18/10/2013 BBC News at Six

Disgraceful, heartbreaking institutionalised abuse. A coroner

rules neglect contributed to the deaths of five people in a care

home. Many residents were left dirty, and unattended. The care

watchdog admits it failed to protect them. We are clear that in the early

days we may not have responded as quickly as we should have done. The

Health Secretary has expressed his concern about abuse of the elderly

in care homes and also about loneliness among the elderly, saying

it is a national shame. Also tonight: Proposals to cut fuel

prices by 5p a litre for those living in more remote rural areas.

How moderate British Muslims are being protected by police after

being targeted in a video by Islamic extremists. And big boots to fill -

after his glittering debut, could Andros Townsend lead the next

generation of England footballers? Later in the hour, I will be here

with sports news at the end of a bittersweet week for a Roy Hodgson,

who says he feels angry about the argument over his half-time team

talk. Good evening and welcome to the BBC

News at six. A coroner has ruled that neglect contributed to the

deaths of five elderly people at a residential home in Sussex. She said

there was institutionalised abuse throughout Orchid View Care Home and

nobody did anything about it. Some residents were given overdoses or

the wrong medication altogether, left dirty, distressed and

unattended. The coroner said those involved in the neglect should be

ashamed and expressed concern that many people who worked at Orchid

View are still working in the care industry. The Care Quality

Commission also came in for criticism - it had given the home a

rating of "good." Duncan Kennedy reports.

These are some of the elderly residents of the home who suffered

pain and neglect at the hands of the people supposed to take care of

them. They all lived at Orchid View, near Crawley. The inquest heard

people in their 70s, 80s and 90s were not given pain relief, were

locked in rooms, and had wounds left untreated, sometimes by staff who

were nearby drinking tea and coffee. Among them was 77-year-old Jean

Halfpenny. The coroner ruled she was given an overdose of her drugs and

had her medical note shredded and new ones falsified. After the

inquest, her daughter, Lindsay, spoke of the family's discussed. In

this day and age, you expect measures to be in place. -- disgust.

Our mother deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion but

Orchid View failed to provide her with even the basic care. The

coroner condemned the home of the way it was run. She said there was

institutional abuse. She said it was completely mismanaged from top to

bottom, and a report into it was not fit for purpose. 19 people died in

this home in just two years. Many were found in soiled beds, one had a

wound sealed with Sellotape. A man whose catheter became twisted cried

out in agony, saying he wanted to die. No member of staff and sued the

call. The coroner praised Lisa Martin, the administrator turned

whistle-blower. She was asked to shred documents and give pain relief

with no training. Morally, I know I did the right thing, but personally,

I have not worked for two years and the case has had a huge impact on my

life. However, I would not want to dissuade anyone from doing the right

thing in the future if they see vulnerable elderly people being

abused and neglected. The coroner also criticised the Care Quality

Commission for not working sooner to close Orchid View. Tonight, they

accepted the findings. We are clear that in the early days we might not

have responded as quickly as we should have done when there were

reports of poor care. I am going to oversee a thorough review of the

actions and Bill back into a new way of services. Family has called for a

public enquiry, but for now it is in the hands of a serious case review.

The coroner said she was heartbroken by these deaths, and in this case,

the residents at the home but not care. -- had the home. The Health

Secretary has expressed his concern about the care of the elderly in

care homes - not just in terms of protecting them from abuse but also

from loneliness. Jeremy Hunt described as a source of national

shame that 800,000 people in England say they are chronically lonely, in

care homes and also in their own homes. He's urging people to take

more responsibility to ensure the elderly are not neglected - but

Labour have accused him of trying to blame families for government

failings. Our Home Editor Mark Easton reports. Loneliness is a

matter of life and death. For people like Ron, who has experienced a

profound sense of isolation, the evidence is chilling. A lack of

social relationships is as dangerous as smoking, obesity or high blood

pressure. It is awful. You just seem to have no purpose in life anymore.

It was terribly difficult. I was not eating properly, I felt nobody

cared. He is not alone in his loneliness. This Sunday, a survey on

BBC Radio Jersey suggests almost 50% of English people feel lonely

sometimes. Evidence that 800,000 older people suffer chronic

loneliness was described by Jeremy Hunt as a source of national shame.

If we are to tackle the challenge of an ageing society we must restore

and reinvigorate the social contract between generations. Uncomfortable

though it is, it will only start with changes in the way we

personally treat our own parents and grandparents. Is Jeremy Hunt right

to suggest Britain should adopt an oriental approach with families

rather than the state looking after the old? We search done a few years

ago suggests that in Japan, two thirds of the elderly live with

their children, in Italy, it is 40%. In Britain it is only 15%. But

come to this lunch club here and you will find that many older people say

they do not want to live with their children. I have one son who lives

in Northampton, I don't want to live with him. You don't want to? My

granddaughter lives in Devon, she wants me to live with her. I have

got my own life. You are 92 and quite happy? Yes. International

research finds that in Eastern Europe, up to 30% are lonely. In

southern Europe it is 15 cent. In Britain and parts of northern Europe

it is 10%. In East London I heard how some old men had set up a club.

It is called the geezers club. Is it about countering loneliness? Without

a doubt. An ageing and mobile population means loneliness is a

challenge for our society, a responsibility to be shared between

families, communities and charities, as well as the state. There are two

stories reflecting on the problem for some elderly in Britain. Yes. We

should remember that living longer is a good thing. I spent part of my

day in East London, and I met some of the happiest people, with the

most fulfilled lives. There is a lot to be grateful for. But what we have

not done yet is adapt our ways to the challenge of a mobile and ageing

society. How do we resource the care and support that increasing numbers

of elderly people will need? How do we rebalance the responsibility

between families, communities, charities and the state? We might be

experiencing a period of austerity, but we are a rich country. We can

afford to look after our old people. Thank you very much. Remote rural

areas in Scotland, North Yorkshire and Devon could benefit from a

5p-per-litre fuel discount, under plans put forward by ministers. The

Government has applied to the European Commission to extend a fuel

discount scheme, currently up and running in the Scottish islands and

the Isles of Scilly, to ten towns across mainland Britain. Our

correspondent, Danny Savage, is in one of them - Hawes in North

Yorkshire. Small businesses like this one say the reason their petrol

prices are so much higher is they just don't have the same power that

the big retailers do, so the government has decided that in some

postcode areas, more than 100 miles from a refinery, it could be

knocking 5p per litre off the price at the pump. This is one of those

places where it could be happening. Discounted fuel prices have never

been allowed on mainland Britain before, but here in North Yorks,

this could be one of ten places to get it. 5p per litre could be

knocked off these prices if the European commission grants a request

from the government. The cut would be welcomed by people here. Very

expensive. Costs a lot of money. Even visitors have got wise to the

higher cost of petrol and think ahead. Whenever we leave Yorkshire

we always fill up so we can come here for the day and never think

about getting fuel in our own area. You were watching that they'll very

closely. It is very expensive. -- watching that meter. I am here on

holiday and I did not want more than I need before I go back to London.

Locals admit to putting in the minimum here and filling up further

away. 37 miles away, the hospital, the main hospital 60 miles away.

According to the local council leader, that attitude could see the

petrol pumps close. If we are not careful and blues the petrol -- lose

our petrol station you will need to spend more because you will need to

go ten miles away. Some businesses have already fallen away. It is

becoming increasingly scarce. Will this move save them? A decision on

the price cut is expected next year. This proposal comes on the same day

BAA have revealed the biggest price drop in petrol prices since 2008. If

you don't take 5p off it would still be above the national average. -- if

you did take. Any discount offered would be very welcome to people

here. The family of a 14-year-old girl who was savaged to death by

four dogs has spoken of their disgust after the owner walked free

from court with a suspended sentence. Jade Lomas-Anderson was

killed when the dogs - who were described as "hyper aggressive" -

turned on her at a house in Greater Manchester in March. Ed Thomas

reports. Do you feel like you have been let off? Beverley Concannon,

arrived not to be sentenced for the death of Jade Anderson but for the

way she treated the dog that killed the schoolgirl. She was savaged by

four dogs for no reason. It happened here at Beverley Concannon's home,

when she was out of the house. The leader of the pack was this dog,

described in court as stir crazy, and often locked in a cage for

punishment. Despite this, Beverley Concannon what away from court with

a 16 week suspended sentence. Hard to bear for the family of Jade

Anderson. Absolutely devastated, disgusted with the justice system. I

will not give up. I will not give up. Her family have campaigned to

strengthen the legislation. They have even visited Downing Street. In

court, the district judge said this case was not about Jade Anderson but

about the neglect of Beverley Concannon's dogs. They also heard

that because this took place on private property, no charges were

brought under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and there was insufficient

evidence to bring a manslaughter charge. In England and Wales, the

Dangerous Dogs Act is only concerned with attacks in public places, not

the privacy of homes. That is not a strong enough penalty. The

government is amending the Dangerous Dogs Act to make sure cases like

this never happen again. Too late for the family of Jade Anderson. Two

more bodies have been found in the rubble of the Nairobi shopping mall

attacked by Islamist gunmen four weeks ago. It's believed they are

two of the terrorists involved, although their identities will not

be known until forensic tests have been completed. Four AK47 rifles

were found next to the bodies - the type of weapon used by the gang. A

number of British Muslims who've spoken out against Islamist

extremism are being protected by the police amid concerns about their

safety. They have been warned that they could be targeted by members of

the Somali jihadist group, Al-Shabaab, after they were named in

a video which encourages others to carry out attacks in the UK. Our

Home Affairs correspondent June Kelly reports. Those who had been at

Friday prayers at one central London mosque today heard the message that

terrorism has no place in Islam. It was preached as a direct response to

the news that he is criticised in a video by Al-Shabab, the Somalian

terrorist group. He has been visited by the police because of concerns

over his safety but he is defiant. I am not worried about this death

threat. I will continue speaking against terrorism and extremism and

I will talk for fairness and justice. The video focuses on

Islamist attacks and the people who have spoken out against them. This

is one of a number of leaders criticised. Also depicted as a

traitor to Islam is Mohammed Ansar, a film-maker and journalist will

stop Mohammed Ansar has recently been filming this BBC documentary

with the now former leader of the EDL, Tommy Robinson. He also appears

in the Al-Shabab video. Both these men have been told there is a threat

to their safety. What precautions had the film-maker put in place? We

have had security people round, lots of briefings, we have changed locks,

reinforced security, we had a police car stationed at our premises and

regular patrols. We take it very seriously. In the propaganda video,

and mass man speaks about jihadists who have travelled to the UK. In the

battles, they were accompanied by brothers from London, Liverpool,

Bristol and Birmingham. Al-Shabab have not brought their fight to the

UK. But with individuals here seen as potential targets, the threat

they pose is being felt by some in this country. The time is 6:16pm.

Our top story this evening: A coroner rules that neglect

contributed to the deaths of five people at the Orchard View Care Home

in Sussex. And still to come, as England confirm their place at the

World Cup in Brazil, what's being done to bring on the next generation

of stars? 50,000 expected to watch them take on Toulouse in the

Heineken cup at Wembley today, in Sports and -- Sports day.

Thousands of schoolchildren are protesting in Paris over the

expulsion of an immigrant child and her family. Police have used tear

gas to disperse them. The demonstration follows the

deportation of a 15-year-old girl taken by police from a school field

trip, then deported to Kosovo with her family. From Paris, Christian

Fraser reports. The second day of a growing student revolt against a

socialist government. Last year young people filled the Square to

celebrate the president's election, but today they fought battles with

the police, demanding the resignation of his interior

minister, who they accuse of betraying socialist values. At the

centre of it all is 15-year-old Leonarda de Brani. She was arrested

on a bus in front of her classmates, but was then returned to her

father's native Kosovo. This is not my home, my home is brands, that is

where my family lived and where my teachers look -- my home is France.

I have nothing in Kosovo. Those who barricaded 45 schools in Paris today

say it is not the law they oppose, but the blunt manner in which it is

being applied. It stopped in the middle of her studies, and she is 15

and in a country she does not even know. In mind of the student

demonstrations in the 1960s, these protests are hugely symbolic, but if

you look at the surveys nationwide, 70% of French people side with the

hardline approach of the interior minister, and in calls for the

upcoming municipal and European elections, it is the far right front

National that leads the way. That explains why it is the front taking

party from his own supporters while President Holland is conspicuous

from the debate. The Prime Minister has called for a review of the case,

but whatever the outcome it is likely to heal the split in the

President's prime Minster's own ranks -- President's own ranks.

Dozens of bushfires in Australia are burning out of control in New South

Wales. They're the worst in the state for ten years and have killed

one man, and destroyed many homes. The fires have come unusually early

this year forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. People

engaged in human trafficking will face a maximum life sentences under

proposals announced by the government. The new sentencing will

form part of the upcoming modern slavery Bill, responds to the

increasing numbers of victims being trafficked into the UK by criminal

gangs, often for prostitution. The Scottish National Party says that if

the Scottish people vote for independence, it would introduce a

cut in energy bills. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the

party's conference in Perth that the cut would allow the Scottish

Government to save households about ?70 a year. Our Scotland

Correspondent James Cook reports. The River Tay which bubbles through

Perth gave birth to an energy giant. SSE began life here as Scottish

hydro- Electric. Now it is leading the charge to push up prices, a

problem for politicians. The SNP had already rejected Labour's plan to

cap bills, so with the clock ticking towards a referendum, what would

they do instead? A great yellow delegates, I can announce to you

today that an -- delegates, I can announced to you today that an SNP

government would remove the cost of energy saving measures and the warm

home discount from energy bills. Nicola Sturgeon said that would cut

?70 from the average bill, but the money has to come from somewhere, of

course. Isn't it, at a basic level, taking money out of budgets the

school and hospitals to save money for the energy companies? Right now

through their energy bills people fundus through their pockets, and

it's not a progressive way of funding us because the bill will hit

you whether you are highly paid or lowly paid. It's very regressive.

Doing it this way allows the government to give priority to work

through central resources. How does that go down on the high Street in

Perth, a city where two and a half thousand people work for just one

energy firm? We get lots of promises from politicians, but does it

happen? No, identity would make a difference. I'm not sure. The jury

is out. -- I don't think it would make a difference. Full of promises,

then it doesn't materialise. I don't think it should be part of the

energy cost, some form of other taxation, whether it is income tax

or local council tax. So the announcement is a good idea?

Absolutely. As Scotland prepares to vote on the referendum next year

Scotland is trying to bridge divide. They want to be on the side of the

consumer on one hand, without scaring off big business on the

other. The Duchess of Cambridge has made her first solo outing since the

birth of Prince George in July. The Duchess took part in a game of

volleyball at the Copper Box arena at the former Olympic Park in East

London, undeterred by her five inch wedge heels. She was there to

support the Sportsaid charity which helps young athletes at the start of

their careers. The England player, Andros Townsend,

has tried to defuse the race row prompted by comments by manager Roy

Hodgson, describing them as a compliment. Townsend is England's

bright new hope with the team now through to the World Cup in Brazil.

Our Sports Correspondent Natalie Pirks has been looking at the

prospects for Townsend, and how we compare to other countries in our

efforts to bring on the next generation of young players.

His debut was a rare exposure and on the national stage. He shoots,

glorious goal! It saw him hailed as the next great England hope, but

being at the centre of a racism storm was not something Andros

Townsend expected. Today he told me that he took the half-time team talk

as a condiment over well he was playing. -- a compliment. It's

certainly been a week to remember. It was in a wide the perfect debut.

-- in a way. I was watching it over and over again. The last time fans

were this infused about an England player was Wayne Rooney. He made his

debut for Everton at 16 after joining them at the age of nine

years old. The pictures on the wall here at the Everton Academy are

testament to their proud history of producing stellar English talent.

The question now causing the biggest problem in the national game is just

where is the next Wayne Rooney coming from? That is something the

Premier league's elite player performance plan is trying to

address. Home-grown talent used to receive only 3000 hours of coaching,

half of that of the German and Dutch counterparts. The aim of the plan is

to get them closer to 10,000 hours by the age of 18. But here at

Everton, they say it is not enough, unless the FA helps at a lower

level. UC nine-year-old Boyle 's -- UC nine-year-old boys playing

full-size pitches with the wrong size ball. If that truly is the kind

of feeder system for the elite programme, it is letting us down.

There is no document about that. The FA say the under 12 do not play on

full-size pitches and they have been working hard to have better practice

for children, children who want to copy players like these. Foreign

player -- Premier league stars who have helped it to become arguably

the best league in the world, but some say it is at the expense of the

national side. The Everton manager is not one of them. It is very easy

to say we have too many foreigners. It doesn't matter where you are

from, the players playing the best in the squad, and that's what we

need to do, make sure the British players are the best in the dressing

room. When Spain lifted the World Cup, nine of the players were

Barcelona graduates academy that cherry picked the best youngsters

from all over the country. With our system the same, perhaps one day

England will emulate Spain in more days -- more ways than one. Time for

a look at the weather. Here's Louise Leah.

Mile for most of us today, cloudy, but rain for some. -- Miles. The

rain has been out of the West with persistent bursts through Northern

Ireland, and blustery winds as well. It looks like the rain has been out

of the West with persistent bursts through Northern Ireland, and

blustery winds as well. It looks like the rain will focus his

attention through the see gale force winds likely to continue on those

exposed coasts. Elsewhere across England and Wales, sunlight, patchy

rain. Certainly a lot of cloud and with the southerly flow another very

mild nights to come. Temperatures around ten up to 14 degrees. The

only exception is the Northern Isles where the rain has not arrived, but

it will be first in Saturday morning. The rain pushing further

north along with a strong winds in Scotland. We could see a cluster of

sharp showers in the southeastern corner, and then we are into the

classic case of autumnal blustery showers throughout the wind. 17 or

18 degrees in the south-east. More showers in Northern Ireland, perhaps

heavy in the afternoon. The rain sits in the Northern Isles of

Scotland, and in improving picture for Scotland in the afternoon but it

stays cloudy and temperatures only in the lower teams. That is the

story as we look at Friday. We have seen it all before, because by

Sunday it sits in the far north and we are back to blustery showers

again, some of them heavy, even thundery. But again, quite mild

field. Despite the blustery showers, if you get sunshine, very pleasant

-- mild field. But we could have some more by the weekend.

A reminder of our main story: a coroner ruled that neglect

contributed to the deaths of five elderly residents of a care home in

Sussex. And the police are protecting moderate British Muslims

after they were targeted in a video by Islamist extremists. That's all

from the BBC News at Six. So it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One, we

can now goodbye from me, and on BBC One, we

can now join the BBC's news teams where you are.