Drug gang vendetta blamed as boy, 16, is shot dead in city park

October 19, 2007 in Adults, Children, Youth justice

Drug gang vendetta blamed as boy, 16, is shot dead in city park

A 16-year-old boy who was shot dead in a park may have been the victim of a feud between rival drug gangs, it emerged last night.

Source: The Times, Friday 19 October 2007, page 25

GSCE failures

A fifth of teenagers are leaving school without even one good GCSE, a government analysis of exam results has shown.

Source: The Times, Friday 19 October 2007, page 11

Underperforming NHS trusts facing takeover

Alan Johnson, the health secretary, has told the four worst-performing NHS trusts that they face “radical action”, including a possible takeover, unless they improve.

Source: The Times, Friday 19 October 2007, page 15

Violence rising as confidence falls in fight against crime

Violent crime has risen in England and Wales despite a drop in offences overall, Home Office figures revealed yesterday.

Source: The Times, Friday 19 October 2007, page 25

Addicts who stay clean given extra methadone

Cocaine and heroin addicts on a government treatment programme are being offered extra drugs as a reward for good behaviour.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Friday 19 October 2007, page 11

And from newspapers in Wales:

Woman who stabbed violent partner to death is cleared

A 40-year-old woman accused of stabbing her violent husband has been cleared of murder and manslaughter. Wendy Ellis wept at Caernarfon Crown Court after the verdicts were announced. Ellis, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, denied murdering former soldier William McAuley at their home last April.

Source: Western Mail, Friday 19 October 2007

Apology over missing boy with Down’s syndrome

A children’s charity has apologised after a boy with Down’s syndrome went missing during an outing.

Alexander Payne, 11, who has a mental age of two, disappeared during a visit to Roath Park in Cardiff. He was taken on the trip by NCH. The police were called and Alexander was found 40 minutes after wandering off.

Source: Western Mail, Friday 19 October 2007