24/10/2012 BBC News at Six

Let down by the legal system - after the Savile scandal David

Cameron calls for a change in the way abuse victims are dealt with.

The cases of four women who complained to the police about

Jimmy Savile before he died will be reviewed, but should other agencies

have been told? The Government will do everything it can do. Other

institutions must do what they can do to make sure we learn the

lessons of this and it can never happen again.

Charities say their help lines haven't stopped ringing since the

Savile scandal went public - hundreds of new claims about abuse.

It has only been in the past few weeks that I have really spoken

about it. In fact, it's only then that my husband knows exactly what

happened. Also in tonight's programme:

A police chief embroiled in the Hillsborough controversy resigns.

Victims' families claim Sir Norman Bettison took part in a cover-up -

a charge he denies. Cutting through the confusion over

what's good and not so good in our food - a new labelling system.

The funeral for a mother and five children killed in a house fire -

hundreds of mourners join her husband who survived alone.

An angry Bradley Wiggins hits out at the damage done to cycling by

the drugs cheats. We're the ones picking the pieces up now very much

so, and - and having to, I suppose, convince people that the sport has

changed, and - it's difficult to Good evening. Welcome to the BBC

News at 6.00pm. David Cameron has called for a re-think in the way

sex abuse cases are dealt with in the wake of the Jimmy Savile

scandal. The Director of Public Prosecutions is to look at whether

other agencies, such as social services, should be alerted when

sex abuse complaints are made but not taken to court. A file covering

four women who did take their allegations against Jimmy Savile to

the police three years ago is to be reviewed. Our home editor Mark

Easton has this report. Three years ago four women found

the courage to tell police how Jimmy Savile had sexually abused

them in the 1970s. Two had been children at the Duncroft Approved

School in Surrey. Another was a young teenage patient at Stoke

Mandeville Hospital. Officers in Surrey sent a file to prosecutors.

Jimmy Savile was still alive, but because the victim felt unable to

talk about their experiences in court, the matter was dropped.

think my honourable friend makes a very important point. Today in the

Commons, the Prime Minister demanded prosecutors look back at

exactly what happened to the victims and why their stories ended

up forgotten in a file. Director of Public Prosecutions

specifically is going to consider what more can be done to alert

relevant authorities where there are concerns that a prosecution is

not taken forward. Government will do everything it can do. Other

institutions must do what they can do to make sure we learn the

lessons of this and it can never happen again. Another of Savile's

victims raped as a young girl in 1970 has revealed how she also

summoned up the nerve to tell police what happened, but nothing

ever came of it. They were not very interested, really. They just

thought I was - they didn't call me a nutter exactly because I didn't

appear to be, but I didn't feel I was believed. It has sort of

haunted me, quite literally. It's depressed me. It's made me feel

disgusted with myself. Today the Director of Public Prosecutions,

Keir Starmer, confirmed he was ready to look at how his

organisation can ensure victims The scandal has encouraged victims

of sexual abuse to come forward. This help line has received

thousands of calls, and Scotland Yard's own inquiry into Savile has

now identified over 200 potential victims.

TRANSLATION: It has only been in the past few weeks that I've really

spoken about it. In fact, it's only then that my husband actually knows

exactly what's happened. The Savile scandal has spawned a whole series

of inquiries and investigations - at Scotland Yard, within the NHS

and of course here at the BBC, and today despite suggestions that she

was questioning the independence of the BBC, the Culture Secretary

stood by a statement that there are real public concerns about trust in

the corporation. These are very serious allegations, and it's

absolutely right that the Government reflects the deep level

of public concern. What's important now is that the inquiries that are

already working in look at these allegations are able to continue to

do so and get to the bottom of these problems. A Savile scandal

has forced some British institutions to shine a light on to

the dark corners of their past and presence. One consequence may be a

change in the way we treat those who say they have been victims of

sexual abuse. And mark's with me now. Mark, you

talked about forgotten files in your report. How much of a change

is David Cameron asking for? course, systems do already exist.

Certainly in England and Wales since the Soham tragedy a decade

ago police, for instance, are already required to pass on

allegation that are made to them even if they don't go to court to

social services and to other agencies, but I think what we're

seeing now is a determination that where you have an individual who

has hundreds of victims - a predatory sex offender with

hundreds of victims across the country, crimes over several

decades, that that individual cannot slip through the fingers of

the system, and I think what we're seeing here is a determination that

we must do everything we can to ensure the systems are in place,

and if there's one good thing that might come out of this ghastly

affair, it is that victims feel they have the confidence to tell

their stories. All right, Mark, thank you very much. Thank you.

The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, Sir Norman Bettison, has

resigned. Sir Norman has been under pressure since an independent

report accused police of trying to cover-up their failings in the

aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. He was Chief Inspector of

South Yorkshire Police at the time and has always denied any

wrongdoing. Our correspondent Judith Moritz is at the West

Yorkshire Police Authority in Wakefield.

Judith? Yes, that's right, and George, the Police Authority here

were planning to meet this afternoon too discuss the future of

their Chief Constable in the event that meeting was unnecessary

because Sir Norman Bettison pre- empted it when he resigned this

morning. He's been in the spotlight in recent weeks since the

publication of the Hillsborough independent report. Today he said

that having resigned, he will continue to cooperate with the

investigations which are ongoing into his behaviour. Until today,

Sir Norman Bettison was the most senior serving police officer to

have been connected with Hillsborough. There's been much

recent criticism about his role in the disaster's aftermath. Today he

resigned, saying that had become a distraction to policing in West

Yorkshire. There was no sign of Sir Norman at his home earlier

following news that the county's Police Authority had accepted his

decision to go. As an individual, he's led the command team with

distinction, so in that sense, he's done everything right. This

business of Hillsborough - the problems of Hillsborough - is

something which we didn't really know a lot about, but it's come

back, and it's come back and bitten him. 96 Liverpool supporters were

fatally crushed at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield in 1989. A

recent independent report found that South Yorkshire Police ran a

campaign to blame the fans, and it revealed that Sir Norman, who was

then a Chief Inspector, was involved in that mission. He's

always denied this, but he is now the subject of two investigations

by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. This week at

a parliamentary debate on Hillsborough, Merseyside MP Maria

Eagle alleged that in 1989 Sir Norman had told a night school

course mate that he was involved in a smear campaign. "He told me he'd

been asked by senior officers to put together the South Yorkshire

Police evidence for the forthcoming inquiry." He said that, and I quote,

"We are trying to concoct a story that all the Liverpool fans were

drunk, and we were afraid they were going to break down the gates, so

we decided to open them." Today Sir Norman said he refutes that report

of a conversation 23 years ago, The Hillsborough campaign groups

have long wanted Sir Norman Bettison to go. In 1998 they

protested when he was made Chief Constable of Merseyside. Today they

welcomed his decision to resign, but would like to see further

sanctions. If the allegations that we have made against him - if they

are found to be true, that he loses his knighthood and also his

fellowship from Liverpool University. Sir Norman may have

left public office, but as several high-profile investigations now get

under way, he'll continue to be linked with the Hillsborough

disaster. Britain is heading for a

confrontation with the European Court of Human Rights tonight over

the controversial issue of votes for convicted prisoners. It follows

David Cameron's insistence today that he remains opposed to the idea.

Earlier, the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, had warned of the

potential damage to the UK's international reputation if it

defies the court. Here's our deputy political editor James Landale.

When you're thrown in here for your crime, you lose your freedom, but

should you lose your vote as well? Today the Prime Minister said yes,

and it should stay that way. House of Commons has voted against

prisoners having the vote. I don't want prisoners to have the vote,

and they shouldn't get the vote. I'm very clear about that. No-one

should be in any doubt - prisoners are not getting the vote under this

Government. His problem is that the European Court of Human Rights

thinks otherwise. The judges here in Strasbourg say the UK's blanket

ban on prisoner voting breachs the European Convention on Human Rights,

and they have given the Government until next month to say how it's

going to change the law. The trouble for David Cameron is if he

refuses prisoners the vote his chief legal officer says Britain's

reputation will be damaged. United Kingdom has always been seen

as a role model in years of international law as to how we go

about our business. The issue, it seems to me is whether the United

Kingdom wishes to be in breach of its international obligations, and

what that does reputationly for the United Kingdom. But most MPs here

are much less worried about breaking international law. There

is overwhelming opposition to giving prisoners the vote on all

sides of the Commons, and David Cameron may try to use that

opposition in a fresh vote to give himself political cover for defying

the court. But that could come at some cost. John Hurst was jailed

for 25 years for killing a woman with an axe, but when the European

Court ruled he should have had the right to vote, thousands of other

prisoners lodged claims for compensation. These measures may

well be popular, but in the end, the Prime Minister will be forced

to give some prisoners the vote, and in the interim, he'll be forced

to pay compensation and get his chequebook out. The bottom line is,

who should make policy in this country - the Parliament in

Westminster or a court in France? And for now, the Prime Minister

appears to have made his choice. The threat of a terror attack on

Great Britain from dissident Republican groups in Northern

Ireland has been downgraded. The Home Office now says an attack from

groups like the Real IRA is possible, but not likely. However,

the threat from such groups within Northern Ireland remains severe,

meaning an attack there is highly likely.

A 17th person has been convicted in connection with the killing of 15-

year-old Sofyen Belamouadden at a London station. Junior Bayode, who

is 19, was found guilty of manslaughter. Sofyen was stabbed to

death during a gang fight in Victoria station in 2010.

A ruling by the Supreme Court could pave the way for thousands of women

to bring equal pay claims. The court decided that a group of

former Birmingham City Council employees, including cooks,

cleaners and care staff, could have their cases heard in the civil

courts. The council had argued that their case should have been heard

at an employment tribunal. Here's our industry correspondent John

Moylan. Equal pay for equal work - it's

been the law for decades, but too often women's remuneration has been

out of step with men. In recent years councils have faced a wave of

equal pay claims. Now there could be more to come. These women worked

for Birmingham City Council. Today they won the right to challenge its

pay regime, despite having retired years ago. One of them, Joan Clulow,

spent most of her working life caring for the elderly and the ill

as a home help. She believes she was unfairly treated. Upset,

obviously, you know, and gutted because, I mean, we worked as hard

as they probably did. You can't blame the men. I don't blame the

men at all. It's the council at the end of the day how they treat

people. It's wrong. You know, we should all be equal. In the Supreme

Court, Birmingham City Council argued that equal pay cases should

be heard in Employment Tribunals where your right to claim expires

six months after leaving your job, but the court disagreed, which

means the claims may now be heard in civil courts, which have a six-

year time limit. Previously when they have tried to make an equal

pay claim they have been told they're out of time because the

time limit was six months. This judgment means they can wait six

years to bring their claim. If they find out within that period they

can get the compensation they're owed. The council already faces a

liability of hundreds of millions of pounds linked to pay cases. In a

statement, it said that it was reviewing the judgment in detail

before considering its options going forward. So this decision by

the Supreme Court should mean that thousands more people can take

equal pay cases against their former employer. If, of course,

they can prove that they were paid At top story. After the Jimmy

Savile scandal, David Cameron calls for a change in the way abuse

victims are dealt with. And how we could benefit from a Belgian scheme

to low energy bills. In the business news, is it the end

of the road for a motoring icon? Ford plans to close a factory. And

Argos ditches catalogues to go A new food labelling system is set

to be introduced next year to provide shoppers with information

on the fat, sugar and salt content of food. The system will be

voluntary but the Government says it is confident most supermarkets

are wrong board. For shoppers deciphering food

labels can be confusing and frustrating, but after years of

discussions, the Government has decided to introduce a single

standard label for foods across the UK. It is ridiculous it has taken

this long to get in place but if it is done right with tough standards,

the labels will make it easier for customers to choose the healthier

options. It has not been decided how the label will look but the

proposal is for it to include information on guideline daily

amounts, a colour-coded traffic- light system and the words high,

medium and low in terms of calories. We have seen problems of obesity

linked to heart disease. Diet plays an important part in preventing

disease and the treatment of those conditions. The fight to have the

labels has been won with the supermarket signing up to it for

their own brands but convincing manufacturers of foods like this to

do the same is where the toughest battle lies. The manufacturers

objected and dragged their feet and it is not acceptable. The

Government must make sure they fall in line. Why the manufacturers are

not going there traffic-light labels may have something to do

with the fact they do not want the public to know how unhealthy their

products might be. The food and drink association insists members

provide clear nutritional information and answer UK-wide

scheme might not be suitable for a European and global brands. For

many shoppers like David in Scotland, it is not the label that

counts but the price. You might want to have something healthy but

if it costs more, and you do not have the money to buy it, you eat

something that might have something you might not want to put in your

body or not eat at all. The Government is determined to push

ahead. It says it is confident a new easy to resist and will be

brought in by next summer. There are fears that hundreds of

workers at the Ford Transit factory in Southampton could lose their

jobs. An announcement about the plant's future is likely tomorrow.

This form -- this morning, Ford announced a factory in Belgium will

close with the loss of 4000 jobs as part of restructuring. This is a

difficult few hours for the workers, what can you tell us?

Ford made no comment on plans for this factory. It is expected

workers will be told there are proposals to close it. Unions will

meet the company tomorrow. Ford will tomorrow set out details about

restructuring plans for Europe, which lies behind this. We know

they want to close a plant in Belgium with the loss of over 4000

jobs. This plant is the last in the UK to build complete vehicles. They

have made the Transit van since 1972 A. In recent years capacity

has been scaled back. There is one shift working and 500 employees and

the question now is for how much longer?

The funeral of a doctor and her five children who died in a house

fire has taken place in Essex. Sabah Usmani and three children

were killed in a fire, the other two died in hospital. Their father,

Dr Abdul Shakoor, who survived, was joined by hundreds of mourners at

the Harlow Islamic Centre. The grief of a husband and father.

Dr Abdul Shakoor at the head of a procession to the cemetery to bury

his family. Hundreds from the community came to support him. They

followed behind six hearses carrying the bodies of his wife and

five children. Their mother, Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter

Hira, 13 and Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three dying as a

result of the fire that swept through their home. Members of the

emergency services who attended what was described as an horrific

scene also came to pay their respects. Among the turnout one

many who had not even met the family. It is a demonstration of

how moved people have been by this tragedy. Any family, in Harlow,

London, where we are, we are touched by this. This could happen

to us, and the loss of family members, that is something we can

share and understand. Wednesday lunchtime prayers usually attract a

handful to the Islamic Centre. Today it was packed for a special

service. Muslims and some of those who tried to save the wife and

children. It is not known what caused the fire. Investigators are

awaiting results of forensic analysis.

How would you like to save several hundred pounds here on your energy

bill? Consumer groups believe a scheme in Belgium and Netherlands

could work for households in the UK. In peace for historic Bruges, there

is an uprising going on. -- peaceable. People are challenging

energy companies to bring down prices. This mother and her family

are leading the charge. A few months ago, their energy bill was

400 euros, about �320 a month. Now it is a fraction of that. This is

your old Bill? Mike Oldfield, 402 euros, I paid every month -- that

is my old Bill. And I went to pay and 79.8 T8 every month. A massive

difference. -- 79.88. A out on the streets, groups like this one and

local authorities encourage householders to negotiate together.

In meetings across Belgium, they have helped thousands signed up to

collective switching. This person got together with thousands of

others to demand the cheapest rate. And then they switched to the

energy company offering the best deal. This energy revolution was

first pioneered in Belgium and in neighbouring Netherlands three of

four years ago. In that short space of time, the bills for hundreds of

thousands of customers have been dramatically cut. And there are

signs that it could be on the verge of taking hold in Britain. Indeed,

the consumer organisation Which? Held the first collective switch in

the UK earlier this year. Now several local authorities as well

as consumer organisations are pursuing the idea. A lot of people

do not want to switch because it is complicated and they are frightened

and this takes that away. With the collective switching we have seen

savings. We think it is a positive thing all round. Sun fear it could

lead to higher prices for those who do not take part. In Belgium, the

energy regulator and many customers can only see benefits.

Bradley Wiggins has spoken out about cycling's doping crisis as

the route of the Tour de France is -- unveiled. It will be the 100th

anniversary. Today's ceremony comes after Lance Armstrong was stripped

of his seven Tour victories. Unveiled for the one hundredth time

in its history, the route for the most gruelling race in cycling.

While the riders know where they will be going, the direction their

sport must take is unclear. Lance Armstrong was the greatest champion

and until two days ago, when he was stripped of his seven titles and

banned for life for doping. But it is the current champion who must

face difficult questions. We are the ones picking up the pieces,

very much so. And having to convince people the sport has

changed. It is difficult to convince some people because of the

precedent that has been set and is ingrained. I have no answer how to

do that, other than going out and doing what I am doing.

disgracing the sport he graced, Lance Armstrong has left the sport

in crisis. For the sake of cycling, he is urged to come clean. The few

have done something, can best. It is not fair I have to sit and

answer questions. It is up to everyone who has been involved with

anything that can damage my career, the sport I love, it is frustrating.

The effort to repair the tainted image is being led by the British.

Team Sky are conducting a review aimed at rooting out anybody who

has doped in the past. Departures are anticipated. Staff riders who

were writing in that time, so unfortunately, there will be losses

the team will have to make in order to go forward. The arduous route

announce today ends with a night- time finish on the Champs-Elysees.

As the Tour de France attempts to celebrate its history and to look

forward, it continues to be haunted by the past.

by the past. That brings us to the weather.

There is a brief cold snap on the way for the end of the week.

Recently, temperatures have been close to the early September

average. As we go through Friday and into Saturday, the temperatures

will be reminiscent of December and early January. A lot of cloud

around tonight across most parts, thick enough to give patchy rain

across central and southern parts of England and Wales. A little bit

of rain in northern Scotland. Temperatures still in double

figures under the cloud further south. Cloud across the southern

half of the UK tomorrow, but the further north you go, the better

chance of sunny intervals. We can look at the afternoon, not terribly

pleasant across the south-west of England and South Wales. Some

outbreaks of rain around. It becomes drier as you head east into

East Anglia. In the Midlands, some brightness, but more so across

northern England and central and southern Scotland. Northern

Scotland is beginning to turn colder. Just three degrees in some

parts. Chilly wind coming in from the Arctic on Friday. Bringing some

snow showers in Scotland. Perhaps as far south as the Lincolnshire

coast. Temperatures say around six degrees in the North East, but it

will feel closer to freezing. The start of the weekend will be cold,

but dry and bright almost everywhere. On Sunday, the cloud

thickens up and the wind will pick thickens up and the wind will pick

up and we will see rain moving from the north-west.

A reminder of the main news. After the Jimmy Savile scandal, David

Cameron calls for a change in the way abuse victims are dealt with. A