Mother faces jail for giving heroin to young son

Mother faces jail for giving heroin to young son
A mother who admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to her son from the age of nine is likely to serve a long prison sentence. The role of East Sussex social services was also brought into question after it emerged in court that concerns for the boy were not acted on quickly. The boy, now 12, is in foster care and said to be doing well.
Source:- The Independent, Thursday 17 August 2006, page 18

Housing associations urged to tackle antisocial behaviour
Housing associations are being asked to sign a contract promising to stamp out yobbish behaviour on their estates.
It aims to make life more bearable for the tenants of Britain’s eight million council and housing association properties.
Private landlords are also being encouraged to sign up and tackle antisocial behaviour in the homes they rent out.
The Respect standard is being launched today by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly in Bolton.
Source:- Daily Mirror, Thursday 17 August 2006, page 4

Rising household bills add to pressure on consumers struggling with debts
Calls to debt advice agencies rose significantly last year as rising household bills took their toll on people in financial difficulties, a government report into indebtedness has said.
It said calls to helpline National Debtline rose by 43 per cent and that a “small and growing minority” of people “show signs of financial distress”.
Source:- Financial Times, Thursday 17 August 2006, page 3

No 10 has second thoughts on early release of 30,000 inmates
Downing Street was blocking last night the announcement of Home Office proposals for the early release of 30,000 prisoners to ease the overcrowding in jails.
Source:- The Times, Thursday 17 August 2006, page 8

Father charged with murdering son, 6, in leap from hotel balcony
A man from Bristol has been charged with murdering his six-year-old son
after allegedly jumping from a balcony with his two children while on holiday in Crete.
John Hogan, 32, has been charged with the murder of his son Liam, and the attempted murder of his daughter, who is being treated in hospital.
Source:- Daily Telegraph, Thursday 17 August 2006, page 3

Scottish news

Nationalists win help of man behind free care for elderly
The Scottish National Party has employed the architect of the policy of free personal care for the elderly, Lord Sutherland, to help draft a future review.
Lord Sutherland, chairman of the Royal Commission that created the ground-breaking framework for long-term care in Scotland, has agreed to help draw up a remit for reviewing the way the scheme is working.
The party’s Holyrood leader, Nicola Sturgeon, announced the development while she was addressing an event to outline SNP policies for the next election.
Source:- The Herald, Thursday 17 August 2006

Crime committed by young girls doubles
New figures reveal that 4611 offences were committed by teenage girls under 16 last year in the west of Scotland – a rise of almost 50 per cent over the past three years.
The figures from Strathclyde police show offences by young boys also increased significantly. Last year there were 16,579 boys referred to the Children’s Reporter Administration compared with 14,061 two years previously.
The most common crime among young people was breach of the peace, with more than 5000 incidents last year. There was also a 14 per cent rise in those caught in possession of offensive weapons.
Source:- The Herald, Thursday 17 August 2006

Welsh news
 
No social care stories today.