Wednesday 3 November 2004

By Clare Jerrom and Amy Taylor

Rebel MPs fail to win total ban on smacking

MPs decided last night that parents will face prosecution if
they smack their child hard enough to leave a mark. However, a move
by Labour MPs to introduce an outright ban on smacking was
defeated.

Source:- The Times  Wednesday 3 November

Teenager who killed himself had a history of
self-harm

A teenager who had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts
killed himself in prison days after being put in a single cell to
chill out, an inquest was told yesterday. Philip Rustell was taken
off suicide watch despite suffering from paranoia, threatening to
kill his cell mate and refusing to take his medication, the hearing
was told. He was found hanging in his cell at Reading Young
Offender Institution in January.

Source:- Independent Wednesday 3 November

Bereaved mothers complain vulnerable children in custody
treated like animals

 A public inquiry into the way children are treated in the
criminal justice system was yesterday urged by the mothers of two
teenage boys who killed themselves while in detention. 
Yvonne Scholes, whose son Joseph hanged himself in Stoke Heath
Young Offender Institution, told a parliamentary meeting that the
issue was a national scandal being whitewashed by the government.
Carol Pounder, whose son Adam Rickwood became the youngest person
to die in custody earlier this year, said an inquiry was needed to
establish what was going wrong.

Source:- Independent  Wednesday 3 November

Drug treatment funds being wasted

Drug treatment courses are being abandoned by almost half of
addicts. A report by the Audit Commission found that too many drug
users start rehab programmes but drop out for avoidable reasons

Source:- Daily Mail  Wednesday 3 November

Scottish newspapers

Police chiefs call for tighter control on sex
offenders

Tighter regulations on sex offenders were urged by chief police
officers yesterday following several high profile cases of children
being assaulted. The Association of Chief Police Officers in
Scotland believes new legislation may be necessary. Acpos
spokesperson on sex offenders Bob Ovens says current methods to
register sex offenders are too restrictive and he believes
ministers should consider legislation to force sex offenders to
comply with tighter regulations and supervision from social
work.

Source:- The Herald  Wednesday 3 November

Porn ban call

Adult pornography should be banned, according to a group of
MSPs. The equal opportunities committee yesterday supported a
petition claiming there are links between porn and sexual crimes
against women and children. The committee is to launch an
inquiry.

Source:- The Scotsman  Wednesday 3 November page 10

Welsh newspapers

Girl, 13, supplied drugs to schoolboy who
died

A 13-year-old girl yesterday admitted supplying drugs to three
people, one of whom later died. The girl, who cannot be named for
legal reasons, pleaded guilty to supplying diamorphine and
tranquilisers at Swansea Crown Court. Michael Edwards,16, later
died at a house near Aberystwyth.

Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 3 November

Prisons concern

The Welsh Assembly Government has asked Westminster to listen to
concerns about the housing of sex offenders in open prisons. Social
justice minister Edwina Hart has written to the Home Office voicing
concerns about the transferring of sex offenders to open prison HMP
Prescoed near Usk.

Source:- Western Mail Wednesday 3 November