Asylum riots could be repeated, report warns

By Mithran Samuel, Maria Ahmed and Amy Taylor

Riots which erupted at Harmondsworth and Campsfield House immigration removal centres over the past year could happen again due to overcrowding, poor physical conditions and problems handling casework, a Home Office-commissioned report has found.

The study called for better staff training, more information and legal representatives for detainees and tighter controls on foreign prisoners held with people refused asylum.

The disturbances at Campsfield in March led to a block being destroyed and followed extensive damage at Harmondsworth last November.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 26 July 2007 page 19

Rural England to lose 35 councils

The government will create nine new unitary authorities across England with powers over all local government functions, including social care and housing.

The move will lead to the abolition of 35 councils in current two-tier areas, where county councils run adult and children’s services and district councils run housing and a range of environmental services.

Source:- The Financial Times Thursday 26 July 2007 page 4 

The government announced an extra £1.4bn in extended schools funding yesterday, ahead of today’s publication of a youth strategy designed to engage young people in positive activities.

The announcement came as a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research called for a legal extension to the school day so that young people would take part in extra-curricular activities, for their own benefit and to curb antisocial behaviour.

The IPPR warned that some young people in Britain would not engage in activities unless forced.

Source:- The Daily Mail Thursday 26 July 2007 page 4

An ITV documentary on 8 August will show a man with Alzheimer’s dying, in what is believed to be the second time this has happened in British television.

The programme includes the death of Malcolm Pointon, a former pianist who died in February, eight years after his battle with Alzheimer’s and his wife Barbara’s care for him were captured in the film, Malcolm and Barbara: A Love Story.

The decision to film his death, by filmmaker Paul Watson, was criticised by Mediawatch UK.

Source:- The Daily Mail Thursday 26 July 2007 page 5

Britain’s benefits system is condemned as “unacceptably complex” in a report from MPs today, which called for the system to be simplified.

The work and pensions committee called for a “wholesale review” of benefits examining which of 40 separate benefits should be scrapped.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Thursday 26 July 2007 page 8

Sex offenders are free to use networking sites, say police

Convicted sex offenders should not be prevented from using social working site such as MySpace, the Metropolitan Police said yesterday.

Source:- The Times, Thursday 26 July 2007, page 9
 
Thousands of jobs to go as councils are scrapped

Ministers face a string of legal challenges after announcing that 35 councils are to be scrapped in a move to streamline services and save £150 million a year.

Source:- The Times, Thursday 26 July 2007, page 25

Welsh news

Pupils fingerprinted without parents’ consent

Welsh pupils as young as four could be fingerprinted without parents being asked for their consent first, it has emerged.

The measure could take place under new guidelines being introduced in schools in Wales. The Data Protection Act does not specify that parental consent must be sought for such a procedure meaning it could take place without parents knowing.

Source:- Western Mail, Thursday, 26 July 2007

Politicians back Remploy workers

Disabled workers hoping to save seven Remploy factories went to Westminster last night to fight for their cause.

Remploy, the government funded company which employs disabled people, has announced proposals to close down factories in Aberdare, Abertillery, Bridgend, Treforest and Wrexham. The Brynamman and Ystradgynlais plants are set to merge with Neath Port Talbot.

Source:- Western Mail, Thursday, 26 July 2007