15/07/2012 BBC Weekend News

The Government was warned about problems with Olympic security

nearly a year ago. Come and stand like this, please. A confidential

report highlighted concerns about G4S. Ministers say the issues were

dealt with before the current staffing crisis.

Inside the Syrian village where activists reported a massacre. The

regime denies using tanks and heavy weapons.

Take a pay cut or face the sack - the stark choice being considered

for some NHS staff in England. The army is called in as floods

sweep through parts of Japan, killing at least 26 people.

That is a big tactical switch from Danny Garcia.

And is Khan's career on the canvas as he is floored in his latest

title bid? He is not going to Good evening.

Warnings about problems with the G4S security contract for the

Olympics were brought to Government attention in a police report seen

by ministers last September. The Home Office insists the issues

raised were dealt with long before the current concerns about G4S's

workforce. The company now says its working around the clock to provide

as many of the promised 10,000 staff as possible. Here's our

Political Correspondent Robin Brant. Have a good games, sir. In the race

to be ready for the Games, G4S is playing catch-up. Students, a

former policeman, the unemployed, they were among hundreds of

recruits being trained at a special Sunday session. Meanwhile, soldiers

have arrived at the Olympic venues. They are part of a 3,500 strong

force needed to plug the gap. The minister in charge of the Olympics

said it is to be expected. We of course have been monitoring the

situation with G4S and their management told us right up until

last week that everything was on track. And the moment that they

didn't, we put in place a contingency plan, but we have had

that plan for many months. The boss of G4S admitted that he found out

how bad the recruitment crisis was 10 days ago. But the numbers have

not been the only problem. Mohammed is one of the recruits and G4S

asked him to talk to us. What are you going to be doing at

the Games? I am going to be a team leader here. Just patrolling. Back

in house. And a car parking. has faced criticism over the

recruit hers communication skills. They told us he will not be dealing

face-to-face with the public. Others were better prepared. It is

all right, you don't fill out of place and everybody seems to know

what they are doing and are helping each other. The London Games has

been seven years in the making. The security training has intensified

right at the end and that has been part of the problem. The Government

was warned by her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is

back in September that there were problems, but it was happy they

were resolved earlier this year. But last week, G4S admitted it

couldn't deliver on time. Now there are big questions for the

Government about this oversight. is not just about G4S, everyone is

working to deliver the Olympics and the fantastic work that has gone on

with venues, and so on, it is not just about G4S letting the country

down, why did the Home Office not know what was happening? London

will be ready when the flame arrives but to ensure the games are

safe and secure, the Government has had to rely on the public sector to

make up for private sector failings. Robin is in Westminster for us now.

How much other issue is this for the Government that -- how much of

an issue? I think there is pressure on the

Home Secretary to come here to Parliament and explain tomorrow and

the quick -- key question from Labour is about oversight. They are

not looking to spoil the party but they want to know the extent to

which Home Office officials and ministers were really keeping an

eye on his contract that we know it has turned into a disaster. -- his

contract. There was an anomaly about what she knew and when she

knew it. The Home Secretary said she found out on Wednesday that

things were going badly but G4S had insisted that their officials were

meeting with Herr officials every day for the past few weeks and had

given them total visibility over what the recruitment plan was. I

have also been told that G4S Meite as a senior Home Office official

would have known how bad things have got before and Theresa May did

on Wednesday, and yet she didn't know. That is what they will try to

get to the bottom of tomorrow. The Syrian Government has denied

accusations by United Nations observers that heavy weaponry was

used in an attack on the village of Tremseh, where opposition groups

say there was a massacre last Thursday. This evening, there are

fresh reports that heavy fighting has broken out on the southern

edges of the capital, Damascus. Activists claim more than 120

people have been killed across the country in the last 48 hours. Jim

Muir reports from Beirut. Des two of the UN observer's

investigation in Tremseh and more details emerging. They saw around

50 houses which had been burned or destroyed and in some, the gory

evidence of bloodshed. This man described how three others, one of

them an army deserter, the others just villagers, were summarily

executed and their bodies burnt, taken away, he said. There is

clearly much grief and anger here. The observers have yet to conclude

just how much -- how many people died, but they have no doubt that

heavy weapons were used. The evidence is clear, with unexploded

mortars still there and impact marks in many places. But team

observed homes that were full of blood, with blood splatters in the

room, as well as empty bullet cases. There were a wide range of weapons

used, including heavy weapons and artillery shells and small arms.

But the Syrian government flatly denies that its troops used

anything other than light weapons. TRANSLATION: The Government forces

did not use planes, helicopters, tanks or artillery. The row over

heavy weapons is important. The special envoy Kofi Annan has said

it was a blatant violation of his peace plan. He has asked the

Security Council to consider threatening sanctions when it meets

this week. Whatever happened at Tremseh, Syrian forces are clearly

using attack helicopters elsewhere. Like here, just north of Homs. And

part of Homs itself, under heavy bombardment Bailey. Fighting is

intensified in many other places too. And tonight, signs that the

trouble is creeping ever closer to the capital, Damascus. There have

been shelling in the city limits on the southern side. Freeways were

blocked with burning tyres in protest. The International Red

Cross has now formally classified the situation as an internal armed

conflict, to all intents and purposes that means a civil war.

Health trusts in south-west England are considering pay cuts for

thousands of doctors and nurses to ease financial pressures on NHS

budgets. The plans are revealed in leaked documents seen by the BBC

which talk of pay cuts of up to 5%. Here's our health Correspondent

Dominic Hughes. The National Health Service in

England is facing intense financial pressure, having to make savings

worth �20 billion over the next few years. And with staff salaries

forming a big part of the Budget, pay is coming under scrutiny. This

hospital in Plymouth, be part of the country that is all relatively

poorly played, that poorly-paid, is one other group of trusts that have

come up with radical proposals to reduce the pay bill. Leaked

documents show a change. 19 trusts and the south-west want to cut pay

by up to nine -- 5% for staff earning over �21,000. The measures

include reducing holiday and making staff work longer hours. Those who

disagree could be dismissed and then re engaged under new terms.

The way that you manage cost and do transition in any good organisation

is you re engage the staff. This is not about engaging staff, this is

about imposing draconian cuts on staff in those hospital trusts.

Department of Health said trusts have long had the power to

negotiate any changes to national agreements with local staff, but

some trusts have already tried that with only limited success. Staff at

the Central Manchester hospital were told that those who were

repeatedly off sick may not be entitled to annual pay increases.

That was challenged by the unions in an employment tribunal and the

policy was withdrawn. 19 Trust and the south-west of England believe

that by acting together, they will be better placed to resist that

union activity. On the eve of a Commons debate about the health

service, the shadow Health Secretary says the NHS is now

showing signs of financial distress. This move by 19 Trusts to move away

from national pay it is a drastic step, to talk about cutting staff

pay of making them redundant, it is an insult to staff who are working

hard. While NHS managers ponder ways to bring down their salary

bills, it has emerged that some trusts are spending thousands of

pounds on agency nurses to cover gaps in their nurses. The pressure

on health service budget is unrelenting.

The chairman of the Conservatives' backbench 1922 Committee Graham

Brady has said tonight that he believes the coalition government

is very likely to end before the General Election, said for 2015. He

has told BBC Radio 4 that it would be logical for the parties to

present their separate versions to the public for them to form a clear

view before the election. In Japan, at least 26 people have

died after days of torrential rain. Hundreds of thousands have been

affected, with many people staying in evacuation centres. Japanese

troops have been airlifting supplies to isolated mountainous

areas on the worst-affected island, Kyushu. Residential areas have also

been flooded in the historic city of Kyoto. Mike Wooldridge has the

latest. After unprecedented rainfall since

last Wednesday, surging rivers on the island of Kyushu burst their

banks. Here, the Yamakuni river at its peak, almost reaching the roof

of this Riverside restaurant. The floods and landslides have wreaked

havoc, and more heavy rain is forecast. Troops under the rescue

workers took advantage of a respite in the torrential downpours to fly

in food, water and medical supplies by helicopter for the thousands who

were trapped. Among the debris and the mud, the search for the missing.

It seems that when there were breaks in the reins, some people,

especially older farmers, tried to return to their paddy-fields and

may well have been caught in the landslides. Many people have now

been left with the huge task of cleaning up and rebuilding. The

owner of this house is being held by volunteers. TRANSLATION: I am

really grateful. There is no way I can do it alone and this area has

many elderly people. As the rain spread to the region around Kyoto,

a swollen river flooded more homes, trapping more occupants inside for

a time. On Kyushu, for now, many are still saying in emergency

accommodation, -- staying. They are hoping that despite the forecasts,

the worse is now over. -- the worst is now over.

Sport now and for a full round up of all the day's action, here's

Karthi at the BBC Sport Centre. Thank you. Bradley Wiggins will

wear the yellow jersey for a British record 8th day in a road

tomorrow as he remains on course to become the first Briton to win the

Tour de France when it finishes next Sunday. Spain's Luis-Leon

Sanchez one stage 14 but today's racing was marred by sabotage, with

officials asking police to investigate carpet tacks thrown on

the run. Damp weather and narrow roads

provided Bradley Wiggins's latest challenge through the Pyrenees.

Leearna Sanchez was one of a small group that broke away and he went

on to gain the wind. Cadel Evans made a move on Bradley Wiggins.

Unexpected but a show of strength from Team Sky reeled him back in.

The yellow jersey led the peloton through the last major climb with

Bradley Wiggins's lead look insecure. Even more so after this.

The defending champion marooned with his support car trapped behind

him. Bradley Wiggins needed a change a bike himself on the

descent. But as Cadel Evans collected another puncher, they

decided something was up. Carpet tacks on the road and Bradley

Wiggins called on the peloton to stop racing and let events catch-up.

A sporting gesture which ensures the jersey will be one as fairly as

possible. A Amir Khan has apologised to his fans but says he

has no plans to retire after suffering a second successive

defeat. The British boxer lost his world

light-welterweight belts have to Danny Garcia and must find a way to

A pain in the neck of massive proportions for Amir Khan. The

Briton, unconventionally flawed with less than three rounds

complete. He never recovered. Danny Garcia revelling in Las Vegas. It

had started well for the Bolton boxer. His fast hands in the

opening rounds had Garcia trailing. His focus line of attack, drawing

blood in the second. Garcia though was far from rattled. He proved to

be a devastating counter attacker. A left hook to the jug lar and the

canvass beckoned. Stumbling and staggering, Khan

showed heart to make the count. Perhaps he shouldn't have. The

fourth round was brutal. Two more knock downs and his lightweight

title snatched by the underdog. Amir Khan's career as well as any

talk of a bout with Floyd Mayweather now in disarray.

Liverpool have rejected an attach from Newcastle united to resign

their former striker Stephen Carroll on loan. Carroll moved to

Anfield for a club record �35 million fee, but scored just 11

goals in 56 appearances. He did score though for England in

the recent championship. Warrington will take on Leeds next month after

completely dominating Huddersfield to win 33-6. Stefan Ratchford

scored the last of the five tries as they ran away with victory to

book a place in the final for four times in four seasons.

And Jeev Milkha Singh was the surprise winner of the Scottish

Open at Castle Stuart today. That is all from the BBC Sports centre

for now. Thank you. 12 days to go until the Olympics and the torch

left mainland Britain today flopbl to the Channel Islands. Robert Hall

has been following the travels. Where better to welcome the Olympic

flame than the ancient harbour of St Peter port, where 10,000 people

that followed the winding lanes joined the celebrations. After days

of heavy rain, this felt like a different country.

And there were other reasons to smile - Guernsey and its neighbour

Sark, would be cheering on three of their own oim -- Olympians. It is

amazing we have brought the torch over to Guernsey for the people to

see. Under blue skies the torch circus headed south, to Jersey.

Days like this are challenging for the relay team, normally 300-strong,

just 70 on this flight. All heading for a convoy which contained one

distinctive set of wheels. Defying its age, it led the

torchbearers past the crowds which stretched along St Helier's sea

front to the most southerly spot. It is a brilliant spot to see it.

He got to see the Olympic Torch. The fact this is the most southerly