Tuesday, February 28, 2006
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGIES / A Campbell Systematic Review, Jan 2006
PDF - http://digbig.com/4gmpj
Systematic Review of Non-Custodial Employment Programs: Impact on Recidivism Rates of Ex-Offenders / Campbell Collaboration, 21 Feb 2006
http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/CCJG/reviews/Visher_Employment_ReviewFinal.doc
Christy A. Visher ; Laura Winterfield;Mark B. Coggeshall
Christy A. Visher ; Laura Winterfield;Mark B. Coggeshall
NZ to join stolen and lost passport detection system / Xinhua, 27 Feb 2006
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/27/content_4233771.htm
"'The expansion of the RMAL to New Zealand will mark an important development in improving regional security.'
The U.S. National 9/11 Commission Report stated: 'For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.'
'As this system expands to cover other jurisdictions, the opportunities for people to use stolen or lost passports will be dramatically reduced... Now, any time a passenger attempts to travel with a lost or stolen Australian, New Zealand or United States passport to or between these economies, they will be detected and border agencies alerted,' "[Passports]
"'The expansion of the RMAL to New Zealand will mark an important development in improving regional security.'
The U.S. National 9/11 Commission Report stated: 'For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.'
'As this system expands to cover other jurisdictions, the opportunities for people to use stolen or lost passports will be dramatically reduced... Now, any time a passenger attempts to travel with a lost or stolen Australian, New Zealand or United States passport to or between these economies, they will be detected and border agencies alerted,' "[Passports]
Britons urged to follow new rules / TCM, 27 Feb 2006
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/02/27/1410727.htm
"To help cut the number of unsuitable pictures, the UKPS has asked people not to use home printers to make their photographs because the photographic quality and the paper may not be acceptable. Also, applicants have been told not to digitally enhance pictures as this can reduce quality and make an image that is unsuitable for biometric technology leading to problems when crossing borders. Officials added: 'If people wear glasses, we strongly advise removing them when having the photo taken to eliminate the risk of them causing reflection or otherwise reducing the quality of the photo.'"
"To help cut the number of unsuitable pictures, the UKPS has asked people not to use home printers to make their photographs because the photographic quality and the paper may not be acceptable. Also, applicants have been told not to digitally enhance pictures as this can reduce quality and make an image that is unsuitable for biometric technology leading to problems when crossing borders. Officials added: 'If people wear glasses, we strongly advise removing them when having the photo taken to eliminate the risk of them causing reflection or otherwise reducing the quality of the photo.'"
NYPD New / Editorial - CIO, 1 Mar 2006
http://www.cio.com/archive/030106/nypd.htmlThomas Wailgum
"In May 2003, Onalfo came out of retirement to be the first-ever NYPD CIO. He was in for a shock. Upon arrival he discovered that the department lacked an adequate disaster recovery plan with redundancy and backup sites - 20 months after 9/11. If, say, there had been a fire in one of the precincts and it torched the computers, officers wouldn't have been able to process criminals within the 24-hour time frame established by state law. Consequently, those perps would have walked. 'I almost left the same day I got here because I didn't want to be responsible for that,' Onalfo recalls."[Information Technology; Police]
"In May 2003, Onalfo came out of retirement to be the first-ever NYPD CIO. He was in for a shock. Upon arrival he discovered that the department lacked an adequate disaster recovery plan with redundancy and backup sites - 20 months after 9/11. If, say, there had been a fire in one of the precincts and it torched the computers, officers wouldn't have been able to process criminals within the 24-hour time frame established by state law. Consequently, those perps would have walked. 'I almost left the same day I got here because I didn't want to be responsible for that,' Onalfo recalls."[Information Technology; Police]
Monday, February 27, 2006
Polity's place in a polite society / The Australian, 28 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmhe
Frank Field
"There are some common causes for the collapse of civility in Britain and Australia. Far and away the most important is that, not so long ago, the formation of our characters was not left to chance but today, increasingly, it is. In the past, family played a key role in shaping character, and its influence was reinforced by a rich array of civil institutions including churches, Sunday schools, trade unions, friendly societies and mutual aid clubs.
Both families and this wider world held clear views on the type of character each of us should develop. The central message was that our own self-respect was inextricably bound with our guarding the self-respect of others. This character formation was carried out so well that governments simply did not have to think about the issue. Now they do."
Frank Field
"There are some common causes for the collapse of civility in Britain and Australia. Far and away the most important is that, not so long ago, the formation of our characters was not left to chance but today, increasingly, it is. In the past, family played a key role in shaping character, and its influence was reinforced by a rich array of civil institutions including churches, Sunday schools, trade unions, friendly societies and mutual aid clubs.
Both families and this wider world held clear views on the type of character each of us should develop. The central message was that our own self-respect was inextricably bound with our guarding the self-respect of others. This character formation was carried out so well that governments simply did not have to think about the issue. Now they do."
New website gives speed offenders the "view" from behind the camera / eGov monitor, 27 Feb 2006
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/4791
Ray King, Project Manager for Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership- Safe Speed for Life
"The site will allow speed offenders to login with a unique password and number, and to view their offence and erase any doubt that it was their car caught, and yes it was over the limit, significantly. But in order to remove any doubt that we are doing our job correctly and as openly and fair as possible the site will contain various other evidence and photographs. These photographs will be what we see: the speed limit, camera number, the location, and date and time. It should remove any doubt. The site will not only allow offenders to see the photographic evidence of their offence, but also photographs of the signage used to indicate the speed limit and camera signs indicating enforcement. In addition, there are calibration certificates for the cameras and Traffic Regulation Orders that confirm that the speed limit is enforceable. This is all evidence that would be used in court to prove the offence and at the touch of the finger they will have access to this information. Most importantly, however, it will explain why the site was chosen for enforcement, highlighting the tragic loss of life and/or serious injuries that occurred on that stretch of road. "
Ray King, Project Manager for Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership- Safe Speed for Life
"The site will allow speed offenders to login with a unique password and number, and to view their offence and erase any doubt that it was their car caught, and yes it was over the limit, significantly. But in order to remove any doubt that we are doing our job correctly and as openly and fair as possible the site will contain various other evidence and photographs. These photographs will be what we see: the speed limit, camera number, the location, and date and time. It should remove any doubt. The site will not only allow offenders to see the photographic evidence of their offence, but also photographs of the signage used to indicate the speed limit and camera signs indicating enforcement. In addition, there are calibration certificates for the cameras and Traffic Regulation Orders that confirm that the speed limit is enforceable. This is all evidence that would be used in court to prove the offence and at the touch of the finger they will have access to this information. Most importantly, however, it will explain why the site was chosen for enforcement, highlighting the tragic loss of life and/or serious injuries that occurred on that stretch of road. "
LAPD Pursues High-Tech End to High-Speed Chases / Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmga
"Chief William J. Bratton unveiled y a new and decidedly strange weapon in the LAPD's effort to halt high-speed pursuits. It is an air-propelled miniature dart equipped with a global positioning device. Once fired from a patrol car, it sticks to a fleeing motorist's vehicle and emits a radio signal to police. "Instead of us pushing them doing 70 or 80 miles an hour … this device allows us not to have to pursue after the car," Bratton said. "It allows us to start vectoring where the car is. Even if they bail out of the car, we'll have pretty much instantaneously information where they are."
"Chief William J. Bratton unveiled y a new and decidedly strange weapon in the LAPD's effort to halt high-speed pursuits. It is an air-propelled miniature dart equipped with a global positioning device. Once fired from a patrol car, it sticks to a fleeing motorist's vehicle and emits a radio signal to police. "Instead of us pushing them doing 70 or 80 miles an hour … this device allows us not to have to pursue after the car," Bratton said. "It allows us to start vectoring where the car is. Even if they bail out of the car, we'll have pretty much instantaneously information where they are."
Model airplane designed to help police shows promise / City of Merced Newspaper, 6 Feb 2006
http://www.mercedsearch.com/news/777.htmlAlison Shackelford Hewitt
"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department unveiled what could become its latest weapon for fighting crime - a high-tech model plane equipped with a video camera - and said a SWAT team will begin testing the new surveillance technology within two months. The four-pound plane has a tiny camera in its belly that can be used for everything from surveilling buildings and tracking fleeing burglars to searching for lost hikers and missing children. The 'SkySeer' will be donated to the department by Chang Industry for field testing. The company worked with the Sheriff's Department for about three years to produce the unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV."
"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department unveiled what could become its latest weapon for fighting crime - a high-tech model plane equipped with a video camera - and said a SWAT team will begin testing the new surveillance technology within two months. The four-pound plane has a tiny camera in its belly that can be used for everything from surveilling buildings and tracking fleeing burglars to searching for lost hikers and missing children. The 'SkySeer' will be donated to the department by Chang Industry for field testing. The company worked with the Sheriff's Department for about three years to produce the unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV."
Cutting Edge : NASA Lends Crime Fighters a Hand / Technology News, 7 Feb 2006
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/48463.html
Paul Korzeniowski
"NASA researchers developed sophisticated software called Video Image Stabilization and Registration, or VISAR, to analyze satellite video images, and the technology has enabled law enforcement officials to get a better look at telltale items from afar, such as a suspect's face or the license plate of a getaway car."
Paul Korzeniowski
"NASA researchers developed sophisticated software called Video Image Stabilization and Registration, or VISAR, to analyze satellite video images, and the technology has enabled law enforcement officials to get a better look at telltale items from afar, such as a suspect's face or the license plate of a getaway car."
[Turkey] Kurdistan Region Seal on Passports Ratified / ZAMAN DAILY NEWSPAPER, 26 Feb 2006
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=national&alt=&trh=20060226&hn=30220Mustafa Gun
"The Interior Ministry has begun to permit the entrance of passports with the Kurdistan Region seal.
The ministry, issuing a circular order on the subject, announced that the people coming from Bagdat (Baghdad), Erbil and Amman and having passports with the Kurdistan Region seal is permitted to enter Turkey. However, those with 'Kurdistan' printed as the place of birth are to be prevented entry. Air transport issues between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region also came up when Fly Airlines launched flights to Erbil and Suleymaniye. "
"The Interior Ministry has begun to permit the entrance of passports with the Kurdistan Region seal.
The ministry, issuing a circular order on the subject, announced that the people coming from Bagdat (Baghdad), Erbil and Amman and having passports with the Kurdistan Region seal is permitted to enter Turkey. However, those with 'Kurdistan' printed as the place of birth are to be prevented entry. Air transport issues between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region also came up when Fly Airlines launched flights to Erbil and Suleymaniye. "
Muslim tolerance put to the test / On Line Opinion, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4181
Bashir Goth
"To Muslims, Islam is the religion of peace and reason. Muslims believe that Mohammed's greatest miracle was the word, the Koran. From the outset one can see that Islam gave precedence to the brain over brawn. However, it seems Muslims today have lost their intellectual fortitude. If we Muslims are really so adamant to defend the reputation of Islam it is our house that we have to put in order. It is unfortunate that while we are so hell bent on burning diplomatic premises and Danish and Western flags, Islam is everyday insulted, ridiculed and slandered by Muslims themselves."
Bashir Goth
"To Muslims, Islam is the religion of peace and reason. Muslims believe that Mohammed's greatest miracle was the word, the Koran. From the outset one can see that Islam gave precedence to the brain over brawn. However, it seems Muslims today have lost their intellectual fortitude. If we Muslims are really so adamant to defend the reputation of Islam it is our house that we have to put in order. It is unfortunate that while we are so hell bent on burning diplomatic premises and Danish and Western flags, Islam is everyday insulted, ridiculed and slandered by Muslims themselves."
BEYOND THE HOLDING TANK : PATHWAYS TO REHABILITATIVE AND RESTORATIVE PRISON POLICY /
Salvation Army New Zealand, Feb 2006
PDF - http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/SITE_Default/x-files/15775.pdf
Dr Leanne Smith ; Bonnie Robinson,
PDF - http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/SITE_Default/x-files/15775.pdf
Dr Leanne Smith ; Bonnie Robinson,
Guardian Angels: Yea or Nay? / TheStar.com, 26 Feb 2006
TheStar.com - Guardian Angels: Yea or Nay?:
"The Guardian Angels, the controversial group that began patrolling the crime-infested streets of New York City in their red berets and bomber jackets 27 years ago, have come to Toronto, recruited members and promise to have them trained and on the streets by July. But the city's powers-that-be don't want them. Mayor David Miller and the police. led by chief Bill Blair, have said the Angels are not appropriate for Toronto." [Active Communities]
"The Guardian Angels, the controversial group that began patrolling the crime-infested streets of New York City in their red berets and bomber jackets 27 years ago, have come to Toronto, recruited members and promise to have them trained and on the streets by July. But the city's powers-that-be don't want them. Mayor David Miller and the police. led by chief Bill Blair, have said the Angels are not appropriate for Toronto." [Active Communities]
Silenced by Islamist rage / International Herald Tribune, 26 Feb 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/26/opinion/edcartoon.php
"Radical Islamists are trying to harness that indignation to their political goals and their theocratic ends by fomenting hatred for the West and for moderate regimes in the Muslim world. These are dangerous games, and they require the most resolute response"
"Radical Islamists are trying to harness that indignation to their political goals and their theocratic ends by fomenting hatred for the West and for moderate regimes in the Muslim world. These are dangerous games, and they require the most resolute response"
PRACTICE ADVICE ON CORE INVESTIGATIVE DOCTRINE / ACPO, 2005
http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/Core%20Investigative%20Doctrine.pdf
Produced on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers
by the National Centre for Policing Excellence
"The performance of the police in the area of investigation is continually under scrutiny by the government, the criminal justice system and the media. There is widespread recognition within the Police Service that there is a need to improve the professionalism of the investigative response."
Produced on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers
by the National Centre for Policing Excellence
"The performance of the police in the area of investigation is continually under scrutiny by the government, the criminal justice system and the media. There is widespread recognition within the Police Service that there is a need to improve the professionalism of the investigative response."
Sunday, February 26, 2006
NWFP’s largest bank heist, for Qaeda / Pakistan Daily Times, 26 Feb 2006
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\02\26\story_26-2-2006_pg1_4
Javed Afridid
"Seven masked men robbed the Saudi-owned Al-Faisal Bank in a busy commercial area, making off with more than Rs 60 million, making it the largest bank heist in the history of the province, police and bank officials said. More than Rs 66 million was stolen. The thieves took $0.95 million and Rs 5.3 million. The robbers left the message, 'Long live Al Qaeda and down with the America,' in bank's vault." [Snippet]
Javed Afridid
"Seven masked men robbed the Saudi-owned Al-Faisal Bank in a busy commercial area, making off with more than Rs 60 million, making it the largest bank heist in the history of the province, police and bank officials said. More than Rs 66 million was stolen. The thieves took $0.95 million and Rs 5.3 million. The robbers left the message, 'Long live Al Qaeda and down with the America,' in bank's vault." [Snippet]
New biometric devices promise better ID / Forbes.com, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11523709/from/RSS/
Dan Frommer
"Tel Aviv-based Aladdin Knowledge Systems showed off a prototype security system that identifies users based on their heartbeats. And whether you find that kind of proposition novel or creepy, you're going to have to get used to it. Biometric security systems, which use unique body measurements to verify identity instead of - or in addition to - passwords, are a big business that is growing every year. "
Dan Frommer
"Tel Aviv-based Aladdin Knowledge Systems showed off a prototype security system that identifies users based on their heartbeats. And whether you find that kind of proposition novel or creepy, you're going to have to get used to it. Biometric security systems, which use unique body measurements to verify identity instead of - or in addition to - passwords, are a big business that is growing every year. "
Analysis: Al-Qaida alive and well in Saudi / World Peace Herald, 25 Feb 2006
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060225-110611-4227r
Sana Abdallah
"Security analysts say they believe al-Qaida, whose leaders Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri have been calling for striking against oil installations in the Arab Gulf region, initially knew this operation would not succeed due to the heavy security around the facility. They say al-Qaida more likely wanted to send a message that its fighters were still alive in Saudi Arabia after its operations declined significantly since the security authorities launched a war on the group after a May 2003 triple suicide bomb attack in Riyadh. "
Sana Abdallah
"Security analysts say they believe al-Qaida, whose leaders Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri have been calling for striking against oil installations in the Arab Gulf region, initially knew this operation would not succeed due to the heavy security around the facility. They say al-Qaida more likely wanted to send a message that its fighters were still alive in Saudi Arabia after its operations declined significantly since the security authorities launched a war on the group after a May 2003 triple suicide bomb attack in Riyadh. "
Innocent man never free after decades in jail / Stuff NZ, 26 Feb 2006
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3585055a12855,00.html
Donna Chisholm
"A look at the work of the The [British] Criminal Cases Review Commission. "
Donna Chisholm
"A look at the work of the The [British] Criminal Cases Review Commission. "
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Earprints as evidence? / Innovations Report, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmaq
"In one out of every twenty burglaries the burglar leaves an earprint behind, at least this seems to be the case in and around Leiden. Fingerprints have long been accepted as evidence, but what about earprints? Do the earprints of an individual differ enough from the earprints of all other individuals in the world to identify a criminal with complete certainty? No, you can't be a hundred per cent sure, but fingerprints aren't that certain either. We assume that no two fingerprints are the same, but we don't know for certain.
Earprints of different people; the numbers indicate the places where the most characteristic differences can be seen. "
"In one out of every twenty burglaries the burglar leaves an earprint behind, at least this seems to be the case in and around Leiden. Fingerprints have long been accepted as evidence, but what about earprints? Do the earprints of an individual differ enough from the earprints of all other individuals in the world to identify a criminal with complete certainty? No, you can't be a hundred per cent sure, but fingerprints aren't that certain either. We assume that no two fingerprints are the same, but we don't know for certain.
Earprints of different people; the numbers indicate the places where the most characteristic differences can be seen. "
Turkish terror laws faulted by UN rights envoy / JURIST - Paper Chase, 24 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmbg
"The United Nations [official website] Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism Martin Scheinin sharply criticized Turkey's anti-terrorism laws [JURIST news archive] Thursday, claiming Turkey's definition of terrorism is too broad and vague with respect to local terrorist groups. In particular, Scheinin stated that the 2001 law [text] 'defines terrorism based on its purpose or aims rather than referring to specific criminal acts' and expressed concern [press release] that people may be convicted of terrorist crimes without a sufficient connection to a terrorist act. Scheinin's comments come at the heels of a one-week fact-finding mission. Conversely, Turkish security forces complain that the anti-terror laws and the penal code restrict their efforts against crime and terrorism."
"The United Nations [official website] Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism Martin Scheinin sharply criticized Turkey's anti-terrorism laws [JURIST news archive] Thursday, claiming Turkey's definition of terrorism is too broad and vague with respect to local terrorist groups. In particular, Scheinin stated that the 2001 law [text] 'defines terrorism based on its purpose or aims rather than referring to specific criminal acts' and expressed concern [press release] that people may be convicted of terrorist crimes without a sufficient connection to a terrorist act. Scheinin's comments come at the heels of a one-week fact-finding mission. Conversely, Turkish security forces complain that the anti-terror laws and the penal code restrict their efforts against crime and terrorism."
[Canada]Declassified Canadian memos raise new rendition suspicions / JURIST - Paper Chase:, 24 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmbf
"A series of internal Canadian government memos newly declassified under the Canadian Access to Information Act [text] has increased speculation that the US Central Intelligence Agency [JURIST news archive] has flown terror suspects through Canada as part of an extraordinary rendition [JURIST news archive] program transferring them to foreign prisons. One note stamped "secret" says that over 70 flights allegedly tied to the CIA have landed at Canadian airfields in Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec and the northern territory of Nunavut since September 11, 2001, a significantly higher number than previously believed. In January, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada [official website] said that flights thought to be connected with the CIA exhibited no evidence of "illegal activities", and the Canadian Border Services Agency [official website] and Nav Canada [official website], Canada's air traffic control authority, have claimed that all proper procedures were followed in connection with the flights.Human rights group Amnesty International [advocacy website] nonetheless says that it fears the flights "involved the transfer of prisoners to countries where they may be tortured" and has been pressing the Canadian government on the renditions issue. In Europe, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have already begun hearings on the alleged renditions [JURIST report], and the British government Thursday came under new pressure from MPs [JURIST news archive] to investigate claims of rendition flights through the UK. Canadian Press has more."[Snippet]
"A series of internal Canadian government memos newly declassified under the Canadian Access to Information Act [text] has increased speculation that the US Central Intelligence Agency [JURIST news archive] has flown terror suspects through Canada as part of an extraordinary rendition [JURIST news archive] program transferring them to foreign prisons. One note stamped "secret" says that over 70 flights allegedly tied to the CIA have landed at Canadian airfields in Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec and the northern territory of Nunavut since September 11, 2001, a significantly higher number than previously believed. In January, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada [official website] said that flights thought to be connected with the CIA exhibited no evidence of "illegal activities", and the Canadian Border Services Agency [official website] and Nav Canada [official website], Canada's air traffic control authority, have claimed that all proper procedures were followed in connection with the flights.Human rights group Amnesty International [advocacy website] nonetheless says that it fears the flights "involved the transfer of prisoners to countries where they may be tortured" and has been pressing the Canadian government on the renditions issue. In Europe, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have already begun hearings on the alleged renditions [JURIST report], and the British government Thursday came under new pressure from MPs [JURIST news archive] to investigate claims of rendition flights through the UK. Canadian Press has more."[Snippet]
A privileged position on laundering / Accountancy Age, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmbe
David Callaghan
"After months of lobbying, Westminster has finally given accountants protection under money laundering law
, Under this change in the law, the accountant can now decide not to report anything suspicious to the National Criminal Intelligence Service if it will compromise the clients' rights to legal privilege. But the institute stresses that the privilege only applies to money laundering and not in other crime areas. It doesn't affect reporting requirements under the Terrorism Act 2000, for example."
David Callaghan
"After months of lobbying, Westminster has finally given accountants protection under money laundering law
, Under this change in the law, the accountant can now decide not to report anything suspicious to the National Criminal Intelligence Service if it will compromise the clients' rights to legal privilege. But the institute stresses that the privilege only applies to money laundering and not in other crime areas. It doesn't affect reporting requirements under the Terrorism Act 2000, for example."
At the Heart / Jane's Police Review, 24 Feb 2006
Barbara Wilding
"The service must put women in a pivotal position during the force merger process. Explains why the glass ceiling for female officers has yet to crack in some areas. The police service is going through a period of great uncertainty and change with the current focus on force restructuring and reform. It is critical that the role of women in the service does not falter during this process due to them not using their influence to maintain the progress in diversity that has been made to date. Diversity is critical to the success of the service. Understanding diversity has a direct impact on the quality of service we provide to the public. It is essential that the service reflects the communities it serves. " [Sub Required]
"The service must put women in a pivotal position during the force merger process. Explains why the glass ceiling for female officers has yet to crack in some areas. The police service is going through a period of great uncertainty and change with the current focus on force restructuring and reform. It is critical that the role of women in the service does not falter during this process due to them not using their influence to maintain the progress in diversity that has been made to date. Diversity is critical to the success of the service. Understanding diversity has a direct impact on the quality of service we provide to the public. It is essential that the service reflects the communities it serves. " [Sub Required]
Talking tactics / Jane's Police Review, 24 Feb 2006
Andy Hayman
"International terrorism remains a real and dangerous threat to the United Kingdom. The terrorist atrocities in London on 7 July 2005 illustrate this all too poignantly and subsequent attacks in Bali, Delhi and Jordan, plus thwarted attacks in Australia and the UK, only serve to remind us that the threat is constant and undiminishing. We must implement a policing style for this 'new normality' - a normality that presents a complexity that challenges our investigative capability and a degree of threat that places our communities on a constant state of alert. "[Sub Required]
"International terrorism remains a real and dangerous threat to the United Kingdom. The terrorist atrocities in London on 7 July 2005 illustrate this all too poignantly and subsequent attacks in Bali, Delhi and Jordan, plus thwarted attacks in Australia and the UK, only serve to remind us that the threat is constant and undiminishing. We must implement a policing style for this 'new normality' - a normality that presents a complexity that challenges our investigative capability and a degree of threat that places our communities on a constant state of alert. "[Sub Required]
Europe doesn't get free speech / International Herald Tribune, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/24/opinion/edrojan.php
Matthew Rojansky
"The European Convention on Human Rights, which legally binds all EU states and supersedes domestic law, explicitly guarantees 'the right to freedom of expression' including 'the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.'"
Matthew Rojansky
"The European Convention on Human Rights, which legally binds all EU states and supersedes domestic law, explicitly guarantees 'the right to freedom of expression' including 'the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.'"
Multicultural Europe blamed for cartoon crisis / FT.com, 25 Feb 2006
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/58fa26fc-a5a3-11da-bf34-0000779e2340.html
Martin Arnold
"The UK, in particular, has made a 'serious error' in 'encouraging and accepting' multiculturalism. 'The London bombings last year were a brutal wake-up call,' he claims.
But British Muslims also share some of the blame, he argues, saying that some are interested in 'living only in their Islamism, only in the time of the prophet. But listen, I say we are in 2006. I contest their reactionary, archaic, medieval way of living Islam, and their way of living recurring ritualism.' Reacting to a recent opinion poll showing that 40 per cent of British Muslims favour introducing Sharia, or Islamic law, in areas where they are in the majority, he says: 'That is once again a return to the past. I don't think French Muslims would accept this.'"
Martin Arnold
"The UK, in particular, has made a 'serious error' in 'encouraging and accepting' multiculturalism. 'The London bombings last year were a brutal wake-up call,' he claims.
But British Muslims also share some of the blame, he argues, saying that some are interested in 'living only in their Islamism, only in the time of the prophet. But listen, I say we are in 2006. I contest their reactionary, archaic, medieval way of living Islam, and their way of living recurring ritualism.' Reacting to a recent opinion poll showing that 40 per cent of British Muslims favour introducing Sharia, or Islamic law, in areas where they are in the majority, he says: 'That is once again a return to the past. I don't think French Muslims would accept this.'"
Predictors of violence, antisocial behaviour and relational aggression in Australian adolescents : a longitudinal study / CRC, 2005
PDF - http://www.aic.gov.au/crc/reports/200304-26.pdf
Sheryl A Hemphill, John W Toumbourou and Richard F Catalano, 2005" "
Sheryl A Hemphill, John W Toumbourou and Richard F Catalano, 2005" "
Solving problem children / The Australian, 25 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gmar
Kellie Bisset
"Research supporting his approach is mounting. A joint report, submitted for journal publication by researchers from the Centre for Adolescent Health at Melbourne's Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the University of Washington at Seattle, found that suspension from school almost doubled the risk of a child engaging in antisocial behaviour a year later. Such research is particularly relevant in a climate where antisocial behaviour is increasingly grabbing headlines"
Kellie Bisset
"Research supporting his approach is mounting. A joint report, submitted for journal publication by researchers from the Centre for Adolescent Health at Melbourne's Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the University of Washington at Seattle, found that suspension from school almost doubled the risk of a child engaging in antisocial behaviour a year later. Such research is particularly relevant in a climate where antisocial behaviour is increasingly grabbing headlines"
University of Leicester announces world first forensic technique / Innovations Report, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/physics_astronomy/report-55790.html:
"A new radiological system was used recently at a mass fatality investigation. A team of researchers led by Professor Guy Rutty of the University of Leicester Forensic Pathology Unit used a mobile MSCT scanner at the mortuary for the examination of the victims of a vehicle mass fatality incident.
This instrument provided superior information in 2 dimensional plain film (AP and lateral) and 3 dimensional multi-slice examination with on-site soft tissue and bony reconstruction. The system proved faster then traditional temporary mortuary radiology yielding greater information related to identification, health and safety, autopsy planning and cause of death. "
"A new radiological system was used recently at a mass fatality investigation. A team of researchers led by Professor Guy Rutty of the University of Leicester Forensic Pathology Unit used a mobile MSCT scanner at the mortuary for the examination of the victims of a vehicle mass fatality incident.
This instrument provided superior information in 2 dimensional plain film (AP and lateral) and 3 dimensional multi-slice examination with on-site soft tissue and bony reconstruction. The system proved faster then traditional temporary mortuary radiology yielding greater information related to identification, health and safety, autopsy planning and cause of death. "
Friday, February 24, 2006
Call for end to faith schools / Monsters & Critics, 24 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkwr
"'We believe our proposals are the only ones that make sense for the future of education in our increasingly diverse society,' Mr Copson said. 'To secure a future of stability and social cohesion, children need to learn together in inclusive and accommodating community schools, not be segregated in religious silos,' he concluded. "
"'We believe our proposals are the only ones that make sense for the future of education in our increasingly diverse society,' Mr Copson said. 'To secure a future of stability and social cohesion, children need to learn together in inclusive and accommodating community schools, not be segregated in religious silos,' he concluded. "
Symptoms of anxiety and depression in childhood and use of MDMA: prospective, population based study / BMJ, Feb 2006
PDF - http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/ecstasy.pdf
Anja C Huizink, Robert F Ferdinand, Jan van der Ende, Frank C Verhulst
"bjective To investigate whether using ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is preceded by symptoms of behavioural and emotional problems in
childhood and early adolescence.
Design Prospective, longitudinal, population based study
Setting The Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
Participants A sample of 1580 individuals, followed up across a 14 year period, from childhood into adulthood."
Anja C Huizink, Robert F Ferdinand, Jan van der Ende, Frank C Verhulst
"bjective To investigate whether using ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is preceded by symptoms of behavioural and emotional problems in
childhood and early adolescence.
Design Prospective, longitudinal, population based study
Setting The Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
Participants A sample of 1580 individuals, followed up across a 14 year period, from childhood into adulthood."
Are biometrics ready for the UK? / silicon.com, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39156697,00.htm
Dan Ilett
"The UK Foreign Office is issuing facial recognition biometric passports in the US, and iris scanning pilot schemes are underway at Heathrow Airport. With the ID cards scheme moving ahead, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown backing the use of biometrics, it seems that finger, face and iris scanners will be soon become an everyday part of our society. But are biometrics the answer to identity theft and terrorism, as the government claims, or do they bring problems of their own?"
Dan Ilett
"The UK Foreign Office is issuing facial recognition biometric passports in the US, and iris scanning pilot schemes are underway at Heathrow Airport. With the ID cards scheme moving ahead, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown backing the use of biometrics, it seems that finger, face and iris scanners will be soon become an everyday part of our society. But are biometrics the answer to identity theft and terrorism, as the government claims, or do they bring problems of their own?"
Federated identity 'can transform e-government' - Security Strategy / silicon.com, 23 Feb 2006
http://software.silicon.com/security/0,39024655,39156692,00.htm
Will Sturgeon
"Leading public sector IT bosses have told silicon.com they would welcome moves by the UK government to adopt federated identity in order to provide the public with faster, more efficient access to online services. But one expert believes the government has been too preoccupied with the controversial ID cards project to consider such a solution.
Federation would essentially mean government departments would share the public's identities across their systems and authenticate against one another. This would speed the process of signing in and using multiple online services and would eliminate layers of administration."
Will Sturgeon
"Leading public sector IT bosses have told silicon.com they would welcome moves by the UK government to adopt federated identity in order to provide the public with faster, more efficient access to online services. But one expert believes the government has been too preoccupied with the controversial ID cards project to consider such a solution.
Federation would essentially mean government departments would share the public's identities across their systems and authenticate against one another. This would speed the process of signing in and using multiple online services and would eliminate layers of administration."
Near Real-Time "Who's In Jail" Database Running in Kentucky / GovTech, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=98537
"JusticeXchange is a web portal that provides law enforcement and other criminal justice officials' instant access to information about offenders held in jails throughout the state and across the country. Based on data collected automatically from local jail management systems, JusticeXchange provides near real-time current and historical information about incarcerated offenders, including biographical information, charges, photographs, and behavioral reports, all accessible through a secure website. "
"JusticeXchange is a web portal that provides law enforcement and other criminal justice officials' instant access to information about offenders held in jails throughout the state and across the country. Based on data collected automatically from local jail management systems, JusticeXchange provides near real-time current and historical information about incarcerated offenders, including biographical information, charges, photographs, and behavioral reports, all accessible through a secure website. "
Report: Deaths related to drug poisoning: results for England and Wales, 2000-2004 / Health Statistics Quarterly: Spring, (29), 2006, p.69-76.
PDF - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ29.pdf
"This report presents the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) database of deaths from drug-related poisoning and covers the period from 2000-2004. Tables include those showing individual drugs mentioned."
"This report presents the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) database of deaths from drug-related poisoning and covers the period from 2000-2004. Tables include those showing individual drugs mentioned."
Evaluation of the Scottish Prison Service Transitional Care Initiative / Scottish Executive. Substance Misuse Division. Substance Misuse Research Team
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/08110928/0Murray L., McIvor G., Malloch M., Barry M. UK.
"It appears that Transitional Care was reasonably effective at linking clients with services as indicated by the survey and monitoring data. However the extent to which it linked them with services they would not in any case have accessed by some other means was unclear and there were no apparent differences in short-term outcomes among those who attended Transitional Care and those who did not."
PDF - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/08110928/12
"It appears that Transitional Care was reasonably effective at linking clients with services as indicated by the survey and monitoring data. However the extent to which it linked them with services they would not in any case have accessed by some other means was unclear and there were no apparent differences in short-term outcomes among those who attended Transitional Care and those who did not."
PDF - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/08110928/12
SNARED BY POLICE TRAP / Doncaster Star, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gktg
"CAR crime in Doncaster has been slashed after police snared three villains with a special car which shoots invisible chemicals. The number of offences of theft from vehicles fell by 75 per cent in some areas as word got round of the latest weapon in the police crime-busting armoury.
Within a fortnight of parking the car in locations near the town centre, detectives had three serial offenders locked up."
"CAR crime in Doncaster has been slashed after police snared three villains with a special car which shoots invisible chemicals. The number of offences of theft from vehicles fell by 75 per cent in some areas as word got round of the latest weapon in the police crime-busting armoury.
Within a fortnight of parking the car in locations near the town centre, detectives had three serial offenders locked up."
Fight for justice at Feltham / This is London, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gktb
Tanika Gupta
"Staff at the Feltham Young Offender Institution that houses 15-to 21- year- olds should never have placed a young Asian man, serving his first custodial sentence, in a cell with a known, violent racist. 'If you see a guy with a tattoo, short haircut, you don't need to be a scientist to work out what he is,' comments Zahid's father, Amin. "
Tanika Gupta
"Staff at the Feltham Young Offender Institution that houses 15-to 21- year- olds should never have placed a young Asian man, serving his first custodial sentence, in a cell with a known, violent racist. 'If you see a guy with a tattoo, short haircut, you don't need to be a scientist to work out what he is,' comments Zahid's father, Amin. "
Restorative Practices as a Tool for Organizational Change: The Bessels Leigh School / RealJustice, Feb 2006
http://www.realjustice.org/library/besselsleigh.html
John Boulton, Bessels Leigh Principal, with Laura Mirsky
"The Bessels Leigh School, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, a residential special school for boys with emotional and behavioral difficulties, age 11-16, has seen a remarkable change in culture, due to restorative practices.
Via restorative processes both formal and informal, the approximately 28 pupils are encouraged to express their emotions and feelings and consider those of others. In a very powerful way they are made aware of the consequences of their behavior and can recognize the harm that their actions have caused. In partnership with the IIRP and Real Justice and SaferSanerSchools UK and Ireland, Bessels Leigh School is on track to become a demonstration school for restorative practices in the UK. "
PDF - http://fp.enter.net/restorativepractices/besselsleigh.pdf
John Boulton, Bessels Leigh Principal, with Laura Mirsky
"The Bessels Leigh School, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, a residential special school for boys with emotional and behavioral difficulties, age 11-16, has seen a remarkable change in culture, due to restorative practices.
Via restorative processes both formal and informal, the approximately 28 pupils are encouraged to express their emotions and feelings and consider those of others. In a very powerful way they are made aware of the consequences of their behavior and can recognize the harm that their actions have caused. In partnership with the IIRP and Real Justice and SaferSanerSchools UK and Ireland, Bessels Leigh School is on track to become a demonstration school for restorative practices in the UK. "
PDF - http://fp.enter.net/restorativepractices/besselsleigh.pdf
Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise / RAND, 2006
PDF - http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.pdf
"Considers the potential consequences of not investing additional resources in children�s lives, the range of early intervention programs, the demonstrated benefits of interventions having high-quality evaluations, the features associated with successful programs, and the returns to society associated with investing early in the lives of disadvantaged children. The findings indicate the existence of a body of sound research that can guide resource allocation decisions."
"Considers the potential consequences of not investing additional resources in children�s lives, the range of early intervention programs, the demonstrated benefits of interventions having high-quality evaluations, the features associated with successful programs, and the returns to society associated with investing early in the lives of disadvantaged children. The findings indicate the existence of a body of sound research that can guide resource allocation decisions."
Feds trying to further scope out extent of cyber-crime / Scripps Howard News Service, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=CYBERCRIME-02-23-06&cat=AN
LISA HOFFMAN
"One of the persistent unknowns in the battle against cyber-crime is the true scope of the problem. Since the Internet revolution began a decade ago, U.S. businesses have been so reluctant to report cyber-victimization that experts believe the toll may be substantially higher than anyone estimates, law-enforcement officials say."
LISA HOFFMAN
"One of the persistent unknowns in the battle against cyber-crime is the true scope of the problem. Since the Internet revolution began a decade ago, U.S. businesses have been so reluctant to report cyber-victimization that experts believe the toll may be substantially higher than anyone estimates, law-enforcement officials say."
Police State Technology: Implanting a GPS-microchip in the body of a human being, using a high powered sniper rifle / Global Research, 22 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gksm
"Empire North, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, has introduced a new law enforcement tool called an ID Sniper Rifle. According to their marketing material, the ID Sniper Rifle is used to implant a GPS-microchip in the body of a human being, using a high powered sniper rifle as the long distance injector. This micro chip enters the body and remains there without causing any internal damage. The manufacturer says the process brings little physical pain as the micro chip enters the body of an unsuspecting human, similiar to a mosquito bite lasting just a fraction of a second. At the same time this occurs, a digital camcorder with a zoom-lense fitted within the scope will being to take a high-resolution picture of the target. The target in this case is a human being.
Empire North maintains that law enforcement need this rifle 'As the urban battlefield grows more complex and intense, new ways of managing and controlling crowds are needed. The attention of the media changes the rules of the game. Sometimes it is difficult to engage the enemy in the streets without causing damage to the all important image of the state. Instead EMPIRE NORTH suggests to mark and identify a suspicious subject on a safe distance, enabeling the national law enforcement agency to keep track on the target through a satellite in the weeks to come.'
Empire North has been showing this new rifle for law enforcement from Bejiing, China in 2002 to New York City in April 2004. The company markets products for the 'modern urban battlefield.' Empire North also markets a product called 'JuJu the Citizen Eye.' This little camera is designed to photograph suspicious activity and immediately be able to transmit it to the Mini" [Snippet]
"Empire North, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, has introduced a new law enforcement tool called an ID Sniper Rifle. According to their marketing material, the ID Sniper Rifle is used to implant a GPS-microchip in the body of a human being, using a high powered sniper rifle as the long distance injector. This micro chip enters the body and remains there without causing any internal damage. The manufacturer says the process brings little physical pain as the micro chip enters the body of an unsuspecting human, similiar to a mosquito bite lasting just a fraction of a second. At the same time this occurs, a digital camcorder with a zoom-lense fitted within the scope will being to take a high-resolution picture of the target. The target in this case is a human being.
Empire North maintains that law enforcement need this rifle 'As the urban battlefield grows more complex and intense, new ways of managing and controlling crowds are needed. The attention of the media changes the rules of the game. Sometimes it is difficult to engage the enemy in the streets without causing damage to the all important image of the state. Instead EMPIRE NORTH suggests to mark and identify a suspicious subject on a safe distance, enabeling the national law enforcement agency to keep track on the target through a satellite in the weeks to come.'
Empire North has been showing this new rifle for law enforcement from Bejiing, China in 2002 to New York City in April 2004. The company markets products for the 'modern urban battlefield.' Empire North also markets a product called 'JuJu the Citizen Eye.' This little camera is designed to photograph suspicious activity and immediately be able to transmit it to the Mini" [Snippet]
[USA] TIA [Controversial counter-terror program] Lives On / NATIONAL JOURNAL, 23 Feb 2006
http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2006/0223nj1.htm
"A controversial counter-terrorism program, which lawmakers halted more than two years ago amid outcries from privacy advocates, was stopped in name only and has quietly continued within the intelligence agency now fending off charges that it has violated the privacy of U.S. citizens.
It is no secret that some parts of TIA lived on behind the veil of the classified intelligence budget. Research under the Defense Department's Total Information Awareness program -- which developed technologies to predict terrorist attacks by mining government databases and the personal records of people in the United States -- was moved from the Pentagon's research-and-development agency to another group."
"A controversial counter-terrorism program, which lawmakers halted more than two years ago amid outcries from privacy advocates, was stopped in name only and has quietly continued within the intelligence agency now fending off charges that it has violated the privacy of U.S. citizens.
It is no secret that some parts of TIA lived on behind the veil of the classified intelligence budget. Research under the Defense Department's Total Information Awareness program -- which developed technologies to predict terrorist attacks by mining government databases and the personal records of people in the United States -- was moved from the Pentagon's research-and-development agency to another group."
Role model for community policing / North Devon Gazette, 22 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gksh
"I think it's a model for other areas, as they have the opportunity to get out there, meet the public and do the things that people want from their local police. You might even see an officer out on a bicycle - certainly cycling down the hills, at least!' The unusual nature of its location within the hospital has if anything helped both services to work better on behalf of the community - something which is set to continue despite some major changes proposed."
"I think it's a model for other areas, as they have the opportunity to get out there, meet the public and do the things that people want from their local police. You might even see an officer out on a bicycle - certainly cycling down the hills, at least!' The unusual nature of its location within the hospital has if anything helped both services to work better on behalf of the community - something which is set to continue despite some major changes proposed."
New approach to red light areas / Ipswich Evening Star, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gksg
IPSWICH is to tackle its prostitution problem with a 'more holistic approach' focusing on the roots as well as the effects of soliciting. A multi-agency group has been set up to provide a more co-ordinated response to prostitution which will give those involved better support."
IPSWICH is to tackle its prostitution problem with a 'more holistic approach' focusing on the roots as well as the effects of soliciting. A multi-agency group has been set up to provide a more co-ordinated response to prostitution which will give those involved better support."
Amnesty warns EU of UK human rights abuses/ Euractiv, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-152884-16&type=News&Ref=mail
"In an open letter, Amnesty International has urged the European Union to take action to protect human rights from what it calls "open and sustained attack" by the United Kingdom."
Amnesty Report: United Kingdom Human Rights: a broken promise
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR450042006?open&of=ENG-GBR
PDF -
http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/EUR450042006ENGLISH/$File/EUR4500406.pdf
Amnesty Open letter to the EU: Amnesty International Report on the UK: the erosion of human rights in the fight against terrorism
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGIOR610072006
"In an open letter, Amnesty International has urged the European Union to take action to protect human rights from what it calls "open and sustained attack" by the United Kingdom."
Amnesty Report: United Kingdom Human Rights: a broken promise
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR450042006?open&of=ENG-GBR
PDF -
http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/EUR450042006ENGLISH/$File/EUR4500406.pdf
Amnesty Open letter to the EU: Amnesty International Report on the UK: the erosion of human rights in the fight against terrorism
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGIOR610072006
Scientists to speak out for animal tests / Guardian Unlimited, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,1716797,00.html
Sandra Laville and Robert Booth
"Two leading academics at Oxford University have decided to face down threats of violence from animal rights extremists and speak publicly in favour of the building of a controversial £18m research laboratory in the city."
Sandra Laville and Robert Booth
"Two leading academics at Oxford University have decided to face down threats of violence from animal rights extremists and speak publicly in favour of the building of a controversial £18m research laboratory in the city."
'We're stunt queens. We have to be' / Guardian Unlimited, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,1716788,00.html
Gary Younge
"Interview with Ingrid Newkirk, Peta's founder and director."
Gary Younge
"Interview with Ingrid Newkirk, Peta's founder and director."
The kings of crime / Guardian Unlimited, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,1716799,00.html Erwin James
"Among the broken, the defeated the damaged and the deranged who make up the majority of a prison's population, armed robbers have traditionally been considered the aristocracy. ..Those who are organised, professional, courageous it has to be said, to a certain extent, and, of course, callous and often brutal"
"Among the broken, the defeated the damaged and the deranged who make up the majority of a prison's population, armed robbers have traditionally been considered the aristocracy. ..Those who are organised, professional, courageous it has to be said, to a certain extent, and, of course, callous and often brutal"
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Consultation the key to Britishness test / Ilford Recorder, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkpr
"A LEADING community figure is urging the government to carry out extensive consultations on the proposed Britishness test for preachers, because she believes if they get it wrong, communities will be 'alienated'. "
"A LEADING community figure is urging the government to carry out extensive consultations on the proposed Britishness test for preachers, because she believes if they get it wrong, communities will be 'alienated'. "
Europe-wide system launched to crackdown on smuggling and forgery / 24dash.com, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=3360
Keith Hall
"The Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit has unveiled a new system that allows police officers swift access to a vast database of documents relating to vehicles, drivers and the movement of goods by road across Europe, including the UK.
The Transport Documentation System (TDS) has been designed to combat forms of illegal activity including smuggling and forgery. The electronic database system can be accessed via the Internet with the appropriate security protection, and can be downloaded onto a CD and accessed by the police on a laptop at the roadside."
Keith Hall
"The Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit has unveiled a new system that allows police officers swift access to a vast database of documents relating to vehicles, drivers and the movement of goods by road across Europe, including the UK.
The Transport Documentation System (TDS) has been designed to combat forms of illegal activity including smuggling and forgery. The electronic database system can be accessed via the Internet with the appropriate security protection, and can be downloaded onto a CD and accessed by the police on a laptop at the roadside."
Our values or go home: Costello / The Age, 24 Feb 2006
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/02/23/1140670207642.html?from=rss
Josh Gordon and Jewel Topsfield,
"PETER Costello has lashed out at 'mushy misguided multiculturalism,' warning that Australian values are 'not optional' - and that migrants who do not share them should be stripped of their citizenship. In a hard-hitting speech to the Sydney Institute that immediately sparked anger from Muslims, the Treasurer said migrants should be forced to honour their pledge of allegiance to Australia or face the prospect of being kicked out. In his strongest comments on the issue yet, he said anyone refusing to acknowledge the rule of law 'stabs at the heart of the Australian compact'."
Josh Gordon and Jewel Topsfield,
"PETER Costello has lashed out at 'mushy misguided multiculturalism,' warning that Australian values are 'not optional' - and that migrants who do not share them should be stripped of their citizenship. In a hard-hitting speech to the Sydney Institute that immediately sparked anger from Muslims, the Treasurer said migrants should be forced to honour their pledge of allegiance to Australia or face the prospect of being kicked out. In his strongest comments on the issue yet, he said anyone refusing to acknowledge the rule of law 'stabs at the heart of the Australian compact'."
Dark days are over/ icTeesside, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkpg
"A top Government inspection report today reveals who was to blame for a £7.3m financial black hole which rocked Cleveland Police. Her Majesty's Inspector Ken Williams launched his probe of the force's finances last autumn on the orders of the Home Secretary Charles Clarke. His report blames a massive breakdown in relations between Cleveland Police Authority and the force for causing the black hole to emerge in 2004. And it cites the long-running Operation Lancet inquiry as fundamental to the police authority not doing its job properly and contributing to the deficit." [3 pages]
"A top Government inspection report today reveals who was to blame for a £7.3m financial black hole which rocked Cleveland Police. Her Majesty's Inspector Ken Williams launched his probe of the force's finances last autumn on the orders of the Home Secretary Charles Clarke. His report blames a massive breakdown in relations between Cleveland Police Authority and the force for causing the black hole to emerge in 2004. And it cites the long-running Operation Lancet inquiry as fundamental to the police authority not doing its job properly and contributing to the deficit." [3 pages]
Suspects convicted of role in bombing attacks / Expatica Belgium, 16 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknr
"Brussels Court convicted on Thursday six men on charges they were members of an Islamic group linked to the terror attacks in Madrid and Casablanca. They were members of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM), held responsible for the train bombings in Madrid in March 2004 and the Casablanca bombings in May 2003."
"Brussels Court convicted on Thursday six men on charges they were members of an Islamic group linked to the terror attacks in Madrid and Casablanca. They were members of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM), held responsible for the train bombings in Madrid in March 2004 and the Casablanca bombings in May 2003."
Immigrant children 'should learn German early' / Expatica Germany, 15 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknq
"The report, "Language - Migration - Integration" synthesises the results of scientific studies done on language and integration in several countries, including the USA, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany. The researchers found that learning the language of the country of residence as early as possible is of vital importance to immigrant children's success both in school and in the job market."
"The report, "Language - Migration - Integration" synthesises the results of scientific studies done on language and integration in several countries, including the USA, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany. The researchers found that learning the language of the country of residence as early as possible is of vital importance to immigrant children's success both in school and in the job market."
Terrorism Focus, Volume 3, Issue 7 (February 21, 2006)
http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369903
Al-Qaeda's Clandestine Courier Service
Internet Mujahideen React to Rumsfeld's Recent CFR Speech
Islamists Criticize Muslims who Abstain from Jihad
The Foreign Makeup of Afghan Suicide Bombers
How the Cartoon Controversy May Spur Terrorism in Southeast Asia
Al-Qaeda's Clandestine Courier Service
Internet Mujahideen React to Rumsfeld's Recent CFR Speech
Islamists Criticize Muslims who Abstain from Jihad
The Foreign Makeup of Afghan Suicide Bombers
How the Cartoon Controversy May Spur Terrorism in Southeast Asia
Prison Struggling To Meet Demands / News Shopper, 22 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknn
"ONE of the country's highest profile prisons has been criticised in an independent report. According to the report Belmarsh jail, in Western Way, Thamesmead, is 'struggling to meet the demands' of its 'diverse population'. The dossier, compiled by the prisons' Independent Monitoring Board, says the level of care given to mental health patients is 'unacceptable'. It also criticises the 'disgraceful' delay between deaths in custody and coroner's inquests."
"ONE of the country's highest profile prisons has been criticised in an independent report. According to the report Belmarsh jail, in Western Way, Thamesmead, is 'struggling to meet the demands' of its 'diverse population'. The dossier, compiled by the prisons' Independent Monitoring Board, says the level of care given to mental health patients is 'unacceptable'. It also criticises the 'disgraceful' delay between deaths in custody and coroner's inquests."
State Department unveils trial of electronic passports / GovExec, 21 Feb 2006
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=33436&dcn=e_gvet
"Low-frequency RFID chips be read from up to 20 feet, but the department has maintained e-passports would include chips that only can be read from 'approximately four inches' away from the source. To eschew concerns over privacy and safety, the department said the front covers of e-passports have a built-in anti-skimming device. It is akin to 'wrapping them in tin foil to prevent the radio frequency signal from getting through,' said Jay Stanley, communications director at the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Program. "
"Low-frequency RFID chips be read from up to 20 feet, but the department has maintained e-passports would include chips that only can be read from 'approximately four inches' away from the source. To eschew concerns over privacy and safety, the department said the front covers of e-passports have a built-in anti-skimming device. It is akin to 'wrapping them in tin foil to prevent the radio frequency signal from getting through,' said Jay Stanley, communications director at the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Program. "
Fake passports big hit with Iranians, Turks / Ynetnews, 22 Feb 2006
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3219704,00.html
"The Israeli passport is considered to be one of the easiest passports to forge and can be purchased in Asia, and especially in Thailand's markets, for anywhere from USD 500 to 2000. The Israeli passport is in great demand because people carrying it can enter Asian countries without a visa."
"The Israeli passport is considered to be one of the easiest passports to forge and can be purchased in Asia, and especially in Thailand's markets, for anywhere from USD 500 to 2000. The Israeli passport is in great demand because people carrying it can enter Asian countries without a visa."
Hells Angels feeling 'depressed' / NEWS.com.au, 22 Feb 2006
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18234426-13762,00.html
"The Stockholm chapter of the biker gang Hell's Angels is being investigated for fraud after police found 70 per cent of members were certified as depressed by the same doctor and were getting state sickness benefits. 'It seems to be depressing being a member of this club,' Christer Nilsson, deputy head of Stockholm police's criminal investigation department, told newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Biker gangs like the Hell's Angels and their deadly rivals the Bandidos have a history of violent crime in Scandinavia including shootouts and bomb attacks, but have also branched out into benefit and tax frauds in recent years, police say." [Snippet / Organised Crime 7 Gangs]]
"The Stockholm chapter of the biker gang Hell's Angels is being investigated for fraud after police found 70 per cent of members were certified as depressed by the same doctor and were getting state sickness benefits. 'It seems to be depressing being a member of this club,' Christer Nilsson, deputy head of Stockholm police's criminal investigation department, told newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Biker gangs like the Hell's Angels and their deadly rivals the Bandidos have a history of violent crime in Scandinavia including shootouts and bomb attacks, but have also branched out into benefit and tax frauds in recent years, police say." [Snippet / Organised Crime 7 Gangs]]
Fingerprint Advances Will Fight Cybercrime / UB NewsCenter, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=77860009
"UB biometrics researchers enhance fingerprint technology."
"UB biometrics researchers enhance fingerprint technology."
Information Technology (IT) and the fight against crime / Jamaica Gleaner, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060223/eye/eye1.html
Dr. Timothy Stitt and Kaydeen Williamson"
Dr. Timothy Stitt and Kaydeen Williamson"
JAIL: Woken at 7am, locked up at 8.15pm, a day in the life at city's priPeterborough Today, 22 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknh
Jonathan Sandall
"IN a month's time HMP Peterborough will be marking its first birthday. Today, we go behind the scenes to find out what life is really like at the prison - the only establishment of its kind in the country that deals with both male and female ."
Jonathan Sandall
"IN a month's time HMP Peterborough will be marking its first birthday. Today, we go behind the scenes to find out what life is really like at the prison - the only establishment of its kind in the country that deals with both male and female ."
Radio chips drafted for ID cards / Contractor UK, 23 Feb 2006
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002529.html
"Privacy campaigners are aghast over claims sourced from a leaked government letter that suggest biometric ID cards will be fitted with radio transmitting technology to track people's movements. The letter, reportedly obtained by a national newspaper, stated that the incoming cards need special chips to comply with internal ID card rules, such as being able to locate airport scanners. Although the Home Office confirmed the necessity of the radio chips, it pointed out certain data would only be transmitted over a very short distance, up to 2cm. But ID card and surveillance critics warned that the chips, expected to store a person's name, age, date of birth and biometrics, could be abused by both government and hi-tech criminals for their own purposes."
"Privacy campaigners are aghast over claims sourced from a leaked government letter that suggest biometric ID cards will be fitted with radio transmitting technology to track people's movements. The letter, reportedly obtained by a national newspaper, stated that the incoming cards need special chips to comply with internal ID card rules, such as being able to locate airport scanners. Although the Home Office confirmed the necessity of the radio chips, it pointed out certain data would only be transmitted over a very short distance, up to 2cm. But ID card and surveillance critics warned that the chips, expected to store a person's name, age, date of birth and biometrics, could be abused by both government and hi-tech criminals for their own purposes."
Airline passengers may be screened for fever / Swissinfo, 22 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkne
"The Swiss authorities are examining the use of fever-detecting cameras at airports to help protect the country in the event of a human bird flu pandemic. The Federal Health Office has commissioned a research study to assess the practicality of using thermal imaging cameras to screen for the deadly disease." [Technology]
"The Swiss authorities are examining the use of fever-detecting cameras at airports to help protect the country in the event of a human bird flu pandemic. The Federal Health Office has commissioned a research study to assess the practicality of using thermal imaging cameras to screen for the deadly disease." [Technology]
[Switzerland] One in five workers is foreign / Swissinfo, 21 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknd
"More than 20 per cent of the workforce in Switzerland is foreign, and the number is rising, according to new statistics.
A separate study on Tuesday showed that half of Swiss firms have problems finding enough qualified staff." [Country Profile]
"More than 20 per cent of the workforce in Switzerland is foreign, and the number is rising, according to new statistics.
A separate study on Tuesday showed that half of Swiss firms have problems finding enough qualified staff." [Country Profile]
[Switzerland] Swiss Tamils look to preserve their culture / swissinfo, 18 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gknc
"Tamils first came to Switzerland in the 1980s as refugees fleeing civil war in Sri Lanka and now make up a sizeable community in the country. Although they encountered prejudices at first, Tamils are now regarded as having adapted well to their new home. But they are still not fully integrated." [Integration]
"Tamils first came to Switzerland in the 1980s as refugees fleeing civil war in Sri Lanka and now make up a sizeable community in the country. Although they encountered prejudices at first, Tamils are now regarded as having adapted well to their new home. But they are still not fully integrated." [Integration]
Nightlife in Liverpool: Tackling substance use in a flourishing night time economy / N O R D I S K A L K O H O L - & N A R K O T I K A T I D S K R I F
V O L . 2 2. 2 0 0 5 . ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT 135
PDF - http://www.stakes.fi/nat/pdf/05/supplement2005.pdf
MARK A. BELLIS ; KAREN HUGHES
PDF - http://www.stakes.fi/nat/pdf/05/supplement2005.pdf
MARK A. BELLIS ; KAREN HUGHES
Nightlife nightmare of drugs, drink and crime / icLiverpool - , 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkna
Sam Lister, Daily Post
"A DISTURBING picture of Liverpool's nightlife depicting widespread drug use, alcohol abuse and crime has been uncovered in a shocking new report." [7 pages]
Sam Lister, Daily Post
"A DISTURBING picture of Liverpool's nightlife depicting widespread drug use, alcohol abuse and crime has been uncovered in a shocking new report." [7 pages]
Virtual reality bid to promote pernsioners' sense of safety / icWales, 23 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkmy
Aled Blake
"ACADEMICS at one of Wales' leading universities are researching ways to make elderly people feel safe and not threatened by crime. Researchers at the University of Glamorgan hope their project will help to create places for older people where they will feel more confident as they go about their daily lives. The study will focus on two socio-economically deprived areas in the South Wales Valleys, and its findings will influence policy and decision-making across the UK. "
Aled Blake
"ACADEMICS at one of Wales' leading universities are researching ways to make elderly people feel safe and not threatened by crime. Researchers at the University of Glamorgan hope their project will help to create places for older people where they will feel more confident as they go about their daily lives. The study will focus on two socio-economically deprived areas in the South Wales Valleys, and its findings will influence policy and decision-making across the UK. "
Man Catches Fire After Taser Probe Ignites Lighter / Local 6, 22 Feb 2006
http://www.local6.com/news/7334697/detail.html
"A man was injured when a probe from a police Taser gun hit a butane lighter in his pocket and set him on fire."
"A man was injured when a probe from a police Taser gun hit a butane lighter in his pocket and set him on fire."
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The private, nonprofit prison /The Boston Globe, 21 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkedDavid Pozen
"Nonprofit operators can provide the entrepreneurial spirit of for-profit operators without the latter's legal and ethical liabilities. Nonprofits can design and test new programs, with positive spillover effects for public prisons. They can save tax dollars through the use of volunteer labor and private fund-raising. Most hopefully, nonprofit prisons can do a better job at rehabilitation -- and therefore at reducing recidivism -- because of their mission focus, service ethic, and freedom from political or profit constraints."
"Nonprofit operators can provide the entrepreneurial spirit of for-profit operators without the latter's legal and ethical liabilities. Nonprofits can design and test new programs, with positive spillover effects for public prisons. They can save tax dollars through the use of volunteer labor and private fund-raising. Most hopefully, nonprofit prisons can do a better job at rehabilitation -- and therefore at reducing recidivism -- because of their mission focus, service ethic, and freedom from political or profit constraints."
E-passports without the big picture/ eGov monitor, 20 Feb 2006
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/4716
Professors Jaap-Henk Hoepman and Bart Jacobs, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
"Widespread use of biometrics will change the balance of power between states and their citizens."
Professors Jaap-Henk Hoepman and Bart Jacobs, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
"Widespread use of biometrics will change the balance of power between states and their citizens."
Ask the audience plan for fight on anti-social menace / ICLiverpool, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjsd
Liam Murphy, Daily Post Staff
"Wirral Council and local politicians plan to 'ask the audience' about how to deal with anti-social behaviour in a Who Wants to Be A Millionaire-style vote. A conference has been organised involving 100 invited guests, including those whose lives have been blighted by the problem of anti-social behaviour. Also at the conference, at which there is planned to be a debate on how to deal with problems such as yobs and nuisance neighbours in Wirral, will be local MPs and Home Office Minister Paul Goggins."
Liam Murphy, Daily Post Staff
"Wirral Council and local politicians plan to 'ask the audience' about how to deal with anti-social behaviour in a Who Wants to Be A Millionaire-style vote. A conference has been organised involving 100 invited guests, including those whose lives have been blighted by the problem of anti-social behaviour. Also at the conference, at which there is planned to be a debate on how to deal with problems such as yobs and nuisance neighbours in Wirral, will be local MPs and Home Office Minister Paul Goggins."
Journalists and police draw up new crime scene guidelines / Holdthefrontpage, 20 Feb 2006
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/2006/02feb/060220pol.shtml "New guidelines to help journalists and the police work alongside each other at crime scenes have been drawn up by Nottinghamshire Police and the National Union of Journalists.
The nine-point guidelines are designed to help diffuse potential conflicts between newsgatherers and officers in a variety of situations, and have been distributed to all Nottinghamshire Police personnel and NUJ members on a pocket-sized card. "
The nine-point guidelines are designed to help diffuse potential conflicts between newsgatherers and officers in a variety of situations, and have been distributed to all Nottinghamshire Police personnel and NUJ members on a pocket-sized card. "
Project - Tackling the New Terror Threat / Demos, 2006
http://www.demos.co.uk/projects/currentprojects/tacklingterror/
"Demos is running a research project looking at the potential of what might be termed a community-based approach to counter-terrorism in responding to the changing nature of the terrorist threat within European countries. Project partners: UK Home Office, US Institute of Peace, ESRC, AHRC and Wilton Park."
"Demos is running a research project looking at the potential of what might be termed a community-based approach to counter-terrorism in responding to the changing nature of the terrorist threat within European countries. Project partners: UK Home Office, US Institute of Peace, ESRC, AHRC and Wilton Park."
White Paper Addresses Lack of Citizen Information and Participation in the EU / Government Technology
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/98444
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
White Paper Addresses Lack of Citizen Information and Participation in the EU / Government Technology
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/98444
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
Project - Tackling the New Terror Threat / Demos, 2006
http://www.demos.co.uk/projects/currentprojects/tacklingterror/
"Demos is running a research project looking at the potential of what might be termed a community-based approach to counter-terrorism in responding to the changing nature of the terrorist threat within European countries. Project partners: UK Home Office, US Institute of Peace, ESRC, AHRC and Wilton Park."
"Demos is running a research project looking at the potential of what might be termed a community-based approach to counter-terrorism in responding to the changing nature of the terrorist threat within European countries. Project partners: UK Home Office, US Institute of Peace, ESRC, AHRC and Wilton Park."
White Paper Addresses Lack of Citizen Information and Participation in the EU / Government Technology
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/98444
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
"The European Union earlier this month published White Paper on a European Communication Policy, to address opinion polls that show European citizens have little knowledge of the European Union and feel they have 'little say in its decision-making process.' The white paper mentions Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate, which is intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union -- what it is for, where it is going and what it should be doing."
Prisoner builds new career on the inside / Birmingham Post, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkcm
"Currently ten of the 620 prisoners, aged between 16 and 25, have gained work experience in the community at a local retailer, barracks, warehouse, pallet firm and arboretum.
Prison governor Pete Knapton is aiming to get a further 30 prisoners work experience next year. He said the construction industry could play a key part in future resettlement strategies. 'Having a job and an income on release significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending,' he said. "
"Currently ten of the 620 prisoners, aged between 16 and 25, have gained work experience in the community at a local retailer, barracks, warehouse, pallet firm and arboretum.
Prison governor Pete Knapton is aiming to get a further 30 prisoners work experience next year. He said the construction industry could play a key part in future resettlement strategies. 'Having a job and an income on release significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending,' he said. "
Detroit Police Department Uses Technology to Manage Public Safety During Super Bowl / Government Technology, 20 Feb 2006
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/98501
"The Detroit Police Department worked with more than 100 local, state and federal agencies to assure Super Bowl XL was a safe experience for everyone. In addition to serving the public safety agencies of the city of Detroit, the CompuDyne system also provided support to the Department of Homeland Security. Federal agencies were provided access to the CAD data warehouse to receive real-time updates to all law enforcement events occurring throughout the city during Super Bowl activities.
Incident information was interfaced to an external system used by the Department of Homeland Security to provide a consolidated view of police, fire and emergency medical activities to more than 400 public safety managers and coordinators at all levels of government.
The CAD system processed over 6,280 calls for emergency service in the 24 hours surrounding Super Bowl XL. The city of Detroit deployed a special command post in the communication center to handle the increased call volume. By establishing a unique routing code for police service, the system automatically rerouted the Super Bowl related calls to the Command Post.
The new CAD system is phase two of a multi-million dollar public safety project with CompuDyne to upgrade the city's public safety technology. Having the new system up and operational in time for Super Bowl XL was mandatory for the city of Detroit." [Snippet]
"The Detroit Police Department worked with more than 100 local, state and federal agencies to assure Super Bowl XL was a safe experience for everyone. In addition to serving the public safety agencies of the city of Detroit, the CompuDyne system also provided support to the Department of Homeland Security. Federal agencies were provided access to the CAD data warehouse to receive real-time updates to all law enforcement events occurring throughout the city during Super Bowl activities.
Incident information was interfaced to an external system used by the Department of Homeland Security to provide a consolidated view of police, fire and emergency medical activities to more than 400 public safety managers and coordinators at all levels of government.
The CAD system processed over 6,280 calls for emergency service in the 24 hours surrounding Super Bowl XL. The city of Detroit deployed a special command post in the communication center to handle the increased call volume. By establishing a unique routing code for police service, the system automatically rerouted the Super Bowl related calls to the Command Post.
The new CAD system is phase two of a multi-million dollar public safety project with CompuDyne to upgrade the city's public safety technology. Having the new system up and operational in time for Super Bowl XL was mandatory for the city of Detroit." [Snippet]
[Netherlands] THE AMOUNTS AND THE EFFECTS OF MONEY LAUNDERING / Report for the Ministry of Finance, 16 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gkcj
"A study commissioned by the Finance Ministry estimates the amount of money laundered in the Netherlands at 18.5 billion euros. A study commissioned by the Finance ministry estimates the amount of money laundered in the Netherlands at 18.5 billion euros. Finance minister Gerrit Zalm has announced that he will investigate whether or not additional measures, on top of supervisory measures already taken, are necessary."
"A study commissioned by the Finance Ministry estimates the amount of money laundered in the Netherlands at 18.5 billion euros. A study commissioned by the Finance ministry estimates the amount of money laundered in the Netherlands at 18.5 billion euros. Finance minister Gerrit Zalm has announced that he will investigate whether or not additional measures, on top of supervisory measures already taken, are necessary."
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Combating the Financing of Terrorism: A Report on UK Action / Treasury, Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjtr
"The Report provides a comprehensive overview of what the UK, in conjunction with our international partners, has achieved in combating the financing of terrorism. The Report outlines the key contribution in targeting, disrupting and cutting off sources of terrorist finance made by a range of bodies within government and beyond and acknowledges in particular the increased benefits from closer partnership with the financial services sector."
PDF - http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/129/6D/combat_terrorism.pdf
"The Report provides a comprehensive overview of what the UK, in conjunction with our international partners, has achieved in combating the financing of terrorism. The Report outlines the key contribution in targeting, disrupting and cutting off sources of terrorist finance made by a range of bodies within government and beyond and acknowledges in particular the increased benefits from closer partnership with the financial services sector."
PDF - http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/129/6D/combat_terrorism.pdf
Monday, February 20, 2006
Public Confidence in the Complaints System / IPCC, Feb 2006
Confidence Survey
PDF - http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/confidence_survey.pdf
Explainatory powerpoint presentation
PDF - http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/press_launch_pres_170206.ppt
PDF - http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/confidence_survey.pdf
Explainatory powerpoint presentation
PDF - http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/press_launch_pres_170206.ppt
Trial by television helps victims and witnesses prepare for court / eGov monitor, 20 Feb 2006
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/4730
"Thousands of criminal cases could be prevented from collapsing each year with the help of an information film for witnesses. The DVD shows how trials work - so that defence and prosecution witnesses are clear about what's involved in giving evidence. The DVD aims to stop so many witnesses failing to attend court because of fear, concern and confusion about what will happen. "
"Thousands of criminal cases could be prevented from collapsing each year with the help of an information film for witnesses. The DVD shows how trials work - so that defence and prosecution witnesses are clear about what's involved in giving evidence. The DVD aims to stop so many witnesses failing to attend court because of fear, concern and confusion about what will happen. "
UK air traffic controllers acknowledge CIA landings / JURIST - Paper Chase, 19 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjkp
Katerina Ossenova
"National Air Traffic Services [official website], the UK's air traffic control provider, have reported that three CIA flights possibly involved in rendition landed at British airports and received assistance from UK air traffic control since 2001. The admission by the civil aviation body in response to parliamentary questions is said to be the first acknowledgement of official awareness and UK involvement in CIA rendition practices [JURIST news archive] transferring al Qaeda suspects to secret prisons for interrogation."
Katerina Ossenova
"National Air Traffic Services [official website], the UK's air traffic control provider, have reported that three CIA flights possibly involved in rendition landed at British airports and received assistance from UK air traffic control since 2001. The admission by the civil aviation body in response to parliamentary questions is said to be the first acknowledgement of official awareness and UK involvement in CIA rendition practices [JURIST news archive] transferring al Qaeda suspects to secret prisons for interrogation."
Why Europe must reform / Monsters & Critics, 19 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjkm
John Gillingham
"Those who are concerned about the future of Europe should be faithful to the so called `spirit of reflection` and make an honest attempt to understand what`s gone wrong with it. They should try to join forces with those who would like to believe that Europe will work but have raised serious doubts on the basis of the way it functions. One must in other words look critically at the EU in order to save the European will.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted that he had made an ineffective attempt during the EU Presidency. He he did not get to the substance of the European problem, which is structural. At no point did he call for the overhaul of the European institutions. This is a necessary first step in any reform effort. The EU will either drift off into irrelevance, become an obstacle to desirable change, or at worst, its structural failures could trigger financial panic. "
John Gillingham
"Those who are concerned about the future of Europe should be faithful to the so called `spirit of reflection` and make an honest attempt to understand what`s gone wrong with it. They should try to join forces with those who would like to believe that Europe will work but have raised serious doubts on the basis of the way it functions. One must in other words look critically at the EU in order to save the European will.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted that he had made an ineffective attempt during the EU Presidency. He he did not get to the substance of the European problem, which is structural. At no point did he call for the overhaul of the European institutions. This is a necessary first step in any reform effort. The EU will either drift off into irrelevance, become an obstacle to desirable change, or at worst, its structural failures could trigger financial panic. "
Millions would not bother to complain about the police - UK News Headlines / Life Style Extra, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjkd
"More than 20 million Britons do not believe complaining about police behaviour would make a difference, according to a survey. The Independent Police Complaints Commission survey found that the public thought official complaints about police assault, rudeness or not being kept informed would be ineffectually handled, time consuming and bureaucratic."
"More than 20 million Britons do not believe complaining about police behaviour would make a difference, according to a survey. The Independent Police Complaints Commission survey found that the public thought official complaints about police assault, rudeness or not being kept informed would be ineffectually handled, time consuming and bureaucratic."
Almost a third of black and Asian people fear police harassment / 24dash.com20 mFeb 2006
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=3257
"Almost a third of black and Asian people fear they could be subjected to police harassment if they make a complaint against their force, a study revealed. More than a third (38%) are also reluctant to complain about assaults, racial abuse or police inaction because they have little confidence that their grievance will be taken seriously, according to the research. By contrast, less than one in five white people are worried they might be singled out and harassed if they complain and only 30% are concerned they will be ignored."
"Almost a third of black and Asian people fear they could be subjected to police harassment if they make a complaint against their force, a study revealed. More than a third (38%) are also reluctant to complain about assaults, racial abuse or police inaction because they have little confidence that their grievance will be taken seriously, according to the research. By contrast, less than one in five white people are worried they might be singled out and harassed if they complain and only 30% are concerned they will be ignored."
Migrants use gay marriage loophole / Sunday Times, 19 Feb 2006
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2047390_1,00.html
Robert Winnett, Ali Hussain and Claire Newell
"LAWYERS are prepared to advise potential immigrants how to gain British citizenship by signing up for 'gay marriages' even if they are heterosexual. Undercover reporters were told by six different firms of solicitors how to exploit a loophole in the civil partnership rules to get passports. "
Robert Winnett, Ali Hussain and Claire Newell
"LAWYERS are prepared to advise potential immigrants how to gain British citizenship by signing up for 'gay marriages' even if they are heterosexual. Undercover reporters were told by six different firms of solicitors how to exploit a loophole in the civil partnership rules to get passports. "
[USA] Plan for ID Cards Drawing Criticism / Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjjy
Evan Halper
"And even if those obstacles are overcome, security experts say, technology being considered for use in the cards could allow thieves with hand-held devices to steal the information on them from up to 20 feet away."
Evan Halper
"And even if those obstacles are overcome, security experts say, technology being considered for use in the cards could allow thieves with hand-held devices to steal the information on them from up to 20 feet away."
o my god, allow id cards.... / polyitical, 19 Feb 2006
polyitical: o my god, allow id cards....:
"Is Britain heading for an identity crisis? The government is pushing ahead with its plan to introduce identity cards. The idea has support from law enforcers. But it has also attracted considerable criticism from civil liberties groups."
A basic pro & con, with links
"Is Britain heading for an identity crisis? The government is pushing ahead with its plan to introduce identity cards. The idea has support from law enforcers. But it has also attracted considerable criticism from civil liberties groups."
A basic pro & con, with links
Mental health hit hard by soft drugs / The Australian, 15 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjjh
Jeremy Roberts
"The connection between mental illness and the use of cannabis and amphetamines has been exposed by a World Health Organisation report that finds almost 50 per cent of prisoners entering South Australia's penal system had both drug and mental health problems. Results from the study, obtained by The Australian, show that 67 per cent of the 250 prisoners questioned at Yatala Labour prison, Adelaide Remand Centre and Adelaide's Women's Prison had used cannabis in the previous three months and 52per cent had used amphetamines. Of the prisoners interviewed, 117 - or 47 per cent - revealed they had a mental health disorder and a drug problem, with depression the most common illness.
They also reported having suffered anxiety and panic attacks and having harmed themselves."
Jeremy Roberts
"The connection between mental illness and the use of cannabis and amphetamines has been exposed by a World Health Organisation report that finds almost 50 per cent of prisoners entering South Australia's penal system had both drug and mental health problems. Results from the study, obtained by The Australian, show that 67 per cent of the 250 prisoners questioned at Yatala Labour prison, Adelaide Remand Centre and Adelaide's Women's Prison had used cannabis in the previous three months and 52per cent had used amphetamines. Of the prisoners interviewed, 117 - or 47 per cent - revealed they had a mental health disorder and a drug problem, with depression the most common illness.
They also reported having suffered anxiety and panic attacks and having harmed themselves."
Cover-up, conspiracy and the Lockerbie bomb connection / Scotsman, 19 Feb 2006
http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=258742006
Eddie Barnes
"An interim update from James Mackay investigating a case of 'the wrong fingerprint' - claimed the SCRO officers had acted criminally to cover up their mistakes. The consequences were immense: if Scotland's forensic service was both guilty of errors and of attempting to conceal those errors, what confidence could anyone have in the entire justice system? Last week, Scotland on Sunday revealed the contents of Mackay's final report, which had been kept secret for six years, and which was never acted upon by Scotland's chief prosecutor, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd. This week, we can reveal that it was not just police and prosecutors who knew its contents; the devastating findings of the interim version were passed on to ministers as well. "
Eddie Barnes
"An interim update from James Mackay investigating a case of 'the wrong fingerprint' - claimed the SCRO officers had acted criminally to cover up their mistakes. The consequences were immense: if Scotland's forensic service was both guilty of errors and of attempting to conceal those errors, what confidence could anyone have in the entire justice system? Last week, Scotland on Sunday revealed the contents of Mackay's final report, which had been kept secret for six years, and which was never acted upon by Scotland's chief prosecutor, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd. This week, we can reveal that it was not just police and prosecutors who knew its contents; the devastating findings of the interim version were passed on to ministers as well. "
[Israel] Juvenile crime on rise in Israel / The New Nation, 19 Feb 2006
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_25721.shtml
Anat Cohen
"Barely a decade ago, Israel was considered a country with a relatively low rate of social deviance and crime among its youth. However, the average Israeli has finally realised that youth crime is now a serious problem: murders, rapes, sexual abuse and knife attacks - all perpetrated by adolescents - occupy Israeli media headlines much more than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Gaza pullout issue."
Anat Cohen
"Barely a decade ago, Israel was considered a country with a relatively low rate of social deviance and crime among its youth. However, the average Israeli has finally realised that youth crime is now a serious problem: murders, rapes, sexual abuse and knife attacks - all perpetrated by adolescents - occupy Israeli media headlines much more than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Gaza pullout issue."
[USA] Prisons ask for alternatives to jailing deadbeat parents / Beacon Journal, 19 Feb 2006
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/13913625.htm
"Prisons officials are asking lawmakers to consider alternatives to putting deadbeat parents behind bars, where they don't earn much money and continue failing to support their children.The 601 men and 24 women sent to prison in 2004 for not paying child support made $12 to $18 a month working prison jobs, while taxpayers paid about $63 a day for each prisoner's shelter, food, clothing and medical care.'We strongly think each child should receive the support they are due,' said Andrea Dean, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. 'But we also understand there are going to be some deadbeat dads or parents for whom, if they had an opportunity, an alternative sanction other than prison would be a good option.'"
"Prisons officials are asking lawmakers to consider alternatives to putting deadbeat parents behind bars, where they don't earn much money and continue failing to support their children.The 601 men and 24 women sent to prison in 2004 for not paying child support made $12 to $18 a month working prison jobs, while taxpayers paid about $63 a day for each prisoner's shelter, food, clothing and medical care.'We strongly think each child should receive the support they are due,' said Andrea Dean, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. 'But we also understand there are going to be some deadbeat dads or parents for whom, if they had an opportunity, an alternative sanction other than prison would be a good option.'"
Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities - Findings / JRF, Feb 2006
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0096.asp
"There has been relatively little research about the distinctive challenges of bringing up children in disadvantaged areas, nor of children's perspectives on identifying and managing threats. In particular, we know very little about how parents and children promote their children's well-being and safeguard them from day-to-day risks. This research set out to develop understanding of these issues by examining the perspectives of parents and children living in ordinary families in four disadvantaged areas in and around Glasgow."
[Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities by Peter Seaman, Katrina Turner, Malcolm Hill, Anne Stafford and Moira Walker, is published for the Foundation by the National Children's Bureau]
"There has been relatively little research about the distinctive challenges of bringing up children in disadvantaged areas, nor of children's perspectives on identifying and managing threats. In particular, we know very little about how parents and children promote their children's well-being and safeguard them from day-to-day risks. This research set out to develop understanding of these issues by examining the perspectives of parents and children living in ordinary families in four disadvantaged areas in and around Glasgow."
[Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities by Peter Seaman, Katrina Turner, Malcolm Hill, Anne Stafford and Moira Walker, is published for the Foundation by the National Children's Bureau]
Reuniting looked after children with their families - Findings / JRF, Feb 2006
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0056.asp
"In recent years there has been a rise in the number of children looked after by local authorities, with consequences both for the children and families themselves and for local authority resources. It is therefore timely to consider the option of reuniting some children with their families. This review of the research in the UK and USA, by Nina Biehal at York University, presents the available research evidence on patterns and outcomes of reunion."
[Reuniting looked-after children with their families: A research review by Nina Biehal, is published for the Foundation by the National Children's Bureau]
"In recent years there has been a rise in the number of children looked after by local authorities, with consequences both for the children and families themselves and for local authority resources. It is therefore timely to consider the option of reuniting some children with their families. This review of the research in the UK and USA, by Nina Biehal at York University, presents the available research evidence on patterns and outcomes of reunion."
[Reuniting looked-after children with their families: A research review by Nina Biehal, is published for the Foundation by the National Children's Bureau]
Immigration, social cohesion and social capital : What are the links? / JRF, Feb 2006
PDF - http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/9781899354445.pdf
Roger Zetter with David Griffiths, Nando Sigona, Don Flynn, Tauhid Pasha and Rhian Beynon
"This study explores the interaction between migrants’ social relationships in their community (their social capital), and the development of a stable and integrated society (social cohesion) at the local level. The concept of social capital – the
processes by which individuals and groups invest in social relationships and share resources between themselves – resonates with current concerns about the ways in which different communities, notably minority ethnic groups, relate to their wider social world."
Roger Zetter with David Griffiths, Nando Sigona, Don Flynn, Tauhid Pasha and Rhian Beynon
"This study explores the interaction between migrants’ social relationships in their community (their social capital), and the development of a stable and integrated society (social cohesion) at the local level. The concept of social capital – the
processes by which individuals and groups invest in social relationships and share resources between themselves – resonates with current concerns about the ways in which different communities, notably minority ethnic groups, relate to their wider social world."
Neighbourhood experiences of new immigration : Reflections from the evidence base / JRF, Feb 2006
PDF - http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/9781859354421.pdf
David Robinson and Kesia Reeve
"This report pieces together a picture of the daily realities of life for new immigrants and the local consequences of their arrival and settlement. Much is being said about immigration and asylum in the UK today, but little is actually known about new immigrants, their contribution to society and the impact of their arrival for neighbourhoods, towns, cities and the country at large."
David Robinson and Kesia Reeve
"This report pieces together a picture of the daily realities of life for new immigrants and the local consequences of their arrival and settlement. Much is being said about immigration and asylum in the UK today, but little is actually known about new immigrants, their contribution to society and the impact of their arrival for neighbourhoods, towns, cities and the country at large."
JRF Findings: Experiences of new immigration at the neighbourhood level, Feb 2006
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0086.asp
"This review of the evidence highlights the lack of knowledge and understanding about the situations of new immigrants experiencing social and economic disadvantage and about how new immigration can affect local neighbourhoods. "
Neighbourhood experiences of new immigration: Reflections from the evidence base by David Robinson and Kesia Reeve
PDF - http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/9781859354421.pdf
"This review of the evidence highlights the lack of knowledge and understanding about the situations of new immigrants experiencing social and economic disadvantage and about how new immigration can affect local neighbourhoods. "
Neighbourhood experiences of new immigration: Reflections from the evidence base by David Robinson and Kesia Reeve
PDF - http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/9781859354421.pdf
Findings from the report - Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities / Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Feb 2006
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0096.asp
[Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities by Peter Seaman, Katrina Turner, Malcolm Hill, Anne Stafford and Moira Walker / National Children’s Bureau in association with JRF ]
[Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities by Peter Seaman, Katrina Turner, Malcolm Hill, Anne Stafford and Moira Walker / National Children’s Bureau in association with JRF ]
Without a trace / Government Computing News, 20 Feb 2006
http://www.gcn.com/25_4/tech-report/38253-1.html
Joab Jackson
"There are simple ways to prevent careless information leaking. Last December, the National Security Agency released guidance on how to clean up your documents before sending them out to the world. The document, Redacting with Confidence: How to Safely Publish Sanitized Reports Converted From Word to PDF, is a good start, but CSOs, office managers and system administrators should know of other dangers lurking in their office software - and how to root them out. "
Joab Jackson
"There are simple ways to prevent careless information leaking. Last December, the National Security Agency released guidance on how to clean up your documents before sending them out to the world. The document, Redacting with Confidence: How to Safely Publish Sanitized Reports Converted From Word to PDF, is a good start, but CSOs, office managers and system administrators should know of other dangers lurking in their office software - and how to root them out. "
Guidance on the safer detention and handling of persons in police custody / Home Offie 2006
PDF - http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/Safer_Detention_and_Handlin1.pdf?view=Binary
"The Police Service often provides the gateway to healthcare services for those that come into custody, but a police station is not the most appropriate place for diagnostic assessment or healthcare treatment. The guidance recognises this and strongly promotes and advises on the engagement of the right healthcare professional at the right time and in the right place."
"The Police Service often provides the gateway to healthcare services for those that come into custody, but a police station is not the most appropriate place for diagnostic assessment or healthcare treatment. The guidance recognises this and strongly promotes and advises on the engagement of the right healthcare professional at the right time and in the right place."
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Al-Qaeda Escape in Yemen: Facts, Rumors and Theories / Global Politician, 18 Feb 2006
http://www.globalpolitician.com/articleshow.asp?ID=1614&cid=2
Jane Novak
"Yemen has increased its cooperation in the War on Terror since the September 11th attacks, making some progress with arrests, intelligence sharing, counter terrorism cooperation, and standing up a coast guard. Yemen recently brought to trial a suspected high ranking al-Qaeda leader, Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal. US officials have reported however that Yemen's cooperation is neither institutionalized nor consistent. To the extent that cooperation is ongoing, however sporadic, a pattern of escapes and terrorist facilitation may render cooperation a sum zero game. "
Jane Novak
"Yemen has increased its cooperation in the War on Terror since the September 11th attacks, making some progress with arrests, intelligence sharing, counter terrorism cooperation, and standing up a coast guard. Yemen recently brought to trial a suspected high ranking al-Qaeda leader, Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal. US officials have reported however that Yemen's cooperation is neither institutionalized nor consistent. To the extent that cooperation is ongoing, however sporadic, a pattern of escapes and terrorist facilitation may render cooperation a sum zero game. "
'The day is coming when British Muslims form a state within a state' / Sunday Telegraph, 19 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjdk
Alasdair Palmer
"'It's confirmation of what they believe to be a familiar pattern: if spokesmen for British Muslims threaten what they call 'adverse consequences' - violence to the rest of us - then the British Government will cave in. I think it is a very dangerous precedent.'
Dr Sookhdeo adds that he believes that 'in a decade, you will see parts of English cities which are controlled by Muslim clerics and which follow, not the common law, but aspects of Muslim sharia law.
'It is already starting to happen - and unless the Government changes the way it treats the so-called leaders of the Islamic community, it will continue.'"
Alasdair Palmer
"'It's confirmation of what they believe to be a familiar pattern: if spokesmen for British Muslims threaten what they call 'adverse consequences' - violence to the rest of us - then the British Government will cave in. I think it is a very dangerous precedent.'
Dr Sookhdeo adds that he believes that 'in a decade, you will see parts of English cities which are controlled by Muslim clerics and which follow, not the common law, but aspects of Muslim sharia law.
'It is already starting to happen - and unless the Government changes the way it treats the so-called leaders of the Islamic community, it will continue.'"
Over 20,000 children are hooked on heroin / Telegraph, 5 Feb 2006
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/05/nheroin05.xmlNina Goswami and Gemma Brosnan"Government figures, based on a nationwide survey, show that the problem is much more widespread than originally thought. One leading academic on child drug abuse said last night that the number of schoolchildren using heroin could be as high as 60,000."
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England in 2004PDF - http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/34/32/04123432.pdf
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England in 2004PDF - http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/34/32/04123432.pdf
[USA] The Use of Force / San Francisco Chronicle, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/useofforce/
Portal to articles and case studies relating to SF Police use of force"The San Francisco Police Department's general orders state that department policy is "to accomplish the police mission as effectively as possible with the highest regard for the dignity of all persons and with minimal reliance upon the use of physical force. ....... The San Francisco Police Department relies on an outmoded system to identify misconduct by its officers, and when the system does find warning signs, they are often ignored. As a result, officers whose records clearly show a propensity for violence remain on the streets."
Portal to articles and case studies relating to SF Police use of force"The San Francisco Police Department's general orders state that department policy is "to accomplish the police mission as effectively as possible with the highest regard for the dignity of all persons and with minimal reliance upon the use of physical force. ....... The San Francisco Police Department relies on an outmoded system to identify misconduct by its officers, and when the system does find warning signs, they are often ignored. As a result, officers whose records clearly show a propensity for violence remain on the streets."
Free speech and civic responsibility / International Herald Tribune, 5 Feb 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/05/opinion/edramadan.php
Tariq Ramadan
Tribune Media Services International"What we need now on both sides is an understanding that this is not a legal issue, or an issue of rights. Free speech is a right in Europe and legally protected. No one should contest this. At the same time, there should be an understanding that the complexion of European society has changed with immigrants from diverse cultures. Because of that, there should be sensitivity to Muslims and others living in Europe.
Tariq Ramadan
Tribune Media Services International"What we need now on both sides is an understanding that this is not a legal issue, or an issue of rights. Free speech is a right in Europe and legally protected. No one should contest this. At the same time, there should be an understanding that the complexion of European society has changed with immigrants from diverse cultures. Because of that, there should be sensitivity to Muslims and others living in Europe.
EDITORIAL: NZ's door shouldn't be jammed open - Hawkes Bay Today. 1Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjde
"One of the most troubling issues in Europe, where open-door immigration policies have compensated for the decline of host populations, has been the prodigious growth of Muslim communities. Because of their numbers, devout Muslims are in a position to demand the right to impose Koran-inspired Islamic Sharia law, as is the case in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city and which is now 25 percent Islam. "
"One of the most troubling issues in Europe, where open-door immigration policies have compensated for the decline of host populations, has been the prodigious growth of Muslim communities. Because of their numbers, devout Muslims are in a position to demand the right to impose Koran-inspired Islamic Sharia law, as is the case in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city and which is now 25 percent Islam. "
Sixteen dead in Nigerian cartoon rioting / NZ Herald, 19 Feb 2006
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10369100
"Thousands have been killed in Christian-Muslim clashes over the last five years in Nigeria. Twelve northern states, including Borno, introduced Islamic sharia law in 2000 which has contributed to the animosity between the two religions. "
"Thousands have been killed in Christian-Muslim clashes over the last five years in Nigeria. Twelve northern states, including Borno, introduced Islamic sharia law in 2000 which has contributed to the animosity between the two religions. "
Ontario passes bill prohibiting religious arbitration /
http://digbig.com/4gjdd
"Ontario has formally passed legislation to prohibit the use of religious tribunals to settle family law disputes such as custody and divorce. The bill was introduced after Premier Dalton McGuinty promised last year to prohibit the use of religious rules, called sharia law, to settle Muslim family law cases. Mr. McGuinty surprised many when he announced he would not only ban sharia, but would also prohibit all religious arbitrations in Ontario."
"Ontario has formally passed legislation to prohibit the use of religious tribunals to settle family law disputes such as custody and divorce. The bill was introduced after Premier Dalton McGuinty promised last year to prohibit the use of religious rules, called sharia law, to settle Muslim family law cases. Mr. McGuinty surprised many when he announced he would not only ban sharia, but would also prohibit all religious arbitrations in Ontario."
Poll reveals 40pc of Muslims want sharia law in UK / Telegraph, 19 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4gjdc
Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite
"Forty per cent of the British Muslims surveyed said they backed introducing sharia in parts of Britain, while 41 per cent opposed it. Twenty per cent felt sympathy with the July 7 bombers' motives, and 75 per cent did not. One per cent felt the attacks were 'right'."
Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite
"Forty per cent of the British Muslims surveyed said they backed introducing sharia in parts of Britain, while 41 per cent opposed it. Twenty per cent felt sympathy with the July 7 bombers' motives, and 75 per cent did not. One per cent felt the attacks were 'right'."
SiteMorse Police Websites Report and Ranking - February 2006 : E-consultancy.com
http://digbig.com/4gjdb
"This months top site was Cheshire Police, scoring 8.26 - bottom of the table, scoring only 0.34 was Northants Police. There was one website without any errors Tayside, Surrey Police had the highest error occurrences was with nearly 1,800. Just over 14% of the site errors found this month were broken links.
16 sites passed all Accessibility A tests, 31 sites had less than 10% of pages with failures - Central Scotland Police website failed accessibility A and AA tests on every page.
The site with the lowest number of warnings [standards laid down by W3C and IETF] was Cheshire Police with 2. South Wales Police had the poorest HTML with nearly 12,000 failures. On checking the metadata on the front page, 40% of the sites failed to achieve even basic requirements for the home page.
A copy of the full report is available at no charge, to request a copy please email police0206@sitemorse.com
For those that may not be aware, there is no charge to site managers for their own website summary, please email (police_acc@sitemorse.com) if you would like access. " [Snippet]
"This months top site was Cheshire Police, scoring 8.26 - bottom of the table, scoring only 0.34 was Northants Police. There was one website without any errors Tayside, Surrey Police had the highest error occurrences was with nearly 1,800. Just over 14% of the site errors found this month were broken links.
16 sites passed all Accessibility A tests, 31 sites had less than 10% of pages with failures - Central Scotland Police website failed accessibility A and AA tests on every page.
The site with the lowest number of warnings [standards laid down by W3C and IETF] was Cheshire Police with 2. South Wales Police had the poorest HTML with nearly 12,000 failures. On checking the metadata on the front page, 40% of the sites failed to achieve even basic requirements for the home page.
A copy of the full report is available at no charge, to request a copy please email police0206@sitemorse.com
For those that may not be aware, there is no charge to site managers for their own website summary, please email (police_acc@sitemorse.com) if you would like access. " [Snippet]
Off your head? / The Observer, 19 Feb 2006
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,,1713001,00.htmlYvonne Roberts
"As a series of new studies proves the link between cannabis dependency and mental illness, an Observer investigation reveals the plight of young users struggling to find help to deal with the disturbing effects of a drug once considered 'safe'. "
"As a series of new studies proves the link between cannabis dependency and mental illness, an Observer investigation reveals the plight of young users struggling to find help to deal with the disturbing effects of a drug once considered 'safe'. "
Off your head? / The Observer, 19 Feb 2006
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,,1713001,00.htmlYvonne Roberts
"As a series of new studies proves the link between cannabis dependency and mental illness, an Observer investigation reveals the plight of young users struggling to find help to deal with the disturbing effects of a drug once considered 'safe'. "
"As a series of new studies proves the link between cannabis dependency and mental illness, an Observer investigation reveals the plight of young users struggling to find help to deal with the disturbing effects of a drug once considered 'safe'. "
Drug gangs send heroin to Britain through post / Sunday Times,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2047367,00.html
Abul Taher
"DRUG cartels and suppliers are increasingly using the postal system to smuggle their narcotics into Britain, according to investigators. Gangs are circumventing tighter Customs checks at traditional ports of entry by transporting heroin, cocaine and ecstasy by post, which is less effectively screened. There has also been a growth in illegal internet pharmacies in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand that sell and post restricted medicines, including the sedative diazepam.
Once delivered in Britain, they are consumed as recreational drugs. "
Abul Taher
"DRUG cartels and suppliers are increasingly using the postal system to smuggle their narcotics into Britain, according to investigators. Gangs are circumventing tighter Customs checks at traditional ports of entry by transporting heroin, cocaine and ecstasy by post, which is less effectively screened. There has also been a growth in illegal internet pharmacies in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand that sell and post restricted medicines, including the sedative diazepam.
Once delivered in Britain, they are consumed as recreational drugs. "
Home Secretary Clarke backs juvenile robbers' community sentence plans/ 24dash.com, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=3237
"Home Secretary Charles Clarke has backed plans for juvenile robbers who use 'minimal force' to be given a community sentence. Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf's made a ruling in 2002 that all street robbers who use violence should be jailed. But Clarke said he was satisfied that draft guidelines set out by the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) were 'broadly right'."
"Home Secretary Charles Clarke has backed plans for juvenile robbers who use 'minimal force' to be given a community sentence. Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf's made a ruling in 2002 that all street robbers who use violence should be jailed. But Clarke said he was satisfied that draft guidelines set out by the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) were 'broadly right'."
[Northern Ireland] Compo culture ... has it gone mad? / Belfast Telegraph [nd]
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/features/story.jsp?story=679606
Deborah McAleese
"This Ulster victim of an horrific armed robbery is refused compensation. But 'stressed' prisoners are awarded £500 each. Examines the controversy over prisoner compensation"
Deborah McAleese
"This Ulster victim of an horrific armed robbery is refused compensation. But 'stressed' prisoners are awarded £500 each. Examines the controversy over prisoner compensation"
New tactic to combat crime used in Russia / ITAR-TASS, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=3281808&PageNum=0
"More than twenty-eight thousand crimes, committed by organised criminal gangs, were disclosed in Russia last year, including ninety-three kidnappings and 2,500 hold-ups and extortions, Nurgaliev reported. According to Interior Ministry figures, there are now more than four hundred large organised criminal rings in the country, numbering more than ten thousand men. The Interior Ministry had for the first time-ever taken stock of such gangs in 2005, and they were all included in one single automated databank. "
"More than twenty-eight thousand crimes, committed by organised criminal gangs, were disclosed in Russia last year, including ninety-three kidnappings and 2,500 hold-ups and extortions, Nurgaliev reported. According to Interior Ministry figures, there are now more than four hundred large organised criminal rings in the country, numbering more than ten thousand men. The Interior Ministry had for the first time-ever taken stock of such gangs in 2005, and they were all included in one single automated databank. "
Politics & Policies: Is the war on terror winnable? / World Peace Herald, 17 Feb 2006
World Peace Herald:
Claude Salhani
"We are on completely different galaxies when it comes to understanding the other side's mindset. Mao Zedong wrote in one of his little red books, 'The first step in defeating your enemy is to know him.' I'm not sure how much we know him. I very much doubt we understand what makes an Iraqi insurgent tick, no pun intended. Or what motivates the anger directed at the West. "
Claude Salhani
"We are on completely different galaxies when it comes to understanding the other side's mindset. Mao Zedong wrote in one of his little red books, 'The first step in defeating your enemy is to know him.' I'm not sure how much we know him. I very much doubt we understand what makes an Iraqi insurgent tick, no pun intended. Or what motivates the anger directed at the West. "
War of the words / Guardian, 18 Feb 2006
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/comment/0,,1712488,00.htmlSteven Poole
"The government's enthusiasm for vacant 'labels' was further underscored last month with the release of a 44-page document called the Respect Action Plan. The reliable bogeyman of 'antisocial behaviour' returned here with a vengeance, as a symptom of the most pressing problem besieging society: a lack of respect."
[This is an edited extracted from Unspeak, published by Little, Brown © Steven Poole 2006]
"The government's enthusiasm for vacant 'labels' was further underscored last month with the release of a 44-page document called the Respect Action Plan. The reliable bogeyman of 'antisocial behaviour' returned here with a vengeance, as a symptom of the most pressing problem besieging society: a lack of respect."
[This is an edited extracted from Unspeak, published by Little, Brown © Steven Poole 2006]
Government departments keep schtum on ID card costs / silicon.com, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39156556,00.htm
Andy McCue
"The two government departments that are likely to be the biggest users of ID cards have completed an assessment of the costs of integrating the technology into their IT systems - but are refusing to release the figures on grounds of commercial sensitivity. The NHS and the Department for Work and Pensions have also both identified the likely public services that ID cards will be used for, for authentication and verification purposes"
Andy McCue
"The two government departments that are likely to be the biggest users of ID cards have completed an assessment of the costs of integrating the technology into their IT systems - but are refusing to release the figures on grounds of commercial sensitivity. The NHS and the Department for Work and Pensions have also both identified the likely public services that ID cards will be used for, for authentication and verification purposes"
Friday, February 17, 2006
France justice minister claims critical Europe rights report 'unfair' / JURIST - Paper Chase, 17 Feb 2006
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/02/france-justice-minister-claims.php
Angela Onikepe
French Justice Minister Pascal Clement [official profile] has responded to a new Council of Europe (COE) [official website] report released on Wednesday [COE press release] criticizing France's human rights record by calling it "unfair". The 100 page report [official DOC text] identified a range of shortcomings in the French justice system relating to the treatment of newly arrived foreigners, domestic violence, police brutality, detention conditions, and asylum and expulsion procedures. Clement expressed his dissatisfaction [press release, in French] with several points made in the report, especially with regards to prison conditions, citing a 2002 initiative to combat overpopulation in French prisons and create an additional 13,000 prison spaces [dossier, in French]. The COE report was the result of a two-week official visit to France in September 2005 by Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles [official profile], who personally visited various sites in France, including police stations, a psychiatric hospital, reception centers for foreigners, and centers for victims of domestic violence. Expatica has more.."
Angela Onikepe
French Justice Minister Pascal Clement [official profile] has responded to a new Council of Europe (COE) [official website] report released on Wednesday [COE press release] criticizing France's human rights record by calling it "unfair". The 100 page report [official DOC text] identified a range of shortcomings in the French justice system relating to the treatment of newly arrived foreigners, domestic violence, police brutality, detention conditions, and asylum and expulsion procedures. Clement expressed his dissatisfaction [press release, in French] with several points made in the report, especially with regards to prison conditions, citing a 2002 initiative to combat overpopulation in French prisons and create an additional 13,000 prison spaces [dossier, in French]. The COE report was the result of a two-week official visit to France in September 2005 by Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles [official profile], who personally visited various sites in France, including police stations, a psychiatric hospital, reception centers for foreigners, and centers for victims of domestic violence. Expatica has more.."
Orders flood in for anti-teenager 'Mosquito' / icWales, 17 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghxn
Sam Burson, Western Mail
"THE Welsh inventor of a sonic 'anti-hoodie' device says he has been overwhelmed by orders after it was praised by a police force. Staffordshire Police Force has backed Howard Stapleton's invention, which gives shopkeepers a way to drive youngsters away from their shop fronts. The device, dubbed, 'The Mosquito,' emits infuriating high-frequency sounds. While unbearable to those under about 20 years old, they cannot be heard by most older people."
See also:
Mosquito putting bite on rowdy teenagers / ICBirmingham, Feb 16 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghxp
Neil Connor
Sam Burson, Western Mail
"THE Welsh inventor of a sonic 'anti-hoodie' device says he has been overwhelmed by orders after it was praised by a police force. Staffordshire Police Force has backed Howard Stapleton's invention, which gives shopkeepers a way to drive youngsters away from their shop fronts. The device, dubbed, 'The Mosquito,' emits infuriating high-frequency sounds. While unbearable to those under about 20 years old, they cannot be heard by most older people."
See also:
Mosquito putting bite on rowdy teenagers / ICBirmingham, Feb 16 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghxp
Neil Connor
Muggers:PC slams 'too soft' courts / Preston Today, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.prestontoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?sectionid=73&articleid=1357608
"A frustratred police officer has written to residents saying a mini-crime wave would be reduced with more help from the courts."
"A frustratred police officer has written to residents saying a mini-crime wave would be reduced with more help from the courts."
Prsion Bulletin, No.1 2006 / The Howard League for Penal Reform
PDF - http://digbig.com/4ghxm
"This analyses the prison population and explains why it has reached record levels and what can be done to reduce it."
"This analyses the prison population and explains why it has reached record levels and what can be done to reduce it."
Harmony and Disharmony: Exploiting Al-Qa'ida's Organizational Vulnerabilities / Combating Terrorism Center
http://ctc.usma.edu/aq.asp
"Based on a collection of al-Qa'ida documents that have recently been released from the Department of Defense#s Harmony Database, this report provides an analysis of al-Qa'ida's organizational vulnerabilities. These documents, captured in the course of operations supporting the GWOT, have never before been made available to the academic and policy community. "Harmony and Disharmony" includes a theoretically informed analysis of potential opportunities to exploit al-Qa'ida's network vulnerabilities, a case study of jihadi operational failure, and specific recommendations for effectively addressing the evolving al-Qa'ida threat. We have provided brief summaries of each of the released documents, and the full texts of the released documents can be accessed via hyperlinks within the report, both in their original Arabic and in English. We hope that this report will provide a useful resource in our collective efforts to better understand and combat al-Qa'ida and its affiliated movements. "
Links to PDF documents - http://ctc.usma.edu/aq_pdf.asp
"Based on a collection of al-Qa'ida documents that have recently been released from the Department of Defense#s Harmony Database, this report provides an analysis of al-Qa'ida's organizational vulnerabilities. These documents, captured in the course of operations supporting the GWOT, have never before been made available to the academic and policy community. "Harmony and Disharmony" includes a theoretically informed analysis of potential opportunities to exploit al-Qa'ida's network vulnerabilities, a case study of jihadi operational failure, and specific recommendations for effectively addressing the evolving al-Qa'ida threat. We have provided brief summaries of each of the released documents, and the full texts of the released documents can be accessed via hyperlinks within the report, both in their original Arabic and in English. We hope that this report will provide a useful resource in our collective efforts to better understand and combat al-Qa'ida and its affiliated movements. "
Links to PDF documents - http://ctc.usma.edu/aq_pdf.asp
TDS Internet Services: News: Captured al-Qaeda documents show inner struggles, strategies
TDS Internet Services: News: Captured al-Qaeda documents show inner struggles, strategies:
"Recently captured al-Qaeda documents portray terrorist leaders struggling over strategy, facing challenges by subordinates and issuing guidelines listing minimum qualifications for terrorism training camp supervisors.
Drawn from a classified database called 'Harmony' compiled by the U.S. Special Operations Command, the documents were disclosed in a report released by West Point's Combating Terrorism Center. The documents were obtained during recent anti-terrorism operations, the report says. They came from a variety of sources and were selected because they show al-Qaeda discussions of ideology, tactics, potential operations or training."
CTC Report "Stealing Al-Qa'ida's Playbook"
PDF - http://ctc.usma.edu/Stealing%20Al-Qai'da's%20Playbook%20--%20CTC.pdf
"Recently captured al-Qaeda documents portray terrorist leaders struggling over strategy, facing challenges by subordinates and issuing guidelines listing minimum qualifications for terrorism training camp supervisors.
Drawn from a classified database called 'Harmony' compiled by the U.S. Special Operations Command, the documents were disclosed in a report released by West Point's Combating Terrorism Center. The documents were obtained during recent anti-terrorism operations, the report says. They came from a variety of sources and were selected because they show al-Qaeda discussions of ideology, tactics, potential operations or training."
CTC Report "Stealing Al-Qa'ida's Playbook"
PDF - http://ctc.usma.edu/Stealing%20Al-Qai'da's%20Playbook%20--%20CTC.pdf
[Russia] Policeman's lot is a thuggish one in Russia, says poll / Telegraph, 17 Feb 2006
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/17/wruss17.xml
Adrian Blomfield
"Two out of three Russian policemen think that torturing suspects is acceptable, while over a quarter admit to extorting bribes. Even so, most of Russia's police cannot understand why they are unpopular, a new opinion poll has found. The results of the study will come as little surprise to most Russians, who regard much of the force as corrupt, thuggish and largely out of control."
Adrian Blomfield
"Two out of three Russian policemen think that torturing suspects is acceptable, while over a quarter admit to extorting bribes. Even so, most of Russia's police cannot understand why they are unpopular, a new opinion poll has found. The results of the study will come as little surprise to most Russians, who regard much of the force as corrupt, thuggish and largely out of control."
Data Mining and Homeland Security: An Overview / Congressional Research Service, Feb 2006
PDF - http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL31798.pdf
"As with other aspects of data mining, while technological capabilities are important, there are other implementation and oversight issues that can influence the success of a project's outcome. One issue is data quality, which refers to the accuracy and completeness of the data being analyzed. A second issue is the interoperability of the data mining software and databases being used by different agencies. A third issue is mission creep, or the use of data for purposes other than for which the data were originally collected. A fourth issue is privacy. Questions that may be considered include the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. It is anticipated that congressional oversight of data mining projects will grow as data mining efforts continue to evolve.'"
"As with other aspects of data mining, while technological capabilities are important, there are other implementation and oversight issues that can influence the success of a project's outcome. One issue is data quality, which refers to the accuracy and completeness of the data being analyzed. A second issue is the interoperability of the data mining software and databases being used by different agencies. A third issue is mission creep, or the use of data for purposes other than for which the data were originally collected. A fourth issue is privacy. Questions that may be considered include the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. It is anticipated that congressional oversight of data mining projects will grow as data mining efforts continue to evolve.'"
Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System / National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Feb 2006
http://www.ncjrs.org/spotlight/wgcjs/Summary.html
"Female criminal behavior has been commonly perceived as a less serious problem than male criminal behavior. Historically, women have been more likely to commit minor offenses and have made up only a small proportion of the offender population. Although women remain a relatively small number of all prisoners, these facts have concealed a trend in the rising percentage of female offenders, their participation in violent crime, and have inhibited the development of gender-specific programs to address the issue.'"
"Female criminal behavior has been commonly perceived as a less serious problem than male criminal behavior. Historically, women have been more likely to commit minor offenses and have made up only a small proportion of the offender population. Although women remain a relatively small number of all prisoners, these facts have concealed a trend in the rising percentage of female offenders, their participation in violent crime, and have inhibited the development of gender-specific programs to address the issue.'"
Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings From the National Violence Against Women Survey / National Institute of Justice, Feb
PDF - http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/210346.pdf
"Although the word rape is gender neutral, most rape victims are female (almost 86 percent), and most rapists are male. Female victims are significantly more likely than male victims to be raped by a current or former intimate partner and to sustain an injury during a rape. Many rape victims suffer serious mental health consequences. Only one in five adult women report their rape to the police. About half of the women raped as adults who had contact with police and about half who had contact with the courts were satisfied with their treatment.'"
"Although the word rape is gender neutral, most rape victims are female (almost 86 percent), and most rapists are male. Female victims are significantly more likely than male victims to be raped by a current or former intimate partner and to sustain an injury during a rape. Many rape victims suffer serious mental health consequences. Only one in five adult women report their rape to the police. About half of the women raped as adults who had contact with police and about half who had contact with the courts were satisfied with their treatment.'"
Getting To Outcomes: Improving Community-Based Substance-Use Prevention / Rand, Feb 2006
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9172/index1.html"'This research brief summarizes research to create Getting To Outcomes (GTO), a science-based model and support tools to help local groups develop or improve substance-use-prevention programs.'"
PDF - http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2006/RAND_RB9172.pdf
PDF - http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2006/RAND_RB9172.pdf
Probing Question What is the best way to handle annoying coworkers / PhysOrg, 16 Feb 2006
http://www.physorg.com/news10939.html
"Irritating coworkers lurk in every office. They turn the thermostat down, drink the last drop of coffee and don't brew more, eavesdrop on your calls, then stop by to whine about their workload when you're trying to wrap up a report. Or maybe they talk too loud just outside your office, their every word shattering your concentration. What to do? "
"Irritating coworkers lurk in every office. They turn the thermostat down, drink the last drop of coffee and don't brew more, eavesdrop on your calls, then stop by to whine about their workload when you're trying to wrap up a report. Or maybe they talk too loud just outside your office, their every word shattering your concentration. What to do? "
'Are there really little grey men sitting in secret offices, deciding on the precise language they will use to bamboozle the public?
As it happens, there are' / New Statesman, 20 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghxe
Steven Poole
"Left and right alike promote their interests by coining phrases which often insinuate meanings that bear no relation to the original words. Beware this Unspeak." [Sub Required]
http://digbig.com/4ghxe
Steven Poole
"Left and right alike promote their interests by coining phrases which often insinuate meanings that bear no relation to the original words. Beware this Unspeak." [Sub Required]
Orphaned boys and girls react differently to care / New Scientist, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8736&feedId=online-news_rss20
Roxanne Khamsi,
"Researcher, Charles Zeanah of Tulane University in New Orleans, US, analysing data from the same project, found that psychiatric disorders were 3.5 times more common among institutionalised children than among children in normal family care. He also found that foster care could help the psychiatric condition of orphaned, institutionalised children.
His group determined that children in foster homes had a reduced risk of emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. But they found no difference in the frequency of behavioural disorders such as hyperactivity and aggression between children in foster care or institutional care. "
Roxanne Khamsi,
"Researcher, Charles Zeanah of Tulane University in New Orleans, US, analysing data from the same project, found that psychiatric disorders were 3.5 times more common among institutionalised children than among children in normal family care. He also found that foster care could help the psychiatric condition of orphaned, institutionalised children.
His group determined that children in foster homes had a reduced risk of emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. But they found no difference in the frequency of behavioural disorders such as hyperactivity and aggression between children in foster care or institutional care. "
Cute graphics add credibility to fake websites / New Scientist, 18 Feb 2006
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18925395.600&feedId=info-tech_rss20
"The fraudsters behind "phishing" attacks are using visual tricks to foster trust in their bogus websites
MOST of us are suckers for a cute image, a failing that the fraudsters behind "phishing" websites are exploiting to trick us into revealing passwords, bank details and credit card numbers. " [Sub Required]
"The fraudsters behind "phishing" attacks are using visual tricks to foster trust in their bogus websites
MOST of us are suckers for a cute image, a failing that the fraudsters behind "phishing" websites are exploiting to trick us into revealing passwords, bank details and credit card numbers. " [Sub Required]
Biometrics struggle to go mainstream / vnunet.com, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150496/biometrics-struggle-mainstream
Tom Sanders
"A host of problems is keeping biometric security from becoming a mainstream application."
Tom Sanders
"A host of problems is keeping biometric security from becoming a mainstream application."
First step forward in intelligence sharing / Computing, 15 Feb 2006
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2150329/first-step-forward-intelligence
Sarah Arnott
"Ultimately the aim is to replace INI with the Cross Region Information Sharing Project (Crisp), a system that allows the information to be automatically searched and accessed.
But police data is held in many different systems and many different formats, so Crisp's success will require agreement between the 43 forces that, in the past, has been hard to come by. Over the coming year the Home Office aims to expand the index beyond child abuse units and into other policing areas, but the full Impact programme will not be in place until 2010, three years later than was originally expected."
Sarah Arnott
"Ultimately the aim is to replace INI with the Cross Region Information Sharing Project (Crisp), a system that allows the information to be automatically searched and accessed.
But police data is held in many different systems and many different formats, so Crisp's success will require agreement between the 43 forces that, in the past, has been hard to come by. Over the coming year the Home Office aims to expand the index beyond child abuse units and into other policing areas, but the full Impact programme will not be in place until 2010, three years later than was originally expected."
But Would Uniculturalism Be Any Better? / Blog, 16 Feb 2006
Iain Macwhirter Now and Then: But Would Uniculturalism Be Any Better?:
Iain Macwhirter
"Among the collateral damage from the 7/7 blasts seems to have been the policy of multiculturalism. Suddenly, no one wants to celebrate diversity anymore. Not if it means teenage suicide bombers being bred in Leeds comprehensives.
Trevor Philips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, admitted that multiculturalism had increased 'separateness' between communities which had aggravated community tensions. The writer, Kenan Malik, says multiculturalism is 'logically flawed and politically dangerous'. Many white politicians agree, though they haven't spoken out because they fear being accused of racism."
Iain Macwhirter
"Among the collateral damage from the 7/7 blasts seems to have been the policy of multiculturalism. Suddenly, no one wants to celebrate diversity anymore. Not if it means teenage suicide bombers being bred in Leeds comprehensives.
Trevor Philips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, admitted that multiculturalism had increased 'separateness' between communities which had aggravated community tensions. The writer, Kenan Malik, says multiculturalism is 'logically flawed and politically dangerous'. Many white politicians agree, though they haven't spoken out because they fear being accused of racism."
British ID card scheme flawed, warns expert / Electronics Weekly, 17 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghwa
Richard Ball
"Biometric and identity card specialist TSSI Systems has attacked UK Government plans for a national ID card scheme, casting doubt over the security of the proposed system. The firm also questions the need for a separate national database to store individual's personal data.
"We do not understand why they need to do this - unless they are planning to extend the usage of the cards in future, which is a major concern for the civil liberty groups," said Hefferman.
"Other countries such as France and Italy have stipulated that biometric information is stored only on the cards themselves - thus still within the possession of the individual. So why has the UK decided to include a central database as well?"
Richard Ball
"Biometric and identity card specialist TSSI Systems has attacked UK Government plans for a national ID card scheme, casting doubt over the security of the proposed system. The firm also questions the need for a separate national database to store individual's personal data.
"We do not understand why they need to do this - unless they are planning to extend the usage of the cards in future, which is a major concern for the civil liberty groups," said Hefferman.
"Other countries such as France and Italy have stipulated that biometric information is stored only on the cards themselves - thus still within the possession of the individual. So why has the UK decided to include a central database as well?"
Tariq Ramadan - Reformist or Islamist? / MEMRI, 17 Feb 2006
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA26606
A. Dankowitz
"Tariq Ramadan is a controversial figure in the West. He was banned from France for a time, and the U.S. refuses to issue him a visa because he is suspected of supporting terrorist operations. However, the British Home Secretary invited him, in August 2005, to join 13 Muslim shapers of public opinion in a task force aimed at 'examining ways to prevent young Muslims in Britain from deteriorating into violent extremism'; he was also invited to lecture at OxfordUniversity. Examines whether Ramadan is a reformist ( islahi) or an Islamist (salafi) who clings to the admired path of the first Muslims. Is he encouraging dialogue or a clash of civilizations? Is he preaching for the integration of the Muslim minority in the West, or for its self-isolation? Does he support or condemn terrorism? Is he a Muslim Brotherhood member, or is he unconnected to them? "
A. Dankowitz
"Tariq Ramadan is a controversial figure in the West. He was banned from France for a time, and the U.S. refuses to issue him a visa because he is suspected of supporting terrorist operations. However, the British Home Secretary invited him, in August 2005, to join 13 Muslim shapers of public opinion in a task force aimed at 'examining ways to prevent young Muslims in Britain from deteriorating into violent extremism'; he was also invited to lecture at OxfordUniversity. Examines whether Ramadan is a reformist ( islahi) or an Islamist (salafi) who clings to the admired path of the first Muslims. Is he encouraging dialogue or a clash of civilizations? Is he preaching for the integration of the Muslim minority in the West, or for its self-isolation? Does he support or condemn terrorism? Is he a Muslim Brotherhood member, or is he unconnected to them? "
New resource launched to clarify jargon / Charity Times, Feb 2006
content:
"In an attempt to simplify and amalgamate the language used by VCOs and funders to describe different aspects of projects and programmes, a new resource has been produced, in draft form, open for consultation until June. Called Jargonbuster, the resource attempts to define various terms used by charities, community groups and funders, to explain when these terms might be heard, and how they can be applied in different situations. "
Jargonbuster - PDF - http://www.cafonline.org/grants/jargonbuster-issue1.pdf
Print PDF - http://www.cafonline.org/grants/jargonbuster-issue1-print.pdf
"In an attempt to simplify and amalgamate the language used by VCOs and funders to describe different aspects of projects and programmes, a new resource has been produced, in draft form, open for consultation until June. Called Jargonbuster, the resource attempts to define various terms used by charities, community groups and funders, to explain when these terms might be heard, and how they can be applied in different situations. "
Jargonbuster - PDF - http://www.cafonline.org/grants/jargonbuster-issue1.pdf
Print PDF - http://www.cafonline.org/grants/jargonbuster-issue1-print.pdf
Malaysia's mystery migrant deaths / BBC, 16 Feb 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4720386.stm
"Selayang is an area where the capital's migrant workers live, legally and illegally. For years Malaysia has been trying to contain a burgeoning number of illegal migrant workers.
In late 2004 it declared an amnesty allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants - mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines - to leave before launching a major operation to deport the rest in March last year. But illegal immigrants still make up a large population - hundreds of thousands of people, according to estimates - and the economy depends heavily on foreign workers. "
"Selayang is an area where the capital's migrant workers live, legally and illegally. For years Malaysia has been trying to contain a burgeoning number of illegal migrant workers.
In late 2004 it declared an amnesty allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants - mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines - to leave before launching a major operation to deport the rest in March last year. But illegal immigrants still make up a large population - hundreds of thousands of people, according to estimates - and the economy depends heavily on foreign workers. "
Swedes step ahead on ethnic harmony/ International Herald Tribune, 17 Feb 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/16/news/sweden.php
Ivar Ekman
"In some ways, Sweden has been more dramatically affected by immigration than other European countries. Virtually free of non-Nordic immigration until the 1930s, Sweden has seen an explosion of its foreign-born population since the Second World War. The first to arrive, during the boom years of the 1950s and 1960s, came from southern Europe. But in the last three decades, asylum seekers from further afield have dominated, with people flowing in from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, Chile and Somalia, among other places."
Ivar Ekman
"In some ways, Sweden has been more dramatically affected by immigration than other European countries. Virtually free of non-Nordic immigration until the 1930s, Sweden has seen an explosion of its foreign-born population since the Second World War. The first to arrive, during the boom years of the 1950s and 1960s, came from southern Europe. But in the last three decades, asylum seekers from further afield have dominated, with people flowing in from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, Chile and Somalia, among other places."
Personal use allowance for drugs too high, say police / Scotsman, 17 Feb 2006
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=247452006
Jude ~Sheerin
"DRUG dealers may slip through the net under government proposals for the amount of narcotics allowed for personal use, police warned yesterday.
Being caught with a quantity of drugs deemed to be for personal use will usually result in a fine, but dealing will usually lead to imprisonment. "
Jude ~Sheerin
"DRUG dealers may slip through the net under government proposals for the amount of narcotics allowed for personal use, police warned yesterday.
Being caught with a quantity of drugs deemed to be for personal use will usually result in a fine, but dealing will usually lead to imprisonment. "
City hopes gangs will be scared straight / The Boston Globe, 16 Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghtb
Suzanne Smalley
"A meeting marked the relaunch of Operation Ceasefire, a widely emulated program that many credit with helping Boston successfully fight gun violence during the 1990s. Shortly after the program started in 1996, Boston's homicide rate plunged. The Police Department has faced mounting criticism in recent months, as violent crime has surged, for largely abandoning the strategy, which has since been copied successfully in other cities around the country. While police have used the same carrot-and-stick approach with some offenders, many, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino, have called for the reintroduction of a wider-scale initiative such as Operation Ceasefire."
Suzanne Smalley
"A meeting marked the relaunch of Operation Ceasefire, a widely emulated program that many credit with helping Boston successfully fight gun violence during the 1990s. Shortly after the program started in 1996, Boston's homicide rate plunged. The Police Department has faced mounting criticism in recent months, as violent crime has surged, for largely abandoning the strategy, which has since been copied successfully in other cities around the country. While police have used the same carrot-and-stick approach with some offenders, many, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino, have called for the reintroduction of a wider-scale initiative such as Operation Ceasefire."
Breakthrough in split second 3D face imaging / Innovations Report, Feb 2006
http://digbig.com/4ghta
"Face recognition technology that could revolutionise security systems worldwide has been developed by computer scientists at Sheffield Hallam University. The new specialist software can produce an exact 3D image of a face within 40 milliseconds. Other 3D systems that have been trialled have proved unworkable because of the time it takes to construct a picture and an inaccurate result."
"Face recognition technology that could revolutionise security systems worldwide has been developed by computer scientists at Sheffield Hallam University. The new specialist software can produce an exact 3D image of a face within 40 milliseconds. Other 3D systems that have been trialled have proved unworkable because of the time it takes to construct a picture and an inaccurate result."
Police firearms policy needs urgent revision, says IPCC / Jane's Police Review, 14 Feb 2006
http://www.janes.com/security/law_enforcement/news/pr/pr060216_1_n.shtml
"The current protocols on how firearms officers write up their accounts of fatal incidents must be revised urgently because the system lacks credibility, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Firearms officers involved in fatal shootings 'should be treated like any other significant witnesses' in making up their notes, and any debriefing should be video recorded, the IPCC recommended following its investigation into complaints made by the widow of Harry Stanley, who was shot dead by firearms officers. Currently, officers are given access to legal advice and are allowed to confer with other officers before writing their accounts of an incident. The IPCC report said the officers followed the correct protocols. " [Sub Required]
"The current protocols on how firearms officers write up their accounts of fatal incidents must be revised urgently because the system lacks credibility, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Firearms officers involved in fatal shootings 'should be treated like any other significant witnesses' in making up their notes, and any debriefing should be video recorded, the IPCC recommended following its investigation into complaints made by the widow of Harry Stanley, who was shot dead by firearms officers. Currently, officers are given access to legal advice and are allowed to confer with other officers before writing their accounts of an incident. The IPCC report said the officers followed the correct protocols. " [Sub Required]
Are homes being turned into detention centres? / IRR, 14 Feb 2006
http://www.irr.org.uk/2006/february/ha000015.html
Bianca Brigitte Bonomi
"Asylum seekers are being fitted with an electronic monitoring device around their ankles. A monitoring unit is then installed in the accommodation address where the individual resides. During periods in which the individual is required to be at home, the tag sends a signal to the monitoring unit and then to the monitoring control centre."
See also: Living under a control order
http://www.irr.org.uk/2006/february/ha000018.html
Bianca Brigitte Bonomi
"Asylum seekers are being fitted with an electronic monitoring device around their ankles. A monitoring unit is then installed in the accommodation address where the individual resides. During periods in which the individual is required to be at home, the tag sends a signal to the monitoring unit and then to the monitoring control centre."
See also: Living under a control order
http://www.irr.org.uk/2006/february/ha000018.html
Criminology in the Millennium conference
http://www.irr.org.uk/2006/may/ha000001.html
"Criminology in the Millennium conference - 12 May 2006
A conference on race, gender and the criminal justice process.
Friday 12 May 2006, 9.15-4.15pm
St. Alban's Centre, Baldwin's Gardens, Holborn, London EC1
Speakers include:
Yvonne Rhoden (Met Police) - on policing domestic violence
Professor Dee Cook (University of Wolverhampton) - on identifying holistic responses to the victims of domestic abuse
Lalit Khandare (Indian Institute of Technology) - on domestic violence in India
Lady Angela Hall (Director, Counselling in Prison) - on the counselling of women in prison
Claudia Macauley (Africa Family Foundation) - on problems facing African asylum seekers and their children "
Conference flyer & booking form
"Criminology in the Millennium conference - 12 May 2006
A conference on race, gender and the criminal justice process.
Friday 12 May 2006, 9.15-4.15pm
St. Alban's Centre, Baldwin's Gardens, Holborn, London EC1
Speakers include:
Yvonne Rhoden (Met Police) - on policing domestic violence
Professor Dee Cook (University of Wolverhampton) - on identifying holistic responses to the victims of domestic abuse
Lalit Khandare (Indian Institute of Technology) - on domestic violence in India
Lady Angela Hall (Director, Counselling in Prison) - on the counselling of women in prison
Claudia Macauley (Africa Family Foundation) - on problems facing African asylum seekers and their children "
Conference flyer & booking form
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