15/04/2014 Midlands Today

Good evening. There are clahms tonight of a "sense of panic" in

Birmingham's Muslim community following the announcement of

another investigation into the so`called Trojan Horse plot. Peter

Clarke, a former head of cotnter terrorism in London, has bedn asked

to oversee an inquiry into `n alleged plot by Islamic extremists

to take over schools in the city. His appointment has been crhticised

by the Chief Constable of Wdst Midlands Police and also Muslim

leaders in Birmingham. Here's our Special Correspondent Peter Wilson.

Students today celebrating their degrees outside Birmingham's Council

house ` the city's population is a global one. All nations and

religions reflected here, all united in wanting a first class edtcation

and they see Birmingham as offering the best. Allegations about

extremism and infiltration of the city's schools casts a shadow. Today

the Chief Constable hit out at the government's appointment of a

Education Commissioner who's a former counter terrorism expert

Peter Clarke's former role hn counter`terrorism is sending the

wrong message. My understanding is it is primarily an issue around

school governance, an issue around social cohesion. But not an issue

around counter`terrorism. Who is Peter Clarke? He's now

investigating the so called Trojan Horse plot for the government.

Previously he was Scotland Xard s Mr Counter Terrorism ` tackling the

aftermath of 9/11 and home grown Al`Qaeda`inspired plots. His

appointment greeted even in police circles with disbelief but `mongst

all sections of the Muslim community a sense of alarm. There is ` real

danger that a small thing could trigger this into something big We

are worried about that and lanaging expectations. We constantly reassure

them to have faith in the establishment, there will bd a fair

and impartial just investig`tion. The management of community

relations over this is crithcal and so far I have to say it has been a

catastrophe. Yesterday, the City Council

announced a two pronged investigation into Trojan Horse We

also have Ofsted inspecting 15 schools. Now the Education Secretary

wants a counter terrorism expert to investigate. It's left the City

Council scratching their he`d. I was surprised by the announcement that a

former counterterrorism offhcer was appointed because it gives out the

wrong messages. We have to be concerned about the schools and the

children and we have to get this away from an issue of terrorism We

are trying hard to manage community fears. There are a lot of pdople who

will be worried that this is going to escalate and all ready the way in

which the last few weeks has led to tensions and people feeling isolated

and worried and concerned, dven children.

But the Education Secretary Michael Gove wants answers and he w`nts his

own man in charge: These allegations need either to be substanti`ted and

firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. Peter Clarke brings a

wealth of relevant skills and experience, and is very well placed

to lead a fair and thorough assessment of the evidence. The

police reiterate Trojan horse is not a police matter, let alone `

counterterrorism investigathon. Sometimes it seems as though this

whole saga is like a runawax train. If the appointment of Peter Clarke

can get to the bottom of thhngs perhaps that rain can be stopped.

But at what cost? We asked the Education Secrdtary for

an interview, but neither hd or anyone from his Department for

Education was available. I'l joined now by Khalid Mahmood, Labotr MP for

Birmingham Perry Barr. Astonished by the appointment. Peter has done a

fantastic job for counter`tdrrorism. I have a high regard for hil but he

isn't the right person for this job. This job entails looking at the

issues of how governors are appointed, what has happened to the

schools and then look at thd issue of what the role of the govdrnors

and the complaints received by the local authority to deal with it We

had a Chief Constable believes it could send out the wrong message,

concern for community coheshon. What effect could it have? A dev`stating

effect. I think what people perceive that to be, all of the Muslhm

community in Birmingham and 25 schools will be seen as being under

the scope as terrorists and that would be judgemental to the

community in Birmingham. If we are to move forward with an enqtiry we

need to look at local engagdment with local people and working with

the Department for Education to get to the bottom of this. Have you been

in touch with Michael Gove? No, he is away at the moment. I will speak

to him and the leaders in the city. I have a meeting with the

Commissioner of police. I al trying to coordinate that to see how we can

work together. Do you agree that has to be a thorough and professional

investigation? Absolutely. H am one of the main people raising that The

sensitivity issue is import`nt, putting somebody who doesn't

understand the structure of education, we need to deal with that

and not cause harm. Sir Albdrt Bore said he doesn't believe there is a

plot behind this. Do you? Yds, I do. The evidence I have received and the

issues and the group that is responsible for this is of `

different school of thought in Islam and most of the parents are from a

different school of thought. Coming up later in the programme: Fears for

the future of a Black Country market ` traders say an increase in rent

could put them out of busindss. A hospital criticised for putting

patient safety at risk by under`staffing wards has begun

recruiting nurses from Europe. An inspection last year found a

shortage of nurses on surgical and dementia wards at New Cross, in

Wolverhampton. There's a national shortage of qualified nurses. Since

2009/10, over three thousand annual nurse training places have been lost

across the UK. But the profdssion is competitive ` with ten people vying

for each place. Around a qu`rter of all NHS Trusts are now lookhng

abroad for staff. Senior NHS managers from Wolverhampton have

been to Greece to find a new generation of nursing talent. Ben

Godfrey has this exclusive report. In a hotel in Thessaloniki,

Aphrodite Karga is hoping for her big break. She wants to work as a

nurse in Wolverhampton, and she s travelled for five hours to her job

interview in Greece's 'second city'. I have heard in UK you have good

nursing system and hospitals. Here in Greece we can't find a job

unfortunately. Aphrodite could be one of the 1 0

nurses recruited to New Cross Hospital to meet patient deland and

offset a shortage of qualifhed nurses in Britain. They are being

tested on their ability to calculate drugs and respond to specifhc

clinical scenarios. Their written responses will be assessed for their

English language skills. We need to understand their training, their

valuables and care and comp`ssion and their personal values and we are

looking to recruit for the right person for Wolverhampton. I know it

is an urban city. 35 minutes driving Ron Birmingham. `` from Birlingham.

It has a good night life. Wd understand the hospital will pay for

flights to the UK ` Greek ntrses will get the same starting salary as

those from the UK, around ?21,0 0. Last November, the Care Quality

Commission found that staffhng on surgical wards at night madd it

difficult to provide safe c`re. One patient group is cautious about

recruiting abroad. If recruhtment is done abroad, those nurses nded to be

competent and skilled and are safe to treat and care for patients.

Clearly, Greece isn't always favoured by the NHS. You've chosen

not to recruit midwives frol Greece because of concerns about the number

of Caesarean sections they perform, but here you are in Greece dmploying

nurses in other areas, is that right? I am confident the ntrses we

are recruiting today will bd of the right calibre and right for Arthur.

They promise no locally qualified nurse like these at the University

of Wolverhampton will be denied a job but the reality is it's a global

market. Welcome to nursing bootcamp. At Thessaloniki's Alexander

Technological Institute these students train for four years, and

spend many intense days `in Greece's hospitals. UK give us opportunities.

Korea in advancing our statts `` studies. I would like to st`y in

Greece and see Greece provide. One recent international survey

found that the UK and Greecd have something in common ` their nurses

are the most stressed in thd world. Will they fit in? They are willing

to allow themselves three months where they can get the langtage

right and simple things likd a bedpan. There is no easy

translation. Interviews beg`n last Wednesday, as Greek nurses joined a

General Strike, opposing Government austerity measures which have left

many unemployed. Anastasia `nd Panos are competing for the same job and

engaged to be married. I control my anxiety. It was easy. We have an

economic crisis here. The sxstem is inadequate.

30 candidates will be offerdd jobs after recruitment drives in Greece

and Italy. How many know wh`t challenges lie ahead, as thdy

prepare to arrive on the wards of Wolverhampton by late June.

A man's critically ill after a stabbing in Birmingham last night.

Emergency services were called to Slade Road in Erdington at `round

ten to eleven after reports of a fight ` they found a 24`year`old

with knife wounds. Police s`y he has life threatening injuries. The road

was closed off while forenshc tests were carried out. Plans for an

increase in the cost of a gtn licence have been criticised by

shooting enthusiasts who fe`r they could be forced out of the sport.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, Ron Ball, is

supporting a rise, saying it currently costs his staff ?200 to

process the paperwork, whild each applicant pays just 50 pounds. Bob

Hockenhull reports. Shooting ` enjoyed by an estimated

three quarters of a million people across the UK. But the cost of a gun

license could be about to ndarly double to ?92. Besides using a

shotgun for his work, Worcestershire farmer Phil Sanders is a kedn clay

pigeon shooter. He fears such a hike will cause enthusiasts to ldave the

sport. People with the lowest incomes, it would be one more thing

they would decide to no longer continue with.

The police are proposing thd increase. Across West Merci` and

Warwickshire, it costs nearly 2 0 pounds to administer each lhcense.

The Police and Crime Commissioner says the public is effectivdly

subsiding gun ownership. Thd current prices are so out of line whth the

actual costs that we need to start addressing that. I have to find the

money from somewhere. It will start appearing in areas the publhc will

not like. There are nearly 40,0 0 gun`owners across Warwickshhre and

West, one of the highest figures in the country. It isn't just xour

typical farmer or shooting competitor who owns a shotgtn.

Victoria Knowles Lacks organises the largest women only shoot in the

country and warns against an above inflation rise in licence fdes. It

is such a wonderful and inclusive sport that it would be such a shame

if there was a radical height and it would price people out. It hs worth

billions to the economy, 70,000 jobs.

The debate on fee increases will continue with a decision expected

before the end of the year. This is our top story tonight: Concdrn for

community cohesion as a forler counter terrorism chief is `ppointed

to investigate an alleged Mtslim plot to takeover schools. Your

detailed weather forecast to come shortly from Shefali. Also, in

tonight's programme. Not just a pretty face ` the Miss Engl`nd

contestants being put through their paces.

And the Grand National winndr may have put it on the map, but could

you find the village of Clahnes Market traders in the Black Country

say they could be pushed out of business because of increasds in

rent. Stallholders in Bilston are facing a five per cent rise by

Wolverhampton City Council for the second year running. The cotncil

needs to save ?123 million over the next five years. 2,000 jobs will be

lost. And council tax bills have gone up by 2% this year as the

authority tries to balance the books. But market traders s`y they

can't cope with the extra rdnt they're now being asked to pay.

Louisa Currie reports. Market traders have been setting up

shop in Bilston for hundreds of years. But today's stallholders say

their future is uncertain. We are struggling and find it harddr to pay

the rent. There was a 5% increase and some of us can't carry on. We

can't afford any more incre`ses We will look at a business package to

keep prices down to give us a chance to survive. It is a difficult time.

All of the traders are concdrned. The market sustains 200 stores in

doors and outside. Selling everything from sweet and ctrtains

and flowers and telephones. I couldn't imagine Bilston without a

market. You get great bargahns, that's what I like! Aftersh`ve,

clothes, it's useful. In a statement the City Council says

it's: Meanwhile a petition against the

increase has been submitted ` and the Council says traders will be

given the chance to address councillors at a date still to be

fixed. Aston Villa have suspended two of

the club's senior members of staff, pending an internal investigation.

Gary Karsa, who's head of football operations, and Ian Culverhouse the

assistant manager, will step aside from their normal duties. Former

player Gordon Cowans and go`lkeeper Shay Given will work with P`ul

Lambert to prepare the team for Saturday's vital Premier le`gue game

at home to Southampton. It's not your traditional ilage of a

beauty queen, but contestants in this year's Miss England colpetition

are being put through their paces at a military`style bootcamp.

Semi`finalists from around the region gathered in Worcestershire to

experience the pain of an extreme fitness work`out. Ben Sidwell was

there to see them in action. The life of a beauty queen.

Glamorous, stylish, and luxtrious. If you thought Miss England was all

about champagne and pampering, think again. I can't do any more! This

year, there won't be a swimsuit inside. Instead, if they won the

crown, they have to survive a military style Boot Camp.

It isn't what you expect for a traditional beauty pageant. It is

nice to have something diffdrent and something to aim for.

When people see what the girls go through it will change opinhons

about the competition. Five of the Miss England hopefuls

are getting a taste of what is to come.

Tiring. It is hard work. Thdy are pushing us to the limits.

Keep going, keep going until I can't do any more.

Pushing the girls to breaking point, military trained

instructors. It is a beauty pageant. This is a

gimmick. We are there creating a complete

package. Fitness, personality and what they do outside.

To look this good takes a lot of hard work. Around 80 girls will

battle it out in the semis. They will face yet another gruelling

physical work`out. It is more about being sporty and

charitable and well rounded. I think it shows the girls intelligdnce more

than what it ever has. There is still bound to be tears and

tiaras but after battling through boot camp, this years winner will

truly have earned her title. Looks a riot. It was supposed to put it on

the map. The village which hs proud to be home to this year's Grand

National winner, but it seels some visitors are struggling to find

Claines in Worcestershire. Now villagers want a road sign to their

community to stop drivers gdtting lost. Pam Caulfield has man`ged to

get there. Pam, what's the problem? I got here fine but I have lived

here for most of my life. It seems visitors and cry national f`ns are

finding it harder. Villagers tell me they need a sign. Sitting to the

northwest of Worcester ` Cl`ines has plenty to boast about an ancient

church. Stunning scenery. An award winning pub. And now a Grand

National winning horse ` Pineau de Re ` who's being shown off proudly

in the local. It has been in motion or but absolutely incredibld. It has

put us on the map. It was all ready on it but even more so now. But

despite all that right here in the heart of the parish there's

something missing. Its own welcome sign. Now following the Grand

National success ` it's somdthing villagers are campaigning for. It is

part of what you grow up with. I guess for people coming to the place

people visiting they are not always sure. That naffs are not always that

accurate. `` sat mats. As you approach it is written on the road

but after the roundabout whdre is it? And only having signs on the

outskirts could be costing them passing trade.

But BBC Hereford and Worcester's also on board ` We can do whth the

flag and Worcestershire won the Grand National, for heavens sake.

You wonder where you are. A side, listeners are backing it.

So with plenty of support on their side ` a new sign could be on the

cards ` meaning more people can sample what Claines has to offer.

Plenty of muscle behind the campaign. Are we going to gdt a

sign? We will and hopefully one at each end which is what the residents

would like. Two signs, what will they look like? A fairly st`ndard

local authority sign saying welcome please drive slowly and then the

special bit underneath would be home of the Grand National winner, 2 14

or something along those lines. There will be a nod to the horse. We

have agreed the process and we will talk to the county councillors and

then the local community to ask if that's what they like and wd will

put the wheels in motion. Shx weeks, something like that. Thank xou for

that great news. All of this Grand National publicity has been worth

it. Not one but two signs. Back to you!

Glorious sunshine there in Worcestershire. Another sprhng day.

The sun does seem strong. It is strong. We are coming to thd end of

the day so not as strong as earlier but we have a couple of beattiful

days and UV levels will be high Don't be fooled by the breeze or

Chile starts. Protect yoursdlves. Slightly bad news for the E`ster

weekend. Yesterday confident was low as to how it would turn out but it

seems confidence is slightlx higher and it will be fairly unsubtle for

the second half. This is Easter Sunday. Good Friday and Sattrday,

temperatures will be pegged back but it will be largely drive. Hopefully

things will change as the wdek goes on. The pressure chart shows high

pressure in control, today `nd tomorrow but a slight changd by the

end of tomorrow into Thursd`y as this cold front starts to slip down

from the north`west introducing more in the way of cloud. Pressure is

fairly high throughout the week except for the second half of the

weekend. Tonight, and a high`pressure largely clear skies,

temperatures dipping to thehr lowest point which could be near freezing

in rural spots. We could sed a touch of frost, also some misty p`tch is

developing into the morning. On the whole, temperatures in built`up

areas around four or five and a dry night. Dry tomorrow, other than the

mist and a touch of frost, looking beautiful. Overall, a touch warmer

than today, dry and the sunshine is with us from the word go. Vdry

little in the way of cloud `nd UV levels will be high. Temper`tures

rising nicely up to 15 for lost places and in the south`west of the

region temperatures could ntdge up to 16 Celsius. Tomorrow night, there

will be cloudy conditions so frost is less likely and temperattres a

little bit higher but lingering into Thursday and giving off spots of

rain. Temperatures back to 03 or 14. . Sounds like make the most of

tomorrow. Tonight's headlinds from the BBC. The fight back beghns `

Ukrainian forces start to otst pro ` Russian gunmen from the east of the

country. Concern for communhty cohesion as a former counter

terrorism chief is appointed to investigate an alleged Muslhm plot

to takeover schools That was the Midlands Today. I'll be back at ten

o'clock with more news from around the region. I hope you can join me.

Good evening. Goodbye for now.