0:00:21 > 0:00:23Good afternoon.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26The Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders has said
0:00:26 > 0:00:29all current rape and serious sexual assault cases in England and Wales
0:00:29 > 0:00:32are to be reviewed as a matter of urgency following the collapse
0:00:32 > 0:00:34of several recent trials because evidence was not
0:00:34 > 0:00:38disclosed to defence lawyers.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Today the Attorney General told the BBC there was no evidence
0:00:40 > 0:00:42of widespread malpractice or dishonesty in the
0:00:42 > 0:00:43prosecution system.
0:00:43 > 0:00:49Our legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman reports.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Disclosure of evidence in some recent highly publicised rape cases
0:00:52 > 0:00:55has gone badly wrong.
0:00:55 > 0:01:03But how widespread is the problem?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08In December Liam Allan was acquitted of six counts of rape and six
0:01:08 > 0:01:10of sexual assault when it emerged evidence on a computer disk
0:01:10 > 0:01:13which police had examined showed messages from the alleged victim
0:01:13 > 0:01:14pestering him for casual sex.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18And the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed
0:01:18 > 0:01:21because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence
0:01:21 > 0:01:25has increased by 70% in the last two years.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Now the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33has ordered an urgent review of all rape and serious
0:01:33 > 0:01:35sexual assault cases, and conceded it's likely a number
0:01:35 > 0:01:39will be dropped.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41It's very apparent that in some cases mistakes have been made that
0:01:41 > 0:01:43simply shouldn't have been.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46It is important that when you look at that kind of case
0:01:46 > 0:01:50that the prosecutors and investigators look
0:01:50 > 0:01:53at social media traffic, look at text messages that have
0:01:53 > 0:01:55passed between the two individuals, because they can put
0:01:55 > 0:01:59what's happened in a very significant different light.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01A National Disclosure Improvement Plan has been published.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It includes a review of disclosure training,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08developing a group of specialists in every police force,
0:02:08 > 0:02:13and all multimedia evidence to be provided to the defence digitally.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Yesterday, here, a people trafficking case on a rape or sexual
0:02:17 > 0:02:23assault trial collapsed because prosecutors failed
0:02:23 > 0:02:26to disclose critical evidence to the defence.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29The judge has demanded an urgent explanation in a case made even more
0:02:29 > 0:02:32shocking by the fact that one of the young female defendants
0:02:32 > 0:02:37was held in prison for 13 months, during which time she gave birth.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40This problem is systemic and endemic throughout
0:02:40 > 0:02:42the criminal justice system.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45It's been known about for many years and it's a result of chronic
0:02:45 > 0:02:47underfunding of police, the prosecution service and
0:02:47 > 0:02:49particularly defence lawyers who have suffered years
0:02:49 > 0:02:54of cuts to legal aid.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58If public confidence in our fair trial system is to be
0:02:58 > 0:03:01maintained, fixing disclosure is now the criminal justice system's
0:03:01 > 0:03:02biggest challenge.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Clive Coleman, BBC News.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09At least 63 people have been killed and 150 injured in a bombing
0:03:09 > 0:03:12in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
0:03:12 > 0:03:19The device was hidden in an ambulance and exploded
0:03:19 > 0:03:23at a police checkpoint.
0:03:23 > 0:03:24The Taliban said they carried out the attack.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25Chi Chi Izundu reports.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27An ambulance packed with explosives driven into crowds
0:03:27 > 0:03:28on their way to work.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33The force of the blast shook windows of buildings at least a mile away.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Some low-rise structures collapsed and plumes of smoke could be seen
0:03:35 > 0:03:38from around the city.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40TRANSLATION:I was sitting in my shop when a powerful
0:03:40 > 0:03:41explosion rocked the area.
0:03:41 > 0:03:49All the windows of my shop shattered.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54The attacker drove the vehicle past one police checkpoint claim
0:03:54 > 0:03:55to have a patient inside.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57When guards at a second checkpoint became suspicious
0:03:57 > 0:03:59he detonated the bomb.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01The area is home to foreign embassies and the city's
0:04:01 > 0:04:02police headquarters.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04The road had been closed to public transport.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06The Taliban have claimed responsibility, this the second
0:04:06 > 0:04:10deadly attack in Kabul in the space of a week.
0:04:10 > 0:04:1220 people were killed after a bombing on the
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Intercontinental Hotel last week.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17The Afghan military, backed by US air power,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19has intensified its campaign to drive out the Taliban
0:04:19 > 0:04:21from its rural strongholds.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24But as today's strike proves they are still able to mount deadly
0:04:24 > 0:04:27attacks against civilian targets in the heart of the
0:04:27 > 0:04:28country's major cities.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Chi Chi Izundu, BBC News.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Three teenage boys have been killed after they were hit
0:04:34 > 0:04:36by a car in West London.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It happened last night in Hayes.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41A man aged 28, who was in the car, has been arrested.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Live now to our correspondent Anisa Kadri, who's at the scene.
0:04:44 > 0:04:51Anisa, what can you tell us?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Well, all morning a steady stream of people have been coming here to
0:04:55 > 0:05:00leave tributes for the three teenagers, all believed to be around
0:05:00 > 0:05:0616, who lost their lives. Inside those floral tributes they have been
0:05:06 > 0:05:13named as George, Josh and Harry. They were right by the bus stop
0:05:13 > 0:05:19behind me when they were hit by the car. A 28-year-old man inside the
0:05:19 > 0:05:23Audi was arrested and taken to hospital. It is not known if what
0:05:23 > 0:05:29happened was an accident, but police have ruled out terrorism. They are
0:05:29 > 0:05:34now appealing for any witnesses. Thank you very much.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Paris is on alert as the level of the River Seine has
0:05:37 > 0:05:39continued to creep higher, with forecasters warning
0:05:39 > 0:05:41the river could stay high throughout next week.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Leaks have started to appear in some basements, while many residents
0:05:44 > 0:05:46on the city's outskirts have been forced to travel by boat
0:05:46 > 0:05:49through waterlogged streets.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55Our correspondent Kevin Connolly reports.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00On patrol on the rising waters of the River Seine.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04A police launch on the front line of the flood defences of Paris.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Water levels are expected to peak this weekend.
0:06:08 > 0:06:14Tourist boats are tied up.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16They can't pass under the bridges on the swollen waters,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19leaving tourists to make the best of things.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22It's scary, because you don't know when it's going to stop.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25I'm not really worried.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30I think we have reached the maximum for the moment.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I mean, it's natural, for the moment you have strange
0:06:33 > 0:06:37things going on on the planet.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43For me, that's natural and I don't think it will go to a higher level.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Parisians have been bracing for this high water mark for weeks.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50It's only rained this heavily over the New Year period in France three
0:06:50 > 0:06:56times in the last 100 years.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59They measure the river level here by this statue of a soldier
0:06:59 > 0:07:02that commemorates the Crimean War.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07In the worst flooding in history, it reached up to his beard.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09It's been raining relentlessly in France for weeks,
0:07:09 > 0:07:14but it's eased off today.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17And it does now seem that there's a chance that the River Seine
0:07:17 > 0:07:19will reach its peak without quite flooding into the streets
0:07:19 > 0:07:23of Paris around it.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26We should know by the end of the day.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31Kevin Connolly, BBC News, Paris.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Now, with all the big sports news here's Mike Bushell
0:07:34 > 0:07:37at the BBC Sport Centre.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Thank you.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41It was a tremendous final at the women's Australian Open.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Look away now if you are planning on watching the highlights
0:07:44 > 0:07:47which follow the news on BBC One.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50It was always destined to be a first time Grand Slam winner
0:07:50 > 0:07:54as Caroline Wozniacki took on Simona Halep.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57And it was the Dane Wozniacki who won in three sets.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02It means she will also replace Halep as world number one.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07A double prize, really.
0:08:07 > 0:08:15No sign of an upset in the first macho the fourth round. Peterborough
0:08:15 > 0:08:17are hosting Leicester.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Leicester went ahead early on thanks to this goal from Foussemi Diabate
0:08:20 > 0:08:22just ten minutes into his debut.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24And it was soon comfortable for the Premier League side,
0:08:24 > 0:08:25Kelechi Iheanacho made it 2-0.
0:08:25 > 0:08:31In fact, he has just made it 3-0 after 36 minutes gone. They are
0:08:31 > 0:08:36cruising, Leicester.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Ben Stokes has been snapped up this morning
0:08:38 > 0:08:40for nearly £1.4 million in the auction of players
0:08:40 > 0:08:41for the Indian Premier League.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43He's been bought by the Rajasthan Royals.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45That's despite facing a charge for affray, after an incident
0:08:45 > 0:08:48outside a nightclub in Bristol.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50The all-rounder was the most valuable player of the Twenty20
0:08:50 > 0:08:53tournament last year.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Rory McIlroy went into the third round of the Dubai
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Desert Classic leading.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01The world number 11 finished a fog delayed second round on Saturday
0:09:01 > 0:09:03with five birdies in his last seven holes.
0:09:03 > 0:09:11Quite a remarkable run. He has a view holes left to go.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14An eagle at the tenth took him to 16 under.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16England's Andy Sullivan is also 16 under after shooting a nine
0:09:16 > 0:09:18under par round of 63.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Team GB will be sending their largest-ever team
0:09:19 > 0:09:22to a Winter Olympics next week and amongst them will be
0:09:22 > 0:09:25the snowboard cross athlete Zoe Gillings-Brier.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28It'll be her fourth Games, but first as a mother.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Nick Hope has been to meet her and daughter Lea
0:09:30 > 0:09:35at their base in Austria
0:09:35 > 0:09:41Boarder cross is among the most dramatic and unpredictable winter
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Olympic events. Zoe Gillings-Brier has had her fair share of ups and
0:09:45 > 0:09:48downs. But life away from the slopes now has its own little challenge as
0:09:48 > 0:09:54well. Lea arrived in 2016. It is clearly a case of like mother, like
0:09:54 > 0:10:03daughter!Lea is awesome. I love her, of course. I'm her mum, so I
0:10:03 > 0:10:07would think she was the best kid in entire world. She had her first go
0:10:07 > 0:10:12when she was one year and three days old, I think it was. Had a little go
0:10:12 > 0:10:19on the snow in Argentina. 15 months old now. She can't turn, but...Give
0:10:19 > 0:10:26her time!Yes.Who does the early mornings and late nights? An athlete
0:10:26 > 0:10:30needs her sleep!Funnily enough, I've heard that a few times!I would
0:10:30 > 0:10:34be lying if I got up in the morning as much as Dan does.We always
0:10:34 > 0:10:41thought we could have Lea while she trained and competed, I want to
0:10:41 > 0:10:45allow her to train and compete properly as she always has done.A
0:10:45 > 0:10:49lot of people asked if I would feel more scared on the mountain now that
0:10:49 > 0:10:53I'm, but I don't seem to be. If it has changed me at all, I think it
0:10:53 > 0:10:58has made me more confident. Pyeongchang 2018 would be her fourth
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Olympics, and although a medal has always eluded her so far, success at
0:11:01 > 0:11:07these games would arguably be more than at any point in her career.The
0:11:07 > 0:11:11more successful I am at snowboarding, the better my career
0:11:11 > 0:11:15goes, the more successful I will be and the more I can give Lea a good
0:11:15 > 0:11:19future. I'm doing it for me, but also for here at the same time.The
0:11:19 > 0:11:23cutest thing you will see all-day! That is all for now.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29The next news on BBC One is at 5:25.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31From me, for now, goodbye.