18/05/2016 BBC News at Six

Prison reform tops the Queen's Speech.

Ministers plan the biggest shake-up in England and Wales

We're inside Wandsworth - one of Europe's biggest prisons.

Overcrowding, drugs, violence, corruption -

They're so short staffed in here, this place can't run.

Even a lot of the staff in here are in fear.

And with good reason - prison officers tell us

there just aren't enough of them and they're stressed.

I think I am probably the most stressed that I have been

We'll be hearing from the man in charge of the planned reforms,

We'll have the rest of the Queen's Speech.

Reaction is dominated by arguments over the EU referendum.

We speak to the Hillsborough match commander -

his first public comments since the inquests concluded.

And a breakthrough in the dispute over junior doctors' contracts.

And coming up in the sport on BBC News:

Liverpool are getting ready for the Europa League final.

They take on Sevilla in Basel later this evening.

Hello and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

A radical reform of the prison system in England and

Wales was at the heart of the Queen's Speech today.

Ministers are describing it as the biggest shake-up

The legislation will pave the way for the first six reform prisons -

places where governors will be given sweeping new powers.

One of them is Wandsworth Prison, where the BBC has gained exclusive

Our correspondent, Ed Thomas, has spent the last week there.

He reports on a prison where drug-fuelled violence is rife

This is Wandsworth. The BBC has been given unprecedented access inside a

British jail. Over seven days we saw the fear and violence. There is one

person under restraint. The wing looks secure. You have to defend

yourself. If you can't defend yourself, you will become a victim.

The drugs feeding addiction inside. Is it easy to get cannabis? It is,

it is, it is. And the prison officers pushed to the very edge. I

think I'm probably the most stressed I've been in 24 years in this job.

Run! It's the second alarm of the day. A prisoner has refused to go

back to his cell. 20 years ago the inmate in the middle of all of this

murdered a man in a fight. This is his 38th jail. We can't identify

him, but he told us he was trapped in a cycle of violence. I've had

warfare with politics in jail. I've got sliced down the side of the

face. Attacked by 15 people. Had me arm broke. Three broken bones in my

hands. I said you are putting me in a predicament where I have no

alternative but to utilise violence for my safety. They are so short

staffed here, this place can't run, it's unsafe. Even the staff here are

in fear. That smell of cannabis... Next B wing and the smell of

cannabis is everywhere. It's overwhelming, especially up here.

And here. And then we see it - a group smoking below us, in full

view. No-one cares, there is no order. How do you feel about people

smoking cannabis down there? Not good. There's going to be fights and

that. The officers are just here. Where can you get cannabis from?

Everyone. If you want some cannabis I can get you some. You can get some

right now? Yeah. How do you feel hearing that? Obviously it is not

good, it defeats everything we can trying to do as a service. You don't

have to look far to find drugs in Wandsworth. Take Ashley, who has

only just arrived. He says all drugs are available at all times. You can

get spice, heroin, crack. Anything. All I've got to do is go down to the

twos, the threes, the ones and its there. Anything you like. Then

there's the alcohol brewed in cells. The spice, a synthetic legal high.

These wraps are worth ?8,000. And the mobile phones too, all smuggled

into Wandsworth. Smartphone, several hundred quid they go for retail

price. Who brings those phones? Officers, other prisoners. This

prisoner asked us not to show his face. He wanted to talk about

corruption. Are you just saying that though? Of course I'm not just

saying that. To get the officers in trouble. No, of course I'm not. They

charge you ?500 a parcel, the size of, say, three tennis balls full of

drugs, phones, whatever you want. Life in prison. The BBC was invited

here to hear these stories, to see the pressure from a Governor who's

demanding change. The one thing that I absolutely cannot stand, one of

the things I want to do with reform is to think very carefully about how

do we deal with those issues of corruption and what do we do to

tackle the staff bringing those drugs in. That will deal with some

of the issues you've highlighted and seen over the last week. But how

long will this prison reform take? The pressure inside is building now,

and ifs are getting hurt. At the moment he's been the victim of an

assault. My wife worries that I'm not going to come home. If she

could, she would have me out of the job. Wants worth has been Andy

Topin's life. For him it cannot get any worse. It's because I care. I

want to make a difference. I believe my staff want to make a difference.

We are struggling. We haven't got the staff. What's happening to your

mental health? I don't think people care about what's happening to my

mental health. What is happening to your mental health? I think I'm

probably the most stressed I've been in 24 years in this job. What's

going to happen to you? If I'm like my colleagues I will retire and I

will die early. Andy desperately needs reform now. This prison

revolution, a promise to fix broken jails, and so many broken lives. Ed,

people are going to be shocked by those pictures. I guess it shows us

just how much reform is needed. Yes, George. This access is rare. To

walk down these corridors, to go into the cells and speak to the

inmates. But the Governor was determined to open up his jail to

show poem what life was like inside a British prison and the need for

change. Here they will lead this reform agenda. Here they say it's an

opportunity like never before to rehabilitate, to reduce reoffending,

and speak to the officers here. They will tell you that this matters,

because right now too many lives are being wasted, lost inside a prison

cell. Ed, thank you. Speaking to the BBC, Michael Gove,

the Justice Secretary, has admitted there are big problems

within the prison system and that some institutions in England

and Wales are not fit for purpose. Labour has welcomed the proposals

but said the Government had presided over a rise in the number

of prisoners and a huge Our special correspondent,

Lucy Manning, reports. What to do about prisons many say

are overcrowded, underfunded, So he thinks his new autonomous

jails will work. They will, I hope, be places

of rehabilitation, order, But as gangs fight over the supply

of drugs in Wandsworth's prison yard, it is clear they're a long way

from that. And he doesn't shy away

from a damning assessment. Your Chief Inspector of Prisons

says some prisons are not fit Why do you think they're not

fit for purpose? There are some prisons

which are not safe enough. Not safe enough

for prisoners or the dedicated staff

who work in them. Related to that, there are some

prisons simply not doing a good enough job in providing either

education or employment He admits the increase in drugs

and weapons is worrying. The startling footage of a drone

flying in a package of highly addictive legal highs and phones

into a prison cell is something the Justice Secretary saw when broadcast

by the BBC this week. What did you make of what you saw

from that footage? I thought the public will now

realise one of the big problems We're taking action now to deal

with the corruption that sometimes facilitates

getting these drugs into prison. But critics complain

there are too many people in jail So, part of Mr Gove's plan

is allowing people out to work. That means the prisoners can spend

time out of their cell and out of jail working for an employer,

learning what responsibility means and preparing for a useful

life on the outside. Will that be safe for

the wider public? He admits the rise in suicide

self-harm and violence could undermine his reforms but denies

funding and staffing numbers But he accepts too many

are re-offending. The whole point of having someone

in prison, the whole point of spending as much as parents spend

to send their kids to Eton on an individual every year,

is to change their lives. if we leave them banged up for hours

on end. It is only by transforming our

prisons that we will make this country

safer. That's why when people say,

this is a soft agenda and you're coddling prisoners,

they couldn't be more wrong. When you have drugs ordered in and

lifted up and over the prison walls, Mr Gove knows them but can anything

he does change them? So, as well as prison reform

in England and Wales, the Government has been setting out

the rest of its plans There were 21 bills in all,

including a shake-up of the adoption system,

plans to get money back from foreign visitors using the NHS,

and a legal right to fast broadband. But, as our political editor

Laura Kuenssberg reports, the day has been overshadowed by arguments

within the Conservative Party over The show must go on. And what a

show. However uncertain, the next five, however divided the governing

party, the gold shines as brightly as ever, the beat of the drum

unchanged. The Crown, that symbol of power so precious it has its own

carriage. Arriving first to be ready for the royal head. Then her

procession. On the 63rd occasion, the Queen proclaiming her

Government's plans. CHEERING. For the first time at 90

the monarch taking the lift. A different route into the Royal

Robing Room before the main event. This moment this year unique. Maybe

uniquely awkward. The Labour leader's first time at the front.

The Tory leader knows it just might be his last. So the proposals,

Ministers on both sides of the EU debate want you to think they're

still thinking about us all. My Government will use the opportunity

of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people,

to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged. In these most

gilded of surroundings a plan for some of the worst. My Government

will elect to reform prisons and courts to give individuals a second

chance. There are plans to speed up adoptions and more support for

children in care. An education bill, with more academies in England and

new universities too, and a sugar tax on soft drinks. The Prime

Minister believes these plans show his ambition to help people politics

has forgotten, a one-nation Government, a claim his opponents

firmly reject. Reject. There'll be new laws to tackle extremism and

propose extra powers for the security services. Services. Awkward

for Labour, a bill to renew Trident, the nuclear weapons system. But look

who's watching, look who's waiting with. The referendum hangs over it

all. My Government will hold a referendum on membership of the

European Union. And that is precisely the point. Today hasn't

been short on ceremony. These occasions never are. But now the

Queen's headed back up to the Palace, in terms of brand-new ideas

it all feels rather empty. The referendum has put strain on the

Government, so it has avoided anything too controversial. Some of

the previous tricky ideas have actually disappeared. There was no

sign of a sovereignty bill, to appease those who want to leave the

EU, and only vague proposals for a British Bill of Rights to replace

the Human Rights Act. What's happening as a result of this is a

Government agenda has been parked, or even dropped. That seems to me

not to be the right thing to do. David Cameron was sticking to his

script This is a Queen's Speech that combines economic security with

extending life chances for all. It's the Queen's Speech of a progressive

one-nation Conservative Government. Jeremy Corbyn was far from

impressed. Whether you're in or out of the EU, the main obstacle holding

back to people of this country is not the EU but that Conservative

Government. When the Prime Minister talks about this being a one-nation

Queen's Speech we on these benches know which nation he is talking

about. These are strange times in Westminster. Parliament's most

significant event of the year might be soon forgotten. But perhaps

moments of big political risk require small ambition.

And if you would like more details on all the measures

in the Queen's Speech, there are full details on our

An exclus zblnchts ive report into the chaos

The young British songwriters writing

Alastair Cook is on the brink of 10,000 Test runs.

He'd be the youngest batsman ever to the landmark.

Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield was match commander

as the Hillsborough disaster unfolded in April 1989.

The inquests into the tragedy found that his actions led to the unlawful

Now, for the first time since the inquests ended in April,

met him outside San Francisco International Airport.

David Duckenfield was on a family visit to the United States.

The BBC, like other news organisations,

have made repeated requests to talk to the retired officer

following the inquest's verdict last month.

due to the ongoing criminal inquiries, I am unable to comment.

Do you have any message for the families?

I've said what I have to say at the moment.

It was last month that the families of the 96 fans who died at

Hillsborough showed a jubilant sense of relief at the end of the inquest.

The jury concluded those who lost their lives were unlawfully killed.

David Duckenfield had been the match commander and the inquest

found him responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence.

He made what many families say was a belated apology at the inquest.

When I was at the coroner's court in Warrington, I gave a message.

But Mr Duckenfield knows the families want him to answer more

The Crown Prosecution Service has yet to make a decision on that.

But 27 years after this tragedy, David Duckenfield is aware

the inquest is unlikely to be his final involvement in Hillsborough.

They believe both he and South Yorkshire Police

brought anguish to them for a quarter of a century

One of the 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants

Activists confirmed to the BBC that Amina Ali was found

by a vigilante group, close to the border with Cameroon.

If confirmed, she'll be the first of the schoolgirls to be found

After months of disagreement and unprecedented strike action,

a deal between junior doctors in England and the government

until it's put to junior doctors in a ballot.

The latest talks, lasting ten days, have been taking place

Do we have the details of this deal? George, we do. Let's remember,

discussions over this contract began three years ago. Then a dispute

erupted over it last autumn. We've had several strikes in hospitals in

England with junior doctors walking out. Over 35,000 operations and

procedures cancelled. Today, we have agreement between the Government and

the British Medical Association. That's a really big step forward

given how far apart they were even just a couple of weeks ago. The

Government feels it's got one of the key things it wanted it from this

new contract which was the principle you wouldn't automatically get more

pay as a doctor for working at weekends. They also say it will be

about a third less expensive for hospitals to bring doctors in at

weekends. The BMA say actually, a very large number of doctors working

more weekends than others will get premium pay at weekends. The BMA was

also keen to remove areas of the previous draft contract felt to be

discriminatory against women. That's been achieved in this contract.

There will be better provisions for women returning from maternity leave

getting back on to the career progression ladder. They've agreed

it. It now goes to a vote of all junior doctors across England for

their final say. Thank you. After a week of political wrangling

in the Welsh Assembly the Labour leader in Wales,

Carwyn Jones, The deal struck with Plaid Cymru

paves the way for Labour to form But leader Leanne Wood insisted

it was not a coalition deal but a one-off vote to allow

Mr Jones's nomination. as they take on Seville in

the Europa League Final in Basel. It's Liverpool's first European

final in nine years and victory in Basel would earn them a place

in next season's Champions League. Our sports correspondent

Joe Wilson reports. This is very much a European

football event in entitieser land. There are Liverpool supporters here

from all over the world. It is live pool's historical success which

raises expectations for the future. Tonight, the game against Sevilla is

an opportunity for them to feel they are still part of Europe's elite.

Many rivers exist simply to be crossed.

If you are Jurgen Klopp, the manager who does not feel doubt,

well, Liverpool finish the league season eighth.

For this season to be called a success, do you need a trophy?

It doesn't depend on my judgment, it depends on the public judgment.

I am pretty sure if we don't win the title, no one will

Basel's Functional football stadium only allocated around 9000 tickets

Liverpool, of course, are one of the best supported

football clubs in the world, so what to do here with

any fans who turned up without a ticket?

Basel has set up fan zones, which it hopes will accomodate everyone.

Absolutely atrocious that Uefa has chosen this venue.

They have allowed big clubs into the Europa League and they

This is a Swiss night to make a German's reputation.

Sevilla who lie in wait are trying to win this competition for the

third year in a row. As for the city, it's coping. Some recent

rain's helped to clear the streets. 9th big screen right now sensibly

showing some of Liverpool's recent greatest hits.

You've heard their songs but you probably don't know their names.

Some of the songwriters behind Britain's best-loved tunes will

be honoured for their talents at the Ivor Novello Awards tomorrow.

Together, they generate more than ?500 million a year.

Colleen Harris reports on two British success stories.

it doesn't get much bigger than Beyonce.

Carla Marie Williams, a youth worker from London,

pursued song writing as a career and it paid off.

# Nothing else had us, now you're not here,

When Running came out, I was in Westfield.

Someone was like, wow, Beyonce's just dropped a song.

I was like, oh, this is international now.

This isn't just about London or anything.

Being British, and clearly with something to say,

Beyonce called on Carla Marie for her latest album Lemonade.

# Freedom, freedom, I can't move, freedom cut me loose#

I think it's definitely opened doors, especially in America.

I feel they love what happens in the UK.

When you listen to Freedom and you listen to Running,

they are different to maybe what sometimes happens in the US.

We've fantastic music education and a history of 50 or 60 years

of fantastic writers such as the Beatles,

David Bowie, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Dizzee Rascal.

They act as role models for the next generation coming up.

Another Brit doing well in America is Bradford girl Teddy Sinclair.

She posted a song online and caught the attention of the right people.

she's penned songs for Madonna and, more recently, Rihanna.

# Waiting on that sunshine for I think I need that back#

I feel very lucky to work with Rihanna,

The most important feelings or thoughts or opinions I've had

that I've put into music are things they've also shared enough

to believe in it when they've listened to the song.

Despite their success, 80% of British songwriters are men.

So, creating workshops for female newcomers

Whether or not it's about emotion, heartbreak, politics,

always try and dig a little bit deeper.

Words to inspire the next generation.

# I keep running because a winner don't quit on theirselves.#

Time for a look at the weather. Here's Tomasz Schafernaker.

Didn't the heavens open today? It was so wet. I had the raincoat on,

the brolly was out. There's still hit and miss downpours around the

country this evening. A little later on, they'll start to fade away.

There will be fewer of them. We'll start to see drier weather coming

from the west. The lumpy clouds you can see here, these are the showers,

heavy downpours in places. They've occurred from southern parts through

Northern England to the low lands of Scotland. By the time we get to the

latter part of this evening, it starts to quieten down. We develop

mist over the country. First thing tomorrow morning, it will turn out

to be fairly cloudy. Quite murky for a time before that sunshine breaks

through the cloud. Tomorrow, a bit of a west/east split. We've sunshine

across many eastern and southern areas eventually. A little on the

hazy side. But also we've the rain sweeping off the Atlantic to affect

south-western parts of England and Wales. Particularly around Cumbria

and south western and central parts of Scotland. A mix of weather

tomorrow. As far as Friday's concerned, it looks pretty

unsettled. Low pressure close by. Unsettled doesn't mean it will be

raining all the time, just the weather changing a fair bit from

hour to hour perhaps across some areas. The west will have rain at

times in the afternoon. Eastern parts on Friday, the end of the

working week, looking fine. 20 in London. 16 in Newcastle with some

sunshine. Yesterday, we hinted the weekend is looking very unsettled

with a Natesy area of low pressure coming through. At the moment, it

looks like there is some rain on the way. It will splash through on

Friday night. The best advice at this stage, there will be some

sunshine this weekend. A bit of rain, a bit of a breeze. Keep the

brolly to hand just in case. Thank you.

That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

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