Thursday 6 May 2004

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex
Dobson.

Call for equality watchdog to be given sharp teeth
The proposed single equality body should have far reaching
powers to safeguard human rights and back legal cases against
companies, the joint committee on human rights has
recommended.
The government is due to unveil detailed plans for the Commission
for Equality and Human Rights – the body thought to be soon
replacing sex, race and discrimination regulatory bodies.
Source:- The Financial Times Thursday 6 May page 3
HIV harm conviction quashed
The first person found guilty of “biological” grievous
bodily harm for infecting two women with HIV has had his conviction
quashed, but an early retrial has been ordered.
Mohmmed Dica had his appeal quashed on appeal yesterday due to a
legal error at his trial, but three appeal judges ordered an early
retrial and refused an application for bail.
The judges said that they had made the decisions in order to allow
more prosecutions of those who pass on sexually transmitted
diseases recklessly.
Source:- The Financial Times Thursday 6 May page 4
Five child murder cases sent to appeal
A review of 97 cases of women convicted of murdering children has
only sent five to the court of appeal
Almost 300 cases are being reviewed after evidence from
paediatrician Roy Meadow and other experts was called into
question.
Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general, made the announcement
yesterday.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 6 May page 8
Police doctor raped drugged girls, jury told
A police doctor was accused of raping one girl and indecently
assaulting two others and filming the attacks, at Winchester crown
court yesterday.
Robert Wells was also accused of drugging the girls who were aged
from five to 11. It is alleged that the police surgeon, who works
in Southampton and Winchester, was able to gain access to the girls
by befriending their parents.
Source:- The Times Thursday 6 May page 5
Old people tangled up by care rules
Older people are missing out on thousands of pounds of state
support due to being confused over the complicated funding
arrangements for long-term care.
A survey by the consumer magazine ‘Which?’ found that
460,000 people in nursing and care homes, and their families did
not understand the arrangements.
Source:- The Times Thursday 6 May page 13
Scottish newspapers
A haze of ignorance for young drinkers
Young adult drinkers are unaware of how much alcohol they consume,
a survey by a drinks company has revealed.
The study by Diageo shows 18 to 24 year olds are blissfully
ignorant about alcohol units and consumption. More than a third had
no idea how many units they drank in an average week.
A third of those surveyed admitted that drinking too much has left
them unable to do their jobs properly the following day on at least
one occasion during the past year.
Source:- The Herald  Thursday 6 May
Teachers appeal for childcare help
Teachers will call for subsidised childcare facilities to make
teacher recruitment easier.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association will debate a
motion at its annual congress next week urging local authorities to
provide high quality childcare facilities.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 May
Council evicts hunger strike asylum seeker
One of three Kurdish asylum seekers who went on hunger strike
earlier this year was evicted from his home yesterday.
Faroq Haidari was ejected from his bed-sit by sheriff officers
acting on behalf of the council.
Fariborz Gravindi and Mokhtar Haydary, who joined Haidari in hunger
strike in protest at the rejection of their asylum application,
also face eviction.
Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 May
Accused mother launches legal challenge against
controversial abuse theory
A mother accused of trying to murder her baby is to challenge the
discredited theory of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy in the
Scottish courts.
A writ has been lodged at Glasgow sheriff court as the woman will
challenge her accusers in a bid to clear her name. Two of her
children were taken into care after doctors said she was suffering
MSBP.
The action could open the floodgates to damages claims dating back
30 years.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 6 May
Prison service ‘predicted Reliance release
errors’
The Scottish prison service anticipated that Reliance Security
would mistakenly release prisoners, it emerged last night.
Amidst speculation that Reliance negotiated a clause in their
multi-million pound contract with the Scottish executive to escort
prisoners to give a leeway of a limited number of such blunders,
sources in the SPS revealed that such mistakes simply “go
with the territory”.
A senior SPS official said the reality of escorting large volumes
of prisoners between court and prison is that mistakes will be
made.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 6 May
New 700 cell prison wins backing in West
Lothian
Planning permission for a 700-cell high security prison in West
Lothian was granted planning permission yesterday.
West Lothian Council backed plans for the development and the plans
will now be referred to Scottish ministers for consideration.
Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 6 May
Nursery nurses set to vote after pay talks hit
stalemate
Striking nursery nurses in the capital are set to vote on a pay
deal after negotiations hit a stalemate.
Neither Edinburgh Council chiefs or union bosses were prepared to
move at a meeting yesterday. Union representatives said strike
action will now continue for at least two weeks while members are
balloted on the deal.
Source:- Evening News Wednesday 5 May
City’s £2m for mental health
fight
Edinburgh Council is set to fund 44 mental health projects in the
capital from a £2 million pot.
The cash will help projects funded by the Mental Illness Specific
Grant which gives support to self-help schemes, drop-in centres and
initiatives to help people with mental health problems to return to
employment.
Source:- Evening News Wednesday 5 May
Who cares wins
The ‘Daily Record’ has today launched a campaign to
stop care workers abusing older people in their care.
The newspaper has joined forced with public sector union Unison,
and care staff and worried relatives can now report suspected cases
of abuse to the Unison website.
The Care Alert page has an online form for people to report
complaints in confidence.
The move follows an investigation by the ‘Daily
Record’, which revealed a catalogue of abuse in care homes
and astounding examples of bad practice.
Source:- Daily Record  Thursday 6 May page 10 and 11
Welsh newspapers
Boy betrayed by lay reader
Church officials are reviewing their policies after a lay reader
admitted indecently assaulting a 16-year-old boy.
Darren Jenkins, of Pontnewynydd, in south Wales, has been placed on
the sex offenders register after admitting the offence against the
boy. A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said that they would be
reviewing their policies following the incident and that the safety
of children and young people was paramount.
Source:- South Wales Argus Wednesday 5 May page 1
Not in the public eye doesn’t mean it hasn’t
been effective
Children’s minister Margaret Hodge has accused Welsh
children’s commissioner, Peter Clarke of becoming
‘bogged down’ by small issues, when she gave evidence
to the House of Commons Welsh affairs committee.
Clarke has responded by detailing the work that has been carried
out in Wales on behalf of children, and he says that he is
perplexed by the minister’s comments, which he says reflect a
lack of understanding of his role.
Source:- Western Mail Thursday 6 May page 2