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Wednesday 6 June 2012

Record number of adoptions in Sussex - The Argus.co.uk

Record number of adoptions in Sussex - The Argus.co.uk

Record number of adoptions in Sussex

Councils across the county are bucking a national trend and getting record numbers of children adopted.

West Sussex County Council saw 50 children adopted in the last financial year – the authority’s highest number since records began.

The number of children approved for adoption by East Sussex County Council also jumped significantly.

Councils have also seen an increase in the number of children leaving care to live with family members, foster parents and carers.

East Sussex County Council said the number of children approved for adoption had jumped by almost 60% in 2011/12, up from 49 children to 78 children.

The council also saw a significant rise in the number of special guardianship orders from 31 in 2010/11 to 43 in 2011/12.

The orders allow children to live with grandparents, carers and foster parents but, unlike adoption, the order does not sever all legal ties with the child’s birth family.

West Sussex County Council made 41 special guardianship orders in 2011/12 while Brighton and Hove City Council saw the numbers of orders almost double from 12 in 2010/11 to 20 in 2011/12.

The city council also saw 26 adoption orders made, 47 children with an adoption plan and 40 children placed for adoption – up from 31 in the previous year.

The figures come just weeks after councils were criticised by the Department for Education for the speed with which they moved children in with adoptive parents.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton, who is also MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said that new adoption scorecards using figures from 2009 and 2011 showed there were widespread delays in the adoption process.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said the council was investing £10 million in a three-year programme focusing on early intervention and preventative schemes to reduce the number of children in care.

He said: “The number of children needing adoption in East Sussex has continued to rise, in line with the rise in numbers of children in care. Finding stable placements for vulnerable children is a top priority for us.”

West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for children and families, Peter Evans, said: “Thanks to the hard work of our teams 91 children in total across West Sussex over the past year now have the support, stability and love they need.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “The increase in special guardianship orders is especially welcome as this means that children who are unable to be cared for by their birth parents can remain within their extended birth family.”


Source: www.theargus.co.uk

Nadal Wins as Sharapova Sets Up French Open Semi Against Kvitova - Bloomberg

Rafael Nadal closed in on a men’s record seventh French Open title by beating Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals. Wimbledon champions Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova will meet in the semifinals.

Defending champion Nadal, 26, beat 12th-seed Almagro 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3 in drizzle on the main Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros. Nadal will play the winner of today’s match between fellow Spaniard David Ferrer and Britain’s Andy Murray.

“Winning the first set is always important. When you win the first set, you are able to play with a little bit more calm,” said Nadal, who made only 16 unforced errors compared with Almagro’s 45. “Very, very happy to be in the semifinal again.”

Nadal hasn’t won a major since he tied Bjorn Borg of Sweden last year at Roland Garros with a sixth title. Instead, the 10- time major champion, the only lefthander left in the draw, has been eclipsed by Novak Djokovic. The Serb beat him in the finals of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open and knocked him off the top spot in men’s tennis. Nadal restored order on the clay in Europe this spring, ending a seven-match losing streak against Djokovic by beating him in the finals of Monte Carlo and Rome.

Sharapova Victory

Earlier today, Sharapova eased past No. 23 seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-3 to reach her third semifinal in Paris. The second seed has won the other three majors -- Australian Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open -- but never lifted the French trophy.

“It’s certainly nice to be in that position again,” Sharapova said in a news conference. “After a tough match in the previous round, I’m happy with the way I improved in this match,” added the Russian, who needed three sets to advance against Czech Klara Zakopalova in the fourth round.

Sharapova, who won Wimbledon aged 17 in 2004, faces reigning Wimbledon champion Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the last four.

The left-handed Kvitova came from behind to beat qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The fourth-seeded player has reached the last four in Paris for the first time.

Unlike his main competitors, Nadal has yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year. Djokovic played back-to-back five-set matches to reach the semifinals, while third-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland came back from two sets down against Juan Martin del Potro to move to the last four. Nadal’s record is now 50-1 at the French Open, his only loss dating back to 2009, when he lost in the fourth round to Sweden’s Robin Soderling.

Under Pressure

With Spanish flags waving in the crowd, Almagro kept up with Nadal in the first set, putting him under pressure with his flat forehand and single-handed backhand. In the tie-break, Nadal raced to a 3-0 lead as Almagro made errors. A 34-stroke rally from the baseline followed, won by a Nadal forehand. He clenched his fist and shouted “Vamos!” as he took the first set after Almagro dumped a backhand return into the net.

Nadal took control of the match in the second set, winning the point on his first serve 91 percent of the time compared with 67 percent for Almagro. Nadal completed victory with an ace.

Sharapova will reclaim the top ranking should she reach her first French Open final. She was last No. 1 in 2008, before a shoulder injury forced her off the tour for nine months.

‘Very Nervous’

Kvitova’s victory prevented Shvedova from becoming the first qualifier to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros since tennis went professional in 1968. The 24-year-old from Kazakhstan won three matches in qualifying just to make the main draw.

“She started well and I was very nervous from the beginning,” Kvitova told reporters. “The first set I did easy mistakes. Then I knew that I had to change my game and I have to be the aggressive one and going for the points.”

U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur, the sixth seed from Australia, plays No. 21 Sara Errani of Italy in the other women’s semifinal.

To contact the reporters on this story: Danielle Rossingh at Roland Garros in Paris through the London sports desk or at drossingh@bloomberg.net; Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.

Enlarge image Russia's Maria Sharapova

Russia's Maria Sharapova

Russia's Maria Sharapova

Kenzo TribouillardD/AFP/GettyImages

Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi their Women's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi their Women's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Photographer: Kenzo TribouillardD/AFP/GettyImages


Source: www.bloomberg.com

Cost of Bank Holiday police operations in Brighton could top £1million - thisissussex.co.uk

Sussex Police prepared for two major demonstrations this weekend and were patrolling the streets in Brighton & Hove with a big presence.

On Saturday, around 70 nationalists drawn from an unofficial group called 'Casuals United' were drinking around the town in small groups. It is reported that they gathered to show a response after the 'March for England' demonstration that went through the city in April was met by a large anti-fascist protest response.

  1. Sussex Police covered two demonstrations in Brighton City Centre over the weekend

Anti-fascists were again mobilised to meet the nationalists on Saturday but there were less than 100 people involved on either side, though there were minor clashes close to the seafront and near the Old Steine.

The police had feared hundreds of supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) would come to Brighton which, in turn, would mobilise more anti-fascist protestors to combat them. In the event few people were involved and the police have been criticised for wasting taxpayers' money.

The costs will be amplified because of overtime payments to officers as it was a Bank Holiday weekend. Some officers who were drafted in were "stood down" from duty when it became apparent that the demonstrations were low-key and not likely to require such a heavy police presence.

However, Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett said: "Very often police resources deter people from doing things. I'm not saying that's the case here – we don't know what we've deterred."

Both sides said the police had over-reacted and had too many officers dealing with a minor incident. It is believed that the number of officers deployed on Saturday was close to being the highest ever seen on the city's streets in one day. Police were also patrolling the area near the train station covering revellers attending the second of Fatboy Slims gigs at the Amex Stadium.

An anti-Jubilee street party took place in the city centre organised by Brighton Uncut was another focal point of activity but no major incidents were reported from it.

In total 18 people were arrested on Saturday for a variety of offences and 30 nationalists were marched by police to the train station.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Sussex Police deployed around 100 officers to counter an anti-arms protest march against EDO. Further officers were held in reserve. Officers were bought in from neighbouring police forces from Surrey and Hampshire.

Sussex Police said they could not confirm the cost of the weekend's operations but tweeted about the costs that they had "Said we'd happily share both when we have them, but not happy to share inaccurate estimates or comment on speculated figures."

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett said: "We have had an incredibly busy weekend.

"That has meant there has been very little disruption in the city.

"The resources for big events are based on very careful threat assessments and understanding of what's required to keep people safe.


Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk

Sussex dominate Surrey on Day One at Horsham - wscountytimes.co.uk

A rain-affected day of cricket at Horsham well and truly belonged to Sussex as they skittled Surrey out and then ate into their paltry total before play was abandoned.

Sussex seamers James Anyon and Steve Magoffin used the swinging conditions to rip out the heart of their opponent’s batting order, taking four wickets each as Surrey fell to 124 all out in 40.2 overs after being put into bat.

Naved Arif helped himself to the remaining two wickets and the bowlers were helped in no small part by some razor sharp catches in drizzly conditions.

Gareth Batty top scored for Surrey with 32.

Surrey got the early breakthrough they needed with the ball when Ed Joyce was caught behind for eight, but former Horsham player Chris Nash and Luke Wells soon got the Sussex innings going.

The pair put on 69 but straight after lunch Nash was caught by JJ Roy on 38 going for the rope, and just two overs later the heavens opened and play was abandoned with 63 overs played.

Wells - called up in place of the dropped Murray Goodwin - looks in good touch and will resume on 33 alongside skipper Michael Yardy (1 not out), and Sussex will be hoping the rain forecast for tomorrow stays away so they can build a sizable first innings total.



Source: www.wscountytimes.co.uk

Sussex Police introduces measures to curb crime during Euros - littlehamptongazette.co.uk

INCREASED patrols and dispersal orders are among the measures Sussex Police will be introducing to curb crime during the European Football Championships.

As well as increased patrols and dispersal orders, which give police powers to ban groups of people from areas for 24 hours, Sussex Police has been working with local authorities and licensees to “deter trouble before it starts”.

This includes licensed premises selling drinks in plastic cups and bringing trouble makers to the attention of the police.

“Our main aim is to make this a safe and trouble-free tournament,” said Superintendent Grenville Wilson.

“Our approach will be friendly, fair but firm. The vast majority of supporters are law-abiding and peaceful, but there are a few who use events like the championships as an excuse to cause trouble. We don’t want it and we won’t put up with it.

“In addition to extra police patrols, we have a wide variety of legal powers which can and will be used if necessary.

“We also have powers to stop individuals drinking in public, and powers to require people to disperse from specific areas, if we think they are likely to cause or are causing trouble. Arrest can follow if they fail to comply. Think of the dispersal order as the yellow and red card scheme. A yellow card means you must leave the area. If you don’t you get the red card – arrest.”

Those who are planning to watch matches in pubs, clubs or other venues in Sussex, are being told to be drink aware and watch their purses, wallets and phones and plan ahead.



Source: www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk

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