07/08/2014 BBC London News

still the potential. Quite nasty weather. To keep an eye on the

forecast. Goodbye. Tonight on BBC London News, next

stop, Hertfordshire... the government announces proposals to

extend Crossrail, connecting It will be good for everyond. Yes,

if more people come though, they will need to build more houses.

But would other projects have to be axed to make way for it? Also

tonight, spared jail, the Mdt police officer convicted of

assaulting a mentally`ill man in custody. After Boris Johnson

announces he wants to return to Parliament, the search for the

next Tory Mayoral candidate begins. Plus, playing a vital role in

bringing comfort to soldiers serving in the First World War, the story of

The volumes of mail were massive. It must have been a really pressured

environment trying to get this important communication all around

the world in as quick as time as the world in as quick as tile as

possible. Good evening and welcome to BBC

London News with me, Riz Lateef. Come 2019,

Crossrail will link Berkshire with Now plans are being considered to

extend services into Hertfordshire. The Transport Secretary,

Patrick McLoughlin, today announced a study to connect stations

including Tring, Hemel Hempstead and If it gets the go ahead,

commuters using the service would see journey times

into the capital reduced, avoiding Our Political Correspondent Karl

Mercer has more. He's a man who's been

down a few holes in his timd. Transport Secretary Patrick

Mcloughlin is, of course, a former miner, and in his latest job,

he's seen plenty of this sort of Today he was meeting apprentices,

working on what will one dax Today he was meeting apprentices,

working on what will one day be Today he was meeting apprentices,

working on what will one dax be the working on what will one day be the

new Crossrail station at Farringdon. In about a years time, the tumblers

will be offside, in about three and a half years time, passengers were

becoming out onto the concourse onto becoming out onto the concotrse onto

the platforms. Even though it is not the platforms. Even though it is not

complete, the government is already talking about a new to Crossrail. ?6

billion idea would wink up Hertfordshire, meaning quicker

journey times the people in Watford, hemline stood and tree.

I think it is very important that we look at maximising the benefits, and

that is why I have commissioned the study to look at Hertfordshhre,

that is why I have commissioned the study to look at Hertfordshire, to

look at the way it might be able to serve other areas, as well as the

areas it is designated to sdrve at this moment. We will be doing a lot

of work on Euston station, so to relieve some of the work on Euston

station I think it is proper that we look how commuters are served

station I think it is proper that we look how commuters are servdd across

a greater part of London and outside London as we can.

Looking to drum up trade in Hemel today was butcher, John Graham.

The market, and the town, he says, could do with the boost

I think they are a good ide`. If you work in London, to reduce the time

of travelling, it is going to be good for everyone, really. There

will be more people moving here, which will make the town a bit

John may be keen; others were worried a busy town would not

It will attract more people but it will attract more people but if all

`` if more people, they will need to build more houses. It is much

needed, shops are dying here. build more houses. It is much

needed, shops are dying herd. There is a big housing problem at the

moment anyway so it would not do as any good at the moment, I suppose,

in that respect. But I don't know, I suppose people going to work need to

get there quicker. The mea post back Crossrail to plan the links South

West England to London. Tod`y Crossrail to plan the links South

West England to London. Today a new rival line has been thrown hnto the

rival line has been thrown into the mix.

And Karl's here now. So you raise a question there, what's the answer,

which one of these lines are we going to get?

The government are in a tricky position, we know they want to give

the go`ahead to HS two, the high`speed line from London to the

North of England, but in doing so North of England, but in doing so

they know that Houston will be under a huge amount of pressure, `nd

they know that Houston will be under a huge amount of pressure, and it

they know that Houston will be under a huge amount of pressure, `nd it is

a huge amount of pressure, and it is also something of a poor relation to

the same pancreas and King's Cross, so they have come up with this plan

B, divert the Hertfordshire Trent at the old Oak Common in London, people

will hop on the Crossrail and in the town. All good so far, except all of

this comes with a big bill. The government 's plan today, ?6

billion, they reckon it will cost. They are already spending about ?16

billion on Crossrail one, so could they and would they justify backing

another ten or ?15 billion for Crossrail two, which is Borhs

Johnson's project. I think it would Johnson's project. I think it would

be hard to justify, particularly now, we have seen the northern

now, we have seen the northdrn cities pulling together saying we

want money for our infrastrtcture up want money for our infrastructure up

there. They would be a bravd there. They would be a brave

government that ignored that. Plenty more to come tonight,

including, building confidence with Lego,

the therapy helping children with A Metropolitan Police officer who

assaulted a mentally ill man in custody and punched a taxi driver

has been spared jail. Serge`nt Charles Pilbeam, who worked in

Hackney but lived in Stevenage, Charles Pilbeam, who worked in

Hackney but lived in Steven`ge, was Hackney but lived in Steven`ge, was

given a 28 weeks suspended sentence at Saint opens Magistrates' Court,

and told that he was extremdly lucky and told that he was extremdly lucky

not to be going to prison. Tarah Welsh has been following the case

Welsh has been following thd case and joins us now. Just bring us up

to speed on the background to this. Charles Pilbeam looked relidved as

Charles Pilbeam looked relieved, as he was told he was not going to jail

tonight, and he walked out of court today. You can see him here on the

right wearing a tie. This goes back March last year, when a mentally ill

man was taken into custody and man was taken into custody and

strip`searched at Shoreditch police station. Another officer described

him as intoxicated, but compliant. The man was given a notice but he

ripped it up and swore at the officers, and that is when Pilbeam

stood on his foot for about a minute and twisted the man's here. After

the incident took place, Pilbeam said the colleagues, sorry to

aperture in that context but I will write it out. Later, he was involved

in another assault, Mr Pilbeam, write it out. Later, he was involved

in another assault, Mr Pilbeam, but he was not in uniform. That is

right, the court heard that Mr Pilbeam remained at work but was

very stressed about the previous assault. He was drinking more than

usual and his defence lawyer described him as being in a terrible

mental state. He went out with mental state. He went out whth

colleagues after work in February and he got drunk and got into a taxi

to go home, he did not like the way the taxi driver was driving, so he

took hold of the steering wheel and pulled up the handbrake, causing the

car to go off the road. Then there was an argument, and Charles Pilbeam

punched the taxi driver in the face and ran away from the taxi. I was

bleeding. Because of the way and ran away from the taxi. I was

bleeding. Because of the wax I and ran away from the taxi. I was

bleeding. Because of the way I had bleeding. Because of the wax I had

my classes, they were covered in my classes, they were coverdd in

blood. There was blood on the seat, my clothes, everywhere, and of

course after the accident the car was a little bit tilted in the

middle of a country lane, and it is a country lane, so it is very

dangerous, because if a big car comes or something, you can have a

really serious accident. And so I already decided the best option was

just to go to hospital. Magistrates just to go to hospital. Magistrates

told Charles Pilbeam today xou are told Charles Pilbeam today you are

extremely lucky and fortunate not to be going into custody right now He

was given 250 hours unpaid work and told to pay ?1900 in costs. His

defence lawyer says he has lost everything, and accepts that he is

going to lose his job at night the Metropolitan Police told us that he

has been suspended, so he is still being paid, but this is pending a

disciplinary proceeding. Th`nk you. Free schools are failing to serve

the neediest children in their the neediest children in their

areas. That is the conclusion of the first in`depth research on them,

first in`depth research on them which found that while most new

schools are opening in disadvantaged areas, pupils attending are

generally better off than those attending surrounding schools. Once

the next batch of free schools start opening next month, there whll

the next batch of free schools start opening next month, there will be

opening next month, there whll be around 120 of them in London. Here's

our education reporter, Mark Ashdown. They were set up to cater

for a growing shortage of school places but free schools were also

places but free schools werd also supposed to help poorer children.

Three years after the first openings, studies suggest so far

they are failing. Free school meals are the key indicator of poverty.

This report found at primarx level This report found at primary level

free schools, 13.5% are eligible, compared to 18.3% at neighbouring

schools. At secondary level, a similar story. 17.5% eligible at

free schools, while at other nearby schools, 22.1%. It seems even if

schools, 22.1%. It seems evdn if schools are opening in poorer areas,

pushy, better off parents are still getting the upper hand. And this is

disappointing because they were really at the centre of the

government's social justice strategy. The idea was thesd new

schools would open up in the strategy. The idea was these new

schools would open up in thd more socially disadvantaged areas and

bring on those children who they said had not had the advantages

beforehand. London does havd a beforehand. London does have a

pretty unique problem, in that area of extreme poverty often sit

side`by`side with very wealthy areas like here in Haringey. You can buy

property for as little as ?75,0 0 or property for as little as ?75,000 or

as much as ?4.3 million. Evdn property for as little as ?75,0 0 or

as much as ?4.3 million. Evdn so, teaching unions say this is evidence

free schools are pretty much cherry picking better off pupils. H think

picking better off pupils. I think the programme should be abandoned.

This government has spent over on this programme. It is not ftlfilling

this programme. It is not fulfilling its main aim, providing schools for

the most disadvantaged and deprived pupils, and whilst it is not doing

that, it is taking money aw`y pupils, and whilst it is not doing

that, it is taking money away from the other schools in the arda which

the other schools in the area which are educating those pupils. What we

know from the hundreds of groups we work with is that people have chosen

to go into these areas exactly because they want to help the most

deprived. I think as these schools become part of the established

educational landscape come xou will see them serving families from every

type of background. 30 more free schools are slated to open hn London

next month. Their intakes will schools are slated to open in London

next month. Their intakes whll be next month. Their intakes whll be

keenly scrutinised. Boris Johnson disguises the extent of his

political ambitions, but will have to come clean if he becomes an NP

again. That was the reaction from the Deputy Prime Minister Nhck

again. That was the reaction from the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

the Deputy Prime Minister Nhck Clegg at the Mayo boss Mac confirmation

that he wants to return `` the Mayor's confirmation that he wants

to return to Parliament. Thd news to return to Parliament. Thd news

also finally rules out Boris Johnson seeking a third may all term,

also finally rules out Boris Johnson seeking a third may all terl, which

seeking a third may all term, which means the search can start for a

Tory replacement. A fairly familiar image of the shovel meant in most

national newspapers, seen l`rgely from the angle of the impact on the

Conservatives and the Conservative leadership. Rather less analysis and

speculation about how it le`ves speculation about how it leaves

London, but I think there is a sense today about how much the

Conservatives have wanted to manoeuvre Boris Johnson and to

manoeuvre Boris Johnson into finally making this decision. A really short

selection timescale at Uxbrhdge making this decision. A really short

selection timescale at Uxbridge and selection timescale at Uxbridge and

South Ruislip, where it is `lmost South Ruislip, where it is `lmost

certain now that Boris Johnson will put his name forward. You just have

this sense in which they really wanted to smoke out and forces hand.

Does it shift attention to who might be a Tory successor to Boris

Johnson? It does in the sense that it has ended any residual doubt that

Boris Johnson might try to go for a third term, so you start to look at

potential candidates, assembly members here at City Hall, James

cleverly, Andrew off, head of the Conservative group, Victoria Boruc,

Deputy Maier, Steven greenhouse, head of the Metropolitan Police

authority. Or do they go for a name like sack Balsdon, MP at Richmond

Park? `` Zac Goldsmith. Another pupil position themselves as the

experienced hand at it. Perhaps an outsider like Zac Goldsmith,

well`known to a large and above the electorate in London, deals, and

there will be people who thhnk I there will be people who thhnk I

would like to do that but Boris has not announced yet that he will

would like to do that but Boris has not announced yet that he whll stand

out. Now he has done, there has only been a vacancy the 24 hours, those

people will start putting their names in the ring. Andrew Boss, who

has already thrown his hat into the has already thrown his hat into the

ring, said it would be a mistake for the Conservatives to go this time

for big name recognition. The biggest mistake all of the parties

make, curiously enough, is that they think they have the point a

celebrity in order to get those votes in and have public

recognition. The fact of the matter recognition. The fact of the matter

is that if you are the Conservative candidate for mayor you will be

known. The public will have that opportunity to know what yot

known. The public will have that opportunity to know what you are

about. Where does this all leave Labour? A lot of potential Labour

people had been wanting to wait and see whether Boris Johnson could

possibly have another go, seek see whether Boris Johnson could

possibly have another go, sdek a possibly have another go, seek a

third term here. Now he has made clear that is not the case H think

clear that is not the case I think we will start seeing signs, probably

even declarations, of interest. we will start seeing signs, probably

even declarations, of interdst. We know the kind people that are being

talked about, David Lambie, Siddique, Diane Abbott. It could be

quite a crowded field. Christian Wall bar, a transport journalist who

has already declared. While these people may start to manoeuvre I

think we will only really start seeing hostilities, if you like,

think we will only really start seeing hostilities, if you like or

seeing hostilities, if you like, or people really pushing for the prize

after the next election next year. Thank you very much, Tim Donovan

there. Stay with us, still `head there. Stay with us, still ahead

tonight, coming to the capital, as London prepares to host the Indian

sport of Kabaddi, we will try and explain the rules, and letters are

explain the rules, and lettdrs are reaching us as quickly as if there

were no war... It is really rather wonderful.

reaching us as quickly as if there were no war... It is On thehr way to

the Western front, the story of how letters for soldiers serving in the

First World War were sent from Regents Park.

It's an alternative type of therapy that's now helping hundreds of

children with autism and le`rning difficulties across the capital.

Today, specialists from Guys and St Thomas' Hospitals have been showing

parents how Lego bricks can be used to help children develop vital

Rebecca Williams has been to Legoland

It has been branded Lego therapy. Specialists at top London hospitals

are using the building blocks to help children with autism to

communicate. Children like Rupert. His mother has brought him here

today to put it to the test for the first time. At the moment he

today to put it to the test for the first time. At the moment hd is

first time. At the moment he is focused. He is happy to participate

in this. And home he is doing repetitive movements and disruptive

behaviours. Do you think you will get this another go when yot back ``

get back home? Definitely. It get this another go when you back ``

get back home? Definitely. Ht should get back home? Definitely. It should

work. Around 1% of children are affected by autism. At Saint Thomas

is they have 100 cases a year. affected by autism. At Saint Thomas

is they have 100 cases a ye`r. Many is they have 100 cases a year. Many

are taking part in Lego therapy as 80 schools across Southwark and love

`` Lamberth are running the project. You might ask, why Lego? It is show

that children with learning difficulties are drawn to it. You

can make an imaginary world. You feel like you are the king `nd queen

and you could make a massive feel like you are the king and queen

and you could make a massivd kingdom of what you like. It helps you

and you could make a massive kingdom of what you like. It helps xou to

lose your mind and you have to look at the pictures and understand what

at the pictures and underst`nd what it means. A specialist workshop is

being held at Legoland todax. It is being held at Legoland today. It is

for children with specialist needs. If the children respond well, they

will continue with it when they return home. For George and we

particularly work with, somd of them find it difficult to work together.

`` for children. They preferred to play alone. Using Lego ther`py helps

them to work as a team so that each child has a particular role. They

are working to build one product. Hospitals say that the ther`py has

so far proved successful. They are hoping it will help more chhldren

hoping it will help more children living with autism in the c`pital.

Now, have you ever heard of the Indian sport of Kabaddi?

It gained something of a cult following in the UK

when it was televised on terrestrial TV in the early`90s.

This weekend it could re`latnch to a wider audience as the

World Kabaddi League visits London for the first time.

Chris Slegg has been finding out more about the game.

This is the Indian sport of Kabbadi, as played on the world stagd.

This is the Indian sport of Kabbadi, as played on the world stage. In

front of packed stadiums in its Asian heartlands. Closer to home,

this is team Slough will stop some of the best players in the UK

training in a park on a sumlers training in a park on a summers

evening. Slough are one of the top teams. We have had a good couple of

years in the past. We have won a lot of trophies. It can be hard to work

out what is going on. This journalist can explain. This player

is known as a raider. It is his job to try to get that over to this

point. This guy needs to stop him. He is known as a stopper. The raider

has won the point. Playing Kabbadi for Team Slough might not sound the

most glamorous of sporting pursuits but there is a decent living to be

made. A good player comes over from India and Pakistan and the

three`month season in the UK and he can walk away with about ?30,00 and

all his living costs are taking care off, his flights. It is a vdry

off, his flights. It is a very serious and can be a very ltcrative

serious and can be a very lucrative sport. The O2 Arena will host the

best players on the planet `s sport. The O2 Arena will host the

best players on the planet as the best players on the planet `s the

world Kabbadi League comes to this country for the first time. Yellow

macro it will be electric. H country for the first time. Yellow

macro it will be electric. I am macro it will be electric. I am

waiting to see what it will be like. I cannot picture it yet. Sky it is

an attempt to give Kabbadi ` make an attempt to give Kabbadi ` make

over and make it more of a high`profile, international sport

and widen the appeal of what is a bizarre sport to the uninithated.

When it visits London on Saturday, Kabbadi might find itself grabbing

the attention of a few new fans Next, continuing our series marking

100 years since Britain entered BBC London has teamed up with

the Imperial War Museum to unearth Tonight the tale

of how a gigantic wooden sorting office was built here in London to

cope with the constant stre`m of letters sent to troops around the

world, which helped keep up morale. Chris Taft from the British Postal

Museum and Archive has been finding out more, and the building's

location might surprise you. Letters and gifts from home where

one of the few comforts soldier had on the Western front. For many,

one of the few comforts soldier had on the Western front. For m`ny, it

on the Western front. For many, it was a welcome distraction from the

horrors of the trenches will stop by the end of the war, and esthmated 2

the end of the war, and estimated 2 billion letters and 114 million

parcels had been sent to soldiers around the world. I am the head of

collections at the Post Museum around the world. I am the head of

collections at the Post Musdum and archive. A special sorting office

was built in Regents Park. H found archive. A special sorting office

was built in Regents Park. I found a was built in Regents Park. H found a

reference to it in this book. It said it grew up in the middle of

Regents Park and assumed such proportions that become the largest

wooden building in the world. In the picture, we can see people working

within the home Depot. We c`n picture, we can see people working

within the home Depot. We can see within the home Depot. We c`n see

bags of mail, Paz parcels ready to bags of mail, Paz parcels rdady to

be sent off to the Western front the postal system in the First World War

was incredibly efficient. They must have been a really pressured

environment. Women were poised on temporary contracts and many threw

themselves into the role and saw themselves as playing a part in the

war effort. We do not know exactly where their home Depot is bdcause no

records have survived. It is possible that some of the records

were lost in the Second World War. Here we are in the middle of Regents

Park. We know the home Depot was built some within the spark. What we

know the home Depot was built some within the spark. What we're

know the home Depot was built some within the spark. What we'rd not

here. `` this park. My name is Phil Kemp and I work in Regents Park. It

Kemp and I work in Regents Park It is incredible to have the largest

postal service of its time `nd is incredible to have the l`rgest

postal service of its time `nd in such a central location, in Regent

Park. My darling, Joan, if you only need

the life I have been leading. Reorganising the battalion `fter its

Reorganising the battalion after its heavy losses and travelling and

marching. Wherever the home Depot was, its role was clearly vital

marching. Wherever the home Depot was, its role was clearly vhtal and

ran like clockwork. A letter sorted here in the park in the morning

could sometimes reach the Western front as early as later that same

day. It is a heavenly sensation to sit down with about ten letters in

front of you and work solemnly through them. Letters are rdaching

through them. Letters are reaching us as quickly as if there w`s

through them. Letters are rdaching us as quickly as if there was no

us as quickly as if there w`s no war. It is really rather wonderful.

My name is Katherine Lewis and war. It is really rather wonderful.

My name is Katherine Lewis `nd I work here in Regent 's Park. I

cannot believe it was so quhck work here in Regent 's Park. I

cannot believe it was so quhck in those days. It is probably quicker

than it is these days. It is hard to believe these beautiful gardens of

Regents Park were once part of the war machine. Without the work of the

home Depot morale could have been very different.

And looking ahead to the last in our World War One at Home sdries.

Tomorrow night we'll be finding out why musician and former US marine

Huey Morgan reveals how the heart of London became a home away

And there's plenty more on the centenary of the First World War.

Time for a check on the weather with John Halmond.

We have to take the rough whth the smooth. Yesterday was lovely.

We have to take the rough with the smooth. Yesterday was lovelx. There

smooth. Yesterday was lovely. There is rain in store. Yellow we`ther

is rain in store. Yellow weather warnings are in force, not only do

the weekend but also tomorrow but there is the potential for

disruptive rain. The details could well change. It has been a beautiful

day for most of us. Rather larger cloud to the East which has produced

sharp showers. These will continue into the night. For most pl`ces

sharp showers. These will continue into the night. For most places it

into the night. For most pl`ces it will be a dry evening and a dry

night. An uneventful night with no big dramas. Cloud will come and go

but largely dry and not too cool. Temperatures in the capital staying

well up in the mid to high teens. Tomorrow it will cloud over. It will

soon rain to the south`east of London. We think the rain whll

London. We think the rain will become more widespread, particularly

to the east of the capital. Some will be heavy and possibly boundary.

The odd shower in the West. There could be quite a lot of standing

water. Some places could avoid the worst of the rain. Temperattres

water. Some places could avoid the worst of the rain. Temperatures will

pick up quite nicely. Still warm where the sunshine. Onto the

pick up quite nicely. Still warm where the sunshine. Onto thd weekend

and Saturdays looking OK. Bright and breezy. It will be the better of

and Saturdays looking OK. Bright and breezy. It will be the bettdr of the

breezy. It will be the better of the two days. Most places will be dry

the chance of a shower. Bright and breezy just about sums it up.

Temperatures will do pretty well, getting up into the low 20s and

possibly the mid 20s in one or two places. A nice day on Saturday and

make the most of it. It is `n make the most of it. It is `n

ex`hurricane, hurricane Bertha. By Saturday it will be approaching to

the south`west of the UK. The precise track will be all ilportant.

The Met Office think the most likely scenario will it `` will be it will

push into the more southeastern part of the UK and there will be

potential for heavy rain and unseasonably strong winds. Be aware.

There could be major disruption come Sunday. We will keep you updated. I

will be back tomorrow with more will be back tomorrow with more

details. A lot of weather to come over the next bidets. Quite a lot of

wind and rain as well. A `` the next few days.

Malaysian Police say four men arrested over the murders of two

British medical students in Borneo have confessed to killing them.

Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger were stabbed to death after a row

Liberia has declared a state of emergency in response to

The virus has spread across West Africa, killing nearly 1,000 people.

The Transport Secretary is to look at whether to extend Crossrail

The line, which will link Essex to Berkshire, could also serve stations

including Hemel Hempstead and Watford Junction.

You can keep up`to`date with the day's stories on our website and

So, from all us here, thanks for watching and have a lovely dvening.