04/10/2013 BBC Oxford News

In tonight's programme — tackling terrorism and organised crime. Why

police want you to play a key part in making your community and the

country a safer place to live. Also tonight, how a job can change a

life — why businesses are being encouraged to take on homeless

people. And later on, try, try, try again —

why this 74—year—old has set herself a triathlon birthday challenge.

Good evening. Speak out if you believe people are being radicalised

in your communities — that's the message from the new officer in

charge of tackling terrorism in our region. Former Oxfordshire Police

commander Brendan O'Dowda has called for greater help from the public as

he takes on a new role heading up the organised crime and counter

terrorism unit for the South East. In an exclusive television interview

with BBC South, he said data interception and covert methods are

also increasingly important in protectecting people from new

threats. We'll hear from him in a moment but first, this report.

Incidents of terror related crime and home—grown extremists are rare

in the Thames Valley, but recent events have brought the issue into

sharp focus. Aylesbury's Samantha Lewthwaite is currently being hunted

by Interpol, linked to terrorism in Kenya. She was the wife of 7/7

bomber Jermaine Lindsay who lived in the community who were unaware of

their radicalisation. Covert operations are used to protect the

public from unseen dangers. You don't think about it until it

happens to you, I suppose. Most people are going about their daily

lives and is not an easy. If people are worried on a national and

international level, it is not something I worry about. Heading up

the counterterrorism and organised crime unit is a huge job with

overall command of five force areas. He will be tackling crime and drug

and metal theft gang and sexual exhortation. The key challenge will

be with —— dealing with what police called sophisticated and organise

common threats. Earlier, I spoke to police Constable

Brendan O'Dowda and asked him how big a threat radicalisation poses.

It is always a problem. It starts with a radicalisation of an

individual. The government are truly committed to enabling police forces

are to have partnerships to identify those people through a number of

enhanced programmes, working with those communities and get hold of

the people and show them that there is a different way. You need to

tackle terrorism and organised crime head on and you will rely on people

in the community, so have reported will it be for officers to be

embedded in the community and have good relationships there? Many years

ago, when the British police force came into being, one of the

overarching principles was that the public are the police and the police

are the public. We can't do this alone. We need the public to give us

intelligence. National security is totally dependent on local security.

We need the eyes and ears of people on the ground. We need to know about

people who are radicalised, who are living beyond their means, that have

drugs, money. Have the confidence if you see that, pick up the phone. And

we can tackle head on those people. The recent child grooming trial in

Oxford at defied many failings by the police and social services in

missing warning signs. Can you ever stop a repeat of that? What we can

say is that it is so important that we join up our intelligence and our

shared knowledge wherever that threat is. It is absolutely clear

that there are lessons to be learned from that grooming case in terms of

shared intelligence and our Chief Constable referred to us joining the

dots in not quicker. I can't make guaranteed about any investigation

but I would like to think now, that through enhanced intelligence and a

more co—ordinated approach, we would be ahead of the game. How is your

terrorism and organised crime work going to rely on data interception

and monitoring phone calls? What else would you be doing apart from

the community involvement? I understand that some of our tactics

affect public trust and confidence and it is important that we are seen

to be transparent and proportionate in the way that we use some of our

powers. Some of our more covert, controversial tactics and undercover

work on surveillance are absolutely key to us fighting serious and

organised crime and counterterrorism. It is also key for

police to be out of there. Data interception is just one part of our

tool box. Thank you. A couple who paid for a ten—week

shopping spree using fraudulent cheques have been ordered to repay

£19,000 to a company in Oxford. Arron and Rhianna Thomas, from

Abingdon, paid for their wedding, a new car and breast surgery. He was

jailed for 22 months, she was handed a 15—month suspended sentence. Now

Oxford Crown Court has ordered the couple to repay Arron's former

employer, Grafton Merchanting in Cowley.

Two police officers have been taken to hospital after the unmarked car

they were in collided with another vehicle. The accident happened on

the A34 at Kidlington and the road was closed for a short time. The

officers are not believed to be seriously hurt.

Businesses in Oxford are being asked to become more willing to consider

homeless people for jobs. The charity Crisis has been trying to

find paid work for homeless people in the city, but says it can be

difficult to find employers who will give them a chance. As Rob Powell

reports, some may not have worked for years.

Learning skills for a life of work. John became homeless after a

relationship broke down and he was unable to pay the rent. Crisis has

helped him learn new skills and network with local businesses. It's

great, because it makes other people aware of situations like mine. This

Employment Platform event allows homeless people to pick up new

skills from pizza making to brick laying — and meet potential

employers. The majority of homeless people want to get back into work

and a lot of them have not work for a long time. What they needed help

building up their self esteem and and they also know —— need to get

the skills and confidence that qualifications. The event also

allows local businesses to recruit. You get more people who are keen on

investing long—term in the job that they have. Also people that care

more about the quality of work that they are delivering because they

have more than they have lost in the past and are grateful. Crisis also

offers year—round services for homeless people and the next

Employment Platform event is already being planned.

It has been agreed eight smoking shelters can be built in hospital

grounds around Oxford. Oxford City Council has given permission for

smoking shelters to be set up at the John Radcliffe Hospital, the

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Churchill Hospital. There were

objections on the grounds that the NHS should be smoke—free. But

councillors said the case had to be judged purely as a planning matter.

Didcot's been welcoming home its troops from their latest tour of

duty in Afghanistan. The Princess Royal handed out medals to soldiers

and hundreds turned out to watch them parade through the town centre.

Angela Walker was there. A heroes welcome on the streets of

Didcot. Young and old flocked to the town centre to welcome home the

Royal Logistics Corps and others back from their tour of duty in

Afghanistan. Didcot has always been a fabulous town. They are naming

some new streets after some of my former —— fallen soldiers. Even the

brewery has done us a special brew. The support when you walk around

town is palpable. 11 EOD has spent the last few months teaching Afghan

soldiers how to detect and deactivate bombers and explosive

devices. The Princess Royal, who is Colonel in Chief of the Royal

Logistics Corps, greeted the soldiers and presented them with

their service medals. We had a chat and she gave me my medal, so I was

quite pleased. She asked us how it all went and how we were doing. Just

discussed how the young lads were doing and how the parade went today.

For many, the parade —— the highlight of today was being united

with their families. Time to move forward with the next step of our

lives. Meeting Sebastian and Holly, Daschle Sebastian and Holly, it was

a particularly poignant homecoming. That's it for the moment. I will

have the headlines at 8pm and then back again

bringing back local banking next week on South Today.

And on Sunday Politics at 11am this Sunday, we look at the possible

return of local banks to support local businesses and give savers

better interest rates. Still to come in this evening's

South Today: A man has been jailed for just over five years for the

manslaughter of a Bournemouth man 12 years ago.

33—year—old Daniel Scott, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty after he

was caught by police coming into London from Paris this summer. He

assaulted 42—year—old Clive Wilcox outside a shop in Winton in May

2001. Mr Wilcox later died from a serious head injury.

Police investigating a serious sexual assault in Southampton have

released a picture of a potential witness they want to speak to. The

man is believed to have been with the victim outside The Edge

nightclub at around 5am last Saturday. He's described as five

foot six, in his mid—30s, with light brown hair. The incident happened in

Hoglands Park in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Thousands of homes could be built on green belt land in one of Surrey's

most picturesque areas. Waverley Borough Council says changes in

planning rules mean it will have to consider developing previously

protected land. The latest strategic assessment suggests that over 9000

new houses need to be built in the borough over the next 20 years.

That's twice the number the council itself argues the area can sustain.

And it's feared the new rules mean the extra housing will be imposed on

them. Joe Campbell reports. It is the archetypal image of

Britain's countryside. But the idea that 8000 more homes should be built

here, a few would consider it. I am horrified, I think we are under

enough pressure as it is. The commuting and traffic, I think

housing is required. I would be chained to the bulldozer so they

can't do it. You can see just how big an area is designated green belt

land. It is almost an act of vandalism when you look at some of

the areas earmarked. A village like this, its whole character will

change. From here, you can look out to London in the distance with its

landmarks. The demand for housing near the M25 is putting pressure on

the green belt in all counties surrounding London. Waverley could

be the first local authority to build on its protected spaces. The

ministers won't speak to the local councils. Attempts have been made to

speak to the local minister and he refuses. What do you make of that?

We can assume they're not interested and have a policy of build, build,

held. Critics say that once this landscape is lost, it is gone

forever. Our political editor Peter Henley is

here now. Why is the problem of housing such a difficult problem to

solve? Everyone agrees the waiting lists are too long. Everyone agrees

more houses are needed. No—one can agree where. There was a system —

the South—East Plan — an assessment of the best places to build more

homes that was scrapped by the Coalition Government. You can see

what is happening there with so much green belt land, they say no. In

reply to this suggestion from Conservative councillors that they

were being pressured to build on green belt, the Communities

Department said, "With the abolition of regional targets, the council can

no longer hide behind anyone else. The green belt remains protected

robust lay in a national planning rules. Local councillors have to

take responsibility for deciding where to provide homes for local

people and how to ensure protection of the local environment at the same

time." The problem with that is there is a market assessment system

which suggests you could build 500 homes per year. But will building

more houses make them more affordable? The suggestion is that

the price will come down. In London, that is not happening. That is

partly foreign investment. We see that spelling out all around in the

green belt. You probably have to have a more regional strategy to

build them in some parts but not in others. Then it becomes a

centralised system, which the government tried to throw out in the

first place. A safer driving group in Chichester

says motorists are getting away with speeding because not enough people

have come forward for voluntary patrols. The city's "20's Plenty"

group says that, while a majority support the speed limit, there's a

shortage of people to help police it. The group carries out roadside

checks using mobile speed guns and passes on information about

suspected speeding to the police. 100 wedding dresses worth thousands

of pounds have been donated to a charity shop in Dorset. 60 have gone

on sale at the Boscombe branch of the PDSA animal charity shop. And,

as you might expect, they're creating quite a stir. Ena Miller

reports. A princess on a budget. Going to

your local charity shop to buy a wedding dress was on something she

thought she would do. Last night, I was drawing what I would like and it

pretty much matches up. I can't talk about it too much, or I will give

too much away. The surprise donation of 100 addresses means there is a

lot to choose from. It will make a huge difference. We are really

excited. This charity shop usually sells second—hand books, furniture

and clothes but every little, no, every glamorous thing helps. It is

vital to help us in what we do at the PDSA. Without support we can't

carry on. If they sell all these dresses, they could sell —— they

could raise £2000. It could be a big difference. The new windowdressing

has caught people's attention. I always believed the bride is

whatever she has got on that day, doesn't matter how much it cost.

More money raised for charity dash happy ever after.

Sport now. In a moment I will meet an extraordinary lady whose story I

can't wait to hear. Southampton are in action on Sunday

in the Premier League against Swansea. Luke Shaw is the only doubt

due to illness. Saints have the meanest defence in the division

along with Tottenham, having only conceded two in this campaign.

Southampton are in sixth and Adam Lallana says fresh faces have given

the squad a lift. We have three additions to the core

of the team which have helped. It has lifted the quality in training

and when there is competition for places the standard is higher. We

are happy with the start of the season but it means nothing if we

take our foot off the gas. Elsewhere in the Championship, loan

keeper Stephen Henderson goes straight into the Bournemouth squad

to face Millwall as both the Cherries' first and second—choice

goalkeepers are ruled out. Reading in fifth travel to Turf Moor as they

take on Burnley. If Reading win, they'll have amassed as many points

as they did in the whole of last season's Premier League campaign.

Brighton host Nottingham Forest. Dave Kitson is back from suspension

and could feature for Oxford at home to Southend. Portsmouth could give

debuts to Terry Racon, Gavin Mahon and Trevor Carson at home to

Rochdale in League Two. In League One, Swindon play Tranmere

and MK Dons travel to Gillingham. It's easy to talk about

inspirational characters in sport, isnt it? But one woman from West

Sussex really does fit the bill. Daphne Belt from Poling near

Littlehampton is 74, and she's set herself an enormous sporting

challenge. I went to see her in training this morning.

When Daphne Belt was 50 she says she couldn't run for a bus. No, she is

aiming to do one triathlon per day for the 75 days leading up to her

75th birthday. She will run three kilometres, cycle 15 and swim one

kilometre to raise money for a children's hospice. More older

people are doing sport and a lot of sports now do age—group events so

they can still compete with people of their own age right up until they

are 80. She has not stopped at triathlons. She has also competed in

several extreme endurance Iron man competitions. Her doctor has given

up trying to talk her out of it. She thinks it is extreme but she sees I

have done it for 25 years and got away with it. I think it is

professional curiosity to see how long I can go on. I think I want

locking up and putting in a straitjacket. Training is tough,

more so in these conditions. You would think after 75 triathlons she

would be planning to take it easy and enjoy a relaxing 75th birthday.

But she is looking to compete in the world triathlon Championships in

Canada just weeks afterwards. Thousands of people will be pounding

the streets of Bournemouth and Basingstoke this weekend. The

Basingstoke Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, while Bournemouth

hosts its first marathon festival over Saturday and Sunday. There are

six races in total, ranging from a full 26—mile marathon to a 1.5

kilometre junior road race. Southampton's Olympic gold

medal—winning cyclist Dani King has been named in the 18—strong British

squad for the Euro track—cycling championships later this month in

Holland. Laura Trott is also included. Ed Clancy and Jason Kenny

are in the men's team. Now, just a reminder we're still

after your nominations for the BBC South Sports Unsung Hero — someone

or a pair who've made a difference to sport in your community. The

winner goes into the running for the National Award at the BBC Sports

Personality of the Year show in December. For more details, go

online to bbc.co.uk/unsunghero where you can download a nomination form.

If you don't have internet access, there is a phone number you can ring

to have one posted. It's 0845 308 8000. Calls cost 5p per minute from

a landline, but from mobiles could cost considerably more.

Did you see the bit about the painting last night? The woman who

wasn't exactly an oil painting? Yes. Now, if you were watching last

night, you may remember that we introduced you to a Winchester

couple, Keith and Sue Webb, who were trying to trace the owners of a

painting they received in the post. It was a picture of an old lady with

a hooked nose, dressed in a white shawl — quite a distinctive face, to

say the least. And Sue certainly didn't pull his punches about her. A

face that could turn milk at 50 yards. I don't think she was

very... A very happy sitter. Well, not all of you shared those

views, because we've had two e—mails since offering to buy, or at least

take the painting off the Webbs' hands. We also asked you if you

recognised the woman in the painting. It's already been

suggested that it was Dolly Pentreath, the last person to speak

Cornish. And another South Today viewer, Simon Newsham, has suggested

it could be Mother Shipton, who was a famous Yorkshire witch and has a

pub named after her in Portsmouth. I will have to check that out. The

mystery continues! A chimpanzee at a Dorset wildlife

centre, who became pregnant after her contraceptive pill failed, has

given birth! The twin girls arrived last week. They'll join an extended

family of 19, including proud mum Cherri. Female chimps at Monkey

World near Wareham are given birth control pills to avoid

overpopulating the centre. Cherri's failed last winter after she was

given antibiotics for a chest infection. Aren't they sweet? I

think I read they are called Thelma and Louise. I'm glad we all

coordinated outfits today. The weekend looks pretty promising.

Cloudy skies at Moors Valley Country Park in Verwood this morning. Colin

Arnold was very brave indeed to get up close to these magnificent birds.

Sandy Burnfield spotted this huddle of cows at Longstock in Hampshire. I

wonder what they were plotting! And a Red Admiral basking in the sun in

Broadmayne this afternoon. Thanks to Gordon Ferguson for that photo. Some

sunny spells today and more in store for the weekend. Most of tonight

looks to be largely dry with just some patchy mist tomorrow morning.

Tonight, the showers will fade away by the latter part of the night.

Rural spots may see temperatures down into single figures. We starts

tomorrow on a pretty chilly note but we have this lovely area of high

pressure in charge at the weekend. Things will be settled through the

weekend and into the start of next week. There are maybe some patchy

mist around first thing. Some good sunny spells later and temperatures

could get up to the high teens. One or two isolated showers around as

well. Some clear spells on Saturday night. Some patchy mist developing

and low cloud working its way in. On Sunday, some stopper and Fog ——

stubborn fog. Here the summary for the coming days. A misty start on

Saturday. Similar on Sunday but brighter later. Dry and settled in

the next week. More at 8pm and 10:25pm.