07/07/2014 BBC News at Six

The government launches extensive new inquiries into child sex abuse

One inquiry will review the handling of abuse allegations

in all public bodies including the NHS, the police,

I am absolutely determined that we are going to get to the bottom of

these allegations and we are going to leave no stone unturned to find

Another inquiry will look at the Home Office's handling

of historical allegations of sexual abuse by politicians.

Hundreds from a broken down train

A report into how a teenager was killed on a school

trip by a polar bear finds staff couldn't use their rifles properly

And the dash for glory, the Tour De France finishes

its last stage in England with a sprint to Buckingham Palace.

As the Tour rides in, we look at how the capital is cashing-in on

And on the ninth anniversary of the London bombings, anger as

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

With historical allegations of child sex abuse and high profile

convictions dominating the headlines for months now, the government has

ordered two inquiries in a bid to restore public confidence.

The first will review all public bodies and how they respond to

claims of abuse, such as the NHS, the police, schools,

The second will look again at how the Home Office handled documents

relating to allegations of child abuse by Westminster politicians.

Our Political Editor reports from Westminster.

Why were the powerful able to abuse children for so long? We know about

Jimmy Savile, Cyril Smith, but how many more like them work and worthy

protected by people in high places? For months the government said there

was no need for an inquiry. Today, they changed their minds. Our

priority must be the prosecution of the people behind these disgusting

crimes. Whenever possible and consistent with the need to

prosecute we will adopt a presumption of maximum transparency

and where there has been filled year to protect from abuse we will expose

it and learn from it. This is a series of child abuse inquiry is.

The police are investigating allegations that a powerful

paedophile network used this allegations that a powerful

guesthouse to abuse boys from a nearby children's home. Visitors

included Cyril Smith, the former Liberal MP. Another police

investigation is happening in Leicestershire. An inquiry into the

missing documents that the Home Office, 114 of them. Containing

allegations made 30 years ago by Geoffrey Dickens, now also dead. The

then Home Secretary said they were all dealt with properly. This is

what his successor told the Commons had happened to those documents.

These are presumed by the Home Office and the investigator

destroyed, missing or not phoned although the investigator made it

clear he found no evidence to suggest that they had been removed

or destroyed in appropriately. She has turned to the NSP CC for another

opinion. The head of the charity will investigate with the help of a

leading lawyer. Today's big surprise, a wider review into the

lessons learned wherever child-abuse has been uncovered. The government

will establish an independent inquiry of experts to consider

whether public bodies and other non-state institutions have taken

seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.

What a difference 18 months can make. When allegations were first

made that there was a powerful paedophile network extending here

into Parliament, they were dismissed. There is a major inquiry

going to take place which will have access to all secret papers

including from the intelligence services and Special Branch. A

hushed House of Commons listened carefully. Labour said it was the

right decision too late. I raised this in Parliament 18 months ago and

she made a statement about abuse in care homes in north well. She and

the Prime Minister rejected at that time but I welcome her agreeing to

it now. Those allegations were once dismissed as gossip. A belief that

their claims are about to be proved true. A handful of parliamentarians

will be worrying. This will encourage people to bring evidence,

to come forward as witnesses. How and why were the powerful able to

abuse children for so long? Another search for those answers began

today. There are already a number of

inquiries taking place into child sex abuse allegations so how will

this new wide ranging investigation Our Home Editor is here,

and the key question has to be, After almost daily revelations

about the sexual abuse of children, there have been growing calls

for an independent over-arching inquiry into the whole problem - who

was responsible, what failures were there in protecting children and,

cricitcally, That is what

the Home Secretary has promised. The question is

whether it will add substantially to the raft of existing investigations

and inquiries. Last month the Health Secretary

published what he called an overarching independent inquiry into

Jimmy Savile's sex crimes inside the NHS. A second inquiry into the

lessons that can be learnt is already under way. The BBC has

commissioned two inquiries and the activities of Jimmy Savile and

Stewart Hall, those reports are considering the lessons to be

learned. As for the allegations of possible child sex abuse involving

senior politicians that are investigations at the Home Office

and ongoing police investigation is, so will this new inquiry be a

useful addition or a political fig leaf? An enormous number of

historical pieces need to be investigated so it is right to do

this because it is right for the victims. People need to know the

truth. The inquiry panel is expected to draw on the work of existing

investigations into alleged cover-ups of abuse at children's

homes in Northern Ireland, north Wales and the Channel Isles and

schools including a number in the West Midlands, Suffolk and Rochdale.

And the police response to gangs grooming young girls in a number of

towns across the country. This former policeman who investigated

allegations against Cyril Smith says his evidence was taken away from

him. That was it. We never heard anything, so anything, heard

anything about the file, it disappeared. Was it a cover-up? I

think it was. The man whose allegations inspired the police

inquiry today told the BBC he believes there was a cover-up in

Westminster. We are looking at Lord's, the Commons, the judiciary,

all institutions where there will be a small percentage of paedophiles

and a slightly larger percentage of people who have known about it but

felt in terms of their own self interest and preservation and for

political party reasons, it has been safer for them to cover it up rather

than deal with it. Expectations of what this inquiry can achieve will

be high but even with dignified and powers and government support the

complexity of the task they have been set is very great, getting

tangible results will not be easy. Hundreds of people have had to be

evacuated from a broken They were

on a Eurotunnel service heading for France when it stopped because

of problems with a power cable. There've been long delays and

cancellations for passengers on both Richard Westcott is at St Pancras

for us. About five minutes ago this area was

heaving with people waiting two or three powers to board a train, they

are finally being let on board. There was a long queue that goes

around the corner that you cannot see from here. That is the problem

with the Channel Tunnel, when one of the two tunnels gets blocked the

repercussions are felt by thousands of passengers.

It is hardly the high-speed trip they had all planned.

Stranded 40 metres under the sea bed, nearly halfway

Then shuttled into the emergency service tunnel next door.

Brian was one of the 382 people on board.

A bang was heard on the outside of the carriage

There was an electric cable and the cable had wrapped itself

While they were being rescued from the tunnel the crowds were building

at St Pancras station where hundreds of Eurostar passengers were

You can see the impact that all of this is having.

As they cancel each train they are having to move all

They have just announced that there are literally no more spaces

on any service going to Paris for the rest of the day.

We have a connection to Slovenia which I am assuming we're not going

I do not know when I will be able to get out.

Gareth said his tour operator had just cancelled his holiday.

Filmed by the BBC, this is the type of train that what up. Engineers had

to get it out of the way before they could begin mending the power lines.

Back in France, after a 12 are weighed, these people, some with

children, some with animals, have been reunited with their cars.

Eurotunnel say they should be back to normal by tomorrow.

Brian has just emailed me to say 12 hours and five minutes and he is

back in his car and waiting for a train to come home. Announcements

have been going on to keep people informed. Eurotunnel insist that it

should be business as usual tomorrow. They will get the problem

fixed and you should be able to travel fine tomorrow. It is a good

job this did not happen next week when the school holidays get in.

An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the murder

of a pizza delivery driver in Sheffield last October.

Thavisha Peiris, 25, was delivering his last pizza

before starting a new job when he was killed by Kasim Ahmed.

Ahmed will be sentenced later this month.

Another man has pleaded not guilty to murder

People travelling from UK airports to the United States will have to

show that their phones and other electronic devices are charged

before being able to travel. Our business correspondent is with

me here Security is being tightened in

response to warnings from the United States about a new terror threat.

The UK Government has been advising passengers if you're travelling to

the US and you want to take electronic devices in your hand

luggage, make sure they are charged before you travel otherwise you will

not be able to take them on board. This afternoon British Airways took

things a step further by saying you will miss your flight as well. In

practice this means very few specific details, but I understand

it is business as usual at the check-in and security they were

talking about possible extra security measures at the gate. Not

everyone is going to be asked to do this. The devices could be cameras,

mobile phones, laptops and a statement from BA says if you are

unable to demonstrate your device has power you will not be able to

fly. That is hugely inconvenient, but in reality how many people turn

up to the airport with dead batteries? It may be more of an

issue for transfer passengers who may have been enjoying movies on

their laptops in the first leg of their journey.

A woman accused of murdering her three disabled

children has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds

Tania Clarence from south west London wept as she

admitted killing her four-year-old daughter and three-year-old twins,

Our correspondent Sophie Hutchinson reports from the Old Bailey.

Gary Clarence leaving court today after his wife admitted to

42-year-old Tania Clarence cried in court as she denied murder

but pleaded guilty to their manslaughter on grounds

Twins Ben and Max, pictured here with their father,

were found dead in April along with four-year-old Olivia.

All three children were disabled and had the life limiting disorder

type two spinal muscular atrophy or floppy baby syndrome.

It was here at the couple's five bedroom home in New Maldon in

south-west London that the children were discovered and pronounced dead.

Mr Clarence, an investment banker, was abroad visiting relatives

His wife was treated in hospital for cuts and charged two days later.

Today after admitting responsibility for the deaths of her three young

children Tania Clarence was remanded at a secure hospital.

What happens next depends on the prosecution. It will decide and

consider her three guilty pleas of manslaughter and try to decide

whether in fact it wants to push on with a full murder trial.

Psychiatric reports have been ordered by the courts and the next

hearing will be in October. Our top story this evening:

Two new inquiries are announced by the government into allegations of

historical child sex abuse. And still to come, Dolly Parton

makes sure this shaggy dog's tale has a happy ending.

On BBC London: As the tour rides in, we look at how the capital is

cashing in on the world's biggest The steep climbs of Yorkshire were

swapped for the rapid route through the southeast for the third stage of

the Tour de France. Crowds in their thousands lined the 96 mile flat

route to catch a glimpse of more than 200 riders who raced from

Cambridge, past Chelmsford and on to London, finishing

Cambridge, past Chelmsford and on to our sports correspondent Andy Swiss

watched the German Marcel Kittel win.

It was a day when Britain's passion for pedal power was once again on

glorious display. After the weekend's tumultuous

scenes in Yorkshire, it was Cambridge's term. Thousands crammed

to the streets as the riders are set out on the 96 miles to London, with

plenty of eyes on Britain's defending champion.

Fans took every possible vantage point, one even watching from

horseback as towns like being an Essex welcome to the tour with open

arms. Fantastic. Everyone was shouting. The whole thing was so

instant. I loved it. When I felt the wind, it blew me away. It was not

all seamless. Despite warnings to fans, one careless camera took a

hefty whack and the rain started to fall as the riders arrived in

London, but he was a stop tour of the capital's landmarks drew yet

more vast bouts, while at the finish line on The Mall, the anticipation

grew. To see the people lined the streets from Yorkshire all the way

down was fantastic. People just love cycling. It is a sport we are good

at. We are British, we are good at sitting down sports. And the waiting

was worth it. To a deafening roar, the riders entered The Mall and the

result was a thrilling finish and a second stage win for Germany's

Marcel Kittel. So, the end of three unforgettable days. Britain's

passion for cycling is no secret, but the success and popularity of

this tour has been overwhelming. The UK is the new power of cycling. The

heart of cycling. You have champions. Certainly, the energies

of the last three days will never be forgotten, from the millions in the

hills and bales of Yorkshire to those who thronged the streets of

London, never has France's biggest sporting event felt quite so

British. Andy Swiss, BBC News. In the last hour, it has been

confirmed that the British cyclist Mark Cavendish will miss the

Commonwealth Games. Hamed suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday and will

not recover in time to compete at the games in Glasgow later this

month. win.

A report into the killing of a teenager on a school trip by a polar

bear has found that a tripwire system around the camp was faulty

and patched up with paper clips, and that staff weren't sufficiently

trained to use their rifles. Horatio Chapple, who was 17,

was killed during an adventure holiday in Norway in 2011.

The inquest into his death opened today in Salisbury.

Our correspondent Jon Kay reports. Horatio Chapple, schoolboy Explorer

and would be Doctor. In August 2011, he joined 70 other young people on

an Arctic expedition, meant to be the adventure of a lifetime. But

while sleeping in his tent one night, the teenager was dragged

outside by a starving polar bear and mauled to death. The animal was shot

dead, but not until four other members of the party had also been

injured. Today, Horatio's parents came to Salisbury, hoping an inquest

would give them the answers they need. David and Olivia Chapple told

the inquest that before they let their son go on the trip, they went

through all the risk assessment documents they had been sent by the

British schools exploring Society, and they said from that that they

assume that Horatio would be given all the safety equipment he would

need to protect himself from polar bears. But today, Mrs Chapple said

she was naive about that. An independent enquiry published today

and mentioned during the inquest, has concluded: Tripwire wires were

defective and some had been repaired using paperclips. The group had

failed to set up a bear watch to look out for the animals, and the

report said there had been Paul Reiffel training. The trip to Norway

was led by a man called Richard Payne, who told the inquest there

had been deficiencies and failures regarding kit. But he insisted that

they did not fail to safeguard the young people on the trip. Over the

course of the next week, several other members of the party will

describe to the inquest how they were injured by the polar bear. Jon

Kay, BBC News, Salisbury. Our correspondent Jon Kay reports.

GPs will soon be able to prescribe trips to lunch clubs and museums

as part of new measures to tackle loneliness.

For the first time, local authorities

in England are to be judged on how well they tackle social isolation.

It comes amid growing evidence of the links between loneliness

and poor health. Our Social Affairs Correspondent

Alison Holt reports. Waiting, watching the world go by.

For 85-year-old Sylvia Francis, in the years since her husband died,

loneliness has too often been her companion. Loneliness is a killer.

It will break you. No one to talk to. We used to sing together. There

is no one to sing too. The most loneliest thing in the world.

Sofia, it is Brian. Today, a volunteer is taking Sylvia to a

lunch club in her Dorset village. From tomorrow, one of the ways local

authorities will be judged will be on whether or not the people they

help feel socially isolated. This weekly trip has certainly

transformed Sylvia's life. It has opened a new door. This means

everything. I don't cry so much now, because it was raining my

health, crying and crying. The club's remarkable 93-year-old

founder John says demand locally has been so great that they now run

until late afternoon and offer more activities. Before we extended the

hours, I had one or two ring me and say, I am tired of talking to the

wall. Here in Dorset, a place where many people retire, a joint County

Council and NHS project now provides money for clubs such as this. If we

keep them mentally and physically well, we are immediately reducing

the cost on GP visit and medication prescription and

the cost on GP visit and medication prescribing to tackle loneliness and

so improve people's health. For instance, that could mean that your

GP prescribes a series of activities at your local museum. Academics who

are monitoring the financial and health benefits of social

prescribing say it does make a difference. Museum activities and

other sorts of participate in activities, it could be art or books

on prescription, those activities, it could be art or books

have a positive effect on health. Are we still holding out armies in?

But at a time when local authority budgets are squeezed, doing enough

on loneliness may be a challenge, whatever the longer term benefits.

Alison Holt, BBC News. Alison Holt reports.

Video footage has emerged of the moment two passenger jets

nearly crashed into each other at Barcelona Airport.

It shows a Russian airliner coming into land just as another

plane is crossing the runway. The Russian jet is forced to

abort its landing and climb sharply to avoid disaster.

None of the passengers on either plane was hurt and an

investigation is underway to find out how the near miss happened.

The footballer regarded by many as the greatest player of all time has

died at the age of 88. The striker, who was born in Argentina, was a

member of the star-studded Real Madrid team which won the first five

European cup competitions between 1956 and 1960. He died in hospital

in Madrid. out how the near miss happened.

A shaggy dog story now, with what looks like a happy ending.

Dolly Parton, the star of this year's Glastonbury,

has offered to adopt a dog left behind at the festival.

The white lurcher was discovered in a tent and was named Dolly

The dog's now being cared for by an animal rescue centre,

as Duncan Kennedy reports. Good girl.

# Jolene, Jolene, Jolene...# # I'm begging of you,

please don't take my man. # That is Dolly

the dog, who has been named after Dolly the singer, having been found

at the Glastonbury Festival site. # Working nine to five

# What a way to make a living. # Dolly Parton triumphed

at the festival a week ago, and it was during

the clear-up that the lurcher was discovered in a

tent. Glastonbury staff called her Dolly

in honour of the singer. When the music star found out,

she spoke of giving her a home. I was very honoured and flattered

that they named her after me. We will take good care of her,

if that should turn out to be what we have to do.

But in the meantime, I just wanted to make comment that I was very

honoured that they at least named her after me for a time.

I am sure she has a real name. The kennel that's now home thinks

Dolly is about seven years old and were staggered when

the country singer's people got in touch.

I know Dolly is amazing with animals, but it came out of the

blue. Her

management rang and just said "Dolly is very keen

on adopting Dolly the dog". It has been a bit

of a whirlwind since then. The two

Dollies have yet to meet, but one could soon be swapping

life in this country for one with the queen of country.

And this is the leader Doctor Knight, looking extremely well here

in the countryside. -- leader dog tonight. As far the owner is

concerned, they will face some serious questions about welfare if

they come forward. If not, the offer from that Dolly to this Dolly still

stands. Time for a look at the weather now.

We were just coming over that dog. But not over the weather. Heavy rain

has pounded across the south-west of England, Wales and the Midlands, and

it will take a while for us to see that fading. A few hours still to

come in some spots. We have started to see the worst of it moving away

from the south-west of England, this area sped up from Hampshire into the

Midlands recently, and still looks like it will deliver some intense

downpours for the next couple of hours. Surface water and spray is

likely to be an issue on the roads. Overnight when things become much

quieter. Sky is clear maybe a few patches of mist and form. Northern

Ireland is our exception overnight, more cloud arriving here with some

rain first thing tomorrow. But after a wet start, the story improves as

the day goes on. But elsewhere, it is all downhill once again. Lots of

them we shower is set to develop. Eastern Scotland, the north-east of

England and East Anglia, those showers are likely to be like the

ones we saw coming from the south-west today. They may lump into

more persistent rain and heavy falls over a short period of time. Perhaps

the worst will stay towards East Anglia, London maybe not doing too

badly. Then a real headache in our forecast for the remainder of the

week, thanks to this area of low pressure across the continent. Two

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, it looks like at some stage, it will

deliver some wet and windy weather from the East. The time it arrives

is proving difficult to discover. A lot of uncertainty is in the

forecast, so stay tuned. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's