Friday 5 September 2003

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson.
Welfare policies ‘risk spread of low skills culture’
A government agency report has warned that ministers’ work
and welfare policies are in danger of perpetuating a “low skills
culture” and causing “quick-fix solutions”.
The Learning and Skills Development Agency criticises rules that
prevent unemployed people outside one of the government’s New Deal
schemes not allowing them to study for more than 16 hours a week,
on the grounds that they must be able to attend interviews and
start work immediately.
It also criticised other regulations that puts sick and disabled
people in danger of losing their benefits if they study, since this
indicates an ability to work.
Source:- The Financial Times Friday 5 September page 7
Child psychiatrist denies prompting patient’s abuse
allegation
A child psychiatrist has denied prompting a girl to make
allegations of child abuse.
Dr John Eastgate, a consultant at Princess Margaret Hospital in
Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of telling police and social workers
that his 13-year-old patient claimed to have been abused by a
colleague without properly investigating the allegations.
He is facing charges of serious professional misconduct.
Source:- The Independent Friday 5 September page 6
Crimewave victims sue council over
travellers
A couple whose home has been burgled and attacked almost 200 times
in seven years are suing Cambridgeshire Council for £750,000
compensation over their management of a nearby travellers’
site.
Bruce Charter and Rita Refarn have accused the council of causing
nuisance and becoming negligent in its management of the
site.
They say that since the site was expanded by the council in the
mid-1990s their house at Earith Bridge, Cambridgeshire, has been
uninsurable and virtually worthless.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph Friday 5 September page 12
Scottish newspapers
Human rights ruling lands Scotland’s courts with 300 legal
challenges
Scotland’s courts are facing 300 legal challenges as a result
of a failure by authorities to meet deadlines set by human rights
law.
Victims groups are incensed by the number of cases that are being
thrown out of court as a result of lengthy delays which have seen
alleged rapists and drug dealers evading prosecution.
Source:- The Scotsman Friday 5 September page 7
Bishop calls McConnell to account over his silence about
Dungavel
One of Scotland’s most senior churchmen has called on the
first minister to condemn the detention of the children of asylum
seekers in Dungavel warning that Jack McConnell should stop passing
the buck to Westminster.
Bishop John Mone, president of the Catholic bishops’ justice
and peace commission, said McConnell had a duty to break his
silence on the immigration removal centre.
Source:- The Herald  Friday 5 September
Rights to register ‘are being
eroded’
The rights of asylum seekers to register their claims in Scotland
are being eroded, the Scottish Refugee Council claims this
week.
The charity criticises the home office over a change that means its
immigration office in Glasgow can no longer process claims.
Instead, asylum seekers arriving in Scotland, who want support from
the National Asylum Support Service, will need to travel to
Liverpool, Croydon in south London or Solihull to register.
Source:- The Herald Friday 5 September
Tough tests before cons go free
Short-term prisoners will face tough tests before they are given an
early release from jail as part of a crackdown on crime, and a bid
to reduce re-offending by first minister Jack McConnell.
Inmates serving less than four years will have to demonstrate that
they have behaved well in prison, and that they are unlikely to
re-offend before they will qualify for the 50 per cent
remission.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 5 September page 2
I’m a victim
The boyfriend of murdered schoolgirl Jodi Jones yesterday claimed
that he is a victim.
Luke Mitchell contacted  the police to say he was being harassed by
the media and officers were sent to his home twice in 24 hours so
he could complain about the media’s behaviour.
However the 15-year-old was left to face the press alone after
police warned there was nothing they could do.
Mitchell, who stayed away from school for the third consecutive
day, was banned from attending Jodi’s funeral on Wednesday by
her family.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 5 September page 7
How I’ll win ned war
First minister Jack McConnell yesterday pledged to bring respect
back to communities.
He spoke at length about his mission to rid Scotland of the scourge
of antisocial behaviour during a question and answer session at his
residence. McConnell believes old fashioned values can replace the
ned culture that brings misery to housing schemes and villages
across the country.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 5 September page 16 and 17
Mercy Mission
A mother and baby being held in Dungavel immigration centre in
Strathaven are moving in with an MSP.
Mercy Ikolo and her 14-month-old daughter have been detained at the
centre in Lanarkshire since 17 August. But socialist MSP Rosie Kane
agreed that if they were granted bail they could live with her
while their asylum claims are processed.
Human rights solicitor Aamer Anwar applied for bail yesterday on
the grounds that their detention breaches international law.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 5 September page 33
I watched son being tortured
A mother witnessed her son being burned with live electric cable to
teach him a lesson, a jury heard yesterday.
The 33-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her
son, described how David Sheriffs wanted to teach her son a lesson
because he had caught him playing with a video recorder.
Sheriffs said he wanted to teach the child what happens when you
play with electricity, the high court in Perth was told.
The mum, who claimed she was scared of Sheriffs, said her
son’s feet went red and blisters appeared immediately after
he took out an extension cable and bared the wires before plugging
it in and pressing it onto the boy’s feet.
The trial continues.
Source:- Daily Record Friday 5 September page 35
Welsh newspapers
Victims missing out on support
Victims of violent crimes in south Wales are losing out on
thousands of pounds in compensation and emotional support because
of changes in the way they are referred to Victim Support.
Gary Griffiths, area manager for Victim Support in Gwent, said that
changes in policy about referring victims of crime to the
organisation have meant an 80 per cent drop in the numbers
contacting the service.
He said that many people were not aware that they could make a
claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme,
and that Victim Support managed such claims free of charge. A
spokesperson for Gwent police said written permission had to be
obtained from victims before any details could be passed on.
Source:- South Wales Argus Thursday 4 September page 23
Magazine for elderly to challenge attitudes to
age
Age Concern Cymru is publishing a magazine aimed at tackling issues
that affect older people.
Entitled, ‘EnvisAGE’, the journal is intended as a
platform for debate about attitudes to older people, and there will
also be a focus on sharing good practice and research.
The charity’s director, Robert Taylor, said the magazine was
the first of its kind in Wales to look specifically at issues
affecting older people. The first edition was published in January
this year and the second edition will be launched on
Wednesday.
Source:- Western Mail Friday 5 September page 7