Daniel Pelka Report: 'No One Suspected Abuse'

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

Chance after chance was missed to intervene in the case of a four-year-old boy who was beaten to death by his mother and stepfather.

A serious case review into the death of Daniel Pelka found repeated failures by agencies set up to safeguard children's welfare.

But it concluded that nobody could have predicted his death at the hands of an abusive mother and stepfather last year.

The report's author, Ron Lock, said: "No one professional, with what they knew of Daniel's circumstances, suspected or could have predicted that he would be killed.

"This was a complex and tragic case.

"Daniel's mother seemed plausible in her concerns about him, and no concerns were expressed by neighbours or the wider community.

"Strong concerns nevertheless emerged about Daniel's circumstances and his care, although at no point were practitioners who had contact with him prepared to think the unthinkable and consider that he might be suffering abuse.

"But if professionals had used more enquiring minds, and been more focused in their intentions to address concerns, it's likely that Daniel would have been better protected from the people who killed him."

Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek were both jailed for life

Daniel was brought up in a chaotic family where violence and heavy drinking were the norm. He was known to police, social services, teachers and doctors.

But the report found that not one professional asked him what was going on at home.

Mr Lock said: "He didn't speak good English. His self-esteem was so low, he was a very isolated little boy so people found it hard to engage him.

"His mother often spoke on his behalf, as did his sibling, so rather than ask Daniel others were asked what he was thinking and to ask his mum and sibling was not going to give the correct answers."

Responding to the report, Children's Minister Edward Timpson said social workers had to allowed to move away from a "tick box culture where there is too much red tape".

They must "move to a child centred system where social workers ... are out there with children talking to them".

Daniel was terrorised at his home in Coventry by his mother Magdelena Luczak and his stepfather Mariusz Krezolek.

He was starved, beaten and force-fed salt. At school he rooted through bins for food and once turned up with two black eyes. He later died from a serious head injury on March 3, 2012.

The four-year-old had 40 injuries on his body when he died

The review found the couple misled authorities by lying about his injuries and pretending he had an eating disorder, rendering Daniel "invisible" to health professionals.

But it also highlighted how stretched children's services were in the city.

It described overworked staff who were "naive", who were not "inquisitive" and assumed others were "intervening".

It noted missed opportunities to help Daniel, including 27 reports of domestic violence to police.

In January 2011 he went to hospital with a broken arm - a spiral fracture suggested twisting -  but professionals were too ready to accept it was accidental.

In September, when Daniel started school, teachers noticed a pattern of injuries which they failed to record or act on.

In February 2012 he saw a community paediatrician - his weight loss was not recognised and child abuse was not even considered.

A few weeks later the four-year-old was dead. He had 40 injuries and a doctor said he looked like a concentration camp victim.

Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council, said: "Professionals didn't have the whole picture. Daniel's voice wasn't heard at all.

"Arguably they are basic errors, but we have to put this against a backdrop of social care workers, police, health colleagues working every day making what some would argue are impossible judgement calls on child protection, so I think our key now is how do we learn from those issues."

The review, by the Coventry Safeguarding Children Board, has published 15 recommendations aimed at preventing such a failure happening again.

Luczak and Krezolek, both originally from Poland, were convicted of Daniel's murder in a trial earlier this year and are now both serving minimum 30-year terms in prison.

Ray Jones, professor of social work at Kingston University, told Sky News that up to 170 serious case review reports were prepared every year.

He said: "We're giving more time to the bureaucracy and procedures than giving time to actually spending the hours finding what is happening in a family. We've got the priorities wrong."

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) also questioned the effectiveness of serious case reviews.

Chief Executive Bridget Robb said that the findings are not properly shared with child protection social workers.

Research the BASW carried out showed that one quarter of its members never get the chance to read serious case review reports.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Duggan Inquest Told Of Police Officer's Fears

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The police officer who shot Mark Duggan believed his target was aiming a gun back at him, an inquest has heard.

It has been two years since Mr Duggan was shot dead by police officers on Ferry Lane in Tottenham, north London, in a killing that sparked the London riots.

The 29-year-old was travelling in a minicab when it was stopped by team of Metropolitan Police officers investigating gang activities involving firearms and nightclubs.

Mark Duggan's death in Tottenham sparked riots in August 2011

Counsel to the inquest, Ashley Underwood QC, told the jury that the police believe Mr Duggan had travelled to Leyton in east London to pick up a gun.

As he was returning to Tottenham that evening three police vehicles performed a "hard stop" of the minicab.

Mr Underwood explained to the inquest jury that: "The idea of a hard stop is to shock people into submission.

"The whole purpose of police officers coming in hard and fast, stopping the car is to shock and awe people into not doing things."

Mr Duggan got out of the minicab and an armed officer known as V53 then shot him twice.

The first shot hit Mr Duggan in the arm, the second fatal wound punctured his aorta.

One bullet ended up lodged in a police radio, the second was recovered from the minicab.

An image of his blood-stained jacket was shown in court, at the same time there were gasps from the public gallery.

Mr Underwood revealed that the officer V53 believed that Mr Duggan had been holding a gun wrapped in a sock in his right hand at the time of the shooting and was aiming it at the officer.

He explained how police officers expected to find the gun beneath Mr Duggan but it was actually found 10-20ft away.

Mr Underwood said the handgun had been modified at some point but added: "It could fire, this gun was entirely capable of lethal force."

The shooting sparked a peaceful protest in Tottenham that escalated into rioting and looting across London and quickly spread to cities around England in August 2011.

Many different theories about the shooting have been put forward over the last two years as Mr Duggan's family have waited for answers. 

His brother has said how they feel they've been "fobbed off" in their pursuit of the facts. 

Many of Mr Duggan's family members and loved ones were in court for the second day of the inquest which is due to last between eight and 10 weeks. 

His Honour Judge Keith Cutler, the judge overseeing the inquest, has told the jury they are "on a quest to find the truth".

The jurors will be taken to Tottenham later this week to help them understand the scene of the shooting. 

The inquest has been adjourned for the day.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Grand Theft Auto V: Stab Victim's Game Stolen

A man who bought one of the first copies of Grand Theft Auto V has been attacked and robbed of the game as he made his way home.

The 23-year-old was hit with a brick and stabbed shortly after leaving an Asda supermarket in Colindale, north London, where the game went on sale at midnight.

He also had his watch and mobile phone stolen and is now recovering in hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.

A police spokesman said it was not clear whether the man was deliberately targeted for the game.

The man bought the game from an Asda store moments after it went on sale

GTA V is one of the most eagerly anticipated games ever and is expected to smash sales records.

It could shift as many as 25 million copies in its first year, generating £1bn for developer Rockstar.

The game, in which players take on the role of a criminal in a fictional city, is thought to be the most expensive ever made.

It is estimated to have cost £170m - more than most Hollywood blockbusters, including the likes of 3D film Avatar.

The game is expected to sell up to 25 million copies in the next year

Video games website IGN.com described GTA V as a "masterpiece" and predicted an outbreak of "GTA flu".

A poll of almost 11,000 of its readers found nearly half had booked the game's launch date off as holiday.

Although GTA V officially went on sale at midnight, some gamers claimed to have received their pre-ordered copies from Amazon up to four days early.

The online retailer launched an investigation, saying it had "established processes in place to deliver new titles to customers on their release date".

The Grand Theft Auto franchise has sold around 135 million copies worldwide since its 1997 debut.

The previous game in the series, GTA IV, is believed to have sold 25 million copies since its release five years ago.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Firefighters To Strike Next Week Over Pensions

Firefighters will strike for four hours next week in a row over pensions.

Almost 80% of the Fire Brigades Union's (FBU) members voted in favour of industrial action in a ballot that ended earlier this month.

Union officials had left the strike to the last possible moment to allow for the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

It is now due to happen between noon and 4pm next Wednesday, in what FBU chief Matt Wrack called a "warning shot to Government".

"Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions," he said.

"Governments in Westminster and Cardiff have simply refused to see sense on these issues."

The FBU claims thousands of firefighters could be sacked without proper access to a proper pension simply because they are getting older.

A recent Government review found more than half of current firefighters aged 50-54 and two thirds of those over 55 can no longer meet the necessary fitness standards.

Ministers have previously suggested they could be moved to other roles but the FBU says there are only a handful of opportunities, meaning mass sackings are inevitable.

Firefighters also already pay some of the highest pension contributions in the UK, with most contributing 13% of their salary every year with further increases due

Firefighters already pay some of the highest pension contributions in the UK public or private sector and have seen increases for two consecutive years, the union said.

The majority of firefighters already pay almost 13% of their salary in contributions with further increases due next year.

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis called the decision to strike "entirely unnecessary and avoidable", and said that all fire authorities have "contingency plans".

"After two years of discussions, and with improved terms, the pension on offer to firefighters is one of the most generous public service pensions available," he said.

"A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

"To get the same pension from a private scheme firefighters would have to contribute twice as much."

Firefighters in Scotland will not join in because union officials are still discussing the Scottish Government's most recent proposals.

But as a settlement in Scotland has not yet been found, the union's strike ballot could still result in industrial action there too.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough: Second Police Force Investigated

Hillsborough: Many Questions Remain

Updated: 4:49pm UK, Tuesday 17 September 2013

By Nick Martin, News Correspondent

The police watchdog says it has uncovered "differences" between early statements given by fans at Hillsborough and later accounts.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) now wants to hear from as many as possible of the 50,000 fans in the stadium that day so that a clearer picture of what happened can be drawn.

The force responsible for taking those statements was West Midlands Police - their methods, practices and procedures adopted back then then are now under scrutiny.

Although careful not to prejudge, the IPCC clearly has either hard evidence or strong suspicions - or both - to suggest that West Midlands Police didn't do their job properly when dealing with those crucial eyewitness accounts.

But the scale of the task ahead of the IPCC is potentially enormous and pressure to avoid a long, drawn out investigation equally so.

The families of the 96 people who died at Hillsborough want answers. They also want any wrongdoing to be punished.

They fear that appealing for thousands of people to come forward can only mean one thing - another long inquiry.

The deputy chair of the IPCC, Deborah Glass, told me that they've had "constructive talks" with the families and that they understand the sense of frustration.

"We cannot ignore the mistakes of the past but we must be thorough now," she said.

It's hard to argue with both views.

We know from last year's Independent Panel report into the disaster that police and ambulance statements were altered to paint the police in a better light.

What we don't know yet is how many accounts from the fans themselves were altered, changed or even rewritten.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clegg: Every Infant To Get Free School Lunch

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

Nick Clegg has announced plans to give free school meals to all infant schoolchildren.

The proposal, which will be a centrepiece of his leader's speech, will cost the exchequer £600,000 annually.

The Deputy Prime Minister says it is a key part of his drive to help people with the cost of living.

"It's great, great news for all families with small children in those first three years of primary school," he told Sky News.

"It will save them about £400 per child per year."

The Liberal Democrats say that pilot schemes have demonstrated free school meals also have a positive impact on educational attainment.

Mr Clegg said: "I think it's a way of giving every child that good start in life, because we all know - I certainly know as a parent - that a healthy, hot meal at lunchtime is the best way of making sure that a child can concentrate and do well in the classroom during the course of the rest of the day."

The flagship policy to emerge from the Liberal Democrats' Glasgow conference will be balanced in two weeks' time by a parallel announcement from the Conservatives.

It is thought inevitable that David Cameron's party will adopt his long-cherished proposal for a tax break for working couples.

The married tax break is not supported by the Liberal Democrats but they will allow it to pass as the coalition agreement provides for.

"I don't support it," Mr Clegg said, "because I cannot understand what is remotely fair about saying to an unmarried taxpayer you're going to have to pay higher taxes to help your neighbour - just because they got married - get lower taxes.

"Our approach, by contrast, is to help all families with small children."

Neither announcement is likely to be a gamechanger come the election in 2015.

But after a lengthy period during which cuts and austerity were the order of the day, the governing parties will be relieved to be at last in a position where they can spend significant sums and demonstrate their positive priorities to the electorate.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baby Foods Found To Lack Nutrients: Study

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Popular baby foods contain far fewer nutrients than meals prepared at home, according to a new study.

Jars of food made by Cow & Gate, Heinz and Ella's Kitchen, among others, have also been found to contain high levels of sugar.

Researchers from Glasgow University concluded that a child would receive half as much energy and protein from a "convenience" food than they would from an equivalent-sized home-made meal.

The research team wrote in the journal Archives Of Disease In Childhood: "The UK infant food market mainly supplies sweet, soft, spoonable foods targeted from age four months.

"Most products are ready-made spoonable foods that are no more energy-dense than formula milk and are, generally, much less nutrient-dense than home-made foods."

The study said weaning foods "would not serve the intended purpose" of giving a baby extra nutrients or a range of tastes and textures.

The researchers also discovered that some foods are being promoted for use at the age of four months, contrary to official guidance.

Professor Charlotte Wright, who wrote the report, told Sky News: "The irony about these weaning foods is that they are just giving more of the same.

Many baby foods are targeted from four months of age

"Mothers think they're going on to something bigger and different and more mature, but actually they're providing very similar nutrient content to milk - and before the age of six months that's all babies need."

The products analysed by the research team were manufactured by Heinz, Boots, Cow & Gate, Hipp Organic, Organix and Ella's Kitchen.

In a statement, Heinz told Sky News: "Generations of parents have trusted Heinz baby foods as safe and nourishing and which are specially prepared to meet babies' nutritional needs with recipes that provide the right tastes and textures."

A spokeswoman for Ella's Kitchen said: "In the United Kingdom, we support breast feeding for the optimal time of six months. However, it may not always be possible or appropriate.

"As the study acknowledges, commercial weaning food is created to complement the nutrition gained from baby's milk. Ella's Kitchen creates its products with this exact goal. Our products are 100% organic, Soil Association approved and made following European regulations."

Anna Rosier, managing director of Organix, told Sky News: "We support that breastfeeding to six months is the ideal form of first nutrition and ensure all of our stage 1 packaging contains the WHO guidelines.

"We are also aware that some parents decide to wean their little ones before then, so to support these parents we make it clear what foods could be suitable.

"All of our foods are complementary to breastfeeding, and we adhere to the regulations for complementary foods for babies. We do not make foods with the purpose to replace breast milk as the primary source of nutrition before six months.  

"We do not fortify our foods with vitamins and minerals, unless required to by EU food regulations, as the fortification of food is not permitted under organic rules."

The DoH recommends a gradual transition to solids starting with cereals, vegetables and fruits, before moving on to proteins.

It recommends babies still continue to receive breast milk or a pint of formula a day while they are being weaned, up to their first birthday.

A spokesperson for the British Specialist Nutrition Association, the body which represents baby food manufacturers, recommended that parents seek advice from a healthcare professional when thinking of starting weaning.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans Faces New Claims

The Deputy Commons Speaker has been re-arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting two further alleged victims.

Nigel Evans, 55, was arrested on Tuesday morning for the third time since May as he answered bail over the earlier allegations.

He is now being held for questioning at Preston police station on suspicion of indecent assault and sexual touching.

Mr Evans was previously arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and three indecent assaults.

The Tory MP arrived at the police station in a silver Jaguar driven by his solicitor just before 9am, where he was met by detectives.

He smiled at members of the press gathered outside and said: "Thanks for coming."

A police spokesman said: "A 55-year-old man from Pendleton in Lancashire has today answered his bail following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault and in June on suspicion of three further offences of indecent assault.

"He has subsequently today been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and sexual touching of two further victims.

"He will be interviewed about these new allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day.

"These new offences are alleged to have been committed in London between 2002 and 2009."

The initial claims of rape and sexual assault refer to alleged events in Pendleton between July 2009 and March 2013 and the second to alleged events in Blackpool and London from 2003-2011.

All of these allegations involve men in their 20s.

Mr Evans dismissed the original claims against him as "completely false" and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends".

In June, he said: "I continue to refute all allegations."

The politician has stepped aside from his Speaker duties since his arrest, but has continued to work as MP for Ribble Valley.

He was one of three deputy speakers elected in a secret ballot of MPs in 2010. Later that year he came out as gay, saying he was "tired of living a lie"'.

Lancashire Police said: "We take all allegations of a sexual nature extremely seriously and understand how difficult it can be for victims to have the confidence to come forward.

"As a constabulary, we are committed to investigating sexual offences sensitively but robustly, recognising the impact that these types of crimes have on victims.

"We would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, or who has information about it, to have the confidence to report it to us knowing that we will take it seriously, deal with it sensitively and investigate it thoroughly."

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-BBC Presenter Souter A 'Deviant Sex Abuser'

A former BBC radio presenter had a "deviant sexual obsession" with young boys, a court has heard.

Prosecutors say Michael Souter, who worked for BBC Norfolk for more than 10 years, used his celebrity to abuse society's most vulnerable.

The 60-year-old, of Loddon, Norfolk, denies 19 sex offences, including indecent assault, indecency with a child and serious sexual offences, against seven boys aged between 11 and 16. The allegations date to between 1979 and 1999.

Opening the case at Norwich Crown Court, prosecutor Andrew Shaw said Souter had also been involved in the scout movement and volunteered as youth mentor for the county's social services department.

"He worked in radio and television and was something of a local celebrity," he added.

"The significance of his work and his involvement with the scouts and social services, is that these three roles brought Mr Souter into regular contact with pliable young boys and very often pliable young boys who were among society's most vulnerable.

"We say Mr Souter is a deviant sexual abuser of young boys, particularly boys in uniform and those wearing shorts."

Souter presented a number of shows for BBC Radio Norfolk from its launch in 1980 until the 1990s. Originally from Scotland, he worked as a producer and presenter in both commercial and BBC radio since the mid-1970s.

Since 1989 he has worked as a freelance broadcaster and had run a media relations consultancy.

Mr Shaw said Souter had been spoken to by police in 1990 when another boy went to police accusing him of abuse.

One of the alleged victims in this case told that inquiry that he had not been abused and it was not until 2011 that he felt able to tell officers what had happened, the court heard.

Mr Shaw said mistakes may have been made by the authorities in the past, but added: "As we have seen in recent high profile cases, victims often only tell what has happened to them when they are ready to."

The court heard that on one occasion Souter had plied an alleged victim, who had a casual job at BBC Norfolk, with alcohol. The boy passed out and woke to find his trousers pulled down and Souter, who had not been drinking, molesting him, jurors were told.

He took boys on trips to burger restaurants and theme parks and used his links with Norwich City Football Club to invite them to watch matches at Carrow Road, the court heard.

Mr Shaw said: "As an indication of how he used his position, on one trip to Carrow Road the defendant was able to introduce one of his victims to Noel Edmonds."

After one of these matches it is alleged Souter invited one of the boys for a drive in his camper van before asking him to "tickle" him.

"This was a case of gently introducing a very young child to sexual activity - he was grooming him, preparing him for what was to come," the prosecutor said.

He is alleged to have abused this boy over the course of five years.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

NHS Trusts Given £250m For 'Tough' Winter

NHS trusts in England are being given £250m in Government funding to avoid a crisis in services this winter.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt unveiled a string of plans to ease the burden on hospitals, as he admitted the end of the year would be "tough".

The short-term funding boost, part of a £500m cash injection over two years, came as he called for better general care for the elderly.

Mr Hunt told Sky News he wanted to bring back named GPs for patients so that they receive a more personal service.

It is also hoped that reintroducing the practice will ease some of the pressure on hospitals, who are struggling to cope with rising demand.

Visits to A&E departments in England have risen by a third in the past decade - and one million a year since 2012, according to Government figures.

NHS 111 is being given £15m to fund extra staff

The over-65s only make up 17% of the total population but they occupy 68% of emergency beds in the NHS.

Mr Hunt claimed changes introduced by Labour in 2004, which abolished the idea of having a specific GP for every patient, were partly to blame for the surge.

"Evidence from the United States and other countries is that when you have a named GP you are less likely to need hospital care and we need to bring that back, particularly for our vulnerable, older people. We want to do that from next year," he said.

He admitted there would be a need for many more GPs to achieve the change, putting the initial figure at 2,000.

"We are looking actually at whether we need even more than that," he added.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, insisted doctors were not neglecting their older patients.

She said Mr Hunt's comments would be "disheartening and morale-sapping" for hard-working GPs who are struggling with "ever-dwindling resources".

The extra health funding for this year will go on a raft of measures designed to avoid hospitals buckling under the strain.

They include: extra consultants on weekends; better community services; improvements to urgent care, district nurses and care at home; greater links with social care and better cooperation between the ambulance service and hospitals.

Some £15m will go to the beleaguered NHS 111 phone line, with more clinicians and standard call-handlers on duty in an attempt to avoid unnecessary A&E visits.

There will also be a national flu campaign, with all children aged two and three vaccinated for the first time to reduce its spread.

Hospitals eligible for a slice of the £250m in funding will have to vaccinate at least 75% of their staff to qualify for the cash.

The announcement came hours after new figures revealed only five consultants currently work overnight in A&E departments across England.

Data obtained by the Daily Mail also found 90% of trusts only have one consultant working in emergency care on weekends.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, speaking in the Commons, claimed Mr Hunt had presided over A&E's worst 12 months for a decade.

He blamed social care cuts for a 66% rise in "very frail and frightened" elderly people being sped to hospitals in ambulances in the last two years.

"Patients and staff cannot go through another year in A&E like the one we have just had. You should cut the spin, get a grip or go."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA's GP committee, said ministers needed to "roll back the bureaucratic nightmare" to ease the burden on doctors.

And Dr Paul Flynn, chair of the BMA's consultant committee warned that a "significant, rather than a one-off, additional investment" in staff and resources was needed.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More