14/09/2011 Midlands Today

Welcome to the programme. The headlines: the 16 year-old to

admitted encouraging rioters get say curfew and is ordered to do

community service. It unemployment is up again by 4000

for many disabled people, it has made looking for work almost

impossible. The prejudiced a amongst some employers, that

somehow we are left -- less worthy. A how soaring food costs and high

vet bills has left this animal sanctuary facing closure.

Forging a link between the Birmingham's struck -- Birmingham

skyline and the bother of Stratford. Good evening and welcome to

Wednesday's Midlands Today from the BBC. Tonight, was it right to name

and shame a 16-year-old who urged people to riot on Facebook, during

last month's disorder? Johnny Melfah, from Droitwich in

Worcestershire, was arrested after his postings on the internet, and

magistrates then lifted the normal ban that applies to naming young

people in court. Today he was given a youth

rehabilitation order and ordered to do community work. Andy Newman

reports. A teenager tries to protect his identity but named and

shamed, there was no hiding place today. Does anyone want to start

some riots in Worcester? This was one of the invitations he posted a

on a website. In the event, neither Weston nor his home town of

Droitwich were touched by the disturbances but today, he paid the

price for what might have been. The magistrates were told that the

teenager had been receiving hate mail following earlier coverage,

some from a convicted paedophile. They rejected an appeal to reimpose

the ban on naming him. They said they did not believe that he

intended to start a riot but that he had been swept along by events.

Nevertheless, he said -- they said his comments helped to fuel the

horror. Police said that while Worcestershire escaped the horror,

it could have been different. Police or social media being used

to try to incite social disorder and serious violence. Here, a

combination of information from members of the public and our own

inquiries, have prevented what could have been potentially a very

serious incident in the city of Worcester. Experts in the field

salience net gives offenders a false sense of immunity from

reality. People get very caught up with the circle of friends that

they are communicating with and are keen to share information and

personal details. They don't realise they are broadcasting it to

a wider audience. When they make impassioned or criminal pleas for

doing something, often people are thinking they are speaking to a

small group of friends, whereas they are posting to a wider group.

Driven away this evening, he knows all too well the consequences of

abusing the internet. For him, they were a 12 month supervision order,

a three-month curfew had and 80 hours of community work.

We're joined now from Westminster by Shauneen Lambe, director of

charity Just For Kids Law, which provides support to young people

who find themselves in difficulty. Should Johnny Melfah have been

named and shamed? I don't believe he should. We have a protection in

law and of the children and Young Persons Act of 1933. It grants

Children anonymity. This is another example of the erosion of

protection and special status of children. He was 16, he is old

enough to be married and this was incredibly irresponsible. The UN

Convention on the rights of the child says his it is under the age

of 18, everyone should be considered a child. We've ratified

that convention. Teenagers these days are worldly wise and totally

in command of what they are doing. I don't think that's true. Thinking

back to 1933, that was a time when children left school at 14 or 16 to

start work. We protect children in other areas, making education

longer, but in criminal law, their rights are being eroded. What do

you say to people watching now, who say good on the courts? I am sure

that is the case and obviously, a lot of people feel strongly that he

should be punished a but that is an entirely different matter from

revealing his identity which will have an impact on the rest of his

life. What is that impact? Obviously he will be known that now

in the local area. Getting a job will be harder for him. He has not

had a chance to move on and start again. That is why that protection

is in place for children, so we can give them an opportunity when they

are adults to put things that happened during their teenage years

in their past. As even David Cameron himself has admitted,

adolescence and teenagers behave in ways which are not always

respectable. You don't think you are being too soft? I don't, no.

Comments are already coming in. Andi Thomas says, yes of course he

should be named, set an example, we can't have 16-year-olds ruling our

country. On the other hand, Tom Poole

believes, community work will do the teenager good if he learns

something from it. What value is there in naming this kid? Not much.

He needs help to set him in the right direction. Dunc Ruthwell has

little sympathy, he should have his name and photo put on 20 foot

billboards, with a caption explaining how little he values the

society he lives in. Paul Scroggie said, they should all

be named, then their parents might start carrying some of the

responsibility. We'd like to hear more of your

views. Do you think the court was right to name and shame him? Email

your views and we'll have some of your comments later in the

programme. Still to come tonight: the injury-

plagued Premier League star Unemployment's on the rise again.

New figures show 4,000 more people are out of work, bringing the total

in the region to 239,000. That's 9.1% of the working population,

higher than the national average. Finding a job is tough for everyone

facing unemployment. But for those with disabilities it can be even

harder. Joanne Writtle's been to meet a woman who's helping disabled

people find a job. A rare back problem means Jane

Hatton has to work at her computer lying down. But that hasn't stopped

her from starting a jobs website for disabled people from her home

in Kingswinford. The BBC is among the employers advertising on it.

is difficult for everyone currently because there are not the jobs

around that there were before. For a disabled person, there is a

prejudiced among some employers that we are some with the or less

capable. -- prejudice. Jane is only able to stand for short periods.

Her former job as a diversity trainer means she knows a lot about

employing all types of workers. The website is a few months old but

currently, hundreds of disabled job hunters are registered, and

thousands more search the site for work. Employers also register

vacancies on here, currently there are 40. Among those registered

Maxim, Lowe, from Stourbridge. He's musical, has good exam results and

many skills. He also has cerebal palsy. What I would like to save to

employers is to look past the disability with any disabled person

trying to find work and see their strengths. For example, I'm good

with computers, and good with people, I have GCSEs, I have A

levels. The wheelchair, for many people, put them off.

specialist recruitment agency Remploy says disabled people are

twice as likely to be unemployed as the able bodied. The discrimination

Act, there is no direct discrimination and out. We find

employers want to employ more disabled people but don't know how

to do it. It is our job to help them with things like adjustments

in the workplace. If Back in Stourbridge, as one of the rising

number of unemployed people in the West Midlands, Maxim says his

challenge is convincing employers to look beyond his disability.

Joanne Writtle BBC Midlands Today. Three people have been charged over

a shooting outside a pub during last month's riots. Shots were

fired at police officers outside the Barton Arms pub in the Aston

area of Birmingham on August the 10th. No one was injured. Two men

and a teenage boy are accused of conspiracy to possess a firearm

with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to commit violent

disorder. Birmingham City Council has

reversed a decision to ban the Royal British Legion from holding

poppy collections in parts of the city centre on two days in November.

The council has strict rules on the number of charity collections and

approval had already been given to the Anthony Nolan Trust and Shelter.

Those charities have withdrawn their requests to collect.

The owner of Birmingham City Football Club has been refused

permission to travel to the UK. Carson Yeung faces money laundering

charges in Hong Kong. He had been given permission to visit

Birmingham for four days from tomorrow, but that decision has now

been retracted. With the latest from Hong Kong, here's our

correspondent Andrew Wood. Two weeks ago, he thought he had

persuaded the court that he could leave Hong Kong for five days, he

could leave on Thursday. He could see for example Birmingham City

play their opponents and that he would be able to show himself to

the fans, build confidence and so on. Unfortunately for him, a higher

court judge has overturned the district court judge and refused

his requests to change his bail conditions so he could leave Hong

Kong. Previously, the prosecution, the Attorney-General's office, had

argued he was a flight risk, that he might not come back to Hong Kong

if he were allowed to leave. The defence had said that he is so

well-known that he would come back and has big-business interests here.

He will not be leaving Hong Kong any time soon.

A topping out ceremony has been carried out at Birmingham's new

library. It means the ten-floor glass building has now reached its

highest point. More than 800 people are currently

working on the �189 million project and Kevin Reide is there for us now.

Kevin, how's it looking? As you can see, the building is

taking shape. There is still a lot of concrete on display because it

is yet to be fitted out. That will take some time but there was a

pause today for the topping out ceremony that you mentioned. There

was a theme of a literary giant he was born not to fall away from

here.'s a all is well that ends well -- all is well that ends

well... A citation from a famous Shakespeare's play to celebrate

Birmingham's new library reaching it's highest point. The Bard's been

chosen as the theme because at the top of the building will be the

Shakespeare Memorial room. It's yet to be fitted out but was lovingly

topped off by Birmingham Council leader Mike Whitby.

It is going to be more than a library. It envelops the repertory

theatre, we are building an auditorium and I feel it makes a

statement about the confidence of Birmingham, respecting its heritage

but looking to the future. This is the highest point of the library.

It will not be open to the public but there will be a roof terrace a

little way down affair. It will give stunning views of Birmingham.

They are plentiful. And you can easily see Birmingham's present

library who many feel is an eyesore and was once infamously described

by Prince Charles as looking like a carbuncle. But the new building has

it's own theme. The theme of the building is circles. It links to

the history of Birmingham, as and her staff -- and in her Strick...

It symbolises the industry and bringing people together from all

over the world. The library will also directed to the Birmingham

repertory Theatre next door and sticking with the Shakespeare theme

will be fronted by it's own public ampi theatre, used for the first

time today by members of the Rep. - - amphitheatre. It is costing

around �189 million to build a library but that is under budget

buyer around �5 million. The council is very pleased with that.

On top of that, it is also due to open on time, on Schedule in two

years' time from now, which will be in the summer of 2013. But under

budget and on time? ! Unbelievable.

Animal rescue charities say they're struggling to raise enough cash to

keep going at a time when more and more animals are being dumped by

owners who can't afford to keep them.

The situation's so bad at one sanctuary the owners fear they'll

have to shut and sell up because they'll no longer be able to afford

the food and vet bills. Ben Godfrey reports.

Daphne Wain has rescued hundreds of animals, from stranded sheep to

abused horses to unwanted chickens. With her husband Cliff, she runs

Green Meadow Animal Sanctuary, set in almost 40 acres of farmland in

Pattingham, near Wolverhampton. is nice to see them when faith come

and they've been hurt or abused. Then you see from and they trust

you again after a couple of years. This is my life. It costs almost

�3,000 a month to run. In two months' time, their savings and

pensions won't cover the cost of spiralling food prices and high Vet

bills. They're faced with having to close the sanctuary, and sell off

land. We had a severe winter last year and Hay went up three times

the price. To offer our recent vet bills -- two of our recent vet

bills cost just over �600. This is another example of how rising costs

are proving a detriment to rely. His family have rescued hundreds of

animals in the past and it now needs its own rescue. Their mobile

home was given planning permission on the basis it was part of their

animal sanctuary, so if that goes, they'll be homeless. A campaign's

started on Facebook, with concerns that the animals may also have to

be destroyed. I don't know what I will do without them now, I really

don't. I just love them. I don't want to lose them. Every one of

them is different. Truthfully, until you asked me that question, I

have been pretending that it will ever happen.

Still to come this evening: trying to solve a 430-year-old mystery.

Where was Wiliam Shakespeare married?

And we haven't had it yet but there's got to be a best day of the

week. Question is, which one will It's time for sport with Ian Winter

and football and cricket are on the agenda tonight.

Good evening. Stoke City are in Ukraine tonight, having their final

training session before tomorrow's Europa League game against Dynamo

Kiev. Record signing Peter Crouch is one of several players who've

stayed at home to recover from injury. Including one who feared

his playing career was over, until Stoke stepped in.

Grab an atlas for me, please. Stoke have got a big game tomorrow night.

Can anyone tell me who they are playing? At Langdale Primary, in

Newcastle under Lyme, Mr Baxter's geography lesson has taken a new

twist. His year six pupils are all Stoke City fans, keen to learn more

about Kiev, the home of the Potters' latest opponents. Kiev is

the capital of Ukraine. It is the second largest country in Europe.

And this is the famous city where Stoke are preparing for tomorrow

night's game. Rich in culture, steeped in history, a fascinating

mix of ancient and modern. A real feast for the travelling fans. But

not for Jonathan Woodgate. The big central defender has been left out

of the Potters Europa League squad, to focus on being fully fit for the

Premier League on Sunday. Over the past eight years, he has changed

hands for more than �37 million, but his career had been blighted by

injury. That is why he has joined Stoke treaty on a free transfer.

You get on with it and it is part of your life. This is the way have

got to look at it. It has been good to play football again. It is going

to be a yellow card for the Stoke defender. Seven years ago Jonathan

Woodgate joined the Spanish giants Real Madrid. He cost �13 million

from Newcastle. But the dream turned sour because of injury. And

now he's gone from the Bernabeau to the Britannia. Via Middlesbrough

and Spurs. All thanks to the faith shown by Tony Pulis. As soon as I

spoke to him, I thought he wants me, he is taking a chance on me. He

seems really keen to have me. the kids at Langdale Primary were

keen to have him too, for the launch of Stoke City's new Football

Roadshow. Over the next three months, 150 schools will receive

top quality coaching. But first, they're all hoping for the right

result in Kiev tomorrow night. BBC Radio Stoke has full match

commentary from Kiev, the kick- off's at six o'clock. Then

Birmingham City's game against Braga is live on BBC WM.

Now, stand by for a couple of very classy goals from League Two. Port

Vale scored a real cracker to take an early lead against Bradford. But

if Robert Taylor's first goal was sublime, his second was a comedy of

errors. That made it 2-1. But they had to wait until the final minute

for their 3-2 win. Tom Pope's bullet header lifting Vale up to

third in the table. Burton Albion have also made a good start. The

quick feet of Justin Richards delivered their only goal to beat

Crewe. They've now joined Vale, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham in the

top seven. One day to go in a county

championship. Worcestershire are safe, they will

be playing League One cricket next season. Warwick are closing in on

the title. Warwickshire's bowlers have been on top form all day

against Hampshire. Rankin and Clarke have been absolutely

tremendous. Warwickshire forced the follow-on. Hampshire need 126 runs

to make the bear's bat again. -- Bears.

If they do win, whatever happens with Lancashire is irrelevant,

isn't it? Absolutely. We will have a full

report from the Rose Bowl tomorrow. It's one of the biggest

Shakespearian mysteries, where did the Bard marry Anne Hathaway? They

are believed to have tied the knot when William was 18, back in 1582,

but the location of their nuptials remains a mystery.

A new exhibition is hoping to separate the facts from the fiction,

as five churches lay claim to the honour of being Shakespeare's

wedding venue. Here's Ben Sidwell. He is one of the greatest

Englishman of all time but we don't know much about the personal life

of William Shakespeare. When it comes to his marriage, we know

virtually nothing at all. In fact, the mystery surrounding it would

make a story that Shakespeare himself would be proud of. This is

the most logical place to start our search. Holy Trinity Church in

Stratford, where he was baptised and where he is buried. It is

probably the most likely place. It is his parish church. This is where

he came for his daughter's wedding, his son's funeral. It was

absolutely central to his life. Why wouldn't he have got married here?

Over at the Shakespeare birthplace Trust, they are not so sure.

Baptisms and burials, marriages of his two daughters, but not

Shakespeare's own marriage. It is absent which suggests he was not

married there. The research for the exhibition has been carried out by

the churches Conservation Trust. Residents of Luddington have said

that he saw the entry in the church register of their wedding. However,

the register is not because it is said that the curate's wife burnt

it in order to boil a kettle. them there is this place, at of the

way, and with a family history. Shakespeare's grand daughter was

married here. Many believe the proof needed is buried under the

church but nobody had been inside the crypt in over 200 years.

Probably the most interesting part of what is going on down here is

right at the entrance, where I just came in. This is a coffin, a lead-

lined coffin, resting on top of something else. In terms of the

unknowns of what is in the script, -- crypt. It could be very

interesting. In the end, it was decided not to disturb anything

inside the crypt. They got married quickly, to do that they needed a

licence, and that meant a trip to Worcester. In the County Records

Office, some actual proof of the marriage. This is the register from

the Bishop and in it is an entry that says that William Shakespeare

received a licence to get married. The wrong name -- name is believed

to be a clerical error. Do we now have a location? This church

believes so but if the name is wrong, is the place as well? Back

in Worcester, another surprise. This is the parish register for the

parish of Worcester St mortar and and you can see that there is a gap

from 1578 until 1584. The theory is that Shakespeare got married in

First Church but the pages have been removed. This church would

have been on the way home for William and his wife. It was also

quiet and out of the way. Is it possible that Shakespeare actually

got married in Worcester, rather than Stratford? The truth is, we

will probably never know the answer to the mystery of his marriage. In

fact, it is likely this is one of his stories where the site -- final

scene will for ever remain unwritten.

It is important his guests knew where they were getting married!

Well, before it turns warmer it turns colder and winds are taking a

back seat for now but could be back on the agenda by the weekend. This

is the high pressure that'll turn things very settled tonight, with

us for one day only and then that swiftly exits to the East. Then low

pressure bounds in from the West with some bite to it. But for

tonight, colder than it's been for a while. That is due to the high

pressure moving in. Temperatures will drop down to three Celsius.

That's just about cold enough for a touch of frost overnight. With the

lighter winds, perfect conditions. A few mist and fog patches

developing around river valleys but that will disappear quickly

tomorrow. A cold start but it will be a sunny one. The best of the

sunshine during the morning. Then we will see some cloud drifting in

from the West. That cloud is not going to be thick enough for any

rain so it is a dry day tomorrow but we can see from the

temperatures, 18 or 19 Celsius, the temperatures to recover quite well

under the influence of the sunshine. Because the high pressure is over

us tomorrow, we will have a very light winds indeed. Tomorrow night,

their cars will thicken up from the West. It will be clear to begin

with but another cold night. It will bring in some rain by Friday

so it will be a wet day and it will A look at tonight's main headlines:

The dole queues get longer, with the biggest jump in the jobless

total for nearly two years. And here a 16-year-old who encouraged

people to riot via Facebook is named by the courts and given a 12

month rehabilitation order. At 16, there is still plenty of

time for him to change his ways. Robert says, I found myself totally

annoyed that the woman in the interview that said a 70 a road

year-old law says that underrate teams should not be named in court.

She would not be saying that if she was one of the shop owners that had

their businesses and lives ruined by rioters.

Dave says something similar. What planet was that woman on? Why do