06/08/2014 Look East - East

With the general election 273 days away it seems ministers would rather

Two ministers have been in the region today to promote

economic regeneration and wd have had a stream of policy annotncements

But the big talking point today is the news that Boris Johnson,

the Mayor of London, is looking for a Parliamentary seat.

That will have caused a flurry of excitement in Suffolk and

Cambridgeshire where safe sdats are looking for a suitable candhdate.

In a moment, our political correspondent Andrew Sinclahr.

That's after this from our chief reporter Kim Riley.

This sub left tenant and celebrity diver is also a rising star of the

Conservative Party. This return to. All credit to them. It is Atgust

which is traditionally a holiday month. How's the election already

began? I hear to listen to what people say. A course or comlunities

fund grant has delivered tr`ining for unemployed people. Some of the

companies are bringing skills in from Europe rather than looking to

the local environment. Therd is a massive opportunity here. The Labour

Party has published a map. The party pledged to increase the nathonal

minimum wage. The Army has taken the biggest hit in the United Khngdom.

`` great Yarmouth has taken the biggest hit. It is not fair at the

moment. And these politicians say they were

fact`finding, not campaigning. Let's go to our political

correspondent Andrew Sinclahr. It has a majority of just over

12,000. And the chairman of the party said they would not slam the

door in the face of Boris Johnson. I think Boris is an eclectic

character that does a good job in promoting London. I am told he would

make a good MP by others. I don t know him personally. It's dhfficult

to tell, isn't it? What would he be

like for Bury? An interesting

character. I suspect he would put us on the map.

I would like him as an MP. What he says he does.

He is a troublemaker I think. He saxs such

outlandish things, I do not know that I would want him.

I do not really think he would fit in. Put it

that way. Well he really go for Bury?

I do not think so. The mere of London has a colourful past. `` in

the air of London. I think the party is looking for a non`controversial

candidate. The party is seehng the expect him to go for a London seat.

On top of this we have had other political announcements.

Norfolk and Suffolk councils are going to be allowed to use surplus

Government land for the bendfit of the local economy. There was a visit

from the local minister. Thd Government is trying to givd the

impression in August that it is a lot going on. Why is that h`ppening?

Because the election campaign is underway.

The police commissioner for Suffolk appeared to be at odds with his own

force today when he announcdd new measurers to tackle domestic abuse.

Tim Passmore said he was putting more resources

into tackling the offence because thousands of cases were only

We will be hearing from Mr Passmore after this from Alex Dunlop.

With David Ruffley being forced to retire the issue has re`entdred the

spotlight. Figures show that 17 0 incidents were dealt with bx a

caution. It is not always rhght that those cases end up being prosecuted.

We are a victim lead. If thd victim does not wish to pursue the matter

further we need to listen to that. Suffolk will get an extra ?244, 00

to help victims of crime. Those who have suffered domestic abusd will be

a priority. Earlier this afternoon I spoke to

Tim Passmore and started by asking We are encouraging all victhms to

report it to the police. Th`t is critical. We have put extra

resources into get extra officers trained for dealing with dolestic

abuse. We are looking at how we build trust and confidence. We need

people to report these incidents. Are you seeing the police h`ve not

been doing their job properly? Certainly not. But this is `bout

reallocation of resources. We can put more resources into dealing with

this issue. We will get on top of this problem. The police sax that

the large number of people where no further action is taken is because

the victims do not want to take any further action. That may well be the

case. But there are also people who do not report this serious crime.

Getting people to report it in the first place is important. Then I can

help allocate the resources. We have got to do more to look after the

victims. It can be an intoldrable situation.

Two men have been charged after a car crash which wrecked

The crash left the lich gatd at Ashill church near Watton in pieces.

The wooden structure had bedn dedicated to servicemen

from the village who were khlled in World War One.

Two men in their 20s have been charged with

They'll appear in court later this month.

A new generation of GM crops is ready for harvest in the region

The trials are aimed at boosting levels of omega three in thd diet.

The eastern region is the main centre for GM rese`rch

but the plans have not been welcomed by everyone.

It may not look like much, but this is a world first. This drop can

produce health boosting oil. This can help to address the global

shortage of fish stocks. Fish oil is produced I did tiny fish algae that

fish eat. Every year 1 millhon tonnes of fish oil are taken out of

the oceans of the world. 80$ of that is then used to make fish fded for

farmed fish. Four years GM crops have polarised

opinion. Two years ago therd were more protests. But this timd there

are no protests. But opponents say opposition is still strong. This is

not an efficient way to feed people. Putting Government money into

growing a crop to prop up an unsustainable fish industry is

crazy. With GM crops grown widely elsewhere in the world is ptblic

opinion changing? Here they sensed change is afoot. I would be

delighted if it was. Any particular example of the benefits of the

technology might be the one that tips the balance.

This crop will be harvested soon. More trials will follow. But it

could be years, if ever, before this harvest makes it onto our platess.

And still to come ` the offhcial advice when a beggar asks you for

money. And the wartime plan to movd the

people of Essex into Oxfordshire. Very often on this programmd we

tell you about the Eastern region We are the fastest growing region

in the UK, we're great at tourism, But today we found out we are

bottom of the table for driving It's based on data collected

from their new smartphone app. The app records speed,

acceleration and braking. The data shows that drivers

in our region come bottom of the UK Mike Liggins has tonight's

special report. One of the region's busiest

junctions. What is it like to drive here? Indicating at roundabouts is

always a good one. How many people are doing it here? There ard none.

Yes. Mostly, no. Now a survey has been published

showing that drivers in this region come bottom of the UK leagud table.

Drivers in Greater London are top. East Anglia has come out at the

bottom. Greater London has slower moving traffic. There is more

cornering involved in East @nglia. They have used data giving

information on speed and drhving style. I really really that bad

This man has been a bastion over for 15 years. `` a bus driver. H have

seen people not using their mirrors. What about the drivers not stopping

at several crossings? It happens all the time.

This man has his own websitd with video taken by a Kamala mounted on

has dashboard. `` video takdn by a Kamala.

He says drivers do not pay dnough attention. Text in crane drhving is

ridiculous. `` using your mobile phone to text whilst driving is

ridiculous. Once you have passed you test your

driving skill is never testdd again. If you see somebody begging

on the street what should you do? Stop and give them money

or just walk past? In Suffolk

the message couldn't be cle`rer Today a campaign was launchdd

in Ipswich called The authorities say that anx money

given to beggars is likely to be spent on hard drugs

and super`strength alcohol. This man is a former drug addict. He

has no doubt where money given to beggars will end up. If it hs

alcohol they can go straight to the shop. Then they are back on the

streets begging. Doing the same thing, over and over. In anx town

and city you will see beggars. Increasingly councils and the police

want to get rid of them. Today they were handing out leaflets and

talking to people in the centre of a switch. Last Christmas they had 25

persistent beggars. Now it has been cut in half. We have ten who

continue to beg. We are movhng into enforcement. We encourage pdople to

take up their out that our pastors will give them. `` to take `t the

help that our partners will give them. Today's message is do not give

money to the beggars, give ht to local charities instead. It does not

encourage people to visit Ipswich if BBC beggars in the ruled. The police

have bought 33 charges sincd February. `` it does not encourage

people to visit Ipswich if they see beggars in the street.

On Monday, we had the lights out ceremonies

around the region to mark the centenary of the outbreak of war.

Tonight, we continue the theme with a look at thd impact

Of course the war was being fought mahnly

in mainland Europe, but manx people here were worried about a possible

In Essex they even drew up an evacuation plan.

This island hadn't been inv`ded for the best part of 800 ye`rs

but for the first time ever we'd been attacked from the air ` the

spectre of the Zeppelin. And been bombarded by the German Navy `

With that in mind the fear of invasion wasn't entirely irrational.

During the First World War there was a real fear that the Germans might

actually invade, so in Essex they drew up an evacuation plan, a plan

get 1.4 million people out of the county. When the church bells rang

it was time to go `

The evidence of the evacuathon plan can be found in the Essex

Records Office where I met this historian who has been rese`rching

I think a number of things strike me here.

One of the key directives was to destroy alcohol.

There was a concern that if the German invading army got drunk

The Germans had already cut through Belgium and Northeast Francd.

It was plausible back then that we might be next.

The German army then moved towards Calais.

Essex, almost being the front of the British home front, ht was

geographically the closest to the Western Front, began to panhc, began

to think, if the Germans can get to Calais, they can get across the

Channel and they can land and invade on the British East Coast.

So it was a time of very heightened fear and anxiety.

I am not even sure paranoia is the right word, because there was

a genuine belief that the Gdrmans could land and invade and it was

The plan also involved destroying all livestock and firearms `nd

There was a route map that people should take and arrows were painted

on walls, trees and lamp posts to guide the way

One of the few remaining reminders of that

is in this village where ond of the arrows is marked with a plaque.

Here it is, the plaque that was erected at some point

It reads, "These arrows werd painted to direct non`combatants inland

"cross country, in the event of a successful landing by

I didn't expect to find it in any decent condition.

So I literally had to dig in and find it. I was delighted.

It was a Eureka moment to fhnd something with such a history

1.5 million people from the East were told to make

Quite what the good people of Oxfordshire made

There are no equivalent records ` or maybe they just didn't tdll

And tomorrow we turn to sport during the First World War.

We will be reporting on how the sport

of kings controversially survived the odds as horse racing continued

Now the must watch programmd on TV tonight is the new series

It's tonight at 8pm on BBC One with a collection

But they were on show today at Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire

where there was an attempt at a very unusual world record.

What Wonderland is this? A fight rabbit. Jam tarts. It is a world

record attempt. The most part eaten in one day. 2300 is the target.

What have you got to do? Get to in at once and munch it. What hs the

perfect way to eat jam tarts shove them in your mouth. And all of this

for free. And these play sets and swings were

built here. This was central to children's play. He wanted three

play for children back in the 1 20s. `` he wanted free play for children

back in the 1920s. He was ahead of his time.

fine day today. There has bden warm sunshine. There have been showers.

Tonight will be largely dry. Slightly cooler tonight. I really

fine morning. Cooler and frdsher during the day. More clouds starting

to develop for the afternoon. Many of us will see a dry day throughout.

Unsettled weather on the wax for Friday. Fairly lively weathdr coming

our way. This could cause lhvely weather later in the day on Sunday.

Stay tuned to the forecast. Friday will be a reasonable start with some

sunshine. Saturday looks like the better of the two days. Sunday could

be unsettled. That is all for now. Goodbyd.