15/01/2014 South East Today

That's all from us. It's goodbye from me. And on BBC One

Legal highs are more dangerous than class A drugs like cocaine and

class A drugs like cocaine `nd heroin. That's the warning of a

Sussex MP. Also in tonight's programme.

Abby used for having a learning disability `` learning disability

and a pioneering scheme to combat disability. After 20 years of

struggle, the Sussex entrepreneur whose brainchild invention hs

struggle, the Sussex entrepreneur whose brainchild invention is set

for overnight success. A return of those Happy Days ` a

very British make over of an American classic.

Good evening. Parents suspected of child abuse are being helped to flee

the country by a former Kent County Councillor. Ian Josephs, who now

lives in Monaco, advises parents who face their children being taken into

face their children being t`ken into care. He believes social services

are often too aggressive about taking children from their parents.

But his controversial interventions have been described as irresponsible

by Kent's child protection team ` and criticised by fostering groups.

Our political reporter Ellie and criticised by fostering groups.

Our political reporter Ellid Price Our political reporter Ellie Price

reports. Is he with you or has he been taken

away? Ian Josephs says he gdts Is he with you or has he bedn taken

away? Ian Josephs says he gets three or four new enquiries every day and

he thinks children can often be taken into care because sochal

services focus on the risk of abuse rather than any abuse that has

actually taken place. If you see diamonds in the window, you would be

upset if the policeman said, I cannot wait until you steal

something so I will arrest you know. something so I will arrest you know.

The same thing applies. Ian Josephs started giving advice after a visit

from a constituent in the 1960s. He from a constituent in the 1960s. He

feels so strongly he has evdn used his own money to help parents set up

a new life abroad. Michelle Freeman took his advice. Just over a year

took his advice. Just over ` year ago she'd sit her two children to

Lazio after social workers decided she was a risk to them. Most clients

quite rightly have the assulption quite rightly have the assulption

there will be justice in the family there will be justice in thd family

court system. The local authority have got it wrong. Since

high`profile child abuse cases the number of children taken into care

has gone up but once a child has been adopted, it can never go back

to its birth parents regardless of the circumstances. Latest fhgures

show that in the year to March 20 show that in the year to March 20

13, children were taken into care in the south`east. In the same year,

150 where adopted without the consent of their parents but they

cancel it `` council insists that only happens in extreme casds.

Social workers going to the profession to keep children what

their families wherever possible. The thresholds for taking children

into care are very high and we have to go through a very rigorots

to go through a very rigorous process where the reasoning is

heavily scrutinised. Are yot heavily scrutinised. Are you

concerned you have never given advice to someone to help them added

the law? A pregnant woman cannot the law? A pregnant woman c`nnot

abuse their child because it is not born yet. The ones I help escape are

practically always pregnant women. The government says the welfare of

women is absolutely paramount but the decision to remove a child

women is absolutely paramount but the decision to remove a chhld from

the decision to remove a child from its family rests with the courts.

Legal highs are becoming more of a problem in Britain than hard drugs,

a Sussex MP, and Home Officd minister has warned tonight. Norman

Baker said dozens of young people have died, or are risking horrific

injuries after experimenting with new psychoactive substances. A high

profile campaign was launchdd new psychoactive substances. A high

profile campaign was launched after profile campaign was launchdd after

the death of Brighton Medical the death of Brighton Medic`l

student Hester Stewart in 2009, who took the then`legal drug GBL. Mr

Baker joins us live from Westminster. You've launched a

review into legal highs. Many of them are not legal and therefore not

safe. The problem is they are created in laboratories in far`flung

parts of the world and imported into the European Union with no track

record of the origins. Some may be harmless and others completely

legal. The trouble is there are shops that are selling some of the

substances on the high Street. Chains like UK Skunkworks, `nd

substances on the high Stredt. Chains like UK Skunkworks, and what

Chains like UK Skunkworks, `nd what they do is within the law. I have

they do is within the law. H have issued guidance to make sure they

issued guidance to make surd they are staying within the law. If a

substance suddenly appears, unless we have time that cannot be banned.

We have banned hundreds of the substances including some that do

not exist yet because we think that is where the chemist is going yet.

We are ahead of other Europdan We are ahead of other Europdan

countries but I am determined to get on top of this. We do not know what

the substances do but other substances have been around for very

long time and we know the effects. It is difficult to crack down on

these shops because they keep these shops because they keep

popping up in different guises. Is the bystander said education?

Education is very important but one of the problems is that when

somebody sees something on sale will scimitars legal and safe but it may

be neither. Many of the materials contained banned material which is

why I have launched the revhew. contained banned material which is

why I have launched the review. It why I have launched the review. It

is why I am determined to m`ke sure is why I am determined to make sure

we end up with a system that does not ban harmless material but cracks

not ban harmless material btt cracks down on the drugs that are damaging

our children. Coming up in a moment, the former

Royal Marine in training for an extraordinary challenge, to walk

from John O'Groats to Land's End backwards.

A pilot scheme to combat disability hate crime is being launched in

Medway believed to be the first hate crime is being launched in

Medway believed to be the fhrst of Medway believed to be the fhrst of

its kind in the UK. The aim is to help people with autism and learning

disabilities. A recent survey disabilities. A recent survdy

revealed that at least a third of people in Medway with a learning

disability have been bullied, verbally abused, and even physically

assaulted. Our Correspondent Colin Campbell has the story.

Rob has Asperger's. A few years Campbell has the story.

Rob has Asperger's. A few years ago he was violently punched in the face

as he was walking home and believes he was attacked as he can sometimes

come across as a little different. I was very violated and I was a bit

frightened of going out, I did go out and did not admit defeat. This

pilot project hopes to reduce this. After a year, GPs will be encouraged

to actively monitor the welfare of patients with learning disabilities.

There will be more training for police, transport workers and carers

and awareness campaigns targeted at children and young people. We want

to make it work and we want to be able to repeat it so that it can be

targeted at all communities. There will be additional support for those

with learning disabilities including clear who has autism. We cannot live

in silence. We cannot just sit there and take it. The police have got to

and take it. The police havd got to do their bit. This survey revealed

do their bit. This survey rdvealed that a quarter of people living in

the area with a learning disability who had reported an incident while

either unhappy or very unhappy with the service received. Many police

officers felt they were not able to deliver the right help becatse they

deliver the right help because they felt they did not have enough time.

It is disappointing. I do not expect that from my officers and they will

do anything I can to improve that from my officers and they will

do anything I can to improvd the do anything I can to improvd the

current service delivery. Dedicated current service delivery. Dedicated

hate crime teams were disbanded in 2010 because of budget cuts.

Although there are said to be some good practice, some say it is

Although there are said to be some good practice, some say it hs hit

and miss. I know the people that helped with this report are working

closely with the force and what their training school. Everx victim

should have a really first`class service. Experts say making our

communities safer does not require new money, just new ways of thinking

and working. Police are hunting a convicted armed

robber who has fled from custody in Kent. Malcolm Parker, who's 55, was

released on temporary license from Blantyre House last week, btt failed

Blantyre House last week, but failed to return. Parker was sentenced to

20 years in 2005 after pleading guilty to eight counts of armed

robbery. The family of a 16`year girl who

died after being hit by a c`r in a died after being hit by a car in a

village near Maidstone have paid tribute to a thoughtful and generous

daughter. Zoe Georgiou was walking with her boyfriend Joe in Coxheath

on Saturday evening when she was hit by a silver Mazda car. The teenager,

who was a pupil at Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone, was also

described as a high achiever. Cocaine potentially worth mhllions

Cocaine potentially worth millions of

Kent County Council could confirm an increase in the council tax for the

first time in three years, according first time in three years, `ccording

to a senior councillor. John Simmonds, who is cabinet melber

to a senior councillor. John Simmonds, who is cabinet member for

finance, said he feels the public understand the difficulties facing

the authority, which has to save ?273 million over the next three

years. The authority is proposing to increase council tax by just under

2%. That would raise ?10 million a year,

and take the average bill to around ?1070. Peter Whittlesea is at County

?1070. Peter Whittlesea is `t County Hall in Maidstone. Is this a done

deal, Peter? It is not a done deal. First of all it has to be approved

by the council but effectivdly First of all it has to be approved

by the council but effectively they have put this out to consultation.

They have had 4000 responses from taxpayers who looked like they could

stomach this increase as long as it is spent on essential services. They

say this is exactly what they are say this is exactly what they are

going to do because they cannot cut any more. We have had to balance the

budget with difficulty. At least 2000 jobs have gone for the start

and there's a limit to how far you can this. We have tried to protect

front line services. We do need that extra ?10 million to balancd the

budget. Why can they only increase by less than 2%? The 2% is like a

magic figure. If councillors are increasing by more than 2%, this

would trigger a referendum. This would be hugely expensive. That

would cost around ?2 million so the Tory administration is seeing any

increase would be below that figure. All county councils are thinking,

what will they do with council tax, apart from one exception in East

Sussex where they say there will be a freeze. It looks as though there

will be a modest increase for most council tax.

Councillors in Medway are c`lling council tax.

Councillors in Medway are calling on Councillors in Medway are calling on

the NHS to scrap its decision to get rid of all in`patient mental health

beds in the area. Health bosses insist it will lead to a better

service, but local campaigners have service, but local campaigndrs have

branded the move ill considdred Simon Jones is live in Chatham for

us now. Simon, how are the politicians

us now. Simon, how are the politici`ns there

Simon, how are the politicians there planning to get their voice heard?

The process of moving patients out of Medway to other parts of Kent has

already begun, but despite that for already begun, but despite that for

Conservative councillors are already begun, but despite that, for

Conservative councillors ard putting Conservative councillors ard putting

emotion for work and aiming these changes and are telling the health

secretary who has approved the plans, that they will not get away

with it. We have such a large population in Medway, 400,000. We

have a lot of vulnerable people and it is then we have to protect and

look after. We need to make sure they get an extremely good service

and the factors, we are not at all happy with the service provhded He

happy with the service provided. He is talking about the Kent and Medway

NHS and social care partnership. They say the services are not up to

scratch and focusing on servitors of excellence will result in bdtter

excellence will result in better care for patients. He says there

will also be more people working in the community to stop peopld needing

the community to stop people needing to go into hospital in the first

place. The Department of He`lth say place. The Department of Health say

they have a look at this and approved and they are not likely to

change so Medway Council max have a change so Medway Council may have a

real fight on their hands. This is our top story tonight.

A controversial former Kent county council has defended helping parents

accused of child abuse to ldave the accused of child abuse to leave the

country. Ian Josephs says social services can be too aggresshve

country. Ian Josephs says social services can be too aggressive about

services can be too aggresshve about removing children from parents.

Also in tonight's programme. Goodbye grey skies, hello blue!

Bringing the all`American classic to the stage. After a cloudy and wet

day, much more of the same to end the week.

A former Royal Marine from Gravesend is attempting to break the world

record for the fastest ever walk from John O'Groats to Land's End,

backwards. Ric Coulson from Gravesend is raising money for

injured marines, and for cancer charities, and to succeed hd'll

injured marines, and for cancer charities, and to succeed he'll have

charities, and to succeed hd'll have to cover the 930 miles in just

charities, and to succeed he'll have to cover the 930 miles in jtst 5

days. And that means keeping up a punishing rate of 37 miles a day.

days. And that means keeping up a punishing rate of 37 miles ` day. To

punishing rate of 37 miles a day. To get into shape he's walking over

1000 miles on a treadmill first. 1000 miles on a treadmill fhrst

Victoria Holland has been to meet him.

A charity walk with a difference. When Ric Coulson took on thd

challenge of walking from John O'Groats to Land's End he ddcided to

do it in reverse. I wanted to do something completely different than

they did a lot of research. I thought, how can I do it

differently? Back words camd up I think he is mad but I think he is

fabulous for trying to give it a go. The charities he is trying to

provide for an incredible. I The charities he is trying to

provide for an incredible. H think it is a great cause and one we want

to back as much as we can. @way it is a great cause and one we want

to back as much as we can. Away from to back as much as we can. @way from

the treadmill, it is clear what motivates him. He suffered

post`traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan. It is not

just physical wounds. I havd serving in Afghanistan. It hs not

just physical wounds. I have been living with them myself not wanting

to go out and not sleeping. It has been difficult. He also lost his

cousin in Afghanistan and hhs mother died of cancer just eight weeks ago.

There is a void in my life which can never be filled. He will start his

never be filled. He will st`rt his walk across the country next month.

A man moving forwards with his life while travelling backwards.

Every new parent knows about the difficulty of picking up a sleeping

baby without waking them ` especially if they've only just

dropped off in the car seat ` and you don't want to spend the next two

hours just sitting on the driveway. Well a company in Sussex believes it

has the solution ` with a blanket that is also a carry cot. Now Dave

Solomons from Shoreham is hoping his brainchild is going to really take

off after a deal with a major high street chain. Charlie Rose has more.

It is the old problem of getting your baby to sleep in your arms and

your baby to sleep in your `rms and laying them down without waking them

up. He says it is easier and safer way to carry the baby. The baby

stays completely supported `nd thus stays completely supported `nd thus

leak. The idea first came to him 20 years ago. I had a bad back and my

wife and I struggled to hold the baby. We would get the four corners

of the blanket and left her up. That was the moment. I realised why does

somebody not that handles on the blanket? A chance meeting with the

blanket? A chance meeting whth the designer on a neighbouring house

vote showed the business. I said just let me know, I can work with

this. He eventually showed le just let me know, I can work with

this. He eventually showed me and just let me know, I can work with

this. He eventually showed le and I this. He eventually showed me and I

thought it was one of the bdst thought it was one of the bdst

things I have seen. It is always far cry from the days when the final

word was a motorised pram. Today I asked parents what they thotght

asked parents what they thought. ?40? A bit expensive. It looks quite

versatile. It would be good for a smaller baby and it looks qtite

adaptable. Can you see yourself using something like this? H am not

sure. It looks like a carrier bag. sure. It looks like a carrier bag.

You'd have to be careful not to swing them because of the net but it

swing them because of the ndt but it seems like a good idea. I would use

it. They hope more parents will feel the same way and have sold 00,0 0

it. They hope more parents will feel the same way and have sold 10,000 so

the same way and have sold 00,0 0 so far with plans in place to spread to

stores across the country and around the world.

For the last 50 years, Graham Upton For the last 50 years, Grah`m Upton

from Eastbourne has been buhlding a unique collection of packaging.

Everything from mustard tins to lollipop wrappers to sewing kits.

More than that, he's turned that collection into a museum ` the

Museum of Shops. But now he's looking to retire, and the whole lot

is up for sale. Claudia Sermbezsis reports. The those real coffee and

read tens and potions and lotions. He began the collection 50 xears

ago. I was a child with my grandparents stuff and we h`d no

grandparents stuff and we had no alternative but to combine our

collections and we have ended alternative but to combine our

collections and we have enddd up collections and we have enddd up

with all this. This is the grocers shop and everything was sold in very

attractive packaging. Room after room of bottles, tens and clothes

than there are more than 20 curiosity shops housed here. They

now want to retire. How do you start now want to retire. How do you start

valuing this? It is a one`off opportunity for people to obtain

this with a three`bedroom flat in the heart of Eastbourne. Thd museum

gives an insight into the austerity gives an insight into the atsterity

of the Warriors everything was recycled. It charts the Roy`l

recycled. It charts the Royal family's case study from Quden

Victoria to the present day and the places value that ?500,000. It is

pure nostalgia for the old people and it is Hester Lee for thd younger

people. We are determined to keep this going. Too many people will be

disappointed if anything untoward happened. Such is the fascination

that the shop even featured recently on the antiques road trip. H would

on the antiques road trip. I would happily throws a long successful

museum. Graham and his wife met as children and even featured in

museum. Graham and his wife met as children and even featured hn the

collection of themselves but no hope somebody will come and even featured

in the collection themselves but no hope somebody will, as takeover the

memories of past times. Southeast hockey players have helped

England reach the semi`finals of the World League Finals in India.

England reach the semi`finals of the World League Finals in Indi`. Led

England reach the semi`finals of the World League Finals in India. Led by

captain Barry Middleton, who plays for Holcombe in Kent, England beat

Belgium 1`0 this morning, sdtting up Belgium 1`0 this morning, sdtting up

a match with New Zealand on Friday for a place in the final, a side

they have already beaten 5`1 earlier in the tournament.

She was a chart`topping pop princess and he rose to fame in soap operas

but it is only now they are really enjoying Happy Days. It is ` new

enjoying Happy Days. It is a new musical version of the Amerhcan TV

show seen over by none other than Henry Winkler. Leather jackets,

Henry Winkler. Leather jackdts, milkshakes, Happy Days was first

broadcast 40 years ago today. milkshakes, Happy Days was first

broadcast 40 years ago todax. It is broadcast 40 years ago today. It is

as popular now as it was back then. I was a huge fan. You had to be home

on Saturday evening to watch it She plays Mrs Cunningham in the stage

adaptation but is best known for this. Now removing your skirt on

this stage? Oh! I'm not going to tell you when, you have to come and

see it. And appropriate timd. tell you when, you have to come and

see it. And appropriate time. Not see it. And appropriate timd. Not

just for the sake of it! And from a Eurovision winner to another pop

princess. Back on stage aftdr a princess. Back on stage aftdr a

following her band 's split. Music is my first love and you do not get

to perform as much as you like in a to perform as much as you lhke in a

band, lots of promotion, but with less you perform everyday. That is

what I get a buzz from. A former Emmerdale star has his work cut out

pulling out one of the coolest pulling out one of the coolest

characters ever. One of the things was he said he isn't so I took

solace from that. I am definitely not cool at all. They are the things

you can do. He brought so mtch more you can do. He brought so much more

to it than that and I am st`rting to to it than that and I am starting to

realise it is not those things because anyone can do those, but now

one can do what he did. He has got time to work on it and the shore is

year until Saturday before heading for Brighton.

Let's take a look at the weather. More rain! Outbreaks of rain

throughout the day with lots of clouds, and it stays that w`y with

temperatures holding up for this time of year. Lots of heavy rain

possible for Saturday and Stnday possible for Saturday and Sunday

could be a brighter picture but with the risk of the odd heavy shower. A

scattering of fairly heavy showers. Temperatures widely in double

figures with highs of around 10 Celsius. Showers intensifying for a

time when the isobars tightdning time when the isobars tightening

indicating the wind is pickhng up. Showers increasingly heavy and

persistent but it will be mhld with persistent but it will be mild with

temperatures only dropping to around seven Celsius. As we start the day

tomorrow, cloudy but brighter tomorrow, cloudy but brightdr

through the afternoon with some showers around. Really quitd

through the afternoon with some showers around. Really quite a

similar story with winds st`ying similar story with winds staying

south`westerly and quite a bit of clouds around. Similar tempdratures

clouds around. Similar temperatures at around nine Celsius. Through

tomorrow night, some heavy showers and in the early hours of Friday

morning, persistent and heavy rainfall with temperatures dropping

to around seven Celsius, a really unpleasant start. A tricky rush`hour

for Friday with the low`pressure staying with us. Temperatures

for Friday with the low`pressure staying with us. Temperaturds around

staying with us. Temperatures around 10 Celsius and not feeling

particularly pleasant and mode of the same into Saturday. Longer

spells of heavy rain and if you're spells of heavy rain and if you re

planning anything this weekend, planning anything this weekend,

Sunday should be the better day. Into the new week, the rain will be

back again so for the next couple of days, the temperature will be

holding up but with lots of rain. That's it from us for this dvening.

Have a good evening.