17/02/2014 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Six,

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smhth.

Tonight's top stories. Is this the return of the IRA? Irish

terrorists claim they sent explosives to army offices hn Kent

and Sussex. We'll be live in Chatham with the

details. Warnings that "hundreds" of Syrian

refugees are making their w`y to calais with the intention of coming

to Kent. Also in tonight's programme:

Disruption ` and dissatisfaction ` for Brighton to London commtters as

flooding closes a stretch of the line.

Lucky to be alive ` a Kent businessman surveys the wreckage

after a building collapses onto his garage in the storms.

And a golden postbox for Lizzy ` calls for Winter Olympian Lhzzy

Yarnold to be celebrated in her Kent home town like the summer champions.

We'll be speaking to Lizzy's parents live in the studio.

Good evening. A group calling itself the IRA has claimed responshbility

for suspicious packages sent to seven Army Recruitment centres

across the country. Bomb disposal experts were forced to cordon off

parts of Canterbury and Brighton city centres last Thursday. And last

Tuesday what was described `s a "small but viable explosive" was

sent to an Army Recruitment office in Chatham. Mark Norman is hn the

town for us ` detectives sax terrorists used a recognised

codeword to claim responsibhlity, Mark. Yes, colleagues in Belfast

tell me it is the work of the new IRA, a splinter of the real IRA

They say they are a threat to life and property in Northern Irdland and

less so in the UK. The scend last week as the IRA brought fear and

confusion to towns and citids. Last cheese Day, suspect packages were

found at Army careers officds in chats and Reading. The following day

in Aldershot and four devicds were found in Brighton, Canterbury,

Oxford and Slough. In a statement, a group calling itself the IR@ claimed

responsibility saying attacks will continue when and where the IRA see

fit. They do not want to be seen to be `` grabbing attention. There was

a comment from number time `` number ten. During the 1980s and 90s, Kent

and Sussex experienced some of the worst IRA atrocities. In 1984, the

grand hotel in Brighton was bombed during the Conservative Party

conference, five people died. Five years later, the Royal Marines were

attacked and 11 lost their lives. The Conservative MP for Eastbourne

was assassinated by the IRA in 990 when a car bomb exploded outside his

home. A parcel sent to recrtiting offices last week follows a series

of incidents in Northern Irdland last year. The fact they have

targeted England in this wax suggests they're not having a great

deal of success in Northern Ireland where there is more securitx and it

seems to have been an easy target. It is not difficult to put something

in the post. It is more difficult to drive a car bomb somewhere or to

leave something on a person. The devices pose a low`level threat and

they're unlikely to cause significant harm but they h`ve

advised people to remain vigilant. And the phrase vigilant comds from

the police who said the new IRA in Ireland have killed a prison officer

so they do pose a real thre`t in Northern Ireland or the expdrts say

this isn't the start of the new campaign like in the 1980s `nd 0s.

The Deputy Mayor of Calais says hundreds of Syrians are heading to

the town with the intention of crossing the Channel into Dover

It's estimated that there are already up to 500 migrants sleeping

rough at the French port. Kdnt MP Mark Reckless says they havd no need

to travel here, and should be looking to claim asylum in the first

safe country they came to. Charities in Calais say living condithons are

worsening for the migrants. Our Special Correspondent Colin Campbell

has our exclusive report. G`thering at Calais, it is another st`ging

post for migrants desperate to reach the UK.

Will you get to England? Yes. Positive? 90%. 90% I will gdt

there. Migrants are sleeping rush `` rough across the town. Many

Eritreans live here. I want to hide myself from the security. This man

told me migrants are successfully making it to the UK. One of our

friends were successful. How do you know? After he reached Engl`nd he

called us. It is 15 years shnce the Red Cross opened the centre

providing accommodation for hundreds of would`be asylum seekers. It was

closed in 2002 after the Brhtish Government raised concerns ht was a

magnet for illegal immigrants. A sprawling camp called the jtngle

sprung up at French police closed it in 2009 making 300 arrests. The

jungle was demolished a few years ago but new makeshift camps have

established. This one is in the heart of Calais. Some estim`te that

are between five and 600 migrants in the French town waiting to get to

England. Mohammad left Syri` after his home was bombed. Through a

translator he told me he believes England can offer him a better life.

The local authorities in Calais fear many more Syrians are on thdir way.

We don't have exact numbers, we can't, it is so difficult btt we

expect to 300 more. I filmed these pictures five years ago, thhs is how

migrants continue to try to get to England, it is not risk`fred. Last

week one from Pakistan was killed and the other from Eritrea died Two

people died. If we can make it clear border controls are tight that they

do not have a realistic chance of getting to Britain then sooner or

later this will stop. A derdlict shack that lets in the rain,

sleeping quarters for up to 20 Afghans. How often are you trying to

get to England? How often? Dvery night. With the new wave of migrants

on the way, conditions here are expected to deteriorate. Colin's

spent the day in Calais, and joins us live now back in Dover. Colin

this problem has been going on for over ten years now ` but we're still

no nearer a political soluthon? Politicians have been hagglhng over

the Calais migrant issue for years, it will rise up the politic`l agenda

as we get closer to the gendral election. I have been back `nd forth

to Calais many times and it is the same problems that exist, mhgrants

ten Calais, they live in appalling conditions and keep trying to make

their way to the UK. The Frdnch authorities want the British

Government to shoulder more of the cost but the British Governlent say

it is happening over there hn France on French soil so it is a British

problem. The Home Office saxs if migrants want protection thdy should

claim asylum in the first country where they arrive.

In a moment: After 56 days of wrangling with insurers ` a huge

tree blown onto a Kent housd in the Christmas storms is finally removed.

Flooding has closed a stretch of one of the busiest commuter routes in

the country, leading to another day of delays and disruption for

passengers travelling betwedn Brighton and London. They'vd been

forced to use replacement bts services between Brighton and

Hassocks, because of water levels in the Patcham tunnel, or take a much

longer rail route to and from London via Lewes. It comes on the day a new

survey suggests commuters in Kent and Sussex have some of the lowest

passenger satisfaction rates in the country. Ian Palmer joins us from

Brighton Station. How have passengers there been coping? They

have been incredibly stoic this evening but they have been chastened

by the fact network rail have been working in a Tamil all day `nd have

diverted water away from thd tracks and signalling equipment `` eighth

on all. They expected to be open tomorrow. People travelling tonight

are being asked check `` a tunnel. At Brighton station it was ` bad

start the week. The commuters heading into London. It would have

been nice to have known beforehand. I can't get on the train. There is

nothing else they can do. It is hassle. Disruption to rail services

has been caused by flood water inside the tunnel. Water levels are

so high the main route north out of Brighton is hazardous. Environment

Agency has been. Water into drains the coast. After being battdred by

storms, train operating companies are now being hit by a damnhng

report. The survey conducted three months ago spoke to 7000

travellers, Southern trains are ranked 13th out of 19 in thd country

for customer satisfaction. First Capital Connect 17th with 40% and

southeastern rock bottom with 4 %. The lowest customer satisfaction

rating in the country. We asked customers their overall sathsfaction

with their rail service and whether they were likely to recommend them

to a friend. Unfortunately we found they wouldn't. I asked the transport

minister to chair `` share ly commute. I am sure he will find it

educational. The trains in Brighton and the south`east are not good and

can be improved. They do not care about passengers, they just care

about people who are not buxing tickets. Prices go up but ctstomer

service and comfort doesn't. It is OK, the seats are an issue. It is

overcrowded. If you have to take public transport, what can xou do?

Network rail cannot be blamdd for the weather but travellers `re tired

of excuses. In a statement, South`eastern Trains says it is

disappointed by the results of the survey, it says it prefers to look

at the recent study from thd passenger survey which found 90 of

people travelling on South`dastern Trains were satisfied. A wolan who

was stabbed to death by her estranged husband in front of their

two young children was "unr`velling in fear" at what he may do to her,

her mother has told an inqudst. Hajrudin Hasanovic from Dovdr,

murdered his wife Cassandra outside her mother's house in 2008, as she

was attempting to escape to a woman's refuge. He was jaildd for

life at Lewes Crown Court the following year. The inquest in

Chichester is scheduled to last for two weeks. Detectives trying to

identify a badly burned bodx found in a ravine in Hastings sevdnteen

years ago have issued a new artist's impression.

It's thought the man was in his twenties. Police say they don't

believe his death was suspicious, but they'd like to identify him in

order to inform his next of kin Our reporter Helen Drew joins us

from Hastings. What more is known about this man, Helen? We know he

was about five foot ten and a stocky build. When found, was wearhng Doc

Martens boots and a watch m`de by a Hong Kong brand. He had ?270 in cash

on him. Police have not tre`ted this as suspicious, they believe he took

his own life but they are rdally keen to try to find some closure for

any relatives who might havd had. If anyone recognises this new `rtist

impression, the advice is to get in touch with the missing Persons

bureau. A huge tree that fell onto ` house

in Kent as fierce storms battered the South East on Christmas Eve has

finally been removed ` some 56 days on. It follows weeks of argtment

between insurers over who should foot the bill to remove the

leylandii tree in Walderslade, near Chatham. Simon Jones has thd

details. This tree has cast a shadow over her

life for 56 days. Today, shd finally saw it removed after initially being

told because it landed on hdr house, even though it came from a

neighbour's garden, her landlord would have to fit the bill. I did

get upset. I wasn't expecting so much to fall off the house. Relief

now it has gone and angry at how long it has taken and glad ht isn't

raining. This was the start of the operation, a huge task that is

taking a huge amount of timd. The tree has been removed in three

separate parts, it fell frol a neighbours garden onto the houses

behind me but there was a rdal wrangle over who should foot the

bill to finally get it moved. In the end, it was decided the cost would

be shared between the three insurers. The trouble is if you

cannot get anybody down herd, nobody will do it. The amount of hours I

have tried to spend to get people down here, you would not believe. It

cost ?2500 to get the tree removed with more repairs needed. It is a

big relief, there is light `t the end of the tunnel. As the tree is

coming off the property, we are seeing the extent of the dalage It

is worrying. While it is assessed, they say they have finally got rid

of their unwanted Christmas visitor. There are many people who h`ve been

affected by the storms and workers at a garage in Maidstone Al`s it is

lucky no one was killed aftdr the side of the building collapsed

filling their workshop with rubble. The dramatic collapse was c`pture by

CCTV cameras during stormy weather on Friday night. Jane Witherspoon

has the details.The dramatic collapse was capture by CCTV cameras

during stormy weather on Frhday night. The moment a garage was

nearly wiped out. Debris cr`shes from the ceiling as a house caved

in. Staff so they are lucky they left work when it happened last

Friday. We left this place `t 6pm, the incident happened at five

minutes past ten. We would have been killed, no doubt. I am happx to

still be here talking to yot. Rubble and dust cover the workshop. Halfway

house collapsing into the workshop has caused the business to come to a

halt. The residents have bedn evacuated for the time being, we are

waiting for the insurance to come out and attend to the situation

Other than that, we are awahting further action. He is unsurd when he

will be open again, there w`s a big clearer job that needs doing in the

meantime. It is a quarter to seven. This is our top story tonight: A

group calling itself the IR@ has claimed responsibility for

suspicious packages sent to Army Careers Offices in Canterbury

Brighton and Chatham last wdek. After the discovery of what have

been described as "small but viable explosive" devices, staff at the

Royal Mail and all military bases have been warned to stay "extra

vigilant". Also in tonight's programme: Lizzy

Yarnold is Olympic champion She's a gold medal winner, but

should Kent Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold be celebrated in her home

town with a golden postbox? And after a dry start, we are sdeing

some rain but it is calmer than last week. Join me later for the details.

A man who says he was left feeling humiliated at a Kent job centre

because he is HIV positive, is launching a training scheme to teach

people about the condition ` and how to deal with people who havd it We

featured Jayce Carberry's story a year ago ` when his ordeal led to an

apology from staff at Maidstone job centre, and a commitment to improve

staff training. It's estimated that more than 100,000 people living with

HIV in the UK. As many as 22,00 of them are undiagnosed ` meanhng they

don't know they have been infected. And in 2012, 490 people with the

condition died in this country. Mr Carberry's been speaking to Sara

Smith for tonight's Story Update. Final preparations for the launch of

a course Jayce Carberry has developed to tackle the stigma that

he has faced. HIV is differdnt from when it started and it's important

for people to know what has changed, what is available and how at risk

people are because it is th`t fear that causes stigma and if wd can

teach people and educate people we remove the fear. It was a ydar ago

he went into the job centre in Maidstone and was told he would have

to see a disability adviser and may need to declare his status to

everyone he came into contact with. It upset him for a long timd because

he was put in that situation. He is honest and they made him fedl small.

This video will launch the new course with facts and figurds

telling the story of HIV ovdr the years. The job centre has shnce

apologised to Jayce Carberrx and taken action on training. Hhs assets

to turn such a difficult tile into something which could end up helping

others has not gone unnoticdd. It is fantastic somebody is going out

there, making sure people are educated and know where thex stand

and know what they need to do and people need to make a calculated

decision about whether to or not to tell anybody. To come from the

negative situation and come into this a year later with something

positive going forward and tse my experience for a positive thing it

is rewarding. His MP took up the case at the time. Now he pl`ns to go

to as many workplaces, schools and colleges as possible to share his

message. A campaign's been launched to honour

Britain's latest Olympic Gold Medallist Lizzy Yarnold with a

golden post box in her home town of West Kingsdown, in Kent. Thd Royal

Mail created 47 golden post boxes to commemorate the success of our

Olympic Champions at the London 2012 games. But they say that was a

one`off and there are no pl`ns to honour Winter Olympic medal winners

in Sochi in a similar way. Hn a moment we'll be speaking live to

Lizzy Yarnold's parents herd in the studio. But first, this report from

Neil Bell. Lizzy Yarnold's achievement has been

the undisputed highlight of the Winter Olympics so far. Our family

and friends at home are still celebrating. Their wish is to see

how receive the same recognhtion as the heroes of 2012 like Andx Murray

whose local postbox was givdn a golden make over. I think wd

believed it was our way of recognising the amazing success so

it was a shock and surprise when we found out it wasn't the casd. The

campaign is supported by her local newspaper and is receiving support.

I was disappointed by the Royal Mail decision and I hope the campaign

will show them they have made the wrong decision and the need to

reconsider. There is huge stpport for Lizzy Yarnold and to recognise

her enormous achievement and the easiest and best way is to `ward her

the same gold postbox as was done in the summer Olympics. The

transformation will be a relinder to Lizzie, her family and friends and

the local residents of just what she achieved. Why not? They did it for

the big Olympics, why not the Winter Olympics? Let's have it. Lizzie

wipes the floor with the opposition. She was brilliant. It would be a

great thing to do. The whold country is proud of her. Wonderful. It's not

just a proud parents who believe her skill and courage big knowlddge to

but whatever the outcome, she does have something bright and shiny to

remind her of Sochi 2014. Wd're joined here in the studio bx Lizzy

Yarnold's parents, Judith and Clive. Congratulations. How much would it

mean to everyone in West Kingsdown to get a golden post box for Lizzy?

I think it is a lasting memdnto for the people of the village to have

been behind Lizzie, Sevenoaks and south`east have been behind Lizzie.

Having the Golden postbox would be there forever and that is something

both recognising what she h`s achieved and it has taken hdr years

to achieve this and an insphration to the youngsters. It means so much.

It has been fantastic watchhng it. The atmosphere was fantastic when

she won. You were there. It must have been nerve wracking. Jtst the

last run was, the icing on the cake for her to get the gold med`l. She

went for it. It revitalised her It revitalised the interest in the

Winter Olympics because a ghrl from Kent was achieving and taking on the

world beating the American lady who was right behind her all of the way.

When you see her doing thosd runs and she's hurtling down the track,

what goes through your mind is? I am fine when I am there, I am nervous

watching on TV but when you can see the skill and the accuracy ht is

absolutely fantastic. Do yot fancy having a go? No way! And yot can

appreciate the speed. Given the speed and all that is going on at

the intensity, what is so ilpressive is the cordless and calmness and

confidence with which she approaches it. Absolutely. She put down three

very fast runs and was leadhng from the first run until the last. She is

a cool cucumber. She is a credit to you. She really is. Many many

congratulations. Thank you. Thank you for coming in. Brighton Hove

Albion take on premier Leagte Hull City tonight in the Fifth round of

the FA Cup. If they win, they could facd

Sunderland and that would mdan a first return to the Amex St`dium for

former manager Gus Poyet following his acrimonious dismissal l`st year.

The players know tonight's latch is a big opportunity. Off the back of

two results, we started to drift a little bit in the play`off spots. We

have brought ourselves back in and this FA Cup game is a great

opportunity for us again. Thme for a check on the weather.

Yes, some good news. Some r`in around but much lighter than it has

been recently. The wind will be easing off and temperatures are

quite mild, especially overnight lows. Frost free. We started the

week on a dry note. Plenty of cloud cover and quite strong southerly

breezes. 20 mph but the lithgant `` significantly lighter. Nine or 0

degrees, tonight, heavy rain at times, it clears through thd first

part of dry morning. Temper`tures tonight only dropping a degree or

so. Pretty mild to write, the showers will be turning quite heavy

as we go through the afternoon, the wind will ease off. Some rahn and

overcast but mild. By the afternoon, some hail mixed in with the showers

and a rumble of thunder. Sole dry weather, potentially some

brightness. The wind is eashng off. Mild temperatures, highs of around

nine or 10 degrees. Tomorrow night, some showers, increasingly dry, the

wind continues to ease off `nd temperatures dropping to five or six

degrees. Very mild for the time of year. Wednesday, we are between

weather systems, staying drx, the wind will be fairly light on

Wednesday, some sunshine by the afternoon. Mostly it will bd a dry

story. Mild for the time of year, ten or 11 degrees. Into Thursday,

mild overnight, quite wet btt not heavy rain, just persistent. The

wind picks up, temperatures around 11 or 12 degrees and into Friday,

breezy but pretty mild. Nind or 10 degrees. Over the next couple of

days, unsettled weather but nothing like the wind or rain we have been

seeing of late. It feels like such a relief. It feels like spring almost.

I am back with a late bulletin. And I will see tomorrow. Have a lovely

evening. Goodbye. Bye`bye.