29/04/2014 BBC Oxford News

Good evening. Our top story tonight: in a few minutes. Now we

Good evening. Our top story tonight: The Wiltshire police officer who

fired a 50,000 volt taser into the chest of a naked suspect in a cell

has been cleared of all charges. PC Lee Birch denied responding angrily

when a prisoner acted violently. Today he was found not guilty of

assault and misconduct in a public place. Steve Brodie reports. PC Lee

Birch left court after the jury recorded its not guilty verdict in

just 60 minutes. They reached their decision after watching CCTV of the

officer firing the electronic stun`gun into the chest of Daniel

Dove. The jury watched the CCTV, which showed Daniel Dove being told

to strip. When he reached his boxer shorts, he took them off and flipped

them at PC Birch. The police officer then produced the taser stun`gun,

which he had been hiding behind his back and shot Mr Dove in the chest.

Daniel Dove collapsed naked onto the floor of the cell after being hit by

50,000 volts. The prosecution and defence lawyers said they had no

objection to the CCTV being released to the media, but the trial judge

commented that he had no power or wish to prevent its broadcast. But,

at the last`minute, Wiltshire's Chief Constable, Pat Ginty, appealed

to stop its release. It's immensely disappointing that the Crown

Prosecution Service subsequently elected to withdraw the prosecution

against Mr Dove on the basis that PC Birch's credibility was now being

questioned. The jury have had ample opportunity to carry out their own

assessment of PC Birch's credibility, their view is plain to

see. When Daniel Dove was brought back to the police station, he was

taken to the custody suite where he was booked in, while being

handcuffed, before being transferred to the cell, where he was tasered.

It feels like if you touch an electric fence, like that, but a lot

stronger. A lot stronger. It grabs hold of you. Wiltshire Police

commissioned a review of its taser policy. We have accepted the

recommendations from this review and have subsequently rewritten our

taser policy. We have also changed our processes for the selection of

taser`trained officers. For PC Birch, the not guilty verdict means

he can return to work, but still has to await the outcome of an

investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Steve

Brodie, BBC South Today. A 22`year`old man from Abingdon has

been jailed for three years for sexual activity with a 14`year`old

girl. Owen Froude was arrested in January last year. In March he

pleaded guilty to inciting a child to be involved in pornography and

sexual activity with a child. He's also been placed on the Sex

Offenders Register indefinitely. ?5 million worth of farming equipment

is stolen across the south`east every year. Now Thames Valley Police

have given BBC South Today access to their night patrol team in the

countryside. Jeremy Stern sent us this report "There's been some

suspicious activity in Hook Norton." We know our are quite well. We know

what we are used to seeing and who would normally be around. We are

being looking for anything out of the ordinary while out and about.

Catching criminals is rarely easy, in the countryside there are all

kinds of challenges. We don't have as many witnesses as you would have

in an urban area or CCTV to fall back on. What we have been doing

over the past few years is strengthening our communication

links with the rural community, farmers, dog walkers who know the

area well. ?5 million worth of equipment is stolen in rural parts

of the south`east every year. Tractors and heavy machinery are

targeted, as well as metal. Bikes, horse tack and tools are also at

risk. It is a large area. Communities can feel isolated. We

needed to keep that reassurance of visible patrols and crime reduction

work ongoing, throughout the time to reduce the fear of crime. Police are

encouraging those who live in the countryside to increase security and

mark all of their equipment. Jeremy Stern, BBC South Today. Swindon Town

footballer Nile Ranger has appeared before magistrates where he pleaded

not guilty to a charge of criminal damage. The 23`year`old ` seen

leaving court today ` has to report to Swindon police station twice each

week before he stands trial in July. He's accused of causing ?2,000 worth

of damage. Wiltshire Police say he's not been charged with criminal

assault as no formal complaint has been received. The boardroom battle

for control of Swindon Town Football Club continued at the High Court in

chairman, Lee Power, is in the chairman, Lee Power, is in the

middle of a legal dispute with a company set up by former owner Jedd

McCrory. It's centered on who actually owns the club and which

directors have power to make decisions about its future. Lawyers

failed to come to a settlement and today's hearing was adjourned with

nothing new resolved. The transport secretary says he's confident

building work will start on the HS2 rail line by 2017. It follows last

night's House of Commons approval of the plans. 35 Conservative MPs voted

against the scheme, including Buckinghamshire MPs Cheryl Gillan

and Steve Baker and Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton`Brown. Banbury's

Tony Baldry abstained. Whilst I wholly understand the concerns of

those honourable members whose constituents are affected by the

route, I also know this is a decision we cannot duck. We have

waited long enough. The West Coast Main Line can take no more. T It's

been a day of disrupted journeys for many commuters across our region

today. Tube strikes brought parts of the network to a standstill. RMT

Union members took part in the first day of a 48`hour walkout because of

plans to close ticket offices. Many commuters opted for other ways to

cross the capital. Staying with travel, and work's started to reduce

congestion at the junction between the M40 and A34 near Bicester. Three

years ago the A34 southbound junction was revamped. Now the

carriageways are being widened to ease congestion on the northbound

approach. That's it from us for now. We're back in BBC Breakfast tomorrow

morning, but for now, goodnight. . Here is the weather: there may be

showers first of all, most places will dry with mist and fog

developing under clear skies and light winds. Temperatures tonight

will be similar to last night, falling to seven to eight Celsius.

The mist and fog will lift, we will see sunny spells develop. Not a bad

day all in all. There will be sunshine but a risk of stray

showers. Most places will escape the showers. If you catch one they could

be heavy and thundery, temperatures reaching 17 Celsius, winds light.

Unsettled through Thursday. As we head towards the weekend, Friday,

Saturday and Sunday is being looking good. Up next the

some sharp showers. It will be colder still on Friday.

Hello again, the holiday weekend is not far-away. We are still expecting

the weather to change significantly before then. Some patchy rain from

northern Scotland tomorrow. There is a lot of cloud coming in from the

North Sea which is pushing its way inland. There could be quite a bit

of fog around in the morning. It should be a mild, misty, murky start

to Wednesday. The mist and