22/12/2017 London News

the UK are fabricating allegations

against it. That is all from the

Coming up on BBC London News:

The violent moped gang

who smashed their way in to shops

is jailed for a total of 110 years.

They were only caught

after they stole 'dummy' phones

fitted with GPS trackers.

Also tonight:

The last-minute dash for presents,

but a union warns more shop

assistants than ever are suffering

verbal or physical abuse.

Plus businesses' Brexit wishes -

what are they hoping for as talks

on trade get under way

in the new year?

Prepare yourselves for a tale so

utterly horrid and yet strangely

uplifting, here, in the nation's

great capital city, London.

And the new stage production

from one of the directors behind

War Horse the musical.

A very good evening to you.

Welcome to the programme.

A moped gang who smashed their way

into mobile phone shops

across London, stealing more

than a million pounds' worth

of handsets and computer tablets,

have been jailed for a total of more

than a hundred years.

They used knives, hammers and guns

to rob the stores and attack staff

in the early hours of the morning.

They were only caught

after they stole three 'dummy'

phones fitted with GPS trackers.

Here's Marc Ashdown.

A mobile phone shop in the dead of

night, a figure in a helmet, smashes

the Doring, then the gang bursting.

Moments later, they escape with

dozens of mobile phones. -- smashes

the door in. They shovel boxes of

phones into their bags. Outside,

they use mopeds to weave through

traffic and disappear.

For seven months, between May

and November, this gang targeted

phone shops across north and east

London,

usually in the early hours,

often attacking security guards with

weapons like claw hammers.

In one robbery, they

threatened a bystander

with a pistol.

In total, the phones and tablets

they stole and damage they

caused amounted to £1 million.

After two trials, the ten strong

gang were convicted of 17 aggravated

burglaries and today sentenced to a

total of 100 years in jail.

The gang used tools such as hammers,

knives and Angle grinders to get

into the shops. They were caught

after inadvertently stealing dummy

phones which had been fitted with

GPS trackers, leading detectives

straight to their doors.

It is quick

and easy.

The Metropolitan Police

recently mounted a crackdown on Mo

Pegg run, making this video to show

how easy it is for criminals to

steal. Pedestrians have also fallen

victim, with gangs stealing in broad

daylight. Detectives described the

gang jailed today as prolific and

very dangerous. Six further suspects

face trial in March, and police want

to send a message that they will

relentlessly pursue these violent

criminals and take them off the

streets.

A prison in Hertfordshire

is at breaking point according

to staff who say they need 60 more

recruits to get the unit

back under control.

Neighbours living close to the Mount

prison say they are increasingly

hearing disturbances at night time

after its claimed inmates are locked

up for hours on end due

to officer shortages.

The Ministry of Justice says a staff

recruitment drive is improving

the situation but officers

on the ground say it's

too little too late.

Sarah Harris reports.

Filmed from inside Mount prison,

grenades thrown by riot trained

staff to restore order

after a wing was taken

over by prisoners

in

the summer of 2016.

Despite an investigation

and promised

improvements, the union

representing wardens

on the ground says they

are

back at breaking point at

an institution that houses more than

1000 prisoners.

The problem is, we really need

another 60 officers.

It's compounded with

different issues.

You've got sickness

because of the working

environment, then you've

got temporary promotion because

people aren't promoted any more,

which leaves holes on the ground

floor, which is covered by overtime.

And then everybody's just getting

burnt out and burnt out and burnt

out.

Over recent months, neighbours

living close to the prison say they

can often hear disturbances

inside the main blog at nightfall.

--block at nightfall.

For some, it's an unsettling time.

When things go wrong,

we do hear the noise of them

shouting and presumably banging cups

on the

windows and things like that.

The kids get a little bit nervous.

They want to know

whether somebody is

going to escape, and we are

reassured that that's not the case

at all.

But it does prey on your

mind a little bit.

Staff at the prison are not

allowed to speak out

to the media, but off-camera,

we've been told it's difficult

to see how the situation can get

much worse,

short of another full-scale riot.

I've just spoken to

a prison officer just

finishing his shift here

at the

Mount.

He described conditions

working here as horrendous.

He said the staff

shortages were so bad that

inmates here are being locked up

for hours and hours on end,

and any kind of relief they get

from agency staff

isn't much of a help because people

are so inexperienced, they are

unable to do anything other

than just menial tasks.

He said it was difficult

to see how long they can

carry on like this for before

something serious happens.

Prisoners will get locked

up for longer, which

feeds their anger and

feeds their frustration.

And then they take it out

on the fabric of the building

and the staff.

Prison officers have

told their union that they only have

two thirds of the staff

they need to run the unit

safely and efficiently.

The Ministry of Justice says they've

recruited more staff and are

continuing to bolster their numbers.

Sarah Harris, BBC London News,

the Mount Prison in Hertfordshire.

Well, a spokesperson from the prison

service said "a targeted recruitment

campaign is under way at The Mount

to boost frontline staff and improve

the daily running of the prison.

They've also made arrangements

to ensure all prisoners have time

out of their cell over

the Christmas period.

With just days until Christmas,

many of us have been buying last

minute presents and groceries.

However, one union is warning that

more shop workers than ever

are being verbally or physically

abused at this time of year.

Frankie McCamley is out on Oxford

Street and can tell us more.

Frankie.

As you can see, it is still very

busy, with people getting their last

bits of Christmas shopping, and with

people from all over the world

coming right here to Oxford Street,

this can become one of the busiest

places in the capital. It can also

become one of the most stressful

parts of Christmas, and with that in

mind, one union is asking people to

think about the people that work

here to make this as pleasant as

possible for everyone involved.

Christmas shopping -

love it or loathe it.

What about the people

on the other side of the till?

Richie left his job

after receiving verbal

abuse.

A lot of verbal abuse, yeah.

But I just have

to stay professional.

And I'm just like, yeah,

you can talk to my manager if

you want, or something

like that, so, yeah.

What kind of things

were they saying to you?

I've been waiting here

for a long time, you

guys are taking too long,

why are you going so slow?

Could you hurry up, please?

And how did that make you feel

when you are doing your job

and people are giving

you that kind of abuse?

Annoyed, because I do my job,

so I'm just like, what do you

want me to do?

I can't speed up.

So I'm just like, yeah,

what do you want me to do?

Research found that around

265 shop workers are

assaulted every day in the UK.

Nearly two thirds were verbally

abused last year, and over 40%

threatened.

With numbers rising over

the festive period.

Those final few days before

Christmas can be some of

the busiest shopping

days of the year.

They can also be some of the most

stressful, with such a short

amount of time before the big day.

And this is a place where tensions

can often boil over.

Manners are at a premium.

I don't know if it is just

because I am getting older, but

so many people, their manners

and patience aren't

what they should be.

I find that hardest to deal with.

We

were just in a store and a lady try

to push in front of my girls, elbows

out to gain advantage, and we made

sure that she was put firmly back in

the queue so that she knew her

place.

It is a good time, but

laid-back and easy for me.

Stress-free or not, festive shoppers

are being urged to keep their cool

in the hope that frantic scenes like

this are not repeated in the future.

Whether it's the price of presents

or the cost of Christmas dinner,

inflation means many of us will be

feeling the pinch

this festive season.

It's been tough for many

of the capital's businesses, too,

grappling with uncertainty over

Brexit.

So, what are they hoping

for in the New Year as talks

on trade and transition

get under way?

Our Brexit reporter Katharine

Carpenter been finding out.

The fire's lit, presents are

wrapped, and the tree's decorated.

But for many of the capital's

businesses helping to create the

Christmas magic, it's

been a challenging

end to the year, with

a

weaker pound and

uncertainty over Brexit.

These British-themed baubles

are designed in Shoreditch but

handcrafted in Poland.

Anya says she might

have to move the whole

business there if next year's trade

negotiations with the EU create more

red tape.

My main concerns are the value

of the pound, paying VAT to

several of my suppliers and customs.

At the moment, the process

is rather smooth.

When it comes to shipping

the goods to the

UK, no one knows what's going

to happen later, and the paperwork

required might be much

more complicated.

And getting any clarity

on that will take time.

The Government doesn't

want to adopt an

off-the-shelf trade deal struck

elsewhere in the world, but

businesses keen to get

on with Brexit worry that crafting

a bespoke new future with Europe

will take too

long.

80% of the globes made here

in Stoke Newington are exported.

They've just had

their best month ever.

And while keeping

his largely European

workforce is important,

the

company's founder says negativity

around Brexit is unhelpful.

We've been put in this

situation through

ignoring, through the London elite

ignoring half the country.

I think we've just got

to get on with it.

For us, I don't think,

whether it's done well

or badly, it will make

a

massive difference,

because we are not reliant on any

one particular market.

For most of us, luxury goods

are a one-off purchase, but it

is the day-to-day shopping

where we feel the pinch most.

Inflation's running

at a six-year high of 3.1%,

outstripping wages, and food prices

are some of those that have gone up

most.

The Herbert family's run this

stall since the '70s.

They say customers are

still stocking up for

Christmas, and they've faced bigger

challenges than Brexit.

Food's not really been

that dear for the last

seven years.

It might have jumped up a few pence,

but whether there is a

bigger hike, I haven't noticed.

It's getting a little

bit tougher at the

supermarkets, though.

Open late and Sunday trade,

but we try and keep

people happy with local service,

and have a friendly smile and just a

little chat, really.

Been a good Christmas for you?

Hopefully it will be.

The countdown is on for the weekend,

but hopefully it should be

OK.

And across London, the countdown's

on to secure that Brexit

trade deal and details

of a transition phase.

Come the New Year, it will be

all eyes on Brussels.

Katharine Carpenter,

BBC London News.

The kindness of commuters

was on display outside Euston

station today as they donated items

to help those forced to spend

the festive period outdoors.

A group of volunteers which helps

rough sleepers in London says

there won't be enough spaces

at shelters this Christmas

to accommodate all of

the capital's homeless.

Thomas Magill has more.

Just some of the places Londoners

are calling home this Christmas.

According to one group that helps

rough sleepers, there is a shortage

of available space is at shelters in

all parts of London, a problem that

is made worse over the festive

period.

It's never going to be

enough. As soon as the winter

shelters open, with 20 or 30 beds,

run by volunteers, they are full

already.

Charities say hundreds will

spend the next few nights outdoors

on the capital's streets, a

situation John says is putting

people at risk.

We have lost people

on the streets. We are talking about

vulnerable people, vulnerable women,

young people, people who are scared

anyway.

Help can be slow to come,

and that is why organisers turned to

social media.

I follow Streets

Kitchen on Facebook and I heard

about this and brought some stop

along.

These items have been Di

noted -- donated by people passing

by, and is at -- it is hoped they

will come in handy for anyone

spending time outdoors. A jumper, a

hat, some socks, a scarf, and even

some toiletries for women. Now, all

that's left to do is to deliver the

bags that those in need. Giving that

is a team of willing volunteers.

We

are taking Hackney, so we will go

along the overground, get up at each

station and do a sweep of the area,

see who we can find, at a chat with

them.

For everyone involved, the

hope is that their work will make

sleeping on the streets tonight that

little bit more bearable.

So, that's what it was like outside

Euston station today,

but for those travelling,

it's not the only station in London

that will shut on Christmas Day

and Boxing Day this year.

Engineering work is looming

over the festive period.

Our transport correspondent,

Tom Edwards, is the man

with the details.

We been here before, have we? It's

never straight forward at this time

of year.

There will be lots of

disruption of Christmas. Example,

engineering work on the tube, on the

overground, and a number of mainline

rail stations will be shut as well.

Example, London Bridge will be

closed for ten days from the 23rd of

December until the 2nd of January.

New signalling is being feted there.

As for Cannon Street, Charing Cross

and many of the ThamesLink stations.

Paddington be shut from Christmas

Eve until the 27th. Most rail

timetables in and out of London will

be amended. On top of that, there is

industrial action on cant Greater

Anglia, South Western Railways and

the DLR. These are things that

passengers will have to look out

for.

You can't blame passengers

wondering why they choose this time

of year to do engineering works.

The

reason is that it is much quieter on

the transport network, something

like 50% fewer passengers trying to

get around in London. There is lots

of detail of the engineering works,

so if you want to find out more, you

can go to our website, and also look

at our Twitter feed. Interestingly,

we have just had a warning from

London Travel, watch, the watchdog,

saying: We are concerned that the

extent of the works this holiday

period. Many passengers will be

affected, including those travelling

to airports. Their advice to

passengers - check and check again.

We wish passengers luck. Just say,

the Twitter feed was in the -- on

the screen.

It is the latest production to hit

London's west end, a musical mixed

with puppetry and a touch of the

macabre. And later, I will have the

full festive forecast and more

aluminium -- alliteration! Is it

going to be a White Christmas or a

traditionally great Christmas?

Survivors of the Grenfell fire

are preparing for what will be

a difficult festive season.

A special Christmas dinner is being

prepared for them at a church which

has continued to support many of

those affected by the tragedy.

Our reporter, Ayshea Buksh,

is at a church which is continuing

to help support many of those

affected by the disaster.

Ayshea...

Good evening. I'm outside the

Tabernacle Christian Centre just a

few streets away from the Grenfell

Tower in North Kensington. It is a

fantastic Christmas scene. The

Salvation Army playing Christmas

songs. All of the volunteers here

have been tirelessly working to

support survivors and families for

the last six months. All dressed as

elves. There are even some special

guests from Lapland. Some fantastic

reindeers for the children to meet.

And inside, any minute now, there

will be a meal served for around 130

people, all survivors of the fire.

With me is Pastor Derrick Wilson.

Thank you for having us. What is

happening tonight?

We are hosting a

banquet for the survivors of the

tower. We also have presents for the

children donated by Hamleys and John

Lewis. We have a grotto in the

garden and children's entertainer.

We have Carols. A lot of things

going on to keep them entertained.

What do you hope people will go away

with tonight? Why is tonight so

important to you as a church and for

these people?

It was so important

for us to do something for the

survivors. The majority of them are

still in a hotel. We decided to put

on something that they would still

think there is some ollie out there

who still believes in them and they

are valued. We decided to put on a

5-star banquet, and hope they will

leave with a better sense of

gratitude. That someone is still

there for them.

Thank you so much. I

hope it goes well. If you still want

to donate to the church, they are

accepting donations because the work

will carry on into the New Year.

Google Tabernacle Christian Centre.

The food is about to be served.

And the party is about to start.

OK.

Great to see that support

continuing.

Thank you.

We've all heard of the

gentleman-only members

clubs of London.

Many are hundreds of years old,

and have always excluded women.

Now, things are changing

in the opposite direction -

London is seeing a rise

of women-only members' clubs.

Victoria Cook has been

to find out more.

When it opened five years ago, it

was one of the first women only

member clubs in London. Women can

come here to do everything from

personal training to hosting

business meetings. But men are not

allowed to be members.

Men have

always talked about business over a

brandy and a cigar. We like to talk

about business over a glass of

organic wine and do it in a more

gentle way. But somebody said to me,

why were their main's clubs? It was

really to talk about business,

escape your family, recalibrate and

go back and be a wonderful charming

husband again. It's no different to

us. Where do we get our space?

Now

another club like this is opening

its doors in London. It has been

reported that more than a thousand

women signed up on the first day. It

is part of an international

movement. Women's clubs are

springing up across the world.

I

never thought I would believe in

segregating the sexes. But in this

instance it would be nice to go for

a glass of bubbly and relax and not

have to deal with getting accosted.

It can create problems but at the

same time that is what everybody

wants. They want equality and stuff

like that.

I think as a concept

separation of the sexes is not

should be going. That is just as bad

as having male only clubs.

It is a

good idea. Finally, right? I think

it is a really good idea. I'm not

allowed to go in.

We contacted a

number of gender equality groups and

asked what they thought about the

increase in women only clubs.

Non-wanted to appear on camera. But

a lot told us they genuinely --

generally supported the idea. One

told me they thought a quality will

only truly exist on women and --

when -- men and women can network

and any environment whatsoever.

A new stage production that combines

the allure of War Horse-esque

puppetry, with the show-stopping

numbers of a musical

like Les Miserables,

has arrived on London's West End.

The Grinning Man tells the story

of a boy whose face is cut

into a smile, and follows him

as he tries to discover why.

It's a journey of romance

and discovery all against a backdrop

of dystopian London.

Charlotte Franks reports.

Here in the nation's great capital

city, London.

As dark and cracked

fairy tale world in an 18th-century

London. We are in the capital of

England but not as we know it. The

Grinning Man is the West End's

newest musical, which mixes freak

shows with the macabre. It tells the

story of an orphan boy whose face

was cut into a smile by a stranger

one day.

The show is basically his

quest with his love to find out who

cut his face, essentially.

What sort

of skills did you have to develop in

order to ensure that you were

bringing that character to life?

Well, I tried to approach it more

like a silent movie. So I would have

to cover this and do loads of sort

of eyebrow acting.

The Grinning Man

is directed by Tom Morris, the man

behind the award-winning West End

show War Horse. The structured yet

eerily skeletal puppets of war Birsa

echoed in this production.

Audiences

are interested in stories. If you

need a pop to tell the story and the

audience wants to hear the story,

they will knew -- do what they need

to do with the puppet, which is

create the life of a puppet. That is

why war Birsa works. That is why

people cry when they watch it. --

War Horse.

In The Grinning Man, the

audience are drawn into another

world.

Just those basic mannerisms

of acquisitiveness, aggressiveness,

calmness. We don't have the language

-- the tail language, unfortunately.

I wear a tale which as a spring. But

I can't controller beyond that.

The Grinning Man is playing at the

Trafalgar Studios. You are invited

to enter this fantastical and

dystopian world if you dare.

Let's get an update on the weekend

weather with Darren Bett.

And is it looking like

a mild Christmas?

Yes we are. You can forget about a

white Christmas. It will be

typically.

Mild air across the UK.

Stronger winds picking up as well.

There were some sunshine today. You

can see from our picture taken

earlier. It was a brief glimpse. On

the whole, a lot of cloud across our

part of the UK. You can see some

thinning early on. That is filling

in right now. It could be misty.

Particularly over to the children's.

A dry night ahead. A tidy night

ahead. Temperatures not falling very

much. It will be unusually mild of

the year. Lows of 89 degrees.

Tomorrow starts off a bit grey. A

little little bit cloudy. Probably

not quite as misty. We may see some

thinning of the tide now and again

to give us a glimpse of sunshine.

But on the whole we will stick with

the flat, cloudy, grey skies.

Temperatures rising by 2 degrees to

ten or 11. Not changing much into

Christmas eve morning. We start

pretty cloudy on Christmas Eve.

Again, the possibility of breaking

up Cloud now and again. The wind

will be a bit stronger on Christmas

Eve. We may get a spot or two

drizzle. Generally speaking, the

temperatures not changing. We are

going to be in between two weather

fronts on the big day itself. A dry

day, a mild day for Christmas Day.

Then we are probably a bit cooler on

Tuesday. Signalling something more

unsettled after Christmas. Areas of

low pressure heading our way. But

Tuesday, Boxing Day, should be fine

and dry, a little bit of sunshine

but temperatures nearer normal.

and dry, a little bit of sunshine

but temperatures nearer normal.

That's almost it.

I would like to wish you all a Merry

Christmas and say thank you for your

company this year. Let's hope it is

a more peaceful 2018. We're back

over the festive period. I will see

you in the New Year. We leave you

with some festive pictures of a

twinkling London.

Bye-bye.