28/02/2014 BBC News at One

Minister accuses Russian naval forces of occupying Sevastopol

airport in the autonomous region of Crimea. Here in Balaklava, a Russian

frigate today blocks the entrance to this strategically important

harbour. But whose orders is it acting on? We'll have all the latest

on the developing crisis in the Ukraine. Also this lunchtime... The

Big Six energy companies are told to hand back ?400 million to households

after an investigation by the industry watchdog. Last year's

badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset were ineffective and

inhumane, according to an independent scientific assessment.

Globally-co-ordinated police raids - including here in the UK - against

the so-called boiler room gangs. The Northern Lights go south, as

spectacular illuminations light up the night sky far south as Essex and

Gloucestershire. Later on BBC London, a High Court judge rules the

Met failed the victims of this serial rapist. And the Tube unions

claim the new trains are unsafe. Tensions are running high in the

Ukraine's Crimea region, where armed men have seized one airport, and

taken over the control tower of another. Russia has denied

involvement, but the interim Ukrainian government has accused

Moscow of invading the largely pro-Russian territory. Unconfirmed

reports on Ukrainian media say Russian military helicopters have

landed in Sevastapol, and that a Russian naval vessel has blocked the

entrance to the city's Balaklava Bay. Our correspondent Duncan

Crawford sent this report from Kiev. The main international airport in

Crimea is under the control of heavily armed men. They are

undoubtedly pro-Russian, but are they operating independently, or

under the guidance of the Kremlin? They moved in last night. The men

have not spoken about their plans, but the passenger terminal is still

open. This man says they are guarding against pro-Western forces,

aligned to the new government in Kiev.

TRANSLATION: Radicalism and fascism are not welcome here. This is our

slogan, and we do not want radicals from Ukraine or other regions, and

other countries, to visit us in Crimea. On a road leading to a

second airport, a military one, in Sevastopol, there are also armed

men. The new Interior Minister of Ukraine claims these forces are from

the Russian Navy, saying they are part of an armed invasion. Russia's

Black Sea Fleet is based nearby, but denies Russian servicemen are

involved. Russian speaking Crimea has been part of Ukraine for 60

years, under a memorandum signed in 1994, Russia, the US, France and the

UK agreed to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In Kiev, the

parliament appealed to the West to protect that agreement. Emergency

meetings are taking place to determine how to respond. The new

government here has only been in power for 24 hours, yet they could

already be facing a counter revolution. The parliament here has

called on the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Crimea, a

situation which threatens to spiral out of control. Many MPs are in no

doubt who is responsible. TRANSLATION: It is a provocation

against Ukraine by Russian special forces. It is a total violation of

the laws governing the presence of foreign forces on Ukrainian

territory. Relations between Russia and Ukraine

have got worse ever since Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was

ousted from power. But overnight, Russian President Vladimir Putin

talked about financial support for Russia's partners in Kiev. It is

unclear where the Kremlin really stands, or whether this really is

the start of a military takeover. Let's talk to our diplomatic

correspondent Bridget Kendall, who is in Moscow. -- Christian Fraser. I

wonder if you could just take us through the things you have seen

this morning? Yes, it has been a very fast developing situation. We

have seen roadblocks on the way from Simferopol to Sevastopol last

night, a significant roadblocks, stopping any traffic on the road.

This morning we went up to Sevastopol airport, and the main

approach has been blocked by two military vehicles, personnel

carriers. The men that are there are heavily armed, with powerful assault

rifles, but there is no insignia on the uniforms they are wearing. And

they are refusing to answer questions. They are also being

supported by what I suppose you could say is a civil defence force.

Just around this rather pretty headlined is a Russian frigate, not

entirely surprising, given that the Black Sea Fleet is stationed in

Sevastopol, but is unusual to see a frigate manoeuvring backwards and

forwards in the bay, seemingly blocking the entrance to this

strategically important harbour, while under the watchful eye of the

coastguard. When you put it in context, particularly with a report

from one of our Russian colleagues that 23 Miller call vehicles -- 23

military vehicles are en route to Sevastopol this afternoon, it does

look threatening. It looks such a screen setting, but I wonder whether

it feels tense? The planes on the runway belong to the Ukrainian

defence force, and yet, it does not seem as if they have very much power

over control over what is happening. So, they could do it one of two

ways. They could do it softly, softly, or they could come in here

hard, which could antagonise the situation. That dilemma I think is

reflected in the people that come to talk to us here. There are some who

come and give us these stickers, which are pro-Russian, this is the

emblem of the Black Sea Fleet, the flag which is flying over the

frigate out in the bay. And there are others, one man who has just

come here, swearing and cursing and spitting on the floor when he

referred to Russia. So, there are splits in society. It is a

precarious situation at the moment. Bridget Kendall is monitoring events

for us in Moscow. I wonder what the Russians are saying about events

which are unfolding. The government is keeping its distance, it is not

commenting here in Moscow. President Putin had a meeting with

parliamentarians today, and his spokesman said Ukraine would not

even be top of the agenda, although it may come up. But in the media and

in comment, people are looking at the events in the Crimea and

describing them as spontaneous. The response of Russian speaking locals

to a government in Kiev which they feel is threatened. The Russian

government certainly endorses that. There is a new statement from the

Russian Foreign Ministry today, from Sergei Lavrov, complaining to the

Europeans about the rise of nationalist and neofascist sentiment

in Western Ukraine. But at the same time, Moscow has not quite made it

clear what its attitude is towards the new government in Kiev. But it

has given sanctuary to the ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, who is

supposed to be giving a press conference soon. And a very senior

MP from Russia Justice morning raised the question of whether the

deposing of Mr Yanukovych in Ukraine had been legal, and whether the

government and Parliament in Kiev could be considered legitimate. So,

it could be that Moscow is hardening its stance just that of course would

have enormous indications for Russia's relations with the West.

For more information on why Crimea has become such a focal point of

this crisis, you can go to our website, where you'll find special

reports and analyis on Ukraine - that's at bbc.co.uk/ukraine.

The Big Six energy firms have been told to hand back more than ?400

million owed to customers. Credit left in customer accounts when

people move or switch suppliers has accumulated over the last six years,

and millions of households are thought to be affected. Ofgem says

the amount is "unacceptably large". Our industry correspondent John

Moylan reports. When this pensioner moved house five

months ago, his energies apply told him that he was in credit to the

tune of ?1600. But he still has not received that cash, despite having

contact with the firm many times. They are very good at taking money

out of your account, so they should be just as good at putting it back.

But I am not holding my breath. According to the regulator, the big

suppliers have accumulated more than ?400 million of customers' cash over

the past six years. It is thought that as many as 3.5 million

households may be out of pocket, as well as around 300,000 businesses.

This is a BCS issue which Ofgem has uncovered, and we are expecting the

company to do more to engage consumers to tell them what they

need to do to try and prevent this problem, to do more to try and

tackle the large sum of money which has been built up, so that it goes

back to individual consumers to whom it is old, and if that is not

possible, to track them down, to make sure that it benefits consumers

in general. This is all the more important because there has been a

big rise in the number of households switching supplier in recent months.

The advice is to take a final metre reading and send it into your

supplier before you switch accounts. Ask if you are in credit, and if you

are, get them to send you the money back. The firms insist they do what

they can to attract customers down just many do not leave a forwarding

address, others leave big debts. We want to give this cash back to the

customer. At the same time, bad debts are four or five times that

amount. So, fall or five times ?400 million is an awful lot of money,

where people have gone away and left a bad debt and we cannot find them.

But today, consumer groups called this latest revelation shocking and

appalling. The reputation of the big six suppliers has taken another

blow. Two women who were sexually

assaulted by a London cab driver have won a case at the High Court

which could allow them to claim compensation from the Metropolitan

Police. The women were attacked by John Worboys, who was jailed for

life in 2009 for a series of attacks. The women claimed the

police's investigation into Worboys was "flawed at the most fundamental

level". Badger culls aimed at preventing the

spread of TB in cattle were ineffective and inhumane, according

to an independent report. The Government's official assessment

found that fewer than half of the animals were killed in West Somerset

and Gloucestershire. Some took more than five minutes to die. Our

science correspondent Pallab Ghosh reports. It is a toxic combination.

Concerns that badgers pass on TB to cattle, who then have to be

slaughtered. It has prompted a call to allow Marques meant to shoot

badgers pass on TB to cattle, who then have to be slaughtered. It has

prompted a call to allow Marques meant to shoot badges in two

organised culls, in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Earlier research had shown that the spread of TB in cattle might only be

reduced if around 70% of the badgers were killed within a six-week

period. Now, the Government's official assessment of the culls has

shown that just under 50% of the badgers in each area were killed. It

also found that more than 5% of the badgers killed took more than five

minutes to die, contravening the government target for humaneness.

Professor Woodruff is among a number of experts who warned that it would

be difficult to kill so many badgers in such a short space of time. These

culls have not killed enough badgers, have not done it fast

enough. The benefits will therefore not be as great as were found in a

previous trial, and there is a serious risk that they may have

increased TB in cattle, rather than decreasing it. Farming groups say

that culling is an important tool in eradicating TB from cattle, and they

say the purpose of the pilot culls was to learn lessons for the future.

There is room for improvement and we shall have to look at what has

happened and try to devise a better strategy to achieve the targets. I

do not think it is in doubt, though, that we have to try and address the

infection level in the badger population. The Government is likely

to continue with its plans to roll out more culls this year. But

today's scientific assessment has raised questions about the

effectiveness of the policy. The British veterinary Association has

said that it raises serious concerns about its humaneness, and may even

withdraw its support for a wider roll-out of the culls. Our top story

- tensions are running high in the Ukraine. There are reports that

Russia has moved its tanks to within ten miles of the border. It says it

is just a military exercise. Still to come - lighting up the night sky.

Clear skies have revealed a spectacular display of the aurora

borealis. Later on BBC London - after last nights flooding on

Clapham Road, now, repairs begin. A burst water pipe is to blame. And

serving the First World War effort at home, the story of how the women

in a Covent Garden hospital started saving lives.

It's being described as the biggest ever crackdown on criminal gangs.

City of London Police and agencies worldwide have carried out a series

of raids on gangs, who trick people to invest in worthless or

nonexistent stocks and shares. 110 people have been arrested - 20 of

them in the UK - as part of an international investigation against

so-called boiler room scams. This report from Robert Hall does contain

some flashing images. On a quiet street in the centre of Barcelona,

Spain 's elite serious crimes unit target a scan which has ruined

thousands of lives and cost victims millions of pounds. This team is

working with colleagues from the city of London 's financial crimes

unit. The office block is the base for what they believe is a boiler

room and the raid is one fragment of an operation which extends across

Europe and beyond. There are further arrests taking place. It is the

biggest deployment it has ever made in pursuit of the fraud

investigation. Boiler room scams involve individuals cold calling and

using high-pressure sales techniques to persuade victims to buy into

bogus investments. Most never see their money again. The cold calls

cost this pensioner more than ?20,000. I received a call from a

very enthusiastic young man, who excited me. I was thinking about

investing and he was talking about carbon credits, which I had not

heard about. He sent me loads of literature and told me a lot of

stuff about it. He was very knowledgeable. I foolishly trusted

him. I did borrow money out of my house. The city of London force has

played a major part in this crackdown. The aim is to decimate

boiler room fraud. The photos taken by their officers show evidence that

the men who run the scams are living well on their victims losses. Luxury

cars, personal possessions and cash have been seized. This is a crime

that ignores global boundaries, it ignores global borders and operates

right across the world. We are able to do that as well. In Barcelona,

five people were taken away to join more than 90 others arrested in the

simultaneous raids. This scan has not been eradicated but this

operation will offer reassurance to victims and severely damage the

ability of the boiler rooms to operate. Members of the UK

Independence Party are gathering in Torquay for their spring conference.

UKIP's leader Nigel Farage will tell activists that the party poses the

biggest threat to the political establishment that has been seen in

modern times. The next big challenges for UKIP are the local

and European Parliament elections in May. Our political correspondent,

Robin Brant, is there. In the battle for your votes in those elections in

May, UKIP reckon they are in with a really good shout. A few months

ago, Nigel Farage was predicting they would win. Now, in public, he

is not quite so confident. He has come to Torquay on the south coast

with a very clear message for his supporters. That is, onwards and

upwards. He is predicting an earthquake and he is all smiles

about it. The UKIP leader has come to Devon, making a lot of noise

about the European and local elections in May. Nigel Farage

thinks his party can come out on top, a big step for the party mocked

not so long ago by David Cameron. The more they throw all these words

at us, the more people vote for us. The palm trees not looking their

best in February. One of the most prominent members has told me, in

the general election of next year, she thinks they should get three or

four MPs. If things go really well, she predicts 20 class. For the

die-hard members, the usual bits and bobs are on offer in Torquay. There

is a major outsider lobbying at the conference. Truth is, UKIP house a

long way to go on policy. The leader dismissed his last party 's

manifesto as drivel. They are halfway through a major review. They

have come to Torquay for one thing, a rallying call. I want to say to

the electorate, don't get mad, get even. Go out and vote UKIP. He

attacks the Government on its handling of the floods and has

called for some of the foreign aid budget to be diverted to victims at

home. There was what some supporters claim to be another type of blood.

In scores of our cities and market towns, this country, in a short

space of time, has frankly become unrecognisable. That wave of

planeloads has yet to materialise. There is a simple message at this

conference, designed to appeal to the heart, not the head. You cannot

escape the fact that in Torquay there is a policy vacuum for this

party. UKIP is jittery about what will fill the vacuum. At the

conference last year, someone called women sluts and that dominated.

There is a fringe about sharia law, Islamic law. UKIP a very jittery and

nervous about what they see as distractions and others called true

colours for the party on issues like immigration and women. Before they

come forward with a serious policy offering it will be a serious issue

for this party. The chief executive of International Airlines Group,

which owns British Airways, has said a vote in favour of Scottish

independence would probably be a positive change. Willie Walsh said

the Scottish Government was expected to abolish Air Passenger Duty

because it recognised the huge impact the tax had on the economy.

Let's speak to our Scotland correspondent, Lorna Gordon.

Yesterday, after standard life, this kind of intervention has been

welcomed by those in favour of independence. Absolutely, it has.

British Airways is the UK 's national flag carrier. Its ultimate

boss says he is not fazed nor worried by the prospect of

independence. As you pointed out, Willie Walsh, the chief executive of

the parent company, said in the event of a yes vote on September the

18th, he saw it as probably going to be a positive development. He has

long campaigned against air passenger Judy and the Scottish

Government in its white paper said they would like to reduce it by 15%

and ultimately get rid of it entirely. As you say, it has been

seized on by the Scottish Government. They have welcomed it.

They see business opportunities should Scotland become independent.

Only with independents will Scotland get the powers it needs to boost

business. The Westminster government would argue differently. They would

say the situation works just fine as it is, thank you very much. No

concerns from British Airways and no contingency plans in place. Those

campaigning for independence welcome these comments today. Royal Mail is

putting up the price of stamps from the end of next month. First class

will cost 62 pence, a two pence rise. Second class will go up by

three pence, to 53 pence. Members of the Northern Ireland assembly are

debating a motion which expresses disgust over letters sent to people

suspected of terrorist activity saying they were no longer wanted by

the Government. This has prompted real outrage. Here is our Ireland

correspondent. A long history of violence has scarred the years. It

cannot be forgotten. The idea that anyone suspected of playing a part

in murders, bombings and shootings could be given assurances they would

not be prosecuted. Quite a storm at Stormont. The First Minister

threatened to resign. He said he is now satisfied at the announcement

there will be a judge led enquiry into the issue, he is still

concerned. That outrage was not manufactured or synthetic, it was

real. It was an outrage felt by victims. And outrage felt by those

within the political process. This case revealed the existence of

scores of assurances. He denied murdering four soldiers from the

Household Cavalry in what became known as the Hyde Park bombing. He

was the main suspect. The High Court ruled that the letter from the

Government meant a trial should no longer take place, even though it

was sent in error. It is now known that at least 187 letters were

issued. However, no letters have been received by loyalists suspected

of terrorist offences. The past have a tendency to hang over politics in

Northern Ireland. The First Minister has withdrawn his threat to resign

but there is real anger in unionist areas. That is because of the

perception this is a scheme set up specifically for Republicans.

Everyone should be brought to justice. Law is law. Fine it is time

everyone grew up and realised that the past is the past. -- it is time

everyone grew up. Who is he trying to tell people to calm down? I

suspect it is comrades in the IRA. Despite many jibes at the foot --

the Deputy First Minister, it is claimed this was not a surprise to

Unionists. I believe this has been used to poison the present. Efforts

need to be refocused. There have been many reassurances that these

letters do not offer immunity from prosecution but questions about this

scheme remain. Now if you were out last night and looked up at the sky

you may have been treated to a spectacular sight. The Aurora

Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, has been giving

rare and stunning displays over parts of the UK. The lights have

been clearly visible from Orkney to Norfolk to Essex and South Wales.

The BBC's weather presenter, Helen Willets, has more. Magical images

have delighted millions of people and many of our viewers across

Britain. These pictures were taken by Andrew in Caithness in Scotland

last night. The little further south, pink and green hues were

enjoyed by Jonathan Cooper in Cumbria. In Norfolk, they were so

strong they were unaffected by light pollution. The aurora borealis is

normally associated with places much further north and Great Britain,

such as Norway. Here is the night display over Trondheim a few days

ago. How do they come about? Energy from the sun is carried 93 million

miles to Earth on a solar wind. As the electrically charged particles

approach it, they hit the planet 's field. There was a moderate solar

storm three days ago. The fact that so many of us across the whole

country experienced the Northern Lights is a surprise. It was a very

welcome phenomenon. Helen is here in person to give us the rest of the

weather forecast. Did you see it? I did not. I would have loved to have

seen it. There is not as great a chance tonight. It will be much

further north. There will be clear skies for some areas, in the North.

It might be worth seeing if you can see them.

It is the north where we are seeing the best of the sunshine. In the

south, the cult of cloud has been rather stubborn. It is measurable

and dank underneath that are not very quick to clear away for the UK

and see how slowly it is going away. We will be left with rather

dank weather for the evening rush hour. Still the possibility of sleet

and wet snow across the tops of the Chilterns. Overnight, the skies

clear away and we're looking at a more widespread frost and last

night. It be colder. We could have an ice whisk again tomorrow morning

and some fog, given the light win situation. It could be grey and

overcast across the eastern side of England. Further west, after the fog

lifts, we will see some spells of sunshine and a scattering of

showers. It would be a decent start and it will be cold. The fog will

take time to clear. The showers will mostly be in the north and west of

Scotland and the western side of Northern Ireland. For a large swathe

of the country, a pretty decent day. Quite a deal -- a good deal of

sunshine. It will be slow to Brighton in East Anglia and the

south-east. They could have 20 millimetres of rain before the day

is out. Elsewhere, the rain showers to gather later in the West. It is

small and evening and overnight picture as you will see. When it

comes into the cold air, more snowfall for the Scottish mountains.

That is adding to the amounts they have the ski season at the moment.

The rainy nature further south could wash sold off the roads. The

widespread frosts. -- a widespread frost. Still a little uncertainty on

the timing of the new weather front on Sunday. Some patchy rain and

drizzle around probably in the second half of the day. Just a bit

of uncertainty. Saturday is drier. If you have plans, each into the

forecast. I am assure people well. More on our top story. The former

president of the Ukraine has appeared at a press conference in

the southern Russian city, saying he had to leave the country because of

threats to his -- his life. TRANSLATION:

It is time for me to say about that I am eager, ready to fight for the

future of Ukraine. There are those with terror and fear

trying to rule the Ukraine. More on a fast developing story throughout

the afternoon on