Police crackdown on 'problem premises' and underage drinking
New police powers to tackle "problem premises" and underage drinking came into force last week. The changes to the Policing and Crime Bill mean that councils will now be able to strip problem premises of their licence without having to wait for a resident to make a complaint.
Also, police can now charge sellers with persistently selling alcohol to under-18s if they are caught twice within three months; confiscate alcohol from under-18s without having to prove that the individual intended to consume the alcohol; issue "directions to leave" to young people aged 10-15; and there is a new offence for under-18s of persistently possessing alcohol in a public place.
Job candidates scuppered by their online profiles
HR managers are rejecting candidates on the basis of their online profiles, a survey has revealed. A global poll of 2,000 HR professionals and consumers by Microsoft found that 41% of UK HR managers had turned an applicant down because of their online profile. Some 65% of HR professionals believe it is appropriate to consider personal information online when evaluating potential employees. Cliff Evans, head of privacy and security at Microsoft UK, said: "Ignoring your online reputation is no longer an option."
Race and gender pay gap still very much in evidence
Ethnic minorities are less likely to be in paid work than white British men and women, a Government-commissioned report has found. The study by the National Equality Panel also revealed that men are still paid up to 21% more per hour than women. Many women work part-time, earning less than £7.20 an hour, much less than the median pay of £9.90 across the country, the panel said.