13/02/2017 Reporting Scotland

prisons. On BBC One we now join the BBC News

teams where The world's anti-doping agency

criticises Scottish football for failing to carry out any drug

tests in the last Claims of discrimination

against former oil and gas workers by employers in other industries

Also on the programme, An increase in the illegal

sport of hare coursing - farmers say it could be a sign

of a bigger rural crime wave. We meet the former bad boy

from Angus who's turned himself And "wood" you believe it -

locals left wondering why a council gave this football pitch a root

and branch transformation. There's not really much to do in

this area. Everybody is saying, get your kids out. Do something active.

All of a sudden, you've got trees. Not one player was drugs-tested

in Scottish domestic football The Scottish Football Association

says funding is in place to ensure tests take place for the rest

of this season - but tonight the President of the World

anti-doping agency criticised The fight to keep drugs out of sport

has never been more intense or high-profile. From state sponsored

doping in Russia, investigations into cycling and a lengthy ban for

Maria Sharapova. A year ago, BBC Scotland published figures that said

only eight drugs tests had been done in Scottish football in a nine-month

period. Now it has emerged that in another nine-month period not a

single test was carried out. The Scottish FA lost its funding

from the UK anti-doping agency last April and finally agreed its own

funding package in November. Alasdair what's the response

been from the SFA? I know there was disappointment at

the SFA when they lost funding, and the message that sent, but the SFA

has agreed its own funding package. The statement says the association

is in final negotiations about providing funding for the remainder

of this season. Additionally, the security and integrity officer has

completed a comprehensive anti-doping programme. He's been

going round the senior clubs to talk about this. The funding now

available should mean we will see figures improve for the next quarter

at least. It is worth pointing out that a separate investigation in

England revealed that 39% of players had not been tested. The fact those

figures are not deemed noteworthy and yet no players were tested here

at all underlines how grim the situation has become.

There are calls for an investigation into claims of widespread

discrimination against former oil and gas workers by employers

BBC Scotland can reveal an MSP has passed documentary

evidence of the practice to the UK employment minister.

Some workers claim companies won't hire them in case they quit

Colin McIntyre was made redundant from his job as a procurement

manager in the oil and gas industry more than a year ago. He's applied

for hundreds of jobs outside the sector and has been turned down. The

reason shocked him. I was told they are not interested in people from

the oil and gas industries because they will go back up to Aberdeen

when the recovery starts. Tens of thousands of oil workers have been

laid off as a result of the downturn. Some believe the

experience could be the tip of the iceberg. I heard anecdotal evidence

but a couple of weeks ago I saw actual documentary evidence. It was

the first time I'd seen it written down from a recruitment company on

behalf of a client and that worried me greatly. This is just one of the

examples in which it has been made clear that they are quite explicit

in not wanting people from the oil and gas industry. Four: is just

about getting a level playing field. For people to see beyond that, they

should see beyond the skill set. Give them an interview. Thousands

more oil workers are expected to lose their jobs, swelling the

numbers of those simply seeking a chance for a new future.

That's the message from the Scottish Conservative leader

in a speech in London tonight - as speculation grows

about a second indepedence referendum because of Brexit.

The Labour leader is making a similar call.

Yesterday, the former First Minister suggested an eighteen month

timetable for a fresh poll - and today the SNP said the ball

Our political correspondent Andrew Kerr has more.

Coming soon, very possibly, to a country near you. The former First

Minister Alex Salmond said another Paul could be held in 18 months with

the future of the UK in doubt because of Brexit. But two party

leaders are in London arguing the case for the union. The people in

Scotland do not want more uncertainty when we already have

questions. They are asking the government give them a break and get

back to the day job they are being paid for, to improve the health

system and stop desperately trying to leveraged Brexit. Scottish Labour

stands firmly against a second independence referendum but we are

not in favour of the status quo. I would like to see a federal United

Kingdom. Back north, for the SNP, the impression is it is not full

steam ahead. They want to hear what is made of the plan to keep Scotland

in the single market. There will only be a referendum if we cannot

reach a compromise and we believe it could work very well for everyone.

Assuming that the UK Government is intransigent about that process then

we will move onto the next stage. Politicians live by the polling and

Professor John Curtice has been examining voting intentions since

the EU referendum. On average they point to a 47% support for yes, 53%.

Those figures are exactly the same as the months prior to the EU

referendum so we are still in a situation where the SNP cannot be

sure but equally, Theresa May cannot presume that Nicola Sturgeon would

lose one. Maybe we should stand by for another political thriller.

We've got the SNP conference next month. That is being seen as a key

moment on the road to another independence referendum? Yes, that

is right. It will be interesting to see exactly what Nicola Sturgeon

does at that conference as she sets out her thinking. She will need to

say something that will get the audience out of their seat, but it

might be quite procedural. We have seen that before, we've seen the

First Minister announce that she was publishing the independence

referendum Bill. Perhaps next month she could seek Westminster's

permission to hold the referendum, section 30 order. She needs to keep

the pot boiling but does not want it to boil over. We've got local

government elections. For the prounion party making their

speeches, Ruth Davidson is saying the SNP must stop this talk of a

second independence referendum, give the country a break and focus on the

day job. She's saying the case needs to be made a fresh for the union.

A former Catholic monk accused of child abuse at a Scottish school

has appeared in court in Australia facing extradition.

Father Denis Alexander was one of several monks accused

of abusing boys at the former Fort Augustus Abbey boarding

He has always denied the allegations.

Denis Alexander appeared via video link from a remand centre here in

Sydney. He was in a wheelchair. He did appear to be fragile but fully

aware of the legal proceedings. His barrister said given his age and

medical conditions, his client should be released from custody

pending what could well be a lengthy extradition process. A lawyer for

the UK Government argued against the application, saying he was a flight

risk and may even be spirited away to a Benedictine monastery. Lawyer

argued that the medical conditions would not be made worse in custody.

The magistrate said it was a difficult application to consider

and he rejected a bail application. This means he will remain in custody

pending that full extradition hearing.

Concerns are being raised about an upsurge in the illegal

A total of six arrests have been made in the North and South

Farmers fear the activity, which involves dogs chasing

and killing hares, could form part of a bigger rural crime wave.

A vote on the hunt for evidence of here coursing. Nice open fields.

Long distances. They rely on site. This was filmed in England were the

blood sport is more prevalent. Operated by small groups who bet on

the outcome, it was banned in Scotland 14 years ago but that

hasn't stopped our new surge in activity, with a number of arrests

in the past few months. It has been banned since 2002, completely

illegal. They're Heyer suffers a torturous death. Sometimes it is

exhausted. At the end it is torn apart. It has been outlawed with

good reason. Farmers are worried that the illegal activity of here

coursing could lead to more rural and organised crimes. Rural

communities are on high alert in a bid to protect livestock, property,

and people from the allegedly intimidating individuals. They can

be potentially violent people. There is a feeling that they might be

involved in other crimes as well and this might be the tip of the

iceberg. The public is being urged to help police stamp it out.

The world anti-doping body says it's concerned that no drug tests

were carried out in Scottish football for most of last year.

And still to come, there's doubt over whether Scotland's rugby

captain, Greig Laidlaw, will be available for the rest

From growing up with a reputation as a bad boy in Angus

to working as a bounty hunter on the Atlantic coast of America,

Christian Matlock's story could come straight from a TV script.

He left Scotland six years ago to escape a life heading

Sally McNair has had a snapshot of the 28 year-old's new life.

This is Christian Matlock, bail enforcement agent. This is Christian

Matlock's life now, he has never been busier. Days and nights spent

tracking down and apprehending fugitives who have skipped bail,

drug addicts and criminals, people down on their luck. I'm about ten

minutes away from you. I will be with you soon. He's no stranger to

their troubled lives, and at 21 he was into drinking, ecstasy, without

a job, in trouble with the police. He decided to try his luck in the

USA. Bounty hunting is a full-time, forlorn job. On a recent trip home

to Scotland, old friends treat him like a hero. He's actually something

with his life. Probably the only one of us who has turned his life

around. His mother is happy with the life he has made far away. We

noticed when he was young there is no potential here for young people,

nowhere for them to go of an evening and do things. It was just walk the

streets and that's what you did with your mate. He fled to escape one

dangerous life, now he says he would like to quit the criminal chasing

dangerous life, now he says he would but he's addicted.

And you can see a documentary on Christian Matlock's life later

The Scottish Bounty Hunter is broadcast at 10.40.

A look at other stories from across the country...

There's been an improvement in the punctuality

The latest ScotRail figures show last month more than nine out of ten

arrived at stations within five minutes of their scheduled time -

an almost two percent increase on the previous four weeks.

However, a key yearly punctuality target is still being missed.

It's now 90.1%, short of the 91.3% required in Scotrail's franchise

contract with the Scottish Government.

The former chairman of Ukip in Scotland has avoided jail

after admitting making a series of sexual phone calls

Arthur Misty Thackeray pled guilty last month.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court he was placed on the sex offenders

register for three years, and told to complete 270 hours

of unpaid work as part of a community payback order.

A car overturned in a busy street in the West End of Glasgow.

A man in his 80s was freed from the vehicle by firefighters.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

However there are no details about his condition.

The sister of a kayaker who was found dead days

after going missing has welcomed what she called the "phenomenal"

response to the family's plans to set up a charity

The campaign in memory of Dominic Jackson has raised more

Mr Jackson was reported missing last Sunday after he failed to return

from a sea kayaking trip off Portsoy, on the north

The film, advertising and broadcasting industry generated

over ?16 million for Glasgow's economy last year, according

to figures gathered by a special unit to promote the city

The Glasgow Film Office says the figure has gone up significantly

from ?ten million generated two years ago.

Major productions, which have used Glasgow locations, include

The Scotland rugby captain Greig Laidlaw's availability

for the rest of the Six Nations is in doubt tonight.

Laidlaw has left the national squad to have his injured ankle assessed

Yesterday's defeat in France also left several

Rhona McLeod supplies the Monday medical report.

The return of the walking wounded from France. The Scotland rugby

squad arrived in Edinburgh mentally and physically battered and bruised.

It was a catalogue of injuries and started with the sight no Scots fan

wanted to see, their number nine bottling in pain. The captain and

highest points scorer, playmaker and inspiring team member rolling to the

ground and taking off. His future in the championship requires further

assessment. Calling the shots from the sideline was never in the game

plan. To help recovery now, sometimes when they get sent back it

means they will -- be out for a number of weeks. It is a great loss

because he has proved himself over the couple of seasons as a leader

and a fantastic player. There were positive moments for Scotland... But

a whole lot of negative too, after Greig Laidlaw went off his

replacement John Barclay went off. After Barkley was sidelined, his

positional replacement John Hardy also succumbed to a head injury, and

finally the Hawker Fraser Brown. Another head knock and another

player taken off not to return to action. They were all subject to

continued head injury assessment. The game is so brutal you can

understand if you get one or two had knocks but to get four in a game and

those players to be crucial players to Scotland, it shows you how brutal

and physical the game is becoming. Questions will be asked about this

bungled conversion attempt. Would the calm head of Greig Laidlaw have

fared better under the pressure of being told to rush and take it? The

squad have until week on Saturday to recover when the next wave of attack

will come, this time from Wales. Football now.

Rangers' search for a new manager continues this evening.

Mark Warburton left the position amid controversy on Friday,

and a weekend of speculation has followed.

Our senior football reporter Chris McLaughlin

Chris, it's now nearly three days since Mark Warburton's departure -

No specific update as yet. Rangers' next match is against Dundee on

Sunday. The under 20s coach remains in charge now, but the favourite to

take over is Alex McLeish. He has been a manager here before, a pretty

successful spell between 2001 and 2006, he led them to a domestic

trouble and the Champions League, but would he take it on a temporary

basis? Because the chairman Dave King released a statement today and

said because of the time constraints the club may have to consider an

interim solution. The Saint Johnstone manager has also been

linked with the job and said it is pure speculation, but still plenty

of fall out from the departure of Mark Waugh on Friday. The club say

he resigned, the man himself said he did not. It is currently with his

lawyers and this is another mess this club and its fans could well do

without. Aberdeenshire Council has apologised

for planting dozens of trees The trees appeared on the playing

field at Logie Durno over the weekend, sparking

confusion among residents. We sent our reporter

Rebecca Curran to investigate. Tree up an unusual formation in

football nowadays but not this pitch, dozens of trees have been

planted here and residents are not happy. There's not really much to do

in this area, get the kids out and do something active. There is a goal

in this place and all of a sudden we have trees. The council say the plan

was to turn over parts of the area for biodiversity as anecdotally it

was rarely used. Whenever we play football we always play here, not on

the full-sized pitch but I don't know why the council put them there.

But they are good for dribbling round because it gives you good

practice. Aberdeenshire Council couldn't confirm how much it cost to

plant the trees or how much it could be to remove them. The trees will

stay where they are until an agreement is reached with residents.

I am not just for the occasion and these are definitely not football

boots, but it is just a ball and some trees... How hard can it be?

COMMENTATOR: It is picked up by Eddie Gray, chipping a lovely ball

across goal... ! It could be a new national sport.

Now time for the weather. It has been mainly cloudy start of the

evening but earlier there were some spoils of sunshine. You can see from

the satellite image most of the cloud across central and eastern

areas but in the west and north-west we have lovely spells of sunshine.

In the east temperatures only reached three Celsius today, but in

the west 11 degrees. This evening will be mainly cloudy and quite

breezy too. South-easterly winds which become quite strong across the

south-west, maybe even touching gale force. As we had through the night,

quite a bit of cloud further to the east but clear spells towards the

west and temperatures could dipped below freezing for west highland for

example. In towns and cities, temperatures holding up to three or

four Celsius. Tomorrow cloud towards the east but during the day good

four Celsius. Tomorrow cloud towards spells of sunshine developing across

many central and western areas. Around three o'clock still further

cloud across Shetland and in the east but good spells of sunshine

elsewhere with temperatures reaching up to nine Celsius. Across the

central belt decent spells of sunshine and looking at around eight

Celsius here as well. The wind is strong to start the day but easing

through the afternoon. It is during the evening we will see thicker

cloud rushing in from the south-west bringing patchy outbreaks of rain.

We start to see a change as we go from midweek onwards, low-pressure

to the west, high pressure to the east and the wind direction is a

southerly drawing in mild air but unsettled conditions too. On

Wednesday a reversal of fortunes, that she rain to the west of the

country and to the east the best of that she rain to the west of the

the drier weather. Similar conditions on Thursday too. For all

of us it is feeling much milder than of late.

Thank goodness for that, it has been bitter!

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news...

Investigations reveal widespread drug abuse and security failings

An undercover reporter worked as a prison officer

for two months and filmed inmates threatening staff.

The world's anti-doping agency criticises Scottish football

for failing to carry out any drug tests in the last

And there are calls for an investigation into claims

of widespread discrimination against former oil and gas workers

Until then, from everyone on the team - have a good evening.