Thumbs down for budget from child poverty group

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The budget has not been regarded as an overwhelming success, whether in relation to the proposals contained in it or the presentation of those policies; and it certainly didn’t prove popular with the Child Action Poverty Group.

Its chief executive, Alison Garnham, said that child poverty will still rise by 100,000 per year and that the budget will make no difference in relation to slowing this down. She said that help given to families through the income tax system will be offset by the raids on tax credits that the poorer in society rely on.

The Family and Parenting Institute agrees, it said that the budget announcements on child benefit would not compensate for the tax and benefit changes which were affecting UK families financially. How was the budget for you? Will it affect UK families financially as has been claimed or are you perhaps in the minority who viewed the budget as necessarily harsh in order to reduce the country’s deficit? We’d like to hear what you have to say on the budget. Do let us know.

http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed96627

Huge number of care applications

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New figures have shown the pressure the foster care network is facing with record numbers of care applications being made. Is the fostering network able to withstand the pressure being placed upon it?

A total of 866 care applications were made in March, meaning the annual total is 10,199, the first time it has passed 10,000. Many put the rise directly down to the “Baby P” case of a few years ago; since that time and the subsequent criticism they received, social workers are now seen as more likely to intervene at an earlier stage and put the matter before the courts.

Whilst this may be welcomed in many cases, it has nevertheless placed great strain on the foster care system in the UK and the Fostering Network says that it needs another 7,100 families willing to take children on to cope with the growing numbers. They have also called for more government funding to support the fostering network amid concerns that too many children are being placed in inappropriate households too far from their original families, friends and school.

Are social workers becoming more risk averse and intervening at an earlier stage? If they are it could mean that preventative work currently done is being sacrificed. Social workers themselves argue that a lack of resources is hampering them in their efforts and, rather than intervening too early, cut backs are preventing this so that, by the time they get involved it may be too late. We would like to hear what you have to say about the fostering network. Let us know.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/foster-system-at-breaking-point-as-10000-children-go-into-care-7637593.html

A route to quicker justice

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Plans are being finalised to have single magistrates sitting in places other than courts to try and get cases dealt with quicker.

The current time between a crime being committed and it being dealt with by the courts is 140 days but the government hopes it can bring this down by having magistrates, on their own rather than on a bench of three, dealing primarily with uncontested hearings, sitting in police stations or even in community centres. The measures, which are said to have the backing of the Prime Minister, will go before Parliament in the shape of a White Paper.

The Justice Minister Nick Herbert said that the plans would “localise justice” and would be similar to how magistrates dealt promptly with the thousands who were convicted following last summer’s riots. The Magistrates Association has also voiced its support for the proposals which will “put magistrates back into the heart of the community”.

Are you in favour of this proposal? Does justice have to be more “local”? I can see the logic behind getting such cases dealt with quicker though I’m not sure why magistrates have to get “out and about” to localise justice. Any thoughts?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9251450/Magistrates-to-sit-in-community-centres-in-plan-to-speed-up-justice.html

Scandal of forced marriages

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Incredible figures from the Home Office’s Forced Marriage Unit suggest that about 400 children in the past year alone have been forced into marriage, including a girl aged just five years old.

Amy Cummings, head of the unit, said that a third of cases involved children under the age of 18 and most involve families from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and North and East Africa. The figure for forced marriages overall, affecting all ages, was 1,500 last year, which was slightly down on figures for previous years. However, officials believe the actual figure is much higher and calculate there to be between 5,000 and 8,000 cases in England alone each year.

Should new laws be brought in to prosecute families who force a child to marry? Scotland already has legislation which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment but England as yet does not, though ministers say that existing laws, such kidnapping, false imprisonment, harassment or assault are often broken as a result of forced marriages.

The government has already held a consultation on a new forced marriage law and its results should be known shortly. Do existing laws adequately cover forced marriages or is new legislation required. What do you think about this controversial topic?
Why Forced Marriages

Shocking cases of illegal abortions

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It is incredible to hear that the Chief Medical Officer is to contact all abortion clinics to remind them of their responsibilities following news that some women have been given permission for illegal abortions based solely on the sex of their unborn baby.

Reports suggest that clinicians were even falsifying paperwork to arrange the abortions and the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has become involved, saying that the government is now committed to following up the matter urgently. He says that he will report the clinics and the surgeons concerned to the police and the General Medical Council.

The illegal operations have come to light following concerns raised that they were becoming increasingly common for cultural and social reasons, while MPs have already expressed their reservations on the growing commercialisation of clinics, putting pressure on the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to rule that women should receive independent counselling before a procedure can take place.

Abortions are legal until 24 weeks but the 1967 Abortion Act rules that a termination on the grounds of the sex of the foetus is illegal. Are there any cultural or social reasons which can justify granting an abortion to a woman solely on the basis of that child s sex? I can t think of any, can you?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9101199/Abortion-investigation-Chief-Medical-Officer-writes-to-all-abortion-clinics-to-remind-them-of-law.html

New drug laws take effect; will they have an impact on sentencing

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It will be interesting to see whether new drug guidelines, which come into force today from the Sentencing Council, will have much of an impact upon the sentences that drug offenders receive.

The document has been published following a 12-week consultation with members of the public, criminal justice professionals and other interested parties and could see reduced sentences for those who it can be proved have been coerced into drug dealing or who are seen as having been vulnerable or exploited. Therefore, those known as drug mules could receive community sentences rather than being sent to immediate custody.

However, while some may see their sentences reduced, others may have theirs increased, especially if they have been involved in selling to children under the age of 18 while those selling class A drugs for profit can expect a custodial sentence ranging from four and a half years to 16 years.

The police have backed the changes, claiming that they will provide consistent guidance, though there would still be enough flexibility for the courts to deal with each case individually if appropriate.

Time will tell whether sentences will change much but will it really make a great deal of difference or is it just tinkering at the margins with ultimately little effect. Do sentences really work as a deterrent and if not, what can work to make a real, significant difference to deter those embarking on a life of drugs-related crime? Tell us what you think.

http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/27022513-new-guideline-drug-offences-effective-changes-or-rearranging-deck-chairs-titanic

In favour of new plans for sex offenders

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The Home Office has announced new measures for dealing with sex offenders following a Supreme Court ruling that those on the Sex Offender s Register for life should have the right to apply for a review.

The Home Office says that it will do the minimum necessary to abide by the Supreme Court ruling but will also continue with tough new regulations to close off loopholes identified in the register. Therefore, the rules for those travelling overseas will change. Up to now those going away for three days or less do not have to contact the police, but in the future they will even if they abroad for a matter of hours.

Also, those unable to give a permanent address will have to report to the police on a weekly basis and will also have to notify the police when they are living with a child under the age of 18. The new measures come in as almost 850 registered sex offenders have their whereabouts unknown, with the number missing having more than doubled in two years.

The new measures seem sensible but there is likely to be more disquiet over the fact that offenders can now apply for a review over their continued presence on the register. Surely those who it has been decided should remain on the register for life are on it for a good reason. It would be interesting to hear the justification from the Supreme Court for this change. Are you in favour of the changes? We d like to hear what you think.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9123877/Sex-offenders-forced-to-ask-permission-to-go-on-holiday-for-more-than-three-days.html

Assisted suicide: the rights and wrongs

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The arguments over assisted suicide are always fascinating and have been in the news again in recent weeks with the Commission on Assisted Dying, chaired by Lord Falconer, calling for the law to be changed to allow it to occur in some circumstances.

However, that has been attacked by the Archbishop of Canterbury, along with other leading figures from the church, who said that such a move would put vulnerable patients and doctors under threat. Dr Rowan Williams said the law should protect the most vulnerable and that to move to a situation where life is not worth living would represent a significant shift in the “moral and spiritual atmosphere”.

Dr Williams also compared the issue with that of abortion when it was first introduced, which now sees 200,000 pregnancies aborted every year in Britain.

Do you agree with the church view or are there situations where assisted dying is the most caring option? Let us know what you think.