Daily roundup 29 September: Domestic abuse, leisure, and jail sentences

Calls to the NSPCC over children suffering or witnessing domestic abuse in the West Midlands have more than doubled in the past five years, data has shown. The Birmingham Mail reports that 449 calls were made to the charity last year about concerns relating to children experiencing abuse in the home - up from 221 calls in 2011/12.


More than 80 per cent of young people in the UK do not think that their local area offers enough for them to do outside of school hours, research has found. The survey of 1,000 14- to 16-year-olds by charity OnSide Youth Zones also found two thirds of young people spend the majority of their leisure time in their bedrooms, either gaming or socialising online.


A gang of men who groomed, trafficked and raped two teenage girls have been jailed. The BBC reports Ismail Haji, 39, his brother Imran, 36, Ibrahim Kola, 36, and Mohammed Chothia, 37, all from the Kirklees area of West Yorkshire, were convicted at Leeds Crown Court of various sex offences.


The suspension of the most senior lawyer to the child abuse inquiry has been called a devastating blow to survivors of abuse. The Guardian reports Ben Emmerson QC was suspended yesterday before he was expected to resign over apparent disagreements about the remit of the inquiry, which is under its fourth chair, Alexis Jay. 


Controversial plans by a council to make parents show their child's birth certificate if they want their dirty nappies collected are understood to have been scrapped. The Mirror reports that assembly member Rhun ap Iorwerth has said Anglesey Council's plans for a fortnightly nappy collection service for those up to their third birthday have been amended and waste will now be taken away until their fourth birthday. The council is yet to confirm the change.?


Bromley Council has appointed Ade Adetosoye as deputy chief executive and executive director of education, care and health. The 46-year-old, who was director for community and children's services at the City of London Corporation, will lead the council's social care services, education, housing and health.


The chief executive of UK Youth has been named as "Rising CEO Star" at the Charity Times Awards. Anna Smee said she was "delighted" to have won the award and was "extremely proud" to have led the recent transformation of the organisation.?