Tuesday 15 June 2004

By Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson

‘Quantum leap’ of Clark death accuser

A paediatrician, who voiced concerns about a father’s role in
the apparent murder of his two sons, was accused yesterday of
making a ‘quantum leap’ by the chair of a General
Medical Council disciplinary panel.

David Southall filed a report to police suggesting that Sally
Clark’s husband Stephen killed their children Harry and
Christopher after watching a documentary about the couple.

At the time Sally Clark was serving a double life sentence for the
murder of the boys although her conviction was quashed as unsafe on
appeal last year.

Chair Denis McDevitt questioned the expert’s research into
the relationship between children’s nosebleeds and
suffocation and suggested the evidence was based on a small study
“without an adequate control”.

The hearing continues.

Source: The Times, Tuesday 15 June, page 7

Drink and drugs at open jail

An inspection report of Hollesley Bay prison in Suffolk has
identified an increasing number of prisoners found under the
influence of drugs and alcohol.

The report said targeted searching and drugs testing at the jail,
described as having an easy going atmosphere, did not always take
place.

Source: The Times, Tuesday 15 June, page 8

Mental health aid

The government has put £2.7 million into a five-year plan to
help people with mental health problems.

Twenty Whitehall departments, agencies and other organisations will
aim to ensure people with mental health problems have equal
opportunities.

Source: The Times  Tuesday 15 June page 8

Jail threat for police chiefs who fail to combat
racism

Fourteen police chief constables will be warned today that they
will face prison unless they stamp out racism in their
forces.

Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality Trevor Phillips will
put the senior officers on notice along with the heads of eight
police authorities and warn them that they must respond or face
being brought before the courts.

The move follows the publication of a damning interim report into
police racism by Sir David Calvert-Smith QC ordered in the wake of
the BBC’s Panorama documentary “The Secret
Policeman” which led to the resignation of nine
officers.

Source: Independent  Tuesday 15 June page 20

Tory reshuffle targets public services

Michael Howard has reshuffled a shadow cabinet in a bid to refocus
the party’s attentions on public services.

The Conservative leader recreated separate shadow cabinet jobs for
health and education to be filled by Andrew Lansley and Tim
Collins. Both portfolios had previously been held by Tim Yeo, who
has moved to environment and transport.

Source: Financial Times  Tuesday 15 June page 2

Police investigate BNP poll leaflet

Claims that a British National Party European election leaflet
contained inflammatory statements that could incite racial hatred
were being investigated by police yesterday.

The Race Equality Council for Gloucestershire complained about the
content of a leaflet sent to homes in the county headed
“Asylum is making Britain explode”.

Source: Financial Times  Tuesday 15 June page 4

Scottish newspapers

Benefits system at root of poverty problem, claims
deprivation study

Tackling the benefits system and giving people new skills could be
ways of eradicating poverty in some of Scotland’s most
disadvantaged areas, it emerged yesterday.

Glasgow has 17 out of 20 of the country’s poorest areas,
including the 10 most deprived, a study found. The Scottish Index
of Multiple Deprivation study identified Queenslie and Banlanark as
the most deprived in the country while Giffnock North in East
Renfrewshire was found to be the least deprived.

Deputy leader of Glasgow Council Jim Coleman said the current
benefits system was the root of the problem as many families in
Glasgow were trapped in the benefits system. Unless they were take
off benefits, retrained and moved into employment, their lifestyles
would stay the same, he added.

Source: The Scotsman  Tuesday 15 June

Prison service fails to release second inmate

The Scottish Prison Service launched a fresh inquiry after claims
that a second inmate was mistakenly locked up longer than he should
have been.

It emerged that a 21-year-old man, who was serving time at
Barlinnie jail in Glasgow, was kept incarcerated for an extra three
days following his release date last December.

The news came after weekend reports that a woman who was cleared at
Glasgow District Court spent an additional week in Cornton Vale
women’s prison.

Source: The Scotsman  Tuesday 15 June

Young mother who killed her two babies gets three years
probation

A mother who killed her two babies escaped a jail sentence
yesterday.

Susan MacLeod killed her daughter between August 1996 and January
1997 and her son between June 1998 and December 1999.

She put the bodies in bin bags and placed them in a wardrobe before
taping the doors shut. MacLeod admitted culpable homicide of her
two children by failing to get proper medical care for them. Her
legal team claimed she had mental health problems because of
childhood abuse.

She was given a three year probation order at the High Court in
Airdrie and as part of the order she has to continue arrangements
for contraceptive care under the supervision of her GP. If she
fails to comply with the order, it is likely she will go to
prison.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 15 June

Social work centre set for move to old water depot

A social work centre in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived
areas is set to move to a water depot next month.

Edinburgh Council’s Craigmillar Social Work Centre is
expected to move to Niddrie Water Depot building at Duddingston
Park after the lease for the current centre ends.

Source:- Evening News  Monday 14 June

Welsh Newspapers

Refugees grateful for city’s welcome

A new study has found that almost all of Newport’s 390
refugees have fled war or persecution. Figures from the Welsh
Refugee Council (WRC) show that three out of four asylum-seekers in
the city are from areas of conflict and the organisation praised
the city for the welcome it has given to refugees.

Source: South Wales Argus Monday 14 June page 13

Child gang threat prompts curfew

One of the first curfews on young people in Wales has been
imposed in Rhymney, near Caerphilly, in an effort to curb
anti-social behaviour.

Gwent police will have the power to disperse groups of two or more,
and youngsters aged under 16 who are not being supervised will have
to adhere to a curfew from 9pm to 6am, or risk being returned home
by officers. Rhymney councillor, Peter Bailie said the curfew was
necessary because of a growing gang culture among some young
people.

Source: Western Mail Tuesday 15 June page 7