Two 'missing' Welsh schoolchildren turn up in USA

Two 'missing' Welsh schoolchildren turn up in USA
The surprising discovery was made in one part of Wales during discussions about children missing in education
Two children 'missing' from a Welsh school turned up in America, councillors have been told
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto )
Two children 'missing' from a Welsh school turned up in America, councillors have been told. Councils are required to keep track of children and identify if they are missing from education. Torfaen education officials, who were presenting information on school attendance at a council meeting, were questioned on 'child missing in education' procedures.
Fairwater Labour councillor Jayne Watkins asked how many cases of missing children the department had dealt with. Andy Rothwell, the council's head of learning and achievement, replied: 'Those cases not too many, last year five in total that we explored and shut down.
‌
"There were two cases in America. It was discovered they'd moved to America and we were happy the local authority in America had eyes on those children.'
‌
Mr Rothwell said the department works with the council's benefits team, police and the HMRC tax authority to find where a child is if necessary and then a case can be 'shut down."
The meeting heard a school-to-school tracking system is also used and names are discussed at education panel meetings, meaning some children can be identified before the 'missing in education' procedures are required.
Article continues below
Mr Rothwell promised to share the procedures with Ms Watkins after she asked what was meant by the report stating that missing children are identified 'quickly'.
He said the procedures set out what schools need to do and the necessary timeframe.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

Police believe this Ford is a 'pool car' used by an organised crime group

Police believe this Ford is a 'pool car' used by an organised crime group Since officers seized the car, no one has come forward to claim it... It was stopped by Welsh police (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police ) Police intercepted a drugs courier driving what detectives believe is a "pool car" belonging to an organised crime group, a court has heard. Officers stopped the vehicle on the outskirts of Llanelli after it had driven to Wales from the Midlands. Swansea Crown Court heard that onboard the Ford was a kilo of cannabis worth around £11,000. A judge has now ordered the forfeiture of the car - but said it is open to anyone to claim ownership if they want it back. ‌ Sian Cutter, prosecuting, said on May 15 this year a car which had travelled from the Midlands was stopped by police on the road between Hendy and Llangennch. ‌ Driving the car was 23-year-old Bledart Livadhi, and a search of the vehicle uncovered a bag containing a kilo of cannabis with a street value of up to £11,000. The defendant was arrested and in his subsequent interview told officers he had borrowed the car from a friend and knew nothing about any drugs. The prosecutor said the defendant's phone had not been analysed as officers did not have the PIN. Article continues below The court heard the car was registered to a man living in the Midlands but the insurance was held by a company. The prosecutor said police believe the Ford is a "pool car" used by an organised crime group. She added that since the car had been seized a month ago "nobody has come forward to claim it". For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter Bledart Livadhi, of Vaughan Street, Leicester, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. ‌ The plea was entered on the basis that he was acting as a courier, a basis which was accepted by the prosecution. Alex Scott, for Livadhi, said the defendant was from Albania and had entered the UK illegally in 2019. He said the defendant has no settled status in the country though had recently applied to the Home Office for indefinite leave to remain. The advocate said his client had been "recruited by word of mouth" in the community and saw acting as a courier as a way to earn some money given legitimate means were not open to him because of his immigration status. ‌ He said Livadhi had asked him to apologise to the court and to the authorities for the harm he has caused. Judge Huw Rees said it was accepted that the defendant had been acting as a courier, and he said without evidence of any other journeys he felt to be sentenced for the one journey made on May 15. He said police had asked for the forfeiture of the car as they believed it belonged to an Albanian organised crime group, and said given the circumstances of the offending that was a reasonable belief. ‌ The judge told Livadhi he had entered the UK illegally and then committed a serious offence while in the country, and he said after the defendant has served his sentence the Home Office needs to deport him back to his home country. He said given the necessarily short nature of the custodial sentence on the sentencing guidelines, the authorities need to be alerted to the defendant's situation. With a one-quarter discount for his guilty plea Livadhi was sentenced to three months in prison. Defendants ordinarily serve up to half their sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Article continues below Judge Rees ordered the forfeiture of the car and said anyone who wished to make a claim to ownership could do so under the provisions of the Police (Property) Act 1897.

Scotsman

3 hours ago

• Scotsman

Is Chris Brown still playing Glasgow? Hampden gig date, support, setlist, tickets, legal problems

Chris Brown has a date with Glasgow. | Getty Images The controversial star is still set to play Glasgow. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of the world's most successful (and divisive) R&B singers is set to play a huge gig in Glasgow next month - and, as ever, there's controversy. Chris Brown, who has sold over 140 million records worldwide, is currently in the middle of his global Breezy Bowl XX tour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But when he arrived in the UK he was detained by police at about 2am on May 15 at the five-star Lowry hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester. It's the latest legal problem for the singer who in 2009 plead guilty to assaulting of singer Rihanna, who he was in a relationship with. He was sentenced to five years probation and six months community service. Here's what's happened since - and the latest on the Glasgow gig. When is Chris Brown playing Glasgow? Chris Brown is scheduled to play Glasgow's Hampden Stadium on Tuesday, July 1. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's the current position with Chris Brown's court case? Chris Brown has been accused of causing grievous bodily harm on music producer Abraham Diaw in an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub on 19 February 2023. He had previously been released on £5 million bail and later made an innocent plea when he appeared in court on Friday, June 20. A further court date has been set for July 11, with a seven-day trial scheduled to start on October 26, 2026. It means that there is no legal reason why Chris Brown should not play his show at Hampden. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Who is supporting Chris Brown at Hampden? Chris Brown will be supported by Bryson Tiller. The American singer, rapper, and songwriter rose fo woldwide fame thanks to his 2015 single Don't, which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has released four sudio albums to date, most recently his eponymous 2024 album. What are the timings for Chris Brown at Hampden? Doors are at 5pm. No further official times are available but, judging by similar gigs, expect Bryson Tiller onstage at around 6-6.30pm and Chris Brown to play from around 8pm. Can I still get tickets for Chris Brown? There are tickets available for all areas of the stadium, priced from £67.50. You can find them here. Are there age restictions for Chris Brown's Hampden gig? The gig is over-14s only and anybody under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What songs will Chris Brown play at Hampden Park? Chris Brown seems to be playing the same setlist on his current tour. Expect to hear most - if not all - of the following in Glasgow.

Powys County Times

7 hours ago

• Powys County Times

Police investigate as 15 sheep stolen from Powys field

More than a dozen sheep were stolen from a field in Powys, leading the police's rural crime team to appeal for information as they investigate. Dyfed Powys Police's rural crime team are investigating the theft of 15 Welsh mule ewes of mixed ages. The livestock were taken from a secure field near the B4386 between Abermule and Caerhowel, sometime between June 15 and June 17. Police have launched an appeal for information that could help with the investigation, encouraging anyone with relevant information on the theft to get in touch. Writing on social media, a spokesperson for Newtown and Llanidloes Police said: 'If you saw anything suspicious in this area during this time - or could have any information that could help - please get in touch.'