30/06/2014 BBC Wales Today

Good evening. Four men from Cardiff are being questioned by police

tonight on allegations of slavery and kidnap that span a 26 year

period. The police operation involved co-ordinated raids by three

forces early this morning. The slavery offences relate to two men,

who are safe and being supported by police officers.

The four men arrested on alleged slavery and forced labour offences

are being held here at Ystrad Mynach Police Station, where they're being

questioned by detectives. Warrants for their arrests were executed this

morning at properties in Cardiff and Bristol. And it was here in the

Rumney district of Cardiff where police focused their attention on

four houses. Police say the first man they arrested is 57 years old.

The others are all in their thirties. All are being questioned

on suspicion of knowingly or conspiring to hold a person in

slavery or servitude or requiring another person to perform forced or

compulsory labour. All four are also accused of assault. In addition

three of them face allegations of kidnap and false imprisonment.

Police say the arrests relate to two male victims whose alleged abuse

spanned more than a quarter of a century. It's an unusual offence to

be involved in investigating. But clearly, we are starting to uncover

more and more information and intelligence regarding people who

are being controlled in environments. And the whole nature

of human trafficking is becoming more prevalent across the United

Kingdom. In the Rumney area of Cardiff, residents were largely

unaware of the police operation this morning. But a local councillor says

it's very worrying news. Absolute shock. Because you do not expect it

in a suburban area. An area where people know each other. A community,

where there are communities. There will be shock and worry. Gwent

Police say the allegations from one of the victims covers slavery,

servitude and forced labour spanning a period of 26 years. They've

confirmed that no one was rescued or recovered from any of the houses

this morning. But they will not give any more details about where they

are from, or what is alleged to have happened to them, in case it

identifies them. The two victims are currently being supported by

specially trained officers. The row over who pays for the

electrification of the rail network in the South Wales Valleys has

intensified. There's been deadlock in recent months as governments in

London and Cardiff argue over funding. Now the Welsh Secretary,

David Jones, has accused Welsh Government ministers in Cardiff Bay

of putting the entire project in jeopardy. Here's our Political

Editor Nick Servini. Who is going to pay for a major part

of the biggest upgrade of the rail network in South Wales in decades?

Almost exactly two years ago, the deal was announced to extend the

electrified line from Paddington to Swansea, and include the Valleys.

Amid claim and counter claim, even the First Minister says there's a

danger of drift. The UK Government says it has a paper trail on its

side. Letters from 2012 showing a deal was agreed for it to pay for

the mainline and the Welsh Government would pay for the

Valleys. But the Welsh Government says it has the Prime Minister on

its side. This is what he told me on Wales Today last year. I know we

need these infrastructure investments in Wales, this

government is putting the money into the electrification up to Swansea

and the Valleys lines. In recent months, it had all gone quiet. Until

today when the Welsh Secretary told a conference on infrastructure that

it was still at risk. It is important to keep reminding people

how important this project is, and the fact it is in jeopardy. We want

to see this project go ahead and as I say it was witnessed in writing,

absolutely clear what it was, so we expect the Wells government to come

back and confirmed they will stick to their deal or they have

alternative system proposals that mean it will go ahead. It is

disappointing he spent a large part of his speech tried to score points.

This is about being in government. And as far as I am concerned, my

view is I was here to report on progress that Welsh Government is

making against a lot of obstacles. So what are the views of the most

important people in all of those? Rail commuters themselves. It should

all be paid by the UK. We does it end? The blurb elected to be here

responsibly and end up behaving like primary school children. -- people

are elected. Why should we get slow trains computer people in London? --

compared to people? This dispute can't go on forever. At the moment,

no-one's giving an inch. Someone will have to or it's going to hit

the buffers. And staying with the railways.

It'll probably be September before trains can cross the new Briwet

Bridge being built across the estuary near Penrhyndeudraeth in

Gwynedd. It was originally hoped they'd run during the summer. The

old bridge, which was 150 years old, was closed because of safety

concerns. It's hoped road traffic will be able to use the bridge by

Christmas. Four men who rammed a car off the

road and then shot at the people inside have each been sentenced to

12 years in prison. The attack, which happened last September in

Newport, was said to have been an attempted revenge killing. Lewis

Bridge, Brogan Hooper, Gary Rabjohns and Ryan Battersby were convicted of

two counts of conspiracy to murder earlier this month.

Anti-collision equipment wasn't on board either of the two RAF Tornados

that collided over Scotland in 2012, killing three airmen, according to

air accident investigators. The equipment was recommended, but

installation repeatedly delayed. Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole from

Anglesey was among those who died. Proposals for compulsory lessons on

relationships have been dropped from legislation on tackling domestic

violence. The Welsh Government says the idea will be looked at by a

review of the school curriculum instead. Campaigners say they are

concerned a new bill does not place enough emphasis on violence against

women. I think that it would be much better if we can get something

embedded in the curriculum. So I don't think this is the right time.

But it is still a priority. It is not gender neutral. It is gender

specific. Because it is specifically the services for men and women, so

it is gender specific. And I do not think people should get hung up on

the title. What is really, really important is what is in the bill.

Prince Charles has begun his annual summer tour of Wales with visits to

three family businesses. The theme this year is "Celebrating Wales,

past, present and future". Earlier, he visited a company which makes

luxury foods near Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire. As well as the

Melin Tregwynt woollen mill near Fishguard. He'll be joined by the

Duchess of Cornwall tomorrow. Rugby and Cardiff Blues player Owen

Williams, who suffered a serious neck injury during a tournament in

Singapore, is back in Wales after being flown home by air ambulance.

The 22-year-old centre sustained what his club called a significant

injury to his spinal cord and vertebrae. He's now being assessed

by specialists at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Cricket, and 88 from South African test star Jack Rudolph helped

Glamorgan reach 222-6 at the close of the second day of their match

against Worcestershire. They're still 130 behind the home

side, who were, this morning, bowled out for 352.

Good cricketing weather today. What about tomorrow?

Not bad, and for most of this week. Mainly dry and warm. Turning more

and warm. Turning more unsettled later in the week. Tonight, largely

dry with light winds. Variable cloud. And some clear spells

allowing a few localised mist and fog patches to develop by dawn. A

mild one. Overnight lows between nine and 14 Celsius. Tomorrow,

another fine start. Dry with plenty of sunshine. Similar across most of

the UK. Warming up quite quickly. But as it does, cloud building

through the day. Especially across Scotland and the east of England.

Could be thick enough to produce a few isolated light showers further

north. And really quite warm. Temperatures in the high teens

across Scotland. Low twenties for the south of England. And a fine and

mostly dry end to the day across Wales. Temperatures between 18

Celsius on Anglesey and 22 in Monmouthshire. Another largely dry

and sunny day on Wednesday. Turning slightly warmer. Temperatures

creeping up in the low twenties for most of Wales. So high pressure

continues to dominate on Wednesday. But a front approaching from the

north-west of the UK brings signs of a change. Thursday will still be

very humid in South East Wales. But turning cloudier and eventually a

bit cooler from the north and west. A few showers possible as that front

sinks southwards. Some uncertainty about the end of the week. Probably

remaining warm Friday. But cloudier and breezier. And signs of something

slightly cooler and more unsettled as we head into the weekend.

We are back with the latest news and sport, traffic updates and weather

forecasts from sex tomorrow morning and on local radio. -- from six

o'clock tomorrow morning. That is Wales Today. Thank you for watching.

Goodbye. If your friend was taken away...

# Not giving in... # I'm afraid

there's not much we can do. ..how would you fight

to get her back? This is wrong. I'm not going to

carry on as if nothing has happened.