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Update
“Shock school violence data disputed: Ministers yesterday ordered an urgent review of classroom violence data after another shocking rise in the number of attacks on teachers. . .” Courier
“Minister in row over level of school violence: Opposition parties yesterday accused Peter Peacock of smokescreen tactics after he claimed ? despite official figures of nearly 7000 violent incidents against education staff ? Scottish schools were not battlegrounds. . .” Herald
“Classrooms are not so violent, insists minister: In the wake of alarming new figures indicating escalating violence in the classroom, Peter Peacock, the education minister, yesterday denied that Scottish schools are “like Beirut battlegrounds”. . .“Scotsman
“Been a Rise: Scotland’s teachers are facing a shocking increase in classroom violence. . .” Daily Record
Following posted on 27.1.04 at 6.25pm.
“Review of school violence figures: A review has been ordered into the way violent classroom incidents are collated after figures appeared to show a dramatic increase.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said he was “deeply concerned” about the reliability of existing data. . .” BBC
“Figures show dramatic increase in attacks on teachers: New figures show violence and abuse of teachers in classrooms has rocketed by nearly a third. The government claims the statistics, which show a 27% rise, are unreliable because of the way they are reported, but the teachers union says it is shocking that there are now nearly 7,000 attacks on members of staff every year. . .” Scottish TV
“Violent behaviour in school increases: Opposition parties have accused education minister Peter Peacock of ‘smokescreen tactics’ after he claimed official figures were wrongly depicting Scotland’s schools as battlegrounds. . .” Scottish TV
“Teachers suffering more abuse: Scottish schools are even more dangerous places for staff than was thought. . .” Evening Telegraph
“Soaring school attacks spark violence probe” Evening Times
“Massive increase in attacks on teachers” Evening News
Press Releases
“Minister questions reporting standards: Action to further improve behaviour in schools is being hampered by questionable data on the extent of the problem, Education Minister Peter Peacock said today. An immediate review of how the Executive obtains evidence on school discipline, with independent advice from external experts, has now been ordered by the Minister. . .” Scot. Exec.
“Violence and antisocial behaviour against school staff: The results of the survey on incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour against local authority school staff in 2002/03 are published today [. . .] Four per cent of incidents (301) were reported to the police. . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Support for disaffected school pupils. Scot. Exec. press release 05.01.2004.
‘Restorative practices’ for school disruption. Scot. Exec. press release 12.1.04.
EIS No reference to story at time of posting.
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 2:30 pm“Cannabis law in a haze of confusion: Which group, caught up in the woeful web of confusion and deception spun by the Government on the reclassification of cannabis, deserves most sympathy? [. . .] Far better to classify cannabis alongside booze and baccy, sell all three under controlled licences thereby eliminating poor quality or too potent products as well as taking out the criminal drug suppliers. . .” Evening News
“SSP backing for Scotland’s first cannabis cafe: [. . .] Launching its campaign to create a network of cannabis tolerance zones across Scotland, the Scottish Cannabis Coffee Shop Movement (SCCM) said people would be allowed to use the drug in the Purple Haze cafe in Leith, when it is reclassified from class B. Kevin Williamson, the drugs spokesman for the Scottish Socialist Party, who is spearheading the SCCM campaign, said he wanted to build a network of tolerance zones across Scotland. . .” Scotsman 27.1.04
“Smoking ban at first cannabis cafe: The first cannabis cafe is due to open in Scotland with a health warning: cigarettes, cigars and pipes will be banned so that regulars are able to enjoy their cannabis in comfort. . .” Herald
“Caf頳ociety in Edinburgh is promised a cannabis alternative: Campaigners promised yesterday to break the law by opening a cannabis caf頩n Scotland when the drug is reclassified tomorrow. . .” Times.
“Cannabis cafe rolls out challenge: Campaigners have vowed to break the law by opening a cannabis cafe in Scotland when the drug is reclassified. The Scottish Cannabis Coffeeshop Movement said the Purple Haze Cafe in Edinburgh would allow use of the drug when it is downgraded next Thursday [. . .] However, the Scottish Executive has made it clear there will be no change in practice in Scotland. . .” BBC 27.1.04
“Dope cafe set to be an open and shut case: A cannabis cafe is set to open in Edinburgh this week - but faces being immediately closed down. . .” Evening News 27.1.04
See also
Weblog entry 23.1.04: Cannabis:the situation in Scotland
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 2:26 pmUpdate
“Record numbers for children?s hearings: A record level of children have been reported to the hearings system in the last year, despite the fact that the number referred for offending has dropped [. . .] The report reveals that the cases referred for alleged lack of parental care have increased by 194% in the last five years. In the last decade, the total numbers referred on care and protection grounds has increased by 102% but those referred for offending has increased by just 7%. . .” Herald
“Crime figures rise for repeat youth offenders: The number of crimes committed by a hard core of repeat youth offenders went up last year, according to new figures. The annual report of the Scottish Children?s Reporter Administrator showed that offences committed by young people went up from 29,232 in 2001-2 to 30,129 in 2002-3. . .” Scotsman
“Kids sent to panel at record high” Evening Times
Following posted on 27.1.04 at 6.43pm.
“Decrease in child offender cases: The number of child offenders dealt with by the Children’s Reporter fell slightly last year, figures have shown. They revealed that 700 fewer children were referred on offence grounds. . .” BBC
See also
Link to the report does not yet seem to be available.
“Police praise role of CCTV in tackling community concerns: Police in Angus have praised the role the area’s public CCTV system plays in tackling crime, drink-driving and other concerns in the community. . .” Press and Journal.
Press release
“CCTV proves a success in Angus” Tayside Police
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 1:44 pm“Rich dealers cash goes to poor areas: Drug dealers who live lavish lifestyles in deprived communities in Glasgow will be stripped of their cash and the money put back into the [. . .] communities they were stolen from to support local projects. . .” Evening Times
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 12:57 am“Disabled people ‘victims of hate’: Anti-hate crime campaigners are calling for victimisation to be outlawed. One in five disabled Scots has experienced verbal or physical harassment because of disability, according to a study [. . .] The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) said hate crime has made life a misery for many disabled people in Scotland. . .” BBC
Press Release
“Hate Crime is a reality for many disabled Scots: One in five disabled Scots have experienced harassment because of their disability, according to new figures published today . . .“Disability Rights Commission Scotland
See also
Working Group on Hate Crime Consultation Paper. Contains research on issue and also discussion of policy options incuding an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 12:51 am“Roads pass safety test to halt spread of cameras: Glasgow has run out of sites to put its speed cameras. . .” Evening Times
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 12:41 am“Penalties for all illegal drugs under review”: The government’s advisers are to review the system of classifying illegal drugs, an exercise which may pave the way for a further overhaul of the narcotics laws. They plan to review the harmful effects of all the substances governed by the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act . . .” Society Guardian.
See also
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
List of Drugs Currently Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Legislation ? As At July 2003
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Jan 2004 at 12:10 am
Update
“Call to back youth crime system: Scotland’s children’s hearing system needs to be reinforced to continue as an effective way of dealing with youth crime, an inquiry has found.
[. . .] The inquiry by charity NCH Scotland concluded a fully resourced system could lead the world in child justice. NCH Scotland insisted that the children’s hearing system should remain at the centre of efforts to tackle youth offending but stressed that the system needed significant reform and more resources [. . .] BBC
“Charity warns Executive over youth crime plans” Scottish TV
“Claims that Children?s Hearing system being neglected: Scottish TV
“Charity warns Executive not to return to Victorian punishments: A leading children?s charity warned the Scottish Executive yesterday not to return to Victorian models of punishment for youth crime, as it published a major report into the children?s hearing system.
[. . .] It also comes ahead of a report from the Scottish Children?s Reporter Association, which is today expected to show a continuing increase in the number of referrals to the panels. . .” Scotsman
“14-month mental health delays for children in panel system: Children with mental health problems are being forced to wait up to 14 months for vital consultations with psychiatrists and psychologists, hampering the work of the hearing system. . .” Herald
“Child panel system ?must be retained?: A leading children’s charity yesterday warned Scotland against following England and Wales back to Victorian models of punishment for youth crime. Publishing the results of an inquiry into children’s hearings, NCH Scotland claimed the financial, social and human costs of the courts and punishment system south of the border should deter ministers from going down that road. . .” Herald
“Case for the children?s panel: Victorian values reared their head in 21st-century Scotland yesterday. The occasion was the publication of a report into the system of youth justice, and the warning against a return to nineteenth-century ways was directed at the Scottish Executive by NCH Scotland, the children’s charity. It was a reprimand worthy of Wackford Squeers, but NCH, concerned at the executive’s policy on anti-social behaviour, was right to issue it. . .” Herald. Comment.
Following posted on 26.1.04 at 8.38am.
“Spotlight on youth crime system: The way Scotland deals with youth crime comes under the spotlight in two major reports this week. . .” BBC
“Youth crime findings revealed: The findings of a major inquiry into Scotland’s youth justice system will be published later today. The recommendations are expected to map a new way forward in tackling the problem north of the border. . .” Scottish TV
“We can change behavioural pattern of anti-social youths: There is no shortage of common ground. The government, the police, public and voluntary social welfare agencies, and, not least, Scotland’s most affected communities, all want shot of what we now call anti-social behaviour. Now the debate on where this country stands on that ground has reached a crucial stage.
Over the past few weeks the justice and communities committees in the parliament have taken a wide range of evidence. The initial findings of a report into fast-tracking persistent offenders is in the public domain. And today NCH Scotland, the children’s charity, publishes the conclusions and recommendations of a year-long inquiry into youth justice. Tomorrow the annual report of the Children’s Hearings in Scotland is published. . .” Herald. Comment.
Press Releases
“Major Inquiry into Youth Crime in Scotland: Major inquiry into youth crime calls for “renewal” of Children’s Hearing system . . .” NCH Press Release.
“Young People in the Community Services Launched:Children 1st.
See also
“Recommendations of Inquiry into Youth Justice in Scotland: While we recognise current social anxiety about youth crime we do not believe that an increasingly punitive response is right or effective. . .” NCH.
Children’s Hearings official site
Posted by MM on Tue 27th Jan 2004 at 2:57 pm“Major fraud hits ‘record level’: Major fraud reached a record level in Scotland last year, according to research. There were 17 cases involving sums of more than ?100,000, compared to 10 cases in the previous year, KPMG Forensic said. . .” BBC
See also
Posted by MM on Tue 27th Jan 2004 at 2:40 pm