19/08/2014 BBC London News

That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me,

and on BBC One we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

Tonight on BBC London News. Jailed:

the smash`and`grab gang who dressed in burqas to rob luxury goods

from Selfridges. They hid their weapons in their

close and stole ?1.5 million worth of designer watches. Now the gang is

of designer watches. Now thd gang is behind bars.

from Selfridges. Also tonight.

Guns, drugs and cash are sehzed in a series of raids ahead

of the Notting Hill Carnival. Plus, a warning of disruption

at London Bridge ` a multi`billion pound transformation

will see services affected. I've taken to the skies

for a bird's eye view of the lines which will be closed.

Transport bosses hope the g`in for commuters will be worth the pain.

Good evening and welcome to the programmd.

I'm Victoria Hollins. It was an audacious attempt to steal

thousands of pounds worth of luxury goods

from a leading department store. Now the gang who carried out

the smash`and`grab raid in full view of shoppers

at Selfridges have been jailed for a total of nearly 60 ye`rs.

The men disguised themselves in burqas and stole designer

watches worth ?1.5 million before fleeing on mopeds.

Katharine Carpenter has more on this.

It was on six June, last ye`r, just before closing time, that the rain

happened. The men entered the store, dressed as apt to win shoppdrs,

clutching expects of handbags. `` affluent shoppers. They left

clutching expensive designer watches, around 140 of them.

Selfridge's was packed at the time and terrified shoppers spilled out

onto the pavement as the men produced their weapons.

Dressed in burqas, the thieves run to the exit, concealing thehr

identities and their stolen goods beneath the clothes. Their target

had been the store's luxury is one the room, where they attempted to

blend in with other wealthy shoppers before smashing the display cabinets

with axes and sledgehammers they had hidden underneath their disguises.

`` wonder room. There was a real scramble, rails of clothes knocked

on the floor, shoes knocked over. It was an absolute mess and very scary.

The police arrive to find two gang members being held down by

passers`by, after their getaway passers`by, after their getaway

mopeds crashed. Two of them started their prison terms last year but

yesterday, curtain was also sentenced for his part in planning

to burglar jewellers in Windsor weeks before. Richie Gray from

Dalston was also found guilty of involvement in both incidents.

Vincent Bellamy was sentencdd to 15 years for his part in the

Selfridge's robbery, and Chris Monica and Ian Rawlings werd given

ten years. `` Chris Monaghan. The judge described their plan `s

judge described their plan as carefully executed but Selfridge's

was not the end for Rawlings. In September last year, he was in the

driving seat of this BMW, dropping off another gang to a smash and grab

in the Westfield shopping cdntre in Stratford. This time they attached

and the `` attacked a luxury Stratford. This time they attached

and the `` attacked a luxurx brand, Breitling, but were caught at

and the `` attacked a luxury brand, Breitling, but were caught `t the

scene. Selfridge's did not want to discuss the incident when I spoke to

them today but The Met police were keen to point out this kind of crime

is not victimless. They say that today, they hope the sentences

handed to the gangs reflect that. Lots more to come including.

Laser eye surgery ` concerns are raised over cut`price deals being

offered on the high street. You certainly would not buy discount

parachute. You should not bty parachute. You should not buy

discount laser surgery, either. offered on the high street.

Guns, drugs and cash have been seized

drugs and cash have been sehzed in a series of raids ahead of this

weekend's Notting Hill Carnival. weekend's Notting Hill Carnhval

Police say the pre`emptive strikes are aimed at keeping gang

members away from the event. But as Gareth Furby reports,

the number of arrests during Carnival has steadily

increased over the past ten years. So is the Met's strategy working?

A small army of police, raiding about 170 addresses across London.

Here in Lambeth, and the plan to Here in Lambeth, and the pl`n to

target people who may have set out to disrupt this weekend's Notting

Hill Carnival. The noise of an angle grinder, cutting through a door

grill. Three people were arrested, here. At another address, again in

Lambeth, police found three guns, two of the machine guns. Along with

what appeared to be crack cocaine and a large amount of cash. The

history of Carnival tells us that there would be those that would seek

to disrupt the event, and otr proactive tactics seek to disrupt

them. Certainly for some people, it them. Certainly for some people, it

them. Certainly for some people it was an unpleasant awakening. Around

1000 police officers were involved in the operation. But does this

tactic works? Do pre`emptivd in the operation. But does this

tactic works? Do pre`emptive arrests keep troublemakers away frol

keep troublemakers away from Carnival? The figures for arrests at

Carnival, going back to 2002, show a rising trend, from 158, up to 301

rising trend, from 158, up to 3 1 last year. But The Met says this is

not down to rising crime but because there policing of the event is more

effective. Altogether, more than ?70,000 was seized today. More than

120 people have been arrested. A 16 year`old has been arrested

on suspicion of murder, after a teenager was stabbed to

death in east London. It happened at around 4pm yesterday

in Frampton Park Road in Hackney. Police say the 19`year`old victim

suffered multiple stab wounds. Another teenager has also been

Another teenager has also bden arrested on suspicion of murder

and remains in custody. A large pile of fly`tipped rubbish

that appeared in a south London park over the weekend is being rdmoved.

over the weekend is being removed. The huge pile on Ashburton

playing fields in Croydon contains building and household waste.

The council has now started the clean`up, which will cost

thousands of pounds. A man's been arrested this lorning

after cycling along the track at Liverpool Street.

Officers were called to the station at around 9:20al

and found a 31`year`old man on the line.

He was arrested for trespass and obstructing trains close

He was arrested for trespass and obstructing trains closd to

and obstructing trains close to Bethnal Green railway station.

Concerns have been raised over cut`price laser eye surgery deals

being offered on the high street. An investigation

by the consumer group, Which found potential risks of the procddure are

often played down to patients. And a leading London NHS expert has

raised concerns that much of the surgery is carried out

raised concerns that much of the surgery is carried ott by

doctors who aren't eye spechalists. Emilia Papadopoulos reports.

Reading, distance. Three years ago, Londoner Sasha underwent laser eye

surgery. It was meant to improve her vision. Instead, she claims it has

left her with many other problems. I get very painful eyes. They are very

dry. The dryness is not like people dry. The dryness is not like people

think of as dry eyes, just tse some think of as dry eyes, just tse some

eyedrops. Sometimes, you literally have to peel your eyelid off. The

report, published this week by the consumer group which, found that a

third of laser eye surgery consultations are poor qualhty, and

potential convocations were not clearly explain to patients, and

high street providers came bottom, with optical express failing to

explain convocations to the undercover researchers on every

visit. I'm very disappointed with the report. A handful of patients

does not reflect the high qtality the report. A handful of patients

does not reflect the high quality of does not reflect the high quality of

care that we routinely provhde does not reflect the high qtality of

care that we routinely provide to the patients. We want to make sure

every patient we treat understands the risks of surgery. Sasha was not

treated by optical express but had her surgery at another high`street

provider. She has started an online campaign, and through that, found

hundreds of other people who have experienced problems after surgery.

Last week, some of them staged a protest outside the optical express

clinic in Harley Street. They protest outside the optical express

clinic in Harley Street. Thdy want clinic in Harley Street. They want

tougher regulations in the hndustry. tougher regulations in the hndustry.

Their concerns were brought up in Parliament last year. The industry

needs statutory legislation. Voluntary mechanisms have failed.

All surgeons must be qualified, certificated and regularly

assessed. While all laser strgeons must be qualified doctors, they are

not legally required to have any not legally required to havd any

specialist qualifications. A lot of specialist qualifications. @ lot of

the time, consultations are not carried out by doctors. One expert

says that has to change. Patients are often initially seen by an

optometrist, not a doctor. Optometrists are trained to assess

people preoperatively but it is not the same thing as proper continuity

of care. I would like to sed high`street industries sticking with

corneal specialists, people trained to a high level. The Care Quality

to a high level. The Care Qtality Commission told us they will look

into the findings in the report Meanwhile, the Department of Health

say they are working with the Royal College of surgeons to tighten

standards and training on l`ser College of surgeons to tighten

standards and training on laser eye standards and training on l`ser eye

surgery and improve the way patients are given information. Laser eye

surgery is not routinely available surgery is not routinely av`ilable

on the NHS. Sasha, like thousands of on the NHS. Sasha, like thousands of

others, was tempted by a cut`price deal. You certainly would not buy a

discount parachute. You shotld not buy discount laser surgery either. I

buy discount laser surgery dither. I disagree with that. We take great

care to provide good care. Laser eye surgery is generally a very safe

practice but as with also Depor practice but as with also Ddpor

procedures, there are risks. Campaigners want future pathents to

Campaigners want future patients to be made fully aware of them.

Commuters using London Bridge can expect disruption to their travel

plans in the coming weeks. The station `

which is used by around 50,000 passengers each day ` will partially

close from this Friday. Network Rail says the closure is

necessary for a ?6 billion programme to improve travel in the south

necessary for a ?6 billion programme to improve travel in the sotth east.

to improve travel in the south east. Here's Alice Bhandhukravi.

From the air, you can see the scale of the Thames Link programmd, which

promises to transform North` South travel through London. London Bridge

is at the centre of the project. It is one of the country's biggest

stations. Upgrading it, whilst passengers continue to use ht,

certainly a challenge. You can see a lot of development going on at

London Bridge, including the lot of development going on at

London Bridge, including thd roof lot of development going on at

London Bridge, including the roof of London Bridge, including thd roof of

the new concourse will stop when it's finished, it will be as big as

when the stadium. But it is all going to come at a cost to

commuters. `` Wembley Staditm. Next commuters. `` Wembley Staditm. Next

week, the station will be partly closed from nine days. From this

Saturday, to the 31st of August, there is no First Capital Connect or

Southern services calling at London Bridge. There will be no direct

train to Gatwick or Luton airports. 50,000 commuters use these routes

every morning rush`hour. Thdy are going to be directly affected. But

going to be directly affectdd. But it is expected the knock`on effect

on other routes will also affect 250,000 people. For what yot pay,

sometimes you feel there is a fair amount of inconvenience. It would be

better to serve the customer better. We will have to find an alternative

route but nine days is a long time. We know this is challenging work,

for us and them but bear with us because it will be worth it in the

end. Sign that read this st`tion because it will be worth it in the

end. Sign that read this st`tion and the routes into London Bridge are

heavily congested, one of the most congested routes in Europe. The

passengers who use this station every day know that which is why

they sit in carriages on delayed trains. We are freeing up the

capacity, so people can havd a capacity, so people can have a

reliable journeys into London Bridge and be stationed at London Bridge

serve. The overall project will be completed in 2018 so there hs still

a way to go before passengers begin to seek a bigger, better London

Bridge. Here's Alice Bhandhukravi.

Alice joins me now ` and passengers are being urged to find altdrnative

routes. They certainly are. Network rail

have chosen to do the work in the have chosen to do the work hn the

last week of August because that is when the fewest people use the rail

network but a huge number of passengers are going to be hmpacted.

It is going to have a knock`on effect on other services.

Southeastern is running a normal service but may be busier. Southern

services and First Capital Connect, south of Blackfriars, will be free

busy. Interchange stations like East Croydon and Gatwick are expected to

be busier than usual. The s`me for be busier than usual. The s`me for

the southern end of the Northern line, the circle and district lines

and certain sections of the London also going to be busier than usual.

Some will not be operating to and from New Cross. It is a lot to take

on board. It is a cliche but check before you travel. Thames Lhnk have

a website with all the information. The best advice is to check before

you travel. A toddler is in a critical condition after a collision

involving an ice cream van in involving an ice cream van hn

Harlow. Putin took place yesterday at 5:30pm. The 22`month`old was

initially taken to the Princess Alexandra in Harlow but has been

transferred to Adam Brookes in Cambridge. The road was closed for

more than three hours while police carried out initial investigation.

The head of transport for London says he will be recommending the

mayor raises fares by 3.5% in says he will be recommending the

mayor raises fares by 3.5% hn the mayor raises fares by 3.5% hn the

New Year. He told BBC London radio 94.9 that TEFL's business plan

assumes fares will be pegged to today's inflation rate. The mayor's

opponents have criticised the decision to not keep fares down but

Peter Hendy says they need the money for investment and the mayor has the

final say. Our business plan assumes RPI plus 1%. That would be 3.5%. It

is on that basis that we have projected a huge amount of spending

on investment in the transport networks in the coming years, but

the mayor makes his own dechsion. networks in the coming years, but

the mayor makes his own decision. He the mayor makes his own dechsion. He

will make a decision in the autumn. routes.

A baby girl born with a "back to front" heart, who's had two

major operations to keep her alive, has finally returned home.

Chloe Bennett from Gravesend was first operated

Chloe Bennett from Gravesend was first opdrated on

from Gravesend was first operated on when she was just three hours old.

Back home, scars the only visible sign of what baby Chloe has been

through in her short life. Two operations which she needed simply

to allow her to breathe. The morning to allow her to breathe. Thd morning

of the surgery, absolutely petrified. I could not stop sobbing.

You look at them, and it is almost like your heart is breaking, because

you just want them to be well. She is pretty amazing. She is buried

strong and tough. This is what a normal heart looks like. In Chloe's

the vessel shown in purple is the vessel shown in purple hs

plugged to the wrong way, a condition called transposithon of

the great arteries. It means blood that does not have oxygen in it is

pumped around the body instead of pumped around the body instead of

oxygen which does. She had puite a oxygen which does. She had quite a

small birth weight. She had a few other convocations before strgery.

other convocations before surgery. She was less than three kilograms,

about 2.5 kilograms, and shd had about 2.5 kilograms, and she had

some bowel problems before we can undertake the surgery. We had to

wait until she was 16 or 17 days old. Doctor has kept a book charting

Chloe's recess. Congenital heart disease happens in seven in every

1000 pregnancies. Her familx want 1000 pregnancies. Her familx want

people to know there is help out there. The surgeons were brilliant.

there. The surgeons were brhlliant. The nurses were magic. It has all

The nurses were magic. It h`s all come together. We have got a

come together. We have got ` beautiful granddaughter. Today, I'm

very happy. And so is Chloe. LAUGHTER

She is such a good baby. I really don't know what I would do without

her. She is happy. She eats and sleeps. She's gaining weight. She is

doing everything she should. She came home at fivelb six. But she is

13lb today. She's definitely came home at fivelb six. But she is

13lb today. She's definitelx gaining 13lb today. She's definitely gaining

on lost time. may be uncomfortable with f`me, but

critics believe she deserves all the attention she gets. Brenda Dmmanus,

BBC London News. Still to come: We hear from the Gunners boss, Arsene

Wenger, on his must win Champions Wenger, on his must win Chalpions

League qualifier in Turkey. I will talk to Laura Mvula and her late

Proms at the Royal Albert H`ll. The Chinese province of Jangsu has a

permanent representative in. He is there to capitalise growing economic

ties between the two regions. Today marks 25 years of business links

with China. The hope is that those links will bring even more business

to that part of Essex. Look closely here at Essex County Council at

Chelmsford you can see hints of a longstanding international

friendship is that is proving Evermore valuable. Now, permanently

installed in an office in County Hall an official representative of

Jangsu province in China helping businesses over here expand over

there. Jiangsu and Essex have a longstanding relationship. 4,50

longstanding relationship. 5,500 miles from Essex, Jiangsu province

is an economic hotspot. How did it links with Essex begin. The daughter

of a senior politician was studying at what was then the Chelmsford

Technical College. They started a link. The University started a link

with the province. Back in 2008 China lent these soldiers to

Colchester Castle to displax as China lent these soldiers to

Colchester Castle to display as the Colchester Castle to displax as the

ties with Jiangsu strengthened. This medical equipment business hs

medical equipment business is ex`standing into China and the links

smoothed the way. Doors havd opened smoothed the way. Doors have opened

for us. Previously a small business like yourselves it would be hard to

open on our own. We flew ovdr like yourselves it would be hard to

open on our own. We flew over there and we decided on a warehouse and

workshop that was suitable for Do the us. Council have qualms about

doing business with a country that has questions to answer abott

doing business with a country that has questions to answer about human

rights? That is for national governments and national le`ders

rights? That is for national governments and national leaders to

governments and national le`ders to have those conversations. We

governments and national leaders to have those conversations. Wd are

about getting business for our companies in Essex to help them

expand and to help them to grow and create jobs. Entrepreneurs like

Lewis help the bonds will hdlp create jobs. Entrepreneurs like

Lewis help the bonds will help Essex Lewis help the bonds will hdlp Essex

business wills grow alongside China's huge economy.

Arsenal are in Turkey as they begin their Champions League camp`ign Our

their Champions League campaign. Our sports reporter, Sara Orchard is

here. Explain why this match seems so early? We talk about the start of

the Group stage. We aren't there yet. This is the play`off round that

Arsenal are playing in this evening. They flew out to ice last nhght

They will be taking on Besiktas. Although they haven't won the

Champions League trophy they Although they haven't won the

Champions League trophy thex have Champions League trophy they have

pedigree in Europe? Incredible pedigree. Arsene Wenger in his 16th

season in the Champions League. If you get into that Group stage it's

worth around ?6. 8 million in prize worth around ?6. 8 million in prize

money. Each subsequent match is ?2.4 million. Wenger said any financial

reward is not important. It's about the prestige of playing in the

tournament. He is aware they have tournament. He is aware thex have

not won anything yet. I have tournament. He is aware they have

not won anything yet. I havd a tournament. He is aware thex have

not won anything yet. I have a good experience in the Champions League

and I know that you have to be pragmatic and realistic and just go

game by game. Before we spe`k about anything else, we have to produce

big performances against Besiktas. To follow of their events in Turkey,

full commentary on BBC Radio Five Live. Now to snooker. Ali C`rter

will return to the game after lungs will return to the game after lungs

cancer. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in May and began intdnsive

cancer in May and began intensive treatment. He wrote on Twitter,

"I've finished my chee owe therapy, things are really positive. I'm

feeling much better. It won't be long until I'm back playing."

Fantastic news. Thank you. She's been nominated for sole

of the biggest awards in the music industry including the Brits and the

Mercury Prize for her debut album. But performing doesn't come without

challenges for Laura Mvula, who Tonight, she's headlining a Late

Night Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. Our entertainment correspondent,

Brenda Emmanus, Her velvet smooth voice

and poetic lyrics were showcased on her critically acclaimed debut

album and saw Laura Mvula h`iled But the shy singer`songwritdr is

a reluctant star who is still coming to terms with being thrust

into the limelight. I don't really know what

the hell is happening. I wrote some songs then ` BOOM,

here I am. Laura has just released

a new album featuring orchestral arrangements of the original songs

on Sing To The Moon, recording at Abbey Road was like the most epic

recording experience for me. I felt like

the walls were alive with history. The album was recorded

in collaboration with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra,

led by London`born conductor, Seen here rehearsing,

they'll support her tonight when she headlines a Late Night Prom

at the Royal Albert Hall. It's dramatic and intense and I feel

naked because these are my songs. they are quite emotive, but, at the

same time, it's extremely exciting. Commitments mean the Birmingham`born

talent is spending a lot of time in the capital and is currently

house`hunting here. She may be uncomfortable with fame,

but critics believe she desdrves Now a check on the weather now. It

is feeling cool out there? @lmost autumnal a mix of sunshine and

showers. The winds have been pushing the showers towards us. Thex have

the showers towards us. They have been driving towards the London area

and the Home Counties. More o to come on that this evening. The wind

with the showers have temperatures cut back. We expect highs normally

of 22 degrees for this year. Good news for the next couple of days,

lighter winds, sunny spells and dry weather for Thursday. But there will

be cool nights. Any showers will die away. We have a dry and clear

be cool nights. Any showers will die away. We have a dry and cle`r night.

away. We have a dry and clear night. With the lighter winds tempdratures

With the lighter winds temperatures will fall away. 11 degrees hn

will fall away. 11 degrees in central London, seven or eight

elsewhere. That does say fotr degrees in sheltered spots towards

the Home Counties down into single figures. Fewer showers than we have

seen. Perhaps a risk of one or two stray ones. Temperatures crdeping

back up, 20 degrees in one or two spots. Over night, as we go through

the night again into Thursday, it's the night again into Thursday, it's

a rerun. Light winds and cldar a rerun. Light winds and cldar

skies. Again, we are looking at another cool night, temperatures

about hanging on in double figures in the centre of London. If we pull

up and have a look at the m`p in the centre of London. If we pull

up and have a look at the map of in the centre of London. If we pull

up and have a look at the m`p of the UK as a whole. A lot of sunshine

around. The cloud bubbles up in the afternoon. We are looking at a lot

of dry weather. We change again as we go into Friday. The winds,

north`westerly, they will pdp we go into Friday. The winds,

north`westerly, they will pep up north`westerly, they will pep up

once more. Showers around. Not all bad news. What will happen, if we

can pull out, a ridge of high pressure knocking the showers out of

the way as we go through the the way as we go through the

second`half of Friday. Frid`y, the second`half of Friday. Frid`y, the

showers will be around, the high pressure means as we move through

the sweebgd, it is the Bank Holiday weekend, we are off to a dry and

bright start on Saturday. Things going down hill towards Monday.

Starts promising. Thank you very much.

Rail passengers in England `re again to face an above`inflation increase

Ticket prices will rise by an average of 3.5%.

This latest rise means fares have gone up by a quarter since 2010

UK house prices hit a record high in the 12 months to June,

rising by over 10% nationally, and almost double that in London.

A major aid operation is underway in Northern Iraq to help half

a million refugees who've fled Islamic State fighters.

Meanwhile, Iraqi government forces are attempting to push out militants

Five men who carried out a smash and grab raid at Selfridges, disguised

in burkhas, have been jailed for a total of nearly 60 ye`rs.

The gang struck in front of late night shoppers, stealing designer

Concerns have been raised over cut price laser eye surgery deals

An investigation by the consumer group Which, found

potential risks of the procddure are often played down to patients.

I'll be back later during the 10.00pm news.

For now, from everyone on the team, have a lovely evening.