Children's Minister Baroness Morgan said the Government was "focusing relentlessly" on youngsters' safety as child death figures were unveiled. Of 2,000 deaths recorded between April 1 2008 and March 31 this year, 110 were deemed to be preventable. The South West of England had the highest proportion of deaths which could have been stopped (15%) and the North West had the lowest (2%), according to the figures released on Thursday. Reviews of child deaths became compulsory in April last year as part of the Government's response to criticisms which followed the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie. Baroness Morgan said: "Every death of a child is a tragedy and the Government is focusing relentlessly on children's safety to drive improvements in practice and continue to learn lessons. "That is why we introduced a new duty on local authorities to review all child deaths, enabling lessons to be learnt and action taken to prevent deaths in the future. "England is the first country in … [Read more...] about 110 child deaths were ‘preventable’
Death
15-year-old ‘beat toddler to death’
A 15-year-old boy beat a toddler to death, a court has been told. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murdering two-year-old Demi Mahon on July 17 last year. The child's mother, Ann Marie McDonald, sobbed as she gave evidence before jurors at Manchester Crown Court. Ms McDonald told the jury of six men and six women that she left her daughter with the defendant at a house in Eccles, Salford, for around 90 minutes while she went to pick up her child benefit and buy a birthday card. She said that when she returned he was standing outside the house with another man. Ms McDonald said the defendant told her: "I picked her up - I might have hurt her - and she fell in the park." She said she rushed into the house and found her daughter in bed with the bedclothes partially covering her face. Ms McDonald said: "Her face was bruised. I tried to pick her up and her head flopped back. She couldn't breathe properly. "I screamed 'Why haven't you rung an ambulance?' He said 'I … [Read more...] about 15-year-old ‘beat toddler to death’
18% fall in drink-drive deaths
The number of deaths from drink-drive accidents in Britain fell sharply last year, dipping 18% on the 2006 figure, Government figures showed. There were 460 fatalities in 2007 compared with 560 in 2006, the Department for Transport said. Those seriously injured in drink-drive crashes fell 11% to 1,760 but slight injuries rose 4% to 12,260. Total casualties rose 1% to 14,480 and the number of accidents involving fatalities - as opposed to total deaths - fell 16% to 410. Overall, there was a 2% rise in the number of drink-drive accidents with the figure rising from 9,400 in 2006 to 9,620 in 2007. The drop in the death toll is heartening for the Government which is preparing to consult on the whole subject of drink-driving and its enforcement. The 2007 fatality figure is the lowest since 1999 and compares with a figure as high as 580 in 2003 and also in 2004. Transport Minister Rosie Winterton said: "Drink driving ruins lives. That is why it is such good news that the number of people … [Read more...] about 18% fall in drink-drive deaths
25% of road deaths ‘work-related’
A quarter of all road deaths involve an at-work driver, figures have revealed. Last year, 850 people were killed and 6,102 seriously injured in work-related crashes, according to Department for Transport statistics released by road safety charity Brake. This is the first time such figures have become available as it was not until 2005 that police started to record the journey purpose of vehicles involved in crashes. Brake is now urging companies to use the statistics as a wake-up call to ensure they have risk management practices in place to keep employees safe. Supported by the Department for Transport (DfT), Brake has produced a safety DVD for firms which includes hard-hitting interviews with families bereaved by road crashes involving at-work drivers. Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "The DfT is very much committed to preventing work-related road crashes, and as part of this commitment we are pleased to provide funding to Brake to produce its Busy Enough To Kill DVD. "The … [Read more...] about 25% of road deaths ‘work-related’
Deaths of three fans at Scot motor rally may have been avoided
0 Have your say The deaths of three motorsport fans at a rally in the Scottish Borders might have been avoided, a sheriff has ruled as he found safety checks at the event were “weak” and “inadequate”. • READ MORE: Fatal accident inquiry into Scots rally deaths announcedSheriff Kenneth Maciver QC made the statements following the accident at the Jim Clark Rally near Coldstream in 2014.Photographer Iain Provan, 64, his 63-year-old partner Elizabeth Allan, known as Betty, and Len Stern, 71, died after a car lost control and left the road at the rally in May that year.A joint inquiry at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year examined the circumstances surrounding their deaths and that of spectator Joy Robson, 51, at the Snowman Rally near Inverness the previous year.Delivering his written findings, Sheriff Maciver found there were “no reasonable precautions” by which Mrs Robson’s death could have been avoided.But he ruled that … [Read more...] about Deaths of three fans at Scot motor rally may have been avoided