18/07/2013 South Today

South Today. In tonight's programme. Have the cuts gone too far? Two of

our police forces are in danger of a dip in performance.

If we have ten emergency calls and only eight cars then someone has to

choose the calls that do not receive an immediate response.

An attempt to ban a badger cull in Dorset has been defeated. A NEET way

to get troubled youngsters back on track and into the workplace. And

sealed with a dip. Meet Trevor, who is befriending swimmers on the

Sussex Coast. We just carried on hanging out with him and the longer

we spent with him, the closer he came.

The police watchdog has warned that the performance of two of the

South's forces could start to slip in the face of continued budget

cuts. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary says service in Dorset

could be affected if the number of police officers are cut further.

Meanwhile inspectors say there are early signs that the service to the

public in Sussex is starting to diminish. Our Home Affairs

Correspondent reports. Part of policing is being readied to

respond to anything. Yesterday we worried if team in Sussex called

your hand guiding accident. Officers never know when or where they will

be needed, especially now when fewer police are around. Police budgets

were reduced in the spending review of 2010. As a result they have cut

270 police officer jobs. We spoke to one man who did not want to be on

colourmap -- on camera but he said when he reported as stolen motorbike

there was little investigation and when he asked why, he was told

police did not want to actively look for the motorcycle because they

didn't did not have the manpower. Numbers of officers has been a clear

issue that has come up time and again. Members of the public told me

throughout my campaign that they want more visible and effect of

policing. In Allendale it seems to be working. There is more of a

police presence. There are very vigilant. There do not seem to be

that many around. Do you think it has changed much? It is difficult to

tell. I have not noticed a big difference. There is always a

presence of the local police walking around. It seems OK. One area that

has been affected is the time it takes for Sussex police to respond

to emergencies. In 2010, 85% of grade one calls were attended within

15 minutes. In 2011 this fell to 81% and last year and fell to 73%.

chief constable is already trying to operate with one hand tied behind

his back. It is just going to become more difficult to provide the public

with the service they deserve. force says there has been an

increase in the number of grade one calls but they will look at ways to

improve their response. They say they have made savings of many

aspects of their work has been maintained or even improved. But

today a report by police inspectors says Sussex must maximise officers

in front-line roles and take steps now to address any signs of

performance is slipping. There are some concerns in Sussex, what about

other forces with Mac well when the cuts were announced there was

concerned that the impact on the budget would be huge. The reports

today do not reflect that. Wilts and stereo at keeping up effective

policing and meeting that financial challenge. In Dorset the reports say

the force has already cut a lot of police officers and it says if they

cut further due to further budget restrictions, they might have to

look with some kind of alliance with another force. But crime figures are

falling and public satisfaction is up. We heard today that the crime

figures are out and crime is falling. What does that say in spite

of the cuts? Crime has been falling for a number of years and that is

the case for the whole region. So forces seem to be coping well. But

can that be sustained if budgets keep shrinking among which we think

they will? Forces are already trying to find smarter ways of working.

Everyone recognises that if they are going to keep saving money they will

have to find innovative ways of doing that in the future.

A Bournemouth couple say they're facing financial ruin after delays

by their bank in repaying �350,000. Hoteliers Terri and Stewart Flett

are owed the money after they were mis-sold a financial product. They

won their claim for a refund, but have now been told it could take a

year to get their money back. Ed Sherry reports.

Terri's dream was to run a hotel dedicated to dance, but instead she

spends her time arguing with the bank. We have had six years of pain

and a huge amount of money each month. In 2007 the couple bought the

Hotel Piccadilly. Barclays helped them get a mortgage and persuaded

them to take a specialist insurance product, known as an interest rate

swap, it would have offset any rise in their mortgage rate. But the

Fletts weren't told that if interest rates fell, they would have to start

paying the bank thousands of pounds every month. As the interest rates

dropped the figure kept going up. It ended up with 347,000 to get out of

it. In February, the Financial Services Authority said that more

than 90% of the interest rate swap deals it looked at had been mis-sold

and ordered banks to review all their sales. The federation of small

businesses estimates that 40,000 are caught up in the scandal. In April

Terri and Stewart were told they would receive a full �350,000

refund, but were horrified to learn that it could take a year. We have

had friends and relatives who have helped keep us going, we borrowed

money from them. We need to pay them back, some of them need the money

back badly. In a statement Barclays told us: Our Business Support

specialists are continuing to work closely with this customer in the

current challenging economic environment. It is in Barclays'

interests as well as our customers to get this sorted as soon as

possible, so we are getting on with it as fast as we can.

The government when they speak to the banks should say we are getting

complaints, what is your side of it? And if that side is not adequate

they should pay at least what they know they owe and pay the surplus

after that. That is what happens in many other areas. We now have

increased bookings so we are looking forward to a brighter future but it

would be nice to be able to put this behind us and have the bank pay our

money. The Portsmouth MP Mike Hancock has

told the city council he does not want to take part in an

investigation into misconduct until High Court proceedings against him

are over. The 37-year-old woman has brought a case against him accusing

him of sexual assault. Mike Hancock denies the claims and says he will

fight them in court. An attempt to stop any badger cull

taking place on council owned farmland in Dorset was defeated

today. The county is a reserve location if the cull, which is due

to start shortly, runs into difficulties in the main areas in

Somerset and Gloucestershire. Even if Dorset is involved, county

councillors were told that any ban would be legally unenforceable.

Steve Humphrey reports. As politicians in Dorchester

discussed the badger cull, farmer James cousins was sending one of his

animals to slaughter after it showed signs of bovine TB in a routine

test. It is a blow for James whose farm had been clear of the disease

after suffering another big three years ago. He isn't no doubt that

badgers are to blame for spreading bovine TB. The situation is getting

out of control. 28,000 cattle in the UK were killed last year and I think

we just cannot go on like this. We have to look at the wildlife

reservoir of disease and do something about it. Others believe

that larger vaccination is the answer. Today a Labour councillor in

Dorset is proposed that the county council should object to any badger

cull on its land. Councillors were told they did not have the power to

stop their farmers from taking part in a badger cull in the future.

After a sometimes passionate debate Councillors voted by 26 - 12 in

favour of an amendment which says that the badger cull is a national

issue and policy should be decided by central government. It is a

serious issue which needed to be debated in that chamber. I'm pleased

that that happened but the result was disappointing to say the least.

It may not be the most effective means and there could be a moral

issue and one the decision taken but I think it is a decision they had to

take. And despite the controversy that is a sentiment echoed by many

livestock farmers in the region. A man who attempted to sail to

Ireland from Dorset in an inflatable dinghy has been rescued by

coastguards. He set off from close to Weymouth yesterday afternoon but

was picked up near Durdle Dor having drifted in the wrong direction.

Portland Coastguard, said the man was "extremely lucky" to be found

when he was. Still to come, we are basking beside

the sea. There is a pleasant breeze along the coast and inland it has

been another hot and sunny day. Will it last? Find out later in the

programme. It has been another sweltering day.

The Met Office Level Three heat wave alert has now been extended into the

South West as well. Joe Campbell reports on how people are coping in

the Thames Valley. Here's the man everyone wants to see. The air

conditioning engineer has been working from six in the morning

until 11 at night as the demand for people in his line of work has

soared alongside the rising mercury. Good news for his fledgling

business. The first month was scary, I only had a couple of calls in that

month. But now the warm weather is upon us and it is nonstop. I'm

having to turn away work because I just cannot cope with the amount of

calls coming in. As Rob headed off to his next job, others were taking

time out, some here seeking sun, others enjoying welcome shade.

air conditioning is broken so it is good to come out and get a breeze.

It is too hot for me. Everyone has come outside, everyone rushing about

in the pub where I work. It is a treat for me to be of an to be able

to do the same. But for some the attempt to keep cool here in Whitley

Wood has meant open house for unwanted visitors. The advice is to

consider what you're doing, what the risk might be to your property.

Think about whether you do need to leave that window open. And while

temperatures may have peeked for now, it seems the heat isn't off

quite yet. The Secretary of State for Transport

opened a new rail depot in Reading today. Just one little problem - the

depot has been built for a new generation of electric trains. And

there won't be any for several years. Our Transport Correspondent

Paul Clifton reports. To get to the brand new depot, the

Transport Secretary took a train from the brand new station. But the

train was far from new. It was powered by a diesel engine. Patrick

McLoughlin toured the state of the art site. It is a mile and a half

long. Designed to maintain a new generation of electric inter-city

and local trains. But the inter-city trains from Hitachi aren't due until

2017. As for the new commuter trains, well, nobody has ordered

any. We are making progress on a number of orders. Some of them have

been announced today, others are taking place. Work to electrify the

great question starts in January so new trains to replace these diesel

trains will be needed. First great Western plan to order some as part

of a new franchise that that process was halted by the government last

autumn. And it also slowed down the search for new trains. What is

important is that we have good quality rolling stock. We want to

make best use of the electric network when that is up and

running. Here, a new gearbox is being fitted. The depot cost �150

million, part of the huge project to rebuild the railway around Reading.

It is a lot brighter and cleaner. I think it is just a great place to

work now. The old depot is being demolished, to make way for a new

flyover. That will separate the slow freight trains heading north from

Southampton docks from the express trains on the Great Western, easing

the route's biggest bottleneck. That work can now get under way.

They can feel isolated and pessimistic. I'm talking about those

16 to 24-year-olds who are classed as NEETS. That's not in education,

employment or training. That's around one in six young people in

the South. So what can be done to try to prevent them ending up in

that position? One school in Littlehampton thinks it has the

answer. It's running an arts project for disaffected pupils - and it says

it works. Ena Miller reports. they turned up for class and behave

themselves. Life at school for teachers and these students have not

always been this easy. Detentions every lunch after school sitting in

a room doing nothing all day. I was not really learning anything.

Children like these are normally expelled for their behaviour. But

teachers here in Littlehampton wanted to find a way to reach out to

disengaged pupils before it was too late. They decided to tackle the

problem by creating an intervention programme using art. The kind of

thing that we do is photography, creative writing, sport. So they are

able to express themselves through their work and they challenge

notions of school and perceptions of themselves. And there are already

signs that they are learning lesson. At the beginning of the course half

of the students attended less than 80% of the time but by the end most

tired and attendance rate above 90%. This is just some of the feedback

left by children who took part in the project. I have learnt to choose

my battles against people. It has changed my behaviour and I feel more

confident in class. These are their personal achievements. When success

is sometimes measured by academic results, is this enough? It made a

huge difference. At the start of the course I could get easily

distracted. Then I got better grades. The headteacher believes

that the �10,000 per year it costs to run the course is a necessity

rather than a luxury. We have some students we worry about, whether

they are going to stay in education or training when they leave and 16.

If they're not at school and not behaving well, they do not achieve

well. Seven out of eight children who began the project in 2010 are

going on to college next year. realised that you need your grades

to get a job and live your life. On sport now. And it has been a

glorious day of sport all round. incredible day of sport. England not

doing too well in the cricket, they have just lost a seventh wicket.

Matt prior is out. Bournemouth's players enjoyed Mediterranean

conditions as they continued their pre-season training today, ahead of

Sunday's glamour match against Real Madrid. It maybe an exhibition, but

the chance to match themselves up against the likes of Christiano

Ronaldo means there's plenty of competition in training.

Bournemouth players are being baked by the sun as they train this race

evening. The fixture list has hot things up further. The visit of Real

Madrid has boosted a traditional unpopular period of the year for

football. It is a fixture everyone wants to play in so it has given

everybody abuzz. The lads are chomping at the bit. Bournemouth are

still looked upon as a small club sold things like this can only

enhance our reputation. The cherries expect to feel like a settled side

for much of the game but most squad members will get on the pitch at

some stage. In terms of possession I think it is going to be difficult.

Some may have a tougher night than others. Defender Simon Francis could

be marking Cristiano Ronaldo. was at Southend he played in the cup

for Manchester United but he has probably improved since then. If

years -- if years at 100% then I will have to try something outside

the box. Bournemouth are confident that their new stand will be

finished in time for the game on Sunday. They are taking it seriously

and although the game is billed as an exhibition it certainly has added

some competition to preseason. Justin Rose faltered on day one of

the Open championship at Muirfield. The US Open champion shot a first

round 75, that's four over par, his round included a double bogey six at

the 15th. He recovered with a birdie at 17. That leaves him blind shots

of the leaders. -- nine shots. Wiltshire amateur Ben Stow, in his

first Open shot a 76, that's five over par. And that county

championship match between Hampshire Someone described that cricket match

at Lord's as a bit of a zipper! We've all heard of people swimming

with dolphins in exotic locations, but what about swimming with a seal

- and off the South Coast? Trevor the seal is proving a bit of an

attraction at Selsey. Normally you should keep away from these animals,

but Trevor is unusual, choosing to approach both humans and dogs in the

shallows. Let's join Mark Sanders who's live at Selsey. I think one

large mammal in the water is quite enough here at Selsey! Trevor has

turned into something of a celebrity. I have been watching him

this afternoon swimming up and down behind me in the sea. But it is

worth stressing that he is not a pet but a wild animal. Who would have

thought that taking a dip at Selsey would lead to such a close

encounter? The seal has taken up residence in the water. The field

just came up to us and just made friends. It was really playful and

was obviously used to people. It kept bobbing up and down and looked

very friendly. At one stage it did brush me off my feet. It was really

lovely. The seal has been on the beach now for several weeks. Marine

experts say markings suggest it is the same seal who became something

of a celebrity along the coast at Seaford. Trevor as he became known

was moulting on the beach there are now his winter coat has gone and he

has swum down to Selsey Wesley has developed a following. My grandson

was here last weekend and the fishermen gave him fish to feed to

him. He was thrilled because he wants to be a zookeeper when he

grows up! How long have you been watching him? All day today. I have

seen him three or four times but not this close. Has he become a

celebrity? Most people leave him in peace. The animal welfare at charity

has advised onlookers to leave the seal well alone and say there is a

risk that it could bite. But it is easy to ascribe human

characteristics to this creature, but it is a wild animal. Keep a fair

distance because it is not fair on the seal. Their habit is to come out

and rest and take the heat so it is up to us to respect its space.

Chichester harbour does have a small population of fields but did see one

here in Selsey so close is unusual. Trevor continues to make a splash.

Trevor is lovely, but please remember he's a wild animal.

Wildlife groups say if you all head down to the beach to try to have a

swim with him, it'll stress him and he could stop visiting or maybe bite

someone and no one wants that. If you are in the area, then please

look but don't touch. A quick look at your photographs

now. Bella has the right idea in Aylesbury. This photo was taken by

her owner Vicky Spearing. Meghan Newman captured Spikey the

Gloucester Old Spot boar, keeping cool in Shermanbury, West Sussex.

And Raymond Slack captured this colourful scene in the lavender

fields in Selborne, Hampshire. A lovely selection. And look at you

basking down there. Is this heat going carry on?

This week and next week they could be the potential for some

thunderstorms. But let us take a look at the satellite picture from

earlier on. We had lovely blue skies earlier on and temperatures doing

very nicely indeed. Tonight we can expect temperatures to remain mild.

They will fall to around 15 degrees. 17 in some towns and cities so quite

an uncomfortable night for sleeping. Leave the window open if you can

because it will be very close. Tomorrow morning temperatures

already up at 18 degrees. In the afternoon we have some cloud in the

afternoon. That is the difference from today and also that worries

which makes it feel slightly fresher. Temperatures at around 28

degrees Celsius, still well above the seasonal average. So pleasantly

warm in the afternoon. Tomorrow night it will be another muggy night

to come. Once again temperatures at around 15 Celsius. And the breeze

easing through the course of the night tomorrow night. But the

outlook is looking good for this weekend especially. Lots of sunshine

on offer tomorrow. But the breeze taking the edge slightly off the

temperatures. As we had towards the start of next week, there is the

outside chance of a thundery shower come Monday. We do have some events

going on, the Redding Fareham taking place this Friday until July the

21st. And there will be a mini beer Festival and live music. The other

event we have is the rare and traditional breeds show in

Chichester. Lots of events to see this weekend. Definitely the weather