12/08/2011 Midlands Today

Welcome to the programme. The headlines: In memory of three men

who died in the riots - thousands prepare for a peace vigil.

The hunt for the rioters goes back to the streets with images of

wanted suspects. We want to show the public we're doing everything

we can to arrest the suspects. Pulling no punches, professional

sportsmen and women hoping to give young people some positive role

models. Life after the riots - how one hairdresser has received

support from across the UK. They have sent me cards, flowers,

they are calling me from all over Welcome to the programme. Tonight,

thousands prepare for a peace vigil in memory of the three men who were

killed on the streets of Birmingham. The event will take place on Sunday

after police and community leaders pleaded for marches planned for

today to be cancelled. The focus of grief is Winson Green, where the

men died. Mary Rhodes has spent the day there. Another hugely emotional

day? Yes but after the quite large international media presence here

yesterday, and the visit of the Chief Constable, things have been a

lot calmer yesterday. People have continued to pay their respects.

There was a big turnout to Friday prayers at the mosque here but

talks of an impromptu March did not materialise. Instead we have heard

there will be a peace rally taking place at the Park on Sunday at 3pm.

Friday prayers always have a particularly significance in the

Muslim community. Today they had an added dimension. Over 1500 attended

the mosque, three times the usual number. It was a show of strength

and Union for the families of the three men who were killed in the

early hours of Wednesday morning. This is just to show gratitude,

feeling and show support that we are with you. I heard the interview

of the parents, it was a good and calming day for the local community.

They had been talk of a March after the prayers that yet again, the

words of the father of one of the murdered men changed the course of

action. I don't know who has been spreading the word but there is no

March, no March know where. If you want to walk, go hiking. Don't do

it in the name of our sons, I don't want any matches. Instead, a silent

vigil was held around what has become a makeshift memorial. It was

here that the two brothers and their friend lost their lives. This

is where community leaders are hoping people will gather for a

peaceful rally on Sunday. The organisers say they are hopeful

that people will share their sense of unity and join them for the

meeting. As a community, we have to come together, support Sunday and

then let's build a long-term plan of sustainability for our

Birmingham together. Given for hundreds of bunches of flowers and

cards and the strength of feeling here, there's likely to be a large

crowd at the rally. I understand inquests on the men

began just a short time ago? Yes, that's right, the inquest was

opened and adjourned. The coroner said it was an exceptional case,

adding that he was satisfied with the pathologist's conclusion that

all injuries were consistent with being in collision with a car. The

detective superintendent in charge of this case has told us that 70

officers are working on the case and 60 witness statements have been

taken. They have significant CCTV footage and they have recovered a

car believed to be involved in the incident 200 yards from here and it

was burnt out. There have also recovered another vehicle they

believe may have been involved in the incident. They say it is highly

likely police will apply for more time to question the three men may

have arrested on suspicion of murder. Word is spreading of the

peace rally due to take place on Sunday at 3pm. That is likely to

attract a huge number of people away from this community and far

beyond. There will be a news special on

Sunday afternoon live from Somerfield Park and presented by

Adrian Goldberg. Nine more offenders from this

week's riots and looting are now in prison after courts sat again last

night. 85 defendants have been through the legal system here so

far. Meanwhile, pictures of people still wanted by police are being

displayed on a large mobile TV screen in Birmingham. Over the next

two days, the van will be driven around the city centre in the hope

people will come forward to identify them.

These are some of the faces being hunted by police in Birmingham. Now,

thousands of people are being urged to help. At six metres high, you

cannot miss it and it is certainly catching the attention of people

here in Birmingham today. I think it's really good. People will

recognise these people and bring them to justice. It is a good way

of catching people. They cannot do anything else, this is the only

thing they can do. It is a good thing because if the people there

are doing it, they will see themselves. It is an unusual tactic

but it has got support. It is important that the public comes

together to support each other's community and saying that any act

that destabilise his communities should not be supported in any way.

In the last 24 hours, more than 500 people have contacted officers with

information about the images. helps us to arrest offenders a lot

quicker, we can retrieve evidence sooner and we have more opportunity

to have successful prosecutions through the courts.

Magistrates' Court in Birmingham is on standby this weekend should more

arrests be made. Volunteer prosecutors have also come forward

to help cover the cases. If there is an arrest tonight, I would

expect them to be put before the court tomorrow morning and could be

dealt with straight away. With more arrests expected, the courts could

be busy through to Monday morning. Katie joins us now live from

Birmingham city centre. A sense of normality appears to be returning?

Yes, you only have to look around and there are lots of people around

here shopping. The building has decided to stay open until 8pm

tonight. There does seem to be a sense of normality, apart from the

police presence behind us. The van is still there, there are planning

to move it at some point? It was supposed to move this evening out

of the Bristol Road to catch commuters as they go home from work.

The police decided to keep it here at the Bull Ring because of its

prime location. They have had such a good response. It will also be

here tomorrow. It will have the potential to be seen by thousands

of other people. Thousands of police officers have

been on the frontline of the battle to restore order to our streets all

week. Leave has been cancelled and officers have been working shifts

of 12 hours on and 12 hours off since rioting started on Monday. So

what has it been like on the streets for those officers? Earlier

I spoke to Andy Gilbert, chairman of the West Midlands Police

Federation and I began by asking him how morale was now among

officers. I can tell you that officers are feeling absolutely

exhausted but they are determined to see this job through and make

sure all those involved are brought to justice. They should also be

feeling proud because their efforts were absolutely outstanding.

Courage and commitment has been shown and that work is still going

on. Tell us more about what sort of danger they have faced because we

have heard terrible stories with people with knives at there. They

have been people with weapons and missiles, this has been a very

dangerous situation. I think the police have dealt with that

commendably and I am very proud to represent those officers. Some

officers have been injured? People will get injured but by flu, not

seriously. The big talk at the moment in Parliament is cuts and of

course you force, like any other, is facing cuts as well. In the

light of the last few days, can you afford to have these cuts happen?

We to be able to cope without those officers? In 2015, they will be

16,000 police officers in this country. The situation has changed

since the spending review so the Government must change their mind

now. I understand there is an argument that policing is not just

about the numbers game but when you are dealing with serious public

disorder, serious criminality like this, it is about numbers. We have

seen that on the streets at the West Midlands where the numbers of

police have gone up massively, can you continue at that level? At the

moment, we can but obviously these cuts were over a period of time and

when we get to the end of 2015, there will be a substantial amount

less police officers in this country. Police officers have been

working 12 hours shift its continuously, they must be

exhausted. What has morale been like before all this happened

because they were facing losing their jobs? Before this started,

morale was at rock bottom and that is to do with this government's

fragmented approach to policing. They don't understand policing and

they don't understand police officers but it is not just the

carriage, those people working behind the scenes. We have

detectives working around the clock, people in control rooms, custody

sergeants and staff working really hard and the front line relies on

as people and that is where the government don't understand how we

do business. The Home Secretary has banned an

English Defence League march through a Shopshire town amid fears

of disorder. Businesses in Telford were today still boarding up their

premisies ahead of the weekend. Theresa May said she had stopped

the march to protect communities and properties. Telford Council had

made the request on the advice of West Mercia Police.

Absolutely delighted that the Home Secretary has agreed with us to ban

the march. The application went yesterday and she dealt with that

of a night. She has come out in agreement with us and I would like

to reassure our community that the police and the council have a full

operation in place to keep our streets safe.

Sport can play a big part in helping to rebuild communities.

That has been highlighted today by football and boxing figures here in

the Midlands. Former British champion Wayne Elcock works with

hundreds of underprivileged youngsters while Birmingham City

old boy Michael Johnson says he is convinced that youngsters can be

turned away from crime by positive sporting role models.

It is a simple solution according to Wayne Elcock - keeping kids

active and occupied the keep them out of trouble. Discipline, respect,

loyalty and channelling their aggression. The former British

middleweight champion from Birmingham works with up to 60

youngsters a day. He takes his box clever classes to underprivileged

areas and has been amazed by the results so far. It is keeping me of

the streets, I have improved my fit this. I have improved my confidence.

I want to be a boxer. At Stone in Staffordshire, the Right Stuff

boxing club was set up by a policeman Andy Whitehall to keep

kids off the streets. In three years, there's over 300 members at

five clubs and in these areas they say they have seen a reduction in

anti-social behaviour. At Handsworth in Birmingham,

footballer Darren Moore has worked with some of the most

underprivileged youngsters in the Midlands for 10 years. His charity,

Faith and Football, helps 600 children and their families every

week. Darren's close friend and former Birmingham City player

Michael Johnson grew up in this deprived area of Nottingham. He

runs three sport and education projects for youngsters. The cuts

that are happening, the youngsters are getting disgruntled, they have

no hope. It is starting to get kids thinking, what will I do next?

I was a kid, I was always in trouble. A lack of discipline and

respect. Boxing, for me, it changed my life completely. The sportsmen

see themselves as positive role models. They say they want the

government to recognise that sport can provide a path for young people

to achieve something in life. At critically ill baby is

recovering after undergoing a liver transplant. The baby, just a month

old, underwent surgery last night. She is in a stable condition.

is just lucky to have this window of opportunity and we feel it

really blessed. She seems to have peaked at exactly the right day,

five weeks of up and down, a roller-coaster and on the very day

that they never became available, she seemed to be at her prime.

Despite the concerns midweek about policing, the Premier League season

kicks off this weekend. Stoke, Wolves, Aston Villa and West

Bromwich Albion are all in action. It was exciting, it was

exhilarating but Wolves last minute escape from relegation is something

they don't want to repeat. This time they want to steer a course to

the safe ground of mid-table obscurity. Knowing we could have

had those 47 points, I feel we can get them this season. But they're

being careful with their money. Defender Roger Johnson is one of

just three summer signings. At Aston Villa Charles N'zogbia is

their most expensive summer signing. But he must fill the space left by

Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. And he's not even the biggest

headline grabber. That honour goes to manager Alex Mcleish whose move

from Birmingham City means he still has some fans to win over. And

without much money. We don't have any money to spend at the moment

until we trade so that is the way it is. We have to do some trading

and be sensible and keep the wages at a certain level. West Bromwich

Albion are a rare beast. They've made signings such as striker Shane

Long who's joined from Reading. And they've not had to sell. Under the

new manager, are being made the most impressive finish to last

season. Fans expect a lot everywhere. There's hardly a

manager in the country, at whatever level, that doesn't have a

situation at the moment where the fans will expect a lot more at the

club than maybe he or the players think they are capable of

delivering. And how do Stoke City follow last season? They finished

13th and reached their first ever FA Cup Final. But they'll have to

be at their best right from the start. Being in the Premiership,

you have highs and lows, good runs and that runs but you have to

understand and recognise that there will be certain periods within that

season where you know it is going to be very tough. We think the

beginning of this coming season will be the hardest run of fixtures

we have had. But for all our Premier League clubs, avoiding

final day nerves will be target number one.

A relief to see all those matches being played well we haven't got

everything on? Telford is still off. They have returned to conference

level. Because of the English Defence League march, it is off.

The march has been banned but still too late for football. We have

Cheltenham against Swindon. Gloucestershire police originally

said they did not have the resources but things have settled

down and so they play as planned. have to ask you this, of the

Premier sides, who should we be looking at, he will be the more

successful? Stoke have had a great trend over the last three seasons.

I like the way West Bromwich Albion finished last season and they

haven't had to sell anyone yet. I like the way they finished, I like

the signing so I am going to say West Bromwich Albion. We will see.

Amidst all the turmoil we've been reporting over the past few days,

it's great to know that some of the good things in life continue as

normal. Tens of thousands of people have been to the Shrewsbury Flower

Show today. But this year growers have been faced with the problem of

topsy turvy climates - a hot April on the back of a freezing winter.

Joanne Writtle has been to sample the event that's been going on for

124 years. Shrewsbury Flower Show has been

attracting crowds with a passion for all things floral for over a

century. This year though, growers have had something of a challenge.

A particularly harsh winter, warm spring and recent humidity have

caused havoc for those trying to keep plants in peak condition for

judging. Long, cold periods in the winter, very heavy snowfall, very

quick melt and then the very dry and prolong to spring. Then heat,

then cold, now humidity. Put all of those things together and plans

don't know whether they are coming or going. P and J Plants from

Madley near Hereford lost a fifth of its fly catching plants to the

weather. I have never had it before, I lost some venus flytraps and

sometimes the other in a tunnel. One of the original TV gardeners,

the late Percy Thrower, was the show's horticultural advisor for

more than 40 years. Now his granddaughter has become the newest

and youngest member of the Shropshire Horticultural Society: I

think he would have been really pleased with the show. The gardens

here are looking beautiful today and that was something that he was

very proud of, he was part Superintendent here for a few years

and it was his job to make sure the gardens were maintained and to a

high standard. For hungry visitors, a gourmet tent packed with local

produce. Add to that Italian chef Gino D'Acampo to liven up

proceedings. Though he had more trouble with the name of the town

he was in. He knows little about flowers or gardening. Whatever I

plant, somehow later dies! Whatever I can't do in gardening, I wanna

get up in the kitchen! 60,000 visitors are expected at the show,

generating an estimated �2.7 million for the local economy. The

Shropshire Horticultural Society which runs the show is a registered

charity. And in times of austerity it's interesting to note that the

event is run almost entirely by volunteers.

And it's just a two day show, so tomorrow's your last chance to go

along. Open 10.00am until 10.00pm at night. And did you see the

aptly-named Paul Gardner in the piece? He grows fly-catching plants.

It has been at Topsy Turvey summer but we have had lots of sunny

weather but tonight it will be damned and humid. Tomorrow will be

better. We have these fronts going through and that cold front which

means the air behind will be fresher and colour, not as humid as

it has been. Sunday is a better day. Tonight we have seen the outbreaks

of rain and milder temperatures. We're looking at those of 15

degrees Celsius. That is what will keep the humid feeling. Tomorrow,

less in the way of that but we cannot win it out altogether. We

should see a full day's play of cricket and some brighter spells,

too. We're looking at heights of 19 degrees. The breeze is a touch more

than today. Tomorrow night, clear spells overnight so it is a cooler

night and a fresher filling night with lows of around 13 Celsius. As

we go into the rest of the weekend, we're seeing the those fresher

temperatures, the winds picking up a touch as the going to Sunday.

Sunday is the best day of the weekend in terms of dryness and

A look at tonight's main headlines: The police hit back at criticism of

their response to the riots, insisting that the tactics that

worked were theirs. And here, thousands are expected at a peace

vigil on Sunday after three men were killed as they tried to

protect their local businesses during the riots. Over the last

week we've seen some of the most disturbing and distressing scenes

across our region. But out of the horror of it all has come a real

sense of people coming together in defiance against the rioters. Out

in the Black Country, just a few days on, it's those who were

hardest hit who are already fighting back.

Tuesday afternoon in West Bromwich, a town in turmoil with youths

rioting on the streets. What a difference three days makes. On

Tuesday, this area was deserted. They were burning vehicles down the

road and the shutters on these buildings were down as people head

inside for their safety. Now it is busy again and it is starting to

return to normal. One of the most enduring memories was the

destruction of this catering van and range rover, both owned by

local businessman Ranjit Dhillon. have to carry on, it is my living.

I need to work. Have been working all my life, since I was 14 years

old. Outside the shop, reminders of the violence. Inside the shop,

business as usual. In Wolverhampton, more defiance. We have been open

since 8am. While they were cleaning, we were serving customers. We just

have to get on with it and put it behind you. They will not beat you.

No way. The CCTV footage says it all. This happened in broad

daylight just after 5pm in the afternoon. The clear up started on

Wednesday, now the rebuilding can begin. You can see that the blood

is all over, somebody has cut themselves and the blood has sorted

out. I hope they have gone to hospital to get treatment and I

hope they are well. I hope they have also learned their lesson, not

to do this again. You have to admire the humility of the man

whose business was cleaned out. The Prime Minister has been to meet him.

For every villain, there have been hundreds in the Troubles, there are

plenty of heroes. The wheeze Johnson, being one of them. While

rioters rampaged, she stood in front of her hairdressers to

protect it. This card has come from Bristol that says, I am sending you

this as I am so impressed at your courage to stand up to those