Tuesday 1 June 2004

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

Care order reviews offer little hope to
parents

An extensive review of the cases of children taken into care is
unlikely despite the doubt cast over expert witness testimony in
such cases, according to research carried out by the Radio 4
Today programme.

After Angela Cannings had her convictions for murdering her two
sons quashed last year in the Court of Appeal, a review of 250
similar murder convictions involving children under two took place
because judges raised concerns about the reliability of expert
evidence.

However, 52 councils contacted by the programme said they would
not be re-opening any of the cases. Nine said none of cases
reviewed would be reopened, and 2 would not rule out reopening
cases.

Children’s Minister Margaret Hodge previously said that
she expected that the number of cases in which previous rulings
were overturned would peak in the hundreds.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, June 1, page
2

Britain Islamphobic 

Britain has become an institutionally Islamophobic society which
demonises Muslims, a report by the Runnymede Trust’s
Commission has found. It recommends more action on employment,
education, policing, legislation, and media.

Source: The Independent, June 1, page 8

Councils to give nuisance neighbours 24-hour councelling
in secure housing

Nuisance neighbours evicted from council homes will have to take
a compulsory rehabilitation course to get re-housed.

The government wants to use powers under the antisocial behaviour
legislation to ensure that they take part in the programme that
will include parenting skills, financial management, and anger
management.

This will take place in a dedicated secure council block with other
problem families. Social workers will provide 24-hour counselling
and family support.

Source: The Guardian, June 1, page 1

Prison service under fire for separating mothers and
their children

The prison service policy of separating mothers from their
babies “sooner rather than later” has come under fire
through a court battle from a reformed drug addict.

Claire Frost, whose story is told in Prisoners’ families,
BBC2, 9pm tonight, launched her legal battle when authorities put
her baby in the care of her parents at nine months.

There are four mother and baby units in English prisons two taking
babies up to 18 months and two up to nine months.
Frost argued early separation breached article 8 of the European
convention on human rights.

Source: The Guardian, June 1, page 6

Scottish newspapers

Scots split over plans to woo immigrants

Jack McConnell’s plans to attract thousands of new
immigrants to Scotland has divided the population, according to a
study.

While one in three does not want to welcome new immigrants, more
than half believe Scotland should encourage them north of the
border.

The survey, conducted by Glasgow-based market research company
MRUK, shows the first minister has work to do in order to convince
the public to support his strategy to revitalise the Scottish
economy.

Source: The Scotsman, Tuesday 1 June

Scots’ welcoming image suffers a blow

Sixty per cent of Scots are concerned that too many incomers
from the EU’s 10 new member states will arrive in Scotland
“putting strain on housing, benefits and other
systems”.

A third of those surveyed by MRUK research company did not think
migrants would help the Scottish economy or contribute to the
funding of services in Scotland.

A similar number did not think migrants would help the Scottish
economy or contribute to the funding of services in Scotland.

Source: The Scotsman, Tuesday 1 June

Quit call over CD details of children

An incident in which documents containing personal details of
primary school children were accidentally distributed to the public
has led to calls for a senior education official to resign.

The children’s names and addresses were included on a CD and
in some cases, photographs and medical details were included.

Angry parents claim the information could easily have fallen into
the hands of strangers, putting the safety of children at risk. One
mother, Jennifer McGregor, said Donald Mackay, Midlothian
Council’s director of education, should quit over the
error.

Source: The Scotsman  Tuesday 1 June

Backlash on yobs forecast

An expert on future trends will predict social austerity and a
return to Victorian family values in response to antisocial
behaviour in a lecture later this week.

Frances Cairncross, a writer and economist, claims Britain’s
liberal society will find itself challenged by increasing
drunkenness, obesity, debt and bad manners.

She predicts that the worldwide rise in numbers of worshippers of
Islam signifies a shift in social attitudes towards stricter
values.

Source: The Scotsman, Tuesday 1 June

Social work staff warn of split confusion

Social workers in Edinburgh have warned of “logistical
chaos” as the council announced two chiefs will take over
different parts of the department.

Child protection services will fall under the control of the
city’s education director, Roy Jobson, as the new director of
children and families services.

Duncan MacAulay, who has been named interim chief social worker,
will take responsibility for social care issues. But union leaders
has warned of a lack of planning in the proposal, which is in
response to the criticism directed at the department in a damning
report into the death of baby Caleb Ness.

They claim the move would cause administrative confusion and could
leave some of the capital’s most vulnerable people at
risk.

Source: Evening News, Monday 31 May

Welsh newspapers

Fit Finns give Rhodri a health fix

Welsh assembly First Minister, Rhodri Morgan is visiting Finland
this week to see at first hand how the country has become the world
leader in public health.

Finland has made health a priority for many years and has achieved
significant success through a range of innovative public health
policies.

Source: Western Mail, Tuesday 1, June page 2

Elderly ‘missed’ by care
providers

Thousands of older vulnerable people in Wales are being
“missed” by the NHS and social services, according to
new research.

The Older People’s Food Survey found 62 per cent of those
questioned found it difficult to afford a healthy diet and 40 per
cent of those
taking part in the research reported finding accessing shops
difficult.

The Welsh Food Alliance who carried out the survey said that local
authorities and community and voluntary groups should work together
to support older people and help them maintain good nutrition in
their own homes.

Source: Western Mail, Tuesday 1, June page 7