Daily roundup 4 January: Playgrounds, household debt, and asylum seekers

Children should be stopped from using playgrounds when London's pollution reaches dangerously high levels, a peer has suggested. The Evening Standard reports that former Labour Party chair Baroness Jones wants all schools and playgrounds to be fitted with air monitors so teachers can decide when it is safe for pupils to play outside.


Household debt has risen to its highest level since just after the financial crash of 2008, official figures show. The BBC reports that Bank of England data shows personal debt grew 10.8 per cent in the year to 30 November to £192.2bn in the UK - the highest level since December 2008. Debt charity Step Change is calling on the government to adopt a scheme that gives problem debtors 12 months breathing space to get back on track.


Families in Somerset are being called on to consider offering a foster home for vulnerable children who have fled from war zones. The Weston Mercury reports that a total of 90 young people are arriving in the county as part of the government's unaccompanied asylum-seeking children resettlement scheme.


More than 400 reports of sexual offences happening in schools were made to West Mercia police in the last three academic years. The Shropshire Star reports that statistics released following a Freedom of Information request show that reports included rape, sexual grooming, voyeurism and abuse of children through sexual exploitation.


Aberdeenshire youth workers could benefit from £70,000 of funding as part of the council's upcoming budget. The Press and Journal reports that the local authority will vote on budget proposals early next month that would see the reallocation of £70,000 from the community learning and development fund, which was not all spent this year, to support youth work.