:00:00. > :00:00.police operation across the UK has resulted in the arrest of up to 600
:00:00. > :00:00.suspected paedophiles. Welcome to BBC Points West with
:00:00. > :00:00.Alex Lovell and Sabet Choudhury Jailed for life,
:00:07. > :00:24.the violent ex`boyfriend who stabbed Were low expectations, but total
:00:25. > :00:30.faith in the George doing the right thing, installing that the outcome
:00:31. > :00:45.reflected the horrendous actions of a cowardly individual. Judgd.
:00:46. > :00:48.Tonight Asher Maslin starts a life behind bars ` his mother says
:00:49. > :00:52.Closed for twelve hours ` a standstill on the M5
:00:53. > :00:57.Farmers say we're dumping the spud in favour of rice and pasta.
:00:58. > :01:01.And it's all hands on deck `head of a big weekend on the watdr
:01:02. > :01:15.A man who stabbed his ex`girlfriend to death as she worked in
:01:16. > :01:18.a hair salon in Gloucester has been sentenced to life in prison today.
:01:19. > :01:21.Asher Maslin couldn't cope with the fact Hollie Gazzard had split
:01:22. > :01:25.So he bought a knife, burst in to her workplace and att`cked her
:01:26. > :01:29.Hollie was only 20 years old and today her family said the brightest
:01:30. > :01:33.Our Gloucestershire reporter Steve Knibbs was in court.
:01:34. > :01:35.Asher Maslin was fiercely jdalous, possessive and violent `
:01:36. > :01:37.he could never accept that his relationship was over
:01:38. > :01:44.He sent her a text warning he'd get violent if she didn't get in touch.
:01:45. > :01:49.After taking crack cocaine and drinking heavily
:01:50. > :01:52.for three days he's caught on CCTV in a shop in Gloucester selling
:01:53. > :01:58.He then walks into Wilkinson's in the city centre and, intdnt
:01:59. > :02:02.on killing Hollie, buys a c`rving knife with a six inch blade for ?3.
:02:03. > :02:08.He spends two hours walking around before walking
:02:09. > :02:13.into the salon where Hollie worked and stabbing her 14 times.
:02:14. > :02:18.He's caught again on camera running away holding the knife `
:02:19. > :02:28.all the while she was fighthng a losing battle for her lifd.
:02:29. > :02:37.I had to tell the family th`t their sister and daughter had been killed.
:02:38. > :02:40.The hardest day of my life. Not a single day has gone by when we are
:02:41. > :02:43.not thought of her. We have to live day by day.
:02:44. > :02:46.With many people in tears the court heard
:02:47. > :02:50.Her father Nick and sister Chloe read out victim impact statdments `
:02:51. > :02:55.saying that their lives had been destroxed.
:02:56. > :03:02.We want to keep alive her spirit. She is incredibly missed.
:03:03. > :03:05.The judge jailed Maslin for life ` saying that Hollie's murder was
:03:06. > :03:08.a "merciless killing" ` it'll be 24 years before he'll even
:03:09. > :03:31.We had total faith that the judge would do the right thing. Wd have
:03:32. > :03:37.finally received justice for Holly. We will always love you.
:03:38. > :03:39.At the end of last year Hollie wrote on Facebook,
:03:40. > :03:43.If a person isn't happy within a relationship why try
:03:44. > :03:57.She wanted to end it becausd she saw his true colours and what w`s coming
:03:58. > :04:01.out. There were a few instances when he
:04:02. > :04:04.disrespected us as a family. We had to tell him, we don't want xou
:04:05. > :04:07.around the house anymore because of that.
:04:08. > :04:09.This was the first murder case to be heard
:04:10. > :04:14.Asher Maslin often had his head in his hands during the hearing
:04:15. > :04:16.As he left court under high security his mother issued
:04:17. > :04:29.He cannot explain why he did what he did. He can just express through was
:04:30. > :04:41.his deeply felt sorrow for the pain he has caused for so many pdople.
:04:42. > :04:43.The Independent Police Complaints Commsiion said today that two police
:04:44. > :04:46.officers and a call handler are being investigated for misconduct in
:04:47. > :04:48.relation to complaints Hollhe made to police about Maslin stealing
:04:49. > :04:50.money from her shortly before she was murdered. Thd
:04:51. > :05:01.A trust has been set up in her name to help the victims of domestic
:05:02. > :05:06.abuse. The family now want to move on and finally grieve for hdr.
:05:07. > :05:08.Let's speak now to Sally Morrissey who's the manager of Gloucestershire
:05:09. > :05:11.Domestic Abuse Support Servhce, one of the charities Hollie's family
:05:12. > :05:21.This is a very shocking and extreme case.
:05:22. > :05:29.But how unusual is it to sed domestic abuse in young people?
:05:30. > :05:40.It is becoming more of an issue Definitely. The numbers are rising.
:05:41. > :05:43.We are seeing a definite rise in the number of young people coming
:05:44. > :05:53.through to our service asking for support. Why is that. There was a
:05:54. > :05:59.change in the Home Office ddfinition which brought more 16 and 17 notes
:06:00. > :06:02.into the criteria. But therd has been publicity around this case and
:06:03. > :06:14.another domestic homicide in Gloucestershire, a 16`year`old, it
:06:15. > :06:20.is raising awareness. Is thd message getting through? It is important
:06:21. > :06:25.that we educate young peopld about the dangers of Ireland, unhdalthy
:06:26. > :06:30.relationships. We need to challenge the assumptions of young men. But we
:06:31. > :06:33.need to educate young women and make them be aware that certain sorts of
:06:34. > :06:39.behaviour can actually be vdry dangerous. They might percehve
:06:40. > :06:44.somebody asking them where they have been as looking after them, make
:06:45. > :06:49.sure they are OK. We would see that as controlling, coercive behaviour
:06:50. > :06:53.which should ring alarm bells. That is the trouble, where do yot draw
:06:54. > :07:00.the line? When do you raise the alarm? At the earliest point. Get
:07:01. > :07:07.advice from organisations lhke ourselves. What is the work you are
:07:08. > :07:11.now doing with the family? Because she was such a young woman `nd other
:07:12. > :07:15.young woman are coming forw`rd we want to go into schools, work with
:07:16. > :07:20.youth groups in the county, raise awareness around domestic abuse We
:07:21. > :07:23.want to make sure that young people understand what it means to be in
:07:24. > :07:31.that sort of relationship and what the danger signs are. What hs really
:07:32. > :07:36.important, because she had dnded the relationship, so often people say to
:07:37. > :07:42.me, why don't they just leave? It is not that easy. From our expdrience
:07:43. > :07:49.we know that at that point the risk to the victim goes up dramatically.
:07:50. > :07:52.A very volatile time. In th`t sort of relationship the person being
:07:53. > :07:56.violent is very controlling and coercive. If you end that
:07:57. > :08:00.relationship you are starting to take control back for yoursdlf and
:08:01. > :08:05.the base that their control slipping away, that is when it starts to get
:08:06. > :08:07.dangerous. Thank you for coming in to talk to
:08:08. > :08:12.us about it. A Cheltenham grandmother has been
:08:13. > :08:14.told the British government has no legal obligation to fund her appeal
:08:15. > :08:17.against the death sentence Lindsay Sandiford faces execution
:08:18. > :08:20.after being convicted She had claimed that the policy
:08:21. > :08:25.of not funding Britons' leg`l fees But judges in the UK Supremd Court
:08:26. > :08:28.rejected that. The court did however urge linisters
:08:29. > :08:33.to reconsider whether they could It's been revealed that eleven
:08:34. > :08:42.people have been arrested by police in the west
:08:43. > :08:45.in a nationwide operation against Over the past six months,
:08:46. > :08:49.two have been arrested in Avon and Somerset, six in Wiltshhre
:08:50. > :08:51.and three in Gloucestershird. They're among 660 people
:08:52. > :08:55.arrested nationwide. Police have kept the operathon
:08:56. > :08:58.secret until now and are not revealing the tactics they tsed in
:08:59. > :09:04.order to use them again in future. There were long delays in Somerset
:09:05. > :09:06.today after It happened between Bridgwater
:09:07. > :09:11.and Taunton in the early hotrs ` but the effects were still being
:09:12. > :09:13.felt this afternoon. Miles of tailback ` and divdrsions
:09:14. > :09:21.lasting three hours and mord. Snaking not just along the L5 but
:09:22. > :09:42.along every available exit, causing It is an absolute nightmare. Traffic
:09:43. > :09:44.at a standstill. The traffic was really bad. Getting out of junction
:09:45. > :09:48.was chaos. This was half a mile north
:09:49. > :09:50.of the Taunton turn`off. An articulated lorry lying `s
:09:51. > :09:52.if asleep on the road. At right angles across
:09:53. > :09:55.the lanes from 3am this morning Police and rescue crews worked to
:09:56. > :10:08.clear the lanes but moving this The road was closed for mord than
:10:09. > :10:15.ten hours before police man`ged to open just one lane. You can see why
:10:16. > :10:19.it has been such a slow process That vehicle was at right angles
:10:20. > :10:22.across all three lanes. It has taken all morning and some of the
:10:23. > :10:30.afternoon just to drag a vidw metres out of the way. `` a few.
:10:31. > :10:36.Tens of thousands of drivers took diversions.
:10:37. > :10:42.It's not clear what caused this crash.
:10:43. > :10:45.The driver of the Orange lorry is still in hospital tonight
:10:46. > :10:49.And the effects are still bding felt tonight with the inside land and the
:10:50. > :11:00.hard shoulder closed while the crash barriers are repaired overnhght
:11:01. > :11:03.The A417, which has become notorious as an accident black spot is
:11:04. > :11:06.on a short list by the Government to have mhllions
:11:07. > :11:13.The Transport Minister came to see the stretch of road that is single
:11:14. > :11:15.carriageway between Cirencester and Gloucester for himself today.
:11:16. > :11:17.It's one of six other routes being considered
:11:18. > :11:20.nationally but the Highways Agency in the west are hopeful this section
:11:21. > :11:35.That is the boss coming to see one of the key issues. For an an opinion
:11:36. > :11:39.on it. At a time when the government is proposing to spend much lore on
:11:40. > :11:40.investment in roads in the next five years.
:11:41. > :11:43.A decision by the Government on the ?255 million scheme to
:11:44. > :11:46.improve the road will be made in Spring next year.
:11:47. > :11:48.You're watching Wednesday's Points West and we've lots more for you.
:11:49. > :11:50.We're getting ship shape ahdad of the Harbour Festival `
:11:51. > :12:08.but what will the weather bring for the West's big weekend?
:12:09. > :12:18.Some roads in Bristol are closed on this evening after a house fire
:12:19. > :12:19.just off Constitution Hill. One person has been treated by
:12:20. > :12:22.paramedics. Unemployment has fallen
:12:23. > :12:24.across the west by 10% in a month. The latest figures,
:12:25. > :12:26.published this morning, show 29 000 people were out of work
:12:27. > :12:29.and claiming benefit in Jund. That's the lowest number
:12:30. > :12:32.since the recession began in 20 8, and it's the fourth month
:12:33. > :12:34.in a row that unemployment Nearly a quarter of
:12:35. > :12:43.a million pounds has been rdfunded to motorists who were fined for
:12:44. > :12:46.breaking bus gate rules in Bath It follows a public outcry over
:12:47. > :12:48.a badly signposted bus gate More than 7,000 fines have been
:12:49. > :12:54.issued this year, but they've all been written off, and
:12:55. > :12:58.the council says that signs warning The former head
:12:59. > :13:06.of social services in Wiltshire says there's now a crisis in sochal work
:13:07. > :13:09.across the country because of the Ray Jones says workers have been
:13:10. > :13:14.unfairly treated since the toddler's death in 2007, and
:13:15. > :13:18.child referrals have also shot up. We'll be talking to him in ` moment
:13:19. > :13:22.` but first our Health Corrdspondent Matthew Hill has been asking
:13:23. > :13:25.whether there's a problem whth Alex Cambell spent 16 years
:13:26. > :13:32.in the cut`throat business world He's now in a social worker
:13:33. > :13:51.in Bristol looking We deal with families struggling
:13:52. > :13:52.with a variety of issues. Domestic violence, alcohol or substance
:13:53. > :13:53.abuse. So was having to take
:13:54. > :14:02.a pay cut really worth it? I have worked in other countries and
:14:03. > :14:12.dangerous jobs but the honest this is the most challenging one I have
:14:13. > :14:16.done. `` being honest. But H would counterbalance that by saying that
:14:17. > :14:20.times it is one of the most satisfying fulfilling. We are
:14:21. > :14:26.privileged social workers in that we can step into the lives of those who
:14:27. > :14:27.struggle and play a part in that, which is a very privileged
:14:28. > :14:36.unfortunate role. `` and fortunate. But over recent years Alex's
:14:37. > :14:38.profession has been under attack . That's according to
:14:39. > :14:40.the former head of social sdrvices His book baby on Peter Connolley ,
:14:41. > :14:45.the toddler from Harringay who was subjected to months of violdnt abuse
:14:46. > :14:48.before his death , is out today It argues that referrals to social
:14:49. > :14:50.services have rocketed as a result` and it's been lore
:14:51. > :15:01.difficult to recruit and retain Despite the challenges of mdeting
:15:02. > :15:05.the needs of areas like this, Bristol City Council is still rated
:15:06. > :15:12.as good when it comes to chhld protection. It still manages to
:15:13. > :15:15.retain social workers, with no current vacancies. But elsewhere in
:15:16. > :15:16.the West the picture is not quite so rosy.
:15:17. > :15:20.Somerset has been rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.
:15:21. > :15:21.They have 36 vacancies in children?s social servicds
:15:22. > :15:25.and their referral rate has risen from 500 cases in 2009 to 732.
:15:26. > :15:29.In Wiltshire referrals have trebled since 2007 Referrals have also
:15:30. > :15:33.doubled in Bath and North East Somerset.
:15:34. > :15:37.The social worker?s job that Alex loves still has its own rew`rds
:15:38. > :15:41.But his profession is going to have to attract many more people of high
:15:42. > :15:48.calibre if it is to meet thd growing challenges of protecting chhldren.
:15:49. > :15:56.Most of our authorities are rated as adequate and Bristol is good `
:15:57. > :16:01.is there really a crisis here in the West?
:16:02. > :16:14.Nationally there is. What about here? Even so there is struggles.
:16:15. > :16:16.Increased front`line worklo`ds, difficulties recruiting, and
:16:17. > :16:22.families with increased povdrty and destitution. Put that altogdther and
:16:23. > :16:33.the country, including in the West, it is a very difficult time. When
:16:34. > :16:46.they beat Peter died in Augtst 007, the story broke in 2008. `` baby
:16:47. > :16:49.Peter. The reaction targeted social workers and made people think, is
:16:50. > :16:51.that the sensible job to be doing when I might be targeted as well.
:16:52. > :16:54.If more cases are being refdrred to social services now `
:16:55. > :16:58.isn't that a good thing as ht means more children on the radar?
:16:59. > :17:05.It is a good thing if we have the capacity to tackle it. The
:17:06. > :17:09.increasing workloads, we ard seeing that in the West Country. Btt no
:17:10. > :17:19.increase in capacity to deal with that. Do you believe there `re
:17:20. > :17:26.children suffering tonight because of those problems?
:17:27. > :17:28.As a consequence of cutting corners we are not always spotting the
:17:29. > :17:36.children we need to give most attention to. The solution? Talking
:17:37. > :17:42.about cops and austerities has consequences. We must decidd where
:17:43. > :17:55.we put the money and I would always prioritise children in dangdr. ``
:17:56. > :18:00.talking about cuts. If we don't start now we will never tackle it.
:18:01. > :18:05.Potato farmers in the West say they are facing one
:18:06. > :18:08.of their worst years ever ` in spite of the promise of bumper crops.
:18:09. > :18:12.It seems more and more people are dropping the humble spud
:18:13. > :18:16.One Somerset farmer says his crop is almost worthless.
:18:17. > :18:27.In Nick Bragg's cold store there sits 150 tonne of potatoes
:18:28. > :18:33.So he's made the decision to turn them over to animal feed `
:18:34. > :19:01.20p per to tonne. Going forward we must review what we're doing. Maybe
:19:02. > :19:04.we don't grow potatoes next year. Ironically,
:19:05. > :19:05.the problem is that this ye`r promises a bumper crop of potatoes `
:19:06. > :19:11.but at a time when demand for the humble spud is falling, ret`il sales
:19:12. > :19:15.are down 11 per cent in a ydar. It seems that over the years
:19:16. > :19:19.our eating habits, and for that Nowadays our focus is more
:19:20. > :19:23.on convenience foods, rice, pasta, A bit of a challenge then
:19:24. > :19:40.for those whose job it is to market The challenge for such a tr`ditional
:19:41. > :19:42.and staple part of the diet, we all start to have a more varied diet,
:19:43. > :19:45.and all hits back and potato. All of this doesn't bode well
:19:46. > :19:49.for the future as far as Nick Bragg From his fields in South Petherton
:19:50. > :19:54.he's expecting to harvest about 8,000 tonnes of potatoes
:19:55. > :19:58.in the autumn. But if he can't sell those he has
:19:59. > :20:02.in store from last year what chance It's been the first day
:20:03. > :20:14.in a rather high`profile new job Conservative Robert Buckland
:20:15. > :20:18.was elected four years ago. A former barrister
:20:19. > :20:20.and part`time judge, he's bden appointed Solicitor General
:20:21. > :20:35.and has today been setting out what On a policy basis I am very
:20:36. > :20:42.interested in issues relating to domestic violence and the position
:20:43. > :20:48.of women in our society. Felale genital mutilation is a big issue. I
:20:49. > :20:54.will play my part in making sure that the positive agenda of change
:20:55. > :20:57.to guarantee the law fully reflects the realities of that appalling
:20:58. > :21:01.crime are met. Two golfers
:21:02. > :21:03.from the West are going through their final practice rounds today,
:21:04. > :21:05.ahead of The Open Championship. Bristol's Chris Wood won
:21:06. > :21:08.the silver trophy six years ago He finished tied`third the
:21:09. > :21:13.following year as a professhonal. David Howell, from Swindon,
:21:14. > :21:15.is making his first appearance He's gone through some diffhcult
:21:16. > :21:31.times on the course in recent years. Coming back has not been easy. It
:21:32. > :21:43.takes that little bit more could play to boost your confidence. ``
:21:44. > :21:44.good play. But it has been ` good comeback, back playing major
:21:45. > :21:47.championships again. Howell will hit the opening shot
:21:48. > :21:52.of the tournament as he tees off Bristol is gearing up for one
:21:53. > :21:59.of its most spectacular weekends The city's Harbour Festival
:22:00. > :22:01.starts on Friday. It has become one of the UK's
:22:02. > :22:04.largest public events, and a chance for Bristol to show
:22:05. > :22:07.off its maritime heritage. Ahead of the festival we've been
:22:08. > :22:10.talking to some of the people who Today,
:22:11. > :22:31.the man charged with looking after I am Andrew King. The curator of
:22:32. > :22:40.industrial and Maritime seels for Bristol Museum service. `` themes. I
:22:41. > :22:51.oversee the maintenance and care of these boats. It is one of the most
:22:52. > :22:59.attractive parts of my job, playing with really big toys. We ard
:23:00. > :23:08.standing on board. This was built in Bristol in 1934 to protect the city
:23:09. > :23:12.docks from a fire. It is able to get through without swinging thd bridge,
:23:13. > :23:21.as long as you lie flat on the deck. We got hold of her 15 years
:23:22. > :23:26.ago. We restored her back to working order. Every year at the harbour
:23:27. > :23:33.festival we open and close with a water display, we have all the
:23:34. > :23:40.cannons, all the houses, sending what all over the place. Thhs is the
:23:41. > :23:57.pontoon for maintenance. `` all of the cannons and hoses. You can see
:23:58. > :24:06.the sort of thing we need to pay attention to. There is rust. That is
:24:07. > :24:12.a constant battle. A very slall number of people work for the Museum
:24:13. > :24:18.service. Myself and one colleague of the team, really, for the industrial
:24:19. > :24:21.and Maritime section. With out volunteers we would never h`ve got
:24:22. > :24:28.this started, we could never have done all the things we have done
:24:29. > :24:29.without their help. And alw`ys looking for new volunteers.
:24:30. > :24:33.The festival begins at 6pm on Friday ` do join us for Points West that
:24:34. > :24:36.evening as we'll have a verx special programme with lots of the build`up
:24:37. > :24:40.And we'll be out on the water too to bring you
:24:41. > :25:08.There is uncertainty in the details. But tomorrow will arguably be very
:25:09. > :25:18.hot. Sunshine around, and it will remain dry. Saturday, wherever you
:25:19. > :25:25.are in England, the threat of heavy torrential rainfall courtesx of
:25:26. > :25:33.severe thunderstorms. The added threats of lightning and
:25:34. > :25:40.hailstones. We will expect `n update on that tomorrow. The warning at the
:25:41. > :25:47.moment covers all of our arda. This evening, with the exception of some
:25:48. > :25:58.showers with others, a quiet affair. `` showers that are with us. We
:25:59. > :26:03.could see the first of a nulber of thunderstorms arriving in Friday.
:26:04. > :26:11.This evening, some moderately heavy rain across parts of
:26:12. > :26:18.Gloucestershire. Some of it will be confined to the Channel coast by
:26:19. > :26:44.daybreak tomorrow. Temperattres or lower `` temperatures quite muggy.
:26:45. > :26:49.Light to moderate breeze. I would not be surprised to see 28 Celsius
:26:50. > :26:56.in some spot tomorrow, safely the hottest day of the year for us. Warm
:26:57. > :27:03.air is then pumped all the way up from the Iberian area. It whll be
:27:04. > :27:11.destabilised by a front movhng in from the west. It could be
:27:12. > :27:17.particularly potent. There hs a lot of uncertainty about the details but
:27:18. > :27:20.every possibility of disruptive weather developing later on Friday
:27:21. > :27:24.night and during the course of Saturday. But some sunshine in
:27:25. > :27:32.between. Details tomorrow. That temperature at night, 06
:27:33. > :27:46.degrees! That is it from us. We are back with
:27:47. > :27:49.the 10pm news. Goodbye.