27/03/2012 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West. The headlines this evening:

Strong denials at the Leveson Inquiry. The Chief Constable of

Avon and Somerset police says no off-the-record briefings were given

about the Jo Yeates murder investigation.

We don't announce people who have been arrested. They're innocent. We

don't do that. A row breaks out about how a child

rapist was able to get a new passport and escape justice for

years. Also tonight: Bristol teams up with Brazil to tackle one of the

country's biggest killers, high blood pressure.

And turning back time. The boat being built in Gloucester to

celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Good evening. The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police has

strongly denied any off-the-record briefings were ever given by his

force during the Jo Yeates murder investigation. Colin Port was

called to appear in front of the Leveson Inquiry today. Mr Port had

to answer questions about their relationship with the media and

Christopher Jeffries, the man wrongly arrested in connection with

her murder. Steve Brodie has spent the day in London.

Chief Constable Colin Port arrived at the Leveson Inquiry and took the

oath before giving evidence. He then spent a long time defending

the actions of his force. He said at no stage during the Jo

Yeates murder investigation where any of the record briefings by

police to journalists. But earlier this year, former Clifton College

teacher Christopher Jefferies told Lord Chief Justice Leveson that the

police had deliberately leaked his name to the tabloids. There are a

range of possibilities as far as the sources concerned, including

somebody who is not actually an officer, to whom I had given a

statement, somebody who had head about the statement.

A claim strongly denied by Mr Port. It was a genuine error. We sought

to redress the situation right away with the journalist concerned. We

certainly did not give any off the record briefings.

The inquiry has also previously heard claims by Richard Wallace,

the editor of the Mirror, that Avon & Somerset police had given off-

the-record briefings to reporters. Another allegation rejected by the

chief constable. It is outrageous, the assertion. I have never done

that. It is not my job to pass opinion on these issues and they do

not give off the record briefings. To behave in a collusive manner is

abhorrent. Colin Port again rejected claims

made by two Bristol Ikea delivery men who told the BBC their personal

details had appeared in The Sun only hours after talking to the

police. Detective Chief Inspctor Phil Jones,

the man who led the Jo Yeates investigation. Told the hearing

that there had been no leaks but he had become concerned when acurate

details about DNA samples found on Jo's body were printed in the Daily

Mail. Mr Port told the inquiry that his

own investigation into alleged leaks was still going on. But given

his and DCI Jones' vehement denials that no such thing ever happeneed,

it's extremely unlikely that any evidence will ever be found.

Earlier I spoke to media commentator Steve Hewlett, who's

been following the Leveson Inquiry, and asked him what he'd found

interesting about today's evidence. Well, nothing we are seeing now of

course is the local press, particularly, demonstrating just

how fed up there with the national press. Partly, that is because the

local press and not by and large the offenders. The national press

are, and in particular, News International. A lot of local

papers feel as if they are being dropped on from a great height

because of stuff they have not had much to do with. Secondly, we are

saying that at a local level, in many cases, press and police tend

to have a fairly collaborative, reasonably trusting relationship.

Yesterday, we saw people talking from Cumbria, where Derrick Bird

went on the rampage and shot does people, about how the local press

and police were trying to manage the situation for the but any --

for the benefit of local people, then the national press arrived and

it was a smash and grab. People from Bristol have been talking

about the Jo Yeates murder case and the relations between press and

police. It seems to be turning into a fight

to protect reputations. The police are fighting to protect theirs, and

journalists are fighting to protect theirs.

No question that is right. There is a lot at stake here. In the case of

Bristol and Jo Yeates, that is right in the middle of Levison's

concerns. It was such a big national story. The waiter has

handled by press and police is a matter of huge public concern. The

proposition that the police put forward today, that there had been

no off the record briefing by any police officer to any journalist, I

honestly doubt that would really bear scrutiny. If it is true, it is

amazing. It would be a thirst. Police are under pressure to show

they can control communications between themselves and the media.

You can understand that. People have to have complained that if

they tell police things, they will not read it in a paper the next

minute. It is important police have integrity. On the other hand, the

idea that all connections and communications between press and

police should be official and all the rest of it, that is scary. Mick

Davis, the Guardian journalist who has done most of the phone hacking

scandal, he has said that without off-the-record briefings,

unofficial, unauthorised briefings, from serving police officers of

people close to the job, he would never have got the story. It is

really difficult. The police need to control the flow of information

in the public interest. On the other hand, it police have complete

control and journalists do not, the public will be under informed.

So how on earth will he decide who is right?

A do not live. Certainly when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of

how relationships are organised on the ground. We have to hope he

takes a public interest you, rather than a police corporate fear. A

police corporate view is controlled communications. The public interest

you would say, police need integrity and to behave properly,

they should not be speaking out of time, but please do not stop what

Mary police officers talking to journalists about things that the

police are doing wrong -- ordinary police officers.

Police have named the haulier from Somerset killed in the crash on the

M5 near Birmingham. 65-year-old William Mapstone from Wells was the

second person to die as a result of the accident on Saturday. It's

thought his lorry ran into the back of a coach which had broken down

and was stationary on a lane of the motorway.

A row has broken out over who allowed a child rapist from Bath to

evade justice for more than a decade. Lewis Knight was jailed

yesterday for 15 years for abusing three teenagers. He had his

passport confiscated when he was arrested in 1999, but he

immediately applied for and received another one. He then

jumped bail and fled to Spain. Clinton Rogers reports.

How did it happen, and who was to blame? How did this man get a new

passport after his original was confiscated by the police? How was

it so easy for him to flee to Spain and escape justice for 11 years?

Bath NP Don Foster, in whose constituency these offences took

place, certainly wants answers. think anybody would have assumed

that if a passport had been confiscated, the relevant passport

authorities would have been notified immediately. I am deeply

concerned that they do not appear to have been notified, and I am

concerned to learn their does not appear to be a very clear procedure

by what should happen in those circumstances.

Knight's victims were all paper girls at a shop in Whiteway in the

late 1990s. When he was arrested and charged in 1999, his passport

was confiscated and he was released on bail. But he never intended to

face justice. Instead he sat down, filled out a form for a new

passport, and got one. Simple. All he did was say the original had

been stolen. The Identity and Passport Service

have told us that the police never alerted them about Knight, so they

had no idea his original passport had been confiscated. The question

is, should they have been told? I have repeatedly asked the Passport

Service that question and repeatedly they've refused to

answer it. And the protocol is no clearer when you read this

statement from Avon and Somerset police, which in essence says that

the Identity and Passport Service is routinely informed of cases like

this. What it doesn't make clear, and what the police won't tell me,

is whether it happened in the case of Lewis Knight. But child

protection experts say there are procedures that should have been

followed. Just giving him another passport and not checking, I think

that is appalling! There is a process which anybody on Bill

should have been notified to the Passport Agency.

So while the anger over Lewis Knight's case is clear, little else

You're watching BBC Points West on this lovely Tuesday evening. And

stay with us as there's lots more to bring you tonight.

We have had a glorious run of sunny weather here. Tomorrow, we might be

to our best ever match day. Joining me later to find out more.

We are in the village of Marshfield, which could be the most musical

placed in the West. PLAYS THREE BLIND MICE.

First, though, more news from the West, and police in Gloucestershire

have raided a series of homes as part of a crackdown on drugs and

organized crime. Operation Zephyr has already seen them seize ten

kilos of cocaine and make 30 arrests, working with all the

forces across the region. Andrew Plant has more.

While most of Gloucester is still sleeping, dozens of officers are

giving suspected criminals in a surprise early alarms. This

morning's raids are targeting more than 10 properties in the city,

looking for suspected dealers. Today is about looking at those

criminals linked into the organised crime group and sending a message

to them that even if they're on the periphery of organised crime, we

will seek them down and live to prosecute them. 6.50am. The front

door has been smashed in a while officers block the back door.

Sniffer dogs are later called to the property to check inside for

any drugs. The occupant was later arrested on suspicion of possessing

a class B substance and taken for questioning. The idea is to crack

down on the supply of drugs across the south-west. While this raid was

taking place in Gloucester, several more were happening simultaneously

across the city. Elsewhere, police have found what they suspect is

cocaine, but not the large quantities they were looking for.

They decide to search the suspect's vehicle, but without the keys there

is only one way inside. The operations have been happening

across the south-west for almost 12 months. So far, 17 people have been

charged with serious drug trafficking offences. It is, the

police say, stemming the flow of drugs here at the very beginning of

the supply. Planning laws in England and Wales

have changed dramatically this lunchtime.

The rules which govern where and how the West is developed have

today changed dramatically. New planning guidelines were announced

in Parliament, and came into immediate effect. There'd been

controversy in the autumn with accusations that the Government's

initial proposals favoured developers. Now all sides are

studying the revised rules. Our political editor Paul Barltrop is

here. Paul, there had been much concern that this might be a

developers' charter. How's it being seen? There was one key phrase. It

was a presumption in favour of sustainable development. That

consent people enormously. It is in the final document, which has gone

into law. He said they will be a special protection, some areas of

green fields -- areas of green belt and so on. There is concern about

other things. Is it not -- he is seen not concern about the 60 % of

green land in England which is of no designation? What will he do to

make sure they have equal or similar protection to green belt?

My Honourable Friend will be pleased to see the revised

framework includes a recognition of the intrinsic value of the

countryside, reflecting its beauty. It will have protection. Perhaps as

importantly, what about the reaction outside Parliament? Said

to me from people like builders, there has been a broadly positive

reaction. From conservation groups, rather mixed. Some are concerned it

leaves the door open for large- scale developments in country areas.

This was a reaction from the Woodland Trust. We are disappointed.

Their row over 200 would loans under threat from planning

applications -- there are over 200 woodlands and a threat. Each

individual plan will have to be looked at on a site by site basis.

We were led to believe the government would be green and this,

and protect habitats, but they have failed. They have produced more

than 1,000 pages of regulations down to just over 50. That means

there is a lot of ambiguity. Councils may... It may well end up

being fought in the courts. Thank you.

Scientists in Bristol are teaming up with colleagues in Brazil to

tackle one of the UK's biggest killers. High blood pressure is a

major factor in thousands of deaths every year, but now experts are

looking at alternative treatments. Matthew Hill has been trying them

out. This man has suffered from high

blood pressure for more than 30 years. His medication is no longer

working. I have had to come off beta-blockers recently because they

slowed my heart too much. It seemed to wake my bladder up at night, so

I did not get a lot of sleep. High blood pressure affects around

1 billion people across the world. Apart from lifestyle changes, it is

mainly treated through medication. Around one in three patients

stopped taking the tablets because it no longer works and there are

side-effects. That is why some people like Bob are coming to a new

clinic for a unique scientific study. I thought I would give the

clinic a go myself. The scientist is trying to find a nerve in my leg.

She is giving me mini electric shocks, and my toes are beginning

to move against my will. It is all part of a research project to

investigate how brain activity goes directly through this nerve to the

vessels that control blood pressure. Once my nerve is located, it is

time for a tiny needle to be inserted into it to pick up

electrical activities. We are trying to calm down the nerve

activity that is targeting the blood vessels which seems to be

extremely excitable in patients with high blood pressure. It is

widely known that stress can increase blood pressure. That is

why patients with hypertension can be artificially made to reduce

stress by reducing the amount of oxygen they breathe. If the

scientists can understand what is going on with the nerve signals,

they may be able to reduce them, even by minor surgery.

One of the biggest events to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this

year, will be a floating cavalcade on the Thames. 1,000 vessels will

take part, among them a sailing trow. Hundreds of them once plied

the River Severn carrying tonnes of cargo. But now a brand new one is

being built to proudly take its place in the Diamond Jubilee

pageant. Here's Steve Knibbs. There is a long history of shipbuilding

here. Nowadays, it is just repair and restoration. There is a very

special project happening over there that tax back to the

shipbuilding roots of Gloucester Docks.

Trows were used to transport goods along the Rivers Severn and Wye up

until the 19th century. This was the last time one was seen on the

water. But in a warehouse at a Gloucester shipbuilders, a

wonderful replica is almost finished. This is a unique project

for the team who are normally used to restoration work. This trow is

only one of its type in the world and the shipwright's have been

using a wreck on the banks of the River Severn as a guide. Apart from

electric drills, the construction is as authentic as possible. The

project has been paid for by an anonymous donor from Herefordshire,

and timber from estates there have been used to build the trow. All

adding up to something that will be very special. Why not build a

historical replica of a trow, which was once hugely significant for the

region? It is not like building houses. We all of building bones

and sailing boats. All of us sale. It is what we do. We have been

following progress of the trow over the last few months. Let's say how

she is looking. Magnificent. She is in the process of being boiled.

Later this week, it will be launched for the first time. Then

there is a job of competing the oarsmen and women took Route B trow

along the Thames. -- men and women who will wrote their trail along

the Thames. We all know how infuriating sat nav

systems can be. The driver of this lorry from Poland went up is now

wrote road in Clifton, and he got well and truly stuck. Cliftonville

is known locally as a short cut, but not if you are a 40 tonne

articulated lorry. That was stuck good and proper.

It could be another good night for Bristol Rovers fans. If their team

beats Aldershot, they could move into the top half of the League Two

table. Rovers are unbeaten in their last four games, and beat promotion

chasing Southend at the weekend. Manager Mark McGhee believes they

need to win tonight if they want to finish in the top ten.

In Snooker, Bristol's Judd Trump has made a good start to the

defence of his China Open title. The 22-year-old beat Jimmy White by

five frames to three in Beijing. He started well, making a break of 122.

And despite a fight-back from the veteran White, Trump completed

victory to win a place in the last Now, it's known around the West for

its ice cream. Now the village of Marshfield near Bath is trying to

strike a more musical note. The residents have challenged

themselves to learn an instrument in six months and take an exam, all

to raise money for a charity close to their hearts. Jules Hyam has

more. In the picturesque village of

Marshfield, there is definitely something in the air. Music. Or at

least something like it. Around almost every corner, someone is

getting to grips with a musical instrument. It is a village with a

unique sound. I did say they were all learners - some of these guys

are playing a note for the very first time. I am learning the

guitar. I am finding it a bit big, but I am sure I will get used to it

in time. I am not very familiar with what is happening yet. I do

not think it will take long to sort out the basics. Hello. I am Natalie

Anne Diamond teacher. I am learning to play the flute. -- I am a

teacher. For the children to see us learning to play an instrument,

they have a buzz from it. It is fantastic. We are doing it for a

fantastic cars. That cause is almost halfway around the world.

Marshfield has a long standing link with an island in the Indian Ocean.

We raised about �22,000 a year. That goes a long way in India.

Their health care on the island is extremely basic. Just about

anything that requires further investigation has to go to the

mainland. The poverty level is so great, they do not have the money

to do this. That is where this comes in. Music that can literally

changed lives. By the time they are at Grade One standard in October,

it might even be music you would enjoy listening to.

We will have to get them in the studio in six months to see how

they got on! Do you play anything?

Grade 7 flute, made, but that was a long time ago!

Another beautiful day. Jemma is on the roof for us tonight. Is it

Indeed it is. Glorious sunshine. It has been a lovely day today. It is

lovely on the growth. I do not even need a jacket. More happy days to

come as we going to tomorrow. We could be in for a record-breaking

day. In 1965, we had the warmest ever match day. Early indications

It will be another warm, sunny day. It is all due to the jet stream.

The change comes at the end of the week as the high pressure begins to

shift and we will see a slightly different afloat coming in. A bit

more northerly. That will change things. So will a high pressure. A

definite change is on the way for the weekend. Not so the rest of the

week. Tonight, we are looking at another clay and chilli 1. Clear

skies in the day, great, clear skies overnight, the temperatures

set with the sun. Temperatures will drop pretty sharply. We will get

some rest and fog. We will get local frost in many places. It is a

cold start tomorrow. It will be low single figures. Then it, the

sunshine lifts those highs and we are looking at what I think will be

one of the warmest days of the year. It is just a question of whether we

will beat that 21.7, which will round up to 22. Let's sea. After

that, a clear, still might. Temperatures will go no tomorrow

night, as they have all week. Thursday and Friday, the pattern

does remain the same. Unbroken sunshine. Change comes at the

weekend as a high pressure shift Do you think I will be OK having

tomorrow off? Yes.