24/01/2014 BBC London News

to our sports editor David Bond. It has been another I d

The tonight on BBC London, the feminist campaigners abused on

Twitter. There are calls to clean up Twitter. People say, just block

them, but I don't want to. I want them to know I'm trying to track

them down. After allegations of electoral

fraud, Tower Hamlets promises to introduce London's toughest ever

clamp`down. We have had polling stations with hundreds of people

outside, women stopped from going in because they are told they are not

modestly dressed. This must stop. A world`class embarrassment `

cyclists say getting around Olympic Park is a joke.

And dancing his way back into the West End, Rufus Hound on becoming a

dirty rotten scoundrel. I walk around thinking, I can sing a bit.

And some days I think, I am basically Pavarotti.

Good evening. A man and a woman have been jailed for sending abusive

messages on Twitter to a feminist campaigner from Camden, Caroline

Criado`Perez. Isabella Sorley and John Nimmo both pleaded guilty at

Westminster Magistrates' Court of sending threatening to eat is, after

Miss Scriabin Peres led a campaign to get more women featured on

British banknotes. `` Miss rial though Peres. One of them also

targeted Stella Creasy. No longer hidden behind his Twitter

account, John Nimmo trying to keep a low profile. Last year both he and

23`year old Isabella Sorley took to the social media site on barging

their victims with abuse, threats of rape and death.

Their victim, Caroline Criado`Perez, targeted after she

successfully campaigned for a woman to feature on a banknote.

Walthamstow's Labour MP, on her right, was also a victim. Today, the

judge said the effects on Miss creole though Peres had been life

changing. John Nimmo was jailed for eight

weeks and Isabella Sorley was jailed for 12. They were ordered to pay

?800 in compensation. Caroline Criado`Perez said she felt immensely

relieved the judge had understood the impact of the abuse. The people

who have been found represent the tiniest drop in the ocean, so I

think we are in a really bad situation, frankly, and I hope this

latest flare`up will force Twitter to take proper steps and put them in

place so they are there for everyone who gets abused on their platform.

We saw Twitter introduce reporting in August, a positive step, but

there is obviously more that they can do. They can apply more

resources, get content taken down much faster. Why did you send those

messages? Twitter said it is increasing the

size of its team to tackle the problem. It says it is taking action

but cannot stop people sending offensive messages.

Stay with us. There is more to come, including... 800 feet above London,

talking skylines and skyscrapers of the future.

Tower Hamlets council has promised to introduce the toughest electoral

regime London has ever seen, after serious allegations of fraud were

made at the last election. Amongst the complaints was that too many

people were registered to vote at a single address, potentially allowing

one person to vote several times. Nobody was prosecuted for any

wrongdoing but the electoral commission did demand significant

changes to be made to voting in the area. Here is Karl Mercer.

The area's top police man at a press conference on voting may well say

something about the way elections are seen in this part of London.

There have been allegations made a previous elections which were

investigated by police. Tower Hamlets has been no stranger to

controversy, with hundreds of allegations of fraud in the past two

elections, although no one was ever convicted. This was what the council

did at the last elections back in 2012, checking that only those

properly registered to vote could do so. And the last council elections

back in 2010 were marred by allegations that too many people had

been registered to vote at a number of addresses. Eight people allegedly

registered to vote here but none reply. You don't know if 18 people

live here, do you? We were wondering if there were 12 people registered

to vote here. Tower Hamlets hope this will prevent a repeat, police,

and the critical parties and the council signing up to a new code of

conduct, the toughest, , they say, in London. We have been working to

put together a package of measures which will ensure, as far as we

can, that the elections are free of fraud in May 2014. The crackdown

will see tougher checks on the electoral register, more police at

polling stations, two visits for homes with over six voters, and

parties not being allowed to handle postal votes. They also promised to

investigate any complaints more quickly. What is so good about this

borough is that there is so much interest in local politics. That is

good because in many places there is a converse concern, that people do

not bother voting because they do not think it is important. It is

great that it is a really important part of the process. However, how

people translate that passion for local politics, we have to be really

careful about. Some local politicians are not sure the new

rules will see any change. These rules have existed from time

memorial and have not been enforced. We have had polling stations with

hundreds of people standing outside. We had women stopped from going into

polling stations because they are told they are not modestly dressed.

It must stop. The elections will decide who fills these seats. Tower

Hamlets will be hoping the talk is of the politics and not of fraud.

A woman from Windsor has been sentenced to life in prison for the

murder of her 11`month`old son. The old daily was told that the boy

suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of 25`year`old Emma

Wilson. Kara Welsh is outside the court and has been following the

case. Callum Wilson's injuries resulted in

blindness, multiple fractures and eventually his death. He died when

he was taken from his mother's flaps to hospital in March, 2011. He was

in a collapsed state. During the trial, the court heard that

Callum's brain injury was caused by a direct blow, or from striking his

head against something. It was caused by his mother, 25`year`old

Emma Wilson. When Kallum Watkins on, he was put into foster care. His

mother wanted him put up for adoption but she changed her mind

and Kallum Watkins turned to her. Social workers noticed scratches on

him but Emma Wilson said they were done by his older brother. She also

lied to staff at a local children's centre. They described the boy as

changing from a happy, smiling baby to emotionless and listless. Today,

the judge sentenced Emma Wilson to life in prison and she will serve a

minimum of 14 years. The Royal Borough of wind ` Windsor

and Maidenhead have opened a serious case review. What can we expect?

That will be updated, if necessary taking anything from the trial into

account. That will be looking at whether there was enough assessment

of the family, about the decision to return the child to his mother, were

there missed opportunities, could staff have acted differently when

they noticed scratches on him? We expect the findings to be published

in the next few weeks. That will bring very little comfort to the

family. The Olympic Stadium, the velodrome,

the Aquatic Centre, all described as world class during the 2012 games,

but cycling facilities in the Olympic Park, which houses the

sites, is now being described as a world`class embarrassment, the

comment from campaigners referring to the difficulties like a list 's

face in accessing the park, running contrary to the Mayor's ambition of

making it a cycling paradise. Cycling was a huge success story at

London 2012, and the velodrome will attract thousands of cyclists. But

this is what greets those using two wheels to get to the Olympic Park on

the main route from the West. Three flights of stairs. This is the

western cycling entrance to the Olympic Park, and it's an absolute

embarrassment. We've got world`class facilities, a world`class velodrome,

aquatic Centre, superb stadium, and this world`class embarrassment. How

are cyclists supposed to ride into the park up that? They gave us a

guided tour of the facilities. There are cycle parts, but in places,

Bullard 's and trees and cobbles move into them. This is utter

stupidity. Putting cobbles on a bicycle lane defies the imagination.

How could anyone do that? Junctions are badly thought out. You have to

get off, cross that one, weight, stop, get off, cross that one, here,

stop, get off, cross that one, and only then do you get to that

junction. Absolutely thoughtless design. In places, campaigners say

the cycle lanes are confusing and below the recommended whipped. The

Mayor's cycling commissioner told us he recognised the facilities need

improvement and he has agreed plans for a traffic free route, and plans

to ramp this bridge are being worked on. Cyclists understand that the

park is not quite finished, but from the facilities they have seen so

far, they feel they have been an afterthought. The Olympics was meant

to increase participation in sports like cycling. So far, campaigners

say, it is a massive missed opportunity and they now await

improvements. Still to come:

We meet London's Winter Olympic hopefuls, including the 22`year`old

figure skater preparing for her second Games. Rufus Hound on

singing, dancing and starring in the west end's newest musical.

Next, 200 new skyscrapers are said to be planned for London. The figure

comes from the New London architecture group, and it is sure

to prove controversial, as we ask if we really want to turn the capital

into a high`rise metropolis. Alice Bhandhukravi is on the viewing

platform of the shard, around 1000 feet above London.

Welcome to the 72nd floor of the tallest building in Western Europe.

Take a look at this. We are 800 feet up, and as far as the view goes, it

does not get much better than this. Of course, London's skyline is not

only beautiful, but also likely to change considerably in the next 20

years. Here to discuss it with me, Peter Murray from the New London

architecture Centre, and Nigel Barker from English Heritage. Peter,

you are doing research about what London's skyline could look like in

20 years. What have you found? When we started our research we found

there are new residential towers, 20 stories up to 60, 200 of them we

have discovered so far. What you are going to see over time is a cluster

of towers at Battersea, Southwark, more towers at Canary Wharf, at

Stratford and a series of clusters in the centre of the city. We are

going to see a major change in what London looks like over the years. We

have to deal with the housing crisis, but what does that mean from

an English Heritage point of view? You are here to conserve some of our

historic monuments. What it means is a challenge to maintain the balance

between old and new which is what excites people when they come to

London. Significant clusters of tall buildings in Battersea and Southwark

have to content with the existing historic tall buildings like the

Palace of Westminster and the tower of London. There are restrictions on

protecting the silhouettes of the buildings but it is more about the

setting. Peter, what do you think of what you expect to come? Will they

be anything like this amazing building we are in now? They will

not be as high as this but there will be a lot of them and I think it

is really important they are off the highest quality in terms of their

form and shape in the skyline and also the way in which they meet the

ground. Tall buildings, how they are at the base, when you have a lot of

people coming out of them and people pass them, when you create the

streets of London, that is really important. It is quality we are keen

to look at. Peter and Nigel, thank you for talking to us. There is an

exhibition on what London's skyline could look like witches starting in

April. Up here, it is a cold but the views are worth it. Back to you in

the studio, Asad. Spectacular views over London this

Friday night. It is that time on Friday to hand over to Sara for the

sports news. There is snow, ice and football. That is right. We will

look ahead to the Winter Olympics shortly but first, the FA Cup. Seven

teams from in and around London are in action.

It is just under an hour when league leaders Arsenal will play Coventry

at the Emirates. The gunners manager Arsene Wenger will not be taking any

chances. It will be not welcome at all not to take this game seriously.

And we are still in the moment of our lifetime, this team, we want to

gain respect and for our attitude, that is the best way to gain

respect. Tonight, our radio station, BBC

London digital radio will have full commentary. Kick`off is at 7:45pm.

Staying with the FA Cup, Chelsea are at home to Stoke on Sunday but we

want to talk about the player Chelsea sold back in 2011 as part of

a deal worth ?3 million. It was Nemanja Matic who has just been

bought back by Chelsea ?421 million. Warren Nettleford went to meet Matic

defined what is like being bought back for seven times what you were

sold for. He has been brought in to add steel to the Chelsea midfield.

If you looks familiar, that is because he has been a Chelsea player

before. Nemanja Matic was at Chelsea between 2009 and 2011, before being

sold to Benfica. The opportunity to come back to Stamford Bridge was too

good to turn down. To work with Marini and improve my game. `` Jose

Mourinho. In Benfica I was good but if I want to improve I have to

change something. Looking for more first`team opportunities, he moved

to Benfica where he impressed fans and critics, becoming integral to

the team. That is why Chelsea did not flinch in paying the Portuguese

club ?21 million to re`sign him. His time in London gave him a taste of

the FA Cup. He knows how much it means to the fans. I know it is

important, everybody wants to win and we have to think like this and

do our job the best. It does not matter if it is the FA Cup or the

champions league or the Premier League, I want to win. He is joining

a team near the top of the Premier League and with Spanish midfielder

Juan Mata, he is keen to make his mark. I'm happy to be part of this

team. You are probably familiar now with

these pictures as we are two weeks away from the start of the Winter

Olympics in Sochi. Athletes who have qualified for the games have

travelled to love preuniversity to collect their Team GB kit and there

is a good handful of Londoners for us to keep our eye on.

They have skied, skated and slid their way to a place at the Sochi

games. Now they have got their hands on their Team GB kit, Maidenhead's

Penny Combs and Nick Bartlett, it tops off a week where they have won

the European Championships. I could not be more excited. This is the

best week we have had a long time. Getting our kit and having Team GB

on amber backs again is fantastic. Pair went to Vancouver where they

finished 20th. It was my dream and ambition and my whole life. When I

got there I felt nervous. Right now, I do not feel nervous, I am

excited. This is what I have worked my whole life for and I get to do it

again. I feel very, very proud. Elsewhere, Chemmy Alcott will

compete in the Alpine skiing. Four years ago, unfortunately, I did

not make the Vancouver games. It was after watching those games at home

that I made the decision I would become a driver and the hard work

that has gone in, for the last three, three .5 years, it has been a

roller`coaster. It means a great deal. Great Britain brought home

just one medal from Vancouver. UK sport expect a minimum of three from

the Sochi. Good luck to everyone going out to

Sochi in Russia. I cannot wait for the snowboard cross to start again.

After rejecting numerous offers to make a West End comeback, the actor

Robert Lindsay said his role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is what he

has been waiting for. 16 years after his last performance in a musical,

he has teamed up with Rufus Hound and Samantha Bond for the story of

two men competing to swindle an heiress out of her money.

The film stars Michael Caine and Steve Martin as conmen tricking

money out of rich women in the French Riviera. The cast of the

musical, here rehearsing in Kennington includes Rufus Hound

without a moustache. It is his first musical. He has received critical

acclaim for previous roles but he has had to learn some new skills. I

walk around and think I can sing a bit but other days I think, I am

basically Pavarotti! Other days I think, I am sorry, you have not made

it. Despite being an award`winning dancer, having taken the coveted

glitter ball in the Strictly Christmas special, he does not think

of himself as a pro. A dancer walks into a nightclub and people think,

look at that, beautiful shapes with a body! I am not that guy. I am

like, put that put their... Playing against him is Robert Lindsay but we

have lots in him singing and dancing in the West End for many years. He

has deliberately never watched the film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels but he

did bump into Steve Martin during filming in the South of France. He

said, I'm doing this think will Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which may

work or may not. He was very cavalier about it. The long and

short of it was, my film went down the pan and theirs was a big hit!

For former down to now be star Samantha Bond, being in a musical is

possibly more exciting than having being a Bond girl. There is a little

person inside me who always wanted to be Ginger Rogers. Now I get to

the little bit like ginger and I find the whole thing thrilling. I

love being in the rehearsal room. A wicked cast directed by Tony award

winning director will take to the stage in April.

Vincent Van Gough's sunflower paintings are some of his most

recognisable and best loved works. Now two of the masterpieces will be

shown together in the National Gallery in London for the first time

in more than 60 years. The paintings are worth an estimated ?100 million

each. They look very similar but under an x`ray there are some

differences. In London they are light and the

x`ray and in Amsterdam they are dark. What that tells us is Vincent

painted these flowers as an afterthought. He painted them over

the background, hence the paint is more thicker and the image appears

white. It means the Amsterdam picture follows the designs of the

London picture. That is a must see for me. Now the weekend weather with

Sara. A lot of cloud. Not as much rain as

was promised. We are now having that rain with us. We have got it right

the way through the evening and overnight spreading in from the

West. We will have the odd heavy burst. It becomes more showery by

tomorrow morning. Temperatures will not be as cold as last night. Five

or six Celsius typically. It means we will start with some mist and fog

tomorrow morning. Some showers still lingering. They are clearing away.

Tomorrow will be the best day of the weekend. We will be drive for the

bulk of the day. Make the most of it. We are going to see a change

next week. Tomorrow evening we have a spell of sharp showers moving

across London. Behind it, the temperature will start to drop

away. Watch out for the icy patch as we head into Sunday morning. Cloud

will start to thicken up from the west later. Temperatures close to

freezing for a time. The reason the cloud the conduct on Sunday morning

is because we have another spell of wet windy weather to move in from

the west. It will move away quite smartly. Behind it, the area is

colder. Not as cold perhaps as we might be expecting for this time of

year. Where is winter has been the question on everybody's lips,

especially down south. Here it is, it is in Eastern Europe. In Sochi

they are having to make snow and we would have to as well. But a bit of

a change next week. Gradually, things will start to turn colder. We

will see some colder air towards the north of the UK which will gradually

filter its way down towards us. You can see the temperatures dropping

away and we will have rain at times as well.

Before we go, let's remind ourselves of the main headlines: A row has

broken out over government claims that most workers have seen their

take`home pay rise in the last year. The government says cuts to national

insurance and income tax have pushed wages up. Labour says the claims are

based on dodgy statistics. There has been another explosion in the

Egyptian capital, Cairo, the fourth today.

At least six people have been killed and dozens injured.

Two Twitter users have been jailed for sending a feminist abusive

messages. Isabella Sorley and John Nimmo were jailed for targeting the

Caroline Criado`Perez who was campaigning for a woman to be put on

banknotes. Join me and Sara later during the ten o'clock News on BBC

One. From everyone on the team, good. #

goodbye.