20/06/2017 London News

Urgent checks to prevent another Grenfell disaster.

Councils scramble to update tower block safety.

We've been pushing for years to have building regulations upgraded, to

think of things like adding and sprinklers. I'll be live at the

Finsbury Park mosque where a vigil is due to take place shall it

remember the victims of the terror attack that took place just around

the corner. This young mother comforted

by a government minister Today she tells us why

she worries for Londoners. I fear for them. Especially the ones

that look the most vulnerable, the ones with children, the ones who are

pregnant, the elderly. I fear for them. One of the greatest upsets at

Queens. The man who has ruled this place so many times. The number-1

pledges his winnings to the Grenfell Tower victims.

Welcome to the programme with me Riz Lateef.

First tonight, the urgent work taking place to ensure London's

As firefighters continue to search through the wreckage

of Grenfell Tower, local authorities are conducting fresh inspections

Croydon Council has become the first to announce

that it will fit sprinklers into many of its high rise blocks.

Not far from Grenfell Tower, many residents are worried. Reassurances

from Westminster Council about the cladding and the safety of the

high-rise haven't worked. Do you feel safe quiz in no, I don't. Since

it happened, I hardly sleep because I'm worried about my little girl. I

am worried that it could happen here as it did in Grenfell Tower. The

wiring could be just as bad. They've got to take it down because they've

spent millions putting up, they can spend more millions to take it down

to make people's lives safe and put a sprinkler in everybody's kitchen

or something like that. Councils are now trying to reassure residents

across London and Croydon was the first in the capital to say it'll be

installing sprinklers up to 25 blocks. The debate around

sprinklers, the debate around whether you stay in the property or

leave it, we've taken the decision we have to have sprinklers in the

blocks. Our blocks in Croydon, pre-Grenfell Tower, if you like,

have been signed off as safe, we are examining the cladding further, as

we speak, but it isn't right to not offer residents in our blocks the

reassurance that sprinklers and out today bring. After six died in the

black are now fire in 2009, the government said that councils should

consider fitting sprinters to old buildings but very few did. In this

blog in Croydon there are smoke alarms but there are no sprinklers

and if the lifts are out of action, this is the only way out, this

stairwell. Croydon Council now say they are going to pay ?10 million to

retrofit sprinklers in all of their blocks over ten floors high. There

are now calls for other councils to follow suit. To pay for them, the

council wants the government to relax borrowing rules or it says

other improvements may have to be cut. John has lived in this block

for 25 years. They are improving things, making people happy, so it

is a step forward. This is a test of the effectiveness of sprinkler

systems. Campaigners have been trying to get the government to make

them compulsory in all buildings for many years. In the States they fit

40 million sprinkler heads a year. What is wrong with England? We

muddle along. We used to be the great leader in all these things but

now we can't do this, too much bureaucracy, not enough money. I

mean... I was going to say it's tragic but it is self evidently

tragic. The Grenfell Tower fire is changing how authorities regard

tower blocks. The question now is how many landlords will improve

their fire safeguards. Let's cross to our political editor

Tim Donovan in North Kensington. What more do we know now about how

many other tower blocks could have On the issue of sprinklers, having

heard from around a third of London's Burrows, no indication that

many of those will follow Croydon's sued. At the moment although they

are saying they're keeping things under review, we had hoped to get a

solid, reliable figure from government about how many tower

blocks have been inspected over the last few days around London but we

haven't got that. We've got our own impression from having talked to

councils, a good cross-section of them, involving about 900 tower

blocks. No major concerns identified, some minor concerns,

issues around access and so on. On this issue of cladding, while some

of them have reported they have clouded buildings, we found details

of about 140 of that sample, none so far high-rise had the same cladding

which we believe was here. To stress, no official cause from

cladding being attributed, and that is a key part of the investigation

but certainly the issue of cladding seems to be the focus of government

because just yesterday they were setting up guidance and letters to

councils asking them to look for a specific type which they wanted to

be tested. For now, we will leave it there. More from you later, thank

you. The government says more

than ?200,000 in emergency funds has been given out to victims

of the Grenfell Tower fire. The money has gone to 180 families

from the high-rise block. But those whose lives have been

shattered have expressed a sense of anger over how they've been

treated by the authorities. When you've lost everything, even

proving who you are is a challenge. So the Westway Centre is set up as a

one-stop shop for those needing passports, driving licences, access

to GPs and housing. It is such a short amount of time to get

organised. There is criticism of how long it has taken to set this up.

When we arrived, there was nobody. No representatives from the council,

no government entities, this was just a community getting together,

which was quite shocking, actually. In London in 2017. It's upsetting

what they're doing. Marla maples has been giving temporary accommodation

in Battersea, an hour from some's school but she is struggling to get

information about when she might be able to return to her own flat,

opposite Grenfell Tower. Nobody is prepared for this but they should

have been a little bit... They should have been a bit more

organised with everything. But they haven't done that, everyone has been

thrown different ways. There is a London wide emergency plan, the

London local authority gold arrangement bringing together

expertise, organisations and volunteers from across all London

boroughs to help out. Questions are being asked about why Kensington and

Chelsea apparently waited for 48 hours after this incident to make

the call for help. I spoke to one senior council official from another

borough who said if this had happened in his area that Paul would

have been made within an hour of the seriousness of this incident been

known. I can't comment on what Kensington and Chelsea have or

haven't done but I can tell you a spot of the response I've been here

since the weekend and we have worked with all of the London Boroughs,

including Kensington and Chelsea to deliver this. We weren't able to

speak to anyone from Kensington and Chelsea council but they told us

since the early hours of Wednesday morning...

Behind the scenes, there's frustration only individual councils

can trigger a London wide response. And calls for change. The British

Red Cross stopped short of criticising the council today but

acknowledged there were lessons to be learned from this tragedy. The

processes and systems and planning is there and lots of exercises take

place to work through like this. In reality, it is different to what you

practice for. For many, there are more pressing concerns one we can,

when feelings are still raw. Let's go back to Tim

in North Kensington. On this question of the original

response by the council? Clarify what should

they have done differently? Everyone can see that Kensington and

Chelsea were overwhelmed by the responsibilities, what they had to

do in the first hours. And there would have been sympathy for that.

The question is about what they did about it and when they did it when

they were overwhelmed. It isn't that this is an informal process, there

are long established processes, resilience processes for across

London. And such pan London response could have been triggered. But the

way it is triggered is by the host borough, the council making that

decision and there is certainly frustration among other local

authorities who have been involved here not least because I understand

some would have actively made offers of assistance a few hours after the

import of what was happening here, the frustration that this didn't

become a pan London resilience response. Not least because to some

of these people contaminated the feeling about how the agencies have

responded and we know we've heard such tales of heroism from the

emergency first responders but there's been a sense that the

secondary response about what to do with people who have been displaced

from this book hasn't quite... It has been on the back foot and

struggle to get the initiative. Tim, thank you. Our political editor, Tim

Donovan. Well, today the head

of the Metropolitan Police told BBC London her force is "stretched,"

and revealed she's asking Cressida Dick says her officers

are carrying out a number of "very extensive" terror investigations

after the recent attacks, on top of dealing with

a rise in violent crime. She was speaking to our home affairs

correspondent, Nick Beake. Three terrorist attacks, five more

foiled. A devastating fire. All this on top of rising violent crime in

London. The pace feels relentless for the Metropolitan Police. We are

not having any fewer calls for help from the public so we are stretched.

The commission reveal to us she was now talking to ministers about the

?400 million of savings Scotland Yard says it has to make by 2020. We

do undoubtedly need a very capable police service in the future for all

the reasons people can see. I'm sure we can become more efficient however

we need the resources to do the job and I'm talking to the government

and the mayor about that. Sources say they are confident the

government will listen and provide more funding. The home office

insisted it would ensure the Met has the resources needed to cut crime

and keep communities safe. But the mayor rejected a department's claim

that the police budget had been protected. Scotland Yard also

announced today it was paying to train an extra 1800 officers to

carry Teys stun guns. The commission ordered the move after a rise in

knife crime and attacks on officers but explained they could also help

in a terror attack. I felt our emergency response teams should have

more Teys is. Clearly, the horrible attacks in the last few weeks... I

think will be high in people's minds. And there are instances when

Teys will be and, indeed, has been used in some arrests recently but it

would be a very useful tool for the officers to use. Critics say Teys as

are dangerous and is used far too often, vertically against black

people but Scotland Yard feels it is an increasingly important weapon in

policing the capital today. People have gathered for a vigil

in Finsbury Park this evening, in support and solidarity for those

affected by the terror attack on Muslim worshippers

in the early hours of yesterday. Victoria Hollins is there

for us this evening. The speeches have just got under way

at the Finsbury Park mosque, prayers were said and now as you can see

hundreds of people have gathered here. The attack itself happened a

few hundred meters from here and for all intents and purposes it feels

like things have got back to normal, the roads have reopened, the only

tell-tale signs are tributes written on the walls, the flowers that have

been laid. One of the things we're told is there could have been a lot

more victims yesterday morning if it hadn't been for the brave actions of

a few people on the ground. We've been talking to one student who

helped out in the early hours. My name is Ali Habib and I'm a local

resident and I've lived in most of my life. As soon as I attended there

was a lot of confusion and chaos, a lot of people screaming as well so

it was very hard to get a sense of what actually occurred. Now one

could get in or out, police blocked off the road. The ambulances

arrived. We were trying to con people down, we were also trying to

find out where relatives were. A lot of relatives can find their mothers.

Youths are always vilified but from what we saw, these were the first

people that came in the defence of people, they were there trying to

resuscitate people, lifting the van of the floor trying to rescue

people, they are the ones that conducted citizens arrests, they

help themselves from abusing someone who had just conducted a terrorist

attack. They were able to restrain him and wait for the police to

arrive. These are local heroes and saved peoples lives. What we need is

more anti organising, grassroot organising, that fight

anti-terrorism, racism, homophobia across all our society. That is how

we could prevent it. Seeing what happened yesterday, this is an

attack on everyone in the area. We saw people of Muslim background,

Jewish background, Christian background, of no faith coming

together seeing this as an attack on their own community. There is a lot

of anger and sadness with what has happened in Finsbury Park. A lot of

Muslims and non-Muslims also died at Grenfell Tower, which happened a few

days ago. There is a lot of shock in the community so I can't really

explain how I am feeling right now. The attack attempted to divide us

but it brought us closer together. I think that is our Triumph against

the attack. One of the key members yesterday was when a young mother

approached Sajid Javid yesterday, and how to keep her son safe as a

young Muslim boy. They consoled each other after that conversation. That

lady spoke today to our reporter. It was a moment that summed up house

Muslims are feeling. One mother comforted by a government minister

after a terrorist attack which targeted Muslims. I went to check on

my family. I was devastated, I was scared for the community in an area

I grew up in. I didn't know what else to do. You don't know who to

ask, I can't get through to anybody, you just panicking and you get up

and go. Runa says she's experienced racism, including being verbally

abused by a man on the bus. He was telling me to get out of this

country, you shouldn't be here. Where should I be? Where should I

be? My son was there. And he had to hear that? So, these other things

that our children are growing up with. Whatever nationality

therefrom, these are the things are hearing. Does your mum where they

failed? She was a hijab and Bercow, and my mother asked me should I take

the burqa off? I said, what are you talking about? I fear for the

minorities of the women of this country, I fear for them, especially

the ones that look most honourable, the ones with children, the ones who

are pregnant, the elderly. I fear for them. So, how does Runa see

herself? I am just a normal Brit. And I hope that one day Brits can

get together because we are British, whether you're born here or not, you

know, we live in this society and we have to live together. I am joined

now by representative of the community. Can you tell us first of

all how are the victims of yesterday's attack? Unfortunately,

not in good shape, one of them is still in a coma and there's two of

them in a coma, one of them went through a nine hour operation and he

is still in surgery. We are praying for the victims. Some of the victims

also have made it back home and they still have broken lips, and some

broken legs as well. We are still praying for them and calling them

and speaking them and speaking to them today. How would you sum up the

mood of the community, more than 24 hours on? The community here is

still in a state of shock, in a disbelief of what has happened but

we are overwhelmed by the huge support that we have received from

the local community. It is so nice to see the number of flowers, phone

calls, e-mails, people who came to our building last night, showing

their support, their love and respect to us. What is the one thing

that could make the biggest difference to people here, to help

them feel more positive and safer? I think a larger rational action has

to come about. This strategy is clearly not working. We have to come

out with a long planned to reassure people, to encourage the culture of

tolerance, the culture of accepting others. This culture of within is

not normal, we have to encourage people to come together,

hand-in-hand, working in partnership to improve everything. We've been

living here for many years, we have been here for 40 years as a centre,

we work with people of faith and non-faith and we will remain so.

Thank you very much and we will let you get back to the visual. There

was a cheer him because Jeremy Corbyn has just taken to the stage

and saying a few words to the people here.

He is the local MP. Many thanks, clearly the community feeling the

love and support of London. Thank you.

Now, there has been widespread praise and admiration

for our emergency services, what they had to deal

with responding to recent terror attacks and last

But there is concern over how much support they're receiving after such

How is that possible? This jumped up flights of stairs. It's a moment no

amount of training can prepare you for, being called out for 24 story

residential building engulfed in flames. Almost one we can from the

fire at Grenfell Tower, some firefighters have taken to social

media to talk about the trauma they faced that night.

The things they had to witness was absolutely horrific, although, you

know, they were lucky that they did save a lot of lives but they saw a

lot of people perish and those things will stick with them. Cuts to

the fire brigade have seen its counselling service hit hard and

there are serious concerns for the long-term mental health of those

involved in this incident. In London, for instance, we had 17

full-time councillors who are there to help firefighters dealing with

PTSD and stressful situations, mental illnesses. That has gone down

to two. As a union we worry for the long-term effects on our

firefighters, is there going to be the support there? The London Fire

Brigade believes there will be. In a statement, they told us.

A big priority now is to make sure anyone that needs it gets the right

psychological support. The survivors of the fire, their friends and

family, the neighbours living nearby and saw what happened. And of course

the emergency services involved, the police, and Islands cruise, the

staff working in the major trauma centres and the Fire Brigade. This

has been a particular emotional time for them and you can see a very

poignant message left here on this T-shirt. We did our best, I promise.

A psychologist was one of the first on the scene. He spoke to families

and firemen coming out of the blaze. He is now offering free counselling

to anyone affected. It was my duty to go up to them, to speak to them

and say, do you need support? I'm here to speak to you. I think it was

the most horrifying experience in their lives, more than anything

else, when they describe what they saw. Their bravery has been clear

for all to see. What is far less visible is the mental scars and

wounds which will need help to heal. One thing we do know

is there has been huge support and generosity for those affected

by the Grenfell Tower Fire. Including the singer Adele paying

a surprise visit to Chelsea fire station to thank them

for their efforts, sharing The donations also continue

to flood in, here's just And then today World Number One Andy

Murray has said he will donate any prize money he wins this week

at Queen's the families But things didn't go quite as Murray

was hope ticks-mac coping. Nothing went to plan on date-mac of Queens.

Second and third seed Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic were both defeated

and then the biggest shock of all, defending champion world number one

Andy Murray beaten by a man who didn't even qualify to start with,

the 23-year-old Australian, Jordan Thompson. A wild card after Murray's

initial opponent had to withdraw this morning with a wrist injury.

And the world number 90, Thompson, dominated throughout. Murray so

uncharacteristically missing so many forehands, failing to put any

pressure on his opponent's surf and going down 7-6, 6-2, not a great

omen ahead of Wimbledon because both of his titles in 2013 and last year

came after winning here at Queens. Wimbledon gets under way in just

under a fortnight. Early in the day it emerged Andy Murray will be

giving all of his prize money from Queens to the families of the

victims of the Grenfell Tower five. It would have meant ?350,000 Hattie

won the AEGON Championships here. A first-round exit brings with it

prize-money of just under ?12,000. Shock exit. Generous offer,

nonetheless. Let's get the latest

on the weather with Elizabeth. It probably was. He might be getting

fed up of it. This is the fourth day in a row where we had tempters over

30 degrees. We got to a mere 31 degrees today earlier on in Surrey.

Not quite the 33 we had yesterday but still very strong sunshine, and

very high temperatures around, feeling very hot. A little bit

cooler in the East with a slight breeze. Who can forget last night?

Sweltering night, uncomfortable night's sleep and very similar to

night again. It is going to be another very warm night,

uncomfortable for many, temperatures going to be high for this time of

year, and it is going to feel warm and humid, so temperatures to night

not dipping below 16-17. A little bit cooler than last night when

temperatures didn't below 18-19. It isn't going to make too much

difference. The sun will rise on the summer solstice and possibly the

hottest June day since 1976, which is 40 years ago. If you remember

that, that was a very hot here indeed, a very hot summer.

Temperatures tomorrow by the time we get to 11 could be over 30 degrees

already. We could expect 34 degrees by the end of the afternoon, very

warm air from the south. It is a very hot day with the heat peeking

tomorrow and it will be the hottest day for quite some time. It's all

going to come to a bit of a halt on Thursday, telling breezy, we will

gradually see fresh at taking hold and cloudier. We should escape

thunderstorms. So, a bit of a respite. The main headlines to my

just before we go. The Chancellor Philip Hammond has

put Britain's future economic prosperity centre stage in any

Brexit deal. He wants immigration to be managed

once we leave the EU, Thanks very much for joining us.

I'll be back during the ten o'clock News. Stay cool and have a lovely

evening. Goodbye. to live and enjoy

each day as it comes rather than think, "Oh, I'll do that

in the future" and not do it at all. Just appreciate

what you've got that day. Find out what the UK really

thinks and feels. Well, I'm not nice.

And I see you, mate.