19/12/2016 Midlands Today

The Justice Secretary calls for a full investigation

400 prisoners are moved out of Birmingham jail.

From the staff and when I've been talking to them,

this has been coming for at least two or three months.

We'll be asking the chair of the independent monitoring board

about the state of the jail this evening.

The end of a line - the Wolverhampton Goodyear factory

closes its doors after nearly 90 years of production.

We knew it was coming about a year ago and I'm hoping,

despite some people not being happy, that at least the majority

A timely victory for campaigners at Dudley Hippodrome -

the future of the theatre is secured on its 78th anniversary.

Behind the scenes at Sport Personality of the Year -

how 11 months of planning get to air.

Add the weather might not be feeling festive, but I have got a tale that

might help. Join me for a full forecast later and a spot of

Christmas Carol. The BBC understands that 400

prisoners have now been moved out of Birmingham Prison,

since riots on Friday. Specially trained prison officers

took back control of the jail late on Friday night,

after more than 12 hours of chaos. Stairwells were set on fire

and paper records destroyed during trouble in four wings

of the category B prison, Today the Justice Secretary ordered

a full investigation New footage emerged today of gleeful

inmates running a mark on the four wings of HMP Birmingham, seized by

rioters. For 12 hours or more, a prison in

the grip of anarchy. Outside today, I met a man whose brother and cousin

are inside. I'm really worried about them, because they were walking

around with weapons and that. It was really tense because most of them

are locked down. In the Commons today, under pressure, the Justice

Secretary responded to the worst UK prison riot in 25 years. It is

important to a member that these problems have developed over a

number of years, and it will take time and concerted effort to turn

this situation around. While these reforms take old, we are continually

working to reduce risk and ensure stability across the prison estate.

Periodically, vans emerge, the prisoners bumping on the sides as

they go. Part of a series of transfers to other jails.

Originally, we were told 240 inmates were to be transferred. We now

believe that figure to be closer to 400. It appears the rioting started

with inmates clambering onto safety netting stretched between landings.

One was unhappy because of a problem with a health care appointment.

So-called tornadoes cause of prison officers emerged late on Friday,

spattered in paint, having restored order. Just six weeks ago, a board

of independent monitors warned about the growing prevalence of

psychoactive drugs in the presence. It seems that it is a difficult task

to get it sorted. There are cracks in the system. This has been coming

for two or three months. They think it has been ignored, and it has

culminated in Friday night and the right. Evidence is being gathered

for a police investigation into the riot. Four wings were so badly

damaged, they apparently unusable. who's chairman of the Birmingham

Prison Independent Monitoring Board. You've been to the prison

this morning - It's getting back to being a more

relaxed place. On Saturday, members of the board were saying there was a

lot of aggression and shouting and anger. That has dissipated. We have

talked to prisoners and staff and it is getting back to how we would

expected to be. You raised concerns about insufficient staffing levels

back in July, didn't you? Have they not been listened to? I think they

have been listened to. G4S have, instead of appointing people as

people left, they have started recruiting ahead of vacancies coming

online. But it is a difficult job. Some who take it on not realise what

it is like and find it too difficult. Other have been in the

job for a long time, find it difficult and end up being either

sick or finding new jobs. The Justice Secretary has called for a

full investigation into what happened on Friday. Do you have any

idea what went wrong? I think the investigation needs to do that.

Depending on who you talk to in the prison, they have all got their own

theories about what it may have been. I figured this stage it is

fruitless to speculate. Then we put it a different way. Were you

surprised that this happened on Friday? I think we were surprised,

because we believed the police and is well run, we think the local

population... The rioting would suggest differently! Yes! You can be

proud of the management of the prison and the staff at the effort

they put into it, so although it has its tensions, they have come up and

down over the years. We would say it was a surprise that it happened. OK,

thank you for your time. one of Wolverhampton's

major employers Goodyear has been making tyres

at the Bushbury Lane site At its height, the factory

employed 7,000 workers. But in June last year, the company

said it was to close the plant - Unions say those workers

were promised help to find alternative employment,

but claim this didn't happen. Our business correspondent,

Peter Plisner, Certainly years. To night, this

battery is quite for the first time in decades. It visually closes

tomorrow, but the production ended last Friday. The tyre compounds that

were previously made here I now being made at sites across Europe as

yet another major industry leads Wolverhampton.

He's witnessed the demise of several major companies,

and today John Bull was there at the end of Goodyear.

Despite major investment just four years ago

and an efficient workforce, the company still wanted this

factory closed, with the loss of more than 300 jobs.

Wanye Deveney was one of the first to leave,

but like many he struggled to find work in the Wolverhampton area

A lot of the lads went to Stafford, which is a 27 mile run. You have

people out at Stafford Way, a 29 mile journey.

And unions have been highly critital that workers were offer redployment

even further away at a Goodyear factory in Mexico.

It shows the total lack of understanding that Goodyear have got

about the workforce. To add insult to injury. No one is going to go

there. This is the old chub factory in the

centre of the city, which is now a media and leisure centre.

This newsreel footage shows workers finishing off a spacial record

breaking car at the old Sunbeam factory in the city.

And this is the same factory today - now converted into flats.

Experts say globalisation means production can go anywhere.

If the companies are not headquartered here, and they are not

also putting the research and development commitment into the

places where they are producing stuff, there is an incentive to look

upon it as a production outsourcing thing, and then you move around to

areas where you think you will be more cost competitive.

So where does Goodyear's departure leave Wolverhampton -

business leaders maintain the city's future is still bright.

There is a lot of money going to regeneration in Wolverhampton, as

you can see when you go through. A lot of retail is moving into the

area. Although new industries have been

attracted to the city, including Jaguar Land Rover's engine

plant - the closure of Goodyear and the loss of jobs

is still a bitter blow. We asked Goodyear to put up a

spokesperson tonight, they declined. They issued a statement saying that

the majority of workers have secured alternative positions in the local

area. 283 workers, they say, have left the site. 37 will remain for

what they call a close down period, which eases acted to be completed in

June next year. -- which is expected to be completed.

A man from Birmingham, aged 101, has been jailed for 13 years

for historical sex offences against children.

Ralph Clarke, who's believed to be the oldest person in Britain ever

to be convicted by a jury, was found guilty last week

of abusing three children during the 1970s and '80s.

Sentencing him, the judge said Clarke

Police have named a man who was stabbed and killed

23-year-old Ibrahim Ismail was found on Moseley Street

in Highgate in the early hours of Saturday.

A postmortem examination revealed wounds to his chest and back.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses.

There has been a victory today for campaigners

working to secure the future of the Dudley Hippodrome.

Keys to the venue have been handed over,

as the council agreed to a five-year lease.

as the theatre opened its doors 78 years ago on this very day in 1938.

Here's our arts reporter, Satnam Rana.

The real work can start so we can finally see that building restored

to its own natural beauty, and once again entertainment

The main prop - a bunch of keys, unlocking rhe future

Campaigners have fought hard to save the Art Deco building.

Now they've been given a five-year lease by the council.

Wonderful, because we can now start work in there, clearing it out,

and we now need to get the next stage going.

The next stages are, of course, fundraising.

We need to raise funds for feasibility studies,

we need to find out what needs to be done to get the building repaired.

We've got to get the services connected.

And then we've got to look at what we need to put inside it

In its heyday, the theatre was a magnet for great entertainers -

and comedy duo Laurel and Hardy appeared in 1947.

having been transformed from a theatre to a bingo hall.

So what's made the council hand out the five-year lease?

We simply haven't got the money to be able to invest in this.

But what we've done is worked with the Friends Of The Hippodrome

to at least give them the opportunity to raise that revenue,

to bring acting life back to the Hippodrome,

In all, ?10 million is needed to reopen the building.

Plans include a side extension and a glass frontage.

In five years' time, it's hoped that the curtain

will once again be raised here at the Dudley Hippodrome.

But this time, not just as a theatre,

but also a multiuse venue, hosting both sporting and cultural events.

250,000 school children from around the world have been

in Birmingham, competing in a special tournament,

which tests teamwork and engineering skills.

They've built robots from Lego for the first Lego League -

an international research and engineering competition.

Last minute checks by this young engineering enthusiast,

but can his team's robot move this pig without knocking it over?

And for the boys in green, another confident start,

A couple of minutes later, a chance to discuss the scores.

It sometimes works and it sometimes doesn't.

Even if you programme it and everything is perfect

in the testing, in the real thing, it goes wrong.

The pupils are judged on their robots and teamwork.

160 children from 16 schools across the West Midlands

are taking part in the regional heat.

Woodrush High School is keen to do better than last year.

We looked at other teams, and that's been helpful.

We've looked at what they've done and put that into our own programs,

I don't think we ever expected come first,

because we have got quite a basic kit,

but anywhere between first and fifth is where we're looking to get.

is to create the next generation of engineers.

Employers say to us at the University that they need

highly trained and highly skilled graduates who are capable

So it's important for us to find these people and help them come

through on the pathways into those engineering careers.

This Leicestershire-based school were the eventual winners

and will go through to the UK heat in Bristol.

The final competition against other countries

will take place in America next year.

More than enough sport to get stuck into - including

Sports Personality Of The Year in Birmingham last night.

Stoke City fans will still be shaking their heads in disbelief

after they threw away a two-goal lead against ten men on Saturday.

A win would have taken them level on points with West Bromwich Albion

after they were beaten at home by Manchester United.

Nick Clitheroe rounds up all the weekend's football action.

By the end of the first half, it looked like

all of Stoke's Christmases were coming early.

Bojan put them in front from the penalty spot

against ten-man Leicester before Joe Allen scored his fifth

It was astonishing, then, that the champions fought back

when Daniel Amartey grabbed a late equaliser.

West Bromwich Albion's fine recent form was always going to be tested

by Manchester United and an early goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Swede was lucky to avoid a red card for this challenge

on Craig Dawson but he stayed on to score a second

Everybody's had a three-game week, and it's been tough.

You know, we've played against a team that have found some form,

and you can see why they've found some form.

Gianfranco Zola's first game in charge of Birmingham City

They led until eight minutes from the end against

promotion-chasing Brighton, who went on to win it

in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

In recent seasons, Aston Villa haven't enjoyed away games

so imagine the delight of the travelling fans

putting both those failings to bed at QPR yesterday.

Wolves moved five points clear of the relegation zone as goals

from Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro gave them a 2-0 win

Burton Albion put up a brave fight against Newcastle,

with Lloyd Dyer equalising for the Brewers

before Mo Diame ensured victory for the leaders

in the first ever meeting between the clubs.

The only winners in League One were Shrewsbury Town, who climbed off

the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home victory over Bristol Rovers.

It's the first time they've won back-to-back games this season.

And Cheltenham Town will also enjoy a tastier Christmas dinner

after their first win in the league since the 22nd of October.

It's only an inferior goal difference

which means they're still in the relegation zone.

Now all three of our Premiership rugby clubs lost in Europe

at the weekend, but Wasps' defeat was extremely controversial.

Yes, they were in front at Connacht in the European Champions Cup

Now, in rugby, the clock then stops and the game ends

But, on this occasion, the referee allowed Connacht to take a line-out.

They scored a try and kicked the conversion

In a statement today, Wasps say they're extremely disappointed.

But, on the plus side, they're still top of Pool Two.

they'll still reach the quarterfinals.

It's been a big weekend for a teenager from Stoke-on-Trent.

17-year-old Jim Moston made it to the final

of the Junior World Darts competition

before losing to his Dutch opponent at the Alexandra Palace.

The college student has only been playing competitively for a year,

and has already won the European Junior title.

Laura May McMullan has been to meet him.

It's every dart player's dream to play there.

There's no mercy, you have to earn your right to play.

Jim Moston is one of the sport's rising stars.

The 17-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent made it to the finals

of the Junior World Darts Championship.

He's only been competing seriously for about a year,

and says he didn't even know if he was any good.

I just gave it a go and obviously the hard work and the practice that

I've been putting in in the local leagues, in the pubs,

To get to the final of the worlds, we've joked about it,

not really actually believing it would happen.

Whatever he does, he tries to perfect.

Doesn't matter what it is, he perseveres,

and he's just got that kind of personality.

When he said one day, "I can do this, Mum,"

His mentor - Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton -

He's achieved probably a lot more than kids his age, at 17 years old.

The good thing about Jim, his feet are on the ground,

And even getting to play the world's biggest

He's just a normal person, playing darts.

He's just a bald man with a green T-shirt.

Unfortunately, Jim lost in the final to his Dutch opponent,

but he is the current European champion.

Next year, he'll make the move to the senior professional tour

And we had another near miss yesterday with Nick Skelton.

Yes, he finished third in the BBC's Sports personality of the year

58-year-old Skelton from Warwickshire

Last night, Skelton finished behind the runner-up, Alistair Brownlee.

that a key member of his family hadn't voted for him.

I've got a bit of a bone to pick with my wife,

because she actually told me about an hour ago

So not smart from her, with Christmas coming up.

If that vote would have counted, it would've a different result.

Yes, Nick was just one of those I interviewed last night,

The culmination of a wonderful year of sport -

all pulled together by a big team at the BBC.

Almost 10 million switched on to watch Andy Murray

along with 12,000 inside the Genting Arena.

This celebration of sport has been months in the planning.

Well, come with me, and we'll find out.

Here are the 16 for 2016, and the details you need to vote...

Six hours before the programme goes on air,

the technical rehearsal irons out any last minute niggles.

The scale of this production is huge - one camera in the wrong place

and the whole programme could fall apart.

Everyone needs to be ready for their cue.

Technical rehearsals are over, all seemed to go well.

So let's go and have a chat with one of the stars of the show.

There's not many people I'd let into my make-up room,

Clare, of all the things you do the BBC sport,

And it's because of the live audience.

But also, in all those front seats, you're looking out

and there's Ian Thorpe and there's Michael Phelps and Adam Peaty

and Jason and Laura Kenny are in the front row.

if you get anything wrong, they will notice.

But I'm not a showgirl, you know what I mean?

I'm not used at the lights and the razzle-dazzle,

and the guns going off with the ticker tape and all that.

So I don't know, it's a much bigger show, it's a huge show.

I'd love Nick Skelton to be top three, obviously!

You know, it will never happen again.

He doesn't think he'll ever be on the list again.

People are starting to take their seats now for the big show,

which started in the planning, way back in January.

Let's meet one of the team who's put it all together.

We've got 17 articulated trucks that deliver the set,

We're using 130 microphones, seven sound mixers.

We've got ten kilometres of power, forget about the camera cables.

including all the various BBC regions that are here.

Using 17 in the main arena and a number around backstage as well.

Do you actually get to enjoy this, or is it just a complete nightmare?

I get to enjoy it on about Monday afternoon.

I will spool it back and have a look,

"where could we have done better?"

Or a sit-down after Christmas to look through it.

Some final fine tuning and a chance to shake off the pre-match nerves,

11 months of planning boil down to two hours of slick TV.

Clare even got her wish of an award for Nick Skelton.

The weather might not be feeling very festive,

but there's certainly some Christmas cheer where Rebecca is this evening.

You're the king very festive yourself!

Thank you. I would like my own choir to accompany me for the rest of the

festive period. It might look festive here at the moment, but it

was a different scene last week because the tree and then the 70s

scene -- nativity scene were stolen. Helen is in charge for putting this

display in. When you saw it was stolen, how did you feel? I felt

stunned, actually. I could not stay in for the rest of the day, I had to

go out. I could not believe that Christmas had been stolen for the

second time in two years. Everything was taken. They came back a few days

later and took the stand away, a smaller nativity set had been on. We

have the local police officer. What does it mean when the community gets

together like this? It is an amazing example of what can happen when the

community comes together. We have three trees here now, but no sign of

the nativity scene. If that makes you feel warm ahead of Christmas,

that is the only thing that is. In fact, today is the last of the

settled weather because we are going to start to see a change after

tomorrow. For tomorrow, it is a brighter picture, with a chill in

the air. It will feel fresher for a time as well. As for tonight, it is

dry at the moment, surprisingly, but we have a weather system which is

about to come in from the east which will give us some downpours

overnight. As that clears, we'll be left with holes in the cloud which

will lead to mist and fog patches, but nothing like we saw yesterday.

It will be a clear start across the South and east tomorrow, with some

dry and bright spells to come through the morning. But it will be

chilly because temperatures are likely to dip down to between two

and five Celsius. A touch of frost in some places. A dry and bright

start for the Southeast, steadily spreading north and west. We will

see the skies clearing, some pleasant spells of sunshine and

light winds. Averages should push up to around seven Celsius. As we had

through the remainder of tomorrow, we will start to see the cloud

thickening and that will be ahead of a weather system which comes in from

the west. Plenty of rain to come as we head through Tuesday night into

Wednesday, with temperatures hovering between two and five

Celsius. As we head towards the remainder of the week, it was the

Christmas weekend, it will continue to get more subtle. Heavy downpours

at times, strong winds as well. If you are looking for a white

Christmas, the only chance of that is if you get to higher ground and

even then it is more likely to be falling as sleet. We have some

fantastic music here, all from the West Midlands Police choir. I will

leave you with them singing. That's all for now,

your next news at 10:30pm. Ben dropping

a frozen turkey on Mum's foot. Put me down!

No, we talked about this.