Thursday 23 January 2003

By Amy Taylor, Nicola Barry and Alex
Dobson.

Climbie report rules out child protection
agency

A separate agency for child protection is not the answer to
dealing with problems in the care system stresses Lord Laming’s
report into the death of Victoria Climbie. The report warns that
such an agency would be counter productive and instead emphasises
the need for professionals to work together in an integrated child
welfare system.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 23 January page
6

Growing elderly population doubles dementia
care

The price of caring for people with Alzheimer’s will double in
the next 30 years due to the growing number of sufferers, according
to a new study.

A team at the London School of Economics led by professor Martin
Knapp estimates that by 2031 there will be 765,000 people in
England suffering from mental deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s
and other types of dementia.

This will cause the cost of caring for this group from £4.6
billion to almost £11 billion.

Source:- The Times Thursday 23 January page1

Right-to-buy discount halved to foil property
speculators

In a range of measures designed to prevent the exploitation of
the right-to-buy scheme by property speculators, discounts given to
council tenants who buy their homes under the scheme, are to be
halved.

The discounts are to be reduced from £38,000 to
£16,000 in 42 housing areas, mainly in London and the south
east.

Source:- The Times Thursday 23 January page 2

As ministers try to buy hotels for asylum seekers, they
let this £5m centre for 400 stand almost empty

An immigration centre in Oakington, Cambridgshire, is currently
almost empty while the government tries to buy a network of hotels
to house asylum seekers.

At present it holding just 32 illegal immigrants when it can
hold 400.

A change in the rules last November means that the centre can
only be used for illegal immigrants from 10 Eastern European
countries, but the number of claims from these countries is
currently low, and as a result the centre is currently empty.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 23 January page 23

‘Staggering’ poverty levels of ethnic minority
children

Seventy three per cent of Pakistani and Bangladeshi households
in Britain are living on less than 60 per cent of the average UK
income, a level widely acknowledged as the “poverty line”,
according to a new report.

Researchers at the University of Essex also found that only 35
per cent of adult Bangladeshis were employed.

Source:- The Independent Thursday 23 January page 2

Outcry puts plan for asylum hotel on hold

The government has announced plans to hold full consultations
with the community of Sittingbourne in Kent before deciding whether
to go ahead with their plans to house asylum seekers in a
three-star hotel in the town.

It also said that the promise of local consultations would apply
to all areas affected by the new network of induction centres.

Ministers are currently considering setting up a second
induction centre in Saltdean near Brighton, but no definite
decisions have been made.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 23 January page 6

Disabled rights to get big expansion

The work and pensions secretary, Andrew Smith, yesterday
announced he was drawing up an extension of the Disability
Discrimination Act to make it apply to the whole of the public
sector, transport and large private clubs.

A bill due to be published this year will make it illegal for
public transport operators to refuse to let disabled people use
buses, trains or planes.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 23 January page 6

Out of date guidelines put young at risk

Child protection staff in London are working to “unforgivably
poor and out of date” policies, according to a leaked survey
commissioned by the Metropolitan police.

The research found that many of London’s 32 councils were not
following department of health guidance on investigations into
child abuse and neglect, and were relying on policy documents over
10 years out of date.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 23 January page 9

Scottish newspapers

Special needs schools ‘stunting’
pupils

Inspectors called yesterday for an overhaul of schools for the
most vulnerable children in Scotland, following a damning report
indicating that many schools stunt their development, with lifelong
consequences.

The report, ‘Standards and Quality in Special Schools
1998-2002’, says that in just under a third of schools,
children fail to reach their potential as staff ask too little of
them.

Source:-The Scotsman Thursday 23 January page 8

Fishing’s 140,000 kids destitute

Almost 140,000 children will be thrust into poverty if fishing
cuts ordered by Eurocrats go ahead, Tony Blair was told
yesterday.

The prime minister was given the grim warning by three
fishermen’s wives who went to Downing Street, dressed in
trawlermen’s survival suits, to spell out their plight. They
wanted Blair to realise the human cost of plans to reduce fish
catches by up to 45 per cent.

Source:- Daily Record Thursday 23 January page 21

Welsh newspapers

Cash boost to help fight drug crimes

The fight against drugs and other crime in south Wales is set to
receive an extra £2 million.

The money comes as part of a £50 million cash injection
from home secretary David Blunkett to police forces across the
UK.

In south Wales some £752,557 will be targeted at problems
within communities, and more than £1 million will be focused
on crime reduction partnerships.

Source:- South Wales Echo Wednesday 22 January page
17

Youths with fake guns ‘risking their
lives’

Armed police officers are warning that it is only a matter of
time before someone brandishing a replica gun is shot dead.

Chief inspector Mike Brook, head of the firearms division with
south Wales police, said that incidents involving fake guns have
soared.

He said he was very concerned that replica handguns, rifles and
even automatic-style weapons had become fashion accessories for
youths and young men.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 23 January page 1

Welsh teenager makes legal history

A teenager in north Wales has made legal history by becoming the
first person in Britain to receive a new type of restraining
order.

Colin David Lyness, of Llandudno, was the subject of the first
interim anti social behaviour order, which is designed to cut down
on lengthy court proceedings.

Under the interim order, Lyness has now been told not to
associate with named individuals, and not to harass, alarm or
distress anyone in the county borough of Conwy.

He is also effectively placed under a curfew in his home between
8pm and 8am.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 23 January page 3