07/09/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. Welcome to BBC Channel Islands. Coming up: an

island in fear as crime rates drop. Why is Guernsey more fearful?

Lucky for some, meat to the 13 candidates lining up to represent

And why they have pulled the plug Islanders in Guernsey say they are

living in far greater fear of crime at now than they were three years

ago. That is according to new figures from the Home Department.

However the actual crime rate has fallen. Why don't people feel safe?

Last year, this quiet residential lane in Guernsey became a crime

scene. Sex attacks here and elsewhere in St Peter Port saw a

man sentenced to life behind bars and women warned not to walk home

at night alone. There were more than 2500 offences reported to

police during 2010, the lowest in 10 years. But a survey about

people's perception of crime tells a different story. Guernsey Police

asked the public last year whether they felt safer around the island

and there was a significant rise compared to three years before in

the number that said they did not. The question we need to ask is why?

Firstly, the questions were more detailed in the 2010 survey and

this would have influenced results. Also, at the time of the survey,

there was a serious investigation into rates in St Peter Port which

may have influenced people. majority of crimes dealt with but -

- by the police are more minor like vandalism and traffic offences. Do

the police need to do more to convince the public that the island

is safe. I would like a bigger police presence. Maybe there could

be the odd officer walking around. If they continue doing it, they

will probably could -- probably achieve their goals. Guernsey's

Home Department says it is concerned and will be looking at

the issue. It is aware that a fall in crime rate will mean more if the

public notice the difference. A man was assaulted in St Helier as

he was walking his dog yesterday morning. Police are investigating

the incident in which the victim was hit with a torch at around 6am.

It happened in the alleyway between Parade and Saville Street outside

the Social Services Department. The suspect is described at around 6 ft

tall, broadly built and between 45 and 50 years old. Officers are

asking anyone with information to come forward.

Organisers of Jersey Live so they are preparing a response to police

concerns about the number of under- aged drinkers at the Festival. Be

forces reporting its concerns to the Licensing Assembly and the

Solicitor General. A large number of teenagers needed medical help

for excessive drinking this year. They want the organisers to stop

them getting into the event. Jersey Live bosses say they are aware of

the police's concerns and will be responding.

One of Jersey's biggest political races is under way. Most of the

state's seats are up for election next month including half of the

senatorial positions. In a nomination meeting last night, 13

islanders have put themselves forward for the four senatorial

seats since they were reduced from 12 to eight, that is the number

available. These are the people wanting your

vote. Some will be familiar, others will not. The list includes three

women, Advocate Rose Colley, Sylvia Lagadu and Linda Corby. Three

sitting Stakes members have declared, and the island -- and The

island's former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache and the former Health and

Social Security Minister Stuart Syvret. Other candidates include

Lyndon Farnham, Darius Pearce, Christopher Whitworth, David

Richardson and Mark Forskett. With just over a month to go until

election day, the day -- the race is now want to get the backing of

the eight more than 60,000 people registered to vote. After all of

the political hoopla, 13 people came forward wanting to be one of

Jersey's new senators when the island goes to the polls on 19th

October. We will find out Bembridge one of them will have a lucky day.

Tonight, the deputies and constables will get their turn.

Join us for our late news after the News at Ten when we will hear more

about the deputies and constables and who has been nominated.

You are watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later on Spotlight,

on a wing and a prayer, the rescue of hundreds of birds blown off

course by strong winds. In sport, athletes from the Channel

Islands are gearing up for the Youth Commonwealth Games on the

Isle of Man. This was the scene at Jersey Airport this lunchtime as

Team Jersey checked in for their flight. Seven athletes will be

going to the event which starts on Friday. There will be a total of

1000 competitors aged 18 and under from 69 Commonwealth nations.

Jersey's team will consist of four soldiers and three athletes. What

are their chances? This is the 4th of the Youth Games, they have grown

in popularity. Countries are now sending their top athletes to

participate. The standard has increased tremendously. I think it

would be quite unrealistic for them to come back with medals. But you

never know what might happen on the date. This is my first Commonwealth

Games. I have been to the Island Games before but this is the

biggest. How do you think you will do? I am quite confident. My coach

has been saying that some of the Israeli and guys are pretty fast

but I think I stand a good chance - - some of the Australian guys.

Do you think about where it the water in your bath of kettled comes

from? Jersey's future water supply should be secured by work going on

at the Val de la Mare reservoir. It has been drained so teams can

reinforce the structure. Our reporter went for a look around. It

is 50 years old and a familiar sight on Jersey's West Coast. Now

the Val de la Mare reservoir dam is I was taken to get a look at the

work and this is what I found. The reservoir here has been totally

drained. This is not your normal sight. Normally there is over 900

million litres of water filling the reservoir behind me. It has been

emptied. This water we drink with and using our homes. It has been

emptied in a bid to serve us in the future. This work is quite large

and is going to cost about �1.6 million. Howard Snowden is from

Jersey water and he says the work is essential. Why do we need to do

this? It brings the dam up to modern standards. Concrete dams

have suffered a with some concrete issues. The membrane improves the

quality and performance of the dam for the future. All around us,

white men including specialist from the Czech Republic and Italy are

working on the site. These workers are Power washing the side of the

dam before the new membrane or protective sheeting if you like can

be put on. How did you drain the reservoir, it is not a case of

pulling the plug? Most was pumped into treatment and supply. During

the summer months, we have used and drunk most of the water while

keeping the other reservoir as full as possible. The last 100 million

litres has been wasted to see. not worry, this is not a lost boat.

This will help clear the silt. Work should be finished by November

before it is once again brimming with water.

After a Cubbon of false starts, the Red Arrows have arrived in Jersey

ahead of the exposed road -- after a couple of false starts. This year,

they want island as to where the colour red as a mark of respect to

Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging who died last month during a display.

The battle of Britain Memorial Flight will not be taking part,

organisers say that weather conditions are unsuitable to risk

flying historic aircraft over from the UK. We will have full coverage

on the BBC from 11am on BBC Guernsey, from 1:00pm on BBC Radio

Jersey and there will be plenty of photos going up on our website. We

will have all of the TV highlights at 6:30pm tomorrow. I will get my

red jacket ready. What is the weather looking like for tomorrow?

After reasonable weather, tomorrow it goes downhill. The cloud will

give outbreaks of rain which will be with us later on tonight and for

much of the day tomorrow. It will be grey, misty and quite that at

times. At the moment, we have a ridge of high pressure, it may not

seem like it. That is quickly going to be replaced by other weather

fronts straddling the English Channel by midday tomorrow. By

Friday, we draw in warm air from the south and one that starts to

happen we will see some sunshine and also higher temperatures

through Friday and into the start of the weekend. Overnight, some

showers, if not longer spells of rain, appearing. Brisk South West

winds. Tomorrow is quite a damp day, a lot of cloud for much of the day.

In the evening, it turns quite misty with a lot of low cloud

beginning to appear and even the risk of some coastal fog by

midnight tomorrow night. Temperatures up to 18 or 19 degrees

with South westerly winds. They will be fresh, occasionally strong.

Drizzle at times with moderate Quite big waves for most of our

beaches and rather choppy. The forecast for Friday certainly

brighter and dry. The morning may start off very misty and murky with

a lot of low cloud. The sun will work on that and temperatures up to

22 degrees of a Saturday, more persistent rain returning. Becoming

wet and windy again on Sunday. Stay tuned to BBC Radio Jersey and

radio Guernsey for Updates on the weather and how it is going to

affect our Air Displays. A Guernsey student has premiered

his latest movie, a thriller filled in a hospital. He hopes to get up

the film shown at the British Independent Film Festival and is

the culmination of months of work. He said there were plenty of

challenges along the way. hardest bit was the wettest and at