:00:12. > :00:13.Good evening and welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands.
:00:14. > :00:16.More than 440 drivers caught using their phone in the past year -
:00:17. > :00:19.Jersey Police launch a tough crackdown on those who
:00:20. > :00:31.It's become much more socially unacceptable. People are reporting
:00:32. > :00:36.it now. We get a lot of people phoning to say that they have just
:00:37. > :00:39.seen somebody on a mobile phone and they angry about it.
:00:40. > :00:41.Good evening and welcome to the late news from BBC Channel Islands.
:00:42. > :00:51.As Guernsey records a budget surplus at a time of austerity,
:00:52. > :00:54.will politicians decide to ease up on the island's cut backs?
:00:55. > :00:56.Getting tough on drivers who use their phones -
:00:57. > :00:59.that's the pledge from Jersey Police on the day they announced that 444
:01:00. > :01:03.drivers were prosecuted for using mobile phones
:01:04. > :01:09.That's the highest number for the last four years.
:01:10. > :01:12.The police campaign comes as the UK brings in tougher penalties for it.
:01:13. > :01:14.So with figures increasing in the Channel Islands,
:01:15. > :01:21.More and more drivers in Jersey are illegally using mobile
:01:22. > :01:27.Even within half an hour of filming police road checks today to mark
:01:28. > :01:30.the launch of their new campaign, five drivers were caught
:01:31. > :01:34.But it is not just police presence contributing to last year's record
:01:35. > :01:37.of the highest number of prosecutions since 2012.
:01:38. > :01:48.We've seen an increase of about a fifth over the last year
:01:49. > :01:51.and that really means of course we are out there a lot more,
:01:52. > :01:53.it's become a lot more socially unacceptable.
:01:54. > :01:58.We get lots of people phoning us to say they've just seen
:01:59. > :02:01.someone on a mobile phone and they are really angry about it.
:02:02. > :02:04.People know now how dangerous it can be and we've seen the tragic results
:02:05. > :02:07.Not only is it dangerous, but it is also costly,
:02:08. > :02:09.with drivers facing a fine up to ?1000.
:02:10. > :02:12.However, most of those caught in 2016 paid ?100 or less.
:02:13. > :02:14.Road safety campaigners say fines need to be more.
:02:15. > :02:16.The current penalties don't go far enough, do they,
:02:17. > :02:19.and obviously if your figures are showing there is an increase
:02:20. > :02:25.What we need is a real strong deterrent and ?75,
:02:26. > :02:30.?100 isn't enough to deter somebody from using their phone, obviously.
:02:31. > :02:34.If we're going to really cut this down, we need to hit people where it
:02:35. > :02:37.hurts the most and that seems to be in the pocket.
:02:38. > :02:39.But some drivers in Jersey believe punishment needs to go further.
:02:40. > :02:43.A driving ban should be introduced because it would be equal punishment
:02:44. > :02:47.for all types of people, whether they have money or not.
:02:48. > :02:50.I think it won't stop people from going on their phones.
:02:51. > :03:00.If you lose your license, it's a bigger things.
:03:01. > :03:06.There is never any justification for using a mobile phone while driving.
:03:07. > :03:15.Something needs to be put in place to get it out of the psyche
:03:16. > :03:19.that it is acceptable to use the mobile phone.
:03:20. > :03:20.The department responsible for Jersey's roads is working
:03:21. > :03:24.on a new penalty points system to be in place in the next
:03:25. > :03:27.But will it be enough to stop drivers taking the law
:03:28. > :03:36.The family of a Jerseyman who was killed with another British
:03:37. > :03:39.tourist in Thailand have asked the authorities there to show
:03:40. > :03:42.leniency towards two Burmese men facing the death penalty
:03:43. > :03:46.Jersey's David Miller and Hannah Witheridge from Norfolk
:03:47. > :03:51.were found dead on a Thai beach in 2014.
:03:52. > :03:53.An appeal court in Thailand has upheld the death
:03:54. > :04:00.In a statement, the Miller family said the court process had been fair
:04:01. > :04:02.and effective and the killers' guilt has now been confirmed.
:04:03. > :04:06.Last ditch attempts to hold the women's Muratti have failed -
:04:07. > :04:11.and it's been confirmed tonight that the match between Guernsey
:04:12. > :04:14.and Jersey's ladies teams will not take place this year.
:04:15. > :04:26.In a statement tonight, the Guernsey Football Association said...
:04:27. > :04:28.The GFA says it'll now focus on growing participation
:04:29. > :04:33.and building the next generation of players.
:04:34. > :04:35.There are calls to reconsider planned cuts to public
:04:36. > :04:43.The Policy and Resources Committee intends to trim 3% from public
:04:44. > :04:46.spending this year, followed by 5% for the two years after.
:04:47. > :04:49.But there's a warning to islanders not to get carried away
:04:50. > :04:51.with a recent return to a budget surplus.
:04:52. > :04:56.Guernsey is trying to trim public spending.
:04:57. > :04:59.It is slashing 3% off committee budgets this year.
:05:00. > :05:02.And this man plans to cut another 5% in 2018 and a further
:05:03. > :05:11.It could save the government ?26 million over the next three years.
:05:12. > :05:18.But some deputies are warning the cuts may be hard to achieve.
:05:19. > :05:21.About two thirds of the revenue goes on education, health
:05:22. > :05:28.The idea that cuts of this magnitude can be achieved by bureaucratic
:05:29. > :05:30.savings or administrative savings that no one will notice,
:05:31. > :05:37.The states have to get into the core of whether we are prepared
:05:38. > :05:41.to cut public services or whether we want to defend public
:05:42. > :05:47.services and then we will have to raise more revenue.
:05:48. > :05:50.But a Guernsey tax adviser is urging the States to stick with substantial
:05:51. > :05:52.spending cuts over the rest of this political term.
:05:53. > :05:55.Since the turn of the century, the island has increased its income
:05:56. > :06:02.by 50% and increased its expenditure by 83%.
:06:03. > :06:09.We have gone through uncertain times and there is more coming.
:06:10. > :06:14.This is the wrong time to send out the wrong message,
:06:15. > :06:18.which is that we are fine and can get back to spending.
:06:19. > :06:22.Everyone on the island knows that we spend more than we should.
:06:23. > :06:25.The man controlling Guernsey's purse strings wasn't available
:06:26. > :06:47.for interview today but said in a statement...
:06:48. > :06:49.The island's politicians will face a fundamental debate in June,
:06:50. > :06:51.when they will decide how best to tackle future shortfalls
:06:52. > :06:59.Jersey's Housing Minister says she'll do whatever needs to be done
:07:00. > :07:02.to make sure letting agencies in the island are fair
:07:03. > :07:08.Deputy Pryke has launched a review into their practices and may follow
:07:09. > :07:10.England in banning agencies from charging tenants fees.
:07:11. > :07:15.Moving house can be an expensive business.
:07:16. > :07:19.There is rent to pay, bills to cover, and in Jersey -
:07:20. > :07:22.for some properties ? there is also the fee you have to give
:07:23. > :07:26.I understand they need to make a profit.
:07:27. > :07:29.I think if they challenged the landlord instead of the person
:07:30. > :07:43.I don't think they're doing much for that money.
:07:44. > :07:50.I've never looked at it and thought it was an unfair fee.
:07:51. > :07:53.But at Gaudin and Company, they believe it is the landlords
:07:54. > :08:06.They can afford to pay the fee for us to
:08:07. > :08:10.I think that is the way it should go.
:08:11. > :08:12.This letting agency may not charge the so-called introduction fee
:08:13. > :08:14.but there are several across the island that do.
:08:15. > :08:17.The fee is usually the equivalent of one week's rent and is
:08:18. > :08:19.taken by the agency once you accept their priority.
:08:20. > :08:22.That's on top of the deposit and the first month's rent up front.
:08:23. > :08:25.So the Housing Minister now wants to hear from the public
:08:26. > :08:32.She says she will consider banning tenancy fees altogether.
:08:33. > :08:40.Letting agencies are a business so they need to make some money.
:08:41. > :08:45.But some people, I understand, have been
:08:46. > :08:47.charging the landlord as well as the tenant
:08:48. > :08:52.Anyone wanting to contribute to the review has until the end of April.
:08:53. > :08:55.As we enter the first day of spring, Jersey recorded its driest
:08:56. > :08:58.But February was the dullest in a decade.
:08:59. > :09:05.David Braine can tell us whether March will be better.
:09:06. > :09:11.Hello. It's a blast to be night ahead of us. Already the winds are
:09:12. > :09:17.costing pretty big. In the small costing pretty big. In the small
:09:18. > :09:23.hours of the morning, we could have 50-55 mph. The winds will drop
:09:24. > :09:30.tomorrow. Tomorrow is brighter and mostly dry. More importantly, it is
:09:31. > :09:32.less windy. The reason for the strength of Windows because of the
:09:33. > :09:39.low-pressure trickling across central parts of Britain. There is
:09:40. > :09:47.that ridge of high pressure for the middle of the Great War.
:09:48. > :09:55.Predominantly dry and low-pressure. By the weekend, we have low-pressure
:09:56. > :09:59.in charge, the risk of showers. Hopefully some sunshine in between
:10:00. > :10:07.the showers. The main feature for the rest of the night is the gale
:10:08. > :10:11.force wind. A a few showers are possible. Mostly dry through the
:10:12. > :10:18.night to come. With all the wind, the temperature shouldn't drop to
:10:19. > :10:23.low. Tomorrow is predominantly dry. There will be some sunshine. Some
:10:24. > :10:35.show was possible but mostly dry. The winds are much lighter. On
:10:36. > :10:41.Friday, the rain is back off and on throughout the day. Little bit
:10:42. > :10:44.brighter on Saturday. Sunday is similar, bright in the morning but
:10:45. > :10:48.cloud and rain in the afternoon. And that's all the news
:10:49. > :10:51.for this Wednesday night - don't forget if you've missed
:10:52. > :11:06.anything you can catch outlook. A whole load of 11 is. What
:11:07. > :11:12.does that mean? Maybe John Hammond will tell you.
:11:13. > :11:17.We're in for a bumpy ride. The weather chopping and changing
:11:18. > :11:21.keeping us on our toes. Rain never too far away from our crystal ball.
:11:22. > :11:24.There has been rain around today across southern areas. This band of
:11:25. > :11:28.wet weather pushing through Wales and the Midlands. A little bit of
:11:29. > :11:35.the white stuff mixed in over the high ground Snowdonia, some snow for
:11:36. > :11:36.an trans-Pennine routes as well. Snow at low levels through the