Daily roundup 16 March: Free transport, youth custody incident, and 'Trojan Horse' case

Young people in Greater Manchester could get free passes on public transport if Labour MP Andy Burnham is elected mayor. The Oldham Chronicle reports that Burnham has said he wants to put young people at the heart of a new vision for Greater Manchester. All 16- to 18-year-olds, if he is elected, will get half-price bus passes, with the aim of delivering free passes in the future.


An officer at Oakhill Secure Training Centre is in a critical condition after he was allegedly attacked. The MK Citizen reports the man has been airlifted to John Radcliffe hospital at Oxford with critical head injuries. Five young people, aged between 14 and 16, have been arrested by police on suspicion of attempted murder.


A former chairman of governors has launched an appeal to overturn a ban imposed on him over an alleged "Trojan Horse" Muslim takeover plot in schools. The BBC reports that Tahir Alam was banned from involvement in schools by the Department for Education in September 2015. Mr Alam, the former head of governors for Park View Education Trust, has always denied any wrongdoing.


There were 11 opportunities to treat a nine-year-old chess champion in the months before he died of chronic asthma, an inquest has heard. The Guardian reports that Michael Uriely was taken to the Royal Free Hospital twice in the days before his death after he suffered violent coughing and vomiting fits which left him struggling to breathe.


Greater restrictions should be placed on the portrayal of suicide in TV dramas to prevent encouraging copycats, MPs have said. The Guardian reports that the health select committee, chaired by the Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, has raised fears that irresponsible media coverage has a damaging effect on vulnerable people.


Sandwell Council has pledged more than £200,000 to help improve services for children with special educational needs and disabilities. A team of experts will be tasked with reviewing over 1,400 children and young people's circumstances and put plans in place to ensure their specialist needs are met.