26/03/2012 Midlands Today

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today with Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee.

The headlines tonight: Making the streets safer - police

clamp down on sex workers and kerb crawlers after a series of assaults

and rapes. Would they be willing to have it outside their St? The

answer is always no. They're winners - how the Budget

has put a smile on the face of gaming companies.

Beware the badgers - they're burrowing dangerously close to

buildings and residents fear their homes could collapse. This is The

Haven. It used to be heaven to live here, now it's hell on Earth.

And how a Lottery grant will help restore a poignant landmark badly

Good evening and welcome to Monday's Midlands Today. Tonight,

West Midlands Police cracking down on prostitution after a series of

sexual assaults and rapes on sex workers in the last year. More than

200 people have so far been arrested during the operation in

Walsall. In a moment, we'll be talking to an organisation that

campaigns for the rights of sex workers, but first Shirley Henry

has this exclusive report. Friday night in Walsall's red light

districts, one of the busiest nights for the oldest trades. And

We are in the area when you want us. The business of the sex workers is

incredibly risky. It has inherent risks and it has been like that

since time began. It is it important that be do everything we

can to make that industry firstly to reduce the activity of the sex

workers but ensure that they take as little risk as possible. So far,

39 kerb crawlers have been charged and 168 sex workers prosecuted. In

the last 12 months, eight sex workers have reported rapes to the

police and there's three sexual assault. The women I have spoken to

say this is the only the tip of the iceberg. Gemma worked the streets

for 16 years and was addicted to heroin. She has been repeatedly

raped and on one occasion, three times in one month. One was a gang

rape. She did not tell the police. Even though I am a prostitute and

getting money for it, they still have no right. I did not give my

consent. They left bruises, mental scars. You have got eight girls

that have come forward which is brilliant, that is a major move

forward. But we need more. Because I know it there's more out there

from experience and the police... There must be doing something right.

If these eight girls are coming forward, or has the worst happened

to these girls? we have had successful prosecutions and the

fact that these girls have come to us, I think that is a trust and

confidence in the police service. Back in Walsall and a breakthrough

minus two suspect are caught. off your engine, please. But to

come. Are you all right? This is a gentleman observed by officers.

are actually in the grounds of a church. This is where people will

come to pray. It is unacceptable that it is happening he made.

police have called this young woman in this place. She will be charged

and appear in court in the next few days. But why would she take that

risk? It is like catch 22. A lot of the girls have got habits. To fund

them, they have to do things like shoplifting or prostitution. Either

way they get a criminal record. Have you ever been attacked or

raped? No, I have not. Do you know anyone who has? Yes, a friend died

three years ago. In Walsall. does that make you feel? You have

to get on with it. You never come out of your front door if you let

it get to you. People die every day, really. This man told the police he

was not doing anything wrong. He has been charged and will appear in

court. He will face a fine. Would they be willing but their daughter

was selling their body on the street? What they be willing to

have it outside their door? The answer always would be "no" so why

would they think they can do it in other areas of the West Midlands. I

am doing everything I can to make sure it stops. For the police, the

crack down on prostitution is a constant battle. If they can keep

just one woman says, it is a job Let's talk now to Catherine

Stephens, from the International Union of Sex Workers, who's in our

London studio. How big a problem are attacks on sex workers? As you

heard from the package, it is an experience that people have,

particularly if they are selling sex on the streets. It sounds like

the policy adopted by the local police force is very contradictory

and actually would work well from the evidence we know about this, it

would work to increase the violence people are experiencing Marlow and

targeting. Why do you say that though? There is an inherent

contradiction between prosecution and protection. They talk about

having successfully prosecuted a number of women and a number of

clients who have paid for sex consensually. Why should they be

doing then? Were would like to see an adoption of the Merseyside model

nationwide, which has achieved a 90% conviction rate for crimes of

violence against street workers. And a 60% conviction rate for rape.

That means the police prioritise protection rather than prosecution.

They treat these as hate crimes and work closely with local services.

To build trust within the police. Obviously your organisation tries

to protect women but this work is dangerous and is unregulated, how

can it ever be made safe really? Violence occurs against women in

all occupations. For example, and 85% of people working in A&E have

experienced violence so the violence people experience in the

sex industry is not unique but we know that if we look at what works

- things like the Merseyside model - we can achieve targets and that

is what we would like to save rather than people saying it is

inevitable. For many people involved in the industry, the

reality is a cycle of violence and coalition often caused by poverty.

Doesn't there need to be more help to get people out of the situation?

While that is not necessarily the case of all people, the majority of

people between 70-90% of people work indoors. The BECTU works

closely with projects -- the International Union of Sex Workers

works closely with projects. We would like to see things that

actually work and that people need. Thank you for talking to us. Still

to come, the new campaign to cut the estimated 5 million people in

the UK who can't read or write properly. There's nothing worse

than not being able to catch a bus. I have to walk from Porthill to

Burslem cos I don't know where to A murder inquiry's under way after

a man's body was found in a derelict house. He was discovered

at an address in Hospital Street in Wolverhampton at about 7:30am. A

32-year-old man's been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A director of an employment agency has paid tribute to a member of

staff killed in a crash on the fog- bound M5 on Saturday morning. The

35-year-old from Smethwick died after a lorry collided with a

stationary coach he was aboard near Frankley Services. Harjit Singh,

from Fusion Personnel, said his employee was "well liked" and a

"valued member". The 65-year-old lorry driver from Somerset also

died. The single-decker vehicle was carrying fruit workers from

Birmingham to Evesham. A children's nursery is closed

until further notice after a fire. About 40 firefighters were called

to the KinderKare site off London Road in Worcester on Sunday evening.

A woman was rescued from a balcony at the two-storey building, treated

for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital.

It's an industry that's worth more than �1 billion into the UK economy,

and some of the most successful companies are right here in the

West Midlands. And now the firms which deliver blockbuster computer

games are promising to create even more jobs after tax breaks were

announced in Chancellor George Osborne's Budget. Here's Joan

Cummins. Budgets don't normally prompt

smiles but news of corporate tax relief for the gaming industry has

given hope to a sector that's been battling against overseas

Government subsidies. And coping with home-grown talent being

enticed abroad. The number of people I have worked with over the

past five years there are now working in Canada is really quite

frightening. That is one of the most frustrating things, where

people who have developed their skills in the UK at a time when the

UK was a dominant player in the industry and helped create it, they

are now working abroad. One of the things we hope is that some of

these people may start returning and bring skills back to Britain.

Blitz Games in Leamington Spa is one of 50 companies in the region

that directly employs designers and engineers in the gaming industry.

Today it announced that it was hoping to recruit ten more

programmers. After winning a contract with Disney. And while

some may see it as a niche market, its impact is far wider than we may

expect. Everybody is playing video games these days. Whether they call

them apps or games, there's so many ways for people to play games. So

many themes and so many people involved in it, it is a massive

growth industry worldwide. It is the entertainment medium of the

21st century. There's nothing childish about this industry, it

generates about �1 billion for the economy. Now it is hoped that these

tax breaks will help to put Coventry and Warwickshire at the

centre of the Silicon Valley and gaming industry wants more. Small,

innovative high-growth companies, this is exactly what they need. The

tonic set up and start up and stay set up. They will employ the

innovators. The proposed tax breaks won't come

into force until next year but already this incentive appears to

be invigorating an industry that prides itself on innovation and

leading the world. Badgers are burrowing close to

homes in the Black Country, leaving anxious residents fearing that

retaining walls or even their homes could collapse. Up to 13 badger

setts are dotted around a cliff bordering the houses in Wordsley

near Stourbridge. Cath Mackie is there for us now. This must be a

nightmare for residents. Absolutely. Some of the residents I have spoken

to have used the word "nightmare" to describe it. They used to quarry

sand here and it is easy to burrow into the soil. There were a couple

of setts on this man, and they borrowed so deep you can see it is

collapsing. It is next to houses. - - on this amount of her. This woman

along with dozens of residents here want action on these badgers and

say it is a problem that is this month shows the damage that

badgers have done to his lawn. is just a nightmare living here. It

used to be... It is called The Haven and it used to be heaven but

now it is hell on earth. Badgers built this settin her garden

several years ago. They come out several at a time. But they are

protected so I say, what about our right? The trail of destruction is

spreading. This bank has collapsed twice. My main worries are that

eventually be a lot will come down. And the tree in the corner, that is

what really worries me because it is such a huge thing. The problem

for the resident here is that badgers are legally protected and

if you want to move them, you need a special licence. The local

council says that the Department of Environment tried to stop the

spread in 2007 but it was not enough. What they did then under

licence was to fit one way traps on to the Barr -- on to the setts out

of breeding season so they could not get back in but really all that

does his move them from one garden to the next. Dudley council has set

up a working group to look at the problem of the people here what is

for the badgers to be caught and I am here in The Haven but have

been told that it is not just this street in Wordsley, a couple of

neighbouring streets are having serious problems. We have been

given a statement by natural England and I will reduce an

excerpt. They say they have had the sympathy with the residents and a

providing licences which would allow some of the setts to be

closed off. They say that those licences have not always been acted

on. They say that although badgers are protected, action can be taken

so long as the welfare of the animal is not compromised. They are

hopeful that a solution will be found and certainly the residents

here are hopeful that one will be Nearly �500,000 is to be spent

restoring a landmark war memorial constantly targeted by metal

thieves for its copper. It was built to honour people from

Staffordshire and Warwickshire who died in the First World War. Now

it'll be forensically marked to ensure it stays untouched.

It's stood proudly on Barr Beacon for 80 years. But today this First

World War memorial is wearing its own battle scars after being

targeted by metal thieves four times in two years. It's left

feelings running high. I think it would be a good idea, quite frankly,

if we can catch the people who did it and send them to Afghanistan or

something like that without armour and see how they survive. This was

built to commemorate people who fought for the freedom of this

country. And the people who continue to do so.

But now there's good news. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded

Barr Beacon �440,000 to restore the memorial and improve the landscape

around it. As part of the revamp, measures including forensic marking

will be used to make the monument less attractive to thieves. We are

discussing whether to replace the roof with copper or and other

material. This site is not just about the war memorial. Or we Clear

Day You Can See For Miles picking out many Midlands landmarks and

that is something that the lottery bid wants to capitalise on.

Barr Beacon was opened to the public in 1919, the memorial was

funded partly by public subscription and it's hoped

attracting more people up here will play a part in deterring the

thieves. By people being that here and policing the site informally,

that negative activity will not happen so frequently. It is a

lovely place and it is well publicised and well used of a

weekend. It is only us here at the moment but that is because we are

pension us. it is the main part of the Beacon, to remember those who

gave their lives so that we can walk around here.

The restoration work is due to be completed in 2014 to coincide with

the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.

Still to come this evening, Peter Crouch's wonder goal - was it the

best of all time? We'll hear about your favourite goals later. And

it's been T-shirt weather again today with plenty of warm spring

sunshine. But you'll need more than a T-shirt if you're heading out

tonight, in fact there could be a touch of frost. Join me for all the

It's estimated that five million adults in Britain can't read or

write properly. The number has risen from two million when the BBC

launched its first literacy campaign called On The Move in the

1970s. Now a new campaign's under way with help from a man in Stoke

on Trent, who has perfect credentials. James McDonald reports.

That's the post done. Tommy Dawkins has spent his working life at

Steelite in Stoke on Trent. For much of that time, he kept a

closely-guarded secret - he couldn't read or write. My daughter

knew and the wife knew. If anyone else got close to finding out, I've

get very aggressive. Yeah. Really, they'd say, Tommy, what's that

sign? I'd say, "Hey, I'm here for work, not reading your signs. Read

it yourself". Tommy eventually received help. Now he helps others,

he was awarded an MBE for his work, and he's among the faces of the

BBC's new literacy campaign. There's nothing worse than not

being able to catch a bus. Because you walk from Porthill to Burslem

because you don't know what it says on that bus. You go shopping,

you're catching trains... You can't do anything like that. And I don't

want people to do that. Steelite runs a staff learning

programme in partnership with the trade union on site. Some staff are

so ashamed they're given one-to-one training so nobody finds out. Ann

White recently started learning again and now helps other overcome

the stigma. Some people are cruel and some people would laugh and

joke but I try and to the other approach and try and make them feel

better about themselves and say look, there is hope.

In the past around 15% of all jobs nationally required no reading or

writing ability. Today that figure's less than 1%. English and

maths skills in the workplace are more important than ever. People

have become interested in other areas of the business and it has

given them load of confidence, and really helped them to get more

involved and just feel part of it, really.

The issue of adult literacy is being highlighted in a drama series

on BBC One all this week, called A brilliant example, Tommy there.

There's also a helpline if you'd like to return to learning - it's

08000 150 950. More details on our Facebook page.

It's time for sport, and Dan's here after a weekend where Stoke City

striker Peter Crouch took centre stage. Gary Lineker called it

sensational, Alan Shearer claimed it was the goal of the season.

Peter Crouch's stunning strike for Stoke City on Saturday night has

been gaining rave reviews. But is it the best Midlands goal we've

about whether Stoke could disrupt Manchester City's title chase. But

the game hadn't really been a classic until this happened.

COMMENTATOR: Crowd going for the spectacular... What a goal from

audacity all rolled up into one brilliant moment that none of the

27,000 fans in the ground will ever forget. And it wasn't just the fans

It is as good as a goal I have seen in the past four years commentating,

he had time and space around him, other players trying to chase him

down, to hit it over arguably Europe's best goalkeeper, what a

fantastic effort. But what about the man himself? Have you scored a

better goal than that? Probably not, that was one of the best, I do a a

lot like that in practice but they don't always fly in like that.

Unfortunately it wasn't quite enough to win the game as City

equalised with a pretty good goal of their own. But we've been asking

whether you know a better goal than Crouch's and there have been plenty

of suggestions. Fancy a volley? Well, what about this juggling

special from Bomber Brown. Prefer a diving header? Well, who can forget

Keith Houchen helping Coventry on their way to FA Cup glory. But a

solo special takes some beating. This was a moment of magic from

Port Vale's Ray Walker. And there's something special about a Derby

belter. And there can't have been many goals better than this effort

from Dalian Atkinson for Aston Villa at Wimbledon. It won Villa

the match and Atkinson goal of the season. And there's a very good

chance that Crouch's wonder strike on Saturday will win him the same

They do you the world of good, don't they?

Some great goals there, many suggested by the fans. At lunchtime

I mentioned a classic scored by Trevor Francis for Birmingham City.

And we've managed to dig it out of the library. It was October 1976

when he scored this cracker against QPR. Such a special player. Another

classic goal made in the Midlands was Willie Carr teeing up Ernie

Hunt on October 1970. It was on the title card of Match Of The Day. We

could not finish without seeing Ronnie Radford against Newcastle,

1972, duffel coat into delirium! Spectacular, lovely to talk about

those great goals today. Peter Crouch might have scored the

goal of the weekend but there's no doubt about the most vital result.

Defeat for Coventry City against relegation rivals Portsmouth would

have left them deep in trouble in the Championship. But goals from

Gary McSheffrey and Oliver Norwood lifted the Sky Blues to within one

point of escaping the bottom three. We are five unbeaten now, albeit a

few draws but we have been keeping clean sheets as well. Our biggest

problem was letting in late goals throughout the season and we can

rectify that and see out games with a draw or draws and wins, we are

confident. There's more reaction to Coventry's

win on Late Kick Off tonight, and there'll also be an interview with

the mother of a teenage footballer who died nearly five years ago. 16-

year-old Anton Reid collapsed and died while training for Walsall.

He'd had a sudden cardiac arrest. Anton's mum says the footballing

authorities need to review their medical procedures in the light of

the Fabrice Muamba case. I would like to see screening don't within

the club's and I think that it should probably be done every six

months or so. To see what is going on with those children. Because I

remember when Anton had his screening, they said to me that he

was one of the fittest children. And there'll be a full report on

this in Late Kick Off tonight at 11:35 on BBC One. Come on, Nick, a

Luton classic. September 1968, Graham French, once of through

Freetown, fantastic player and he took it from our own penalty area -

- once of Shrewsbury Town. We had somebody sent off in that game, it

was spectacular, that game. And you can remember it was like yesterday!

It's weather time, and after a glorious weekend, it's been another

lovely day. And after the clocks were put forward, it's now still

light outside, so Ben Rich is out It is beautiful out here, another

cracking day. He would be forgiven for thinking it is early summer

rather than early spring -- you would be forgiven. The weather will

continue in a similar vein with a reminder that it is still only

March. Some chilly night and that will be the case tonight. The ridge

of high pressure have been dominating our weather for the last

few days and will stay with us for the next few as well bringing sunny

skies and will bring clear skies overnight. Under those clear skies,

temperatures will plummet. In towns and city centres, close to freezing

that out in the countryside, a bit below freezing such a touch of

frost in places possible and some mist and fog patches as well. Not

too expensive. Into tomorrow, those patches should clear quickly and

then it is another plain sailing day, a beautiful day again with

plenty of sunshine unbroken in most places. That sunshine will lift the

temperatures reaching highs of 20 Celsius. As we get through tomorrow

night, we do it again and a clear skies turning pretty chilly but

during the day on Wednesday, those temperatures could rise even

further peaking at possibly 22 Celsius. Looking towards the end of

the week, it looks like they will start to drop off a little bit and

that is because the ridge of high pressure will drift off to the west

allowing us to introduce a northerly wind bringing slightly

lower temperatures and a bit more in the wake of cloud by Thursday

and Friday but it will still stay dry, plenty more fine weather to

It looks continental there and you could hear the geese!

A look at tonight's main headlines: David Cameron is forced to reveal

the names of those who dined in Downing Street. He insists buying

influence was not on the menu. And police clamp down on sex

workers and kerb crawlers as they investigate a series of assaults