23/04/2014 BBC London News

Good evening. A Metropolitan Police whistle`blower is being investigated

for gross misconduct after he appeared on TV and radio without

permission from the force. PC James Patrick resigned after accusing the

Met of manipulating crime figures, and he now feels Scotland Yard is

being vindictive because of the embarrassment he's caused them.

Here's our home affairs correspondent, Guy Smith.

A report by the public affairs select committee looked into police

crime statistics today. This is what has got him into more

hot water for, appearing two weeks ago on a BBC TV programme and radio

five, telling viewers and listeners about the way he has been treated

since blowing the whistle on the Met police for apparently fiddling crime

figures. Today it's revealed he is now being investigated for gross

misconduct, although he's already resigned and leaves the force next

month. On his website in an open letter to the commissioner, he

writes: PC Patrick first appeared in front

of MPs last November, informing them of how his own force allegedly

massaged crime statistics. The Commissioner, Sir Bernard

Hogan`Howe, later admitted there was a truth in the allegations, and a

subsequent Parliamentary report was highly critical of the Met, but

praising PC Patrick as a whistle`blower. The report's author

this afternoon expressed concern about today's news. This underlines

that the police do not seem to accept what we found in our report,

that there is institutional denial in the Metropolitan Police about the

Ms record in the police recorded crime. This former commander was

jailed for perverting the course of justice. He wrote a highly critical

book on the Met while serving as a senior officer, but faced no

disciplinary action and was later promoted. The Met said he sought

permission for his book. Busy Patrick, however, allegedly broke

the rules by failing to seek the appropriate authority before talking

to the media, and Scotland Yard confirmed the police constable is

now being investigated for potential gross misconduct.

Tributes have been paid to a businessman from Surrey who's been

murdered in the Philippines. Tony Gilchrist, who opened a scuba diving

centre on the island of Malapascua, was shot six times by a security

guard who's admitted to the killing. He says he was angered by Mr

Gilchrist's behaviour towards him. Mr Gilchrist's family say he loved

the local community. The BBC has found that thousands of

people in London are living in what's described as "hidden homes"

because they can't afford to live anywhere else. People are paying to

live in shop storerooms, above garages and on industrial estates,

which the London Fire Brigade say is causing them "grave concern". Those

living on makeshift sites say the capital is too expensive for them to

afford a proper home. A mother from Eltham says all dogs

should be muzzled in public places after her 11`year`old son saved his

baby brother from a dog attack. Jack Mackay suffered deep bites to his

face and arm when he rushed forward to protect his family earlier this

month near his home. The dog has been destroyed, but Jack's mother is

calling for a change in the law. A group which supports parents who

work in the City of London says there needs to be a culture change

to encourage men to take their full parental leave. A survey of fathers

in the City found a need for them to have a better work/life balance.

Currently, many fathers fear that taking paternity leave could harm

their career. Here's Gareth Furby. Richard Gormley early this morning,

before setting out for work in the city. It is his job to wake and feed

his two children. Things depend on how corporative they are. Hamish

didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Emily wants to wear

something else. Who's getting you dressed? It is a tight schedule, but

as his wife also works three days a week, he has to stick to a routine.

I think these days, dads want to share a lot more in the upbringing

of their kids. Then it's off to nursery, and all of this is only

possible because his employer is flexible. This allows him to turn up

at the office later than normal, and return home earlier. For many, male

city workers `` for many male city workers, it can be a different

story. The perception for many fathers is that if they do ask, it

will be a black mark against them. The perception that they are not

committed. Today was the first meeting of the new working group

called City Fathers, which hopes to challenge that culture. I have

certainly found that working full`time and being a father changes

things. And may help tidy fathers take advantage of new rights next

year for mothers and fathers to share up to 12 months of parental

leave. But is it really likely that a city high`flyer will turn his back

on a six`figure salary for several months to look after his children?

Some made, and if they feel strongly enough that that is the right thing

for their family, good luck to them. There is bound to be a limit. There

are bound to be people who don't want to take it up because they are

driven by the long hours. But for city dads who want more time at home

with their children, there is now a way of seeking advice, and the

founders hope that talking will soon lead to change.

That's all from me for tonight, so after a warm day, I'll hand you over

to over to Tomasz for the weather. We can't be sure it will be a

completely dry day tomorrow, but mostly sunny. One or two sprinkles

on the cards. The rain will splash its way out towards the east, so by

the early hours of Thursday morning, it will be quite damp and misty. Not

too cold in the centre of London, around 10 Celsius. Tomorrow starts

grey and misty, but by the time we get to the end of lunchtime, sunny

spells will begin to come through the cloud. These splodges of blue

mean that there will be one or two showers around. And for the

evening, it doesn't look too bad at all. Looking at the outlook over the

next few days, by the time we get to Saturday, it does look as though the

weather will turn a lot more unsubtle, so for the time being, the

weekend doesn't look grey. Here's Nick Miller with the national

outlook.