26/06/2014 BBC London News

That's all from us. Now on BBC One, time for the news where you are

Good evening and welcome to BBC London with me, Asad Ahlad.

BBC London with me, Asad Ahmad. Hundreds of criminal convictions

could be overturned as a review into cases involving undercover officers

is launched by the Home Office. is launched by the Home Office.

BBC London has been told around 50 cases have alreadx

BBC London has been told around 50 cases have already been

around 50 cases have alreadx been quashed ` after undercover activity

took place, which wasn't disclosed in court.

Here's our Home Affairs Correspondent, Guy Smith.

He was known as Mark Stone. But in fact, he was PC Kennedy of the met

police. He infiltrated environmental organisations. A criminal trial

against protestors, accused of planning to break into this power

station in Nottingham, coll`psed planning to break into this power

station in Nottingham, coll`psed in 2011 as the undercover officer,

offered to give evidence on their behalf. Since then, 50 crimhnal

behalf. Since then, 50 criminal convictions have been overttrned,

the majority linked to PC Kdnnedy. Today, the Home Secretary, `nnounced

a review to identify potenthal situations of injustice.

The SDS, the Special Demonstration Squad, is said to have spied on the

Stephen Lawrence family. The picture that emerges from the

SDS about this report, and from other material in the public domain

is of significant failings of judgment, intrusive supervision and

leadership over a sustained period. This afternoon, the lawyer that

represents many of the green campaigners, told us that the

implications of the review `re implications of the review are

serious. I have no doubt that the 50

miscarriages of justice exposed is just the tip of the iceberg.

This is the first time that this announcement today, for there to be

independent`ish, scrutiny by announcement today, for there to be

independent`ish, scrutiny bx people independent`ish, scrutiny bx people

with proper resources having access to the files.

A human rights charity is calling A human rights charity is calling

for the judges to approve undercover operations.

The operations are authorised by the colleagues of people carrying out

the operations. There is no external supervision. We have seen that this

has led to grave abuses. This is the man leading the review.

He is Mark Elson, the senior barrister, who published a damning

report into corruption in the initial Lawrence murder

investigation and the role of undercover officers. A day later,

the Met Commissioner admittdd the Met Commissioner admitted

mistakes had been made. This is an awful outcome. A terrible

day yesterday. We are obviously, day yesterday. We are obviotsly

where obviously the results of Mark Elson's enquiry has told us awful

things about the past. What I have to do is to ensure that people trust

in the Met of today and the future. Tonight, the Met said it will

co`operate with the new review Tonight, the Met said it will

co`operate with the new revhew to look at unsafe convictions.

The Metropolitan Police is now the owner of three water cannons.

They've paid over ?200,000 for the second`hand machines which

were owned by the German police Although water cannon have been used

in Northern Ireland in the past, in Northern Ireland in the past

authorisation still needs to be given by the Home Secretary to

legally use it here. Despite that `

the Mayor's office believes its right to buy water cannon now.

Clearly there is a view that these will be adequate for the task. Not

for as long as a new water canon but they are second`hand. There are

second`hand markets for many things. This is somewhat limited. As the

deputy commissioner pointed out this was an opportunity to get great

value for money. Publicly owned land and buildings `

including a disused police station ` are to be used to house London's

newest schools. Boris Johnson says the move will

create thousands of school places ` most of them in free schools `

in London's most deprived areas. in London's most deprived areas.

But the National Union of Tdachers is sceptical.

Here's Karl Mercer. Good morning everybody. Do you know

who I am? Not many did. But he likes opening stuff, the Mayor.

So he got on with it.ment as it happens, the Mayor did not have much

to do with this academy coming happens, the Mayor did not have much

to do with this academy comhng into to do with this academy comhng into

being. But when announcing plans for 11 new schools, this is as good a

place as any to do it. # What a wonderful world. That's the

spirit. The Mayor said that City Hall land

and buildings will be used `re for and buildings will be used are for

new schools. Bought by the government and handed to nine free

schools. Six of the sites whll government and handed to nine free

schools. Six of the sites will be schools. Six of the sites whll be

used like this one in whet stone and this one in Hampstead to become a

new primary. The sites will create more than 7,000 new school places

but London needs more than 100,000 by 2016.

This is not the whole solution. This is a part of the solution. H want

This is not the whole soluthon. This is a part of the solution. I want to

is a part of the solution. H want to see lots more schools in London.

is a part of the solution. I want to see lots more schools in London We

had 136 babies born in London alone last year.

Critics admit that free schools are the answer to shortages.

The local authorities are not able to open their own schools, so really

it is only free schools and academies that can be opened. So

that make it is difficult for the local authorities to plan.

The head of Kingfisher says that the free schools are the only g`me in

town. Free schools are best. It is what is

on the table at the moment. It is what the present Government are

enabling people like us to set up new schools. We knew there was a

huge demand in this area of London. What is that? Oh, my God: I am the

new Mayor of London! That's it from me for now,

so time to hand you to John Hammond for the weather forecast.

And a decent day for Wimbledon? It was. There will be some rain though.

This eveningening the rain clearing to the north.

Showers will be later isolated. The temperatures cooler, down to

single figures. Double digits still in the larger cities. But tomorrow,

you wake up to this. There is you wake up to this. There is

downpour spreading across the London area. So be aware, there will be

warnings in force. Some thunder and lightening and then hopefully,

things should cheer up in Whmbledon things should cheer up in Wimbledon

in the afternoon. A cool one. It could scrape 20 Celsius. Thd

in the afternoon. A cool ond. It could scrape 20 Celsius. The low

pressure lingers, then to look at the outlook, hopefully by Sunday

most of us will be dry. Alex most of us will be dry. Alex has

more detail now. If you have a barometer wowily have

seen the pre low pressure moving in. There will be some sunny spells

tomorrow but more downpours. There is a greater risk of seeing

thunder and lightening. Here is the low pressure. Most of the showers

have been on this wet weather front. Providing rain at Glastonbury and in

the evening in London. This evening a damp night for

Northern Ireland, pats of northern England and the Midlands. A few

showers. A little warmer than last night. 10 Celsius in Scotland. The

rural areas as low as four or five Celsius. Tomorrow a grey start. Then

slow-moving heavy rain downpours over the Midlands, Wales