29/11/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: She is not a spy - the Russian

former aide to a Portsmouth MP is cleared of espionage. We hear from

Mike Hancock. What amazes me is that I asked the

Security Service is not once, but on three occasions, whether I

should remove Katia from working in the House of Commons and they told

me it was not necessary. A coroner returns a verdict on a

woman who fell 13 storeys to her death after being released from a

psychiatric hospital. It is hard, very, very hard to cope.

Most of the time I don't think you do cope, you just get on with it.

Portsmouth Football Club has plunged into crisis, the holding

company is in administration and they now face a challenge to secure

the club's long-term future. And the jewel in the Jurassic

coastline once more - the facelift which has saved Durlston Castle

It is the story that has intrigued Westminster and the world of spooks

and spies - the Russian aide and the MP for Portsmouth South, Mike

Hancock. She was accused of being a spy and using her job in Mr

Hancock's office to ask sensitive questions. They had a four-year

love affair, but she always denied that she was working for Moscow.

Today, an immigration appeal commission ruled that Katia

Zatuliveter was not a spy, and she could stay in the UK. In a moment,

we will hear from Mike Hancock, who has given his first television

interview on the subject to our political editor Peter Henley. But

first, Joe Campbell reports from today's hearing in London.

Martyn Day Mata Hari or victim of a botched Spy hand? In the end it

took seconds for this court to give its verdict. Katia Zatuliveter was

no threat and could stay in Britain. If the security service, like the

court, has rigorously analysed the available evidence, they would have

never concluded that she was a Russian spy and we would not be

here today. They have chosen to waste their time at great public

expense, needlessly and unfairly pursuing an innocent young woman.

Rather than the TV image of the sophisticated all-seeing counter

espionage organisation, the legal team claimed MI5 jumped to the

conclusion she was a spy after hearing she had a string of lovers.

Her diary, read out in court, told a different story about her

relationship with Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancox. I am in love. He is

going to Iraq today, I worry a lot. I don't know what to do with myself.

He told me he most probably won't be able to call right to me. I wish

there was some News. Whilst America amassed a wealth of information

against Anna Chapman and other spies operating Rahmat, the MI5 had

no intelligence against catty as a direct -- against Catia. This woman,

a Greenham Common campaign and anti-nuclear activist was at their

behest. Katia was not asking these questions, we were put in the

questions for the MP to ask. commission may have decided that

Katia was not a Russian spy task would seducing Mike Hancock, but it

is criticism -- it dismissed criticism of the intelligence

services. Whilst it might disagree with their conclusions it said

there had been ample grounds to suspect her.

Katia Zatuliveter spoke to the BBC's Panorama this afternoon for a

special programme tomorrow night. She gave her views on the British

intelligence service, and how they treated her.

The scariest part of this was that I have seen that these people were

unprofessional and paranoid. Everything they have seen in

Russian people was a spy. If you are rushing in this country, you

are a spy. They could not understand how a Russian in London

can speak the English language. The Portsmouth South MP, Mike

Hancock, was called to give evidence at the hearing. He has

always maintained he did nothing wrong, and that Katia was not

spying for Russia. He gave his first television interview today on

the subject to our political editor Peter Henley.

Over 18 months, Mike Hancock's health has suffered. The revelation

of an affair with his Russian researcher Forster's red nation --

resignation from the Commons Defence Select Committee. But this

morning the Lib Dem and he wanted put the record straight. I had

known her for a long period of time and when this first came up and she

was first detained and said, what shall I do? Shall I go home? I said,

had you done anything wrong? She said no. I said in that case, in

Britain, we find these things, we don't get into the system, we fight

it. But you took on someone from Russia? Yes. The security thing is

lifted, but you had a relationship with her has -- as well. Having to

compromise security or your position? I don't believe that to

be the case. If I thought for one minute that compromise, and if

there was a shred of evidence -- a shred of evidence to the contrary,

Katia would not have continued to work for me. The security services

on no occasion suggested to me she should not continue to work for me.

She was vetted twice by the House of Commons, had her visa renewed

twice and the security services did not object... Did they know about

the relationship? I'm sure they did if they knew everything else. But

you have to accept the first time Katia was contacted or I was

contacted by the security services was when they asked her to work for

them. So they came to her to ask her to work for British

intelligence? They wanted to talk to Katia with a view of using her

and when she said no, I think they were slightly put out. He may have

lost some of his influence in the House of Commons but Mike Hancock

says he will be keeping a close eye on the security services.

And there is a Panorama special tomorrow night, From Russia With

Love. That is on BBC One at 8.30pm. Thousands of people are going to be

affected by tomorrow's national strike by public sector workers

over pension reforms. Schools, hospitals, council services and

airports will all be affected to varying degrees. Hundreds of

schools will either be completely or partially closed, leaving

thousands of pupils locked out of classrooms. Hospitals hope to run a

near-normal service, but some operations are being cancelled.

Some council services such as bin collections will be affected, and

some libraries will be closed. And anyone arriving in the UK and going

through border control could face severe delays. That is where we

start our coverage tonight, at Gatwick airport, where we can join

our transport correspondent Paul Clifton.

The airport is warning of significant disruption. For several

days now is has been asking airlines to cut down the number of

passengers arriving, encouraging people to switch their flights to

different days. The airport expects 250 inbound flights, that is about

30,000 passengers, which is a quiet day at Gatwick. Outbound passengers

should not be affected. It says all non-essential work and meetings

tomorrow have been cancelled said that hundreds of extra staff can

help passengers who may be stuck in queues, providing refreshments and

assistance. Those queues will bailed during the day. We are

prepared for the worst so if we do get people held in immigration

areas, we have special facilities put on, there will be food and

drink, entertainment for the children to help the families and

we will process people in priority order, people with reduced mobility,

families it, etc. We are doing all we can to help the passengers.

Heathrow Airport is expected to be expected even more severely with

delays of up to 12 hours, but but Bournemouth and Southampton

airports tell us that -- tell us disruption is likely to be minimal.

In Southampton, most flights are from the UK so passengers do not

pass three border controls. At Portsmouth ferry port, Brittany

Ferries has been told the UK Border Agency will provide sufficient

staff to cope. The other ferry operator, LD Lines, has cancelled

its crossings, so passenger numbers will be reduced anyway. Rail

commuters will not be affected, all passenger trains in the region are

run by private companies. Buses are run by private companies, too.

However, several may be affected by marches that are expected through

town centres. And Reading Transport says with many schools closing

tomorrow, there will be no point operating some of its school buses.

So in the South, the main impact for transport is clearly going to

be here at Gatwick. And staff say they are preparing to do the best

they can in difficult circumstances. Our hospitals and ambulance service

are likely to be hit by tomorrow's strikes. Our health correspondent

David Fenton is with me now. What is this going to mean for emergency

care? In theory, it should not be

affected. All of the hospitals and ambulance services have an

agreement with the unions at emergency care, 999 course, will

all be protected so the most seriously ill patient should still

be treated. Where I think we will see a difference is in routine

appointments, day surgery, and already we are seeing some

hospitals having to cancel their us. For people with operations tomorrow,

what should they do? All of the hospitals I have spoken to say they

are getting in touch with patients whose operations are being

cancelled, so you should not get a situation where people are arriving

for surgery and being turned away. We will have to see how that works

out because the problem is that although the doctors and surgeons

are there, the people who did the scams that are needed are likely to

be on strike. What is your ceiling on how the NHS will cope for is I

have spoken to a lot of people in the service today and I think there

is a sense of keep calm, Coke, and it will be all right. Probably for

a large part of the NHS it will be, but there will be pressure points.

What we don't know is how serious it will be and how many patients

will be affected. Thank you. Your BBC local radio station will

have lots more details in their breakfast programmes tomorrow.

There is more online, and if you are affected by the strike, or see

a strike-related story, why not get in touch with us? You can email

[email protected]. You can send us pictures, video, or just let us

know how the strike is affecting you. And we will have more on the

strikes later in the programme. A memorial service has taken place

for the Surrey detective found dead in woods near Haslemere. Friends

and colleagues of Detective Constable Heather Cooper gathered

at Guildford Cathedral to pass on their respects. Her former partner

Peter Foster has been charged with her murder. Sean Killick reports.

Heather Cooper's funeral took place in Yorkshire last week but today

was an opportunity for colleagues and friends to celebrate her life.

At the end of the service, her parents James and Caroline were

presented with have a's police have. People are devastated, there is

sadness throughout the force with what has happened. It was a shock

to the force but today gives us an opportunity to show what we thought

of Heather and to give a clear display of how much she meant to

was also. Heather Cooper's body was found in woodland in West Sussex

six weeks ago. Her partner Peter Foster has been charged with murder.

Today, Heather was described as a dedicated and commended Detective

who was also devoted to her two young children. I think it was

quite clear that she was enormous in liked, loathed, and amusing

person, fond of horses, fond of a joke, but also professionally very

able. Heather Cooper worked in the domestic abuse unit in Guildford. A

collection after today's service raised funds for a charity working

with abuse victims. Head the's friends are determined to help

others in her memory. -- Heather Cooper's friends.

Still to come, it is fair to say that Rehana Khan is almost blown

away. It is wild, wet and windy, but what is in store in the next

few days? I will have a full forecast.

22-year-old Victoria Nye was released from a psychiatric

hospital. Just hours later, she was dead. She had thrown herself off

the balcony of her 13th storey flat in Southampton. Today, the

psychiatric ward at the Royal South Hants Hospital was criticised for

its process leading up to Victoria's discharge. Laura Trant

was at the inquest and spoke with Victoria's partner.

It still hasn't sunk in. There was so much read out, so much said, it

is going to take a while for it to sink in and register in my head.

Victoria Nye fell to her death just hours after being discharged from

the Royal South Hants Hospital in March last year. Today, Southampton

coroner Keith Wiseman said she took her own life. He said Victoria Nye

intended to take her own life when the balance of her own mind was

disturbed. He added her death was a desperately tragic end. The coroner

explained that Victoria was on the extreme end of those needing

professional intervention. He also said it is impossible not to look

at the discharge procedure and went on to say, why was one of her

doctors not stronger in keeping Victoria in hospital? He suggested

there were not enough notes on Victoria's mental state and these

procedures are not optional but essential. It is important we learn

the lessons, we looked carefully at what has happened and make sure we

also put any lessons learned into action to provide changes and make

improvements to the said this. Victoria's father had previously

told Southampton coroner's court about his fears for his daughter's

life if she was released. Today the coroner said he had the foresight

for what his daughter might do. He went on to say it all the expertise

in the world could not have the knowledge of what the future health.

I don't think we will get a sense of closure, never, not when it is a

loved one. You are losing something, missing something.

Victor Alexander-McElvenny ending that report by Laura Trant.

Nearly �50 million is to be spent on improving roads in Portsmouth.

The Chancellor today approved a �34 million plan to clear the site of

an old scrap yard at Tipner by the M275. Work to build 1,600 homes and

a business park off the new junction will start next year. And

�14 million will be spent on rebuilding Northern Bridge Road in

Cosham. Let's return to tomorrow's public

sector workers' strike, which will affect thousands of people, with

hospitals, airports and schools likely to be heavily hit. We have

been to meet one head-teacher who, for the first time in his 40 years,

is going on strike. He explains why. Head teachers across the country

will be disappointed, sad, and uncomfortable about having to close

schools. That is not what we want to happen. We are supporting the

action because we belief that pensions should be, certainly

affordable, but we want to encourage young teachers at least

to stay in the pension scheme. We believe that is really important.

Certainly the average teacher is going to pay more, up to 1,500

pounds a year, they are going to be working longer, and they are going

to be, at the moment, getting less out of the pension scheme. The

average teacher's pension is about �10,000, which is certainly not

gold-plated, and for headteachers, they face increases in

contributions of around �2,000 and when they come to take their

pension the reduction will be about �4,000 a year. We are very sorry

that children will lose a day's education tomorrow, but we are very

clear that we want to ensure that we retained good teachers and well-

motivated teachers and part of this action is about to ring that. --

about doing that. Headteacher David Mews on why he

will strike tomorrow. Some child care providers are readying

themselves for extra clients who cannot take their children to

school or the nursery. A business in Brighton that rents out office

space by the hour to parents and looks after their children while

they work says they have had extra bookings. Officreche opened a

couple of months ago, and tomorrow could be the busiest day yet.

I think we probably will see more people because of the action

tomorrow. We have a member who has a young child and school-age kids,

so he may be thinking he can work from home that he may well end up

here because the school-age kids are home and he needs to get his

baby outside the house and still get some good work done.

Not everyone is backing tomorrow's strike. Businesses represented by

the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce describe it as unwelcome. The Chief

Executive criticised the timing and said that, while there is some

sympathy for those going on strike, the damage it will do to the

economy makes it difficult to understand.

This is not a time when any business wants to lose income or

football and reduce profits. Times are difficult enough and the

country will be poorer after the strike, not richer, so it doesn't

seem to be a very useful exercise. But local businesses will make the

best of it. Keep up-to-date with all the

developments in your area by tuning into BBC local radio tomorrow

morning. And let us know how the strike affects you, or any strike-

related stories you see. You can email us here at

[email protected]. It has been described as the jewel

in the crown of the Jurassic Coast, yet it was on the brink of collapse.

Durlston Castle has since been given a �5 million facelift and has

just reopened as a brand new visitors' centre for the Jurassic

coast. Roisin Gauson reports. The newest view point over an

ancient coastline. After 18 months shrouded in scaffolding, Durlston

Castle has opened its doors to the public once more. The restoration

came at a crucial time. The structure needed edge and

strengthening as it was literally falling apart at the seams --

urgent strengthening. The whole of the castle was in poor state. A lot

of structural movement had happened, so we basically dismantled the

whole of this area, new beams put in, new tiling put in to stop any

further movement. An art gallery, interpretation rims, and cafe

complete the visitor experience, which starts on the approach. An

artist has created a walks through time line charting the history of

the Jurassic Coast but to the present day. All morning there have

been people walking down the time I'm here and enjoying it, so I

think it is going to be a real asset not just for the park but for

Swanage and the whole of Dorset as were off. It is hoped the castle

will become the hub of activities here, with money raised through the

centre being ploughed back into the country park.

Onto sport, and another day of drama at Portsmouth Football Club.

Tony Husband has all the details. This is a day that some Portsmouth

fans felt was coming as soon as their owner hit financial problems

and the headlines about 10 days ago due to allegations about money

laundering at a Lithuanian bank he was a shareholder in, it was felt

this could lead to problems for Portsmouth because he is the main

backer of Convers Sports Initiative. Their own Portsmouth and today that

holding company, it was confirmed, have gone into administration.

Portsmouth saying in a statement this afternoon they, as a football

club, are not in administration. They have money in the bank at the

moment and can operate in the absence of major funds, however

they did acknowledge they will now have to work in the long term to

find investment to keep the club and did football going in

Portsmouth. It is remarkable life find themselves back in this

situation again. Portsmouth themselves were in administration

last year, they came out just over a year ago, CSI bought them in

August, there were high hopes for the future, but all of those

problems are now coming back to haunt Portsmouth in direct it. The

administrator appointed to look after CSI's affairs, and to find a

buyer for all of their affairs including Portsmouth, is now back.

A former owner took out a mortgage over CSI's assets, including

Portsmouth, as he became uneasy about future payments due to him

following the sale in the summer. Terrible times for the fans, they

cannot believe this is happening again and they are now calling for

a real say in what happens next. Portsmouth's fans have been let

down at every juncture by the authorities, the FA and the

Football League have put regulations in place to try to

protect football clubs and fans and have been patently lacking, so I

think we have been let down and it is time for the fans to be brought

into this process because, let's be fair, we could not have done a

worse job of running puts more -- Reading Portsmouth Football Club,

could we? Let still to run expert. What does this mean for the club?

It means we are back to where we were a year ago, desperately

looking for a buyer with enough money to put into the club, not

only for day-to-day operating costs, which we now are quite high, but to

make sure payments for the old company's creditors are being met.

The Football League are yet to decide whether 10 points will come

off. We don't know whether Portsmouth will be in

administration themselves come as a pose. It is similar to Southampton,

the parent company have gone into administration. CSI owns a number

of different businesses, not just the football club. What will the

creditors be saying? It was always going to be a long-term project to

get any money back but we are still dependent on somebody coming back

into the club, winning to put some money in but also -- but also make

payments to us. I am sure we will talk again.

Thank you. Southampton failed to score for the

first time this season on Saturday. And looking to extend their winning

run at 10-21 games in all competitions after that defeat. On

to Reading and Brighton, in action tonight. Brighten up again

starboard, looking for a third win in four games, buoyed by Saturday's

when. Derby have lost their last four heading into this clash.

Reading face and inform Peter gritting, searching for some

consistency. Sally, a remarkable saga here, I

think there will be some more twists and turns on the way.

Thank you, 10 it. We will follow that as it develops in the coming

days and weeks -- thank you, Tony. Let's go straight on to the weather.

The whole of the West Coast was battered to death. Very wild

weather, particularly in the North We started on a mild-mannered but

things went downhill rapidly. The strongest wind recorded today was

in Southampton, 52 miles an hour, but even elsewhere over 30 miles an

hour. The winds are still with us but not as strong overnight. It is

breezy and we have lost the rain but there are still showers

bubbling up, which will arrive fairly soon. The showers are

particularly focusing along the coastal stretch and western parts

of the region. By the end of the night it is going to be colder the

further north you happen to be but still fairly mild further north.

Further inland tomorrow you can see dry and bright conditions. Windy

throughout the day and by the afternoon it is clouding over.

After that, it is downhill once again they have -- because we have

the next lot of rain pushing in by the evening. For many parts in the

West, we will see the first pulses of rain. It will be heavy, and into

Thursday morning rather wet and windy conditions, perhaps not as

aggressive as today, but still fairly impressive. By Thursday

morning it is going to be easing the way, leaving behind sunshine

and showers. It will feel colder threes Thursday and Friday is a

difficult -- typical early winter's day. Sunshine, but it will be

chilly. Into Saturday, wet and windy again. We have a warm sector

giving us a little bit on this temperatures but certainly very

windy and with some rain for Saturday morning. By Sunday,

hopefully, a brighter scene, but to recap, for Wednesday, we lose the

showers and for much of the morning we have dry, bright conditions but

on Thursday some heavy rain, very strong winds. Friday, the winds are

lighter, a cold or end to the week. Saturday, rain and wind once again

Those public sector strikes, we want to hear from you tomorrow,

whatever your view is on this and whatever you are doing. Let us know