Rebecca Gray's Blog

Figures Tell Of Rise In Cases Of Domestic Abuse

grayrebecca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:16:32 +0000

The Scottish Government are pledging a further £44million in the fight against domestic violence

In response to this, Strathclyde Police have established within Glasgow Sherriff Courts, a special domestic abuse court that will focus solely on cases of this nature.

Offenders from the southside of Glasgow and in the city centre are referred to this court which provides a consistent approach through the criminal justice system and identifies specialist bail conditions.

A pilot of the scheme which was set up in 2004 has proved extremely successful and is to expand across the city this year.

Mhairi McGowan, Service Manager for the Assist Advocacy Service, welcomed the development:

“I am very pleased that Strathclyde Police is continuing to develop its response to domestic abuse. The increased targeting of offenders will ensure the sending of a very clear message that domestic abuse is unacceptable and will I hope, lead to increased reporting of domestic abuse incidents.

“Those who use violence can be extremely manipulative and what at first glance can appear a minor offence, can be indicative of a very dangerous situation. Police officers who are aware of the complexities of abuse can play an extremely important role in the protection of those who experience violence and abuse.”

By 2011, government ministers will have injected more than £95 million into tackling the problem, which also affects an estimated 100,000 children in Scotland.

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said:”We know the effects of domestic abuse can be devastating and the Scottish Government are committing over £44m, more than double the funding spent between 2005-2008, to tackle violence against women, including supporting the work of Scottish Women’s Aid, the Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline, Rape Crisis Scotland and the network of local rape crisis centres.

“This ground-breaking system, which was the first of its kind in Britain, continues to raise awareness of the issue of violence against women and encourage those affected to take the first steps to seek help to have a life free from fear and free from the blight of domestic abuse.”

Parents Caught ‘Cheating’ Their Way Into Good Schools

grayrebecca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:36:14 +0000

A Scottish local authority is threatening to prosecute parents who unlawfully try to enrol their children in its

Giffnock Primary School: One of East Renfreshire's first class schools that parents are desperate to enroll their child in

schools.

East Renfrewshire is demanding that parents who enrol their children at its primary schools provide additional proof of their address to ensure that they live within the catchment area. From now on, parents will be required to produce four documents as proof of residence.

Parents wishing to register their child at an East Renfrewshire school must produce a birth certificate, a child benefit or family tax credit letter, a council tax letter and a mortgage or rental agreement.

The move comes after twenty families were last year discovered trying fraudulently to get their children into schools in the most successful education authority in Scotland.

In 2008, 47% of East Renfrewshire pupils achieved three or more Highers at A to C grade, that figure is twice the national average of 22%. The high levels of achievement in these schools make them very popular with parents, especially those living in neighbouring Glasgow, where the schools perform less well.

Checks will now be carried out on cases where forgery is suspected and prosecution could follow in cases where fraud is proven.

East Renfrewshire’s education convener, Councillor Alan Lafferty, said: “Our first duty is to our own residents to ensure that their children get a place in our schools. That is why we are insisting on these checks and if parents can’t provide us with the necessary documents, then their children simply won’t get in. “

The council uncovered twenty cases last year alone where people from neighbouring local authorities used a relative or friend’s address in order to get into one of the schools. In one case, education chiefs came across parents who rented a house in the catchment area during enrolment week in order to fool the officials and make them think the family lived at the address permanently.

The parents even went to the extent of setting up the living room to make it look as if the house was occupied, but all the other rooms were left empty.

In all cases, parents withdrew their applications when challenged but education officials said they would prosecute families where fraudulent claims were made.

Councillor Alan Lafferty added: “We are also warning that we will thoroughly investigate suspicious circumstances and prosecute where necessary, as fraudulently attempting to gain a place at one of our schools is at the expense of a child who has a genuine right to be at that school.”

Campaign to Stop Blame Culture on Rape

grayrebecca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:59:26 +0000

A campaign is being launched to tackle the perception that women are sometimes to blame if they are the victim of rape.

Both women’s groups and politicians were shocked when a survey carried out earlier this year, revealed that a quarter of Scots believed that raped women may be partly responsible.

One of the Posters Used in the New Campaign

Sandy Brindley, national co-ordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “Studies into public attitudes consistently show that many people blame women for rape if we have been flirting, are dressed in revealing clothing or are known to have had many sexual partners.

Far too many people still think women are ‘asking for it’. We hope that our new campaign – the first of its kind in Scotland – will make people start to challenge their own and other people’s attitudes to rape.”

The Scottish Government is providing £200,000 to fund the advertisement campaign which feature women drinking alcohol and flirting, under the slogan: “This isn’t an invitation to rape me.”

It is the latest initiative to try and improve Scotland’s current rape conviction rate which, at 3.9%, is one of the lowest in Scotland. The Government has pledged to modernise rape laws following a recent report by the Scottish Law Commission.

The report recommended defining for the first time what consent means. It is thought that in particular, this will give a victim who has been drinking alcohol more legal protection.

The adverts are based on a successful campaign by American organisation Peace Over Violence and will be released in Scotland early this year.

Equal Pay: Fact Or Fiction?

grayrebecca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:36:30 +0000

It has been more than thirty years since the introduction of the Equal Pay Act and many women are still working for less than their real worth.

: Poster Campaign Published By Amicus Union

There have been some advances for women in society and at work: more women in employment occupy a great number of senior positions and girls are out performing boys at school. But despite these developments, the pay and opportunity gap for women remains.

A recent report by the Equal Opportunities Commission has concluded that Scotland has the largest gap between men and women’s earnings. In Scotland the gap between women and men’s earning can range from between 12% to 40%, depending on where women work.

“The gap between men and women’s pay in Scotland is wider than in Britain as a whole and the British pay gap is the worst in Europe”, said Joan Stringer, the Scotland Commissioner for the Equal Opportunities Commission.

“This is not something that we can be proud of.”

These shocking statistics and the plight of women in society have led to the launch of an Equal Pay Guide by the Scottish Women’s Convention.

“Pay inequality exists and is deeply and profoundly damaging to women, to children and to families”, said Agnes Tolmie, Chairperson of the Scottish Women’s Convention.

She continued, “The SWC would like to see a legal requirement for all employers to conduct equal pat audits and we have made this point very strongly to the UK Government and the Scottish Executive.”

One woman who knows all about the causes and effects of unequal pay is Jackie McLean. As a Home Care Worker it is Jackie’s job to care for the elderly and ill when they need it most, a job which has a lower pay than a bin man.

“I was shocked to learn that bin men were earning more than me. I care for ill people, some terminally ill, in their own homes, I feel I should be paid fairly for the necessary care that I provide”, said Jackie.

The difference in men and women’s pay in Scotland is an average of £429 per month. This huge amount would make a great deal of difference to women living in poverty.

Isabelle Gray, of the Poverty Alliance said: “Low pay often means being in a poverty trap- working long and hard, stuck in a rut, no extra money and no way out. Women also have less of a chance to save for a pension and often rely on welfare benefits when they retire.”

Staying out of debt and in control of her finances was especially difficult for Jackie when she became pregnant and had to take maternity leave.

“When I was on maternity leave I was only receiving the basic amount of £108 a month. My child and I simply could not survive on such a small amount.”

“It seems that women are being penalised for having children. It’s just not right”, Jackie continued.

The hourly rate of pay for women on maternity leave is £3.11 per hour, that is two pound less per hour than minimum wage.

Patricia MacLaren, of the STUC Women’s Committee, agrees that changes have to be made to the current working arrangements for women: “Although the rights to maternity leave have increased, how can mothers financially afford to take up to a year off work on such a small income? Until statutory maternity pay is linked to earnings, women will remain undervalued in the workplace.”

Another factor involved in unequal pay is that many women are unaware that they are receiving an unfair wage. It is not compulsory for companies, government agencies or sector employers to make all wages known to staff. This was the case for Jackie: “I didn’t know that I had an unequal pay claim until I went to my union meeting. Once I found out I refused to sign my compromise agreement as it did not make up for being paid less than I should have been for ten years.”

Siobhan Endean, Head of Equalities for Amicus, said: “Amicus believe that women do tend to be undervalued this is exacerbated by the veil of secrecy which surrounds the pay and remuneration systems used by many employers.”

Once Jackie had reached a settlement in her wage dispute and began to receive equal pay, her life began to change: “As a lone parent a huge difference has been made to my life. For the first time I will be able to go abroad on holiday with my family. This would never have been possible on my previous wages.”

With her experience in unequal pay and then battling to receive equal pay, Jackie assisted the Scottish Women’s Convention in producing the Equal Pay Guide. “Every woman should read this”- the slogan on the front cover and Jackie could not agree more.

“I think this guide is essential reading for all women and especially young women who are just entering the workplace and who are under the impression that women are receiving equal pay.”

The Equal Pay Guide is full of information, facts and figures that women will find useful when enquiring about their own wage. It even includes a mock-up letter showing you how to approach your employer about your rights in receiving equal pay.

Scottish Women’s Convention chair, Agnes Tolmie said of the guide: “This equal pay guide was commissioned by the SWC for women because we felt that there was a need for a practical guide containing essential information in a format that was clear and concise.”

“The SWC will continue to campaign for meaningful change for women in the workplace and wider society”, she concluded.

For Jackie, receiving equal pay has changed her life and help get her out of the poverty trap: “Finally getting equal pay has had a huge impact on my life. I now feel that my work is valued and I can give my family a much happier life. Being involved in the Equal Pay Guide has been great too- I really feel that I’m helping other women to receive equal pay and have a better life.

There has been a lot of work done in Scotland over the past few years to highlight the causes and effects of unequal pay. But there are still pay discrepancies in many workplaces. Until women’s work is valued by employers and the government, women will continue to live, work and retire in poverty.

The Movies You Have To See In 2009

grayrebecca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:13:33 +0000

Bride Wars

Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson on the set of ‘Bride Wars’

Released: 9^th January

Who’s In It? Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson

What’s It About? Two friends share the dream of getting hitched at a fancy hotel, but soon become bitter enemies when their weddings are set for the same date. They both then set out to sabotage each other’s weddings.

Bitchy but brilliant.

Role Models

Released: 9^th January

Who’s In It? Sean William-Scott and Paul Rudd

What’s It About? The two stars get high on energy drinks and end up crashing their car. As part of their community service they are ordered to mentor two kids- but they turn out to be complete brats.

Laugh out loud funny without being gross.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Isla Fisher as Shopaholic Rebecca

Released: 20^th February

Who’s In It? Isla Fisher

What’s It About? Based on the best selling chick-lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ tells the story of Rebecca and her addiction to designer labels. But she soon realises she needs a job to fund her habit. She lands the position of a journalist and for the first time in her life falls in love with something over than handbags and shoes…

This movie will make all other ‘shopaholics’ feel a bit better about their addiction.

Marley and Me

Released: 17^th March

Who’s In It? Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson

What’s It About? The stars set up home together and instead of having children they decide to get a puppy- Marley. Who happens to be possibly the naughtiest dog in the world but completes their family.

Definitely one for the dog lovers out there.

Again

Released: 17^th April

Who’s In It? Matthew Perry and Zac Efron

What’s It About? Perry’s character Mike is thirty-seven and sick of getting old, so when his wish is granted and he gets to be seventeen again, he can’t quite believe his luck.

Think ‘13 Going On 30’ but better.

Rage Against the Machine Album Review

grayrebecca — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:51:23 +0000

Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine

(Epic Records)

November 1992

If you are looking for one of the best albums of the 1990s, look no further than Rage Against the Machine’s 1992 eponymous debut.
Mixing politics and music is difficult, but this quartet makes it sound natural. The band manages to convey their message through stubborn repetition as seen on their signature track Killing in the Name, with its relentlessly rebellious mantra of “F*ck You, I Won’t Do What You Tell Me”.

Being the first album to successfully merge the unrelated sounds of rap and heavy metal, it is surprising that despite the unique elements upon which these songs are based, just how instantly memorable they are.

Perhaps even more impressive is the group’s talent for injecting slowly mounting tension into such a highlight as Settle For Nothing- a song which finally explodes with awesome power and rage.

Clearly, Rage Against the Machine is something to be remembered, but does have its faults. There is nothing subtle about this sound. It is like, to borrow a track name for the perfect metaphor, a Bullet In The Head. The lack of variety is the main drawback- as for entity there isn’t much consistency between the tracks- just one bullet after another.

A stunning debut that remains absolutely essential- even if it isn’t the most varied.

Motley Crue Album Review

grayrebecca — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:23:41 +0000

Motley Crue: Theatre of Pain

Motley Crue: Theatre of Pain
(Elektra)

June 1985

When you are a band like Motley Crue that has already released a fantastic debut album, Too Fast For Love and an great successor, Shout At The Devil, it is difficult to compose something at least equally great but Theatre of Pain that followed most certainly achieves this.

Theatre of Pain returned to the glam stylings of their debut but musically is much more experimental. The album spawned two hugely popular MTV videos- a cover of The Brownsville Station’s Smoking in the Boys Room and the tender ballad Home Sweet Home.

This album solidifies Motley Crue’s position as one of the world’s top metal bands. Although the album does contain more filler than usual, anthems like Louder Than Hell are enough to rescue the album’s momentum.

Britney More Popular Than The President

grayrebecca — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:20:04 +0000

Photo Courtesy of http://www.news.com.au

This year, Barack Obama has made history by becoming the first Black president of the United States, but in the world of internet search he trails to the singer, Britney Spears.

Of the billions of searches carried out on website, Yahoo.com, over the last year, Mr Obama came third behind Britney Spears and World Wrestling Entertainment.

“2008 was a crazy, volatile, whipsaw year and looking back, when I was doing research for this list, there were so many things I had forgotten, and I remember thinking: ‘Wow, this all happened in one year’ “, said Vera Chan, senior editor of Yahoo Buzz.

For the last seven out of eight years, Ms Spears has been the most popular search item. The singer’s dramatic and troubled life, which has been played out in full public view, has captured the world’s attention.

“She was number one last year for all the wrong reasons, and this year for all the right reasons”, Ms Chan said of Britney Spears.

There is an evolution taking place in how people use the internet and search on the web. Each year, the searches change and broaden slightly, but people still use the web for their guilty pleasures, like following celebrities as well as the more practical activities of shopping online, researching holiday prices and keeping an eye on our bank accounts. The internet is becoming a gateway that reaches into so many different aspects of modern life.

Ms Chan said that although internet traffic is on the rise, people still relied on traditional media for news and information.

“People want real information that they can trust from newspapers, radio and television. But they will also go to the internet to find other sources and make comparisons and find other points of views. The web is a great source and this is where information comes together.”

Strathclyde Police to Crack Down On Fuel Theft

grayrebecca — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:14:01 +0000

By Rebecca Gray

Police are launching an operation to crack down on fuel theft from petrol stations across the Greater Glasgow region.

Officers from the Strathclyde police force will be taking part in the ForeCourt Watch Scheme, which will target those people who drive off without paying for their fuel, and use service stations as a route to commit more serious crimes.

Using a ‘ring-round’ system, Forecourt Watch will provide local petrol retailers with an early warning of any crimes being committed on service stations in their area, together with details of the suspects

Photo Courtesy of www.flickr.com

and their vehicles.

They will be using a variety of tactics such as high-visibility patrols and plain vehicle patrols.

This system enables staff to be alert in case a car comes onto their forecourt to fill up the next time. When a service station suffers a drive-off, staff should then report it to the police. The scheme will also provide the police with information about suspect vehicles and general intelligence.

Superintendent Michelle Martin, Sub Divisional Officer based at Shettleston Police Office, commented:

“Over the last year we have seen a significant increase in the number of thefts from forecourts and we are proactively working together to a put a stop to this.”

“I would ask other motorists for help to catch these people who ‘drive off’ without paying. I am confident with their help and this new scheme we will make a difference and put a stop to fuel thefts in this area”.

Officers will also be using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to target stolen vehicles, vehicles without valid documentation and those with stolen registration plates.

ANPR operations involve officers using a sophisticated camera system to automatically capture the registration numbers of vehicles. The software reads the recognition and compares it against a variety of police databases.

David Miller, Manager of Silverburn Petrol Station, said: “I think this scheme will go a long way in fighting the current spate of drive-offs in the area. The new approach of working with other petrol stations may be the change we need to beat this problem.”

There are over thirty petrol stations in the Greater Glasgow area and all of them have suffered theft of fuel in the last 18 months.

Superintendent Michelle Martin added: “Some vehicles used in the initial theft of fuel are then used in more serious crimes. If we can establish that you have used your vehicle while committing an offence we can seize that vehicle and take action thorough the courts.”