Daily News Summary
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Main stories
`Elite police abandon hunt for crime lords'
The Times reports the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the police unit set up in 2006 to focus on `the top 130 criminals,' is being restructured after only bringing a handful of cases. Cited problems from sources within the agency include a top-heavy management structure, inadequate computer systems and high level of officer turnover. Times1,4.
Sean O'Neil offers an analysis on SOCA's failings. Times4
`Farepak savings bosses may face prosecution'
Gareth Thomas, the consumer minister, has said the government is taking legal advice to see whether there are grounds for prosecuting the directors and accountants behind Farepak. Thousands of people, many on low incomes, lost savings when the company collapsed in 2006. Gdn11, FT4
Other stories
`Model judge and his funky new gown'
Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice, models the new attire for judges in the civil and family court due to be introduced in October. It's out with the wig, wing collar and black gown and in with a navy gown fastened by poppers, with coloured bands for seniority. TheTimes3 fashion writer gives the robe the thumbs up but the Guardian fashion writer disagrees, and the editorial is pleased to be rid of the wigs.Times18, Gdn7
`Knife offenders may get off with just a fine'
The Sentencing Guidelines Council advice issued to magistrates today which includes recommending the starting point for carrying a knife as a community order, comes in for criticism. DTel2, DMail32, Sun1,5, DExp2
`Let me in, this jail's so cushy'
A prisoner who escaped from an open prison returned after three days. Sun27
`Shops using fingers to check staff'
A small group of shops under the Budgens and Costcutters names have introduced fingerprint recognition technology to record staff clock-in times. FT5
Comment, editorials, letters
`The survivors' stories leave no doubt: Guantanamo makes us all less safe'
George Monbiot suggests the conditions at Guantanamo Bay not only fail to support ineffective investigation, but the case of Abdallah Salih al-Ajmi shows they lead to further atrocities. Gdn29
`If surrounded by armed bastards, don't shoot'
Richard Littlejohn says the police have no case to answer over the shooting of Mark Saunders. DMail17
`Police harassment'
Letter responding to the Home Secretary's announcement that the police should harass troublemakers. Times20
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These newspaper summaries are drawn up by staff at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies. They are not intended to be comprehensive, or wholly uniform in their approach. Instead, they reflect our individual and collective perspectives on the day's coverage, including our judgements in terms of relevance to the Centre's concerns. On occasion, they also reflect the inevitable time constraints within which we work.
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