and treatment for people
with an illness and older people was at the heart of his policy
agenda.

Source:- The Times Thursday 13 December page 14

Climbie social worker sent for trial

A senior social worker in the Victoria Climbie case was sent for
trial yesterday on a charge of deliberately failing to give
evidence after she ignored a summons to attend the public inquiry
into the child’s death.

Carole Baptiste told district judge Haydn Gott that she was now
prepared to co-operate with the inquiry into lessons to be learned
from the child abuse case.

Brian Altman prosecuting said Lord Laming was determined to
press the charge against her. The maximum penalty is six months
imprisonment and a £1,000 fine.

Baptiste pleaded not guilty at Camberwell Green magistrates
court in south London, and was bailed to appear at a summary trial
on February 20.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 13 December page 8

Number of homeless in B&Bs soars 24 per
cent

Official figures showed that the number of families living in
bed and breakfast hotels had soared yet again, undermining Tony
Blair’s claims to be tackling homelessness.

The latest quarterly statistics from the department of
transport, local government and the regions found 12,290 families
in bed and breakfast accommodation in September – a 24 per
cent rise on the previous year.

The figures also showed that the number of “homeless and in
need” had risen by 11 per cent.

Housing minister Lord Falconer of Thornton blamed the shortage
of social housing and poor condition of stock after years of
under-investment.

Source:- The Independent Thursday 13 December
page 10

Scottish newspapers

Police hunt dozens of child abuse victims

About two dozen victims of a self-confessed predatory paedophile
have not been traced according to police investigating the case of
Joseph Millbank.

Millbank pleaded guilty at the high court in Edinburgh to 16
charges of sexual abuse against 11 young girls from different parts
of Scotland. The court heard how a camera found at Millbank’s
house contained images of girls he had assaulted.

Millbank’s admitted offences were committed in Aberdeen and
Dundee areas between January 2000 and his arrest in September
2001.

Millbank travelled all over the country with his work, and
police have appealed to all other Scottish police forces for help
in identifying other victims. Millbank is expected to be sentenced
on 11 January 2002.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 13 December page 8