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“Kirk slams soundbites in yob fight: A Kirk report on antisocial behaviour urges politicians to look at what works rather than indulge in easy soundbites. The Church of Scotland is set to call for better back-up for children?s hearings and more emphasis on restorative justice - making offenders face up to their crimes. . .” Evening News
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Apr 2004 at 9:51 pmUpdate
“McConnell pledge in arrest warrants row: The scandal of more than 5000 alleged criminals walking around Strathclyde because police have not enforced arrest warrants is being tackled, First Minister Jack McConnell has said. . .” Evening Times
“Police struggle to serve 40,000 warrants: Almost 40,000 criminal warrants are outstanding in Scotland as police forces struggle to clamp down on offenders who routinely skip court appearances . . .” Scotsman
Following posted 28.4.04
“5000 warrants for arrest not served: Police have failed to serve more than 5000 arrest warrants on people wanted on criminal charges in Strathclyde. There are also more than 20,000 warrants outstanding for offenders who haven’t paid fines. The figures were uncovered by Glasgow Tory MSP Bill Aitken after parliamentary questions to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson. . .” Evening Times
The link will go up when available.
“Plan to save kids from life of crime: Primary school children at risk of becoming criminals are being targeted by a pioneering scheme. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has officially opened the Renfrewshire Primary Support Project, which is run by children’s charity, NCH Scotland . . .” Evening Times
“Initiative to prevent young offending: A crime cutting initiative to identify potential young offenders is being launched today. Children under 12-years-old who have a high risk of turning to crime will be targeted under the scheme developed by NCH Scotland. The charity will work with both juveniles and their families in a bid to stabilise their behaviour. . .“Scottish TV
Press release
“Innovative crime busting project . .:” [. . .] The Renfrewshire Primary Support Project is funded by the Scottish Executive’s Youth Crime Prevention Fund . . .“NCH Scotland
“Evidence behind the landmark judgement” Press and Journal
“MSP’s warning over slopping-out victory” Evening Times
“Former prisoner wins legal battle over slopping out: [. . .] But in an exclusive interview, Robert Napier’s victim has told Scotland Today she is outraged a Judge awarded compensation for outdated toilet facilities he described as “inhumane and degrading.” . . .” Scottish TV
?3M jail slops payout” Daily Record
“Sloppy justice: Armed thug wins bigger payout than robbery victim.” Daily Record
“Degrading practice facing Scots inmates.” Daily Record
“Prison ruling paves way for costly claims: A landmark legal judgment, which ruled that the practice of “slopping-out” breaches a prisoner?s human rights, could pave the way for thousands of compensation claims costing the taxpayer millions of pounds, it emerged last night. . .” Scotsman
“Judge?s slopping out ruling”. Herald.
“An outdated practice: The judgment was as unequivocal as it was damning. The conditions under which the prisoner was detained had damaged his human rights and dignity, and had caused him to feel anxious, anguished, inferior and humiliated. . .” Herald. Opinion.
Press release
“Napier judgement on prison conditions: The Executive has today given its initial reaction to the judgement of Lord Bonomy in the Napier case concerning slopping out in prisons. . .” Scot. Exec.
Following posted on 26.4.04.
“Prisoner wins ‘slopping out’ case: The Scottish Executive is facing huge compensation claims after a judge ruled that “slopping out” in jails amounted to degrading treatment.
In a judgement to be delivered later on Monday, Lord Bonomy has awarded ?2,400 to a prisoner at Barlinnie Jail in Glasgow . . .” BBC
See also
CjScotland: Decision imminent on slopping-out case: compensation implications for SPS. Posted on 1.3.04.
Posted by MM on Tue 27th Apr 2004 at 2:41 pmPress release
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission marked its fifth anniversary with a reception in the Signet Library, Edinburgh . . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
“Courts shake-up puts bobbies back on beat” Evening News
“Police on call for court could save ?140,000 a year: A scheme to prevent police officers wasting time in court waiting rooms could save Scottish forces up to ?140,000 a year, it was revealed yesterday. A pilot project to allow officers to remain at stations while waiting to appear as witnesses has already saved more than 2,700 hours of police time in four months. . .” Scotsman
Posted by MM on Tue 27th Apr 2004 at 2:07 pm“Commissioner vows ‘no playing safe’ over youth: Scotland’s first Children?s commissioner yesterday rejected suggestions that she lacked sufficient powers to change government policy. . .” Scotsman 27.4.04.
“Children’s tsar questions tagging: Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner has marked her first day in office by questioning the need for new anti-social behaviour measures. Professor Kathleen Marshall told a conference in Edinburgh that plans to tag unruly children and give police more powers to disperse groups of youths are “punitive” measures. . .” BBC
“Children’s champion takes up post: Scotland’s new Children’s Commissioner takes up her post today with a talk-in to debate her role and responsibilities. . .” Evening Times
“Tsar’s alert on children’s punishments: Scotland’s first “children?s tsar” marked her first day in office today by challenging the growth of “punitive” measures towards youngsters. Professor Kathleen Marshall demanded a “sea change” in attitudes towards youngsters from those charged with addressing their needs, in her first speech as Commissioner for Children & Young People in Scotland. . .” Evening News
“Child welfare chief threatens to bring in UN over Dungavel: Scotland’s new Children?s Commissioner has threatened to report ministers who fail to address problems surrounding the care of youngsters at the controversial Dungavel detention centre to the United Nations [. . .] Marshall [. . .] is also planning to oppose the Scottish Executive?s plans to curb street violence as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill (Scotland), which she believes will give police powers to needlessly persecute youngsters. . .” Scotland on Sunday
“New children?s tsar slams Executive?s youth justice plans: The official champion of Scotland?s children begins her new job this week with a stinging rebuke to ministers for their approach to youth crime. Professor Kathleen Marshall has spoken of her concern that young people will be branded criminals without breaking any law, and that the justice system as it affects children is turning into a punitive attack which breaks international agreements on human rights. . .” Sunday Herald
“Children’s champion threatens ministers with UN” Herald
“Children’s tsar gives a warning to Executive on Dungavel” Scotsman
Press release
“A Children?s Champion? The role of the Children?s Commissioner” Children 1st
See also
Children’s Champion: Conference details.
The Children’s Commissioner does not yet seem to have a web site. Please get in touch if you find one. Thanks.
Update
“Parental anger management plan: Parents could be forced to attend anger management classes under new powers being considered for Scotland’s children’s hearing system. The Scottish Executive said it forms part of its review of children’s panels. . .” BBC 26.4.04
Following posted on 22.4.4.
“Executive launches children?s hearings review: The Scottish Executive yesterday launched a review of the children’s hearings system to see how it can be improved.
It follows calls by Jack McConnell, the first minister, for the system ? which works with vulnerable and offending children ? to be modernised. . .” Herald 23.4.04
“Children’s hearings under review: Ministers have launched the first major review of Scotland’s children’s hearings system since it was established more than 30 years ago.
Public meetings will be held across the country to gather views before firm proposals on the future shape of the system are developed. . .” BBC
“Review of children’s system launched: A review aimed at modernising Scotland’s internationally-renowned children’s hearing system was launched today. . .” Evening Times
“Fears over future of child hearings: Ministers were today urged not to undermine Scotland?s distinctive children?s hearings as they launched a major review of the system. Critics fear the Scottish Executive?s drive to crack down on youth crime and antisocial behaviour could mean a reduced role for children?s panels, set up more than 30 years ago to replace juvenile courts. . .” Evening News
“Children’s Panel to be reviewed: Grampian TV
“Aberdeen public urged to have their say: People in Aberdeen were today urged to have their say in a major review of Scotland’s children’s hearings system, to ensure it provides the best possible support for vulnerable youngsters in the 21st century.
[. . .] Minister for Young People Peter Peacock and deputy minister Euan Robson will participate in a number of public meetings around the country over the coming months to hear views on what changes are needed to the current system. . .” Grampian TV
“Review of children’s hearing system” Scottish TV
Press release
“Review of children’s hearings system: A review of Scotland’s children?s hearings system was launched today to ensure it provides the best possible support for vulnerable youngsters in the 21st century. . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Children’s Hearing Review
Where’s Kilbrandon now? Review by NCH Scotland 2003.
Children in Scotland
Review closes on 21.7.04.
“Fear of crime makes UK most watched country in Europe: British people are living in greater fear of crime than any other European nation, an anxiety that is fuelling the massive increase in closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a two-year study has revealed. The preliminary findings by the European Commission’s Urbaneye project, disclosed at a CCTV industry conference in Manchester, show that more than 90 per cent of Britons think high street CCTV cameras are a good thing, compared with 48 per cent in Germany, where the law governing their introduction is stricter, and just 24 per cent in Austria. . .” Independent
See also
Posted by MM on Mon 26th Apr 2004 at 3:34 pm“Executive initiative targets sectarianism: Scots schoolchildren are to be targeted in the Executive’s latest initiative to stamp out sectarianism . . .” Scottish TV
“Education hope over sectarianism: The latest initiative aimed at tackle sectarianism is to be unveiled by the Scottish Executive. An anti-sectarian teaching pack for schools is due to be launched on the internet. The issue, which has been viewed as a scourge in Scotland, will be discussed at a conference in Dundee on Monday. . .” BBC
Also
“Sectarian prejudice ‘still taints Scottish society’: Scotland remains blighted by anti-Irish sectarianism, according to a book of essays by some of Celtic’s most distinguished supporters. . .” Herald
Posted by MM on Mon 26th Apr 2004 at 3:19 pm