23/03/2017 Look East

Hello and welcome to Look East. and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

In the programme tonight: The war against the drug gangs from London

who exploit vulnerable people to sell for them here.

You get threatened with your high, violence...

The Braintree MP pays tribute to his friend of 25 years,

the police officer killed on duty at the Houses of Parliament.

He was a strong, professional public servant. It was a delight to meet

him here again only a few months after being elected.

Today's technology recreating the face of a man

If you're a fan of Countdown, stay tuned to hear more

IM here in Northamptonshire to see how your money is being spent by

Comic Relief right across the region.

The police in Norfolk have carried out their biggest raid yet

against drug gangs who come to this region from London.

Operation Gravity was set up three months ago.

136 people have been arrested and crack cocaine and heroine

with a street value of ?35,000 has been seized.

This morning, Alex Dunlop joined the police for two raids

An inspector and his team come to call but for the people in these

flats it is anything but a gentle door knock. The search, for heroin,

cocaine and cash. Within seconds they find evidence of drug abuse,

needles, syringes, pipes and pills and evidence of chaotic lifestyles.

Why have the police raided? Criminal gangs are migrating north from

London preying on teenagers to become drugs couriers. This machete

was found near the front door. This is common that they use these

weapons. They also found a BB gun. After just an hour, police have

found enough to arrest six people, three on drug charges. You are under

arrest on suspicion of intent to supply class a drugs. Do people take

drugs there? Yes. What about drug dealers? No. A common practice for

drug dealers who move into an area is so-called cocooning, which is

what has happened here. They befriend a vulnerable person and

then take over the property and use it as a base from where they can

deal drugs. More often than not the occupant is too afraid to tell them

to leave. If I phone the police they will put the windows through and

petrol bomb my door. I don't go out. I am too paranoid to go out. They

take over your life. Violence, prostitution, shoplifting,

burglaries, all our crime is generally because people are trying

to feed an addiction. They come from London, other major cities. They see

Norwich as a good market. Operation gravity intends to stifle that

market for drug dealers but that means these teams are in for the

long haul. This afternoon, I spoke to

Chief Superintendent Dave Marshall from Norfolk Police and put it

to him that drugs with a street value of ?35,000 over three months

doesn't seem very much. No, it is not a lot when you talk

about what you could produce on the drugs market but ?35,000 is a lot of

drugs, a lot of people who have been subject to harm. The type of

violence used in the drug supply trade is around small amounts of

debt, so a disproportionate amount is used against people. The people

you have arrested, 136 over the last three months, they would be fairly

down the food chain so don't you need to go after the big boys? You

have to start somewhere and by taking people off the street and

getting the drugs off the street, that is our starting point. All the

intelligence we gather at that point can help take out the high-level

dealers, but the harm is being caused on the street, that is where

violence is being played out so that is our priority at the moment. We

saw in the film about cocooning, moving into a flat which is run by

somebody who is honourable. What can people do to stop that happening

near them? The biggest threat to these people is the community itself

because everyone will know what is going on in their local community

and if people tell us, we can act on it. People will be scared to phone

you. I can understand that. We have had over 700 calls in the last two

months hosting gravity to us. The information will come to us. If they

are scared to phone you, what can you do to stop them being scared?

The fact we're out in the communities, knocking on doors,

informing people and acting on information should reassure the

community that we do what they say seriously. Across the whole country,

this is not an issue isolated in Norfolk. What we find is that the

drugs trade is like any other business, it is about people looking

for another duty to make money. It could be in any town which is why we

need everyone in Norfolk to be vigilant. Thank you.

The Braintree MP, James Cleverly, has described the police officer

who was killed yesterday as strong, professional and a friend.

Mr Cleverly told MPs he first met PC Keith Palmer 25 years ago

in the army and he called on the government to formally

On a sealed off Westminster Bridge police forensics officers continued

their investigations. While MPs in the Commons stood firm against the

evils of terrorism. The MP for Brentry pay tribute to his old army

friend PC Keith Palmer who paid with his life. He was a strong,

professional public servant and it was a delight to meet him here again

only a few months after being elected. Would my right honourable

friend the Prime Minister in recognition of the work that he did

and the other police officers and public servants here in the house

consider recognising his gallantry and sacrifice formally with a

posthumous recognition? The Prime Minister said his request would be

considered in due course. James was today back at the Green pastures

plant centre in Norfolk. It won a farm enterprise award from the

countryside Alliance. Yesterday here and his partner took this picture

after leaving an award ceremony at the House of Lords. Seconds later

the attackers car ploughed into the railings behind them. If we had not

taken that picture, they would have been further up the road and being

at that point at the wrong time. The policemen were yelling at the top of

his voice, saying, run! He looked quite scared. Obviously so were we.

The couple were given refuge amongst the gowns in the House of Lords

cloakroom. Later holed up in Westminster Abbey. At the same award

ceremony yesterday, the team from Lavenham butchers in Suffolk. I was

concerned for my wife. Running through my head was what happened in

Paris especially when we heard the shots, we were not sure who was out

there. I have a nine-year-old who asked me what a terrorist was and

why people do these things. True Muslims do not believe in these

actions of the terrorists so we need to focus and stick together whatever

race, religion we are. Police chiefs have been meeting today to discuss

the implication of yesterday's attack. Essex Police among forces

deploying armed units to keep public areas.

A man has been found guilty of a sex attack at an isolated

Sam Duncan had denied the attempted rape of a woman

at Melton train station, but was convicted by a jury

Another leading high-tech company in this region

E2v in Chelmsford is being bought by an American

Last year, ARM Holdings in Cambridge was sold to a Japanese company.

This from our business correspondent Richard Bond.

It's one of the jewels in the crown of the region's economy.

E2v of Chelmsford might not be a household name, but Nasa,

Boeing and Airbus use its sensors and semiconductors and now this

British high-tech star is about to fall into foreign hands

thanks to a ?600 million takeover by an American firm.

It grew out of Marconi and for many years was known

It's the latest British high-tech firm from this region to fall

under foreign ownership, but should we care?

Quite a few people cared when Cambridge -based Arm Holdings

The chip designer was bought by the Japanese.

That followed big-money takeovers of two other silicone Fen firms,

the ink-jet printer Domino and the wireless

This Cambridge-based partner of a national accountancy firm said

these recent deals may have something to do with the referendum.

Obviously since the referendum, sterling has fallen noticeably

against other currencies, but most obviously the dollar,

so that has made UK companies cheaper to foreign buyers.

Does it matter if our high-tech firms are bought

If you look at the companies that are acquiring our local businesses,

they are major multinationals with huge resources,

so that gives a big opportunity for further investment

The American company buying E2v is called Teledyne.

It specialises in defence electronics, aerospace

It's a great compliment to E2v and all it has achieved

over its various incarnations that we have this American

We want to see it remain in Chelmsford, we want to see

investment continue in developing the company, developing products

there and we are hopeful that it will be good news for E2v

as an organisation and Chelmsford as a city.

While a small number of head office jobs are expected to be lost,

the vast majority of staff are likely to be kept on.

The company's strength in growing high-tech markets should see to

that. Is everyone so positive

about foreign takeovers? No, there always give you that you

sell out, you lose control and future decisions will be made

overseas. Future profits will be taken by the new owner rather than

local shareholders and there is the worry of whether assets have been

sold on the cheap, but in a global economy, takeovers take place on a

two way Street. Foreign companies can buy our companies if the terms

are right, but also British companies can go overseas and buy

assets there as well and that goes on a lot. E2v itself has done that.

And the man who started running three years ago hoping

Five years ago, about 400 complete skeletons were uncovered

at the Old Divinity School at St John's College

in Cambridge, on what was the old monastery hospital.

Now, scientists have used the latest technology to recreate the face

of one man who lived and died 700 years ago.

In a peaceful corner of Cambridge and the old Divinity School, more

than 400 medieval skeletons were unearthed. They were the sick or

people with no money cared for by monks. One skeleton found at this

spot has brought us face-to-face with the community we know little

about, the medieval poor. Across the city at this laboratory a series of

tests have been carried out on these bones. They revealed the man who

died was around 40 and Fifa to seven. By taking the skull and

digitally laying in muscle muscle and skin thickness a photograph from

the past stairs out. It is the same reaction many of the viewers will

have that it turns it much more from being a scientific specimen into a

person and we have to treat him as both at the same time. The skeleton

shows a wear and tear of a hard-working life and chemical

analysis of the bones can reveal a remarkable amount about the man

buried in a pauper's grave. He had a quite rich diet with a bit of fish

and animal protein which was is a price considering as a poor person

he would have eaten a lot of green. He may have had a life supplying

food in one way or another. A closer look suggests he could have died in

considerable pain. He had a condition called Galton caused by a

Euro classic level build-up in the bloodstream and it can be quite

painful. This is the beginning of a four year project. 400 skeletons are

boxed here awaiting analysis and although this man died before the

Black Death, it is thought many of the others will provide an

unprecedented insight into the disease that proved so fatal in the

medieval world. Three years ago, Dave Reading

smoked 60 a day and wasn't Then a doctor told him

something had to change. So Dave took up running and now he's

hoping to beat the world record for running the 837 miles

from Lands End to John O'Groats. In just three years, Dave has become

a running machine. Pounding the pavements at steady speed for him it

really is much, much more of a marathon than a sprint. I have only

been running since 2014. I was a heavy smoker and gave up and running

helped with the craving. Trouble is I did not know where to stop. He is

now taking on a truly epic challenge running all the way from lands end

to John O'Groats raising money for the charity walking with the

wounded. You are trying to run 837 miles in eight and half days, what

are you thinking? Hopefully raise a lot of money. It is a great cause.

It is a long way so we will see what happens. Daunted? A little. We have

driven the route and it does make you realise how far it is. Pretty

extraordinary feat. It represents the courage, determination, staying

power and mental fortitude of those that serve in the Armed Forces. Dave

is testament to that as a Bertrand himself but it is extraordinary. As

it is finding the time to train. At home his wife and eight children

keep him busy. He was not very good at running. He could barely make it

up the stairs. Can you believe him now? It is crazy. I thought he was

stupid but it is inspiring. He has a loyal support group. His son is

cycling the route. We have a toilet on-board, cooking facilities, a

small bed for Dave to have a rest on if he needs to have a lie down. Do

you think he will be up for the challenge? He is more than up for

it. It is not like running a marathon. I will run four marathons

a day so that is the equivalent and 33 marathons in eight and a half

days. A body is not thought to do that? Mine is. Sleep will be a

luxury. The record stands at just over nine days. His attempt to beat

it already makes him a hero. Over the last two years,

?1.3 million has been spent on 169 different good causes

in this region. And all of that money came

from you for Red Nose Day. And, of course, Red

Nose Day is tomorrow. The Countdown presenter

Nick Hewer has been to see how some of the money

was spent in Northamptonshire. All aboard the bus. A lifeline for

older, disabled and isolated people. It is a personal door to door bus

service for people who would be trapped at home without it and today

on board, that bloke from the telly. Without the bus life could be

lonely? Definitely. It is a community on the Demuth because it

is the same people all the time and for ?20 a year, which is what you

pay, it is nothing. It is fantastic, a great service, a lifeline to many.

Sometimes they would go on shopping trips, to craft fairs or the coast

but it is not about the destination, it is the journey. It is better to

travel than to arrive. A lot of them are isolated. If it was not for this

vehicle and five others, they would sit there looking at four walls and

doing little at all. One person looking at four walls for the best

part of four years was former prison officer John Jones. After two

amputations, kidney failure and a triple heart bypass he was a

prisoner in his own home with his wife who was also his carer. But

this bus has given him his life back. It doesn't matter where it is

going, it is so nice to get out and chat to different people. It is a

lovely atmosphere. I am a candidate for this sort of thing. I am 73, I

feel quite lonely sometimes. Yes there is public transport but not

everyone can get to the bus stop, not everyone can get on the bus.

This bus comes to them and takes them to the best place ever, a place

full of friends. A place called freedom.

We want to hear what you're doing for Comic Relief and we want your

You can get in touch by email, you can post your videos on Facebook

We'll be showing some of your fundraising tomorrow.

Let's have a look at the weather. Lots of lovely spring sunshine

across the region today. Some beautiful blossom here in Milton

Keynes and a lovely scene across a field in Essex. It was feeling

chilly in that north-easterly breeze but things should be warmer

tomorrow. Tonight, clear skies does generally translate into a cold

night but cloud comes in from the North Sea so particularly for the

north eastern half of the region, temperatures staying at six or 7

degrees, go further west we could record lows of three or four

Celsius. We start tomorrow with cloud but high pressure is here and

it is here to stay into the weekend and beyond bringing us some

sunshine. We cleared the cloud away first thing tomorrow and then we see

good spells of sunshine and the wind will not be as strong. It will be

cooler on the coast, do further inland we will record highs of 12

Celsius. Some good spells of sunshine for the afternoon. Looking

beyond, not a lot is changing. High-pressure sticks around, so a

fine weekend. It will stay try with good spells of sunshine but some

fairly chilly nights. In the next few days out of the two days of the

weekend, Saturday looks better in terms of sunshine. Cloudy on Sunday

but the fine weather will stay into next week so we will record highs of

30 Celsius but chilly overnight. The clocks go forward on Saturday night

into Sunday morning, so from all of us here, thank you for your company.

Good night.