24/10/2012 BBC News at One

Allegations of sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile are to be reviewed by

the Crown Prosecution Service. It comes on the day that charities say

there's been an unprecedented rise in the number of people reporting

cases of sexual abuse as a result of the scandal. The Director Of

Public Prosecutions specifically is going to consider what more can be

done to alert relevant authorities where there are concerns but a

prosecution is not taken forward. Sir Norman Bettison, the Chief

Constable of West Yorkshire Police has resigned. He had been

criticised over his role in the Hillsborough disaster.

The Supreme Court ruling paved the way for thousands of women to bring

equal pay claims against their former bosses.

The Welsh Government is to be allowed to borrow more money to pay

for big capital projects. A new food labelling system to make

content clearer is to be introduced next year. Later on BBC London:

Could plans for a giant incinerator in Hertfordshire get the go ahead?

And the funeral of five children and their mother, who died in a

Good afternoon and welcome to the BBC News at One. The director of

public prosecution sz to review why Jimmy Savile wasn't invested over

allegations made against him in 2009. The announcement was made

today by the Prime Minister. It's been revealed that organisations

working with victims of sexual assault say the scandal has led to

an unprecedentsed rise in the number of people reporting

allegations of abuse. The NSPCC alone says it has received 161

calls directly relating to allegations concerning Jimmy Savile.

It also had 105 contacted prompted by the story by adults who wanted

to discuss their own experience of ak buezed as children. Here's our

social affairs correspondent, Michael Buchanan. Three weeks of

sordid allegations against Jimmy Savile has finally had one positive

consequence - an unprecedented number of people have reported

allegations of abuse. The publicity has given people the courage to

call help lines seeking support. This small charity has been

inundated with calls and e-mails. They're desperate for extra

volunteers and resources to handle the demand. The national

association for people abused in childhood say they've had 3,700

calls over the past three weeks. They usually receive about 700 over

the period. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has seen a 50% increase

in call volumes. Rape crisis centres report a 20% increase.

We've seen unprecedentsed deluge of callers, people making contact with

us, survivors of abuse, telling us about stuff that happened to them,

mostly a long time ago. Many of the people who call this help line talk

about abuse that happened years, even techades ago. A lot are not

looking for retribution, however. Police investigations, arrests and

convictions. They simply want to be heard. For those willing and able

to go to the police, the Prime Minister today promised they'd

receive support and that allegations of abuse wouldn't again

be dismissed. Government will do everything it can do. Other

institutions must do what they can so we can learn the lessons for

this and it can never happen again. More support for victims comes from

the Director Of Public Prosecutions. Speaking to the Times for the

failure of men prosecuted for graming girls in Rochdale, he said

"If we're honest it's the credibility issue that has caused

these cases not to be prosecuted in the past." The torrent of

allegation that's have come to light in recent weeks have shown

that many victims, long hidden, are willing to come forward. Now the

authorities have to believe them. It's now been confirmed that the

decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile in 2009 is to be reviewed by

the Crown Prosecution Service. David Cameron told MPs that the

scandal left many institutions, particularly the BBC, with

questions to answer. David Sillito reports. The BBC admits it has many

questions to answer over Jimmy Savile, but today, it's the

Government that's been doing some of the questioning. These are very

serious allegations. It's absolutely right that the

Government reflects the deep level of public concern. What's important

now is that the inquiries that are already working in looking at these

allegations are able to continue to do so and get to the bottom of

these problems. And minutes later, in Parliament, came this: Could I

ask my right honourable friend whether he will ensure that the

full pan play of Government powers is used to investigate the

predatory activities of the late Mr Jimmy Savile? I think my honourable

friend makes a very important point. The allegations and what seems to

have happened are completely appalling. I think it is shocking

the entire country. These allegations leave many institutions,

perhaps particularly the BBC, with serious questions to answer.

There's also been a letter from Maria Miller to the BBC chairman

Chris Patten, saying "Very real concerns are being raised about

public trust and confidence in the BBC." In response he said "You know

how seriously the trust takes the allegations surrounding Jimmy

Savile and the need to maintain public trust in the BBC. I know you

will not want to give any impression that you're questioning

the independence of the BBC." A Conservative MP has said those

remarks should be withdrawn. But a former BBC chairman says he's

concerned about the demand for immediate answers. That will take

time to establish and although, we live in a 24-hour news environment,

that doesn't mean that you can't take the time to go through the e-

mails, to talk to everybody involved and find out what really

happened. We're in danger of not allowing that investigation to

reach its proper conclusion. Meanwhile the team behind the

Newsnight investigation into Savile, the story that was not broadcast

last year arrived for work. The only comment on the fact that

Panorama had this week finally given the people they spoke to a

chance to be heard. I've been asked not to do interviews, yes, I'm

happy that our story is out there. Our Home Affairs Correspondent

Danny Shaw is in Central London. There is to be a review then. What

exactly is your analysis of what Keir Starmer said today? What he

has said is that he has already sought a review of the four cases

which were adjudged by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2009 to

contain insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution. That

review has concluded that the decision making was sound. He says

that out of an abundance of caution, he's asked his principal legal

advisor, the most senior person at the Crown Prosecution Service,

apart from Keir Starmer in terms of legal advice, to have another look,

just to double check that the decisions reached were correct. But

there's another element to this as well. He's clearly concerned that

in cases where there isn't enough evidence to prosecute, where

victims, for instance, don't want to go to court, that the matter

shouldn't be just thrown away, it should perhaps be referred to other

agencies, possibly Social Services. He's going to discuss with the

Attorney-General whether there is a procedure that can be adopted in

those cases where allegations which can't be proceeded with do, though,

get referred to other agencies and institutions. Thank you very much.

Sir Norman Bettison, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police,

has announced his resignation. He is at the centre of criticism in

the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. Let's speak to our

correspondent Judith Moritz in Wakefield. That's right, this news

came within the last half hour or so. Sir Norman Bettison, this

morning, offered his resignation. It comes in the wake of heavy

criticism follows the Hillsborough independent report. The vice

chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Authority is with me now. I

want to ask you about the circumstances of Sir Norman

resignation, how you heard about, it how he offer today and whether

you accept today immediately? heard by a telephone conversation

about 8am. Sir Norman was offering his resignation. I had a talk to

Sir Norman over the telephone at 11am. What did he say to you? Is

the feeling really that this has all been a distraction, the

Hillsborough criticism, has been a distraction for him? He didn't give

me any firm reasons himself. He has put a press statement out, in which

he's making his points there. says that he refutes any wrongdoing.

So I wonder, then, why he's felt it necessary to go. There have been

many calls for him to resign. you consider the last few weeks,

consider the amount of prshure that's been building up since the

report -- pressure. The members of Parliament discussing it, people

making accusations of what he has and hasn't done. I think he came to

the conclusion that he is running a large, important force, it's better

to leave that to someone else. Thank you very much. One thing I

should add is that it's my understanding that Sir Norman goes

with his full pension rights, that is something that may exercise

members of campaign groups on behalf of Hillsborough. But they

have said today that they are delighted to hear this news. It is

something that they wanted very much.

Thousands more women will be able to bring equal pay claims against

their former employers on the basis of a ruling from the Supreme Court

today. It's decided that a claims from a group of employees can be

heard at civil courts, which would open the way for cases going back

six years. More details from our employment correspondent, John

Moylan. The law is clear, men and women who do similar work should be

paid the same. But in many work places pay arrangements have been

out of step and in recent years, tens of thousands of council

workers have won payments due to sex discrimination. And there could

be more to come. Yay! Today these former Birmingham City Council

employees found out they'll be able to make claims too, despite having

retired years ago. Pam and Mary are amongst more than 170 women

involved in this case who believe they were unfairly treated.

Disgusting, be honest, we were stabbed in the back, weren't we?

Truthfully, we were, weren't we? were, just took for granted. If we

hadn't have taken it up with a solicitor or read of it in the

press, we would have just let it go any way. Look how much money they'd

have made out of us. Birmingham City Council argued that equal pay

cases should be heard in employment tribunals, where your right to

claim expires six months after leaving your job. But the court

disagreed, which means that civil courts may now be used which can

consider cases going back six years. Previously when they've tried to

make an equal pay claim, they've been told they're out of time

because the limit was six months. This judgment means that they can

wait six years to bring their claim. The council faces a liability of

hundreds of millions of pounds linked to pay cases. In a statement,

it says that it was reviewing the judgment in detail before

considering its options going forward and that it would be making

no further comment at this stage. The ruling could have implications

for thousands of people, who have worked in both the public and

they were paid less than their colleagues simply because of their

sex. David Cameron has insisted the

Government is committed to ensuring prisoners don't get the right to

vote. His comments follow a report that the coalition is in

negotiations with the European Court following their ruling that

it's illegal to bar all prisoners from writing -- voting. We can

speak to our political correspondent Norman Smith. Is the

the Prime Minister heading for a show down with Europe over this

issue? The Prime Minister could not have been clearer. There was no

ambiguity, no wriggle room, no long grass to hide in. He said be in no

doubt, prisoners will not get the vote under this Government. This,

despite the fact the European Court has clearly ruled that you cannot

have a blanket ban on prisoners getting the vote. The Attorney-

General saying it will damage our international reputation if we

ignore the court and the fact that we have always obeyed the court. On

this issue, Mr Cameron appears to have decided to make a stand. The

view in Government that Parliament is sovereign when it comes to

prisoners' votes. What Mr Cameron seems to be intending is to hold a

further vote in the Commons on this issue in the hope that will

underscore the level of Parliamentary opposition and also,

in the words of Mr Cameron's spokesman, clarify the legal

position. Whatever the legal pros and cons the politics of this are

utterly, brutally simple. Mr Cameron knows on this issue he

cannot cave into the European Court without inflaming opinion on his

back benches, more broadly across Parliament and in the media.

The top story. The Crown Prosecution Service will review its

decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile over sex abuse allegations

in 2009. And the Poppy Appeal is launched in Trafalgar Square aiming

to raise �42 million. In London: A tribute to London, a

documentary of the city, past and present, is nominated for an

international award. And the age of the steam train makes a comeback in

London for one day only as the Tube prepares to celebrate 150 years.

The threat level from dissident republicans to Great Britain has

been downgraded to moderate. The degree shows the Security Service

regard an attack from groups such as the Real IRA as possible but not

lightly. The threat level in Northern Ireland remain severe. Our

correspondent reports. A sudden rise in dissident

republican violence four years ago has been followed by a gradual

decrease. Groups such as the Real IRA remain armoured, active and

dangerous, but the chances of their mounting attacks in London have

reduced. They have attacked the city before. Aid device went off at

the BBC in 2001, no one was killed -- a bomb. Two years ago,

dissidents were preparing to strike again in Great Britain but today

the threat level was reduced by MI5 to moderate. It means that an

attack in London is possible but not likely. Why the change? Looking

at activity in Britain in recent times. A telephone warning that

turned out to be nothing. We see on occasion and ability to engage in

deadly attacks, but that is the exception. That threat came just

before the Queen's visit to Dublin last year. At the time there were

fears of an attack in England or Ireland. Nothing happened. The

level of threat may have gone down in London but in Belfast it is a

different story. Officially it is described as severe, in other words

attacks are highly likely. In the House of Commons the Northern

Ireland Secretary said dissidents would not be allowed to wreck the

peace process. In Great Britain and Northern Ireland the Government is

focused on terrorism and will use all means to refute it. Dissident

republics -- Republicans have had setbacks but they still have

weapons and remain determined use them.

Ministers in Cardiff should in principle be allowed to borrow

money to pay for large capital projects. The UK and Welsh

governments agreed the move on condition that responsibility for

some taxes is also handed to the Welsh government. Our political

editor is at the Welsh Assembly. What has been announced?

This is an agreement in principle between the governments. There

Rameau's Pacifics and no funding details and no change of

immediately -- there are no specific details. Both governments

are keen to go down a road that sees the Welsh government for the

first time given powers to pay for big capital projects and for the UK

government to 0.2 accountability in the way it is funded. -- point to

accountability. Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury

said in his view it is a signal that Wales is about to take a major

step forward. Fiscal devolution is a necessary step and opens up

opportunities to boost financial accountability and provide greater

spending power. For the first time, the UK government agrees that the

Welsh government should be given capital borrowing powers on the

condition that this is supported by the Independent revenue stream.

There are conditions attached. Absolutely, the revenue stream, if

you want to borrow you have to be able to pay back and the

significance is how, and that is where devolving tax-raising powers

comes in. The key thing is recommendations of a commission on

devolving tax-raising powers. They will report next month and if they

say yes to that, if it happens, the UK government made it clear they

wanted to be ambitious and if that happens the Government in Wales can

borrow against the revenue stream. There are far too few details

according to Plaid Cwymru. Today's retired households are

significantly better off than their equivalents a quarter of a century

ago. Official figures showed their average disposable income was over

17 and a half 1,000 in 2011, 2 pied -- 2.5 times higher than in 1977.

They are better off but there are still large numbers struggling to

survive on low income. A new food labelling system is set

to be introduced to give shoppers clear information on the fat, sugar

and salt content of food. It will be voluntary but the Government is

confident it has the industry on board.

Food labelling can be confusing. There is no agreed approach and

shoppers face many numbers and symbols detailing calories, and fat,

sugar and salt. It makes it hard to compare products and which are

healthier. But Labour linger affects consumer choice and the

Government wants a unified approach -- food labelling affects.

Supermarkets and manufacturers have woken up to the fact they have a

responsibility to make sure we lead and live healthier and happier

lives. How the labels will work has not been decided but they will have

a traffic light system and information on guideline daily

amounts. And also the words of high, medium and low. His people

understand it, it will be helpful - - if people understand it. It will

make a lot of difference. Some campaigners are sceptical, saying

it needs the whole industry to buy in. There are new battleground is

manufacturers. Over many years they have dragged their heels. There is

confusion over labelling and the Government must compel them to act.

Ministers will have to sell the plan when they meet food companies

and health campaigners this week to agree on a design. They say it

should be ready by summer next year. The funeral of a mother and five

children who died in a house fire is taking place in Essex. Sabah

Usmani and her children aged between 12 and three years died

last week. Their father, Dr Abdul Shakoor, was the only survivor.

Police originally treated the fire as a suspected arson attack but it

is likely now that the fire was a tragic accident.

Over 75 years since it began, analogue television has been

switched off in the UK. The digital switch-over which began five years

ago finished last night in Northern Ireland. It means the end of Ceefax,

but first Teletext service. The red of the Tour de France has

been unveiled in Paris as professional cycling tries to put

allegations of doping behind it. It will be the 100 edition of the Tour

de France and highlights will be a night-time finish in the Champs-

Elysees. It comes after Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven

Tour de France victories. Unveiled for the 100 time, the

route for the most gruelling race in cycling. While the riders in

next summer's Tour de France know where they are going, when that

course was revealed, the directions to sport was less clear. Lance

Armstrong was the greatest champion of the event until two days ago

when he was stripped of his titles and banned for life. He continues

to deny he was a drugs cheat but the current stars want him to come

clean. Anybody who has done something, confesses, it is not

fair that I have to sit and answer questions. But it is up to not just

one person, but everyone involved with anything that can damage my

career, anyone who can damage the sport right now, it is frustrating.

By disgracing the sport, Lance Armstrong has left cycling in

crisis. A former team-mate to testified against him believes

there is a road to redemption. Every scandal has its purpose.

Every obstacle has a reason for being back and to be able to

circumvent it and get over it, that only leads to progress. As the

sport tries to recover, Britain is leading the charge. Bradley Wiggins

became the first Tour de France winner for his country. The 2013

course presents a greater challenge, but for the Champion, instead of

excitement, there is anger. It is difficult to convince some people

because of the precedent that has been sacked and ingrained for so

long. I have not got the answer -- that has been set. A feature of

next summer's race is a night-time finish at the end of the final

stage in the French capital. As the Tour de France celebrates 100 years

of history, it continues to be haunted by ghosts of the past.

Each year, the Royal British Legion works to provide care and support

to personnel returning from conflict, and to their families.

The work relies on money raised from the Poppy Appeal which is

being launched today. This year, the Legion hopes to raise �42

million. This is one of the projects funded

by the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. It is a �30 million sports

and training centre in Lilleshall for those who have served on the

front line and suffered life changing injuries. The centre is an

essential element to recovery for men like Sapper Clive Smith who

lost his legs in a roadside bomb in Afghanistan two years ago. He is

one of the people fronting the appeal. 20 years ago, if this

happened, the networks would not have been as supported and funded

as they are now, which is down to the public's generosity to support

those coming back. Alesha Dixon is among celebrities lending their

support. She hopes the appeal will engage a new generation, but

wearing a poppy is not only about honouring the sacrifice of the past,

it is linked to the presence -- present. Wearing it with pride, I

do every year. It is important to stand together as a country.

Steer the appeal raised a record �40 million and the aim this year

is to go one better with a target of �42 million.

The job of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

revolves around weighty issues as conflict resolution and

peacekeeping. In a departure from his schedule, he met a celebrity is

in an attempt to reach out to young people from different social groups.

The pictures contain flash photography. And one of these

celebrities he met was the global pop sensation and fellow South

Korean, Psy, his track Gangnam Style has been a worldwide hit. The

and Ban Ki-moon tried out the trade mark dance moves. I have not seen

that, it was not too bad! Shall we that, it was not too bad! Shall we

just move on with the weather? The weather it is cloudy. We have

grey skies across the country. There will be changes and I will

come to those in a moment. The satellite shows much of the country

under cloud. There are breaks in the cloud. Across southern parts of

Scotland we see brighter skies, but cloudy across northern Scotland and

maybe some rain. Northern Ireland keeping the cloud. Across the west

coast of England, there is brightness through the afternoon

and that is true of the west coast of Wales. Moving inland, figure

cloud. We could see some light rain. -- thicker cloud. There may be

showers in East Anglia, the East Midlands and up to Yorkshire.

Tonight, the return a cloud across England and Wales. You might see

breaks in the cloud in parts of Scotland, turning chilly here. We

could also see a touch of frost in the countryside. The cold air is a

sign of things to come and it will move into parts of Scotland and

Northern Ireland, breaking up the cloud, but we keep the damp weather

across southern areas with temperatures around 13 degrees. The

changes are due to a weather system. It is moving down the country.

Temperatures will drop and along with that we will see increasing

amounts of sunshine. This week we have been used to temperatures that

are above average but they will fall away at the end of the week.

They will be accompanied by strong northerly breezes, making it feel

even colder. More sunshine around on Sat -- Friday. We can see sleet

and hail at low levels. Daytime temperatures struggling in single

figures. And cold nights. The weekend gets off to a frosty start.

In southern areas, they will stay cold, but see sunshine. Cloud

arriving on Sunday. Perhaps some rain in southern areas. Cloudy in

the North on Saturday. The rain is across Scotland and Northern

Ireland. The second half of the weekend is looking cloudy and

weekend is looking cloudy and wetter. More details online.

The top story. The Crown Prosecution Service will review its

decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile over sex abuse allegations

in 2009. The Director of Public Prosecutions will consider what

more can be done to alert authorities when there are concerns