A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.

Prisoners in Dartmoor ‘caged like wild
animals’

Dartmoor prison has been slated in its latest inspection for
holding prisoners in a cage, and exercising them in pens more
appropriate for dangerous animals.

The new chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers says in her report
today that prisoners were routinely abused by officers and she
describes the jails “as the prisons time forgot”.

The report, which is the first inspection for Owers, details
complaints including prisoners being forced to use a “walk of
shame” when taken to the segregation unit.

Prisons officers often referred to inmates as the rubbish of the
rest of the prison system.

Director general of the prison service Martin Narey welcomed the
hard-hitting report.

Source:- The Times Friday 1 February page 1

Carpenter cradles dying Damilola

A witness has told how he saw a youth mime the fatal stabbing of
Damilola Taylor, at the trial at the Old Bailey.

Carpenter Guillermo Casal said he saw a teenager, one of three
boys at the foot of the stairwell where the 10-year old boy was
slipping into unconsciousness after he was stabbed in the
thigh.

“I saw him move his left hand across the top of his leg,” he
said.

Casal said he didn’t think much of the gesture at the
time, but later realised the significance of how Damilola was
injured.

Casal, who was giving evidence at the trial of four youths aged
14 to 17 who deny murder, added that Damilola’s last words
were “I’m OK, OK” before he slipped into unconsciousness.

Source:- The Times Friday 1 February page 5

Elderly put at risk ‘by not getting basic
care’

Up to 1 million older people are having their lives put at risk
as a result of not getting the basic care and support at home and
because there are too few residential places, according to a
report.

Only the most desperate older people would go to social services
for support, said Help the Aged, one of the 21 organisations
contributing to the report.

“When they do not have access to social care, lives are put at
risk,” said spokesperson Hilary Carter.

The government has promised £300 million over two years to
sort out the problem of delayed discharge in hospitals, but the
Social Policy Ageing and Information Network report is pessimistic
the money will have much effect.

“It is not clear how far this money will go to resolve this
problem, nor what proportion is likely to be spent on social care,”
it says.

“The new money is geared up to tackle only the most visible tip
of the iceberg – older people occupying a bed. Others are
waiting out of sight in their own homes and many of those who are
helped to leave hospital will need long term support,” it
concluded.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 1 February page 6

Council in debt gets £25m

Hackney council in east London was given £25 million by the
government yesterday.

The “exceptional offer of support” is to be used to head off
“unacceptable cuts” in key services and to set a balanced 2002-03
budget.

Source:- The Guardian Friday 1 February page 8

Prejudice feared as asylum seekers receive ID
cards

As part of the government crackdown on fraud and illegal
workers, asylum seekers were issued with identity cards for the
first time yesterday.

Civil liberties groups warned the cards could lead in increased
racial tension and discrimination in society.

Chief executive of the Refugee Council Nick Hardwick said: “We
would be concerned if they became cards which asylum seekers have
to show to prove they are entitled to services. It would be very
unwelcome if school secretaries and doctors’ receptionists suddenly
start deciding who does and does not get access to their
services.”

The application registration cards are more difficult to forge
than the old style identification.

A home office spokesperson said: “The rolling out of the ARC
cards represents the next stage in our battle to cut down on fraud
and illegal working.”

The home office said the cost of the cards was “commercially
confidential” but it would pay for itself by preventing 2,000 false
claims in the next five years.

Source:- The Independent Friday 1 February
page 12

Scottish newspapers

Glasgow slates government grant

Glasgow council will receive the lowest rise in budget of any
mainland council according to Craig Robertson, the council’s
treasurer.

The city has announced a £1.2 billion budget for
2002–03, a 7 per cent rise against an average council
increase of 8.7 per cent, in spite of having over half of
Scotland’s deprived communities.

For the past 12 months Glasgow has campaigned for the allocation
of government revenue grants to cities to be reviewed to give
greater priority to poverty among the communities served.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 1 February page 10

Tories split on free personal care

Iain Duncan Smith signalled last night that he expected the
Tories in Scotland to alter their policy on free personal care,
reversing their position to date and sparking an embarrassing row
with Scottish Conservative leader, David McLetchie.

Duncan Smith’s comments were made publicly as he prepared
to address the Institute of Directors in Scotland. Up to now the
Tories in Scotland have given their backing to the introduction of
free personal care. McLetchie seemed caught unaware by Duncan
Smith’s views and if the Tories do change their policy it
will break the all-party support for the policy in the Scottish
parliament.

Source:- The Scotsman Friday 1 February page 1

Welsh newspapers

Steel Rescue Blue Print

A multi-million pound rescue package to revitalise communities
in south Wales has been announced.

First minister at the Welsh Assembly, Rhodri Morgan, made the
announcement on the eve of the first anniversary of the decision by
steelmaker Corus, to cut thousands of jobs in the area.

The money will be used to finance a number of regeneration
projects including, £5 million towards a new learning centre
at Ebbw Vale, £15 million to reopen passenger trains to Ebbw
Vale and £20 million towards a new urban regeneration company
for Newport. Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 31
January page 1

Estate rangers may get extra powers

Rangers working in Newport, South Wales, may be given extra
powers to help them deal with young people whose behaviour is
causing disruption to local communities.

The move is aimed at helping the police deal with the growing
problem of anti-social behaviour. Under the proposals, the new
styled community safety wardens would have powers to detain
suspects for up to half an hour until the police arrive, and issue
fixed penalty notices for a range of anti-social behaviour.

Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 31 January page
8

Schools ‘can’t prevent bullying’

Children must learn to look after themselves to avoid bullying
at school.

Delwyn Tatum, director of the countering bullying unit at the
University of Wales Institute in Cardiff, says that in spite of a
raft of measures introduced to tackle the problem, there will
always be bullies in school.

He is encouraging parents to try to ensure that their children
have friends, because lonely children are more likely to be picked
on, and to look out for signs that may indicate when a child is
being bullied.

Source:- Western Mail Friday 1st February page 2

A multi-million pound rescue package to revitalise
communities in South Wales has been announced

First minister at the Welsh Assembly, Rhodri Morgan, made the
announcement on the eve of the first anniversary of the decision by
steelmaker Corus, to cut thousands of jobs in the area.

The money will be used to finance a number of regeneration
projects including, £5 million towards a new learning centre
at Ebbw Vale, £15 million to reopen passenger trains to Ebbw
Vale and £20 million towards a new urban regeneration company
for Newport. Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 31
January page 1