28/01/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. Welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands.

It's been confirmed that Jersey Police have carried out a search in

one of the island's schools following intelligence that new

psychoactive drugs, also known as legal highs, were on the premises.

Officers say their search at De la Salle College didn't turn up any

substances. They're complex chemical compounds

and their formulas are always changing to stay one step ahead of

the law. So when Jersey police received intelligence about a new

'psychoactive drug' at this private school, it acted fast.

Jersey Police came to De la Salle College yesterday to search a

student's locker. They didn't find any drugs or make any arrests. But

they say with tip`offs about these substances coming in from a wide

range of sources, some will inevitably involve those in the

education system. In a statement, De la Salle head teacher Jason Turner,

said: "We take safeguarding very seriously. I held an assembly with

our older boys to alert them to the dangers of using these drugs. We

asked all our parents via e`mail to discuss these so called "legal

highs" with their sons." Jersey Police praised the school's swift

action but admit the war on this new generation of drugs is tough.

Drugs like this come along on a very regular basis and the particular

type of psychoactive drug changes on an almost weekly basis. We have

recruited a new internet investigator to help us better

understand how these drugs come into the island.

Policing the internet is just part of policing an ever`changing drugs

landscape. Officers will hope their warnings are heeded so policing the

school corridors doesn't become a regular part of island life.

There's concern tonight that problems with Guernsey's income tax

office could mean some people are racking up large fines unfairly The

department can now issue penalties to anyone who didn't submit their

2012 tax return on time. But there are complaints that some people have

been sent them in error. It's well know there's a few

problem's here at the tax office: staffing issues, a backlog of tax

returns to get through and now concerns about new penalty letters

sent out if you don't get your return in on time. You can expect a

?100 fine. A number of people have been in

touch with the BBC who've received penalty letters, they believe, in

error. Kevin says he submitted his

89`year`old mother's return last January. She just received a letter

saying that they hadn't received it and that she was being fined.

Neil says he thought he'd filled his return in online, only to find out

he too faced a fine. He had no warning his application hadn't gone

through. And Ebony was told that because she

was off work with long term sickness she didn't need to do an annual

return. She's also just received a penalty letter.

The income tax office says it's looking into complaints, but wants

to remind the public they have every right to appeal.

We do acknowledge that occasionally mistakes are made. A tax return may

be received but not noted properly. We would say to people, if you think

you may be one of these people, please contact us.

But there's still mounting political pressure for the Treasury to take

action to sort all the problems out. They have a recovery plan but we

want to see action. In business if you have a backlog of accounts, you

bring in contract accountants and those people with the specialist

knowledge to deal with it. The financial penalties may act as

an incentive to the public to get their tax returns in. But in the

same way, those raising concerns will hope it'll encourage the tax

office to iron out any problems A Jersey medic has today denied

allegations of sexual misconduct towards two female patients.

58`year`old Dr Carl Clinton is facing a fitness to practice hearing

in Manchester, accused of giving rough and unnecessary breast

examinations while working at Jersey's General Hospital and the

Dongola Road Sports Clinic. Giving evidence he said he would never have

behaved in such a way. Next, a woman in Jersey says the

conditions of her states owned home are worse than living in a zoo.

Sandra Dickinson claims she's been living in damp and cold for the past

two years without any help from the housing department.

As soon as you come in the door it is damp. The smell is ridiculous.

Also, the cold as well, it affects your bones.

Sandra Dickinson's lived here for nearly 20 years. She says in the

early days she was happy, but more recently the damp's taken over.

I would rather live in the zoo with the animals. They have better

accommodation than people in these flats!

Sandra believes the States Housing Department ` which has ultimate

responsibility for her home ` hasn't done enough to help.

Last year a new law came into force in Jersey that allows tenants ` in

States housing like this and private rentals ` to stop paying their rent

if their home's uninhabitable. But Malcolm Ferey from Jersey's Citizens

Advice Bureau says Sandra's not eligible.

Residential tenancy law allows tenants to not pay their rent if the

property is uninhabitable, will apply to leases after the 1st of May

2013 and variances and new leases after that date, but not too natural

continuations. Jersey politician Deputy Montfort

Tadier says Sandra's case shows the law needs greater clarity.

The first question is what defines uninhabitable? Is this place

uninhabitable? There is a good argument that it is.

In a statement to the BBC, the housing department says there's "no

evidence that the building's suffering from maintenance failure"

and that "it was built to a good standard". But the department has

arranged to meet with Deputy Tadier to see if there's anything else it

can do. But for Sandra, it's not soon enough.

Hello. The next two days will be colder. Thereafter, the temperatures

start to rise again back into double figures. But we will also have wind

and rain. It will feel colder tomorrow. Less windy but still some

showers dotted around. Very slowly moving eastwards during the course

of the day. Quite a cold night, temperatures down to three or four

degrees. Showers tomorrow all day. A glimpse of the sunshine every now

and then. Those showers will become quite slow`moving and heavy. A quiet

day on Thursday. All change on Friday as it becomes windy and wet

again. Thank you. Goodbye.