17/05/2012 BBC London News

Tonight on BBC London News... A crackdown on metal theft - dozens

of memorial plaques are recovered by police in a series of raids.

Some of them relate to elderly relatives, young children, you

cannot imagine the heartache these families have gone through. It's

also a growing problem on railways. We look at the latest efforts to

catch the criminals. Also tonight... The �1 surcharge if you want to

post parcels to parts of the capital during the Olympics. At a

sorting office with details of Olympic mail delays. Released for a

crime he didn't commit. We talk to the man jailed for murder almost

eight years ago as he finally walks free. It was horrible but I had to

get used to it. If I did not I would not cope all survive. And we

are with the RAF as they prepare Good evening and welcome to the

programme. Police have recovered hundreds of suspected stolen items

in a raid on a scrap metal yard in south-west London including a

bronze Chinese dragon which weighed more than a tonne. Hundreds of

intimate memorial plaques taken from churches and crematoriums were

also found, along with more than �20,000 in cash. Here's our Special

Correspondent Kurt Barling. incidence of metal theft has been

rising and now a co-ordinated and concerted effort is being made to

target the scrap metal merchants who persist in buying stolen metals.

This hall was seized on Monday. These are some of the process --

proceeds of what we have discovered, a large Chinese ornamental dragon

made of bronze valued at about �3,500, stolen from a garden in

Teddington in mid- April. Some of these plaques relate to elderly

relations, a couple relate to children and you can only imagine

the heartache some of these families have gone through having

buried their relatives or had them committed only to find their

memorial plaque has been stolen. When police raided, an employee was

busy putting them up to ship them to a smelter, hundreds of families

will need to be contacted. The Met police have linked with British

Transport Police have to stop the tide of stolen metals reaching

metal merchants in the first place. A new CCTV harbour in central

London opened today aiming at catching thieves in the act on the

railways and get real-time images to patrols. We are taking steps so

that scrap metal merchants cannot Transat in cash which we know as

one of the ways we can clamp down on us. A lot of work done, a lot

left to do to try to clamp down on something that has become a huge

problem not just for the transport system but generally. Two men have

been charged with the seizures on Monday and are in custody. The

dragon story is a happy one, its twin, still sitting in the garden

from whether one seized by police is stolen, soon to be reunited.

went to bed at night, I came out in the morning and it was gone. It

would take up to five people to lifted. The number of people that

have stopped and said to me I cannot believe somebody stole the

dragon! Not a phrase you expect him every day! But it does upset people

and the reaction had had from people, they are so pleased to know

he is coming back. -- I have had. This stuff is really heavy, that is

where the value lies. There are those who might say this is a

victimless crime but I wonder whether the families of John or

Raleigh would say that, if they knew this was happening to them

memorials. -- their memorials. Still to come... Would torch

bearers who will be asked to pay �200 to keep their torch as a

It's All businesses and households in London are being warned by Royal

Mail to expect delays to their post during the Olympics. It also

announced that there would be one pound charge for delivering parcels

to those parts of the capital affected by the Games. Sarah Morris

is at one of the capital's busiest sorting offices and can tell us

more. I am at the Mount Pleasant sorting office where it has been

announced today that Londoners can expect significant delays to all

items of mail throughout the Olympic weeks. This �1 surcharge

being added to all parcel Force parcels has not down down too well

what small businesses. -- gone down. So all businesses have seen the

price of stamps go up, material costs go up, and a lack of

affordable loans. So the last thing they need is measures like this

which has the potential to hammer those businesses that use them. We

need to support small businesses, not stifle them. I am joined by

Mark Thompson of the Royal Mail. We heard their small businesses cannot

afford �1 for every parcel of they are sending a lot of mail. Royal

Mail will be delivering a cross London six days a week surcharge

free. We have special access arrangements to help do that

because of a universal service obligations. Parcelforce is a

commercial delivery operator and I think the �1 fee is a pretty

nominal number. Of Parcelforce has trebled profits in the last few

years, could it not just pick up this little three? There is a one

million pound cost it four Parcelforce to deliver throughout

There is a normal congestion charge of about 50p and the parcel Force

charge will be lower than we expect competitors to charge. What advice

are you giving Londoners who are posting and expecting male during

that time? We have been planning so we can minimise any disruption.

were last customers to post a little earlier, up two two hours

because we will be trying to collect an early to keep male

moving. And be patient with your post man, they may come a bit later

than the normal times because it will be quite busy getting round

London during the Olympic Games period. So we can expect a marathon

You have heard what of Royal Mail have said, what do you think? Is it

reasonable to charge extra? Do get So the Olympic flame has been

formally handed over to Britain at a ceremony in Athens a short while

ago. The official delegation to collect the torch, led by Princess

Anne, included David Beckham, Lord Coe and Boris Johnson. As Anjana

Gadgil reports it's emerged today that hundreds of Greek torchbearers

will get to keep their torches for free while thousands who'll be

carrying the flame through the UK will have to pay �200 for theirs.

As the Olympic flame leaves Athens the 500 taught us from the Grecian

Jenny remain with the bearers, gifts from the London Olympic

organisers. Kuyt London Alex showed me his torch before he flew out. He

ran the second leg in Olympia. Retort is his souvenir. I was

overjoyed to get it for free. I would have paid for it, I plan to

give it to my grandchildren and so on. We will be part of history.

Where is it being kept? In safe hands, my mum is looking after it.

But torch bearers running in the UK, like Camden BT Chen Luke, have to

pay to keep theirs. He is one of the torch bearers who told us �200

is too much. It is a bit unfair. I will get a torch and it will not

impact on me too badly but I am aware there are many people out

there who will carry the torch and probably want to take it home but

it will be hard for them to find The flame is kindled which has to

be carried to the London Olympic Games. The last group of torch

bearers were also able to keep theirs. There is a protocol in

place, good will for the country that began the Olympic movement and

in the UK in more recent times even medal winners have had to fork out.

We have always paid to keep the torch on, it is an option you get,

you don't have to do it. We have always paid money to want to keep

it afterwards. So �200 for teachers and �200 for millionaire

footballers. David Beckham will also be running a leg. To be able

to say you have been there, than An inquest into the death of two

babies in a house in Wandsworth last week has heard they were

suffocated. 14-month-old Lily Boots and her 10-week-old brother Mason

were found unconscious by their father when he got home from work.

Their mother's been charged with their murders but was declared

unfit to appear at the Old Bailey earlier this week. Warned now on

Sam Hallam, a man who spent nearly a third of his life in jail for a

murder he did not commit. His conviction of murder was formally

quashed by the court. Our Home Affairs Correspondent joins me now.

You spend time with him, what did he say? There were dramatic scenes

in court as the judge handed down the judgment that quashed his

conviction that it was unsafe. There was a standing ovation,

somebody from the public gallery shouted justice has been served.

Sam Howard has always protested his innocence, he went into jail as a

teenager eight years ago, today at 24, he came out and I caught up

It was horrible but I had to get used to it because if I did not

have I would not cope all survive. I had my family support to me and

friends in prison supporting me. I had a lot of support so that helped

me get through. Also the fact that you always believed you were

innocent? I always knew it. I did not just believe it, I knew it.

People ask how I cope but I had to, I can't do anything, I was there,

nothing I did could have got me out, so it was only my supporters and

family that helped. I had to just get on with it day-to-day. In 2005

when you were convicted and jailed, what do you think went wrong?

system, police process, the court process, it was not fair on the

prosecution said it was not just. Everything was not right. The

original police investigation was not done properly. They could have

done things then to eliminate me but they did not. Are you angry

about what has happened? Not yet but I am still in shock from

yesterday. Tell me more about what you think about the police

investigation. It was not done properly. They're not doing their

job properly cost me a years of my life, nothing is going to happen.

So clarify for us, why was the conviction quashed? The prosecution

case relied on two eyewitness accounts and we heard today from

Lady Justice Hallett that they were unsatisfactory, contradictory

accounts, and that both witnesses colluded via text messages. There

was no CCTV found showing Sam Hallam at the scene, no forensic

evidence suggesting he was there, so it was shaky evidence. Although

his alibi was faulty, Lady Justice Hallett said he was not lying, it

was just that he had a poor memory. Is there any more to this case?

What is the future for Sam? heard yesterday when he was

released on bail because the prosecution did not oppose the

appeal, we heard perhaps there would be a complaint to the IPCC

and he stands to earn the -- get a lot of money in compensation

damages for that. But a lot of Met Police and the prosecution and

the trial judge. I find our Chelsea's billionaire owner wants

to get that trophy more than anyone 2500 members of the armed forces

will parade through Windsor to mark the Diamond Jubilee this Saturday.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will watch the procession, to be

followed by one of the biggest fly- pasts in years. We went to look at

members of the RAF rehearsing their role.

On the terrace, that is where the Queen will be! Warming-up for

Windsor. On Saturday they will be doing this for real, the Queen will

be watching, and no one wants to put a foot wrong. It is a huge

honour for any member of the RAF, any member of the military. To take

part in a Diamond Jubilee Parade is once in a lifetime. More than 500

personnel have come to the RAF base in Buckinghamshire for rehearsals,

as part of a parade involving 2500 troops from across the three armed

forces. Quite a task for their drill instructor. The ensuring they

are in time together, turning out in a smart uniform, just presenting

themselves in a manner befitting of the Royal Air Force, really. It is

nothing to be nervous about. It is just walking but in a smart fashion,

really. On Saturday the troops will parade down from Windsor Castle and

through the streets. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will lay to

follow on the same route and then there will be a fly past, the

biggest in years. There will be Spitfires, tornadoes and of course

the Red Arrows. As Windsor prepares to welcome them, back at base they

are busy pressing uniforms and polishing a lot of polishing.

standard has to be highest. have to be better than people from

the Army and Navy. I could spend real four hours on my shoes. --

three or four hours. The rehearsals will continue this weekend, this

time alongside the Royal Navy and the army, perfecting their

performance so that it is fit for royal audience.

Thames Water says the construction site that they have earmarked for

work on their super sewer remain unchanged following the results of

a public consultation. It would run from Hammersmith to Newham, costing

�4 billion. Construction would take several years and has sparked

protest from residents living nearby.

Transport officials are being urged to ban rickshaws during the

Olympics. They could be dangerous for visitors to the capital,

according to one MP, who has tabled a Commons motion saying they should

be outlawed during the Games to reduce congestion.

The biggest programme to privatise police services has been put on

hold until later in the year. One of the Surrey forces had asked

private contractor has to pitch for work, which was heavily criticised

by the police union. Now the new Chief Constable wants to delay the

process until after the Olympics. At this week's Police Federation

Conference, Surrey's plan to use private firms for some police roles

was in the spotlight. Today they have pressed paws on the idea.

is about thinking through how best we can get the best possible deal.

Surrey and Midlands police forces have been criticised for jointly

asking private contractors to pitch for work, including investigating

crime, detaining suspects and running major incidents. There were

claims it would mean privatisation of the police, but they say it is

not the case. If we did not include some of those elements in the

document, we would potentially restrict what the private sector

could offer. It is absolutely not because we want those elements of

the service that we deliver to be done by the private sector. It is

purely to pick out bits of what a constable does, for example, that

could be done better by someone else. Such as administrative tasks,

they say, like completing reports. Surrey are not dropping a plan but

they are consulting with the public before taking the next step. Nobody

really understand what about and -- what this is about. We need to sit

down with the key stakeholders and see what we want from this. Whether

or not it is a result of public pressure, people are pleased they

are slowing down the process. have got more time for more

exploration today. We need to get this right. Get it wrong, and all

the good we are going to do could be outweighed by damage. Any time

Frayn has yet to be worked out. -- then you a time frame.

Chelsea could be the first London club to win the Champions League

after they face Bayern Munich in Germany this weekend. Since Roman

Abramovich bought the club, this is the one Cup that he has wanted to

get his hands on. We have been looking at his obsession with

European success. This report contains flash photography.

Roman Abramovich's last interview to any media outlet was in 2006.

The third richest man in Great Britain was described as shy and

admitted that money cannot buy you happiness. Well, it has bought him

three luxury yachts, two bullet and bomb-proof limousines, his very own

Boeing 767, reportedly his own security staff thought to be 40

strong, making him one of the most well-protected businessmen in the

world. It has also bought in Chelsea Football Club. But with a

personal wealth of �9.5 billion, even throwing over �1 billion at

Chelsea during his nine-year reign has not bought 10 Champions League

success. Everyone knows that the Champions League is the ultimate

club on. He is Russian. The prestige around Europe for winning

the Champions League, there is nothing like it. He to 1003, in the

late stages of the quarter-final, - - in 2003, Roman Abramovich went to

see Manchester United against Real Madrid and it was a spectacular

game. David Beckham scored two goals. His ultimate goal is to win

the Champions League. It kind of dissents from man. He badly wants

it. -- it dissents from there. 2008, they came within a penalty of

achieving the goal. His wallet remains open and his commitment

continues. There is no sign of him are losing interest. The fact they

are talking about Battersea, which would be 10 years between talking

about it and moving in, the fact that he is doing that shows he is

here for the long term. Stadium hopes for Battersea Power Station

line with the fans that own the freehold to Stamford Bridge and

with the planning officials. But this billionaire hopes to Channel

Chelsea 2 victory on Saturday. Will the big money spending

continue at Chelsea whatever the outcome of Saturday's final? It is

very likely that the spending will continue for a while. We have to

remember that Chelsea, along with all football clubs in Europe, will

become subject to something called the UEFA financial play roles,

coming into force in 2013. That is when it teams across Europe will

have to be seen to be breaking even. Not even making a profit. The big

clubs like Manchester City, who spend a fortune on players, that

will have to stop at some point. Some are like Roman Abramovich, he

does not mind spending �50 billion on big-name players, that will

change. He has made a difference at Chelsea with the likes of how he is

using the operations of the club, and has done very well with that.

It could be the first time that a London club wins the Champions

League. What are their chances? They are not the favourites because

Bayern Munich are playing inside their own stadium. That is just

unfortunate. It was not known that the unit would be in the final at

the time. But Chelsea always have a chance, so fingers crossed. Good

luck to them. Thank you. The Ivor Novellos are hailed as

some of the most prestigious awards that a singer-songwriter can win.

Many artists await their entire careers before taking away the

prize. At the age of just 24, Adele has walked away with two of the

awards. She came, and she walked away with

two of her four Award nominations. Adele was Crown songwriter of the

year at the Ivor Novello awards. Her single was named most performed

song. No offence, I didn't think that...

I knew I had to release it but I did not think it would do anything

anywhere. The fact that it has is just magical. Adele was beaten by

PJ Harvey, who took best album, and by Ed Sheeran, whose 18th single

won Best Song musically and lyrically. It is an exciting moment

for you? Yes. The Ivor Novellos are the peak of any songwriter's career.

It is an honour to be nominated. They turned out to be a celebration

of some of London's great names from the 70s and 80s, given their

much-respected gongs. As Spandau Ballet's chief songwriter, Gary

Kemp was awarded for his outstanding song collection. What

makes a great contemporary song for you? I do buy into how much the

performance matters, that is very important. Plenty of records mean a

lot to me and if I had not so the artist, I might not have bought

them. Susie's the won an inspiration Award, and there was a

standing ovation for Andrew Lloyd Webber, 5th receiving a fellowship.

She may only have won half of her nominations, but Adele was still

the biggest winner on the day. Another weather. Hello. I am on one

of the Golden Jubilee bridges this evening. The Diamond Jubilee

pageant will pass along the river We have got grace guys at the

moment with possibly some rain but at St James's Park there is some

hazy sunshine. -- grey skies. The cloud could begin up enough to

produce the odd drop of rain but not much. Things will be drying up

completely overnight. The cloud will not go, so that what -- it

will not be particularly cold, eight or nine. Two of our cold

spots could be lower than that. No frost tonight and tomorrow morning?

Essentially a repeat of this morning. The day will look very

similar. Deja-vu. Yes, lots of cloud, but then possibly some hazy

sunshine, and of course that north- easterly breeze could bring some

drops of rain. But it will not amount to very much, as I say. Not

much will change for the start of the weekend. Saturday, rather

cloudy but mostly dry. It looks as though we will get wetter weather

in the London area on Sunday but it is a difficult forecast this

weekend, so I will update you on that tomorrow. As far as the

outlook is concerned, it is looking rather grey but mostly dry, until

Sunday when it looks as though we will get some wet weather and the

wettest will be in the morning. Thank you.

The headlines: David Cameron says that Britain is living in perilous

economic times because of the many problems in Europe. Speaking to

business leaders in Manchester, he insisted that his policies would

help to protect Britain. A man who has spent seven years in

prison for murder has had his conviction quashed at the Court of

Appeal. Sam Hallam, 24, was convicted of killing a trainee chef

in East London. The Olympic flame has been formally

handed over to Britain at a ceremony in Athens. It was headed

by an official delegation including Princess Anne, David Beckham, Lord