Wednesday 19 May 2004

May 19, 2004 in Community Care

By Amy Taylor, Shirley Kumar, Clare Jerrom and Alex
Dobson.

Man who abused child on video escapes prison

A man who was caught on video swinging a young girl around his
head while holding her leg walked free yesterday.
Jamie Thompson was caught by a camera set up by the girl’s
mother.

Thompson, of South Wigston in Leicestershire, was served with a
community rehabilitation order on condition that he seeks treatment
for post traumatic stress disorder at Leicester Crown Court.

Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 19 May page 5

Role for parents in child law change

The role of parents in safeguarding children is to be written
into the Children Bill after concern that the legislation leaves
out the family.
While some see the move as just recognition of parent’s role,
others see it as an opportunity to provide a check on the
states’ ability to act in families.

The Conservative peer Lord Lucus who pushed for the change said:
“Too often the easy solution is taking the child away from
the troubled family, rather than supporting the family. Where the
child might be in danger, fine, but there are many cases in which
the right answer is to work with the family.”

Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 19 May page 6

Clash of Cultures

Margaret Hodge felt confident that the radical agenda for change
in children’s services would be widely applauded. But as
crossfire continues over the proposed new bill, David Brindle hears
how the minister is now setting a 10-year target to achieve her
aims.

Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page
2

Benefit Trap

Private schools can currently claim the tax breaks of charitable
status, yet pressure groups can’t. Tash Shifrin reports on
whether the forthcoming charities bill will address this
imbalance.

Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page
6

Age old conflict

Death threats have been issued over the building of much-needed
social housing for elderly people in Belfast. Laura Haydon reports
on a plan that has inflamed tensions across the city’s
notorious sectarian divide.

Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page
8.

Mixed Emotions

Transracial fostering gained popularity in the 1950s when many
Africans came to Britain and paid for childcare while they studied.
But a new report reveals the unresolved cultural problems it has
caused.

Source:- Society Guardian Wednesday 19 May 2004 page
10

Scottish newspapers

Church’s attack on first minister

Jack McConnell’s address to the General Assembly yesterday
was overshadowed by opposition to his plans to crackdown on
antisocial behaviour.

McConnell became the first first minister to address the annual
assembly on the Mound in Edinburgh but this was overshadowed by
opposition to his high-profile crackdown on troublesome
youngsters.

Although McConnell was invited to watch the proceedings, he did
not stay long enough to hear a report from the Kirk’s church
and nations committee which criticised the use of electronic
tagging for under-16s, set out in the Antisocial Behaviour
(Scotland) Bill.
The first minister was also not present to hear repeated concerns
for the lack of funding for the Scottish youth justice system.