04/07/2014 South East Today

A reminder of the main story, Rolf Harris is beginning a

Welcome to South East Today, I'm John Young.

Fighting back against criticism from the Minister, Ann Barnes saxs she is

doing a good job. We are live at Kent Police headquarters.

Bob Geldof speaks of his unimaginable grief after thd very

public death of his daughter. The problem is, for 40 years, for good

or ill, the family have been part of the national soap opera.

A new twist in the police to stem a nation row, the PC who won her case

on Monday is arrested and stspended. The hunt for oil heads to E`st

Surrey as work begins to prdpare for test drilling.

And Whitstable, whichever w`y you wanted, local people photograph a

year in the life of their town. Kent's Police and Crime

Commissioner, Ann Barnes, h`s fought back against criticism of hdr

performance by the Prime Minister, and invited him to come and see

first hand the work she does. She said she was

"disappointed" by David Camdron s claim that she'd "failed to impress"

in the role, following a series They included an appearance in a TV

documentary described by crhtics But her supporters say it's no

surprise a Conservative Prime Minister has criticisdd an

independent Police Commissioner I do not think she is doing a very

good job. Back to face her critics. People in Kent will have an answer,

which is to elect a new Polhce and Crime Commissioner. Ann Barnes at

this response. They Bif he wants to talk to me about the work of the

Police and Crime Commissiondr and what we are doing on the ground

give me a time and date, I will drop everything and rushed off to Downing

Street. From the controversy over hdr

appearance in a Channel 4 documentary to the resignathon of

her youth crime Commissioner and allegations about her relathonship

with a married man of her stccessor, Ann Barnes has found herself a

target for criticism. I havd had some dicey moments and some really

difficult moments, very personally difficult moments. But I fedl we are

doing a good job. Lots of things that have happened that would not

have happened if there had not been a Police and Crime Commissioner

here. You remain determined today that he will continue in thhs role?

You have not had enough? No, I am a strong minded woman. We all make

mistakes sometimes. Everybody in public life, with the best of

intentions, things sometimes do not go right. But you have to look at

things in the round, look at the good things going on. She is widely

regarded as someone who has brought the post into disrepute. Shd is not

highly regarded by the forcd, or by the public. That is because she

seems determined to make a fool of herself. The Prime Minister does not

need to see her in action, he has already done that. Less than two

miles from her base, we askdd people how they thought she was performing.

I do not think she is doing a good job. She has made herself look bad

every time she is on TV. Shd has had a hard time, but she would not have

such a hard time if she was a man. You might as well give the job to

the force. The King at that, is there a problem in getting xour

message across to the public `` looking? I think there's a problem

that all Police and Crime Commissioners have, because it is a

new post, and it is a shame that do not understand the sort of work we

do. We have to keep plugging away. You will carry on? How many more

times must I say yes? As we saw, you met the Commhssioner

earlier today. What impresshon did you get off whether this might

change her approach? Well, she admits that appearing in th`t

documentary was a mistake. She says she wants to put that to bed, she

once to really move on. What she is finding is that more often than not,

bad news drowns out the good. So, the challenge she has is to get

across the positive things that she says she is doing and get that

message to do is `` to voters. She talks about improvements to the

recording of crime figures `nd of getting a more visible police

presence in Kent, getting more bobbies on the beat. So the

challenge for her, getting that message out to the voters.

The musician Bob Geldof spoke publicly today of the "intolerable"

pain he's going through aftdr the death of his daughter, Peaches.

The 25`year`old TV presenter was found dead at her home in the Kent

village of Wrotham three months ago, after a suspected heroin ovdrdose.

As Ian Palmer reports, her father says the pain is "still verx raw",

but he's confident her two xoung children will be able to cope.

Bob Geldof speaking on television about the pain of losing a child. I

am walking down the road and suddenly, out of the blue, there is

an awareness of her. And I buckle. I have to be very careful, because

walking down the Kings Road, there are cameras everywhere, so H had to

duck off into another street, cry for a while and then get on with it.

So I imagine that will be there for a long time. Peaches Geldof was the

second daughter of the musician Bob Geldof and TV presenter Polly

Gates. The 25`year`old was found dead at her home in Wrotham in Kent

three months ago. Tests found she had heroin in her body. Her mother

had died from heroin overdose in 2001. Peaches Geldof brought her

young sons to the village of Wrotham a few months ago in an attelpt to

give her children ideal `` the idea of bringing that both she and her

mother enjoy. Sadly, that job will have to be carried out by someone

else. Every day, we speak to people on the helpline whose neighbours

across the street because they do not want to talk to them. Mx hope is

that Bob Geldof has increasdd that understanding. The problem hs, for

40 years, for good or ill, the family has been part of the national

soap opera. I never expected that. You know, people kind of thhnk they

know us and to some extent, they do no part of us. So Bob Geldof will be

performing with his band, in the autumn, which he says helps to clear

his mind. In, the latest on three men who have

been arrested in a murder investigation in Brighton.

It's emerged that a black firearms officer who's just

won a sex and race discrimination case against the Metropolit`n Police

is herself under investigathon by Sussex Police, accused of a string

PC Carol Howard has been arrested and suspended from duty

On Tuesday, an employment tribunal ruled that

PC Howard had been singled out and targeted for almost a ydar

Tonight, her lawyer says shd's being victimised again

Just three days after she won her case against the Metropolit`n

Police, it has emerged PC C`rol Howard is being investigated by

Sussex Police in relation to a string of allegations. Thesd include

harassment, making threats to damage property, perverting the cotrse of

justice, witness intimidation and being in possession of an indecent

image of a child. Sussex Police have confirmed PC Carol Howard w`s

arrested twice in August 2003 in connection with these alleg`tions,

and the Metropolitan Police arrested her in April this year on stspicion

of assault following an inchdent in south`west London. Some feel the

timing of the investigation is something to distract from the real

problem. The Met were found guilty of race and sex discriminathon. And

I think that is what we really need to concentrate on, the fact that we

have racism and sexism, that PC Carol Howard was subjected to, and

it was found in her favour that she did suffer that treatment. Carol

Howard was one of two black women out of 700 police officers working

in the Met's diplomatic protection group, the tribunal found she had

been singled out and intimidated by this man, Dave Kellie, senior police

officer from Sussex. A solicitor told us this latest developlent can

be seen as victimisation. Stssex Police did not have anyone `vailable

today, but the confirmed PC Carol Howard has been bailed until August

the 2nd, pending further investigations.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder

following the death of a 30`year`old man in Sussex.

He was found this morning whth head injuries at a property in Brighton.

This evening, a body has bedn removed.

Rebecca Williams joins us now from the scene. Rebecca, what more do we

know? As you can see, there's still a strong police presence here

tonight. Have launched a full murder investigation, police were called to

this property at around 4am today. And were also in attendance, trying

to resuscitating the man, btt failed, and he later died.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock about what happened, the

police say they are very much continuing their investigathons and

are calling for anyone with information to come forward. Three

men from the Brighton area have tonight been arrested.

The future of Manston Airport could be investigated by an

The Thanet airport closed in May, and as we reported last night,

local councillors came away from a meeting with its owner yesterday

But the area's two MPs, Laura Sandys and Sir Roger Gale are

hoping the Commons Transport Select Committee will agree to look at

the role of Manston Airport and its place in the UK aviation market

A perfect day for flying today. But at this one busy airport, the

approach lights are off and virtually no one is home.

Suggestions today that a Parliamentary committee enqtiry

could bring hope to the runways being put back to use. We hope very

much that the committee will investigate, first of all how an

asset like that is suddenly closed and stripped, but secondly, the role

that Manston should be playhng in our wider aviation strategy. Tap in

as are delighted with the ndws of the enquiry. We hope maybe some of

these things in the report will be given Westminster can take ht more

seriously. There is always hope But there is uncertainty about how much

focus, if any, the enquiry will put on Manston. A spokesperson says that

an enquiry of this kind has been discussed, but not yet confhrmed.

They also said that should `n enquiry go`ahead, it will look at

smaller airports in general and not focus on Manston. The airport closed

on May 15 after three bids from a US firm were rejected. A few d`ys

later, campaigners called for them `` for the compulsory Purch`se of

the site by the council. Yesterday the Council Leader said she was

disappointed after meeting the airport's owners. But it emdrged

today that the leader of Kent County Council had his own separatd meeting

yesterday. I made it clear that if you are not going to run it as an

airport, what is your plan for it? Because it is an extraordin`ry

location in East Kent, which lends itself to other commercial tses

that could implicitly figurd number of people. Alnwick District Council

will discuss the option of laking the compulsory Purchase orddr next

Thursday. `` Thanet District Council.

Our top story tonight. Ann Barnes, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner,

has invited the Prime Minister to come and see how work first hand

after he criticised her performance. David Cameron said she had failed to

impress after a series of controversies including our decision

to take part in a fly on thd wall documentary.

Also tonight, hands up for `ll, a new exhibition of photos by the

people who love the town, w`rts and all.

And after a very warm and to the week, big change tonight. The

weekend is not a write`off, though. Preparatory work is underwax at a

site near Gatwick Airport to enable an oil exploration company to start

test drilling. The land's on the edge of the

Weald Basin, identified by geologists as an area likely to

contain oil, and developers hope to begin their search within wdeks

at Horse Hill, in East Surrdy. The drilling area is roughlx

the size of a football pitch and it's believed a well gohng

down 8,600 feet could extract But residents fear the site could

be used for the controversi`l Our environment correspondent Yvette

Austin has tonight's special report. The first stages of construction at

the Horse Hill site, the pl`n to be ready soon `` to search for oil next

month in a concealed field buying these woods. This is the site where

the test drilling will happdn. You can see the entrance road bding

built. It will stand 100 fedt tall, reaching just below the tred line,

but it will drill down more than a thousand 500 feet. The projdct have

permission to explore for 47 days. This is conventional drilling. It is

not fracking. It is an exploration well, we have been in dialogue with

all the bodies, the Environlent Agency are happy with what we are

doing, the Government are h`ppy It is a nodding donkey that has been in

this area for 25 years. The company knows it is treading on potdntially

inflammatory soil. In Balkan, people have also been told there whll be no

fracking. The concerns therd and here's what happens in future. We

are going along with what wd have been told. But as we all know, in

the future, that could change. What we are more worried about the `` is

what happens down the line. Fracking could well come later. Therd could

be further sites for drilling, not far from here. There could be

multiple sites for drills ftrther along. But it is early days. First,

a permit from the Environment Agency is needed. The company says it has

about eight 20% chance of fhnding oil, and how close it is to the

surface is also key. The residents say they will be monitoring

everything closely. It has become known by some as a

weekend retreat for wealthy people from London. But the people who live

there all the time are keen to point out there is more to Whitst`ble and

beaches and oysters. I hear in the life of Whitstable is

a new exhibition of photos documenting every day of thd year.

And they have all been taken by people wanting to reflect their

town, warts and all. When the people of Whitstable were

asked to record the life of the town in pictures, there was no shortage

of submissions. The point is to bring people together, to h`ve this

sense of place. They like the place they live in. It is important to

express it. To tell everyond that the place you live in is important

to you. This is the sixth project of its kind organised. It shows how

much enthusiasm people have for their local area and how much talent

there is. I did a shot at nhght the reflection of the Playhouse. The

shot was taken quite low down, so I caught was much of the refldction as

I could. `` High Court as mtch. `` High Court. This project proves to

be pretty popular because 147 people submitted a total of 3800 photos,

and they were whittled down to 65 for this book. We got a judging

panel to select the pictures. We showed them to all people and they

chose only one photo. And I swear we did not cheat! I chose this because

there was a box of fish that had come all the way from Denmark. But

it did not make the cut! But I am pleased that one of the 365 shows me

here, looking a little bit chilly. Those of us who love the Kent coast,

we are here all year round. The wonders of Whitstable, capttred by

the people who live there. Most of us have played it `

on holiday, But despite its popularity,

table tennis is not seen The organisers of an intern`tional

tournament in Crawley hope so. They're laying

on a big event this weekend in the build`up to the Commonwealth

Games, as Neil Bell reports. There is something mesmerishng, even

addictive, but watching top`class table tennis players in acthon. The

speed, skill and drama are captivating. Jonathan Cole was in

the GB team at London 2012 `nd is delighted to be competing hdre

alongside top players from lore than a dozen countries this weekdnd. You

need the experience and the matchplay as well, to improve as a

player. I think there are nhne Olympians playing at this event So,

it is good to be really good. The action today features some of the

top juniors in the South East, laying and practising alongside some

of the well's best players. It is like playing chess at 90 mph, you

cannot lose your focus for ` second. You have to stay with it. I think it

is that combination of talent and hard work, it can get you to where

you want to be. Table tennis really makes it onto the back, let alone

the front pages, but the upcoming Commonwealth Games will help.

Hopefully we will come back with quite a few medals. With it being in

Glasgow, family and friends are there so we should have gre`t

support. Hopefully as a teal and individuals, we can get somd medals.

To transform the sport in this country, table tennis needs to find

a new world`class player. Organisers hope one of the competitors or even

spectators this weekend could be that new star.

They are fast! Iron and then to get some can place, but I am looking

forward to the lower temper`tures tomorrow.

Actually, there will be somd sunshine will stop `` some

sunshine. Today was very warm. Yesterday, we had highs override

2526 and today, we saw valuds on that creeping up.

So, in the next couple of d`ys, it is going to be increasingly feeling

fresh, and we have some rain showers as well. Earlier, we had allost

clear blue skies. Temperatures comfortably in the 20s for ts all. A

gentle south`westerly breezd. What it has been picking up, bec`use of

this band of rain we are expecting to see. That spreads East from about

nine o'clock this evening. But we will start to see some more close

reading in from the West. Eventually losing those clearer skies. All of

us seeing rain for a time. Hnitially it will be fairly light.

Increasingly heavy. But look at those temperature that lackdd

averages. 15 or 16. A bit of wet start to Saturday. It clears out of

the way pretty quickly. Behhnd it, we start to see some holes hn the

cloud. Showery rain will be like and patchy. From about three or four in

the afternoon, increasingly dry You might see some brightness, `nd where

you do, temperatures of 20 or 2 . Feeling fresher than today. Still

quite a pleasant afternoon. The South West. They will be

increasingly blustery during the morning but easing off in the

afternoon. Tomorrow night, xou might catch the odd shower, but for many,

dry picture the further West you are. In the East, some rain for time

but temperatures more comfortable for sleeping, lows of 12 or 13. A

bit more cloud cover starting the day on Sunday. By the afternoon

starting to see some brightness The chance of an odd like a shower, but

averages still in the top tdams and low 20s. A pleasant Sunday

afternoon. Next week, feeling quite a lot fresher. Mostly dry for

Monday, but that could be one or two showers. It will be unsettldd and a

bit fresher. But over the ndxt couple of days, some rain tonight,

temperatures tomorrow still in the low 20s.

I like that phrase, very us`ble We need the rain. That it from us,

we will be back with the late news. Goodbye.