Tuesday 26 October 2004

By Maria Ahmed, Lauren Revans, Clare Jerrom and Amy
Taylor

EU dilutes commitment to common asylum policy

The goal of having a centralised system for processing asylum
applications for Europe has been reaffirmed at a meeting of
European Union interior ministers.

However, many of the crucial details were left open for future
debate after Britain and other countries expressed concern about
giving up national control over immigration policies.

The final wording of the EU’s justice and home affairs
programme will be discussed by EU leaders in Brussels next
week.

Source:- Financial Times Tuesday 26 October page 4

High level of interest in spite of lower number of
applications

Interest in the asylum issue has remained high despite the number
of applications for asylum continuing to fall.

Figures for the second quarter of 2004 reveal an 11 per cent fall
in applications from the previous quarter and a 26 per cent fall on
the same quarter the previous year.

However, Neil Durkin of human rights organisation Amnesty
International said the debate was not just about numbers, but
something “close to xenophobia”.

Source:- Financial Times Tuesday 26 October page 4

Inmates routinely seize control of jail

Inmates at Lindholme prison routinely seized control of a wing of
the jail at night, according to a scathing report by chief
inspector of prisons Anne Owers.

She called fro action to be taken to curb the drug abuse and
serious drinking taking place at the jail in South Yorkshire.

Source:- Independent  Tuesday 26 October page 8

Six-year-old offenders will be sent to army-style boot
camps

Youngsters as young as six years old will be sent to military style
training camps under a government plan to introduce discipline in
disruptive children.

Young offenders who commit crimes such as shop lifting or joy
riding will be sent to the camp as part of their sentence.

The programme will also be tailored to primary school children
showing early signs of aggressive or disruptive behaviour.

Those who successfully complete the course will be offered a place
with a military cadet force.

Source:- Independent  Tuesday 26 October page 15

Sex abuse by PC

A police officer was jailed for six years for sexually abusing
under-age girls.

PC Julian Glynn was found guilty at Northampton Crown Court of 12
charges involving indecency and assault against girls aged seven to
14-years-old at his home in Leicestershire between 1988 and
1994.

Source:-The Times Tuesday 26 October 2004 page 12

Juries may be told of previous convictions

Juries in trials for a range of offences for child sex offences or
under the Theft Act may be told if a defendant has previous
convictions in the same group of crimes under proposed
legislation.

Source:-The Guardian Tuesday 26 October 2004 page 8

Scottish newspapers

Mother wins fight against deportation

A mother who reported her husband for downloading child
pornography yesterday won her fight to remain in Scotland.

Lynn Urquhart and her two daughters faced deportation shortly after
her husband Bruce was convicted for storing hundreds of images on
his computer.

Urquhart, who has since divorced her husband who escaped a jail
sentence, has been told by immigration officials she can stay for
as long as she wants.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 26 October

Attempt to curb binge drinking challenged

A move aimed at reducing binge drinking was defended in court
yesterday.

Aberdeen Council’s licensing board wants to curb happy hours
and other drink promotions. But the board faced claims that it was
exceeding its authority by trying to bring in a price-fixing
rule.

However, Aberdeen’s counsel James Peoples QC told the Court
of Session in Edinburgh that the intention was to reduce antisocial
behaviour around pubs and clubs.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 26 October

Asylum pleas

Two Algerian asylum seekers held on terrorism charges in
2002 and later released will have their applications heard within a
fortnight.

Saleh Moullef and Fouad Lasnami will put their case to the
Immigration Court in Glasgow.

Source:- The Scotsman  Monday 25 October

£6m special school project unveiled

Plans for a £6 million school designed for children with
severe sensory impairment were announced yesterday.

Murray and Alan Dunlop intend to build the school, which will
incorporate the latest educational techniques for pupils who are
blind or have acute visual problems as well as learning, mobility
and hearing difficulties, in parkland in Dumbreck.

Source:- The Herald  Tuesday 26 October

Addicts to be offered treatment instead of prison

Thousands of people will be offered drug treatment instead of
prison in a crackdown on crime to be unveiled later this
week.

Ministers intend to introduce the scheme which gives convicted
offenders the option of regular tests and therapy rather than jail
into every court in Scotland by next summer.

Source:- The Herald  Tuesday 26 October

Sighthill tenants ready to fight against tower block
demolition

Politicians stepped into a row over the future of one of
Scotland’s most deprived areas last night.

Residents of the Sighthill tower block spoke out against plans to
demolish their homes.

But Glasgow Housing Association, which inherited the houses from
Glasgow Council claims demolition is just one of a number of
options being considered.

Source:- The Herald  Tuesday 26 October

Boy’s battle against epilepsy turns into legal
fight

A disabled boy is at the centre of legal action against a
pharmaceutical company after taking a drug which his family claims
has left him with tunnel vision.

Sean McKenzie’s grandmother Moira has lodged a claim for
£100,000 compensation saying that the anti epilepsy drug
Sabril produced by Aventis Pharma has caused the vision problems in
the six year old.

Source:- The Herald  Tuesday 26 October

Scottish police alert on internet child pornography

Police have said they are powerless to stop internet sex offenders
using the internet. They warned that up to four in 10 offenders who
looked at child pornography on the net would go on to abuse
children.

Police also said the sex offender’s register was no guarantee
that offenders would stop abusing children.

Source:-The Daily Record Tuesday 26 October 2004 page
26

Welsh newspapers

Mum hits out as paedophile gets life

A mother has demanded stricter controls on paedophiles released
back into the community after her son was abducted and
abused.

Anthony M Williams, was jailed for life yesterday at Cardiff Crown
Court after 30 years of attacks on children as young as four.
He was charged with 25 sexual offences plus five counts of
abduction. Williams admitted 11 charges including two abductions
and a serious sexual assault.

He attacked the woman’s 11-year-old son when he had been
released back into the community and placed on the sex
offenders’ register.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday October 26

Nurses sacked after patient found hanged

Four nurses have been sacked following an investigation into how a
patient on suicide watch died.

The nurses were dismissed from Bronllys Hospital near Breacon where
Sylyan Money was found hanged in January this year.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 26 October

Crippling strike action in Swansea called off

Planned strike action by council workers in Swansea starting this
week has been called off.

The decision has come after Swansea City and County Council issued
a new “policy statement on managing change”.

Unison’s Swansea organiser Jeff Baker said that the document
contained assurances about privatisation and redundancies that the
union had been asking for over the past three years.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 26 October