25/09/2013 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and

Roger Johnson. Our top story: there are some general annoyance that

Roger Johnson. Our top story: there person in charge does not appear to

be able to submit their own is a The Police Commissioner who could

face criminal charges. Lancashire's Clive Grunshaw is investigated over

Mr Grunshaw insists he did nothing wrong and says he'll carry on as

normal. Also tonight: Pumping up the pressure — firefighters across the

Complete with doctors and nurses, welcome to the biggest simulator

training exercise the NHS and the Breaking new ground. April Ashley,

the '60s model — who had one of Breaking new ground. April Ashley,

first sex—change operations — is And a new oasis for Millie. The

volunteers giving an autistic girl's garden a Ground Force—style make

Also tonight: Manchester United garden a Ground Force—style make

Liverpool in the League Cup. Will Luis Suarez get off the naughty

Liverpool in the League Cup. Will and onto the team sheet? Richard

Yes, Luis Suarez could well feature tonight in a match that after that

thumping at the hands of neighbours City, now feels like an important

game for United manager David Moyes. Lancashire Police Commissioner Clive

Grunshaw says he won't resign over investigating, the Independent

Police Complaints Commission today referred the matter to the Crown

Prosecution Service. Mr Grunshaw denies the allegations but he's

Prosecution Service. Mr Grunshaw suspended from the Labour Party

Prosecution Service. Mr Grunshaw political opponents say he should

temporarily step down. Our political editor Arif Ansari is live outside

the Lancashire Police headquarters in Hutton. Arif, how serious is

Roger, it is important to understand that these allegations relate to Mr

Grunshaw's time, not as Police Commissioner, but before that when

he was simply a county council. Commissioner, but before that when

moment he was elected Meddy was Commissioner, but before that when

great focus upon him and he came allegations about his expenses have

months, and today we got worse. allegations about his expenses have

was elected in October to oversee priorities. One of his biggest

problems is himself. Before he was Police Commissioner, Mr Grunshaw was

both a county council and the member of the former police authority.

both a county council and the member is alleged he made around one dozen

double journeys, claiming expenses from both organisations for the

double journeys, claiming expenses Johnny. He is also alleged to have

regularly charged the maximum amount for miles without offering receipts.

The questions were uncovered by for miles without offering receipts.

former Conservative councillor and expert on Police Commissioner 's.

These allegations could lead to criminal offences. The prosecution

is considering whether to charge Mr Grunshaw, if connected he could

is considering whether to charge Mr out of his job. Does it matter that

these could be for small amounts of money? We cannot begin to have a

cut—off for what amounts people money? We cannot begin to have a

allowed to steal, if that is what has happened in this case. When

someone is in a prominent public office, the amount matters less

someone is in a prominent public what has happened. There was no

someone is in a prominent public of the Constabulary's figureheads

Mr Grunshaw must oversee the work of the Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan.

One former senior police officer increasingly difficult. I have

spoken to former colleagues of mine in Manchester police and in general

there is annoyance that the person in charge of the police force does

not appear to be able to submit their own expenses properly. Mr

Grunshaw seems determined to carry looking increasingly difficult.

So where does all this leave Mr Well, of course, Mr Grunshaw's

position is unchanged. He continues to maintain said —— maintain his

innocence and carries on with his job. You must remember that that job

is to be a begin of integrity and to oversee the budget of the police

force. Today the Independent Police Complaints Commission has basically

said there is enough evidence here to warrant handing over a failed to

the Crown Prosecution Service, that means that his authority as damaged

Firefighters went on strike this afternoon, leaving some areas with

only a third of the fire engines they'd usually have on the roads.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union pensions. Roger's been looking at

how the strike affected different Hundreds of members of the Fire

Brigades Union walked out around the region at midday today. In Greater

Manchester they'd normally have around 60 fire engines available,

today it was 28. Some of those volunteers who were trained and

today it was 28. Some of those to cover the strike. Lancashire

today it was 28. Some of those that of their 60 appliances, 30

today it was 28. Some of those on the road today. Firefighters

there were offered up to £1,000 on the road today. Firefighters

Merseyside had 21 of their fleet of available. In Cumbria, 33 of their

46 appliances were available. But in rural areas they rely more heavily

on retained firefighters who're rural areas they rely more heavily

generally in the union. Cheshire had normal. And in Derbyshire, nine

generally in the union. Cheshire had available, although they only had to

deal with one small skip fire. But in other areas it was busier, as

Around the North West, fire services brought in contingency plans to

cover the strike. And as the midday walk—out approached, Derbyshire

cover the strike. And as the midday Service took to Twitter to warn

people to take extra care while cooking their lunch, while Greater

Manchester asked people to check their irons and hair straighteners

were off. Green watch and Preston but amongst the firefighters who

between the union and government pensions. Nobody wants to out on

strike. It is a last resort as far as we are concerned, unfortunately

government. He their colleagues as we are concerned, unfortunately

offered up to £1000. We still want to negotiate with the government.

That is the correct way to sort to negotiate with the government.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union had voted to strike over changes to

their pensions and plans to make them work until the age of 60. In

future, a firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full

year pension, rising to £26,000 £29,000 and retires after a full

the state pension. You cannot have 58 euros using cutting equipment and

the stream circumstances. —— people aged 58 years of age. It is very

demanding. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service relied on other union

members to supply cover. Contingency plans were in place. The major

collets were in Lancashire but there were no serious injuries. At the

headquarters of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service the headquarters

headquarters of Cheshire Fire and used to taking 999 calls and it

headquarters of Cheshire Fire and been business as usual. The time of

the chosen for the strike is usually quiet. He ran operations room was

set up but they were dependent on the public. We have been telling

people if they are cooking to take extra care and the same goes if

people if they are cooking to take are driving on the roads. Union

members say the action today was a warning shot to the government.

Further shots —— further incidents Well, we asked for your comments on

this and we've had lots of response. Don't forget, there are numerous

ways you can quickly and easily Don't forget, there are numerous

in touch with the programme to let us know what you think about the

stories we're covering on North us know what you think about the

Twitter are the ones most people seem to use. These comments on the

fire strike came from our Facebook page today. Stacey Snape says,

"Support them 100%! They save lives every single day. Everybody works

hard, but not everyone chooses a risky job such as firefighting.

hard, but not everyone chooses a deserve far more!" Simon Teale,

though, doesn't support the strike. He says, "Public sector pensions are

a disgrace. They want to try working in the private sector, the real

world. We will work a lot longer for the sort of benefits the public

sector gets."And this from Andrew Parr. "I sympathise, but it's the

same for postmen, builders and train medicals won't be passed. Don't

same for postmen, builders and train put them on light duties — going

Other news from around the North West now: Care workers from Rochdale

have staged a demonstration at the start of a ten—day strike in protest

Workers say pay has dropped by up to 30% since private company Future

Directions — created by Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust —

took over their contracts. Future Directions says it's disappointed by

the action. It says the contract was agreed last year, that it has worked

offered to go into talks with the union. I am hoping that people who

are members will listen to us today and will consider their decision

directors which is ongoing and will come to the table and talk to Hamas

unison because you want a settlement Detectives are scaling down the

search for the body of a missing believed to have been killed. Rania

Alayed disappeared from her home in Cheetham Hill in July. Her husband

and his brother have been charged with her murder. Officers are now

concentrating on gathering further And a new £10 million data centre is

being built on the Isle of Man. And a new £10 million data centre is

Telecom says it specialises in business from all over the world.

The Chief Minister laid the first stretched, why would a hospital

artificially create an extra ward with extra patients? Well, Aintree

Hospital in Liverpool is holding the biggest live training event the

Hospital in Liverpool is holding the in the region has ever seen. For a

whole week doctors, nurses, caterers and cleaners will be taken out of

their comfort zones and thrown into real challenges in a simulated

patients aren't quite what you'd The pretend patients have gone into

cardiac arrest. Similar exercises environment but this week's training

This exercise will be for one week and will simulate an entire ward

with all the processes, problems and the organised chaos that sometimes

goes on and hospital wards and that will allow staff to practice and

rehearse. It is almost like a flight simulator for doctors and nurses. No

resuscitate one patient, he is faced with another who has been drinking

all morning and does not want to stop. You qualified as a nurse four

years ago, is there any value in this training? Zeinab Badawi ——

years ago, is there any value in we do not always see these things in

a normal ward every day. It is training. Running a ward well is

also about updating patient notes, ordering fresh linen and dealing

with a steady stream of visitors. This is about testing clinical

environment. Training pharmacists in their final year, this is their

first—time collaborating with other staff and a working ward. Does this

give you confidence when you start working on the words next year?

Absolutely. I feel like I have more knowledge and taking apply that

Absolutely. I feel like I have more each of the situations rather than

just reading from a book or being in a classroom. Hundreds of members of

staff will pass through this working ward. All of today's patients are

doing as well as can be expected. We'll be live at Old Trafford as

archrivals meet in the League Cup. But will Luis come off the naughty

list and onto the Liverpool team And Millie's garden make over. The

volunteers creating a new oasis And Millie's garden make over. The

April Ashley was a glamorous actress April — from Liverpool — was born

George Jamieson. In 1960 she was one of the first people to have a sex

change and now her incredible life story has inspired an exhibition at

Liverpool Museum. Lindsey Prosser April Ashley began life as George

Jamieson and was desperate to live Merchant Navy but left to start

Jamieson and was desperate to live nightclub, there she saved the money

for surgery and life as a top model followed sequence. If I hadn't

become a woman, by the time I was It was marvellous, it was glamorous.

We always became friends and went out drinking together. All of that

photographers knew who I was. They April's modelling career ended when

a newspaper printed her story. After a failed marriage April went

to live in America but prejudice meant job offers were frequently

withdraw. It's got to the point where I knew exactly what was going

on and they discovered who I was. Last year April received the MBE in

recognition of her campaigning for transgender rights. When you look

back on your life, what do you think The exhibition runs for a year.

Lindsey Prosser, BBC North West Tonight, Liverpool. ?NEWLINE The

third round of the Capital One Cup isn't normally a huge game. But

tonight's match at Old Trafford isn't normally a huge game. But

certainly significant and not just because Liverpool are the visitors.

Richard is there for us. There's Richard? Luis Suarez could return

tonight for Liverpool but it also views significant for David Moyes

after that thumping from neighbours Manchester City at the weekend.

after that thumping from neighbours do not yet know if Luis Suarez will

start for Liverpool but plenty for both managers to think about. For

the managers of both Manchester both managers to think about. For

balancing act. The dilemma facing United's David Moyes is this, he

needs a response after the four United's David Moyes is this, he

one mauling by Manchester City and is up against even fiercer rivals

and Liverpool and any competition that is not a top priority. It is a

selection conundrum. The capital cup in many ways has always been a route

for us to give our younger chick —— younger players an opportunity to

perform. This is a really big tie that came out of the hat. On top of

that, Robin van Persie is injured supporting cast. I think after any

game that you have been beaten, supporting cast. I think after any

always want to get off to a good start again. We want to do well

always want to get off to a good all of the cup competitions and

always want to get off to a good will try to do that. Brendan Rodgers

must decide what to do with Luis Suarez, often brilliant but often on

the edge of calamity. The sea floor him straight into action? He as

every well robust character and him straight into action? He as

biggest quality is his desire and commitment. He comes back into the

reckoning once more. His manager seems to be edging towards playing

him. He has been fantastic. His attitude and training and he is

really looking forward to getting back and helping the team. For

different reasons, both managers are desperate to strike the correct

And there'll be full commentary desperate to strike the correct

Manchester and Merseyside. We have just heard that Luis Suarez will

start tonight. Let me talk to you now Lady man, correspondent for

start tonight. Let me talk to you Daily Mail. How significant do you

Moyes? Probably not as significant as it may feel. This is the least

important competition for Manchester United at the beginning of a long

season. But Manchester United come into this game and a hammering from

their neighbours. If David Moyes wants people to stop asking him

about the Manchester City game and comparing him to Alex Ferguson and

asking him why he has yet to beat a big team this season, then beating

Liverpool tonight would help him. I do not think his selection will

Liverpool tonight would help him. I believe that managers plan for the

long—term, not the short—term. This will not be as we get him as Alex

Ferguson used to choose for this competition. He is playing Liverpool

tonight. I do not think that Carrick or Vidic will Claye, however. Is it

a surprise that Luis Suarez is starting this match? It does not

# We know what sort of reception Luis Suarez will get tonight, what

do you think Liverpool fans will give him a good reception? I think

when you look at how Wayne Rooney was treated by Manchester fans given

what he had been through during was treated by Manchester fans given

summer, I think Liverpool fans will rapturous reception tonight. Thank

you for joining us, Ian. Let us rapturous reception tonight. Thank

Everton's Capital One Cup campaign was ended by Fulham last night but

Manchester City booked their place in the last 16 with a thumping

Manchester City booked their place win over Wigan. City's £22 million

striker Stevan Jovetic scored his first two goals as City gained

revenge for last season's FA Cup final defeat. But the best goal

revenge for last season's FA Cup the night was this free kick from

Burnley's strong start to the season continued as they came from behind

to beat Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor. In—form striker Danny Ings was

again The Clarets hero, equalising just before the break and then

nodding the winner midway through the second to make it nine goals for

the season. You can see all of this week's goals on the League Cup Show

In cricket, play has finished for the day in Lancashire's final County

Championship match of the season. The Division Two champions are well

on top after day two away to Kent. They bowled out their hosts for

on top after day two away to Kent. in their first innings and have

closed today on 75 without loss in their first innings and have

their second innings to lead by in their first innings and have

Sir Bradley Wiggins is back in the medals, he's won silver at the Road

World Championships Individual Time Trial. The Lancashire cyclist came

second to reigning champion Tony Martin of Germany in Florence. He

was ten seconds behind Martin with Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland

taking bronze. Second place for Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland

Bradley then, but Mike Newman from Sale has gone one better and set a

birthday today, broke the speed record for blind driving yesterday.

He was clocked at 186 miles per record for blind driving yesterday.

and beat the previous record by record for blind driving yesterday.

seconds. Congratulations to Mike. And finally from me, Stockport

swimmer James Goddard has announced his retirement from the sport. The

30—year—old double Commonwealth Champion says he's been swimming

professionally since he was 18 and something new in his life. There are

plenty of Marouane Fellaini wakes around and Manchester United could

do with a great performance from him. I will not put it on, however!

He looks a little bit like one of the characters from Harry Enfield!

Life for the families of children with autism can be challenging.

Life for the families of children 10—year—old Millie Edge and her

family from Widnes have had a very special helping hand, or should

family from Widnes have had a very be hands this week.. Millie is

severely autistic. She loves being outdoors but her garden couldn't

accommodate her needs. That's until the charity WellChild and a group of

volunteers stepped in to help. Beccy Meehan reports. Milli cannot speak,

struggles to relate to others and sleeps only a couple of hours each

night. When she is outdoors it is a different story. She gets very

frustrated sometimes. The family struggled to stop hurting herself.

Milli's mother and father approached us and asked if we could help. We

have been trying to find a company and group to support her. With plans

for a garden to support her, a group of Cheshire Freemasons stepped in to

help. Our chairman had worked with cut —— Helping Hands before and

help. Our chairman had worked with thought we could help. After two

days of hard work, the new garden is finally ready to show Milli and

days of hard work, the new garden is family. Now WellChild are looking

for businesses across the North family. Now WellChild are looking

to help them to fill the dreams family. Now WellChild are looking

It is largely dry. Not completely, however. The cloud rolled across and

it was a dreadful start today. It tried to dry up for one hour or

it was a dreadful start today. It Tomorrow it will be a cloudy day. We

have a weather system, this cold front coming towards us. They will

be a few spots of Brazilian rain, nothing much to relate trouble you.

Behind it a condition to get ever so stick the cooler, but not really

that different. It will not freshen up and the Knights will not get

cooler. It is more of the same. up and the Knights will not get

is a little bit mundane at the moment. As we speak there is a lot

of cloud cover. There are a few moment. As we speak there is a lot

spots of Brazil. There could be moment. As we speak there is a lot

little bit more at Bristol tomorrow. significant. Perhaps an eight or M9

degrees Celsius really but for towns and cities it is 11 to 13 Celsius

all over again. When you get up tomorrow morning the picture is

all over again. When you get up indeed. This train will plague us

for a huge portion of the day. It peters out as this morning goes

for a huge portion of the day. It Things will start to be a little bit

more and drier after lunchtime. Things will start to be a little bit

is a bit grey and dreary. From lunchtime onwards things will start

to look a little bit better. There will be some brighter skies coming

in. You can see them starting to work their way into parts of Cumbria

and Lancashire. The sun goes down so much earlier around seven o'clock.

improvement. You do not get to say anything significant coming through.

Just an hour of brightness towards the tail end of the day. If you

Just an hour of brightness towards not get the sunshine, it does make a

difference to the temperature. not get the sunshine, it does make a

I thought I had a corporate work today! Yes, it is starting to get