16/06/2014 BBC London News

so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

Questions for the Met Policd after a Green Party politician and former

mayoral candidate is tracked on a database for domestic extremists.

This is the most incredible waste of their resources, time, energy, at a

time when they are finding ht time when they are finding it

difficult to find officers on the street. Scotland Yard says it is

street. Scotland Yard says ht is necessary and proportionate.

They come here in only a fraction of They come here in only a fraction of

the number that they could, Chinese tourist visas are the probldm.

the number that they could, Chinese tourist visas are the problem. I

will find out why they are going to change.

Hello and a very good evening to you.

A Green Party peer and former Mayoral candidate is

and former Mayoral candidatd is demanding answers from Scotland Yard

after she discovered she was being tracked on a database for

"domestic extremists". Jenny Jones,

who sat on an official committee who sat on an official commhttee

which scrutinises the Metropolitan Police, has criticised the force

for wasting time and resources. Now Baroness Jones is pursuhng legal

Now Baroness Jones is pursuing legal action through the supreme court.

This report from our home affairs correspondent, Guy Smith.

of Lords. She is not shy of coming forward and expressing her political

views. Seen here demonstrathng at views. Seen here demonstrating at

Saint Pauls Cathedral. She has been a member of the police watchdog,

scrutinising The Met Police. I feel proud of being there. But now we

know that for more than a decade, know that for more than a decade,

Scotland Yard recorded her activities on a secret database set

up to track domestic extremists. activities on a secret database set

up to track Anybody can apply to see their file if they think thdy have

their file if they think they have one, you pay ?10. When I got mine, I

was shocked to find it was three pages of gossip. She does not have a

criminal record, but The Met Police kept a log of her movements, when

and where she spoke at publhc meetings, there is even a record of

a post on social media about a pro cycling protest. Are you an

extremist? I suppose I probably am, I do have what a lot of people might

consider extreme views. We `sked The Met if there were any other

politicians on the list. Note answer. What about the media?

politicians on the list. Note answer. What about the medi`? As

politicians on the list. Note answer. What about the media? As a

answer. What about the medi`? As a BBC journalist, and I on this

BBC journalist, and I on thhs database? No answer. We asked if it

database? No answer. We askdd if it was necessary or appropriate for

was necessary or appropriatd for them to have the details of a

politician on the database, they said they were unable to discuss

individual cases. Last year, almost 9000 individuals on the database.

Following a review, that is down to just over a quarter.

tight`lipped there. What more have they had to say about this? They are

being tight lipped, probablx because Jenny Jones and another politician

Jenny Jones and another polhtician are taking legal action, because

they want to limit this dat`base. they want to limit this database.

They object to the monitoring and surveillance of so many people. They

say it is an intrusion into people's privacy. There will be a hearing

say it is an intrusion into people's privacy. There will be a he`ring at

the Supreme Court. What is the definition of domestic extrdmism?

definition of domestic extremism? The Met says it is the activity of

individuals or campaign groups who individuals or campaign groups who

carry out criminal acts in the case of a goal clearly not the case

carry out criminal acts in the case of a goal clearly not the c`se with

Jenny Jones. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularx

Jenny Jones. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary carried

Inspectorate of Constabularx carried out a review and said it's clear the

database potentially contained intelligence that should not have

been recorded in the first place. The Met says they are complxing

been recorded in the first place. The Met says they are complying with

The Met says they are complxing with it and all the data on it is

necessary and justified. Coming up: After house prices in

London fall for the first thme Coming up: After house pricds in

London fall for the first time this year, we ask an expert if price

prices have peaked. Business leaders in London have

welcomed a decision which whll welcomed a decision which whll

continue to make it easier for Chinese visitors to come to the UK.

A new streamlined visa servhce A new streamlined visa service

launched last year will now be extended. The announcement was made

to coincide with the start of a four`day visit by China's Prime

Minister. Alex Bushill is in the West End for

us tonight. The west wend relies on shopping,

the shops rely on tourists `nd the tourists who spend the most are the

Chinese. It is a fraction of the amount that could be spent. Paris

attracts four times as many Chinese tourists as we do in London. That's

why tonight on the night th`t the Chinese premier arrives in London

for a state visit, the Government have announced a shake`up in the way

the Chinese go about getting visas for Britain.

Pomp, pageantry and paying tourists. Outside Buckingham Palace today

European, American and Indian European, American and Indian

visitors all taking selfies, but only a handful of Chinese. Lost of

them are from Hong Kong. Like Ivy and her family. As the city used to

be British, they have US passports and don't need a visa, so where does

mainland China homme day and why? Shops in parks because they are very

famous, more than in London. I have been to France more than 20 times,

but this is my first time to the UK For France I et good a visa in two

days. For the UK it takes normally 15 days. That's why new figtres

days. For the UK it takes normally 15 days. That's why new figures show

90% of Chinese tour groups to Europe miss out on the UK all together but

miss out on the UK all together, but 71% say they will put the UK on

their itineraries if visa applications are simplified 4, is

what's happening. The Government has already spent millions promoting

tourism in China and now a 24 hour city za service will be launched. A

pilot scheme that combines applications for European and

British visas into one is to be rolled out. London's tour operators

are delighted. Instead of making two spirit visits to two separate

Passport Offices we can do it spirit visits to two separate

Passport Offices we can do ht in a Passport Offices we can do ht in a

one`stop shop, which is fantastic news. Retailers are pleased too.

Chinese visitors spend thred news. Retailers are pleased too

Chinese visitors spend three times Chinese visitors spend three times

more than the average tourist. That's why they want to change that

perception that London has the history, and Paris the shops. The

Chinese have an old`fashiondd history, and Paris the shops. The

Chinese have an old`fashiondd view, many of them, of the UK. Thinking

Chinese have an old`fashioned view, many of them, of the UK. Thhnking of

many of them, of the UK. Thinking of London as the city of fog of the

1950s and thinking of Paris as the City of Light. But rather than doing

even more to market, to lurd, City of Light. But rather than doing

even more to market, to lurd, to favour Chinese money, others warn

this is a blatant double st`ndard. And it is not without the risk of

illegal immigration. The molent illegal immigration. The molent

somebody crosses the border there is always the risk of overstayhng. The

efficiency with which that risk is diminished rests on the border

service. What was a cumbersome visa process is now in step with the rest

of Europe, so today they are celebrating. And there is more. Any

visitor from China a Ireland will be able to come to London on the same

visa. 12 new UK passport centres will be opened up in mainland China,

more than any other country. That's why it has taken years in the coming

but tourism bosses say it is a question of better late than never.

A jury into the inquest into the death of a woman struck by ` falling

death of a woman struck by a falling branch while walking in Kew Gardens

has recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Erena Wilson had gone to cue gardens to celebrate the birthday of her

friend's young daughter. Shd had friend's young daughter. Shd had

only been in the park a few minutes when tragedy struck. Her friend

only been in the park a few minutes when tragedy struck. Her frhend told

when tragedy struck. Her friend told the inquest what happened. She

described how a group of them, including her three`year`old

daughter, had been walking along a path when she heard a loud crack

like lightning. She looked up path when she heard a loud crack

like lightning. She looked tp and like lightning. She looked up and

saw a large tree branch falling towards them. She screamed and ran.

When she looked back she saw her friend on the ground, the branch

beside her. Kew didn't want us to film the tree involved but shopped

us a similar one, a cedar of Lebanon. The inquest heard ht

us a similar one, a cedar of Lebanon. The inquest heard it had

been wet and windy and the following day the park had to close. But they

heard from a free inquest called day the park had to close. But they

heard from a free inquest c`lled by heard from a free inquest called by

the family. He thought something called summer branch drop w`s

the family. He thought something called summer branch drop was to

called summer branch drop w`s to blame. He claimed if the tree had

blame. He claimed if the trde had been pruned the accident wouldn't

have happened but the jury returned a verdict of accidentally ddath

Today staff at Kew defended what they say is a rigorous inspection

they say is a rigorous inspdction process, looking at every part of

the tree. From the root to the trunk, to the main scaffold, the

main branches off the trunk and the branches off the scaffold. What we

are looking for are any form branches off the scaffold. What we

are looking for are any forl of are looking for are any form of

defects. Staff said to fencd off trees or put warning signs would not

reasonable practical. Obviously trees or put warning signs would not

reasonable practical. Obviotsly this reasonable practical. Obviotsly this

is a most unfortunate and tragic accident, but in the general scheme

of things in terms of risk it accident, but in the general scheme

of things in terms of risk ht is accident, but in the general scheme

of things in terms of risk it is a of things in terms of risk it is a

very small element Erena Wilson s very small element Erena Wilson's

family from New Zealand werdn't very small element Erena Wilson s

family from New Zealand weren't at family from New Zealand weren't at

the inquest but in a statement said her death had shattered thehr

the inquest but in a statemdnt said her death had shattered their lives.

her death had shattered thehr lives. Even though the jury wasn't able to

determine the cause of the branch failure that killed Erena, our hope

is that the circumstances of her death will significantly rahse

public awareness of the deadliness of summer branch drop. Ke w say they

would support such research. They say though their condolences go out

to her family, this was simply a tragic accident.

Two men who died while diving off the Sussex coast have been named as

Peter Stanning from North London and Christopher Mehegan from Essex. They

are diving off Eastbourne on Saturday when they got into

difficulty. A member of the public who stopped a

man raiding a bank in Croydon has been given an award. He spot that

the gun was fake. Entrepreneurs, investors and

developers have descended on the capital for the launch of the first

ever London technology week. Today's event was all about flaunting the

capital's tech credentials. But can silicon roundabout rival Silicon

Valley? A mayoral contest with a difference.

Boris Johnson taking on the former Mayor of New York, Michael

Bloomberg, in a race. Both looked baffled. Thankfully there wdre

schoolchildren on hand to help. baffled. Thankfully there were

schoolchildren on hand to hdlp. If schoolchildren on hand to help. If

this competition was a little lacklustre, London's determination

lacklustre, London's determhnation to be the tech capital of the world

isn't. London has really gained isn't. London has really gahned

importance over the last couple of years. We see being here behng

importance over the last cotple of years. We see being here being close

years. We see being here behng close to companies like the one here and

to companies like the one hdre and seeing how we are support them and

monetise efficiently online is interesting for us. A lot of the

technology being developed involves complex computer programme,

e`commerce or the development of apps but if it is gadgets, there's

plenty of those too. Look at this 3D pen, where you can draw anything out

of plastic and see it lift off the page before your eyes. Or this

screen for your mobile phone page before your eyes. Or this

screen for your mobile phond which will allow you to read text more

easily. Or how about controlling the heating for the whole of your

easily. Or how about controlling the heating for the whole of yotr house

heating for the whole of your house from your watch? Innovation like

this could add ?12 billion to the economy and create 46,000 ndw jobs

economy and create 46,000 new jobs in the capital in the decadd

according to those behind Tech Week. according to those behind Tech Week.

Little wonder even recent graduates are shunning the gloss of Shlicon

are shunning the gloss of Silicon Valley for the ambition of Silicon

Roundabout. There is a bond between the companies that you don't see in

other cities. Retaining that edge along with talent and funding will

be the ongoing challenge. Apologies if you are eating but the

dreaded dentist drill may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a tooth

rebuilding treatment that could be available in three years. The

technique does away with fillings and instead encourages teeth to

repair themselves. It is the sound that gets you. The

angry howl of the dentist's drill. Modern techniques may be virtually

pain`free, it just doesn't seem that way. The usual practice is to drill

out tooth decay and fill the cavity with amalgam or resin. This is a

two`step process which involves preparing the enamel and pushing

minerals into the reparasite. There minerals into the reparasite. There

is no need nor any drilling. It makes you wins just to watch it ``

wince just do watch it. The profession is excited about the

prospect. I'm very, it is vdry interesting. This is going to be a

new development on the interface between technology and natural

healing potential of teeth. And patients at this surgery this

patients at this surgery thhs morning also welcomed the notion of

the drill being consigned to the past. I hate drilling. I've had a

lot of drilling in my life, from when I was a young kid. I don't like

drills. They are scary. It hs amazing. I had a lot of fillings, so

the idea of not having a drhll amazing. I had a lot of fillings, so

the idea of not having a drill in my the idea of not having a drill in my

mouth. Perfect. Dentists sax the idea of not having a drhll in my

mouth. Perfect. Dentists say the mouth. Perfect. Dentists say the

best advice is to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid any treatment

best advice is to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid any treatlent at

hygiene and avoid any treatment at all.

We're live at the auction for the first offspring of

And, how the Science Museum is turning 30 days of their rubbish

into art, with your help. House prices across the capital have

fallen for the first time this year, according to research

by the property website Rightmove. It's found that the average asking

price in London dropped this month But prices here are still up on this

time last year by around 14.5%. Rightmove says it shows that prices

have peaked in some parts Can you put this

down to a blip or a sign that there is an upper limit to the amount

people will pay even in London? Consumers make a choice on value,

and some parts of London, Kensington, Chelsea, flat ydar on

Kensington, Chelsea, flat year on year, but further out, bettdr value,

year, but further out, better value, so people look for value, and with

more property coming to market, the selling power that people h`d

more property coming to market, the selling power that people had is

dissipating. Buyers need large mortgages in London, buyers can

afford less, but it is a combination, and prices have

afford less, but it is a combination, and prices havd gone up

combination, and prices have gone up so much, you reach a limit, and

there is better value further so much, you reach a limit, and

there is better value furthdr out. there is better value further out.

For those that are struggling to buy in London, more .5% does not seem

like much of a fall. Does it mean that buyers will see less gazumping,

fewer sealed bids? Bullets become easier to buy? What is bad news for

sellers is good news for buxers sellers is good news for buxers

Prices often overshoot in a boom, so some sellers will be keen to sell,

so there might be some bargains so there might be some barg`ins

around. The issue is that demand around. The issue is that ddmand

always attributes supply in London, even though the Chancellor has given

the Bank of England powers to cap the size of loans, hints that

the size of loans, hints th`t interest rates could rise, if demand

hatched its supply, that will keep the market buoyant until more homes

are built. Prices are underpinned by demand. 46,000 jobs coming hn the

demand. 46,000 jobs coming in the next ten years, so implement drives

demand, and that will end up in the house prices.

A teacher from East London who donated a kidney to one

of his pupils says the pain of the operation was worth seeing

The 13`year`old who studies at Royal Docks Community School was

suffering from renal failure when Ray Coe offered to test as ` donor.

That is it, brilliant. They say a great teacher can change a

student's life. What about saving one? You used to feel quite sick. Do

you remember how many days a week you went on dialysis? Three times a

week. It really hurt, didn't it? She was screaming in pain. Both of her

kidneys were removed in November and kidneys were removed in November and

the search for a donor began. Do you remember when you were looking for

the search for a donor began. Do you remember when you were lookhng for a

donor and I said it would be remember when you were looking for a

donor and I said it would bd me That is what you did then! In

donor and I said it would be me? That is what you did then! Hn fact,

That is what you did then! In fact, you went like this! I only need one

kidney to live, I knew I wotld you went like this! I only need one

kidney to live, I knew I wotld be in a bit of pain for a few months, but

after a few months, I would not notice any difference, but she

would. Giving a kidney meant he would not be able to donate should

his family for Hill. I thought, I have got plenty of family, `nd she

is such a fantastic child, she deserves it. The operation took four

hours. The kidneys are at the back of the body, so other organs had to

be moved to the side. When they removed Ray's kidney, they had to

put it on ice and take it to the hospital. Where did they put it?

This side. Is it working well? Brilliant, that is good news. She

still needs regular checkups. The Czech O`levels. Dash`mac thdy

still needs regular checkups. The Czech O`levels. Dash`mac they check

her levels. She hopes to work at Great Ormond Street one day, but for

now, it is back to school with the now, it is back to school with the

teacher who has done so much to help keep her here.

The first foal from Frankel, the fastest racehorse in history,

has achieved more than ?1 mhllion at auction in London this evening.

Bidding finished just over half an hour ago at Kensington P`lace.

Quite an evening, I imagine? Yes, bidding started at ?1 million, but

eventually, the cult, his pregnant mother and the on button `` and the

unborn offspring of Frankel was her chest by a family placed into

prairie in Ireland. Aidan O'Brien is the trainer responsible for the last

three consecutive Derby winners. I three consecutive Derby winners. I

spoke to the man who sold the cult here today, he told me he w`s

here today, he told me he was pleased with the result, pldased the

pleased with the result, pleased the colt would be at Aidan O'Brhen's

colt would be at Aidan O'Brien's training ground, as he prep`res for

training ground, as he prepares for a career in racing. He expects to

see the fall racing at mascot in two years, cheering him on and feeling

proud. Understandably, though, the owner will have huge expect`tions,

owner will have huge expectations, surely. Yes, I grabbed a cotple of

words with the man who put hn the winning bid, he said the family

words with the man who put in the winning bid, he said the falily had

been attracted because of his movement and star quality, but huge

expectations, because it is the son of the greatest racehorse that many

say they have ever seen, and the family will have to wait for a

couple of years until they can work out whether their expensive gamble

has paid off. What constitutes art is

always a rather contentious issue, but down at the Science Musdum,

their latest show is literally With the help of an artist

and their visitors, the vente hopes to transform 30 days of waste

into wonderful works of art. When we throw something awax, we

just throw it away, it has left our consciousness. But now, the Science

Museum is encouraging us to find beauty, value and purpose in waste.

It is a new project led by this artist, who aims to challenge our

perception of how we treat the everyday things we throw away.

perception of how we treat the everyday things we throw aw`y. The

everyday things we throw away. The art world is about the accrting

everyday things we throw aw`y. The art world is about the accruing on

value. You take anything and you put it in an art gallery and it is given

the status of art, a key bits of paint applied in the right way can

be worth millions of pounds. Something is happening in the

process of making art which is changing the value of materhal

culture. This project is pl`ying with that a bit, by asking us

culture. This project is playing with that a bit, by asking ts to

think about the stuff we throw away as having a different kind of value.

The idea of getting people looking closely at rubbish and the stuff

that they throw away, it is such a surprising idea, it is completely

absurd, but it is a very powerful way of getting people to thhnk

absurd, but it is a very powerful way of getting people to think about

what they throw away and to consider the material value of those objects.

In the first stage, the rubbish is diverted to this part of thd museum

diverted to this part of the museum to be sorted and photographdd by

to be sorted and photographed by Joshua, his team and some

volunteers. The waste continues its journey to be processed and

recycled. The second phase is when recycled. The second phase is when

it becomes art. We will be following those streams and inviting the

materials back, piles of pl`stic pellets or steel ingots or aluminium

pellets or steel ingots or `luminium cans squashed together. We will make

an exhibition of the materi`ls cans squashed together. We will make

an exhibition of the materials that were thrown out over these 30 days.

To volunteer, you simply turn up. If you are more curious about the

result of the work, you will have to wait until the 25th of July.

We have got high pressure as we go through this week. It will be quite

samey, nothing will shock us. A fair amount of cloud around, but it will

be mostly dry, with one or two exceptions. Not quite as much

sunshine today, beautiful conditions across the northern parts of the UK.

We had cloud pouring through. The cloud will continue to come through

tonight. Upstream of it, clearer sky, and that is what we will see

through tomorrow afternoon. It is cloudy for the time being. One or

two brighter spells for the rest of the day. Overnight, a fair `mount of

cloud, a breeze blowing as well. The cloud, a breeze blowing as well The

cloud could give one or two spots of rain, but it will be a dry night.

The temperatures will hold hn rain, but it will be a dry night.

The temperatures will hold in double figures. If you are up earlx

figures. If you are up early tomorrow morning, still be cloud

lingering on. As the rush hour continues, towards the end of the

morning, sunny spells showing up. Come the afternoon, the skids

morning, sunny spells showing up. Come the afternoon, the skies will

be more blue than grey, which will help the temperature. It will feel a

bit warmer than it did todax, with bit warmer than it did today, with

the sunshine turning Casey of the day goes on into the evening. The

outlook is for something fahrly dry outlook is for something fairly dry

this week. Patchy rain to start with on Wednesday, some rumbles of

thunder as the low pressure creates a frontal system. The afternoon will

be largely dried with sunny spells. There could be heavy showers around

on Thursday. Set off by sunny spells. It freshens up through

spells. It freshens up throtgh Friday. There will be dry conditions

into the weekend. Unverified images have

emerged from Iraq which appdar to show Islamist extremists from

the ISIS group killing on camera. The threat grew again today

as the militant group took control That's it for now,

thanks for joining us. I'll be back with the latest

during the 10pm news. Until then, from me and the team

here, do enjoy your evening.