Wednesday 3 December 2003

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson.

Ryanair in court over wheelchair fee
A disabled man has taken Ryanair and Stansted airport to court
claiming that he was being discriminated against by being charged
£18 for use of a wheelchair.
Speaking at a court in central London yesterday, Robert Ross, who
is backed by the Disability Rights Commission, said that although
he prefers to use crutches he needed a wheelchair to help him get
from the check-in desk to the aeroplane due to the distance at
Stansted.
There is a dispute between the airline and the airport over whom is
responsible for those asking for wheelchair assistance at the
airport. The case continues.
Source:- The Financial Times Wednesday 3 December page 6
I was cold and ruthless, admits Huntley
Ian Huntley admitted that he had acted coldly and ruthlessly when
he hid and burnt the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and
worked out how to hide how he had killed them.
Huntley went on to reveal further details about how the Soham
schoolgirls died at his home in August while being cross-examined
by Richard Latham QC at the Old Bailey.
The former-caretaker repeatedly denied that he was sexually
motivated when he lured the girls to his house.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 3 December page 1
Provocation defence remains in shake-up of laws on domestic
violence
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, published
yesterday, includes new powers for police to tackle violent
partners.
They include allowing criminal courts to place “stay away” orders,
which could result in a five-year prison sentence if breached for
defendants even if they have been acquitted.
The bill also introduces an offence of “familial homicide” in order
to close up the loophole under which parents accused of murdering
their child avoid prosecution due to blaming each other or staying
silent meaning that the correct offender cannot be
identified.
The defence of provocation remains in place despite calls from
Harriet Harman, minister for women, for it to be abolished in
domestic violence and other murder cases under the bill.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 6
Battle of the binge
The government has pledged to tackle antisocial behaviour, yet
wants also to relax Britain’s licensing laws. Peter Hetherington
examines a dangerous contradiction.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 2
Links with the past
A website has been set up to help people brought up in care to
trace their fellow care home residents and foster families with
many finding it a difficult process due to the Data Protection
Act.
The site, www.careleaversreunited.com,
is being run by the UK Careleavers Association and is based on the
schools reunion website, Friends Reunited.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 4
TV documentary reveals shocking truth about girl
gangs
Girl gangs involved in stealing cars, tormenting Jewish people and
starting fights are revealed in a BBC documentary this week.
Rudegirls is on BBC2 at 9pm on 9 December
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 4
Fine art of change
She’s been a government minister for only six months, but already
Fiona Mactaggart has made her mark. Tash Shifrin asks her about the
charities bill
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 6
Debts of gratitude
People denied credit by mainstream lenders are hit hardest by the
spend culture, but a scheme in Blackburn offers an alternative to
doorstep loan companies.
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 7
Time sensitive
Housing associations are being urged to engage communities in the
historic aspect of their homes, as a way of developing a  sense of
community pride
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday3 December page 8
What else can I do?
Claire loves working in primary care, but she’s been at the same
practice for five years and doesn’t want to get stuck in a rut.
Debbie Andalo comes to her aid
Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 3 December page 104
Scottish newspapers
Disabled woman’s caravan ordeal
A landlord has been accused of treating a disabled woman and her
family like second-class citizens after failing to provide adequate
support when their home was flooded.
Scottish Borders Housing Association is carrying out a programme of
repairs on Bannerfied Estate, forcing Jackie McCormick and her
three teenage children to live in a caravan.
The clean up operation following floods in May is set to cost
around £1.5 million, but SBHA denied claims from tenants that
it has mismanaged the restoration programme.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 3 December
Judge clears way for bid to rub out ‘secret’
adoption
A man’s attempt to wipe out his “secret” adoption
more than 50 years ago has been given the go-ahead by a
judge.
Alexander Cameron began a fight for a share of a £110,000
estate after his natural brother died in 1999. He died before
yesterday’s ruling, but it is believed his widow will pursue
the claim.
Adoptees are not entitled to a share of the estate of their natural
family, but the court heard that Cameron only learned he had been
adopted when he contacted lawyers following his natural
brother’s death.
Lord Drummond Young ruled at the Court of Session that an adoption
order could be declared null and void if based on some kind of
fraud. Cameron’s lawyers should be given the opportunity to
prove a claim that his “signature” had been forged on a
form consenting on his adoption at the age of 21, he added.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 3 December
Blindcraft walk-out sparks closure call
A council-run factory at the centre of a bitter industrial dispute
involving blind and disabled workers should be closed for good, it
was claimed today.
Dozens of workers at BlindCraft plant were set to strike this
afternoon for the third time in three weeks amid fears for their
future jobs.
But opposition councillors said the action was only damaging the
case for continued local authority funding and urged city leaders
to “strongly consider” pulling the plug on future
funding.
Source:- Edinburgh Evening News Tuesday 2 December
Immigrants take to roof for protest
Three asylum seekers staged a roof-top protest at an immigration
centre in Lanarkshire today.
It is understood the protesters were Algerian asylum seekers and
the demonstration lasted around three hours.
Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action Against Housing, said
the demonstration illustrated the anger of the detainees.
Source:- Edinburgh Evening News Tuesday 2 December
Festive crackdown as drug-driving soars
Driving under the influence of drugs has increased 10-fold in
Scotland because of an “explosion” in the recreational
use of substances, research has found.
At least 300 people a year are now reported for driving after
taking drugs such as cannabis and heroin, compared with 30 in
1985.
An advertising campaign designed to raise awareness about the
dangers of drink and drug driving will be launched next week.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 3 December
Council bypasses union over nursery nurses
Glasgow Council has bypassed union representatives and written
directly to 1,200 nursery nurses in the city’s 123 centres in
a bid to end the current dispute.
Ronnie O’Connor, director of education services, said he had
outlined a pay and grading offer in letters directly to nursery
nurses because their Unison representatives had so far refused to
discuss a local resolution.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 3 December
Welsh newspapers
‘Here’s How You’ve Got To
Improve’
Cardiff council has been given a list of improvements to be made to
children’s services in the city.
Graham Williams, chief social services inspector for Wales, has
written to the council outlining the targets that need to be met
and arrangements for monitoring improvements.
Children’s services in the Welsh capital were recently the
subject of a damming inspection report by the Social Services
Inspectorate for Wales.
Source:- South Wales Echo Tuesday 2 December page 11
Fury as secure unit wins planning battle
The Youth Justice Board has been given the go-ahead to build a
controversial secure training unit for young offenders in the Vale
of Neath.
Opponents of the scheme have vowed to fight on claiming that around
99.9 per cent of local people were opposed to the secure
unit.
The unit that is earmarked for the Glynneath Business Park is
expected to provide 300 hundred jobs and accommodate up to 100
young offenders.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 3 December page 3
AM calls for inquiry into equality group’s
activities
A Tory assembly member (AM) has renewed his call for an
investigation into a race equality group.
Monmouth AM David Davies has learnt that an officer employed to
obtain European grants for the All Wales Ethnic Minority
Association (Awema) has so far failed to raise any money.
The group was set up three years ago and has received more than
£1 million in finding from the assembly and the Home Office.
David Davies is calling for a thorough review of Awema’s
resources and the way they have been spent.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 3 December page 3
Labour promise to provide free home care for disabled
‘may be unlawful’
A Welsh assembly pledge to provide free home care for
disabled people could be unlawful,l according to a senior assembly
member (AM).
David Melding, chairperson of the health and social services
committee, said that a leaked document showed that health minister
Jane Hutt had been advised that the pledge could be seen as
infringing local authorities’ right to charge for
services.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 3 December page 5