0:00:06 > 0:00:10Tonight at ten - the police apologise to a student
0:00:10 > 0:00:13wrongly accused of rape - after admitting a series of mistakes
0:00:13 > 0:00:15in the handling of his case.
0:00:15 > 0:00:1922-year-old Liam Allen - spent almost two years
0:00:19 > 0:00:20under investigation - before messages undermining the case
0:00:20 > 0:00:22were finally disclosed.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25It's two years gone.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28I really do appreciate the apology and I'm grateful for it,
0:00:28 > 0:00:32but it's two years I'm never gonna get back.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34The collapse of that rape trial has had huge repercussions -
0:00:34 > 0:00:39many more cases are now being examined.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42What we have is a systemic problem that is probably impacting
0:00:42 > 0:00:46on at least tens of thousands of cases.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48We'll be assessing the implications it all has
0:00:48 > 0:00:49for the criminal justice system.
0:00:49 > 0:00:56Also tonight:
0:00:56 > 0:00:59A man accused of carrying out the Finsbury Park terror attack last
0:00:59 > 0:01:03year says he wasn't at the wheel when the van ploughed
0:01:03 > 0:01:05into a group of Muslims.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08The BBC admits some high-profile news broadcasters have been paid too
0:01:08 > 0:01:11much, and some too little - but a review finds no gender bias.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Life in Afghanistan's Helmand province - the Taliban
0:01:13 > 0:01:16tighten their grip again three and a half years after British
0:01:16 > 0:01:21after British combat troops left.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25On the day of his funeral - hundreds gather to pay tribute
0:01:25 > 0:01:28to the striker Cyrille Regis - credited for inspiring a generation
0:01:28 > 0:01:30of black footballers.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35And coming up on Sportsday on BBC News:
0:01:35 > 0:01:40Emre Can gives Liverpool the lead over Huddersfield but can
0:01:40 > 0:01:48Jurgen Klopp avoid his first consecutive Premier League defeat?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Good evening.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The police have apologised to a 22 year old student -
0:02:04 > 0:02:07wrongly accused of rape - for a series of errors in the way
0:02:07 > 0:02:08they handled the case.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Liam Allen spent nearly two years on bail before the evidence
0:02:11 > 0:02:18which cleared him was disclosed.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21A review by the Metropolitan police and the Crown Prosecution Service
0:02:21 > 0:02:24said that a series of errors and a lack of knowledge, were to
0:02:24 > 0:02:25blame for the trial's collapse.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Thousands of rape and serious sexual assault cases in England and Wales
0:02:28 > 0:02:30are now being reviewed and there are questions tonight
0:02:30 > 0:02:32about how widespread such failings to disclose evidence
0:02:32 > 0:02:34are across the Criminal Justice System.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Our Special Correspondent Lucy Manning reports.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Liam Allan, six weeks after walking out of court,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44meeting his solicitor.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Instead of imprisoning him, the Metropolitan Police is now
0:02:46 > 0:02:49apologising to him.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51It failed to reveal crucial information when he
0:02:51 > 0:02:52was charged with rape.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53I am sorry.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I'm sorry this happened.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I met Liam Allan yesterday and I was really
0:02:58 > 0:03:01grateful to have the opportunity to speak
0:03:01 > 0:03:05to Liam and explain the contents of the report, and to
0:03:05 > 0:03:08apologise to him for the mistakes that were made, the fact that
0:03:08 > 0:03:14information was not identified at an early stage of the investigation.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Yet it took almost two years on bail and three days in the dock before
0:03:17 > 0:03:19the evidence was finally discovered, clearing him.
0:03:19 > 0:03:26I am happy to have got an apology.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28And I appreciate that they waited till they identified what
0:03:28 > 0:03:33went wrong and the errors that were in there as well.
0:03:33 > 0:03:40But it is two years gone.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43You know, I really do appreciate the apology and I am
0:03:43 > 0:03:47grateful for it but it is two years that I'm just not going to get back.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The review by police and prosecutors found that the officer on the case
0:03:50 > 0:03:52didn't properly search the alleged victim's phone, containing 57,000
0:03:52 > 0:03:53messages.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56He said no relevant information had been found on it,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00and when Liam Allan's lawyers asked for more details, the officer said
0:04:00 > 0:04:02that wasn't necessary, and prosecutors should have probed and
0:04:02 > 0:04:03challenged the officer's decision.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07They didn't.
0:04:07 > 0:04:14Well, there could be problems with a large number of cases.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16There's now a national review and in London alone 600
0:04:16 > 0:04:18cases are being looked at.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Some have already had to be stopped at the
0:04:20 > 0:04:23last minute as evidence that should have been disclosed has come to
0:04:23 > 0:04:24light.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Student Oliver Mears had all the charges dropped two weeks ago
0:04:27 > 0:04:31after two years on bail for rape when the evidence was disclosed.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35And Isaac Itiary was released from jail
0:04:35 > 0:04:37waiting for his trial last month after police finally disclosed texts
0:04:37 > 0:04:40proving his alleged victim had lied.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Do you think that there are people in prison
0:04:42 > 0:04:44at the moment who may have
0:04:44 > 0:04:45been wrongly convicted?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Very difficult for me to answer.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50I think the problem is about disclosing the
0:04:50 > 0:04:53material late rather than not at all.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56What I would say is that if any defendant thinks they are
0:04:56 > 0:05:01wrongly convicted, then they should be appealing in the correct way.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04But the man who prosecuted those responsible for the massive grooming
0:05:04 > 0:05:06of girls in Rochdale and other cases across
0:05:06 > 0:05:08the North West believes the
0:05:08 > 0:05:11problems with disclosure has shaken confidence in the criminal justice
0:05:11 > 0:05:12system.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Are there miscarriages of justice?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Are there people in prison that shouldn't be?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Well, my view is, yes, there are.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21And we have to not just look at the cases currently
0:05:21 > 0:05:23going through the system, we should be looking back
0:05:23 > 0:05:29and looking forward.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31And he thinks it goes much deeper than these current cases.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33It suggests to me a systemic problem.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35So whilst we are talking about rape and sexual
0:05:35 > 0:05:37offences being reviewed, what about other types of crime?
0:05:37 > 0:05:40You know, we have tens of thousands of serious crimes
0:05:40 > 0:05:41where disclosure is key.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43So, Liam Allan might just be one of many.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Thousands of trials across the country could now be affected.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52Lucy is here with me now.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56That is the question isn't it, is the case of Liam Allan, could that
0:05:56 > 0:06:01be the tip of the iceberg?It started with this one case and has
0:06:01 > 0:06:05now spread and there are many more cases being looked at. The CPS will
0:06:05 > 0:06:11not tell us exactly how many cases have been stopped so far, they are
0:06:11 > 0:06:16reviewing rape and sexual assault cases where charges have been made.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20We know the Metropolitan Police have 120 officers reviewing their cases
0:06:20 > 0:06:27and in London prosecutors have brought in a dozen extra lawyers.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Tomorrow in London prosecutors will be called to court to explain about
0:06:31 > 0:06:35the collapse of another trial, the people trafficking trial were social
0:06:35 > 0:06:41media evidence was not disclosed. A woman who had been charged gave
0:06:41 > 0:06:47birth in prison. She has now been freed. What we know is the police
0:06:47 > 0:06:49and prosecutors are saying they are under pressure with many more of
0:06:49 > 0:06:54these rape and sexual offence cases and much more social media, text
0:06:54 > 0:06:59messages they are having to look through at a time of funding cuts.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03But they say the Liam Allan case was human error. But it suggests with so
0:07:03 > 0:07:08many cases being reviewed that there is a deeper problem when it comes to
0:07:08 > 0:07:12disclosing information in these cases.Thank you.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15A man accused of driving a van into a group of Muslims outside
0:07:15 > 0:07:18a North London mosque last year has told a court that he wasn't
0:07:18 > 0:07:19driving at the time.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Darren Osborne from Cardiff said a man called Dave was at the wheel
0:07:22 > 0:07:25when the vehicle hit a crowd in Finsbury park killing one man
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and injuring several others.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31The 48-year-old, who denies murder and attempted murder,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34also said that the original target had been a protest march
0:07:34 > 0:07:36and they'd been hoping to kill the Labour leader,
0:07:36 > 0:07:37Jeremy Corbyn.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Daniel Sandford reports.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The white van attack in North London last June killed one Muslim man
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and injured close to a dozen more.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Darren Osborne was arrested at the scene and a police camera
0:07:50 > 0:07:53caught this conversation.
0:07:56 > 0:08:02I lost control of the van. I lost control, man. Double he lost control
0:08:02 > 0:08:07of the van, you were driving? Yeah.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Today Darren Osborne admitted hiring the van and driving it to London,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13but said the target for his attack was a pro-Palestinian march that has
0:08:13 > 0:08:15in previous years been attended by Jeremy Corbyn.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17The prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC asked, "were you hoping
0:08:17 > 0:08:19you would have an opportunity to attack Jeremy Corbyn
0:08:19 > 0:08:21and kill him?"
0:08:21 > 0:08:23"Oh yeah, it would be one less terrorist off our
0:08:23 > 0:08:25streets", Osborne said.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28"And if Sadiq Khan had been there it would have been even better.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It would've been like winning the lottery".
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Osborne said the attack on the march was planned with two other men,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Dave, and Terry Jones.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40But they had given up and were going for a drink.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43When the van ploughed into the crowd, Dave was driving
0:08:43 > 0:08:48and he was in the footwell and that Dave then ran off.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50"Do you often travel in the foot well?"
0:08:50 > 0:08:51The prosecution asked.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54"No, I was changing my trousers" Osborne explained.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Picking up on the story of Dave the prosecution said,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58"you invented his participation, didn't you?"
0:08:58 > 0:09:02"I've no answer to that" Darren Osborne replied.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The prosecution went on, "I suggest that the story about Dave
0:09:05 > 0:09:08and Terry is totally fabricated, isn't it?"
0:09:08 > 0:09:12"Incorrect" Osborne replied.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Jonathan Rees QC accused him of not taking the case seriously.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18"Is that what you're doing, in front of this jury,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22being tried for murder, having a laugh?"
0:09:22 > 0:09:26"I'm at a loss why you would draw that conclusion," Osborne said.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Earlier the jury had heard that Osborne was asked in hospital
0:09:30 > 0:09:33if anyone else was involved and at that time he had said, "No,
0:09:33 > 0:09:34I'm flying solo mate".
0:09:34 > 0:09:40Daniel Sanford, BBC News, Woolwich Crown Court.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Ministers have sought to play down a leaked government document that
0:09:43 > 0:09:46suggests the UK could be substantially worse off
0:09:46 > 0:09:50economically after Brexit.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52The analysis, drawn up for the Department For Exiting
0:09:52 > 0:09:54the EU, contains forecasts for three different outcomes
0:09:54 > 0:09:56and all show a reduction in growth.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00The Brexit Minister Steve Baker said the document didn't take account
0:10:00 > 0:10:05of the opportunities afforded by leaving the EU
0:10:05 > 0:10:07and said such forecasts by civil servants were "always wrong".
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Our Deputy Political Editor, John Pienaar reports.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Are you still in control of your party, Prime Minister?
0:10:13 > 0:10:16That nagging question again.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Theresa May is just getting on with the job and today that meant
0:10:20 > 0:10:22meeting the leader of Estonia.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Theresa May says the UK won't lose out when it leaves the EU.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30She says she will stay on through another election to see
0:10:30 > 0:10:33it, but some MPs have been airing public and private doubts about her
0:10:33 > 0:10:39future and Britain's after Brexit.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Cabinet ministers are to be shown a Whitehall assessment of how the UK
0:10:42 > 0:10:45economy might be held back.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Are we poorer as a result of Brexit?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Draft extracts had already leaked and been published
0:10:51 > 0:10:54by the news website Buzzfeed.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58The long-term Brexit projection suggests the economy could suffer
0:10:58 > 0:11:02maybe 8% lower growth if there is no EU deal and the UK trades on global
0:11:02 > 0:11:06or world trade organisation rules.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10Growth could work out 5% lower if there is a free trade deal
0:11:10 > 0:11:14without single market membership, and 2% lower growth could result
0:11:14 > 0:11:16from an agreement to stay within the single market -
0:11:16 > 0:11:20a route taken by countries including Norway.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24The Government says it wants a trade deal as strong as Britain enjoys now
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and claimed the leak had been used to damage the case for Brexit.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30The article is a selective interpretation of a
0:11:30 > 0:11:32preliminary analysis.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37It is an attempt to undermine our exit from the European Union.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Brexiteers argued don't believe long-term forecasts.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44We were told prior to the referendum by the Treasury that we would enter
0:11:44 > 0:11:47immediate recession if we chose to leave.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50The IMF told us the economy would contract by as much as 9.5%.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Both were made to look extremely foolish.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Critics on both sides wanted to see the report -
0:11:57 > 0:12:00they felt that Brexit wasn't working.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02She's failed to protect the Government from
0:12:02 > 0:12:05political embarrassment.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08This is a cover-up, Mr Speaker, pure and simple.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12And it stinks.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15And tonight, Labour has announced plans to force ministers
0:12:15 > 0:12:17to hand over the report, or try to with the help
0:12:17 > 0:12:21of Conservative rebels.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Tomorrow we are forced, in effect, to use an ancient procedure
0:12:26 > 0:12:28to ask the government, force the government to pass
0:12:28 > 0:12:32over these documents, in confidence if necessary.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36But we need to be able to do our job here.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38In the House of Lords peers have begun to debate the bill
0:12:38 > 0:12:40bridging the way to Brexit.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41There will be strong resistance and struggle
0:12:41 > 0:12:44for weeks, months to come.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47No one knows how Brexit will turn out.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49The plan by the Government is still a work in progress.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Negotiations have barely begun.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Any new leader would have the same problems with Brexit
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and in parliament, and anyway, there is no rival
0:12:56 > 0:12:59organised campaign.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02But privately, some Tories are saying they feel they cannot go
0:13:02 > 0:13:05on with what they see as a lack of direction much longer.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11I am told some party donors are feeling just as unhappy.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14A new crisis and the wheels could come off Mrs May's leadership.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15Brexit unravelling.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Bad results in May's local elections.
0:13:18 > 0:13:19Tonight she is heading for China.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20Normal business.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23But splits in the party have also become normal.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27The business of leadership rather precarious.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30John Pienaar, BBC News, Westminster.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Police believe a former soldier could be responsible
0:13:33 > 0:13:36for a series of well planned, violent robberies at expensive homes
0:13:36 > 0:13:39across the Home Counties.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Surrey Police have released CCTV footage of the man,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46who's suspected of staking out the homes to learn their exact
0:13:46 > 0:13:48layout and the location of safes.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52He's stolen jewellery and watches worth around a million pounds.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57The four ringleaders of the Hatton Garden jewellery raid
0:13:57 > 0:14:00in 2015 must pay a total of £27.5 million or each serve
0:14:00 > 0:14:02another seven years in prison.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05A judge at Woolwich Crown Court has ruled that the men must pay
0:14:05 > 0:14:07the money after benefiting from cash, gold and gems
0:14:07 > 0:14:11stolen during the heist.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13The Director General of the BBC has admitted that some
0:14:13 > 0:14:16of the corporation's highest profile journalists have been paid too much
0:14:16 > 0:14:21and some have been paid too little.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23But Lord Hall said a review of salaries for on-air talent
0:14:23 > 0:14:25in news has found no evidence of gender bias.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28The report, carried out by the auditors PWC,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30does criticise a lack of transparency in the way
0:14:30 > 0:14:31the BBC sets pay.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Here's our Media Editor Amol Rajan.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38The BBC likes to cover the news, but hates being
0:14:38 > 0:14:41in the headlines itself.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44That is one reason it resisted the disclosure of salaries for high
0:14:44 > 0:14:45earners last summer.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46We have had quite a busy morning.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Today the director-general of the BBC accepted that
0:14:48 > 0:14:50errors had been made.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53I do believe that some men have been paid too much.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56There is absolutely no doubt about that.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58I can only really talk about the last five years
0:14:58 > 0:15:00being back at the BBC.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I don't know what went on before.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06You were director of news, weren't you in your previous job?
0:15:06 > 0:15:08That was, I'm afraid to say, 20 odd years ago.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It is 20 odd years ago that some of these grievances stem from.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But the issues we are dealing with now is how we make sure women's
0:15:15 > 0:15:17voices can be heard, and I believe the package
0:15:17 > 0:15:21of measures I have been putting out today will enable women's voices
0:15:21 > 0:15:24to be heard.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27His plan to address both the gender pay gap, the difference
0:15:27 > 0:15:29between the average pay of men and women within an organisation,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33and the legal requirement of equal pay for equal work,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36includes pay cuts for some men and pay rises for some women
0:15:36 > 0:15:40and also men, a new framework for pay bands and a radical
0:15:40 > 0:15:44increase in transparency.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Tomorrow Carrie Gracie, who resigned her post as China
0:15:47 > 0:15:49editor in protest at unequal pay, appears before
0:15:49 > 0:15:52a select committee of MPs.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Along with Gracie, Eleanor Bradford is one of hundreds of BBC women
0:15:55 > 0:15:56who have formally complained.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I actually cited equal pay and I said that I wanted
0:15:59 > 0:16:01an equal pay review.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05I was helped by my male colleagues who told me what they were on,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and when I did that I had an immediate five grand pay rise,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12although that did not take me up to the level that some
0:16:12 > 0:16:14of my male peers were earning when they were still
0:16:14 > 0:16:17doing identical jobs.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20The BBC says that the competition for talent is now in sport,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24drama and entertainment rather than news.
0:16:24 > 0:16:31But this rationale does not cut it with women who say they have
0:16:31 > 0:16:32been wronged for years.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35One member of the BBC Women group within the organisation applauded
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Tony Hall's proactive thinking but says it has not trickled
0:16:37 > 0:16:39down the organisation.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41There are too many peculiar decisions still being made by tinpot
0:16:41 > 0:16:44tyrants in chinos who just have not had the memo yet.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Women deserve equal pay for equal work.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52From its inception under Lord Reith, the BBC has been a moral project.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56It is therefore held to higher ideals than most of its rivals.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59That is why, though its record is far superior to the national
0:16:59 > 0:17:03average, these headlines are hurting so much.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05As director-general Tony Hall has undoubtedly done more than most
0:17:05 > 0:17:09of his predecessors on this issue of gender equality.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12But while he wants to talk about the future, his loudest critics
0:17:12 > 0:17:15are still furious about both the present and the past.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19EasyJet published its gender pay gap this week.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21At 52% it is five times that of the BBC.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Big companies are now legally obliged to reveal this
0:17:24 > 0:17:26data and senior figures at the corporation are frustrated
0:17:26 > 0:17:29that more have not done so already.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31One leading CEO in financial services believes that
0:17:31 > 0:17:33reform is long overdue.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36This isn't about a feminist agenda, it is about equality.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39We should all be treated the same, paid the same and given
0:17:39 > 0:17:42the same opportunities regardless of background.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44With some huge salaries across the BBC either
0:17:44 > 0:17:46still static or secret, and a fiery select committee hearing
0:17:46 > 0:17:49predicted for tomorrow, BBC News will continue to be
0:17:49 > 0:17:57the news for some time yet.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59It has been three-and-a-half years since British combat troops left
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Afghanistan after fighting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban for thirteen years.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05When they left they handed over responsibility for security
0:18:05 > 0:18:08to the Afghan army.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Some British troops stayed on to advise them.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13But now BBC research suggests that the Taliban is openly active
0:18:13 > 0:18:17again in 70% of the country.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22The BBC has spoken to people in all 399 districts across Afghanistan.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24More than 15 million people are living in areas,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27coloured here in red, that are either controlled
0:18:27 > 0:18:31by the Taliban or regularly suffer Taliban attacks.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36The darker the colour the more frequent the Taliban attacks.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Auliya Atrarfi and cameraman Shwhyb Sharifi have gained rare
0:18:38 > 0:18:41access to Helmand province, the area of Afghanistan
0:18:41 > 0:18:47where the British army was based for much of its time there.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49This is Malik.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51He is 11.
0:18:51 > 0:18:59And too traumatised to speak to us.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03He was playing in his garden when he lost his legs.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07And his best friend.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09To a Taliban landmine.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Today Malik is walking for the first time since the
0:19:11 > 0:19:13explosion.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16TRANSLATION:Children go through utter fear every night.
0:19:16 > 0:19:24It's a horrific life.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It's so volatile that we live by hours and minutes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29We are the living dead.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Last year doctors at this Red Cross clinic in
0:19:31 > 0:19:33the Lashkargah
0:19:33 > 0:19:35fitted almost a thousand people with new limbs.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36From the very old.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39To the very young.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42The violence does not discriminate.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Helmand was the base of the British Army in Afghanistan.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50Hundreds of soldiers died defending these streets.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53But since their withdrawal almost half of the
0:19:53 > 0:19:56province has fallen to the Taliban.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01And the violence is spreading.
0:20:01 > 0:20:09Just ten minutes from hospital, the frontline.
0:20:12 > 0:20:20It is very rare for international journalists to come this far.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24The soldiers say the militants are so close they exchange insults.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Today though swearing is not enough.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31We just got fired at by the Taliban from that direction and
0:20:31 > 0:20:38now the police are returning the fire.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40This is their frontline.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44And it shows how volatile it is.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Although we are told it is normally quiet during the day, but
0:20:47 > 0:20:55this shooting proves otherwise.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Despite the danger, defending Lashkargah is crucial.
0:20:57 > 0:21:04If the city falls, so does the whole of Helmand.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06And it's a responsibility the commander of this
0:21:06 > 0:21:11battalion takes seriously.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15He's the man they affectionately call the terminator.
0:21:15 > 0:21:23Half man, and underneath his uniform, half machine.
0:21:23 > 0:21:29TRANSLATION:The back of my head was blown off by a rocket.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Soldiers reported that I was dead on the spot.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34And my brother came to collect my body.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37But doctors realised I wasn't dead.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41They patched up my skull with a metal plate.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Not long after I stepped on a landmine and
0:21:43 > 0:21:46lost both my legs.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48But in Afghanistan right now it's not fit
0:21:48 > 0:21:52for an active commander to sit at home.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56This province has been at war for 17 years.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Helmand is bleeding.
0:21:59 > 0:22:07And its people feel forgotten.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15You can see more details on the BBC research into the situation
0:22:15 > 0:22:21in Afghanistan at bbc.co.uk/news.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23In a few hours' time, President Trump will deliver his
0:22:23 > 0:22:31first state of the union address since taking office a year ago.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36It is the much anticipated moment when he will try to set the agenda
0:22:36 > 0:22:39for the year ahead. Let's speak to our North America editor, John
0:22:39 > 0:22:47Sobel. How is he expected to handle it?
0:22:47 > 0:22:51We have all got used to the Twitter president and the fire breathing
0:22:51 > 0:22:57president when he goes to rallies, I think it will be very different to
0:22:57 > 0:23:00that. It will be measured, considered and he will stick to
0:23:00 > 0:23:06every word on the teleprinter in front of him. He will be much more
0:23:06 > 0:23:11conciliatory, very much like we saw him in Davos last week. He will talk
0:23:11 > 0:23:16about the success of the economy, keeping the nation safe at home from
0:23:16 > 0:23:21threats abroad. But he will also be stressing unity. He had lunch today
0:23:21 > 0:23:27with news anchors, supposedly quoting off the record. But he said
0:23:27 > 0:23:33I want to see our country united, I want to bring our country back from
0:23:33 > 0:23:37tremendous divisiveness. That is easy to say, but the president on
0:23:37 > 0:23:42Twitter and at rallies is often very divisive. We will see how that pans
0:23:42 > 0:23:46out over the next year. But what that tells us is you have a
0:23:46 > 0:23:51Republican party with its eye on the November mid-term elections. Do
0:23:51 > 0:23:56badly there and the Republican party is in some trouble and so is this
0:23:56 > 0:23:59presidency. I think what you are seeing is an attempt to widen the
0:23:59 > 0:24:06appeal of Donald Trump.Thank you.
0:24:07 > 0:24:13The actor Mark Saling who's died in the TV series Glee has died whilst
0:24:13 > 0:24:16awaiting sentencing for having child pornography. Local media are
0:24:16 > 0:24:21reporting he took his own life. The 35-year-old actor pleaded guilty
0:24:21 > 0:24:25last month to possessing child pornography. He was expected to be
0:24:25 > 0:24:26sentenced in March.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28He was expected to be sentenced in March.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30The Labour leader of London's Haringey Council
0:24:30 > 0:24:32is quitting after a bitter row over a controversial £2
0:24:32 > 0:24:33billion housing scheme.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Claire Kober has condemned what she called "sexist
0:24:35 > 0:24:37and bullying" behaviour after Labour's ruling body,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40the NEC, stepped in to try and halt the plans.
0:24:40 > 0:24:46Our chief political correspondent, Vicki Young reports.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50The £2 billion housing project stopped in its tracks and a Labour
0:24:50 > 0:24:55council riven by bitter infighting. Haringey's plans to go into
0:24:55 > 0:24:59partnership with a private company to build thousands of new homes
0:24:59 > 0:25:03pitched Jeremy Corbyn's backers against those who call themselves
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Labour moderates. Today the council leaders said she was quitting and
0:25:07 > 0:25:11accused her opponents of unacceptable behaviour.I am in no
0:25:11 > 0:25:17doubt that the behaviour and actions of certain individuals at certain
0:25:17 > 0:25:21times where sexism, bullying and political intimidator in behaviour.
0:25:21 > 0:25:26And Claire Kober said her party had changed.The atmosphere in the
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Labour Party in recent months, not just in Haringey but across London
0:25:29 > 0:25:35and the country, has been deeply troubling.There are some who think
0:25:35 > 0:25:41the row here in Haringey is a sign of bigger battles to come within the
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn has cemented his position as leader, the
0:25:45 > 0:25:50party's ruling body is dominated by his supporters and some Labour
0:25:50 > 0:25:53council chiefs are outraged that they are interfering in local
0:25:53 > 0:26:00matters. Momentum, the group set up to support Jeremy Corbyn, has
0:26:00 > 0:26:04increased its representation and Labour plasma National Executive
0:26:04 > 0:26:10Committee, the NEC. Last week it took the step of calling for the
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Haringey redevelopment plans to be halted.I do not think it is
0:26:12 > 0:26:18appropriate for the NEC to try and dictate to democratically elected
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Labour councillors what is best for the people they represent.But
0:26:23 > 0:26:26others in Haringey dismissed the suggestion that this was a hard left
0:26:26 > 0:26:31infiltration of the Labour Party. This is not an anti-private sector
0:26:31 > 0:26:36position.What about those who say Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters are
0:26:36 > 0:26:41taking over the NEC, this council and imposing their ideology?No, it
0:26:41 > 0:26:46is about facts and evidence. There is a serious risk if this scheme
0:26:46 > 0:26:51goes ahead we could be looking at another Carillion collapse.And
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Jeremy Corbyn's allies believe the demise of Carillion says he is
0:26:56 > 0:27:04right, that private companies providing public housing is a flawed
0:27:04 > 0:27:04model.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06providing public housing is a flawed model.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09The Prime Minister is on her way to China tonight on a mission
0:27:09 > 0:27:11to shore up trade ties with the world's second
0:27:11 > 0:27:12largest economy.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Theresa May says she hopes to intensify the so-called
0:27:14 > 0:27:18"Golden Era" in UK-China relations which was ushered in by
0:27:18 > 0:27:20President Xi Jinping's state visit here in 2015.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23The trip is being seen as a test of Britain's ability to forge
0:27:23 > 0:27:25new economic partnerships ahead of Brexit.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27No sign of a slowdown here.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32The Chinese economy creates 5000 millionaires every week.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36And Britain more than ever is keen to get on board.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39In the last 20 years what we have tried to do is make money.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Now for a lot of us who have made money it is all
0:27:44 > 0:27:48about how we use that money.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51These Chinese stables are the first to be accredited
0:27:51 > 0:27:55by the British Horse Society, just one example of how China's
0:27:55 > 0:28:01middle classes could help give the UK a post-Brexit boost.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05British brands tend to be a lot quieter but at the same time I think
0:28:05 > 0:28:08they can take it up a notch and compete a little bit more
0:28:08 > 0:28:11and elbow their way in a little bit more in comparison to other brands
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and other cultures.
0:28:14 > 0:28:20Jaguar Land Rover is one iconic British brand that has
0:28:20 > 0:28:25elbowed its way in only to face this, the Land Wind.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29The company has tried in vain to get China to halt production of what it
0:28:29 > 0:28:35says is an almost exact replica of one of its designs.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Having your products copied in China is one thing,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42but for many British companies getting here in the first place
0:28:42 > 0:28:45is a far bigger challenge.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Britain is now wide open to Chinese investment,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51but China has done little to lower its barriers to some key
0:28:51 > 0:28:58British sectors like banking, finance and insurance.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01And despite talk of a golden era, the diplomacy doesn't always
0:29:01 > 0:29:05run smoothly either.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09One possible spanner in the works for this trip,
0:29:09 > 0:29:13reported disagreements over China's giant global infrastructure project
0:29:13 > 0:29:16the Belton Road initiative.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21But Jaguar Land Rover, which made 80,000 cars here last year,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25proves success is possible despite the challenges.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30It wants the UK to get serious about its China strategy.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35I can only encourage the PM but also other dedicated levels for different
0:29:35 > 0:29:39industries with different ministry levels that we start much more
0:29:39 > 0:29:43intensive dialogues.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Does the golden era still exist?
0:29:47 > 0:29:49For whom?
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Britain and China?
0:29:51 > 0:29:55I think it is still yet to come.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00Meanwhile, China is fashioning its own future.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Zhu Hong is a Beijing -based designer with a shop in London
0:30:03 > 0:30:08and reams of ambition about where her country is headed.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13TRANSLATION: China has had master craftsmen since ancient times.
0:30:13 > 0:30:20We are not just the world's factory, we are the world's high-end factory.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24While the UK tries to patch together more deals and access,
0:30:24 > 0:30:29in a post-Brexit world China may ask who needs who the most?
0:30:29 > 0:30:35John Sudworth, BBC News, Beijing.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37He's credited as the man who inspired a generation
0:30:37 > 0:30:40of black footballers.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Today hundreds of people said farewell to the West Bromwich
0:30:42 > 0:30:45and England striker Cyrille Regis who died this month
0:30:45 > 0:30:48at the age of 59.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51A service to celebrate his life was held at the Hawthorns stadium -
0:30:51 > 0:30:53the ground where he made his name.
0:30:53 > 0:30:54Our sports correspondent Andy Swiss was there.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57APPLAUSE
0:30:57 > 0:31:00It was the fondest of farewells.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02At the ground Cyrille Regis graced as a player,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05they gathered in tearful tribute.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09A private family funeral before a public celebration of his life.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14A chance to say goodbye to a footballing hero.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17He saw no difference in anybody and all he wanted
0:31:17 > 0:31:19to do was play football.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22And, as a young black man, he led the way.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25He was a remarkable footballer and a man, and I love him.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28I just love him.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Few players have inspired such warmth.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33COMMENTATOR:What a great shot.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37With his determination and dazzling goals, Cyrille Regis blazed a trail
0:31:37 > 0:31:41for black British footballers.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Now inside the stadium where he made his name,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46thousands of fans, friends and family celebrated his
0:31:46 > 0:31:50strength and spirit.
0:31:50 > 0:31:56He played at a time when black players had to face racial abuse.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01He never lost his cool or was ever intimidated.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04He said it motivated him to play even better.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07He left us with great memories and for that we
0:32:07 > 0:32:09are blessed to have known him.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Nice one, Cyrille.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Nice one, son.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18But perhaps the most poignant moment, a poem to Cyrille Regis
0:32:18 > 0:32:19from his own daughter.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22A legend, a gentleman.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26The Three Degrees, Big C, the many different
0:32:26 > 0:32:31names you had.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35But I couldn't be more proud to just call you my dad.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38A day then to remember a man who touched so many lives.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Come on, get up.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43# Nice one, Cyrille, nice one, son
0:32:43 > 0:32:47# Nice one, Cyrille, let's have another one #.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49A fitting tribute to a footballing giant.
0:32:49 > 0:32:57Andy Swiss, BBC News, The Hawthorns.
0:32:57 > 0:33:06That is it from us.