27/03/2014 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Geeta Pendse.

Tonight, police forces under fire over their handling of domestic

abuse. Good evening. Welcome to Thursday's programme. First tonight

` police forces have been accused of putting thousands of people at risk,

because of failings in the way they deal with domestic abuse. Councils

are accused of siphoning off the funding. Plus the first aid skills

that won this life`saver this top award. When you learn that you never

think you will have to use it but you do because it does happen. And

high hopes for the new Leicester Lions in Speedway. Good evening.

Welcome to the programme. Police forces have been accused of putting

thousands of people at risk because of failings in the way they deal

with domestic abuse. In a scathing report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate

of Constabulary has cold for substantial reforms. Nottinghamshire

and Derbyshire in particular have been criticised for a lack of

knowledge among staff, a backlog of cases and for providing an

inconsistent service to victims. Our Chief News reporter Quentin Rayner

is here to tell us more. The Inspectorate says this should be a

wake`up call to the police. On average they receive an emergency

related call every 30 seconds and 77 women were killed last year by their

partners or ex`partners. Across the East Midlands it accounts for 10% of

all recorded crime, and almost 6,500 incidents of domestic abuse,

resulting in injury, were recorded in the year up to last August.

Derbyshire is criticised for weaknesses in staff training and

gaps in their knowledge. Officers need to fully understand domestic

abuse including coercive and psychological control. Significant

backlogs are highlighted, and the force has now stopped its policy of

closing standard risk cases that aren't processed within its target

of seven days. Yes, we need to improve. If the report had come back

and said everything was rosy with the constabulary I would have been

surprised but we do need to improve and part of the governance

arrangements is to come back and make recommendations, we will act on

those and we will improve. The Nottinghamshire force is criticised

by the Inspectorate for inconsistency. It found that high

risk victims receive a better standard of service and protection

than those assessed as lower risk. For them there's no system in place

to review their level of risk once an offender is released from

custody. The Inspectors also found a lack of awareness among officers

about victims in their local area, and the force doesn't have an

understanding of serial offenders in Nottinghamshire. I don't think there

is a difference in the level of protection but there is a difference

in the level of risk protection and we have to approach that. The work

is in its infancy and we have to support that. Work is being done and

we have to work to understand more how perpetrators heave and how we

can manage them. Leicestershire is praised for its information sharing

with other agencies and for being one of the few forces which asks

victims for feedback about its service. A Leicester`based domestic

violence project says the initial response by the police is vital. It

is extremely crucial. Obviously they are the first to go out to those

kind of instances. It is about looking for warning signs, looking

at what the needs of the victims are, making sure they are safe so it

is crucial they have that awareness and knowledge first`hand especially

because they are the first to be in contact with that victim as these

officers, the one that support. The Inspectorate recognises considerable

improvements over the past decade, but it's still found that the

service offered to victims is too often unacceptable. It's insisting

domestic abuse must no longer be the poor relation to other policing

activity. Councils in the East Midlands are investigating claims

Jimmy Savile carried out abuse at the former Aspley Wood School in

Nottingham and the now`closed Bassetlaw School in Nottinghamshire.

They're among 21 children's homes and schools in England where it's

claimed Savile abused children between the 1960s and 80s. The

government has ordered local authorities to investigate.

Nottingham City Council says one allegation has been made. Meanwhile,

Nottinghamshire County Council says it's appalled. A care home manager

has been suspended from nursing for 12 months after she was found guilty

of banning a man from visiting his dying mother`in`law. Vanessa Gent

faced allegations relating to 85`year`old Elisabeth Peacock who

lived at Southwell Court Care Home in Nottinghamshire and had severe

dementia. Gent was found guilty of four counts by a Nursing and

Midwifery Council panel. It's been confirmed that it'll cost millions

of pounds to fix damage caused by a large fire at Derby's Assembly Rooms

car park. The blaze ` almost two weeks ago ` started in an air

conditioning unit. Last week it was announced the venue will be closed

for at least eight weeks, with the cancellation of 50 shows. You're

watching East Midlands Today. Coming up: We'll be chatting to the the

award`winning Nottingham director Shane Meadows. We'll be asking him

about a new film ` his powerful account of two teenagers living with

cancer in Nottingham. Many of our councils have been

accused of "siphoning off" public health funding to prop up other town

hall services. Doctors have warned that campaigns on smoking, obesity

and sexual health are all threatened. This report from our

Political Editor John Hess. The public health but just how healthy

is the public? Do you do exercising? Not really, I run up and down stairs

when I work all day and that keeps me fit. I am on a special diet.

Daily walks with hard, I think that is about it. For a City Council like

Nottingham those public health contracts are worth ?27 million. It

is now down to the local authorities and its politicians to decide what

the public health priorities are locally. This Nottinghamshire GP

warns some councils are siphoning off health funds to plug gaps in

council budgets. One survey reveals the third of councils have done just

that. There is not enough money in the system to maintain the entire

budget for health services and the council budget for adequate social

services. The system is balanced on a knife edge. The politician in

charge of public health funding in Nottingham defends the priorities.

?1 million for sexual health, we have negotiated well with hospitals

so there should not be service changes but better value for money.

No recantation that money and put it into early intervention so young

people are making better choices. New priorities over public health.

Many are struggling to agree. An award`winning film director from

Nottingham has teamed up with the Teenage Cancer Trust to highlight

the work of the charity. As part of the project, Shane Meadows worked

with youngsters at the City Hospital. Shane's here and we'll be

talking to him in a moment. But first let's hear from 20`year`old

Amy Howarth, from Bilborough, who's one of the stars of Shane's film. I

was so independent, out and about, I had a life really. Getting

councillors. That someone is mucking about there. I have lost all my

independence. And my health with it. I know she is brave. I don't think I

would be able to handle what she has gone through. I started off being

really, really clumsy. I dropped my past, I could not pick it up. It is

great for, the strongest type you can get. He has done a really good

job on the film, a better job than they all thought. It is not easy

seeing your mum and dad cry. That still makes me well up a bit but

that film, she never rehearsed anything. What she has said is what

she said at that time straight from the heart. You did a good job. It is

a cliche you are used to making gritty films but this is real life,

how difficult was it? The one thing that was handy for me, I am quite

famous for chucking the script out the window. But obviously the thing

that was most different about this was that we shot it when the teenage

Cancer trust unit was still working. Normally on film sets people are

walking around gassing on lattes thinking they own the place while

obviously we had the very small crew and everybody was working for free.

On the day we did not really know until we got in there. Amy has good

and bad days. The other girl had just started her treatment a few

weeks before for leukaemia and was in isolation so until we got there

on the day we did not know if they would be able to take part. Like

macro what was it like working with Amy? Our account is so honest. The

film has been screening at the Albert Hall. She came down on Monday

with her dad and her aunties and uncles and I had been to have the

look on the stage before she went out, obviously she was really

nervous, there were 6000 people out there. I walked out and I was

frightened. Backstage she was really, really nervous obviously.

Roger Daltrey who is the patron of the whole thing sat with her and

heard other for half an hour and they spoke it through and she was

brave enough to go out. She did not know she would be brave enough to

talk. She got a standing ovation from the crowd. It was an amazing

thing. Why did you want to do this work for the teenage Cancer trust?

Both my boys were born at the hospital that opened the unit. We

were asked if we would be interested in coming for a visit and to bring a

few films in. We were invited last year and it was like everything was

going to change. I had never heard of the charity, I did not know how

specialist it was and the cure that was so local to me, E unit in my

city. We went to their shows and I saw the film last year and just said

to the charity if they would ever consider me then I would do it. A

brief word about future plans? I have been in London this week at the

Albert Hall, meeting with Channel four about the new CDs. We are going

to start writing in a few weeks and if that goes well we will be

shooting it later in the year and it will be on telly next year. Right

back row thank you for coming in. An army cadet who saved the life of a

man who had collapsed on the street, has won a prestigious award. Despite

having a heart condition himself, Sam Herbert managed to get the man's

heart restarted. In fact, Sam from Derby was one of three East Midlands

winners at the Everyday Heroes national awards in London last

night. James Roberson reports. The morning after the night before. Sam

and his dad back in Derby after the awards. 16`year`old Sam won this top

award for his prompt action last spring. It was here in Derby that

last May Sam was walking home from Army cadets when he saw a man

suddenly collapsed just ahead of him. He put his first aid training

into action. I put him in the recovery position. He was

unconscious. He stopped breathing so I had to roll them back onto his

back and commence CPR. I did not feel like I could carry on. I had to

phone the Ambulance Service. Some schools also won awards for

excellent training and a specific campaign. To get the award was

delighted. It is well`deserved for all of the children, they all

deserve to get the commendations that they did. I've felt it was just

something that I did and it is something everyone should know

anyway. I'd macro well done Sam. Motorists in Leicester have probably

been overcharged by ?1.5 million in parking because the machines do not

give change. The machines came into use 15 years ago. Officials say it's

only an estimated figure because overpayment wasn't calculated for

most of that time. The council may now introduce a flat rate of ?1 per

hour. More than 70 businesses in Derby have signed up to a scheme to

take on job`seekers in the city. The "Derby's Working Project" has been

created by the City Council and is the first of its kind in England.

Workers will be employed for six months and will be paid the living

wage. The project is being funded by central government. Coming up the

weather and tonight and has some young assistants helping with her

forecast. Yes, we are here for the BBC's School report and we will be

asking some tough questions as to why the weather presenter sometimes

gets it wrong. Do weather presenters get it wrong ever? No! Someone who

is always right is Angela with the sport. Only one place to start

tonight. An amazing record breaking innings from an English cricketer

and he's one of our own. Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales

hit a stunning 116 to help England beat Sri Lanka at the Twenty20 world

cup. It sees him become the first ever English player to hit a century

in the shortest form of the game. The search for Nottingham Forest's

new manager goes on. Stuart Pearce the latest candidate to say no

thanks to taking over the hot seat at the City Ground. He puts it down

to family reasons. Here's Kirsty with the latest. Gary Brazil was the

man taking training today as they search for a permanent manager goes

on. The chairman says big names remain in the frame and he is hoping

to make an appointment soon. He says it may have to wait. Some managers

are still under contract with other clubs and we would like them to take

the job, being so close to the end of the season they do not want to

risk it with eight games to go. I am waiting for the right one. This man

said he turned the job down feeding interference in team matters from

the chairman. That is something he denies. If it is somebody we do not

want to hire for the job he might see things and that is normal but

what made me upset is because this is not like us, you do not talk to

managers and tell them how to play otherwise I would be the manager,

why should I hire another manager? There was some confusion error this

week but this loan signing from Leeds was confirmed. The players are

having to put the uncertainty to one side. Whoever is in charge, they

know they have eight vital games left in the fight for the play off.

This weekend sees the best gymnasts in the country battling it out at

the British Championships. Amongst them two sisters from Nottingham.

There's an eight`year age gap between Becky and Ellie Downie but

both are aiming for glory ` and dreaming of success at the next

Olympics. Two sisters at opposite ends of their career but both aiming

for big things. Becky is 22, getting on in gymnastic terms but try

telling that to her. I had the break can took some time to think about

what I wanted. I came back and knew I did not want to give it up yet.

Her 14`year`old sister is juggling school work with training but she

too is showing promise. When I get home from training I have to revise

and keep up with cool work. I have to go see my teachers for extra

work, it is quite difficult but I am managing it OK. Next year she will

step up from juniors to seniors and there is a realistic prospect we

will see both sisters competing in the real in 2016. To be able to

experience an Olympics, something so special, with your sister, it would

be a rain. `` dream. Now speedway, and after a 31`year wait we finally

have a team back in the top flight. When Leicester Lions returned to

competition, reaching the Elite League was their ultimate aim. And

it's mission accomplished. Here's Colin. The step into the elite

league for the first time. Like any sport, once you are at the highest

level, you need the best riders to compete. That completely brand`new

group know they have a battle on their hands this season. There is a

belief year that Leicester will do more than just make up the numbers.

We hope to be in the top five. We can make the play`offs and a top

four finish we would class as an amazing success. This Sheffield lad

was among the most promising of his generation and is loving the

opportunity to do something special. I think we have got it already, I

think the performances will determine where we finish in the

league but having a good team spirit will definitely help that. Speedway

does remain a minor sport but the crew have done wonders to revive it

in Leicester, by the task is to make a bigger noise this summer. Since we

brought Speedway back to Leicester we hope that bringing the very best

of world Speedway to West will get the public excited. `` Leicester.

Whatever happens when the chequered flag fault this Saturday, the Lions

will be back at the top. Full previews of the weekend's games in

tomorrow night's programme but that's all from sport for tonight.

Today is BBC News School News Day when school pupils become reporters

for the day. 30,000 students across the country have been taking part

including many here in the East Midlands. As part of their

preparation our very own weather presenter Anna went along to The

Bramcote School in Nottinghamshire to share some tricks of the trade.

And the students made a report of her visit. Hello, today we have been

learning about the weather for Bbc School Report. Year nine have been

having a go at whether presenting. It is not so easy as it looks. Can

you tell me how you get your weather news? As the weather presenter in

2014 we are really fortunate to have so much access to computer data.

That with Met Office briefings for the day helps us to put the forecast

together for you. How important is the weather forecast? Extremely

important for different people for different reasons. For yourself to

know whether to wear a coat to school or not, for the farmers for

their crops and for the emergency services, it is really important. We

do sometimes get it wrong but with so much computer data at our

fingertips it is getting braver and reader. `` rarer and rarer. Your

weather for now. It is getting very chilly out there and we are

expecting rain through this evening. There are some showers around and it

could turn wintry at times across the peak district later this

evening. The game will start to clear away and it will be dry to end

the night. You may notice mist into the Peak District if you live

somewhere sheltered. It will feel rather chilly tonight but it should

be frost free. It is a chilly start to Friday but a lot of cloud

around. They will be a little rain moving in from Lincolnshire.

Leicestershire generally a dry morning and some brightness towards

the end of the afternoon but a lot of cloud and highs around 11 or 12

Celsius. On Friday beaded a change. And easterly wind but the ice bars

start to rotate so from Saturday we have eight southeasterly wind which

will give us much warmer year. `` air. The temperatures will be in the

mid`teens, maybe even a high of 16 Celsius. That is all from me, I will

leave you with the school students. We have a similar day tomorrow, cool

and cloudy perhaps some showers. For the weekend we should see some hazy

spells of sunshine. And thank you for this beautiful picture of the

marina. In the background you can see smoke from the killing stations

`` cooling towers of the power station. That is fantastic. So many

school students have taken part in the events. The studio can go to

them. We can, we have been taking the weather road show into school

for years now. If you would like to get involved e`mail us. It has been

a busy programme. That is about it from us for now. Goodbye. Goodbye.