05/10/2011 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening. Welcome to Look North. The headlines:

Lincolnshire's chief scone stabl says he can't rule out closing

police stations as he trying to balance the books.

If I had a choice, I wouldn't be in the business of closing police

stations. We have to deal with the reality here.

The school girls being forced to wear trousers after a ban on skirts.

I don't think it's right. It will be way to hoot in the summer. Some

parents have bought the skirts. BAE workers ride through the night

to the Conservative conference. Find out if they got to speak to

the Prime Minister. And the pub in East Yorkshire

launches the country's first vaping bar to beat the smoking ban.

A real taste of autumn tomorrow. Much colder and windy. All the

Lincolnshire's Chief Constable admitted he can't rule out closing

police stations as part of budget cuts. Both the Lincolnshire and

Humberside forces need to make savings this year of over �11

million between them. One idea being trialled in Spalding to

reduce costs is the temporary closures of town's custody suites.

The move away from traditional police buildings has the backing of

the Government. On a Saturday night, Spalding's

custody suite has been known to hold two prisoners to a cell. But

for now, it stands empty. Closed. The latest casualty in place --

police spending cuts. But that's not a problem according to the

policing Minister. I don't have an attach ment to old buildings who

may be visited by a handful of people every day. I have a strong

aFatchment to the high visibility of police. If they set up shop,

sharing premises with the community. Visiting superrpblts markets they

can see thousands of people during the day. Offenders in Spalding will

be escorted 15 miles to Boston F there's no room at the inn there,

they'll be taken to Grantham, another 32 miles away. That's a

real worry to pub landlord Peter Williams. On occasion, the police

say, peat er, calm things down, the cells are full. We can't take any

more. What problems can that cause for you? No police on the street.

It will take two police officers to transport one person to Boston or

Grantham. It will be at least a two hour round trip. Saving money is a

top triert for police forces. In this financial year, Humberside

Police is aiming to save �5 million. That will include 142 job cuts.

Lincolnshire is cutting �6.7 million and 160 posts. Both forces

say they are belt-tightening. Lincolnshire's aiming to recruit 50

exca voluntary -- extra voluntary special constables. Both say they

are looking at the way the public get to talk to officers face-to-

face. How do the community feel about their bobbies being based in

the supermarket? Rpblgts very good. They are utilised the light ing,

heat and rates of the super market. Plus they are more visible and

accessible. It is more ridiculous. They are better off having the

police station. It is difficult to cut back. If you're going to cut

back on the police it affects everybody. Like it or not, these

cuts are coming and are proving a challenge to chief constables

across the country. Earlier, I spoke to Lincolnshire's

chief scone tabl Richard com -- constable Richard Crompton. I asked

him if any police stations are likely to close because of the

cuts? Anything's possible. I was reported in the national press over

the weekend talking about the national position. All chiefs in

all authorities across the country are having to make difficult

decisions. Some have already made decisions on police station

closures. In Lincolnshire, our Police Authority will consider the

issue later on in this month. But, in our conversations to date,

they've made some principles pretty clear. They value very highly the

local accessibility and con tact people have with us. Is it right

you want to see people in supermarkets than police station

sns There are new ways we can get police officers more visible and

more accessible to people. Supermarkets is certainly one area

I'd be very happy to explore. you rather see a place man in the

supermarket than in a police station? Look, if I had a choice,

Peter, I wouldn't be in the business of closing police stations.

We have to deal with the reality here. If the Police Authority do

need to reduce our number of police stations, and we have over 5 50, we

would not be talking about the larger Motherwell known police

stations. How many of that 52 are we talking about? I'm not going to

second guess the Police Authority's decision. I can tell you they've

made it very clear to me in conversations to date if they do

take a decision to reduce the number, that would only be after a

lot of consultation with the local community but number two and most

importantly, they would have to be convinced there was a viable

alternative and that brings us into the area of supermarkets, libraries,

Post Offices, a viable alternative in place before a station or an

office was closed. You're shutting the custody suite at Spalding for a

trial period with those arrested taking to Boston. What saving will

that make? It is more about the fleeing up of police officer

numbers. At the moment, with the five custody stations that we have,

unfortunately, we frequently have to bring in uniformed searchants

who should be out on patrol to help staff up the custody centres by

reducing it by one, I will reduce that burden. That will have the

impact of keeping more police officers and supervisery officers

out on the streets. What else up your sleeve to save money? The

police are going on Twitter. Is that to make us think the police

are there when they're not? Absolutely not. I think it is just

a really useful way of making us easier for certain people to

contact. People who are used to using social media. They contact me

and my officers all of the time. It allows us to get out messages about

crime prevention, criminals we are looking for. It has a really

practical, positive effect, it also helps provide a human face to

policing. Chief Constable, thank you for talking to us tonight.

Let's open this open. How would you feel if your local police station

was to shut? Would you welcome officers being base in the

different places like supermarkets instead of traditional police

buildings. Your thoughts on this buildings. Your thoughts on this

In a moment, village ers in Lincoln are plunged into darkness by cable

thieves using a dinghy to move their stolen goods.

Girls at a North East Lincolnshire school are to be banned from

wearing skirts. Pupils at Tollbar Academy near Grimsby will have to

wear trousers from January after some were caught wearing skirts too

short. The decision's left some parents unhappy at the prospect of

having to kit out their daughters in new clothes. Nch

The weekly uniform watch won't look like this for much longer. From

next year, there will only be trousers on Wendy Reeves' washing

line. I've bought my girls two sets of skirts for school hopefully to

last them a year but now I've to go out and buy them trousers and socks.

The uniform rules here at Tollbar state skirts can be no shorter than

5cms above the knee. The school says girls ignore the rule or

parents find it difficult to find skirts long enough. So they've been

banned. Up until now, girls could choose between trousers are skirts.

Some are not happy about the changes. We don't think it is fair.

In the summer, it is rather warm at times. It is a waste of money. It

is against our freedom to wear what we want. The academy say if it is

choice the students want they can choose a new school. Young ladies

and very short skirts so we've been trying to address it. It hasn't

proven successful. They are finding difficulty acquiring the right

length of skirt. The skirt ban will be introduced at Tollbar sister

school Cleethorpes academy. It is not just here uniform's causing

controversy. Skirts were banned at St Aidan's in North Yorkshire.

Kingswood also had rules tightened. This this boy wore a skirt when his

school banned shorts for buys boys. Some say Tollbar's new rule is

unfair. To put an extra cost on is bonkers. If griplsqi town changed

their football top in the middle of a season, fans would be in up roar.

It is like a money-making scheme. Despite the backlash, Tollbar won't

change its position and is showing pupils here just who wears the

trousers. Alice Robinson is from the

Association of Teachers and Lecturers. She told me schools have

the right to enforce their own rules.

Every school has its own responsibility to ensure they have

a uniform code and behaviour policies. And that they stick to it.

The Chief Executive of the academy says it is health and safety? Have

you heard that before? I've never heard it in this respect before.

You can't trip over a short skirt? They might get cold in a cold

winter but never come across any use of this reason before. Is it

fair enough to say all trousers, no skirts. Is that OK? I would always

hope schools work with the local community, parents, consult with

them, about what they feel is the most appropriate uniform within

that community. It is about ensuring you have the backing and

support of parents. They are the people buying the uniform.

teachers care if the pupils are wearing short skirts or trousers?

It can become an issue. If you're trying to enforce school rules and

students are repeatedly breaking those rules, it can undermine

behaviour in other areas as well. There is an issue if a school has a

poll policy they stick to it. Parents say this decision will be

costly for them.? Most schools tend to have a handover or changeover

period when they introduce significant changes to uniform

introducing the changes by 1st January with a complete

changeoverst September. It helps parents plan. When their child

grows out of uniform, they buy the new one without a sudden cut-off

point. If girls refuse to wear trousers would you be in support of

them if they are sent home to change?, if the if parents know

that is the school uniform, we'd expect children to abide by the

uniform as any other aspect of the school's behaviour policy. Very

good to talk to you. Thank you. Let's have comments on this one

from pupils, parents and teachers. What difference will banning skirts

in school have on behaviour and pupil safety? Do you agree with the

decision. Get in touch with us. Some more news: A judge called for

an urgent review of prison security as he jailed an inmate for life

today for attempting to murder Soham killer Ian Huntley. Damien

Fokes pleaded guilty to slashing Huntley's throat in March. He admit

the manslaughter of child killer Colin Hatch who was stronged at

Full Sutton Prison in February. �300,000 of taxpayers money could

be used to bail out the red line quarter in Spalding. It opened in

April designed to support local produce. Only three of the units

have been let. South Holland district is being asked for the

money to clear operator's debts. Money is owing to local businesses

which is why the District Council is keen to bail them out. I

appreciate the community interest company will give us the

opportunity by bailing them out to stat afresh with a new company and

go along with our original aim and vision for a food Heritage centre.

The time is nearly a quarter to seven. BAE workers whose jobs are

under threat cycled through the night to get to the Conservative

conference. And the East Yorkshire pub getting around the Government

Tonight's photograph... Thinking very much. That a sunrise. Another

picture tomorrow night at around the same time stomach good evening,

thank you to everyone he told me you were being slated on 5 Live! We

do not know the details, but I enjoyed hearing about it.

So did die, but it was a load of cobblers! -- so did I.

No details. Any glossy magazines today?

No magazines, just the weather Ate cold wind from the West today,

22 degrees in Bridlington today. Showers on the way. The Ed goes

back towards the Arctic Circle. -- the air. It does get modified

across the warm sea but it gives you an idea the wind will be Chile

tomorrow. Not too bad a day, to 22 degrees. But clouds now invading

from the West and a cold front is on the way that will introduce cold

weather tonight and tomorrow. Patchy rain, moving quickly,

followed by showers towards dawn. Temperatures down to 8, 9 degrees.

The sun will rise in the morning. - - the sun will rise in the morning

at 7:12pm. There will be a mixture of sunny spells and scattered

showers tomorrow. As the day develops, a few showers could be

heavy with the risk of thunder, but in between showers, dry and bright

weather as well. It will be a stiff westerly. Look at these top

temperature. Bridlington today 22 degrees, Tomorrow 14 degrees. A

significant winter chill to come. Friday looks a bit better. Mostly

dry with some sunshine. A changeable weekend. A bright start

on Saturday and possibly patchy This e-mail from a woman who lives

in Russia, that I watch your weather forecast -- I watch a

programme every night. I find the programme very instructive and

interesting! Probably does not understand a word

of it! We do not understand a word of you!

See you tomorrow! Good evening, Russia!

Hundreds of homes have been left without electricity in a village

near Lincoln today after thieves stole more than a mile of overhead

power cables. Police say the those responsible were highly organised,

and they even used a dinghy to cross a stretch of water. Burton

Waters is the latest place to be hit in the county. Simon Spark has

spent the day with engineers and shop keepers in Burton Waters, as

they deal with the effects of the theft.

Shopkeepers in the village of Burton Waters, were forced to open

in the dark this morning, without power. The latest victims of a

series of cable thefts in Lincolnshire. It is very annoying.

It is more annoying knowing they are not dealt with properly and

somewhere somebody is buying cables. I had to cancel all my clients, so

not very good. Over 500 homes were affected, so temporary generators

had to be brought in to restore power. But the source and scale of

the problem was no more than a mile away.

There should be three wires between these poles. They have been chopped.

Good grief! This is quite heavy copper -- a quite heavy gauge

copper conductors. About eight spans of cable were

taken, 2,400 metres in all, but as recently as Monday, the cable had

been smart watered, giving the police some hope, as did the

evidence left behind. I found this boat by the lake. They

rowed across. They had equipment on the other side of the river, and

made it, came back and wrapped it up. Within an hour.

In is a very dangerous crime and clearly they know what they are

doing if they are able to isolate the power, they must have knowledge

of working with electricity. We are very aware of the incident now and

we are looking out for suspicious vehicles, we are following up

several positive lines of inquiry, but the message is that we need

early reporting of suspicious activity.

It is estimated this haul alone could be worth over 10,000, but it

will be a bigger price that we all pay while this sort of crime

continues. They cycled through the night,

covering 100 miles, to urge the Prime Minister to fight for their

jobs. A group of workers from BAE Systems in Brough have taken their

campaign to save almost 900 jobs at the aircraft factory to the

Conservative Party conference in Manchester today. Our Political

Editor, Tim Iredale, has been following their progress. He joins

us live from the conference tonight. Tim, have the BAE workers had any

success today? I think in terms of raising

awareness of their plight, it has been a success. They set off from

Brough exactly 24 hours ago. They cycled across the Pennines,

overnight. They took some of their own video footage along the way.

And they arrived in Manchester early this morning to a warm

welcome, a windswept -- windswept and tired but determined to have

their say on the day the Prime Minister made his keynote speech.

And they had this message for David Cameron.

I think he does a bit of cycling so if he would like to cycle across to

Brough, we will talk to him. If not, we will cycle to London. We will

put as much effort into what we would like him to put the same

effort into into talking to the BAE bosses to see if anything can be

done to safeguard any manufacturing jobs at BAE in police macro. -- in

Brough. Have Conservative ministers offered

any hope of saving these jobs? Ministers were careful not to offer

false hope to the workers. Interesting that BAE was not

mentioned in the speech. By the Defence Secretary Liam Fox or by

the Prime Minister this afternoon. And as the conference season draws

to a close tonight, there are growing calls for the BAE jobs

crisis to be debated in Parliament. And the Tory MP whose constituency

covers Brough, David Davis, says the government cannot afford to

ignore these workers. It is already in people's minds and

the Prime Minister will take it seriously. George Osborne has, we

talked earlier in the week about Enterprise Zones. Vince Cable I am

seeing next week, and Alan Johnson will be seeing the national unions

next week. So there is a lot of attention on this issue, and there

has to be, because we are fighting against the odds. It will be very

difficult to pull this off. I think the workers were

disappointed not to have met the Prime Minister face-to-face, but

they say they already planning to cycle to Downing Street to lobby

David Cameron directly. As one of them put it today, at least it will

be downhill next time. And we will continue to follow that

story. It was a disappointing night for Scunthorpe United, who were

knocked out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy by Oldham Athletic.

This first half goal was enough to decide the game at Glanford Park.

The Iron came close on a number of occasions in the second half, but

couldn't find an equaliser. An East Yorkshire pub is today

launching what it calls the UK's first 'vaping bar' to help drinkers

get around the ban on smoking indoors. Vaping is where small

doses of flavoured nicotine are inhaled through an electronic

cigarette. Jo Makel has more. Puffing away in a Driffield pub.

But these people aren't smoking. They're vaping. Landlord Andy

Walker believes this could help pubs like his that have lost

customers because of the smoking ban.

Most licensees around the country agreed there has been a drop in

trade since it happened and we are trying to offer customers the

opportunity to come in here, have the smoking experience with a drink

without braking or oars breaking it. The definition of smoking in the UK

is the burning of tobacco. There is no tobacco in this and no burning,

so it is not smoking. So Andy has decided to make it clear to his

customers that vaping is allowed in his pub. But these converts have

had mixed responses from other landlords.

From down on the south coast out -- right up to the top of Scotland, at

every venue I have been in, once they have realised this is not a

cigarette and it is legal, I have had no problems. People are not

used to it. It needs to be made clear it this is not a cigarette.

And Alan Graystone, from the Hull Licensed Victuallers Association,

says the look of electronic cigarettes can make it difficult

for landlords. Other customers who do not know

about these things will see this man smoking, this electronic

cigarette, they will not know the difference and they will think, he

has looked up and nobody is saying nothing. I will light up. So people

will light up real cigarettes. The Government wants more research

done on the safety of these products, but until a conclusion is

reached, it will be down to landlords to decide if vaping is

allowed. Let's get a recap of the national

and regional headlines. David Cameron tells the Conservative

conference that the party will turn this time of challenge into a time

of opportunity. Lincolnshire's Chief Constable says

he can't rule out closing police stations, as he tries to balance

the force's books. Tomorrow's weather: Cold and windy

with sunny intervals and scattered showers, locally heavy with the

risk of thunder. Maximum temperature 14 Celsius.

Response on the subject of policing. Jess says, an acquaintance of ours

was arrested for a minor offence requiring two police officers to

require him to Boston. The officers were told Boston and Grantham were

closed and he had to be taken to Skegness, a waste of petrol and the

time of officers. Peter in Beverly says, it is an

excellent idea, it just needs to be publicised.

On the subject of skirts. Alex says, a pair of trousers is under �5. It