01/03/2017 Channel Islands News

Good evening and welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands.

More than 440 drivers caught using their phone in the past year -

Jersey Police launch a tough crackdown on those who

It's become much more socially unacceptable. People are reporting

it now. We get a lot of people phoning to say that they have just

seen somebody on a mobile phone and they angry about it.

Good evening and welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands.

As Guernsey records a budget surplus at a time of austerity,

will politicians decide to ease up on the island's cut backs?

Getting tough on drivers who use their phones -

that's the pledge from Jersey Police on the day they announced that 444

drivers were prosecuted for using mobile phones

That's the highest number for the last four years.

The police campaign comes as the UK brings in tougher penalties for it.

So with figures increasing in the Channel Islands,

More and more drivers in Jersey are illegally using mobile

Even within half an hour of filming police road checks today to mark

the launch of their new campaign, five drivers were caught

But it is not just police presence contributing to last year's record

of the highest number of prosecutions since 2012.

We've seen an increase of about a fifth over the last year

and that really means of course we are out there a lot more,

it's become a lot more socially unacceptable.

We get lots of people phoning us to say they've just seen

someone on a mobile phone and they are really angry about it.

People know now how dangerous it can be and we've seen the tragic results

Not only is it dangerous, but it is also costly,

with drivers facing a fine up to ?1000.

However, most of those caught in 2016 paid ?100 or less.

Road safety campaigners say fines need to be more.

The current penalties don't go far enough, do they,

and obviously if your figures are showing there is an increase

What we need is a real strong deterrent and ?75,

?100 isn't enough to deter somebody from using their phone, obviously.

If we're going to really cut this down, we need to hit people where it

hurts the most and that seems to be in the pocket.

But some drivers in Jersey believe punishment needs to go further.

A driving ban should be introduced because it would be equal punishment

for all types of people, whether they have money or not.

I think it won't stop people from going on their phones.

If you lose your license, it's a bigger things.

There is never any justification for using a mobile phone while driving.

Something needs to be put in place to get it out of the psyche

that it is acceptable to use the mobile phone.

The department responsible for Jersey's roads is working

on a new penalty points system to be in place in the next

But will it be enough to stop drivers taking the law

The family of a Jerseyman who was killed with another British

tourist in Thailand have asked the authorities there to show

leniency towards two Burmese men facing the death penalty

Jersey's David Miller and Hannah Witheridge from Norfolk

were found dead on a Thai beach in 2014.

An appeal court in Thailand has upheld the death

In a statement, the Miller family said the court process had been fair

and effective and the killers' guilt has now been confirmed.

Last ditch attempts to hold the women's Muratti have failed -

and it's been confirmed tonight that the match between Guernsey

and Jersey's ladies teams will not take place this year.

In a statement tonight, the Guernsey Football Association said...

The GFA says it'll now focus on growing participation

and building the next generation of players.

There are calls to reconsider planned cuts to public

The Policy and Resources Committee intends to trim 3% from public

spending this year, followed by 5% for the two years after.

But there's a warning to islanders not to get carried away

with a recent return to a budget surplus.

Guernsey is trying to trim public spending.

It is slashing 3% off committee budgets this year.

And this man plans to cut another 5% in 2018 and a further

It could save the government ?26 million over the next three years.

But some deputies are warning the cuts may be hard to achieve.

About two thirds of the revenue goes on education, health

The idea that cuts of this magnitude can be achieved by bureaucratic

savings or administrative savings that no one will notice,

The states have to get into the core of whether we are prepared

to cut public services or whether we want to defend public

services and then we will have to raise more revenue.

But a Guernsey tax adviser is urging the States to stick with substantial

spending cuts over the rest of this political term.

Since the turn of the century, the island has increased its income

by 50% and increased its expenditure by 83%.

We have gone through uncertain times and there is more coming.

This is the wrong time to send out the wrong message,

which is that we are fine and can get back to spending.

Everyone on the island knows that we spend more than we should.

The man controlling Guernsey's purse strings wasn't available

for interview today but said in a statement...

The island's politicians will face a fundamental debate in June,

when they will decide how best to tackle future shortfalls

Jersey's Housing Minister says she'll do whatever needs to be done

to make sure letting agencies in the island are fair

Deputy Pryke has launched a review into their practices and may follow

England in banning agencies from charging tenants fees.

Moving house can be an expensive business.

There is rent to pay, bills to cover, and in Jersey -

for some properties ? there is also the fee you have to give

I understand they need to make a profit.

I think if they challenged the landlord instead of the person

I don't think they're doing much for that money.

I've never looked at it and thought it was an unfair fee.

But at Gaudin and Company, they believe it is the landlords

They can afford to pay the fee for us to

I think that is the way it should go.

This letting agency may not charge the so-called introduction fee

but there are several across the island that do.

The fee is usually the equivalent of one week's rent and is

taken by the agency once you accept their priority.

That's on top of the deposit and the first month's rent up front.

So the Housing Minister now wants to hear from the public

She says she will consider banning tenancy fees altogether.

Letting agencies are a business so they need to make some money.

But some people, I understand, have been

charging the landlord as well as the tenant

Anyone wanting to contribute to the review has until the end of April.

As we enter the first day of spring, Jersey recorded its driest

But February was the dullest in a decade.

David Braine can tell us whether March will be better.

Hello. It's a blast to be night ahead of us. Already the winds are

costing pretty big. In the small costing pretty big. In the small

hours of the morning, we could have 50-55 mph. The winds will drop

tomorrow. Tomorrow is brighter and mostly dry. More importantly, it is

less windy. The reason for the strength of Windows because of the

low-pressure trickling across central parts of Britain. There is

that ridge of high pressure for the middle of the Great War.

Predominantly dry and low-pressure. By the weekend, we have low-pressure

in charge, the risk of showers. Hopefully some sunshine in between

the showers. The main feature for the rest of the night is the gale

force wind. A a few showers are possible. Mostly dry through the

night to come. With all the wind, the temperature shouldn't drop to

low. Tomorrow is predominantly dry. There will be some sunshine. Some

show was possible but mostly dry. The winds are much lighter. On

Friday, the rain is back off and on throughout the day. Little bit

brighter on Saturday. Sunday is similar, bright in the morning but

cloud and rain in the afternoon. And that's all the news

for this Wednesday night - don't forget if you've missed

anything you can catch outlook. A whole load of 11 is. What

does that mean? Maybe John Hammond will tell you.

We're in for a bumpy ride. The weather chopping and changing

keeping us on our toes. Rain never too far away from our crystal ball.

There has been rain around today across southern areas. This band of

wet weather pushing through Wales and the Midlands. A little bit of

the white stuff mixed in over the high ground Snowdonia, some snow for

an trans-Pennine routes as well. Snow at low levels through the