12/12/2011 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today, with Anne Davies, and me, Dominic Heale.

Our top story tonight: Police wait to question the two

young survivors of the Melton killings. Adam and Kimberly Day are

recovering from stab wounds believed to have been inflicted by

their father. Clearly we have got a 12-year-old boy and 15-year-old

girl who are in hospital having been very seriously injured. I

can't even start to imagine how they will deal with that trauma and

grief. Also, the worrying increase in

online grooming of children. My mum recognised the relationship for

water wars and took me to the police station. I found out he was

a convicted paedophile. -- for what it was.

Plus, how ill are you? 300 people a week are taken off incapacity

benefits. And the stately home paying half a

Good evening, welcome to Monday's programme. First tonight, two

children are slowly giving evidence to the police about an attack which

resulted in the deaths of their mother, father and sister. It is

believed former inspector Toby Day, from Melton Mowbray, killed his

wife Samantha and his daughter before stabbing his two older

children and then killing himself. The officer in charge of the

investigation has today released more details about what happened,

as Helen Astle reports. Four days on and many flowers have

been left here outside the family's home. Inquests were open today at

Loughborough and the court was told that Janet identified the bodies of

her daughter, her son-in-law and her granddaughter, the six-year-old.

The two younger children who survived the -- older children who

survived the attack are in hospital. Kimberly has injuries to her neck.

I can't even start to imagine how they will deal with that form and

grief. They are able to talk to us occasionally but we are not at a

stage where Quick an interview either of them. We will do that

when it is appropriate and when they are ready, if they ever are,

to talk to us. Toby Day was an inspector with Leicestershire

Police. The police wanted one win is in particular to come forward.

My appeal today is particularly around a van that we knew drew

around the crescent at 4:20pm. The only description I have is that it

was white. It is not involved in any way. It just happened to drive

along the road at the relevant time. The Detective Superintendent also

wants to quash stories running in the national press about what

happened. Talking about the reason why Toby was dismissed and that

Samantha was having an affair. It is complete fabrication. I just

want to wait for the outcome of my investigation. I say that because

we have a grieving family who are waiting for the truth. That will

come with the coroner's inquest. It cannot come from tales of fantasy.

The police inquiry is continuing. In the meantime, the little girl's

school has paid tribute to her, describing her as a delight.

Support has been offered to other children and teachers. It has also

emerged that Adam and Kimberly know that their mother, father and

little sister had died. Joining us live now from

Leicestershire Police HQ is the chairman of the Leicestershire

Police Federation, Ivan Stafford. Good evening. Thank you for joining

us. You knew Inspector Toby Day personally. What kind of person was

Very diligent in his work and popular with his colleagues. What's

been the impact of this tragedy within Leicestershire Police?

wide-ranging. People are very distressed by it and they have to

remain professional about that and they will come to terms with what

has happened in the fullness of time. We don't know why this

happened but Inspector Day had been dismissed shortly before. Is there

support in place when officers are dismissed? The Police Federation is

a staff association and when an officer gets involved in an

internal disciplinary matter, a representative is provided for them

to act as their friend and guide and assist them through the process.

It can be quite traumatic at times. That is the support from the Police

Federation and it can remain, if necessary, after the dismissal if

that is necessary. Thank you. About 300 people a week are now

being removed from the region's sick list. The Benefits Agency is

reassessing around 1,000 people on incapacity benefits and moving

about a third of them onto jobseeker's payments instead. It's

all part of a government drive to slash the incapacity benefits bill.

But some think it's not fair, as our health correspondent, Rob

Sissons, reports. Jagdish says even getting around

his rented flat in Derby can be a struggle. He is on painkillers but

osteoarthritis and told benefit assesses about eight heart attacks

and angina. After five years of claiming incapacity benefit, he has

been reassessed as fit for work. I could work in any way, I would go

and get a job. I have never, ever liked sitting down. The problem is,

my back, my neck and my heart. I can't walk. He told me the

Government's talk on going back to work is a harsh reality. He looks

at losing around �30 a week in benefits. Just like they can put a

dog down, they can put you down. a statement, the Department for

In the East Midlands, 99,000 people were claiming jobseeker's allowance

in October. The numbers declared sick and unable to work, however,

was vastly sire. -- vastly higher. The numbers of Jagdish worries

about a his heating bills. I pitied on for three hours in the morning

and then three hours in the evening. -- I put it on. About a third of

appeals are upheld. A new review into the way assessments are done

will take place sooner. Welfare reform was never going to be easy.

Next, the continuing fight against the sexual exploitation of children.

In Derbyshire, the police are currently investigating 80 cases.

And they've been commended for their role in tackling what is a

growing problem. As part of a new national strategy, the Government

says other forces should follow Derbyshire's lead, as Sarah Teale

reports. Child exploitation is a frightening

and growing problem. Some vulnerable young children are

targeted on the streets. But others are preyed on even in the apparent

safety of their own homes. Jake was just 13 when he was a victim of

online grooming. I asked if he could be me in Derby and he could

go for a coffee and he said, yeah, that is fine. I can pick you up and

take you do Birmingham, we can go shopping. We can spend a night at

my hotel. My mum recognised the relationship for what it was an

took me to the police station. I found out he had actually been a

convicted paedophile. The issue hit the headlines in January after a

gang of men in Derby were jailed for cruising the streets and

crooning girls as young as 12. They were convicted following a specific

operation called Operation Retriever, run by Derbyshire Police.

Officers say they deal with hundreds of cases of child

exploitation every year. We are dealing with sexual exploitation

every single day in different crimes, so whether that is a rape,

sexual activity with a child, assault, incitement. We deal with

that every day. A new UK government action plan commenced Derbyshire

Police for the wicket has done. The strategy aims to draw on work

around the country to prevent child exploitation, identify those at

risk and support victims. Tonight, we look at why the problem is

growing, whether it is racially motivated and what is being done to

help the children who are at risk. That is at 7:30pm tonight on BBC

One. A woman has been sexually assaulted

while she was walking her dog in Derby. The 43-year-old was on a

footpath near woods off Wilmore Road at around 10.45am on Saturday

morning. Her attacker is described as Eastern European in appearance

and in his early 20s. He was around 5ft 8 inches tall, skinny build and

had noticeably bad teeth, with one of the top front ones missing.

Engineers have been installing solar panels on more than 1,000

homes in Nottingham before the government deadline. From today,

solar panel owners will be paid 50% less for the electricity they

produce. Nottingham City Homes has spent about �7 million installing

panels on 1,300 of their properties. Still to come on the programme, big

bills for that tiny bundle of joy. The spiralling cost of the first

year of life. Plus, it is the busiest day of

their year. Will be with the men and women sorting out that all-

important Christmas mail. -- we will be.

And it is another wet and windy light across the -- across the East

Midlands, with gusts of 50 miles an hour going through, and then

tomorrow, the chance of a few snow showers. More later.

Nottinghamshire's next chief constable has been announced today.

It's Chris Eyre, who is currently the force's deputy chief. And he's

also spent time in charge of the Leicestershire force. But what else

do we know about him? Our social affairs correspondent, Jeremy Ball,

can tell us more. Chris Eyre was brought to a

Nottinghamshire when its police force was facing a crisis. A series

of damning inspection reports that prompted the current chief to

replace her top command team. He has been in charge of turning

around a force at the same time as dealing with the huge squeeze in

his Budget. In addition to the �42.3 million we haven't cut, there

is another �12 million we should receive in government grant that we

are not. So we have a shortfall of 12 million. He has already spent

nine months in charge of another force. He was Leicestershire's

temporary Chief Constable and his been a national police chief

spokesman on forensic services. But it was this local tragedy that put

him at the eye of the storm - the case of Fiona Pilkington, who

killed herself and her severely disabled daughter after constant

hounding by yobs in Barwell. The police were accused of shameful

neglect. I started by offering my apologies to both the public and

the family for where policing have not met the requirements of the

local community or Fiona and her daughter through the process. I

offer my unreserved apologies and I meant it from the heart. I still do.

He will take over from the current police chief at a time when

policing will face a radical changes and more policing cuts.

Derbyshire Dales District Council is to close two tourist information

centres. It says not enough people are using them and the move will

save around �100,000 a year. Around 20, mainly part-time, jobs will go.

The Matlock Visitor Centre will close by the end of March next year,

and the one in Ashbourne a year later. The centres will be replaced

by information points elsewhere in the towns.

With just under two weeks till Christmas, today is the busiest day

of the year for Royal Mail staff working across the East Midlands.

With double the volume of letters and packages to deliver, they're

working around the clock, as Geeta Pendse reports.

If you are feeling the pressure of Christmas, spare a thought for

staff here at the Royal Mail sorting office in Nottingham. Today

is the busiest day of fear for them as they sought the thousands of

cards and packages. -- day of the deer as they sort. The machines

behind me would normally run for six hours on a Monday evening,

whereas today there will be running non-stop for about 18 hours. So the

volumes coming through a double what we normally see. To get a

sense of the scale of the operation, Royal Mail currently have 21,000

members of staff salt -- sorting out the post. They will have dealt

with 63 million items. Last year's dreadful weather was a real

challenge for the team. But with the mayhem, many are looking

forward to Christmas Day. I am looking forward to Christmas Eve

and finally being able to relax or stop it is very intense. But we are

enjoying people coming in and decorating their machines. There is

a real buzz bob around the place. The best advice for now is, post

your mail as early as possible. Second class on Saturday.

Next tonight, what price life? Or death? It seems that with the cost

of everything else rising, it's also getting expensive to mark some

of life's significant moments. This week, we're looking at just how

much it costs to get married and even to die. But first, birth.

Sumeer Kalyani looks at how those little bundles of joy can end up

costing their parents a big fat Harry Adkin has only been in the

world a few days. He is among more than 28,000 babies born in the East

Midlands each year. While it is an exciting time, it can also be one

of the most expensive. I think if you sat down and thought about it

and added Aberthin up, it would be a shock. But because you are

spending on a monthly, weekly, daily basis, is spaces things out.

With nappies, nursery and toys and even day-care to think about,

there's little bundles of joy can cost a big bundle of money - around

�10,000 in their first year. And it doesn't stop there. If by the time

they reach five, parents could be forking out more than �60,000.

can end up spending more than you need to without the guidance and

having a sense of being able to share items and not being afraid to

go second hand or look at selling things on after you have used them

and getting back some money. But it doesn't have to be so expensive.

Experienced mothers here have some money-saving tips for new parents.

If people of the second-hand things, take them. As long as they are

clean and working it doesn't matter. Children don't mind. When you have

your first, you are pressured into buying a lot of things you don't

actually need. Use the Sure Start Centre is an Ben you can learn that

babies can be interested in stuff that is not toys. Back here,

luxuries and baby toys are already on their shopping list. But why

would she have it any other way? At least making the baby is free!

Enough of that! We will immediately go to the sport! They are found

under a gooseberry bush! Sport tonight starts with Derby,

who put a stop to their slide with a come-from-behind win at Bristol

City. And, yet again, it was one of Derby's young guns who produced the

eye-catching moment. They keep making a mark, don't they?

All players young and Derby, making their mark in different ways, and

now we can add Callum ball to the list. He has got his first senior

goal. It is his second first in two appearances and it is important for

a young player. This game was partly atoned by some busy and play

from an older stall wart. Jamie Ward gave an early present for

Brighton to tap in. And then, at 19-year-old and your first senior

goal. Happy days. So while Derby are using their

youth set-up to maximum effect, Leicester look likely to splash the

cash and strengthen in next month's January transfer window. The club's

Thai owners continue to invest in all kinds of ways. And on Saturday,

Christmas came early at the King Power, at least off the pitch, as

It is Leicester City's last home game before Christmas so the owners

have laid on a fantastic winter Wonderland here in the car-park for

all the fans. I want to make the fans happy and

give them a good experience, not just come and watch the football

game and wait for the result. But at least they have something there

for the kids. I will get you, Santa Clause! Father Christmas has turned

out to support it and it is really good. A good way of paying back

some of the loyalty. They couldn't do more for us. It is a big club

and we are going places. And of course, everybody will have a great

Christmas if Leicester are winning. What is your assessment of Nigel's

performance so far? He is doing a great job. For me, not only on the

pitch but at the training as well. He can motivate the players and the

staff as well because he is tough. In his first five games, Nigel

Pearson has won two, drawn two and lost one. But this game against

Peterborough was not a Christmas cracker. Leicester were on top in

the first half with a sackful of chances but striker Jermaine

Beckford is not having any luck. It took until the start off the second

half for Paul Gallagher to make a breakthrough and then it looked

like Leicester would go on to win. But Peterborough held firm at the

back and asserted themselves, as Leicester-born at lead Tomlins

scored the equaliser. Today was a golden opportunity and we have let

it pass, basically. We have dropped points in the last two games which

we were very disappointed about, because we should be doing better.

But we will get there. Which leaves the Nottingham clubs,

both of whom can count themselves very unlucky to have been beaten

this weekend. But sometimes that's just how football is. The problem

for Forest in particular is that playing well and losing is now a

bit of a habit. The Reds battered Crystal Palace at

the City Ground. The chances reined in, especially in the first half

and Forest was denied by some unbelievable box, great goalkeeping

and bad luck. The post-match routine is becoming repetitive. But

you cannot blame them for that. just have a problem of putting the

ball in the back of the net. That is our problem! You don't take

those chances... We could have been 4-2 run up by half-time. If you

don't take those chances... This is how it bit them. Regulation of the

palace but they should not have been even close to Forest by this

stage. You feel if one thing drops right for the reds, it will all

come good. This rocket from a striker was their best opportunity.

But they will cost up with two minutes left. Had it is becoming a

real fight for those play-off places.

In rugby, Leicester Tigers' big match did not go their way. They

were heavily beaten by Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup. The

turning point in the game came when Tigers were 16-5 down. Both Manu

Tuilagi and George Chuter were sent to the sin bin. So with just 13 men

left on the pitch, the French side took control and went on to win the

game 30-12. It leaves Tigers' home game with Clermont this coming

Saturday as a must-win affair. But this try from Ben Youngs gives them

hope. No bonus point for the French is very good news.

And just a reminder in case you missed it over the weekend - good

wins for both Nottingham Panthers and Nottingham Rugby on Friday

night, the Rugby Club beginning to look like contenders.

And finally our delighted congratulations to Derbyshire's

Leon Haslam. The Superbike star is now a dad. His wife Oli gave birth

to Ava May in the early hours of this morning and all are doing just

fine. That is lovely. Hopefully he has

been saving up his pennies after that last feature!

Are you cleaning the house from top to bottom? Ready for Christmas

guests? Well, some houses are certainly getting a good going over

for different reasons. Belton House, near Grantham, is having its annual

winter clean-up. And, not only that, but the 17th-century house is also

getting a 21st-century heating system. It's cost a cool half a

million, as Tom Brown reports. Sit-in at the heart of the

Lincolnshire countryside for more than 300 years, Belton House has an

aura of tranquillity about it. And with the National Trust property in

a closed until the spring, its contents have been wrapped up for

their winter hibernation. We cover all the furniture and the objects

and ceramics. They are covered with paper covers. Once we have done

that, work begins to clean the entire contents of the house. But

this year, that is all a bit different. And this difference is a

new computerised trading system designed to keep punitive levels in

the house constant and protect the priceless artifact inside. -- to

keep heating levels. But there is some disruption. This is the saloon.

You would have got as far as here if you had known the family.

Radiators and computer systems are being put in, with the carpets been

called up. The house was once owned by the Speaker of the House of

Commons. This is an object that will benefit from this new central

heating system. The Cabinet is 17th century. It is Venetian and if the

wood and khakis gets damp it will swell and that is when you get

problems with Veneer coming off. Will next year's visitors notice a

difference? They might come in in July it when it is hot and warm and

Sol tree outside and if we have a sudden downpour, the humidity will

go up and our central heating will come on. Apart from that, it will

be business as usual come March. And a feeling of tranquillity will

return as though nothing had happened.

She did look chilly, didn't she? I am guessing Sara has got her

tightly-packed isobars! Mary windy tonight but not quite as much as by

the time we get to Friday. -- very But we had a tranquil picture to

show you first. A very different story tonight, though. We have a

south-westerly wind starting to increase as that band of mate

crosses the East Midlands and the wind will become stronger. -- band

of rain. Some very heavy rain as it crosses the region and we could see

around 30 mm falling. There are quite a few wintry showers coming

in behind and the opportunity for some ice as well. Quite a cold

night denied. Feeling or outside. And that is not with the wind at

its full strength. -- feelings raw outside. A few showers will become

wintry a have a higher ground but we will see colder air coming in. A

windy day tomorrow. Through the early part of the morning, at lower

levels, we will have a wintry mix of hail, sleet and snow. Very windy

again through Wednesday, with the majority of snow showers more

confined to the coast. Quite a bright day but it will be cold and

windy with the odd snow shower affecting the Peak District. But it

is this deep area of low pressure, a nasty looking storm, which looks