18/10/2013 BBC London News

from the BBC News at Six. So it s goodbye from me, and

Tonight on BBC London News: Tougher sentences for human traffickers.

sentences for human traffickers It's estimated there are currently

3,000 victims in the capital. You become a machine, to make money

for them. You are not a human being any more.

The Met tell us how they're tracking down the people responsible.

Also tonight: In court for nonpayment of council tax.

Southwark takes action against thousands of its residents.

Selling his wares in Hong Kong, Boris wraps up his promotional tour

of China, saying it's been a huge success.

And, renamed by royalty, the Cutty Sark's sister ship is honoured

before its final voyage. Hello, and welcome.

People engaged in human trafficking will face maximum life sentences,

under proposals announced by the government. It will form part of the

upcoming Modern Slavery Bill, a response to the increasing numbers

of victims who are being trafficked into the UK by criminal gangs,

mostly to London. There are currently an estimated 3,000 victims

here in the capital, often forced into prostitution. This report from

our home affairs correspondent, Guy Smith.

You become a machine, to make money for them. You are not a human being

any more. You money. A woman forced to work as a prostitute in London.

She said one night she had to have sex with up to 20 men. They hit

them, they followed them. They come in full of bruises, and you know

that if you don't do what they want, you can end up like that. Her

story is typical of those who work in London's sex industry. You don't

have to look far to see the signs, on the streets of the capital and in

local newspapers. It's not just sexual exploitation. Two years ago,

this woman was successfully prosecuted and jailed for exploiting

an African woman, taking her passport and forcing her to work 20

hours a day for four years at this bungalow in Harrow, providing just a

thin mattress while threatening to harm her family in Tanzania.

When they come here, they are coerced and beaten. This year, we

have charged 40 counts of rape, not just people in sexual exploitation,

we often see people in domestic servitude who are raped. The person

is turned into a commodity. A leading charity believes currently

there are 3000 victims in London. The Met Police has increased its

activity, this year carrying out 62 operations, resting 100 suspected

traffickers, securing already 32 convictions.

This has been identified as a big problem, houses turned into cannabis

factories. Mostly run by Vietnamese criminals. Some organisations say

the authorities need to provide more support for the children who work in

them. The main group we see is Vietnamese boys trafficked for

cannabis exploitation. We believe they are falling through the net.

The Home Secretary is promising life sentences for the worst offenders

and trafficking orders to prevent those from convicted from working

with children or young women. It is important to send a clear

message about how horrific this crime of modern slavery is.

Neighbouring counties are also trying to tackle trafficking. Surrey

Police ran a social media campaign on the issue. London is the most

diverse city in the world, no surprise that human traffickers

bring their victims here. It is all too easy to hide them.

Venice, Peru, and now Deptford. The historic docks joins a list of

threatened world heritage sites. There've been long queues at a court

in Southwark today, after 4,500 people were called before

magistrates over not paying their council tax. Two`thirds of them got

into debt after council tax benefit was scrapped earlier this year.

Protesters outside court said it's unfair for councils to punish

residents who simply don't have the money to pay their bills. Our

political correspondent Karl Mercer reports.

It's not the sort of queue you want to be in. Waiting at the end of it

is a courtroom. And looming bills. These people, summonsed here by

their local council, for failing to pay their council tax. Southwark

Council has issued 4,500 of these summonses. Today, locals faced court

for the first time. Whoever has come up with this

policy, they are making it up as they go along.

The rich are all right, not like the poor people. We are the people.

I just found out a month and a half ago I had to pay. I had no idea.

I just found out a month and a half ago I had to pay. I had no idea It

ago I had to pay. I had no idea. It must be a shock to be called to

court. Yes, I haven't done anything. Many of these people didn't used to

pay council tax. But the benefit was cut by the government. Some councils

have taken on the cost. Southwark has passed it on. Meaning those who

were getting council tax benefit will now have to pay about 15% of

the bill, just over ?100 extra a year.

I am trying very hard to make ends meet at the moment, and I have been

summonsed to court. I got very threatening letters. And told to pay

a bill. How much money are you spending

taking people to court? The man from the council did put in an appearance

this morning. It didn't take long for him to get noticed. Or to get to

understand the strength of feeling here.

You can say Southwark is putting its foot down!

Other boroughs in London have not passed on the cuts to the poorest

but Southwark has. We would urge them to think again. Southwark says

its hands are tied, and cuts would have to come from elsewhere if it

didn't make people pay part of their council tax.

The majority of councils have done the same as us. It's only a small

minority that have been able to afford not to pass it on. For us, it

would cost up to ?3.5 million every year which we can't afford.

The government told us today it had localised council tax benefit,

because it more than doubled under the last government. It said

councils should take into account the impact on vulnerable people.

Southwark said it couldn't rule out more summonses next year.

The Metropolitan Police is wasting money getting rid of experienced

staff, only to replace them with temporary ones.

`` A fresh inquest is being sought into the death of a British Army

recruit at Deepcut barracks in 1995. recruit at Deepcut barracks in 995.

18`year`old Cheryl James was found dead at the Surrey base, with a

bullet wound next to her eye. She was one of four to lose their lives

in mysterious circumstances at the camp. Human rights group Liberty

says it has secured access to documentation held by the

authorities about the teenager's death. The Metropolitan Police is

wasting money getting rid of experienced staff, only to replace

them with temporary ones. That's according to Baroness Jenny

Jones. Figures from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime show

that the Met spent more than ?26 that the Met spent more than ?2

million on agency temps last year, as well as ?44 million to secure the

voluntary departure of 900 staff. The Met says agency workers are

mostly used to fill specialist roles.

Tube passengers are being warned they face major disruption at

Embankment Underground station from January. For most of next year,

Bakerloo and Northern Line trains won't stop there, so four escalators

can be replaced. Transport for London says passengers should use

Waterloo and Charing Cross instead. Circle and District line trains

won't be affected. There's renewed pressure to delay a

?1 billion development at Deptford Dockyard, after the area was put on

a list of threatened heritage sites, alongside world`renowned places in

Venice and Peru. The World Monuments Fund is calling for redevelopment of

the 16th`century dockyard to be carried out "sensitively". But the

developer claims the area's history is central to their plans. Alex

Bushill has the story. It is one of history is irony is

that it is Greenwich and the Cutty Sark which has become synonymous

with London's maritime history when arguably its shabby next`door

neighbour as far better claim. Looking at Deptford high Street it

is hard to imagine in Royal dockyard here. This is as close as we can

get, the dockyard is private property. You can see shipbuilding

sheds. This is a reminder of this glorious history on this site. This

is where Captain Cook set sail from to discover Australia, where the

Mary Rose was built. Now the World Monuments Fund has put the site on

its watchlist. We know that most of the history of the dockyard is just

below the ground and in some standing buildings but they have

been overlooked. We want them to be listed and properly recognised.

Deptford is in need of a generation `` regeneration as well. 3000 homes

are proposed here. There is nothing scarier for an

architect and a blank sheet of paper. Here, it is incredibly rich,

we have used the character and history.

Many locals are opposed. A campaign has been launched. This is the old

mastership rights house. This is a piece of lost history.

This site is the equivalent of Shakespeare's Globe. The architects

have been unable to persuade the Chinese owners to create a scheme

which is sensitive to history, creates a vibrant future.

A decision on redevelopment is due. Boris Johnson has spent the final

day of his trade mission to China, promoting the benefits of his new

bus, and addressing business people in Hong Kong. As the Mayor prepares

to return home, he says he's confident there will be big

investments which materialise in London as a result of the trip. Is

he right? Here's our political editor Tim Donovan whose report does

contain some flash photography. It has proved much more expensive

than promised. But the new bus could start to make more economic sense if

you can get others to buy it, like Hong Kong. We have brought the new

bus for London all the way to Hong Kong, this is a great market

opportunity. Whether it was the bus they were keen on wasn't immediately

apparent. No Hong Kong newsdesk had been left off the list. It is going

well. I feel we have almost got there. On a ferry ride across Hong

Kong harbour, at times it got frenzied. Move back! He is in there

somewhere. There have been plenty of photo opportunities and plenty of

exposure crucially to the local media. His press team has been

working overtime. As to the benefit this chip has brought to London

that depends on whether you think trade missions do work. Some people

don't. It certainly has been about showing how he could be more than a

London Mayor. National British news outlets have been invited to profile

him on this international stage. outlets have been invited to profile

him on this international stage To UK the doctors have been chronicling

his every move. `` photographers. And he did get nearly 800,000

mentions on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. As he addressed a

chamber of commerce lunch, one of his sisters said there had been a

two pronged attack. In the meetings this week, people

have pushed Boris on detail and he knows the detail really well. At the

same time it is clear he has a personable way of getting the

message across. He has been promoting London and the UK, the

media coverage has been really positive. It is unlikely he will do

another chip at this when he is London Mayor. We will have to see

what tangible things he can claim to have achieved.

Still to come this evening: I catch up with a famous old steed as he

goes into retirement. It has been changing all week, but

what changes can we expect at the weekend?

The Duke of Edinburgh was in Greenwich today to rename the

world's oldest clever. The Cutty Sark's sister ship was built in 1864

to transport migrants to Australia. It is currently moored in the Thames

and will soon set sail on its final voyage before hopefully being

restored to its former glory. Here is Sarah Harris.

His Royal Highness, a naval veteran himself, arriving in Greenwich for a

Maritime Customs stretching back centuries. It is burning! We will

help it a little bit. In good health, the Duke was clearly tickled

when all did not go quite to plan. Grant us permission to use your

mighty powers in the pursuit... I declared that this ship is now going

to be called the City of Adelaide. I hope she has a long and successful

career in her reincarnation. The vessel was originally called

City of Adelaide when it was built in 1864 to carry passengers to South

Australia to start a new life. It was a proud moment for the honorary

captain who carried out the ceremony. His ancestors had

travelled on the sailing ship in her heyday. I am very proud to see her

lying in the Thames today, to have the renaming ceremony with the Duke,

which was particularly exciting, the renaming ceremony with the Duke,

which was particularly exciting but which was particularly exciting, but

also to have the two remaining clipper ships, the Cutty Sark and

the City of Adelaide, lying virtually side by side for the last

time, it is a monumental occasion. Next year, the historic ship will

make its way to its namesake in South Australia so it can be

preserved and restored. It is part of a long campaign to save it for

future generations. A group of volunteers from Adelaide who have

battled for 14 years against politics and technical issues and

financial barriers, and really broken through to see the clipper to

get back to Adelaide, South Australia. And at a reception in the

Duke met those involved in the project to save one of the oldest

ships in the world. OK, let's get a round`up of the

sports news with Sara Orchard, and once again fans heading to Wembley.

Yes, earlier this week Wembley was the setting for the England football

team to secure qualification for the World Cup, but tonight there are

hopes it could be another happy English hunting ground. A record

crowd is expected to turn out to see unbeaten Aviva Premiership Saracens

host for time Heineken Cup champions place`macro. Head of the European

Cup match, I managed to wrangle a behind`the`scenes tour. As England

football move out, once again Saracens moved in. So far and this

season, they have made nine trips to play at the home of football, but

the team never tires of playing under the arch. There is so much

history here, and as a young English guy, it is a privilege to play here

every time we come. But it is not just the players who enjoy the

experience. Good morning, one and all! This man thought he would never

work at the new stadium after he left the same role at Tottenham

Hotspur. I was born and bred in Tottenham, I was fortunate to work

at the old Wembley five times, and when I left Spurs, I did not dream I

would be working at the new Wembley, and to my supplies this is

my fifth or sixth game you with Saracens, and it is a joy. It is

fitting that for the tenth time Saracens are playing here at the new

Wembley, and they're going to be taking on one of the most formidable

opponents in European rugby, we are talking about for time Heineken

champions Toulouse. You want to test yourself against the best, and I

would definitely say they are the best, so that is what we want to do

as a club, we want to make that history, and to do that you have to

beat teams like this. Boasting the likes of the French captain, that is

just scraping the surface of the Toulouse talent. This England fly

half might already have a premiership title and a winning

Lions tour under his belt, but even he still wants the Heineken. I think

it is the biggest draw in club rugby, it has got so much history to

it, it is the best of the best, and you want to get your hands on that.

And with the future of the cup still in doubt, this could be Saracens'

last time to do just that. And tonight there is full commentary

of the match in pool three of the Heineken Cup radio station, BBC

London 94.9, kick`off is at 7:45pm. Heineken Cup radio station, BBC

London 94.9, kick`off is at 7:4 pm. London 94.9, kick`off is at 7:45pm.

With the Paralympics just months away now, the Great Britain sledge

hockey team have had to find out if they will qualify for the winter

version of the summer games in Sochi 2014. Team captain Ian Warner from

Dulwich also competed at the 20 6 Dulwich also competed at the 2006

games in Turin. The balance is training, his work as a partner at a

law firm and qualifying. She is the first step on a long`term plan for

the sport. `` qualifying for Sochi. We have got lots of momentum at the

moment, lots of people wanting to try out and play it, and it would be

the icing on the cake. We are aiming to win a medal in 2018, but we want

to get to 2014 and put on a really good show.

We talked about Saracens being unbeaten in rugby, but in football

Leyton Orient have also forgotten what it feels like to lose. The

League One club have gone 11 games without defeat in the league, and

Chris Slegg has more. Leyton Orient do not really do

glamour. It is 31 years since they could even celebrate being as high

as Division Two. But they might soon be heading back there, and bringing

one of football's most outspoken chairman with them. We start every

season looking through and saying, name me four that will finish behind

us. Somehow, somewhere, gold has smiled on us, and we have a team.

Russell Slade is the manager who has taken Leyton Orient to the top of

League One, ahead of the trip to Tranmere. Russell is a good bloke,

and I think that is the be all and end all. Is a bigger club did come

calling, would you allow him to talk to them

ease has got a new contract, and there is a buyout clause, but I

would want the club to be recompensed for losing his services.

I do not think that is going to happen, if I can judge you on

beings, he is enjoying the run. Promotion could be timely, with West

Ham set to move in next door. Do you have to accept now that any hope of

a ground share is over? Do you just have to move and you might when I

look to the House of Lords... What harm does it do for Leyton Orient to

share the Olympic Stadium? Would you be disappointed if you were not at

least in the play`offs? I would and for me to say that to you in

mid`October is a hell of a statement of how far this club has gone this

year. Keep it going and next May Orient could be jumping for joy

again. Good luck to the Os away at

Tranmere, you can follow their progress, along with all the London

sides, tomorrow on BBC London 9 .9 sides, tomorrow on BBC London 9 .9

with Phil Parry from two o'clock. Another quick bit of football news

today, Tottenham Hotspur without Andros Townsend, he has signed a new

contract at White Hart Lane. He scored on his England debut last

Friday before winning a second cap against Poland on Tuesday. Great

news for Spurs fans. That is all the sport, back to you.

Finally, he is the puppets that brought Michael Morpurgo's Warhorse

to life and has wowed audiences across the world, but now Joey has

been put out to pasture at the V, as Wendy Hurrell reports.

You know this face by now. Joey from the theatre show Warhorse has been

seen worldwide by 4 million of us. He was brought to life from Michael

Morpurgo's children's book by a public company. The horse is bigger

than life size so that you can get two manipulators inside it, and then

with enough space for their elbows to move and with the skin that can

be see`through, so that actors they can react to all the other things

that are going on around them. Well, they have donated their

version to the V Here he is inspecting his new digs, and now he

has got a permanent home in the theatre and performance gallery. It

theatre and performance gallery It has become an iconic figure for

theatre, the theatre world, and so I think it is appropriate, in a way,

that it has a place in a theatre museum. He is more than a horse, he

has got an extraordinary character, and we have been able to display him

with three manikin puppeteers to give a sense of what he does on

stage. And the show is still on at the New

London Theatre. It is also during this country and the States, but

with copies of the original puppet. At the V, he joins other famous

West End animals and performance costumes. So the original West End

Joey goes into retirement here at the V, and although the show goes

on this fellow becomes part of theatre heritage.

Let's get a check on the weather with Peter, who is down by the

river, is it a good weekend in prospect?

One thing we will not have to worry about is for this weekend, not

looking too bad, mild for the time of year, and it will be bright and

breezy at times. The only problem is there will also be showery rain,

breezy at times. The only problem is there will also be showery rain and

there will also be showery rain, and some of that is likely to be quite

heavy. In fact, this evening here on Victoria embankment we have just

felt a few drops of rain on the breeze, but that is about all. It

will be later tonight that some wetter weather will arrive, but we

will not have to worry about fog, and we will not worry about the cold

either, because temperatures are holding up at around 12 or 13

Celsius. So on to Saturday, and in the scheme of things, probably

north`west of London is where the weather will be driest and

brightest. It will gradually dry up and brighten up through the day,

brightest. It will gradually dry up and brighten up through the day but

and brighten up through the day, but to the south`east of the capital,

well, that is where there is likely to be a period of quite heavy

persistent rain before it dries up and brightens up in the afternoon.

Top Bridges tomorrow will be around about 17 or 18 Celsius. `` top

temperatures. Tomorrow, drive for the most part, but showers will move

up from the south coast, and by Sunday afternoon some of those

showers are likely to be quite heavy. You might well here a few

rumbles of thunder, you might even see a future lashes of lightning. On

to next week, well, we keep the mild weather, more bright and breezy

weather, but also some more showers or longer spells of rain. So as far

as the outlook is concerned, things drying up and brightening up on

Saturday, you will have to dodge the sharp showers on Sunday, and at the

moment it looks like we will get some longer spells of rain to start

the week, and it might be very wet going back to work. It also looks as

though we will get somewhere the weather on Tuesday.

Re`capping the main headlines just before we go: A coroner has ruled

that neglect contributed to the deaths of five elderly people at a

residential home in Sussex. She said there was institutionalised abuse

throughout the care home. A video has been posted by the

Al`Shabab terrorist group, warning British Muslims to stop speaking out

against terrorism. Scotland Yard is investigating and providing extra

protection where necessary. People engaged in human trafficking

will face a maximum life sentences under proposals announced by the

Government. There are an estimated 3000 victims currently in the

capital. And that is it from us for now, Asad

Ahmad will be here with our late news, but from me and all the team,

thanks very much for watching and have a wonderful weekend. Bye`bye.