10/06/2014 BBC London News

Tonight, on BBC London News. City Hall approves the purchase

of three water cannon for the Metropolitan Police They've

never been used on mainland Britain before.

The Home Secretary would need to give her approval.

Also tonight: A major investigation is launched

after thieves target ticket machines across North London

and Hertfordshire with pickaxes and angle grinders.

A warning that domestic violence soars during England games.

Essex Police target known offenders. Those involved in football violence,

suddenly feel their self esteem is damaged when a game is lost. I

present to you, the super... Essex Police target known offenders.

And, the next generation of playwrights, whose works sold out

at the Royal Court. Hello,

and a very good evening to you. In the last hour,

it's been confirmed that City Hall has given the go ahead

for three water cannon to be bought by the Metropolitan Police.

The vehicles will cost just over ?200,000, but the Home Office has

to give final approval before they can be used on London's streets.

Our home affairs correspondent, Guy Smith, joins me now.

Guy, what more can you tell us? The Met have been asking for water

cannon since the London riots in 2 o 011. Boris Johnson think it is's a

good idea and supported the Met's request. He has given them the go I

ahead to buy three water cannon at around ?200,000 each. Heth Met

haven't `` the Met haven't gauth them yet. That is the intention.

They are offered at a reduced price. That price is only until July to

save the taxpayer City Hall, says, ?2 million, the cost of buying new

machines. City Hall say it's a prudent decision to keep costs

London and give the Met this reduced price, it's subject to Home Office

approval. It's a controversial tactic. What reaction has there been

to this? Absolutely right. It is controversial. We have only seen

these machines in Northern Ireland and in other countries across the

world. The Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, a London Assembly

Member for Labour said: I gather the Green Party has been

particularly vocal as well? Jenny Jones, from the Green Party, said, I

quote, she said this only a few moments ago, "it's an indiscriminate

military weapon that risks injuring and distressing innocent bystanders

and making things worse rather than containing situations. . Water

cannon have no place on the streets of London and I hope the Home

Secretary sees sense." What is the Metropolitan Police saying tonight?

The Met, clearly, welcomes this decision. They stress that they

won't be deployed until, or unless the Home Secretary authorises them.

After the 2011 riots they felt there was a gap in actually controlling

the streets when there was extreme disorder. They think is essential to

their tool kit. They predict it will be rarely seen and rarely used, but

clearly what we are seeing now is a clear gear change in policing in

London. OK. Guy, for now, thank you. With the latest there. Our Home

Affairs Correspondent, Guy Smith. Plenty more to come tonight.

Including. I lob reporting from Trafalgar Square where up to 12,000

Black Cab drivers plan to stage a protest, bringing traffic to a

standstill. `` will be. A major investigation has been

launched to catch a gang of thieves who've been stealing

ticket machines across North London and Hertfordshire.

They use angle grinders and pickaxes to prize open

the machines and steal the cash. British Transport Police say

the thieves have caused more than ?100,000 worth of damage.

Our transport correspondent, Tom Edwards, has the story.

discerted train station late at night. This is when the gang

grinder and brazenly cut open a grinder and brazenly cut open a

ticket machine. This is the latest crime wave hitting the capital's

transport network. As you can quite clearly see, they are using the

angle grinder to cut open the ticket It takes machine. Just minutes to

cut into the machine. So far, this gang have stolen ?3,000 in cash,

they have also caused over ?100,000 in damage. They are targeting

isolated stations in the early hours of the morning. The last train has

gone. They are covering up. They are trying to disably CCTV `` disable

CCTV. They are cutting open the machine causingle considerable

damage. These incidents took place over the last six weeks at stations

all run by First Capital Connect. As we found today, this machine no

longer takes cash. Although the train company says it will be fixed

soon. So far, the gang has hit six stations in North London and in

Hertfordshire. Every time they used angle grinders and pickaxes to break

into these machines. Every time, they struck late at night, when the

stations were unstaffed. Considerable amount of force being

used to get into the machine. A large cut down that left hand side.

They got into the cash box area now. You will see the cash box being

taken away now and them running off. In this raid, closed circuit

television is spotted by the gang, they try and disable the cameras.

The police still have these images. They want anyone who knows them to

get in touch before the gang strikes again.

Police say they're preparing for a potential surge in domestic violence

as the World Cup gets underway. When England crashed out

of the tournament, four years ago, incidents rose by almost 30%.

Today, police in Essex have been warning known offenders that they're

being watched and encouraging the community to report any abuse.

Yvonne Hall has more. The Cup 2010, England are out after

losing 4`1 to Germany. A massive disappointment to fans, but while

most deal with it, some take it out on their partners. Hailey nearly

died when her former boyfriend attacked her in a row over his

drinking. She suffered severe head injuries. He was jailed for

attempted murder. It's all about the control element of a relationship.

So if they can't control you, you won't do what they say, or wear what

they tell you to wear, it's the same with football or any sport. You

know, they can't control what is going on on the telly or in another

country. Police in Essex have launched a new campaign to warn of

the expected increases in domestic violence during and after England's

games. Research shows even if England wins or draws attacks go up

by 26%. Losing a game means they rise by 38%. Sometimes there is a

level of alcohol or substance abuse that goes on. Those involved in

football violence, the macho side of a sporting event, suddenly feel

their self esteem is damaged when a game is lost. Essex Police are

targeting 117 known offenders, some will receive doorstep visits. They

will be warned they could be jailed if they attack again. Domestic abuse

can be physical. This is a new video made by Essex Police called Standing

Together, it's urging anyone who is a victim or witnesses abuse to

always report it. It's all about In London control. There is a warning

all types of violence could rise by nearly 20%. In Hounslow alone by

more than 31%. The message from victims ` Talk to somebody. Ask for

help. Please don't think you are going to be judged.

There've been calls for Londoners to be consulted more about new

skyscrapers in the capital. The London Assembly has launched

an investigation after it emerged that more than 200

such buildings are in the pipeline. Let's cross to our political editor,

Tim Donovan. Is there growing feeling that

building up isn't necessarily the answer to the capital's housing

problems? Absolutely spot on. It was said today that at the moment

consultation is very limited and very localised about new

skyscrapers. It's very difficult to get the full picture. Thus, to miss

the scale of what is planned. 230 in the pipeline at the moment, who

knows how many more. A whole new cluster of new buildings alone in

one area, Vauxhall and Nine Elms, a former chief planning officer said

it was the wrong buildings, wrong communities, ideal density and

numbers of houses could be produced at eight or nine storeys. He got a

backing today for that view from a former President of the Royal

Institute of British Architects and someone who sits on the Mayor's own

advisory body. He says won't building up `` building up won't

solve London's housing crisis. If a tower is proposed, or a tower is

thought about, to address density issues, then it should be required

that alternative methods of achieving the same goals and

densities should be demonstrated shown and considered as a prior

condition. That said, Tim, so why are so many being built? Well, they

are popular with developers. The higher you build, the profit margin

increases. Tony spp Pingly, the head ofkm Barclay Homes, says public

attitudes are changing also. People do want to live in them. Families,

he cited an example in Croydon. A development he is doing at the

moment. There has been controversy particularly around the river where

people have been raising fears about foreign investors buying these

places and leaving them empty. The Deputy Mayor for planning said there

was no evidence for that. They hadn't been able to do the studies

for that though. He said the issue was exaggerated. Anyway, tall

buildings were only dealing with a fraction of the housing that we

needed. We're not saying all of London is suitable for tall

buildings. Indeed, tall buildings only account for about 10% of

construction. Let us put it back into context. It is not being built

everywhere. People can choose whether they want to live in a tall

building or not. That is a market choice which people make. One key

suggestion made today there should be a central database. There should

be 3D technology and a website etc so that Londoners can see exactly

what is being planned where and when. Tim, thank you. Our political

editor, Tim Donovan there. Tim Donovan.

Police have revealed that a man jailed for life

for stabbing another man to death in the West End 40 years ago has

been at large for four years. Robert Donovan left Ford Open Prison

on day release in June 2010 and didn't return.

He'd been sentenced for the murder in 1974.

This follows a series of incidents last month,

in which high`profile prisoners went on the run from open prisons.

The first purpose`built sheltered housing for the elderly in London

could be sold off and its residents moved out.

The unit in Streatham houses 65 people in blocks linked

by walkways and gardens. Lambeth Council says it would cost

too much to upgrade and the residents will be given new

purpose`built accommodation. Alice Bhandhukravi has been speaking

to some of those who'll be affected. This street it's in natural strayed

and under natural beauty. Nellie and her neighbour Elizabeth enjoying the

peace and quiet of their communal garden within the community they are

hoping to keep. The residents say they have tried everything to stop

the council from selling the flats on this 1970s estate in

architectural terms, a modernist gem. In accommodation terms it's not

considered modern enough. The pensioners here will have to be

refoulsed. It's in my mind all the time. I thought, when I moved in

here, it's so nice `` rehoused. The security is lovely and everything. I

thought I would be in here until I went out in my box. The residents

whose needs vary live independently here with a warden to call on if

necessary. They say the space and the friendships keep them alive. I'm

nice and comfortable in my own flat. I can get around it as much as I

can. That to me is worth living. It's almost as if Lambeth is trying

to make every period of old age the same. And then care for it the same

way. Well, every period of old age is not the same. Lambeth Council

says it is being pragmatic about what it offers its growing elderly

population. Any new development will cater for people who are very

healthy and able`bodied and don't need any help. It will also be there

and have the support there for people who need really quite a lot

of help as they become frailer. Is this about trying to make money from

the land? It's about having the money we need to do up all of our

housing for older people. Being able to make the changes we need to make

sheltered housing as good as it can be The residents here insist it

already is. Scientists

in London say they've discovered a new way of controlling malaria.

The disease can kill those who aren't diagnosed or

treated quickly enough. The team at Imperial College London

has created genetically modified mosquitoes which only breed males,

eradicating the malaria`carrying females,

as Katharine Carpenter reports. Every minute a child dies from

malaria. Even though better prevention and control measures have

reduced the mortality rate in the last decade, it still kills over

600,000 people around the world every year. But could these

mosquitoes at a lab in South Kensington be at the forefront of

change? You can see them flying around... They have been genetically

modified by scientists at Imperial College London so they only produce

male offspring, eventually wiping out the females which bites and pass

malaria to humans. These mosquitoes have a gene we have introduced which

essentially destroys the X chromosome. The scientists say their

aim is not to wipe out the species of mosquito. They just want to

reduce the numbers in certain parts of the world until malaria is

eradicated. Introducing manipulated mosquitoes to native populations is

still some way off and would require the agreement of foreign governments

and communities. But the scientists at Imperial say they `` their

pioneering approach has clear benefits. Simple, effective and

sustainable, so everybody will benefit independently whereas with

other technology require sustained effort and investment. It is the

sort of long`term solution welcomed by those with first`hand experience

of the disease. Anne`Marie now works with a malaria charity after

contracting it in Uganda in 1997. It was scary, I was a long way from

home, I was feverish, shaky, did not know where I was. Symptoms are still

rife in malaria stricken areas where the media focuses in on `` focus is

on improving information about the disease. Hope is now that one day it

won't be needed. as Katharine Carpenter reports.

Still to come: We meet four players here playing to

the Royal Court. Still to come:

Thousands of taxi drivers are expected to bring traffic to

a standstill tomorrow afternoon in a protest over internet firms

taking their business. The row is over protecting

their exclusive right to charge passengers using a meter.

Chris Rogers is in Trafalgar Square with more details.

Tomorrow at 2pm up to 12,000 black cab drivers plan to bring traffic to

a standstill here at Trafalgar Square. It is a protest against

Transport for London's decision to allow an Internet minicab firm to

operate in London using a meter type system. It is an app you can

download on your smartphone or tablet, enabling the customer to

book their nearest driver. They have nearly 3000 in the capital. But

instead of being charged a flat rate, the passenger is charged by

time and distance, a bit like a meter which appears on your mobile

phone screen. Black cab drivers say only they have permission to use

that system and tomorrow they say is about giving passengers value for

money. This is enabling them to get about with the knowledge they have

but to follow Google Maps really does not work. The reason we're not

happy is the silence from TfL. It is deafening at the moment. We look at

it as they should be helping us, backing us up regarding this and we

are getting no help from them. I tell cab drivers now they are forced

into this position. The Met police are not happy either because they

say they have not been consulted about terms and conditions about the

protest organised. We would be looking at time and duration and

that it will take place and minimise disruption to the rest of London.

And if the taxi drivers don't abide to those conditions, what action

would you take? We would have to take action because they are not

complying. Potentially arrests, yes. I am just hearing that the Met

police may close down the protest after just one hour if terms and

conditions after greed. Transport for London say they plan to settle

the whole dispute over meter system in the High Court. `` terms and

conditions are not agreed. with more details.

With just two days to go until the start of the World Cup

in Brazil, Londoners are gearing up to cheer England on.

One of the capital's biggest brewers is certainly getting in the mood.

Gareth Furby went to meet one man who was there in '66 and is hoping

for more of the same this year. If you want a prediction of how

England is going to do in the World Cup, why not ask a man who brewed

some of the beer that Londoners drank the last time they won? That

looks like a good brew. Of course, this is the new stuff. In 1966, it

was done rather differently. We would have been in here, dark

liquid, boiling. This would have been for up to just below my hand.

But one thing which has survived is the yeast. It has been growing in

the brewery and has been in the brewery since... 1966! There was

also a bottle of beer from that World Cup winning year. So what does

the man who helped to brew it think of England's chances now? I don't

think they will win it, but, like last time, I could be wrong. Yes, he

thought England were not good enough in 66. I did not think the team

could score enough goals. They were relying so much on Bobby Charlton.

But the load is that this brewery seem to like playing football with

the barrels. So what do they think? A tough group they are in. They will

struggle to qualify. I reckon we will get to the quarterfinals and

then knocked out by Brazil or Spain. Wouldn't say they were going to win

but I say they will do well. Whatever happens, there will be

something to drink, whether in celebration or commiseration. And,

don't forget, the brewery team leader got it wrong last time and

England went on to win! for more of the same this year.

The latest work by Peckham`based artist Antony Gormley has been

revealed as part of a hotel. The work known as "Room",

is only four metres square and ten metres high, with shutters over the

window to provide total blackout. It's located on the facade

of Mayfair's new Beaumont Hotel, which opens this autumn.

It's a production that's been a sell`out at the

Royal Court Theatre, but what's unusual is that the playwrights are

eight`to`11 year`olds. The show, which is part of

a scheme to encourage young people to get into theatre, is now touring

primary schools across the capital. So how's it been received by,

perhaps some of the toughest critics, their peers?

Here's our arts correspondent Brenda Emmanus.

A tale of action hero and bad guy performed at the Royal Court. It is

part of prime time, nine short plays written for kids by kids. Created by

eight to 11`year`olds as part of the Young writers festival and a Peckham

Young playwrights project, a selection were chosen and given four

productions performed by professional actors. The idea was to

get people into theatre and creatively involved both

behind`the`scenes and bring younger audiences into the theatre by seeing

their contemporaries write the plays themselves. From explosions in

London, talking sausage rolls, spit `` competitive sports days and

cocktail loving monkeys, the writers have certainly stretched their

imaginations and loved every part of the process. To be able to write

something outside of school and have it enter a competition was Willie

good. Most children firstly don't get the opportunity to write plays

or see them perform. So when I was given the opportunity, I took it.

So, after four sold`out days here at the Royal Court, the Young

playwrights see their work performed at local London schools. St Paul's

is one of 15 primary schools to stage a work of the young writing

talent. But what do the Young critics make of the plays written by

their peers to encourage them to experience more theatre? Sangam

people don't even bother to go to the theatre but I think it is Willie

good. `` some young people. `` really good. You can get the

imagination running through your head. It is quite inspiring. It is

just funny in a way that makes me want to see it again and again and

again! It makes me feel happy. So success already for these young,

budding writers. It's that time of the evening

for a check on the weather. Let's get the latest,

with Georgina Burnett. There has not been much change in

the detail for the weather over the next few days. Mainly dry and bright

but not good news for hay fever sufferers, as we can expect a high

to very high pollen count over the next few days, so don't get caught

out with that. If you are off to Queens tomorrow, you may need some

sun cream because we have temperatures reaching 23 degrees.

Maybe a bit of cloud around with Andy Murray plane but not enough to

protect you. Editor Ray south`westerly breeze in the

afternoon and coming through the evening but a very sunny day all

together today and this evening it continues to be dry as well. `` a

bit of a south`westerly breeze. A largely dry night, looking at

another mild one, but not quite as humid as it has been recently.

Temperatures down to about ten or 11, 12 degrees, so a bit cooler than

it has been last night. But certainly not those downpours that

we had yesterday. Tomorrow, another largely dry day again with plenty of

sunshine around. Cloud building in the afternoon but that does

gradually thin out later in the day as well. So today's to bridge is

down from yesterday's and tomorrow they creep back up temperatures.

Slightly cooler in the outskirts as usual. Then high pressure firmly in

control over the next few days, so those temperatures gradually

creeping up through the week, and we are looking at some decent ones on

Thursday and Friday again. So Thursday, we could reach 25 Celsius

again and on Friday that could end up being the warmest day of the week

but perhaps even the warmest day of the year all together with those

temperatures getting to 26 or even above that. And we hold on to the

high pressure well into next week. More clout than we would like over

the weekend but still not too bad weekend to come `` cloud.

The energy regulator has told the big six electricity and gas

suppliers to reduce household bills. Ofgem's own research shows that

prices for gas and electricity are currently at

their lowest level for four years. David Cameron has backed proposals

to actively promote British values in England's schools.

His comments come after OFSTED found that four Birmingham schools had

been influenced by hardline Islamic views.

City Hall has given the go`ahead for three water cannon to be bought

by the Metropolitan Police. I'll be back later during the Ten

o'clock News, and plenty more on our website.

From all of us here, thanks for watching and enjoy your evening.