DNA solves moodunnit
A POLICE force has become the first in the UK to use a cow’s DNA to prove the animal was stolen.
Dyfed Powys Police took blood samples from a £3,000 heifer in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, to show farmer David Aeron Owens had stolen and retagged it.
He was found guilty of theft at Swansea crown court and fined £4,000.
PC Gareth Jones said: “We will continue to use innovative methods to get justice for victims.”
Labour MP Mike Amesbury
A LAW cracking down on the school uniforms rip-off was backed by the Government last night.
It would end the “monopoly” of firms exclusively selling branded gear at an average of £340 a year for secondary schools and £255 for primaries.
Schools would be told to stop relying on single suppliers for uniforms unless the contract has gone out to tender. They must also consider the cost of changes to the uniform and how often they happen.
The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill will be introduced to Parliament today and debates will begin next month.
It could become law as early as the next school year.
Backing it last night, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “School uniforms should always be affordable and should not leave pupils or their families feeling they cannot apply to a particular school.
“That’s why we will be supporting the progress of this bill through Parliament, to make our guidance on the cost considerations for school uniform statutory at the earliest opportunity.” Labour
MP Mike Amesbury told the Mirror the Government’s backing for his Private Member’s bill was “absolutely brilliant”.
He added: “It’s a victory, though we’re not quite there yet. We need to keep pushing to get it through.”
It comes after our sister paper the Sunday People highlighted the plight of parents forced to fork out for school kit.
Nearly one in six families blamed school uniform costs for them having to cut back on food and other essentials, compared with one in seven in 2015.
One pupil told the Children’s Society: “Some kids get to the point where they won’t go in. They would bunk off rather than get in trouble for being in non-uniform.”
A parent said: “I go without so my children can always have what’s needed.”
Whitehall sources said the bill would be based on 2013 government guidance issued to schools. Schools would still decide if there should be a uniform, what it is and where it must be sourced.
But they should ensure costs are reasonable, items are easily available, branded items are kept to a minimum and single supplier contracts avoided.
CAMPAIGN In sister paper Sunday People