13/03/2018 Victoria Derbyshire

Hello, it's Tuesday, it's 9 o'clock,

I'm Victoria Derbyshire,

welcome to the programme.

Our top story today.

Moscow is considering its response

after Theresa May warned it had

until midnight tonight

to explain its role in the Salisbury

nerve agent attack or it

would face retaliation.

Should there be no credible

response, we will conclude that this

action amounts to an unlawful use

of force by the Russian state

against the United Kingdom

and we will not tolerate such

a brazen attempt to murder innocent

civilians on our soil.

We'll hear growing calls that

England should boycott

the World Cup this summer.

Keen to hear from you,

would you support England

withdrawing or is it just

empty gesture politics?

Also on the programme.

Police say tackling child

exploitation in Telford

is their number one priority

after it's been revealed

that up to 1,000 girls,

some as young as 11,

may have been abused in the town

over the last 40 years.

It's horrific and an absolute

disgrace and I think essentially

what it means is that there

is really no end to the sexual abuse

scandals that we're going

to see in this country.

We'll hear from one victim

who was abused as a young teenager

over a period of years,

raped countless times and forced

to sleep with several men a night.

And one of the biggest names

in British TV for most

of our lifetimes is here to tell us

why he's trying to sue Lloyds

Banking Group for over £60 million.

Welcome to the programme,

we're live until 11.

Throughout the morning we'll bring

you the latest breaking news

and developing stories and as always

really keen to hear from you.

A little later we'll hear

from two Asian friends

who say their experience

of being turned away

from a restaurant on Mother's Day

is a typical example of the kind

of everyday racism people of colour

experience in the UK.

That is after half-past ten.

Really keen to hear your

experiences this morning.

Use the hashtag #VictoriaLive

and if you text, you will be charged

at the standard network rate.

Our top story today.

The hours are ticking down

towards the midnight deadline given

to Russia by Theresa May over

the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The Prime Minister says

she'll take action unless

by the end of the day Moscow is able

to explain its role.

The UK has had backing

from the American Secretary

of State, Rex Tillerson,

who said Russia was probably behind

the poisoning of a former double

agent and his daughter,

nine days ago.

Caroline Davies reports.

A supermarket car park shut down

to search for a lethal chemical.

Hundreds of police are still at work

in Salisbury, trying to find out

who poisoned a former Russian spy.

Sergei Skripal and

his daughter Yulia are still

critically ill in hospital.

They were attacked

with a rare nerve agent.

We now know it's a type only

developed by Russia called Novichok.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister gave

an ultimatum to the Kremlin -

explain how this happened

or there will be consequences.

Either this was a direct act

by the Russian state

against our country,

or the Russian government lost

control of its potentially

catastrophically damaging nerve

agent and allowed it to get

into the hands of others.

The Russian ambassador has

until midnight tonight

to return with an answer.

Russia has denied being involved.

President Putin brushed off

questions about the attack.

TRANSLATION:

We are busy

with agriculture here

to create good conditions

for people's lives

and you talk to me

about some tragedies.

First, work out what

actually happened there

and then we'll talk about it.

If there's no credible response,

the UK Government has said it

will take action against Russia

for what happened here.

But how far they can go will depend

on whether they can get the backing

of other countries.

This diplomatic stand-off

between Russia and the UK

could yet turn into a crisis.

Caroline Davies, BBC News.

Let's get the latest from Norman at

Downing Street. The Cabinet are

arriving for a meeting, what kind of

things could they do to Russia if

Russia doesn't speak up before the

deadline?

Well, I think a couple of

things follow from what we have the

Prime Minister yesterday, one is, I

don't think anyone expects Russia to

come up with some sort of credible

explanation as to how nerve agent

was used in the Salisbury attack,

the second is, whatever the

Government decides to do, it's going

to have to be an awful lot more than

happened after the murder of

Alexander Litvinenko. Certainly you

got the sense that yesterday Theresa

May was raising the bar in terms of

the likely Retallick three measures.

What struck me most was that she

wasn't ruling anything out at all.

You had Tory MPs saying, why don't

you follow the example of Edward

Heath and he booted out 90 Russian

diplomats and assorted trade envoys?

The view was that it's pretty much

put the lid on Russian espionage in

the UK for the rest of the Cold War.

Mrs May didn't reject that as an

option. Similarly she was asked, why

don't we engage in cyber warfare

against Russia? Again she didn't

reject that. You just get the sense

that really, nothing is off the

table. But the bottom line is,

whatever we do is probably not going

to significantly impact on President

Putin unless we get other countries

on board, that is why Mrs May has

dropped about going to Nato and to

the UN, going to the EU. The hard

part is, that is a much more slow,

time-consuming, difficult process

because quite obvious that, other

countries have other agendas. You

just have to look at the EU, where

the are a number of EU countries who

are a bit sceptical about the

existing sanctions against Russia,

never mind putting on additional

sanctions and many of them also

highly dependent on Russian energy

supplies. So they are unnaturally

cautious. With the UN, the problem

is, Russia, a prominent member, has

a veto of any resolutions. Lastly,

America, the difficulty there is

President Trump is somewhat

ambivalent attitudes towards

President Putin, albeit there were

stronger words coming from Rex

Tillerson last night. But the

options for a broader international

move are quite difficult to put in

place

will stop

Later on the programme we

will talk about whether England

should boycott the World Cup in

June.

We would like to hear from you. Do

let us know your own view.

Here is then in the newsroom. --

here is Ben.

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond,

is expected to deliver some positive

economic news in his first ever

Spring Statement today.

The statement, which replaces

the spring Budget, will include

the latest official economic figures

but it will not impose new taxes.

Labour ministers say Mr Hammond must

take the chance to end austerity.

Productivity is still 35%, below

the French and Germans, for example.

Unemployment levels are low

but the incredible amount

of insecurity in jobs,

low pay, inflation is still high,

investment both in the public

sector and private sector

are critically low.

So I don't think it's time

to crack open the champagne.

But housing minister Dominic Raab

said the Chancellor would look

to take a balanced approach

with the public finances.

One of the obvious thing

he says is that he doesn't

want to be engaged in

tinkering, short-term measures.

That's been welcomed by business

and groups like

the Institute for Government.

I think you'll hear less

of the political clatter and fanfare

that normally accompanies these set

piece events and more of the healthy

economic hum that is warranted

by the raw economic data.

The European Parliament meets

in Strasbourg later to debate

the EU's guidelines on Brexit.

After a speech from the European

Commission President,

Jean-Claude Juncker,

MEPs will discuss the guidelines,

And

as well as their own resolution,

which outlines the parliament's

priorities and so-called "red lines"

for the Brexit negotiations.

The former Liverpool and England

defender Jamie Carragher says

he'll accept any punishment that

comes his way after he was filmed

spitting from his car

towards another vehicle.

It happened after Manchester

United's 2-1 win over Liverpool

where he was working

as a pundit for Sky Sports.

He's been suspended from his job.

Two victims of black cab

rapist John Worboys begin

a High Court challenge today

against what they have called

the irrational decision

to release him from jail.

The judicial review is expected

to hear for the first time why

the Parole Board plans to free

the sex attacker.

The board and Worboys,

who will appear via video

link from prison, oppose

the legal challenge.

More details are beginning to emerge

of the allegations of abuse over

four decades against girls

in the Shropshire town of Telford.

The police have already said that

tackling child sex abuse

is their top priority,

and that allegations in a Sunday

newspaper aren't new to them.

Up to a thousand girls are reported

to have been groomed and exploited

with some as young as 11

being drugged and raped.

Doctors in the UK and Ireland

have seen 130 cases

of rickets in children under

16 over a two year period.

It's the first study of its kind

into the prevalence of the illness

which affects bone development.

it can be prevented by taking

vitamin D supplements.

A 17-year-old boy has died

after opening a parcel bomb

delivered to his home

in Austin, Texas.

A 39-year-old man and an elderly

woman have also been injured

in what are believe to be related

incidents over the past 10 days.

Police are looking into possible

motives behind the attacks.

Salt content in takeaway dishes must

be urgently reduced in a bid

to tackle strokes and heart disease,

campaigners have warned.

A study by Action on Salt found some

Chinese meals including sides

like prawn crackers contain

more than double

the recommended daily intake.

The survey also revealed a selection

of ready meals were high in salt.

That's a summary of the latest

BBC News, more at 9.30am.

If you are getting in touch with us,

you are very welcome.

you are very welcome. Wright, sport.

Well Perry is that the BBC Sport

Centre.

Menna Fitzpatrick and her guide Jen

Kehoe have this morning won a silver

medal at the Winter Paralympics in

Pyeongchang in the women's visually

impaired super combined events. The

pair were second after the super-g

run despite an impressive slalom

effort out there and they were

unable to get the better of the

Slovakians. Great story, Menna

Fitzpatrick, just 19, born with no

vision in her left eye, limited

sight in her right eye, but started

skiing at the age of five. They have

only been working together since

2015 and have built up a strong

partnership. Millie Knight has

missed out on a third straight medal

with Brett wild, her guide, they

workforce a slalom run. Kelly

Gallagher finished seventh with Gary

Smith. In terms of the curling,

Great Britain have dented their

hopes of a medal in the curling, it

didn't quite go there with this

morning. They beat Canada yesterday.

They were expected to see off the

Slovakians but they lost 6-5. The

team tried to do a bit better

against the neutral Paralympic

athletes later. That one starts at

around 10:30. Manchester City or

even closer to the Premier League

title? It's inevitable call isn't

it? That is the most interesting

thing, they beat Stoke last night

2-0, David Silva with both goals.

They are restoring a 16 point leads

and it means if you are from

Manchester this is huge because

Manchester City need just two more

wins for the third Premier League

title. If they beat Everton later

this month they could seal the

Premier League title on Derby Day at

the Etihad against their rivals

Manchester United. This will be on

the 7th of April, Vincent Kompany

saying it is a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity. Stoke, they are just a

point from safety, eight games to

go. And another Premier League

manager has lost his job? Yes,

amazingly, 20 teams in the Premier

League, we're just in March, nine

Premier League managers have lost

their jobs this season. Maurizio

Pellegrino of Southampton, he is no

longer there, just one win in their

last 17 games, they still play

Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester

City at home, and only three matches

from their remaining games at home.

I spoke to Pellegrino on Saturday

and he didn't sound too convinced he

was still be in a job this week. I

have to ask you again, do you still

think with eight games to go that

you're the man that can keep

Southampton the Premier League?

I am

the Southampton manager right now.

And you're confident you can keep

them up with yellow of course, if

not, I have to move along. But

sometimes, one side they are the

winners you duller than your side of

the losers.

But in a week you can

change everything with one victory.

This is part of our life.

That was

his final interview in England,

Pellegrino out, this man is the

favourite for the job, Marco Silva.

Sacked by Watford in January. Other

names in the frame are Slaven Bilic,

Mark and Martin O'Neill. And who won

the latest tennis bottle of the

Williams sister? Serena was beaten

by venous, at her comeback. --

beaten by Venus Williams. 17 years

ago, this term it was the subject of

race is abused so great to see these

two getting a great reception.

Serena saying she has a long way to

go in this comeback and she revealed

in February she almost died after

giving birth. She was bedridden for

six weeks. I will have the headlines

at half past nine.

Let down for years by police

and social services,

victims of the Telford abuse scandal

say it's time for authorities

to accept their failings and hold

a public inquiry into how as many

as 1,000 girls were abused

in the town over a 40 year period.

On this programme yesterday we told

you the scandal could be the worst

the country has ever seen.

Police there say tackling

child sexual exploitation

remains their number one priority

but so far only seven men have been

convicted of any crimes with many

others escaping justice.

And there are reports that the abuse

could be linked to three murders

and two deaths in the town.

As with other grooming

scandals we've seen

the victims are mainly white,

and the abusers mainly British

Pakistani or Bangladeshi men.

Some of the girls as young as 11

were drugged, beaten and raped

over a number of years.

We can talk to Holly,

a victim of child sexual

exploitation in Telford.

She has agreed for us

to hear her tell her story

but she did not want us

to show her face.

Geraldine McKelvie, one

of the journalists behind

the Sunday Mirror investigation

which exposed child sexual

exploitation in Telford.

And the town's Conservative MP

Lucy Allan, who is calling

for a public enquiry.

Welcome, all of you, thank you

coming on the programme. Holly, I

will start with you, if I may. You

were 14 when your exploitation

began. How did it start?

I was

befriended by some boys my own age.

They were harassing me constantly.

What does that mean?

They were harassing me constantly.

What does that mean?

They were

constantly calling, saying, come and

meet us, they would be hanging

around.

around. It's difficult to explain.

Basically they took our phone

numbers, and then sold them on to

older men. And then from then, the

older men would bombard us

constantly with phone

constantly with phone calls,...

Saying what's to you?

Saying, come

and meet up with us, we will just go

chilling. That was at first, I was,

I don't want to. After receiving

hundreds of calls every day,

curiosity got the better of me and I

went and met one. At first it was

fine, he would go and buy us food,

top up our mobile phones, things

like that. So we built up a bit of

trust. And then he started violently

raping me. He would beat me with his

belt if I didn't agree to let him

rape me. And then he would try and

make me feel better by making

himself feel better, maybe, by

giving us money or topping up our

phones. From that man, it moved on

to many men, about seven abusers in

the end.

So you were passed around,

or they would all turn up en masse,

or what?

It would be almost whoever

caught me first. Whoever saw me

walking home from school first, or

to a friends house. Telford is a

very small area. So there's nowhere

to hide. Somebody knows where you

live, and your daily routine, so

they can find you. But it quickly

moved on to being sold on to men

every single day. So I would be

being sold, maybe two or three times

a night, taken in to the only thing

I can describe it as is a great

house, it was set up for the purpose

-- a rape house, set up for the

purpose of young girls being its

sold to men. People who would pay

for the girls in Telford, it wasn't

just Pakistani men, like we have

seen across the rest of the country,

there was every race and religion

coming in and wanting to pay for

girls.

How did you cope with this?

Everyone always asks, I can't really

explain. Almost like I was living in

a bubble. I was just numb I had no

feelings about anything, and all I

wanted to do was make my family

proud of me. So I continued going to

school, did my best, everything I

could do, just to try and make

something good it my family because

the reason why I kept going back

were they were threatening me of

bringing my house down, which was a

real threat in Telford because that

had happened previously. And they

said they would rape my mum and

sisters. They knew all about my

family. There was escape at all.

Why

did your parents think you were at

night? You were only 14. -- where

did they think you were?

My mum

would give me a curfew and go in the

house, the phone would be constantly

going off and I would say, it's

nobody. Mind your own business. I

would wait for her to go to bed

because she would think I was home

and safe, she would fall asleep and

I would go straight back out again.

Until all hours in the morning. Come

back, lie in bed and sometimes my

alarm would go off almost as soon as

I got into bed, ready to go to

school.

So just running off period

general in all the time. The idea of

-- just running of pure adrenaline

all the time. The idea of contacting

police was a no-no?

Yes, one man

turned up at my house saying that I

was a prostitute to my mum,...

An

abuser? Yellow Macri yes, the reason

was that I had not done what I had

told him to do. How did your mum

react?

She was angry.

Who at?

Everybody, because you don't expect

someone to say something about that

about your child. And the behaviour

I was displaying was almost general

teenage behaviour, I think it's

quite difficult to know the

difference between having a teenage

daughter and actual crying for help.

The one thing that I did do, I was

gang raped just after I turned 16.

That was probably the worst, the

worst thing that ever happened to

me. Sorry...

You do not need to

apologise.

After that, I tried to

commit suicide. People say, was it a

cry for help? And I said, no, I

genuinely wanted to die because I

thought that was the only way out.

Obviously I'm here today, and I'm

not suffering abuse any more, so

there is a way out. And I think it's

a front for every single person that

is involved. However, -- I think

it's different for every single

person involved. However, I was in

cars that were stopped and searched

by the police with older men, I was

never questioned why I was there, my

name was never asked. I think if

there had been more proactive

behaviour in points like that, then

things could have changed earlier. I

was also going to the doctor and the

youth sexual health clinic a couple

of times a week, for three years,

getting the morning after pill.

How

many times do you think you took it?

I could not even estimate.

Dozens,

hundreds, you were going twice a

week over three years? I know one

there raised the alarm?

-- and no

wonder raised the alarm? Nothing.

Did they ask you why you kept coming

back?

Note -- no, nobody asked any

questions and I had two abortions

and no questions asked. The summit

he had asked at just a few questions

and shown some some interest, I

might have spoken out and said,

there's something not quite right

and I'm not comfortable. Nothing was

ever said.

Gosh.

Let me bring in Geraldine, if I may.

Thank you, Holly, I know that was

hard for you. But I think just to

let the audience know the kind of

horrific experience that you have

gone through without anybody, any

grown-ups stepping income is just

really, really distressing.

Geraldine, you work for the Sunday

Mirror, you decided to investigate

child sexual exploitation in

Telford, what piqued your curiosity?

I had worked on a few stories about

what had happened in Rotherham and I

got in touch with Holly and I asked

if she would be interested in

telling her personal story. At

first, I thought it would only be

Holly's personal story, rather than

the wider story of what had been

going on in Telford. Once I spoke to

Holly, and realised what she was

saying about the sexual health and,

the morning after pill, the other

girls and the threats to burn down

her house, that was a really real

threat in Telford because two years

previously, it had happened to a

girl who had had a baby at 14 with

an abuser. I just thought, there's

something more to the story than

just Holly's personal story. There

seems to be a scandal just as bad as

Rotherham and Rochdale.

You spoke to

12 victims, how have you gone from

12 to this estimated figure of

hundreds in Telford?

We asked an

expert from London Metropolitan

University to look at our figures

and the timescale that our oldest

victim is nearly 50, and our

youngest is still a teenager. All of

the victims we spoke to were largely

completely unconnected, it was not

just one small group of friends that

were all being abused by the same

people at the same time. This is

somebody who had been abused in the

early 80s and then a girl whose last

violent rape was just months ago. We

explained to this expert that the

police themselves have identified

over a two-year period in Telford,

between 2007 and 2009, there could

have been 100 victims. Based on the

timescale and the police's and

figures, we managed to estimate

that. There could be 1000 victims,

we think.

And when we have reported

on child sexual exploitation in

Rochdale, in Rotherham for example,

the cases revolve mostly about

British Pakistani and Bangladeshi

men, and white girls, but you have

also spoken to Asian victims?

We

cannot get away from the fact that

the vast majority of the abusers are

from a Pakistani heritage community.

But in Holly's story and a lot of

other stories we heard from girls,

although the abuse is being

organised by men from the Pakistani

heritage community, a lot of girls

are being sold to men of a lot of

different ethnicities. What is a

factor in the Telford scandal is

that there are some Asian victims.

We've spoken to an Asian victim, we

have also seen some files relating

to the case about an Asian victim

who felt pregnant six times in four

years. But I think that because in

some Asian communities this is seen

as so shameful and the girls would

have been shunned, we would never

get the extent of their abuse.

Let

me bring in the MP for the area, why

has this happened in Telford?

I

think we've heard this is not an

isolated incident. I've been aware

of people coming to me telling me

such similar stories to what Holly

has been so bravely recounting

today. They all have very similar

features. Online grooming is often a

precursor to further activity. It's

happening because people are not

identifying it as a crime, and I

think historically, it was looked at

as young girls in gauging in risky

behaviour not recognising the

element of coercion and fear and

shame that they were acting in ways

that they were about the Bible and

self-preservation. The threats to

family, I -- it was about survival

and self preservation. The threats

to family, I had heard that, I did

not hear that it had happened but

they would say, they are threatening

my sister and my mother.

What you

say about the way victims presented

themselves, led to some in authority

to not treat them as victims,

however, when Holly tells us that

she's going to a clinic to get the

morning after pill twice a week for

three years, that's hundreds of

times. Hundreds of times. You don't

have to be a trained medical health

professional to think, there is

something wrong here. Plus two

abortions, oh, my goodness.

This is

about failing to join the dots...

It's about social and cultural

attitudes to young women and girls,

where it is seen that it is the

victim that brought it on themselves

and that's what I find abhorrent

about this. That people will more to

turn a blind eye but almost say,

that's how they behave, isn't it.

And therefore we should not be

interfering. That's the problem, the

social and cultural attitudes of

young women and girls were people

feel this is perfectly normal

behaviour for these young girls,

without questioning why it is that

they're engaging in sexual activity

with men who were 30 or 40 and that

only 14.

He first called for a

public inquiry into 16, no one is

listening, it would seem? -- you

first called for a public inquiry?

I

asked the Prime Minister to have an

independent public inquiry into the

bed in Telford in 2016 because I

genuinely we have got to find why it

happens.

That was two years ago, was

that Cameron?

That was Theresa May.

At that time, we were told by the

authorities in Telford that there

was sufficient investigation going

on under the National inquiry that

was being led by Baroness Jay, and

in due course, that inquiry would

come to Telford. We now know that's

not true. The authorities are still

using that as a reason today not to

have an inquiry. So I am going to

restate my request for an

independent inquiry, I've put in

today in Parliament for an urgent

question. This cannot go on.

Lucy Allen, with Rochdale and

Rotherham, one of the issues that

stops people in authority who could

help these young people was

political correctness, for want of a

better phrase, they thought they

approached a man of a dost-mac a

British Pakistani man about

allegations of exploiting and raping

young girls, they would be accused

of racism. Is this relevant to

Telford, bearing in mind Geraldine

has already said it wasn't just men

of colour ayes

Think it has some

relevance to Telford. In any police

investigation, you have to profile

the perpetrator, you have to profile

the victim and it's quite clear the

victims are often white, often

working-class young girls from

disadvantaged backgrounds and the

minute the high-profile case of

operation chalice for all of

Pakistani heritage.

OK. This tweet,

this is not just happening in

Telford, this is taking place in

most major towns and it's not just

girls, it is boys too. This from

Anak, absolutely heartbreaking

hearing the story of the victim of

the abuse in Telford on your

programme this morning. We really

need to do more for girls like this,

we have let them down too many

times. Well done, Lucy Allen for

supporting these victims. My Salim

says there is an amazing lady on

your programme today talking about

the horrific abuse she suffered in

Telford.

Telford. -- Marceline says. Ian

says, this is terrible, it frightens

me and I'm a grown man. One of them

for making this a serious topic of

discussion. The PC brigade would

condemn me. Stephen says, as a

parent I cannot fathom how the

parents had no idea what was going

on, they could not see anything was

going on with their child. We will

see what happens. You will continue

to call for a public enquiry. Thank

you to you all.

Still to come...

One of the biggest names in British

television tells us why he's trying

to sue Lloyds Banking Group for more

than £60 million.

And we'll have the very latest

from the High Court,

where two victims of the taxi driver

rapist John Worboys are due

to challenge the decision

to release him from prison.

Time for the latest

news, here's Ben Brown

with the BBC News

headlines this morning.

The Cabinet is meeting about now

to discuss the midnight deadline

for the Kremlin to explain how

a nerve agent -

developed in the Soviet Union -

was used to attack a former

Russian spy in Salisbury.

The poison used in the attack

on Sergei Skripal in Salisbury

was a military-grade nerve agent,

part of a group known as Novichok.

Theresa May has promised

to retaliate if Moscow's

response isn't satisfactory.

Nato has issued a statement

condemning the use of nerve agent

and reiterating that the UK

is a highly valued ally.

One of the victims of grooming

and rape in the Shropshire town

of Telford has revealed details

of her ordeal on

the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

The woman, speaking anonymously,

says she was gang-raped

and sold between men,

and that her family was threatened

if she refused to comply.

She also said that the alarm was not

raised by the health or police

authorities despite repeated

prescriptions for the morning

after pill, and being seen in cars

with much older men.

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond,

is expected to deliver some positive

economic news in his first ever

Spring Statement today.

The statement, which replaces

the Spring Budget, will include

the latest official economic figures

but it will not impose new taxes.

Labour ministers say Mr Hammond must

take the chance to end austerity.

Some reports say they will be an

effort to reduce pressure on the

NHS.

The European Parliament meets

in Strasbourg later to debate

the EU's guidelines on Brexit.

After a speech from the European

Commission President,

Jean-Claude Juncker,

MEPs will discuss the guidelines,

as well as their own resolution,

which outlines the parliament's

priorities and so-called "red lines"

for the Brexit negotiations.

Two victims of black cab

rapist John Worboys begin

a High Court challenge today

against what they have called

the irrational decision

to release him from jail.

The judicial review is expected

to hear for the first time why

the Parole Board plans to free

the sex attacker.

The board and Worboys,

who will appear via video

link from prison, oppose

the legal challenge.

The former Liverpool and England

defender Jamie Carragher says

he'll accept any punishment that

comes his way after he was filmed

spitting from his car

towards another vehicle.

It happened after Manchester

United's 2-1 win over Liverpool

where he was working

as a pundit for Sky Sports.

He's been suspended from his job.

That's a summary of

the latest BBC News.

Some messages from people who were

watching Holly speak. I'm watching

your programme and as a grown man

with teenage daughters I'm almost in

tears listening to her story. Yet

another shocking, disgusting sexual

abuse story. The grooming and rape

of hundreds of young girls by much

Bachasson amen. It's hard to believe

this goes on in this country, I'm

almost embarrassed to be a man.

Another tweet, a brave victim who

has recanted the abuse she went

through. Alice says, incredible

bravery in such an important

conversation on your programme.

Something needs to change in how we

protect vulnerable young people in

society.

Tanya says, I'm horrified by what

I'm listening to, the evidence

around sexual abuse ignored for so

long and so horrendously prevalent.

And this text from George, I know

the three families whose children

were abused, then murdered in

Telford. They didn't want to cause

any race problems, and they were

told that.

Thank you for those, do keep them

coming. Here is the latest sport.

Britain's Menna Fitzpatrick and her

guide Jen Kehoe have won silver at

the Winter Paralympics in the

women's visually impaired super

combined and Ben. Millie Knight

missed out on a third straight medal

with Brett Wild.

They were for. Two goals from David

Silva helped Manchester City to a

win at Stoke last night, Pep

Guardiola's team in a 16 point lead

in the Premier League so they could

win the title against Manchester

United at the Etihad next month.

Southampton have sacked Murray to

Pellegrino after just one win in 17

league games. Is the ninth Premier

League boss to lose his job this

season. Marco Silva is the favourite

to take charge.

Serena Williams says she has a long

way to go in her comeback after the

birth of our child following defeat

against her sister Venus. I will

have more for you at ten.

Noel Edmonds, face of BBC Saturday

night TV for decades and then Deal

or No Deal on Channel 4,

says he was almost left bankrupt

after falling victim to a multi

million pound fraud at Lloyds.

He's seeking £60 million

in compensation over losses

he claims he suffered

when his former business,

Unique Group, collapsed.

The £245 million loans scandal

at Halifax Bank of Scotland,

which was later bought by Lloyds,

saw several men jailed

for their part in the scandal

with the bankers being dubbed

the British Wolves of Wall Street.

Lloyds have previously disputed

Noel Edmonds' claim that the fraud

caused his business to collapse.

Now in an exclusive interview

Noel Edmonds tells us he was left

suicidal and at rock

bottom after the losses.

He joins us now.

Good morning, how are you?

And very

good, it's a great pleasure.

How

have you worked out it is sitting

knowing you need back? It such a lot

of money to bail it is a huge

amount. It was independently

assessed by a highly respected

accountancy firm.

They are experts

in forensic accountancy. There were

stories in the press it was 300

million, etc. The figure has been

assessed at about 60 million. The

businesses that were destroyed would

have been worth that amount of

money.

How did it collapse?

Actually, I am one of many, many

victims in this country. I find

myself as a reluctant People's

Champion. This started a year ago

when those people went to prison and

I realise one of those people was my

bank manager. I previously thought,

I must have been rubbish business.

But then it became very clear, this

is a common thing with victims,

suddenly a light goes on and you go,

actually, my farm was taken away for

this reason or I lost my garage for

this reason. We are talking about

thousands of people, maybe tens of

thousands, not the 60 or so that

Lloyds Banking Group claim. And

basically, SMEs were targeted for

their assets. OK, the people that

went to prison took that policy to

extremes. But unfortunately, it is a

policy that has been prevalent

throughout British banking for many,

many years. It does go back to the

1990s, and the banks saw a way of

boosting their balance sheets by

acquiring the assets of businesses,

and in my case Mark Unique Group had

some great assets, and we were not

able to realise the value of those

assets, which meant that basically

we were forced into administration,

the bank came after me for money

under my personal guarantees, which

forced me to the edge of bankruptcy.

And it had a huge impact on you

personally, tell the audience a

little about that.

Well, a massive

impact. It was an incredibly

stressful time, that is a real

understatement, because I am either

by nature or nurture a very positive

person but last year I decided I

might be able to benefit other

people if I said, yes, I tried to

take my life. The reaction to that

has been, um, humbling. I was

delighted with the reaction from the

Samaritans, who have supported for

many years, and I'm pleased to say

there are individuals who I am now

still regularly in contact with, who

attributed the fact they did not

take their lives to the fact they

heard the bloke of the telly had

been driven into that dark space.

Never being judgmental about someone

who attempts to take your life

because until you have been in that

space you cannot know how bad it is.

And we have an epidemic of suicide

in this country. It is particularly

men. They always want to be seen to

be strong, to be providing for the

family, and suddenly you are exposed

as fallible to yourself and it takes

you to a very dark place.

And what

about the impact on those around

you?

It was huge, devastating for in

all of this, with the failure of

Unique Group, it's easy to forget,

but I didn't forget that over 70

people lost their jobs, they had to

be told they were going to be made

redundant, that impacts on to many

other people in their social circles

and in their family. It was a

horrendous period in my life. And at

the time, I just thought that I was

rubbish at business, my Chief

Executive thought the same thing.

Then suddenly, we realise we are

part of a cold, calculating plan to

destroy the business. That's why I'm

taking legal action against Lloyds

Banking Group because I've tried to

negotiate with them, but as with so

many of the other victims, they say

one thing in public, but in private,

they have a different agenda.

They

said they have tried mediation had

offered you composition but it's not

enough?

I had an independent review,

which cannot be independent because

they paid the professor, he's not a

real professor and he doesn't have

any qualifications.

I don't know if

that is true about his

qualifications, I just need to say

that. But I'm talking about the

mediation. It is fair to say it

wasn't enough?

They put me into this

review, which is not independent...

Again, I don't know if it is

independent or not.

They describe it

as independent. It is not

transparent people have to sign

gagging orders. Contrary to what

their Chairman said last May, no-one

is compensated for their losses.

They give money for the distress.

And of course, the people who are

victims have to be honest and they

have to say there are circumstances

as part of filling out this form for

the review. So, lawyers know that

people are tough time so they are

able to offer them the minimum

amount of money. So they forced me

into the review, we filed a 90 page

statement of the losses, they

immediately threw me out the review

and said, we will go to mediation. I

went to mediation with an

astonishingly well qualified chap,

wonderful man, and I went to

negotiate and to settle. They didn't

come for that.

It wasn't enough,

that's the bottom line?

They started

off with an insulting the money,

they didn't even offer to give me

back the money that they got through

a corrupt High Court action. They

offered me, in the end, after ten

hours, £3.6 million, which I grant

you is a massive amount of money,

who wouldn't want that in their bank

account cos but in the context of 60

million, I have stole from you £600,

you are upset and I offer you £36

back.

They wouldn't admit a crime was

committed or that I was a victim and

they fought me into a bad situation.

The professor you have mentioned

says he is independent, I am just

going to say that...

He can't be.

Don't keep saying the same thing, he

says he is.

But he paid by Lloyds.

I'm just saying what he says. Leslie

says, go for it, you are

representing people who have lost

everything. Homes, businesses, and

in some cases their livestock and I

have been humbled by the -- in some

cases their lives.

I have been

humbled by the response. This is not

just about Lloyds, it is the whole

financial sector, people who have

lost everything and they don't have

the litigation funding that I have

secured. It was a massive moment for

me when one of the biggest funders

in the world said we have looked at

your case and on merit, we will fund

it.

I have seen some estimates that

you're worth £75 million, is that

true?

No.

What are you worth, do you

think?

I've no idea, at the moment,

very little, because until the

funders came along, I was finding it

myself. I'm determined to win this,

and if my one legacy is that other

people get justice, I will be

satisfied.

You said you are a

positive person, and how does the

positive side of your nature fit in

with this battle against Lloyds?

The

moment I realised that I was the

victim, of criminals, then I was

able to put positive spin on it. And

I do have the facts now. I've done a

lot of work with people like Lord

Cromwell, Vince Cable, the APPG on

this. Unfortunately I do know an

awful

this. Unfortunately I do know an

lots now about the way banks

operating and I agree with the

comment of the MPs in January at the

APPG debate that there is systemic

criminality and malpractice within

British banks, principally RBS and

Lloyds. And it's really upsetting,

to realise this is a massive

national scandal that has affected

everyone in the country. We've had

ten years of austerity because of a

relatively small number of corrupt

bankers.

There is no evidence of

systemic commonality, and going to

read this statement from Lloyds if I

may.

"Lloyds Banking Group made

determined efforts to reach

a consensual resolution

with Mr Edmonds through

mediation late last year,

but this was not possible.

As a formal litigation process

is now anticipated it would be

inappropriate to comment other

than to say his claim

will be contested."

They would say that. It's the Mandy

Rice Davies comment.

I know. You

were diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In 2013.

And you believe, I think,

that part of the stress of the

business collapsing contributed to

that?

Yes, it is a scientific fact,

medical fact, that stress can

contribute to wide range of

diseases. We have a health under

their neck in the UK, is that

anything to do with the very

stressful -- we have health epidemic

in the UK, is that to do with the

stressful way we live our lives? The

scientists say yes, it manifests in

different ways but for me, when I

got that diagnosis, I looked back

and I thought, I know how this has

come about. And I was determined

from that awful moment when I had to

tell Liz, I have cancer...

Your

wife's?

Yes, I was determined I

would come at it with a smile on my

face, befriend my tumour, I even put

it on my screen saver, that would

not talk about attacking cancer, not

talk about a war, I would just ask

it to leave. And my consultant who

gave me the treatment that

thankfully worked and destroyed the

tumour, he said he had never met

such a positive person. He kept

looking at my medical records

saying, keep getting your date of

birth wrong here, are you really?

I'm 70 in December, he couldn't

believe it. I do believe there is a

direct link between your positive

attitude to all sorts of things,

whether it's Lloyds Banking Group or

cancer, and the outcome.

What kind

of things would you say to your

cancer, or a photograph of your

tumour?

I called it my little

friend, and I would ask it to go

away.

In polite terms or did where?

No, you have to befriend it.

-- did

you swear?

No, you have to befriend

it. I changed certain aspects of my

diet, I am huge advocate of positive

electromagnetism which I think has a

positive role to play in a range of

illnesses. This looks like a mobile

phone, this is an app which I have

subsequently developed and I want to

make available to people free, which

gives you post electromagnetism over

time.

You are criticised for two

things around the issue of Cancer,

one was the gadget, the yoga mat or

the electromagnetic pad, which you

suggested could help tackle cancer,

tackle, being irrelevant word you

use. And second you were criticised,

someone tweeted you and said you

were talking about quackery, and you

said, scientific fact, disease is

caused by negative energy, is it

positive your ill health is caused

by your negative attitude, do you

regret that? Not at all. I regret

the fact that he didn't answer the

question.

Why would you suggest that

to someone?

Because it is a

scientific fact that negative energy

causes disease and negative thoughts

are part of that process.

If you are face with a serious

illness, you have come at it with a

positive mental attitude. It changes

the outcome and millions of doctors

and scientists will tell you that.

But don't you think it's a horrible

thing to say to a cancer survivor?

I

think it was horrible, the way he

started the dialogue.

But I'm asking

you about what you said to him.

The

any concession I will make is, I

stopped doing quite a because I

realised you cannot have a balanced

debate through Twitter.

Do not think

it was horrible what you said to

him?

Nope, -- because I asked him a

question. It is perfectly reasonable

to ask if someone's negative

attitude has contributed to the

situation you find yourself in.

Do

you not think it would to a person?

Possibly.

Is that it?

That chapter

has gone. I'm very, very relaxed

with the principle that if you want

to tackle big problems in your life

and serious disease, you have to

come at it in a positive way. And

there's a whole range of things you

can do before you subject yourself

to big Pharma and chemicals in your

body, etc.

Do you think all cancers

can be caused by negative attitude?

No.

Which once?

I don't know, I'm

not a doctor.

Exactly.

The point

you're making is? I don't know what

the point is making.

You suggested

to one cancer survivor that his

disease with down to his attitude.

No, I ask a question. I was not

doing a diagnosis, I was saying, is

it possible? You could come at it

the other way and say, somebody

could come at it and think, that's a

good point, and I in this situation

because I have created a negative

energy about my being? That could be

a positive thing.

And obviously you

know that there are very positive

people who get serious diseases who

don't make it.

Correct, my father

being one.

So it's not just about

positive attitude?

It's not binary.

I do think we need to explore a lot

more about the energy of the human

body, and we need to understand,

it's back to my FK oh, find out the

facts, then gain the knowledge, then

you are qualified to get an opinion.

Let's got some messages for you.

Everyone is behind you, says

Christopher, in your legal battle, I

hope you get your money back and

fight for the little guy, good luck.

Mohammed says, I must admit, such a

good interview, I went through the

same thing, I'm happy he's getting

justice for what he's lost. I hope

more get justice. Karen says, go for

it, I'm sure hundreds of others are

behind you and I hope you beat the

big conglomerates. Chris, 60 million

is just greed, he does need this

money, he taking advantage, do you

want to respond to that?

-- he does

not eat is money. It's back to

facts, knowledge, opinion. I had my

business is stolen for me, I never

talked about competition. I and

asking -- I'm giving the chance for

compensation. They proposed nicking

my car and giving the wheels back.

There's another thought about that,

but I will be polite.

Hazel on

Facebook says to me, you were very

rude to ask in what he was worth.

In

the current BBC climate, for

goodness' sake, you got to ask the

question, even if I don't regard it

of being worthy of an answer.

Tracy

says, these banks have destroyed

people for way too long, especially

Lloyds. Do you miss being on

television?

I thought we were on

telly?

A weekly show.

No, I don't. I

have had just the most wonderful

career. It reaches the 50 year

milestone in September, that's when

I first started in radio. I'm in a

building which I respect and

appreciate, and at every

opportunity, because there has been

misrepresentation, I thank the BBC

for 30 fantastic years of one full

opportunity. I decided -- wonderful

opportunity. I decided of my English

and to concentrate my businesses

which were then destroyed by HBOS

and Lloyds, and I was saved by

Channel 4 asking me to do Deal Or No

Deal, I did ten years, 3000 shows,

because of the tabloid world we live

in, it was axed, but ten years of

opening doctors is enough.

If

someone approached you with a format

you like you would do it?

Exacta, if

someone came to me and said, here is

something different, that's the key

thing. I was so fortunate to be

given the formats. I was a great, I

wasn't in the class of Ronnie or Ken

Dodd, I had great teams and great

formats. I don't miss it.

I'm not

sure I believe you. But thank you

for coming on the programme.

But I

lie to you?

I don't know, but thank

you for coming on.

Good morning. What a day today, much

better across England and Wells

compared to yesterday and some of

you seen big prisons, the skies

overhead in Cornwall. -- England and

Wales and some of you have seen big

changes. Blue skies overhead in

Cornwall. But there have been

periods of rain, in the Wirral, for

example. There is a weak weather

front pushing across western areas

from west to east, but you can see a

swirl of cloud which board the cloud

and rain yesterday that is moving

towards northern Europe. Sunny

conditions continue to work their

way eastwards but we have got a line

of showers north-west England to the

Midlands, which will stretch towards

the south-east in the afternoon.

Eastern counties and the far north

of Scotland will see showers but

most places seeing good sunny

spells. Winds are light,

strengthening much sunshine, it will

feel quite pleasant. Up the little

bit on what we would normally expect

at this time of year. One or two

showers towards the south-east

corner, but certainly if you are

heading off to Cheltenham for the

first day of the festival, you could

not have picked a better day. The

winds are light, the ground is soft

underfoot, but sunny conditions to

see the day. Clear whether across

central and eastern parts, we could

get down to -1 in Newcastle, but

further west, more cloud and a

strengthening breeze. Belfast and

Plymouth, six or seven into the

morning. The rain and drizzle art

links to this low pressure to the

west of us as we start tomorrow, the

weather front will get close to us

and it will drag up some mild air

coming up from the south on strong

to gale force south to

south-easterly winds. The wind is

strongest across the south and West,

outbreaks of rain which will turn

persistent across Ireland, West and

Wales and Cornwall later on.

Occasional rain in western Scotland

but dry for a lot of time across

Scotland, eastern Wales and England.

Hazy sunshine in eastern areas and

we could get to 15 degrees in the

south-east. Wednesday night, the

cloud and rain pushes across other

parts of Wales and southern England,

heavy bursts to take us into

Thursday morning. Doesn't make too

much in the way of inroads further

north before the area of low

pressure gets shoved back into the

Atlantic as high-pressure built

across South -- Scandinavia, cold

air on its way back. Cold and windy

with the increasing chance of some

snow showers as well. We will keep

you updated.

Good morning, it is Victoria Park

Russia, welcome to our programme.

Our top story today...

How do you deal with Russia?

Moscow has until the end of the day

to explain why a Russian-made

nerve agent was used to poison

a former spy and his daughter.

Should there be no credible

response, we will conclude that this

action amounts to an unlawful use

of force by the Russian state

against the United Kingdom

and we will not tolerate such

a brazen attempt to murder innocent

civilians on our soil.

As the pressure mounts

for Russia to respond,

we'll discuss the growing calls

for England to boycott

the World Cup.

Permit will call for a national

enquiry into the abuse scandal in

Telford. -- Parliament will call.

I'd be being sold maybe two or three

times a night, to the people who

would pay for the girls in Telford.

Men of every race,

religion coming in there

and wanting to pay for girls.

We'll also get reaction

from a senior lawyer who played

a key role in the Rochdale

and Rotherham abuse scandals,

and from a group set up to tackle

sexual grooming in the UK.

And one of the biggest names

in British TV, Noel Edmonds,

tells us why he's trying to sue

Lloyds Banking Group

for over £60 million.

It was an incredibly stressful time.

That is a real understatement. Yes,

I tried to take my life.

Good morning. Here is the latest

news.

The Cabinet is meeting about now

to discuss the midnight deadline

for the Kremlin to explain

how a nerve agent,

developed in the Soviet Union,

was used to attack a former

Russian spy in Salisbury.

Is the UK preparing to strike hard

against Russia?

Boris Johnson has

said if Russia cannot come up with a

convincing explanation of why the

nerve agent was used in Salisbury,

the Government will be announcing

the UK's response tomorrow. Mr

Johnson said he was encouraged by

the report that Britain has received

from his French, German and American

counterparts.

I've been very

encouraged so far by the strength of

the support we are getting. I think

in particular from President Macron

of France, and my German

counterpart, and from Washington.

Rex Tillerson last night made it

absolutely clear that he sees this

as part of the pattern of disruptive

behaviour, increasingly destructive

and malign behaviour by Russia. The

reckless use of chemical weapons and

support for the reckless use of

chemical weapons that stretches from

Syria now to the streets of

Salisbury. And I've been encouraged

by the willingness of our friends to

show support and solidarity.

More details are beginning to emerge

of the allegations of abuse over

four decades against girls

in the Shropshire town of Telford.

Up to a thousand girls are reported

to have been groomed and exploited -

with some as young as 11

being drugged and raped.

One victim, who was 14 when the

abuse began, spoke anonymously to

reveal she was repeatedly raped and

sold between men and that her family

were threatened if she refused to

comply.

I was gang-raped just after I turned

16. That is probably the worst thing

that ever happened.

that ever happened. Sorry...

You

don't need to apologise.

And after

that, I tried to commit suicide. I

genuinely wanted to die because I

thought that was the only way out.

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond,

is expected to deliver some positive

economic news in his first ever

Spring Statement today.

The statement, which replaces

the Spring Budget, will include

the latest official economic figures

but it will not impose new taxes.

Labour ministers say Mr Hammond must

take the chance to end austerity.

The European Parliament meets

in Strasbourg later to debate

the EU's guidelines on Brexit.

After a speech from the European

Commission President,

Jean-Claude Juncker,

MEPs will discuss the guidelines,

as well as their own resolution,

which outlines the parliament's

priorities and so-called "red lines"

for the Brexit negotiations.

Salt content in takeaway dishes must

be urgently reduced in a bid

to tackle strokes and heart disease,

campaigners have warned.

A study by Action on Salt found some

Chinese meals including sides

like prawn crackers contain

more than double

the recommended daily intake.

The survey also revealed a selection

of ready meals were high in salt.

That's a summary of

the latest BBC News.

I'll have more at 10:30.

Thank you, if you are getting in

touch, you are very welcome.

Let me read you some messages from

you about knowledge plans. Luis

says, Noel Edmonds is infuriating

me. I am a cancer nurse. How

insulting is his attitude with

regards to positive attitude and

cancer? Heather says, I'm disgusted

by the way Victoria dealt with Noel

Edmonds, came across as rude and

unprofessional. I've never

experienced anything quite like it.

Another tweet from Phil, it is not a

fact that negative energy causes

disease. Negative energy is not

itself a scientific fact. Sue says

Noel Edmonds is being offensive on

cancer. To suggest that someone's

attitude is causing damage to them

is infuriating. Dave says I'm

surprised than disappointing at your

hostile tone of questioning. You

seemed to be showing your own

prejudices as regards his cancer

treatment. Boris Zazai hole at -- I

wholeheartedly support his assertion

that the positive attitude

contributes. Hypnotherapy steered me

in the right direction. Thank you

for that, do keep them coming in.

Right, the sport now and Will back.

Britain's Menna Fitzpatrick

and guide Jen Kehoe have won silver

at the Winter Paralympics this

morning in the women's visually

impaired super combined event.

The pair were second

after the super-G run

and despite an impressive slalom

effort, they were unable to get

the better of the Slovakians.

Fitzpatrick is just 19,

she was born no vision in her left

eye and limited sight in her right,

but started skiing aged five.

They only started working together

in 2015 and have built up

a solid partnership.

Fellow Briton Millie Knight missed

out on a third straight

medal with Brett Wild,

they were fourth after

a disappointing slalom.

Two goals from David Silva

helps Manchester City

to a 2-0 win at Stoke.

Pep Guardiola's side now

have a 16 point lead.

City need just two more

wins for their third

Premier League title.

If they beat Everton

at Goodison Park later this month,

they could seal the title

on derby day with a win over

rivals Manchester United

on the 7th of April.

City Captain Vincent Kompany

says it's

"a once in a lifetime opportunity".

Stoke remain a point from safety

with eight games to go.

The Cheltenham Festival gets under

way this afternoon, more than a

quarter of a million spectators are

expected over from her days with

bookmakers estimating after £350

million will be wagered. The Nicky

Henderson trained horse will attempt

to defend his title in the feature

race. I will have the headlines at

half-past.

Telford is a large picturesque town

in the West Midlands with

a population of 170,000 people.

But over a 40 year period it's been

estimated that up to 1,000

girls were abused by gangs

of British Pakistani

and Bangladeshi men.

So far, only seven of them

have been convicted.

Now there are calls for a public

inquiry into how the abuse

went on for so long

and whether authorities

were too politically correct

to properly address it.

Holly Archer was abused

from the age of 13,

raped countless times,

and sometimes forced to sleep

with several men a night.

She told us the impact

it had on her.

It quickly moved on to being sold,

every single day. So, being sold two

or three times a night.

or three times a night. Taken to the

thing I can only describe as a rape

house, which was set up for the

purpose of young girls being sold to

men

men will. It wasn't just Pakistani

men, there were men of every race,

religion, coming in and wanting to

pay for girls.

How did you cope with

this?

I can't really explain it. It

was like I was living in a bubble. I

had no feelings about anything. All

I wanted to do was make my family

proud of me. So I continued going to

school, did my best, everything I

could do to try and make something

good bit for my family, because the

reason I kept going back was they

were threatening me with burning my

house down, which was a real threat

in Telford because that had actually

happened to revisit. They would say

to me they would rape my mother and

sisters. They knew all about my

family. There was just no escape at

all.

With us now is senior lawyer

Nazir Afzal, who specialises

in child sexual exploitation

and played a key role

in the Rochdale and

Rotherham abuse scandals.

Also Ansar Ali, spokesperson

for Together Against Grooming.

An organisation set up to tackle

sexual grooming in the UK

including working with mosques

and Islamic centres.

Welcome, both of you. How do you

respond to what is being uncovered

in Telford?

It's no surprise. I

prosecuted the Rochdale case seven

years ago now, and I said then this

was the tip of the iceberg, there

were part of this country for this

type of sexual abuse was taking

place, the 30s have not recognised

it, they lifted the stone then they

would see it. -- the authorities is.

I prosecuted the Telford original

prosecution and I knew that this was

a bigger issue not just in Telford

but everywhere. But I still see

stories like that of Holly, she has

not been listened to or believed,

the abuses have gained dost-mac the

abuses have almost acted with

impunity because they know the

authorities will not do anything

about it. She is one of probably

thousands of young girls and Young

Boys who are being abused in street

grooming up-and-under country, and I

am pretty sure Robbie you look, you

will find this.

You mean in every

town and city across the country?

Every town and city. There was a

report which went as far as saying

even every hamlet. But certainly

anywhere where you find groups of

men, you will find prejudices

amongst them, they will abuse

children.

But you would like to

think, would you not, from what we

have learned from previous scandals,

the authorities and the police,

social workers, medical

professionals, which treat those who

are being exploited as victims now?

You would hope so. The levels of

training and expertise have

improved. But you always hear in

every serious case review, lessons

have to be learned. Because people

don't get it right first time. It

comes down to confidence. These are

difficult cases to prosecute and

investigate, absolutely. But I think

the lawyers and skills or there: but

are not being utilised. It is also

an impartial posterity, but we've

lost some expertise and specialism

in an area where we need expertise

and specialism. But ultimately we

need empathy. We need to understand

these victims need something more

than most victims, and they are not

being given it.

We've been told in

the case of Telford that is not just

white girls that were being

exploited, but Asian young girls

too. Have you heard the same

exploited, but Asian young girls

too. Have you heard the same?

Not

only have I heard that, not on is

the anecdotal evidence, but

actually, the most thorough

examination, the recent study of

this issue was done by the office of

the Children's Commissioner, and

that researched it back to 2013.

That research, it said about a third

of the victims were from a non-white

background, black and minority

ethnic background. Going back to

2013, when the Home Affairs

Committee was taking evidence on

this issue on one of the conclusions

was that whilst official statistics,

the proportion of the can to come

from a non-white background is low,

when they actually went out to the

towns and cities and the agencies