THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2006

Children can access hardcore porn via mobile
Children could be using their mobile phones to access hardcore pornography websites, consumer groups have warned. An investigation by Which? magazine found that mobile phones were contravening their own rules by failing to protect young users from adult content.
Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 4

Poll reveals conflict between choice and well-funded public services
The conflict over the role of choice in public services – one of the central disputes in Labour’s education reform controversy – was laid bare yesterday when a leading Blairite minister argued that choice was the route to securing greater social mobility, but Britain’s largest union Unison produced polling evidence to claim the public regarded choice as an irrelevance.
Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 13

Banned from talking to all women
A man has been banned from talking to all women after he admitted exposing himself to a young student on the Isles of Scilly. Thomas Brown, 43, was given the antisocial behaviour order at Truro crown court, Cornwall – thought to be the first of its kind. It states he is not allowed to “approach or engage in conversation any female except his immediate family in the United Kingdom.”
Source:- The Daily Mirror, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 16

Cigarette ban for under 18s
Ministers are to raise the age at which youngsters can buy cigarettes fom 16 to 18, the government signalled last night.
Source:- Daily Mail, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 1

Devoted care home pair reunited
An elderly couple forced to live apart because of social services red tape are to be reunited.
Source:- Daily Mail, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 7

Sickness benefit claims up 20 fold
The number of people receiving sickness benefit for more than five years has risen 20-fold since Labour came to power, a written parliamentary answer has disclosed.
Source:- Daily Mail, Thursday 2 February 2006, page 7

Scottish news

Plan to widen sex offenders’ register
Information about people who associate with known paedophiles could be included within the sex offenders’ register, under proposals being considered by the Scottish executive.
The move is understood to be one of the recommendations on reform of the child protection system. Leisure interests of sex offenders – such as swimming or football – might also be added to the register.
The reforms, likely to be unveiled in a consultation next month, will be part of the response to the Bichard Inquiry into the Soham murders in August 2002.
Source:- The Herald, Thursday 2 February 2006

Generations game for health MoT
A recruitment drive to find 50,000 volunteers for the UK’s largest family heathcare study has been launched in Scotland.
Doctors and scientists are aiming to create a huge database of DNA and patient information to help pinpoint who is most at risk from common conditions such as heart disease, cancer and mental illness.
If successful, the programme could help doctors predict what illnesses people are likely to get by reading their genes and then provide preventive treatment and lifestyle advice.
Source:- The Herald, Thursday 2 February 2006

Boxes blitz on beggars
Aberdeen Council is to put collection boxes on the streets of the city in an attempt to encourage people to put money in them rather than give it to beggars.
The council, whose proposal to ban begging was vetoed by the Scottish executive last month, say all money will go to homeless people. But Shelter Scotland said donating to beggars is a matter for individual choice.
Source:- The Record, Thursday 2 February 2006

Welsh news

Schizophrenic claim in murder case
A woman accused of murdering a man in a shop in Cardiff is a schizophrenic, a court heard yesterday.
Deborah Hancock’s solicitor said that she had not taken her medication on the day of the attack.
Hancock, 44, is accused of murdering pensioner Valerie Thomas in the Poundstretcher store in the city.
Source:- Western Mail, Thursday 2 February 2006

Bid to declare curfew zone in city centre
Swansea council is set to make the city centre into a curfew zone for children at night. Under the measure children under 16 found in the city centre after 9pm will be ordered home and any groups of two could face jail.
Source:- Western Mail, Thursday 2 February 2006