Daily roundup: Immigration detention, Scottish children's wards, and ‘peer courts'

The government has come in for criticism for reversing its decision not to use force against pregnant women and children in immigration detention. The Royal College of Midwives director for midwifery, Louise Silverton, said: “This is a key issue upholding the principle that a pregnant women in any environment within the criminal justice system should no longer be restrained or handcuffed, except in a situation where she poses a risk to herself, or her unborn child or if her life is clearly in danger. In such situations, the support and advice of a midwife or doctor is paramount and must be sought.”

A review of children’s wards in four Scottish hospitals should take place amid concerns about standards of care, a senior paediatrician has said. The Herald reports that Dr Peter Fowlie, Scotland officer for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, fears vacancies for paediatric staff are so high that it would be better for children to travel further, than rely on services closer to home. He said: “There just simply are not enough staff” to fill rotas and out-of-hours cover in all four paediatric units, as a result of “all the working-hours rules and regulations and the feminisation of the workforce and maternity leave”.

A radical idea that would see young people decide punishments for young offenders who commit a crime in their local area is under consideration in Hampshire. Police constable Mark Walsh, who works for the county’s youth offending team is conducting a six-week research trip in the USA to explore existing versions of the scheme with a view to trying the concept in Hampshire. Walsh said data from the US indicated that so-called peer courts lower re-offending rates.

The quality of child protection services in Norfolk has been criticised in an Ofsted inspection. The Norwich Evening News reports that the watchdog highlighted concerns over “lengthy periods where potential risk to children was not assessed” and examples of “very poor decision-making” that left vulnerable children at risk”. The authority said it is taking immediate action to improve its safeguarding services.

Birmingham's struggling children’s services department has met just one in four improvement targets since a scathing Ofsted report. The Birmingham Mail reports that the department remains on the government’s critical list. Latest performance figures show social care staff have rising caseloads, quality targets are not being met, and police are not attending all child protection meetings. Despite pledges of rapid progress, out of 40 targets highlighted, 12 have been met. Of the 28 areas that remain a concern, only 13 are rated as improving, nine have stalled and six are going backwards.

And finally, the government has published a young person's guide the Children and Families Bill. It explains how the legislation will reform services and speed up access to help. Children’s minister Edward Timpson said: “We have asked for a young person’s guide to be published as this bill is so important to children, especially the most vulnerable in our society. We want them to be involved in decision making about them, understand our plans, and see how our changes will help to shape their futures.”