23/10/2017 Inside Out North West

Hello, and welcome to Inside Out North West,

On Inside Out tonight: The woman offering her bank account to crooks.

We investigate the classified ads website being hijacked by criminals

Four months after the Grenfell Tower disaster, we meet the residents

of a Salford tower block who are living in fear.

I feel very vulnerable, and I'm finding it very difficult to sleep.

You're just living in a tinderbox, waiting for it to go up.

And we go behind the scenes at a Lake District stable,

to discover what makes a top racing trainer.

Jumps well, and has got good winning form.

He will be in pretty competitive type of races.

And hopefully he should be winning the owner's purchase price back

Tonight, we reveal the shocking findings of an undercover

investigation into the availability of illegal products

For the last six months, we've been looking at Craigslist,

the classified ads website which has been hijacked by criminals right

As an investigative journalist, it's sometimes easier to work

When people aren't watching what you're doing.

If you are looking for something illegal, it is the go-to part

of the Internet that is hidden from prying eyes.

The place where criminals use encrypted websites and virtual

You don't need to bother with all that, mate.

Yeah, if you budge up, I'll show you.

Shouldn't you be getting on with the...?

Oh, no, it's fine, I've got ten minutes.

It was set up in America, by a guy called...

It's a website, where people buy and sell everything.

Just say where you live, and get started.

But lots of the stuff on Craigslist won't be in the buy and sell section

of your local newspaper - including bootleg tobacco.

The kind of cigs you'd probably buy from some dodgy

geezer outside a pub, or in this case,

So they're knocked off, then, or are they...

No, no, they're old packaging but they can't resell

He says his supplier's else on Craigslist.

I've seen some crazy stuff on Craigslist!

That's why I've come to another car park,

And that's why his tobacco is just a third of the price

But there is a difference, because counterfeit goods are among

the things Craigslist says you're not supposed to sell on its website.

Yeah, but no-one takes any notice of that!

It's as easy to find marijuana on Craigslist

And you might need a seat, because what I'm buying next

I'm on a Derby estate, to meet a dealer selling

Turns out as street cocaine goes, it's pretty pure stuff.

Well, I'm shocked at what's there, because it's not difficult

for the Internet companies to put elements onto their websites to be

And they should be policing it and taking it down.

But if you have made money from crime, you won't want

What you need is someone to hide it, perhaps in their bank account.

But where would I find someone to do that?

She's offering her bank account on Craigslist to anyone

But we are walking into the bank, to pay in what I've told her

She'll charge me a fee to get it back, and there are plenty

on Craigslist offering to do the same thing - sometimes,

But if you've sent your money overseas, how are you

And I know just the place you can get it.

The place where I can find a stolen passport.

And there are plenty more where that came from.

I've known some stories where it's taken people ten years

to get their credit ratings back again, after it's been completely

trashed by people who have stolen their identities.

But it'll allow you to get on and commit other crimes,

And it's not just about selling stuff.

This advert's looking for postmen to steal the letters

they're supposed to be delivering.

On Craigslist, there is also disorganised crime.

This guy wants someone to pass his driving theory test for him.

But for 50 quid, it's not that black and white.

For a start, he's black and I'm white,

Won't they check your photo against their database?

But there's no way I'm going to get through.

When I later revealed I'm a journalist, he didn't

And neither did Craigslist, in fact when we asked

And that came from the top, the Chief Executive's office.

I think whilst they're making money, and whilst nobody is turning

round and asking them, or forcing them, to try

and change what's going on, you'll find sites like this

using the ostrich effect to what's going on, sticking their head

No wonder criminals can carry on regardless.

Well, unless they're really selling to a journalist.

If you look out there, there's a camera.

And I'd like to know, mate, why you're...

Oh, my God, my mother's going to kill me.

But he's not the only one thinking about his relatives.

I don't know why I'm doing it, to be honest.

I'm trying to make money, for my family.

Take a good look at my cocaine dealer, cos he's

Thing is, mate, I work for the BBC, and we're trying

Back in Ashton-under-Lyne, what about Stacey?

I'm trying to find out why you are willing

I'm not buying a passport off you, mate, because I work for the BBC.

And I want to know why you're selling stolen passports, mate.

Why are you selling stolen passports?

The amount of organised crime that there is sitting

everything that you show on there is frightening.

And it's critical, I think, that the police force or the law

enforcement agencies force the likes of Craigslist to do

When we asked to interview a minister, all we got was a Home

Well, we've kind of done that for them already.

So maybe it's time the Government forced websites like Craigslist

Everyone was horrified by the Grenfell Tower disaster,

But for those living in tower blocks with similar

cladding to the kind used, well, the tragedy has been

I've been to meet some of the residents of one

tower block in Salford, who nearly five months down the line

are still waiting for the cladding on their building to be removed.

But after the horrific scenes at Grenfell, I just lay in bed

So I get up, make myself a little drink, or I go and stand up

And then I'll come in here, I'll chat to people locally on Facebook,

and then somebody will say hi from Grenfell, and

They ask us what the progress is, then we just say goodbye and I'm

I try and do things to take my mind off it.

He lives on the eighth floor of Canon Hussey Court,

one of 32 tower blocks in Salford which have been identified as having

the same or a similar type of cladding to that

Before Grenfell Tower, I felt quite safe.

But I was in Turkey on holiday when I saw the horrific

events unfolding on TV, and straightaway I was

So it immediately crossed your mind that you could potentially be

Cos it was mentioned on the news that lots of other blocks of flats

UK-wide might be the same cladding, so it made me feel

When I got home, I found up Salix, my home provider, and they tried

to reassure me that everything they could do would get done ASAP.

What kind of things were you looking to get done?

What would have given you reassurance?

A gang of guys here, and get the cladding off straightaway.

But I knew that couldn't be done, because of the way the installation

It would be exposed to the elements, the rain and frost etc.

So all that would have to come off at the same time.

So it's a mammoth task, you were aware it's

But what comes first, money or lives?

In the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster in June, the Government

ordered tests to be carried out on cladding on all tower

There is confusion over the precise number of tower blocks which have

failed the fire safety tests since June.

Initial testing procedures were revised, and cladding on blocks

which originally failed were later passed.

But in Salford, 32 buildings have been deemed unsafe.

Nine of these blocks belong to Salford City Council.

It has secured a loan of ?25 million to replace the cladding,

and work has now started on its towers.

The remaining Salford blocks which are affected belong to private

housing associations, including Canon Hussey

It's one of seven tower blocks belonging to Salix Homes,

which is still waiting for cladding to be replaced.

I've just been told they're waiting for a directive from Government

or planning or whatever on what type of cladding to replace

So we're just in limbo, and it's a frightening limbo to live in.

When I saw the image of it, it was just sheer shock really.

Never crossed my mind that that could happen.

Another resident who lives in the same block as Tom

was horrified when she saw the Grenfell fire on television.

She agreed to talk to us about her fears, but didn't

And knowing as well, as you watched it unfolding,

you're seeing all these emergency services which were

Did you immediately think, "I live in a high-rise building",

And that's why I asked questions, just to be told that they've no

I can see out of my window, blocks that they ARE taking it off.

And you feel, "Well, they're getting looked after - we're not."

So has it crossed your mind what your plan would be,

if there were to be a fire in this building?

get out and walk down the stairs, and hope for the best.

My main concern is would I ever be found, like them poor people?

I honestly feel that I probably wouldn't get out in time,

because when there's been fires here before, I've not found

out until the next day or maybe week later,

that there's actually been a fire in the block.

When I do actually find out, is it going to be too

We invited Salix Homes to take part in this programme.

They said nobody was able for interview, but they did

"We are currently taking professional advice from technical

experts in Government and industry, to develop a personal solution

We'll be carrying out this work as quickly as possible.

We cannot provide clear timescales for when this work will begin.

We do anticipate, however, that the remedial work

across our affected tower blocks is likely to take a number

Salix Homes says it's introduced round-the-clock security

patrols at its blocks, and installed a new state of the art

fire alarms in all flats and communal areas of

So, what more can be done to speed up the process?

Paul Dennett is Salford city mayor, and is responsible for the council

But he's also been appointed head of the Greater Manchester

High Rise Task Force, and is in dialogue with private

What pressure can you put on the private housing providers?

In terms of pressure on the housing providers,

in the private sector, I think we have to work with them.

At the end of the day we've set up the High Rise Task Force,

there is a private sector group there, we are working with them

to explore how they find solutions to some of this.

They've asked very specific questions of local authority

and Government about whether or not Government can help with some

of this in financial terms, but ultimately I think the private

sector are responsible for finding solutions for the residents that

What do you think that the Government should

Because initially their response was, whatever is necessary.

Now there appears to be some backtracking -

Well, I think where we've reached, certainly within Greater Manchester,

is we're clear that the building regulations and the fire and safety

order in terms of how they are applied,

So as far as we're concerned the Government has to take some

One of the questions I've not had adequately answered to date is,

why was this material ever on the market in Britain,

when other places like the US and Germany didn't allow it?

We've been in dialogue with the department of local government, and

it is a protracted process which is not good enough, really. In the

immediate aftermath of the Grenfell fire, the Government said it would

assist local councils and housing associations which could not afford

to remove failed cladding from tower blocks. Whatever remedial measures

need to be taken to make buildings safe, local authorities should get

on with those, and for those that need help with funding, we are ready

to discuss that with them and we will work with them. But since then

the Government has said it is the responsibility of building owners to

make sure their properties are safe from residents, and it expects them

to fund fire safety measures. Back at Canon hussy court, the anxious

wait continues for Tom and other residents. What will make you feel

safe? When the cladding is replaced. No sprinklers, fire alarms? They are

only to put fires out and warn you about fires. This is what will catch

fire, the cladding. That is what needs changing, as soon as possible.

Has it crossed your mind to move? I must admit slightly. I love my flat,

I love Salford and the people, so I don't really want to move. I've been

here 15 years after travelling for a long time, this flat is now my home.

So I don't want to move, I just want to feel safe.

With the Grand National on our doorstep, the Northwest is

synonymous with horse racing. But how much hard work does it take to

train the winner at a big race? We've been to Cartmel in Cumbria to

find out about life as a trainer. You've never heard the like of it!

Red Rum wins the Grand National. A high-stakes world of glitz and

glamour. A place where multimillionaire

owners battle it out on the sporting stage.

But what is the reality for the men and women whose job it is to train

horses for races like the Grand National? We spent the last few

months in one of the most picturesque stables in the country,

to find out. Is she a good ride? Does she jump

OK? You've spoken to the stable staff, sampled every aspect of an

equine operation at the yard of Jimmy Moffat. His family's been

training courses in Cartmel for decades. The village is famous for

its race track, one of the most popular in the country. I have never

known anything else. It is a way of life. It is so rewarding. -- very

rewarding. Here, there are just 30 horses. The operation may be small,

but Jimmy's ranked in the top 20 out of 600 British trainers. He doesn't

realise how important he is in the area, but there are not -- lots of

local owners and people who get attached to his yard, who support

him. And this is where the story usually starts. It is a sunny

morning in May, and Jimmy's talent spotting at Doncaster's horse sales.

First horse we bought at the two-day sale, he is a nine-year-old chaser,

should do well in the North, jumps well, and has got winning form, so

we paid 10,000 guineas for him, but he is rated 128 which means that he

will be in pretty competitive type of races, and hopefully he should be

winning the owner's purchase price back within the next six months or

so. There are hundreds of choices here, but only a few are potential

champions. If you buy one that is not up to the job, he won betrayed

any winners, and nobody will want to put any horses with you. -- you will

not train any winners. Jimmy buys horses on behalf of owners who pay

him to keep, train and prepare them for races around the country. Do you

want some attention? We stayed in a little cottage so we

could see the gallops of a morning. I've always been interested in horse

racing, and I was mesmerised by horses. James had owners with other

-- his horse is sympathetic -- symptomatic of the Moffatt approach,

arriving at the yard as an underachiever, blossoming as the

result of some lakeside TLC. They wondered what was wrong with him, he

was released and fish. We got the vet out on the dentist out, so his

-- they saw that his teeth were misaligned, we sorted that out and

he is a different horse. The horses who are trained on the

Cartmel Fells. They are written a head by Jimmy and his stable staff.

The same staff who work physical 12 hour days, feeding, grooming and

mucking out. We would ride around together for free, and we ride

around together and get paid, so it's fun. And Jimmy's a really good

boss as well. So we all have a laugh. I think if you don't have a

laugh, it can be dangerous so you have to laugh everything of! This is

a Cumbrian collective Polly and Charlotte Drive from Barrow each and

every day. -- this is a Cumbrian collective, they drive from Barrow

each and every day. The vet comes from Grange over Sands. And the

farrier arrives every Thursday, anvil in his van. No food, no horse.

It is time -- hard to win a race, and it is getting harder and harder

every year with better horses, and Jimmy stays up there and is always

doing really well. This isn't just a story about the Moffatt family,

theirs is a business which touches plenty of people. Cartmel is as

famous for horse racing as it is for sticky toffee pudding. They have

been racing here since the 1400s. The New York Times rated a day out

here higher than a trip to Tibet in its 50 things to do before you die.

For Jimmy, though, this is home, a place where he can walk his horses

to the track, a place he has come to dominate. That is important because

obviously the local people are bound to follow some of our horses. When

you do not have a local yard, the racecourse doesn't have that same

sort of identity. -- the racehorse. And Jimmy loves Cartmel, he was born

and bred, he loves the whole area. And that sort of support is

magnificent for the racecourse. This one wants fast ground, and it has

one in Salford. But not every owner is a millionaire. This syndicate

owns a horse Jimmy bought it at the sales back in May. Yellow macro you

guys have saved up your hard earned money and done it. My lads who

worked of the road, up against people who are millionaires, we are

in with the big boys, just see how we go and hopefully one day we will

be in the winner 's' enclosure. On Wednesday, the race came true, as

the horse won its first race at Wetherby. -- their dream came true.

And that is the ongoing aim, to be a more successful runners on the

Cumbrian fells. I think it makes it more notable for your family and

friends ate it is local. The whole of Barrow pretty much go to Cartmel

racecourse. They know that we work here, and Jimmy's a local trainer.

Pretty much the whole time's behind him and stuff, so that is good as

well. -- the whole town. It is a bit more like -- a bit like David and

Goliath, but you know a lot of the people in the area, and I think they

are genuinely pleased when we have some success. We've had a lot of

warmth because of that, and I suppose it encourages the in some

ways to try even harder and bring some success to the local area.

What stunning horses. That's all from as this week, Inside Out is

back next Monday. Till then, goodbye. -- that's all from us. Next

week, the mystery of two skeletons found it together at a Cheshire big.

Why are they here? You do not get too many skeletons in castles. They

are really quite rare. That has been a big mystery for us.

Hello, I'm Riz Lateef with your 90 second update.

The European Commission has denied a report that Theresa May

The European Commission has denied in the Brexit talks.

It's claimed she appeared "anxious" during a dinner

with the Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, last week.

Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles,

will have to pay an extra ten pounds to drive in central London.