22
child death convictions reviewed by Crown Office
THE
cases of 22 child killers in Scotland, including the killing of
Edinburgh baby Caleb Ness, have been investigated by the Crown
Office in an unprecedented review of prosecutions.
It
comes after a wide-ranging inquiry into child deaths in England
where defendants, usually mothers, were convicted on the back
of controversial evidence. There is increasing concern among lawyers
that the courts have relied on discredited medical theory which
has seen a number of innocent parents jailed for murder.
more
New
Director for Leeds
Leeds
Social Services, the second largest metropolitan department in
England and Wales is getting a new Director of Social Services.
Rosemary
Archer replaces Keith Murray who retired in April after 24 years
with the department.
Rosemary
began work in social services in 1974 in a day centre for people
with learning difficulties. She gained a social work diploma,
but also resumed study in 1978 to get a degree and MBA with the
OU over the following ten years.
She
moved to Hampshire Social Services in 1982 where she was involved
in developing community care services for adults and older people.
In 1993, she became assistant director responsible for all social
services in that area. Rosemary came to North Yorkshire in 1996
to be Director of Social Services.
Rosemary
Archer takes up her new job as Director of Leeds Social Services
on July 1st 2004.
Youth
crime team rated best in UK
A team dedicated to reducing youth crime is celebrating being
named as the best in the country. West Berkshire Youth Offending
Team (YOT) has been ranked top of the nationwide performance tables
for the first four months of 2004.
The team is staffed by around 40 workers and volunteers.
The YOT deal with around 200 young criminals each year with the
aim of preventing them re-offending. Their success rate is 82%.
The team works closely with young people, drawing on information
and expertise from police, probation, health, social services
and education.
Many are given a “final warning” by police —
after which the YOT works to see they stay out of trouble.
Davy Pearson, YOT team manager at West Berkshire Council, said:
“It is very satisfying for the work of the team to be recognised”.
“The success of the team relates to a firm belief in the
ability to change behaviour”.
“We have shown that this is possible and that working in
this way can achieve the long term benefits needed to make a real
difference.” more
BEWARE
- LOW-FLYING BISCUIT ...!
Athens may be the target for most Olympic athletes this summer
- but world-class biscuit pitchers will be heading for northern
Lincolnshire.
For
the fiercest of all international sporting challenges - the World
Biscuit Throwing Championships - are coming to Brocklesby Park
for the first time next month. With all the parading, spectacle
and razzmatazz, rivalry is intense as strapping contestants work
up a sweat to hurl a Hob Nob or chuck a chocolate Digestive.
But
while that is acceptable for a warm-up, when it comes to the crunch
they must use only an official McVitie's Rich Tea to heave their
way into history. more
'Grand
theft auto' strikes Kiddieland
Thieves drive off with miniature
vehicles from kids' ride
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Christmas
is long past, but area children who go to Carthage Kiddieland
will find that some Grinch was there first.
The
children's car ride has three empty spaces after someone stole
some of the little vehicles from a storage shed at Kiddieland
in Carthage Municipal Park. more
Youth
offender institution guards 'laid bets on fights in cells'
An investigation has begun into claims that prison officers at
a young offenders' institution put black and white youths in the
same cell and then placed bets on when they would start fighting.
Guards at Feltham Young Offender Institution — already being
investigated over the racist murder of an inmate by his cell companion
— are also said to have placed “unsuitable”
inmates together, such as someone with a history as a victim of
sexual abuse and another on remand for sex charges, according
to reports in The Sun newspaper.
A “Feltham insider” told the newspaper that a handful
of officers had allegedly been involved in the game, which was
called “Gladiators” or “Colosseum”. more
Study
reveals children in care problems
Almost half of all children in care in Scotland have a mental
disorder, according to official figures. The Office for National
Statistics (ONS) found 45% of those aged five to 17 years looked
after by Scottish councils had a mental illness.
Of those with a problem 38% had significant conduct disorders,
16% had emotional disorders, anxiety and depression and 10% were
hyperactive.
The Scottish Executive survey was the first to look at the issue
in Scotland.
The study compared the health of children in residential care,
foster care, those living with their birth parents and those living
independently under local authority supervision. more
