Media Watch - July 29

Top Birmingham City Council Stories:

Assessment failure over 300 children at risk of sex exploitation (Birmingham Mail) Birmingham City Council has failed to properly assess more than 300 youngsters identified as being at risk of sexual exploitation. The council explained that they wanted to look beyond the basic figures and therefore extra figures were included that were not comparable to other local authorities

More than 25 dogs a week abandoned (Birmingham Mail) More than 25 dogs are being dumped on the streets of Birmingham each week. Animal welfare officer Vikki Allwood quoted and interviewed on WM

Travellers’ sites (BBC WM) Regional piece on travellers, referencing the identification of two new sites in Birmingham as part of the city’s development plan

Pool goes back to drawing board to keep iconic features (Bromsgrove Standard) Northfield pool, due to be demolished to make way for a brand new centre, will now not close next year. Cllr Brett O’Reilly quoted

Regional Headlines:

Severe cuts ‘will dilute police’ – West Midlands Police, which is set to lose more than 2,500 jobs, may not be able to maintain its quality of service, the police commissioner has said

National Headlines:

Man dies as hundreds target tunnel – A man has been killed as at least 1,500 migrants tried to enter the Channel tunnel

Barclays 25 % rise in profits – Barclays bank reports a 25 % rise in half-year profits

Army jobs cuts made three years early – The number of British army personnel has been cut back by 20,000, three years ahead of target