Daily roundup: Benefits capped, DCS hurt in car crash, tax credits

The chief executive of Barnardo’s has criticised the government for capping benefit rises at one per cent a year as the measure comes into force. Anne Marie Carrie said the cap was “shameful”. “The government is risking the well-being of vulnerable children growing up in poverty by breaking the link between benefits and inflation, adding to the hardship they faced last year when energy bills soared by up to 10 per cent,” she said. Benefits are set to increase below the rate of inflation until 2015.

John Drew, the former head of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), is to step in as acting director of children's services in Redbridge after Pat Reynolds was seriously injured in a car crash. The East London and West Essex Guardian reports that Reynolds was injured in a crash in Sicily and that Drew, who left the YJB last week, will cover for her while she recovers. In a email sent to staff, the London borough's chief executive Roger Hampton said Reynolds' injuries were serious but not life threatening. She is expected to be away from work for at least six to eight weeks.