14/03/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Are top storey comes from the High Court in London: Join me from

London's High Court for the latest on Guernsey and Jersey's legal

campaign to try to save tax relief. In the Channel Islands: Smoke-free

zone - no more lighting up for those who are locked up. Life in

the fast lane - the local teenager had been for international swimming

Good evening. The British government stood its ground in

London's High Court today, reaffirming its decision to scrap

Low Value Consignment Relief for Channel Island companies. Yesterday,

both Guernsey and Jersey outlined their legal challenges to the move.

Penny Elderfield was at the hearing and sent this report.

That report in a moment. First: A man has appeared in Guernsey's

Magistrates Court charged with indecently assaulting two young

girls. Jose Felix Alvarez, seen here wearing jeans arriving at

court this morning, is from St Peter Port. The 47-year-old is

alleged to have carried out the assaults in the island during the

'90s. It's claimed the girls were under 12 years old at the time. Mr

Alvarez is due to re-appear at the Royal Court on 12th April.

Guernsey's Health Authorities say they still don't know what caused a

case of legionella bacteria in the water supply of the island's

hospital. This is despite successful heat treatment over the

past two months. While the latest test results are clear for the

clinical block, one sample still showed a small amount of the

bacteria. The age of the building and the complexity of the water

system is being blamed. High pressure interference is being

blamed for problems with the Freeview television service in the

Channel islands. Many viewers have reported difficulties receiving BBC

TV channels. The same problem has also been reported in mid-Wales and

southwest Scotland. A spokesman for the BBC's Reception Advice service

says they are trying to find a solution to the problem, but in the

meantime they're apologising for the disruption.

The head of the Channel Islands Competition Regulatory Authority is

stepping down. John Curran has been in charge of Guernsey's office of

utility regulation since 2005 and Jersey's Competition body since

It is national no-smoking day to day and from now, people are no

longer allowed to smoke in or around disease hospitals or in or

around police custody areas. People will be offered nicotine

replacements or will have to discharge themselves from hospital

and smoke away from the grounds. Meanwhile, at Guernsey prison is to

become a completely smoke-free area. All inmates, staff and visitors

will be banned from smoking on site by the end of the year. Is it a

step too far for people already denied their freedom or a step in

the right direction? Locked up, behind bars and with not

all that much to do. It is easy to see why so many prisoners smoke. At

the last count, almost nine in 10 in mates smoked as well as 39 staff.

Soon, this place will be completely smoke-free as a ban will be

introduced by the end of the year. Behind me is an accommodation wing.

Inside, 80% of inmates smoke so for many of them at the prison, they

will have to cope with a new way of living. It will be hard. I think

they should be certain wings for it but I think a lot of people will

find it hard. It will take time but there is a lot of help and health

care to help. In time, the first couple of months will be hard but

when people think about it, it is only good for their health at the

end of the day. From today, inmates will only be allowed to smoke in

their cells but there are plans to stop that out as well. In prison

there is an exemption in the law to allow prisoners to smoke in cells.

That means that staff and visitors will be endangered when they visit

the wing. It is unacceptable to ask staff to enter cells where

prisoners have been smoking. Passive for secondary smoking is as

dangerous as smoking cigarettes so we have decided to introduce a

total ban. Prisoners will be offered help to quit smoking but,

as one of their small luxuries is withdrawn, some prisoners will face

a significant challenge to kick a habit of a lifetime.

Jersey police are raising awareness of road safety in the island. And

they're starting with teenagers. At Le Rocquier this morning, students

were given workshops. The police hope it will make students think

twice before speeding or using mobile phones at the wheel once

they pass their tests. We're giving them a try on the

speed guns so they can see how easy it is to identify a speeding

motorists but also so they understand how severe an impact it

will be if they are increasing their speed as they are danger get

their first moped or calm licence. Private companies in Jersey could

apply for money from a tourism fund. The Tourism Development Fund was

set up in 2003 to help non-profit groups such as the Branchage Film

Festival and the Jersey Heritage Trust bring tourists to the island.

Now the Treasury Minister Senator Philip Ozouf wants to allow the

private sector access to the fund. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. We hope to bring you are top Later in Spotlight with

Justin and Victoria: Find out how spy-in-the-sky cameras are helping

to look after our landscape. -- to bring you are top story later.

Dean GB is calling one teenager from the islands this summer. Not

the Olympics boat. Emilio Bashforth will represent Great Britain at the

European junior swimming championships in Belgium in July.

was really excited. How did it come about? Were you training for the

Olympics? Yes, it was the Olympic trials but ice knew I didn't stand

a chance -- I knew. What I you doing? I am doing the fought by 200

relay. How much training is involved? Nine sessions a week for

two hours. How does that fit in with your schoolwork. I have to

keep on top of my school work. My school is really good about it

there. What is the ultimate career a goal for you if you were going to

carry on with the swimming? love to represent Britain

internationally in the older age groups. Finally, to this

competition in July, how do you rate your chances? I am excited but

I don't really know. Hopefully I will do well. We hope so too and

best of luck. Another teenager for a -- success

story for Jersey teenagers as they sit at the annual Jersey used

assembly. They have the opportunity to question politicians. The day,

on the agenda it was about the benefits system and whether it

should be stricter. There was tough composition to get in there.

gives us a public speaking opportunity and to say what we

think is right. So many times we are overlooked are so it is good to

have an opportunity like this so people can hear what we want to

save. Time to come back to our top story.

The British government standing its ground in the High Court and

reaffirming his decision to scrap low-value consignment relief for

Channel Island companies. Yesterday we heard that Guernsey and Jersey

stays out lined their legal challenges to the move. Our

reporter has been in London following the case and is on the

line. Penny, tell us what the league -- or the UK legal argument

was today. Penny, can we he you now? What was

the -- legal argument on the UK's behalf was today? It was a two of

their hearing and we heard about why the UK should not be allowed to

scrap the relief and also why it should. The UK's legal team set out

their case to the judge saying they believe they are perfectly entitled,

under EU law, to target the Channel Islands in this way and to remove a

low-value consignment relief. They say they have the tools to take

action. They argue the situation is getting out of hand. They say the

scale of the industry in the Channel Island and the value of tax

they give is being avoided. They say they have no choice to tackle

this problem. They also said the European Commission had agreed the

way that they are doing it is acceptable. The other people to

speak today whether retailers against VAT avoidance and they gave

evidence about what they thought was abuse of the system. The

arguments were technical and it will be up to the judge to weigh up

the arguments. We are expecting more news tomorrow afternoon.

We will bring you that judgement tomorrow evening. Apologies for the

technical problems do -- during that report. Time for the weather

Hello. After the sunshine of today, it it will be a little bit more

cloudy. Turning chilly tonight. High-pressure beginning to move out

of the way. By lunchtime tomorrow, the high pressure weakens and there

is more cloud coming in from the South West as the wind changes

direction and becoming south- westerly during the day. There is a

risk of rain on Friday and barely on Saturday. Tonight, skies are

clear and temperatures will tumble away quite rapidly. South-easterly

winds, light. A fine start tomorrow but the mist and fog may linger.

More cloud will come in from the south-west. Limited sunshine

We have a drop in temperatures as we move to Sunday. Patchy drizzle

on Sunday turning up later in the day. Only rain will play two

showers in the afternoon on Saturday. Brisk north-west wins on

Sunday and some buckwheat -- frequent showers for the morning,

Finally, if you have ever fancied yourself as a radio presenter,