23/01/2018 London News

can get the details on our website.

That is all,

Tonight on BBC London News -

That is all,

hundreds evacuated and two major

train stations closed

after a huge gas leak

in central london.

All of the streets were caught off

and we didn't know at that time it

was a gas leak.

I think a lot of others

were worried it was something

maybe more serious.

And I'm at Charing Cross

station with an update

on the evacuees and if the trains

are back on schedule.

New figures show gun crime

is rising and victims

are getting younger.

A bid to reduce plastic waste -

plans for more drinking fountains

and businesses offering free water.

Could this put an end

to supermarket queues?

The new checkout system

being trialled in north London.

A very good evening to you -

welcome to the programme.

First tonight -

the gas leak which brought chaos

to a large part of central London.

The cause was a ruptured pipe -

and the consequences

were widespread.

It led to the closure of the Strand

and two of the capital's

busiest train stations.

That meant a difficult start to

the day for thousands of commuters -

with knock on effects

across the transport network.

Hotels just outside the safety

cordon opened their doors to

the customers of their competitors -

who had to evacuate hundreds of

people in the middle of the night.

Charlotte Franks' report

contains some flashing images.

A night spent

on a conference room floor.

People evacuated and sent

here to the Royal Horseguards Hotel

near Embankment in the early hours

of the morning, following a major

gas leak at Charing Cross station.

Megan and her colleagues,

in London for a conference,

were staying at another hotel

down the road

when they were told to leave.

We all walked down the stairs

and that's when we realised

that there was something more

serious happening, more than just

maybe a fire drill or a fire alarm.

All of the streets were cordoned off

and we didn't know at that

time it was a gas leak.

I think a lot of others were worried

it was something more

serious, like an attack.

It was pretty disconcerting

because I looked out the window

and they already had all the police

lines up and everything was cleared

at the hotel and was just

evacuating the hotel.

So, you know, nobody really

knew what was happening.

Emergency services were called

to the Strand at around two o'clock

this morning to tend to the leak

from a side road behind

Charing Cross station.

The station itself was closed,

which meant by rush-hour,

commuters had no option

but to use alternative routes

leading to overcrowding.

Roads in the areas around

Charing Cross were sealed off

to traffic and pedestrians.

An 150 metre cordon

was put in place.

Called at two o'clock this

morning to a gas leak.

It was coming from a side street.

We had to evacuate them

the nearby Heaven nightclub.

Over 1000 people

evacuated from there.

And, also, we evacuated over 100

people from the Charing Cross hotel.

For some, there was no time

to collect personal belongings.

I don't have any money on me.

And I didn't grab my contacts.

So, my colleague, I ran into,

luckily had extra classes

that she gave me so I've been able

to see and sit here and read

by phone where, if I didn't have

these glasses I'd be

pretty blind right now.

The gas company responsible Cadent

repaired the leak towards the end

of the morning and the court

was lifted some hours later.

Charing Cross and Waterloo East

reopened after being

closed all morning.

At this stage, it's not known

what caused the leak but Cadent Gass

says that's going to be the focus

of an investigation.

We now know that those evacuees who

were told to leave their hotels had

been allowed to return this morning.

Some worked best for the occasion

and didn't have mobile phones or

money. The tubes faced disruption

for most of the morning. They got

back up and running around 11am.

There could be residual delays this

evening, it was thought, I have been

inside and the information desk told

me that everything was running

smoothly this evening with no

further delays or cancellations.

This isn't the first time London has

seen a gas leak and won't be the

last time either. Our gas pipes are

incredibly old and there is a

programme to replace them. In the

future, it's hoped incidents like

this will happen less and less.

Charlotte Kerwood thanks very much

for that update.

Coming up later in the programme -

how a south london mum's work

with the elderly is being hailed

as a blueprint for social care.

The level of gun crime

in London is rising

and the victims are getting younger.

That's the warning from the surgeon

in charge of the capital's

four major trauma units.

He's told this programme -

a new approach is needed

to stop the endemic violence.

It comes on the day a City Hall

report warns that a growing number

of teenagers are using firearms.

Here's our Home Affairs

Correspondent Nick Beake.

Keep still. We'll do everything for

you.

The trauma team at London

hospitals know about the rise in gun

crime and deal with the consequences

daily. Armed police stand guard. We

filmed at the Royal London last

year. This was one of 100 patients

they treated for gunshot wounds in

2017. This professor was born at the

hospital and now the surgeon who

came into the world here faces a

relentless battle to stop others

leaving it prematurely.

He used to

be that guns were rare and in the

hands of professionals so people

would never make it as battle.

Recently, we've seen wider use of

guns across the general population

and have had to deal with more

gunshot injuries.

Do you find it

concerning?

The level of violence in

London is deeply concerning. The

fact that young people are feeling

at risk and scared about violence is

a big problem for society.

Today's

report identified a significant rise

in gun crime over the last few

years. 310 shootings in 2016,

jumping to 350 in 2017. A rise of

13%. A big concern was that younger

people are getting involved. Victims

were often just 19 or 20. The

youngest Londoner shot dead last

year was 14 years old. The study

also found there been an increase in

shootings that were not

gang-related.

London doesn't seem to

know enough about guns in the town.

We don't seem to know how they are

getting into London and how many are

out there. Until we can grasp the

detail, we would be in a position to

fight this.

Police investigating a

gun attack in Stratford on Saturday

night, a teenager shot in the head

and in a critical condition. The

person that runs the anti-gun

programme Trident said this.

It

incorporates a whole range of

resources across the organisation,

like operation Viper working with

colleagues in the armed police in

command, armed response vehicles

utilised in areas of high gun crime

discharges in order to make sure

that the population are safe.

But

until that occurs, the young people

of London are increasingly are at

risk.

The mother of a seriously ill baby

has told a judge that

"God should decide" when he dies.

Doctors at King's College Hospital

say that giving further treatment

to 11-month-old Isaiah Haastrup

is not in his best interests -

despite the wishes of his mother.

The hearing is expected

to end tomorrow.

A new photograph has been

released of an unknown man

who collapsed

in Central London on Boxing Day

and remains unconscious.

Detectives say this man

had suffered a heart attack,

and he's now in an induced coma.

But as he wasn't carrying any

identification, police haven't been

able to trace his family.

Next - an insight

into how the internet is changing

the lives of those working

in the sex industry.

A study into the online sex trade

spoke to hundreds of workers.

With the highest concentration

of them here in the capital -

has it made life safer for them?

Here's Frankie McCamley.

For many, sex work is no longer

found in the shadows and street

corners but is online instead. This

unit in Basildon, specialises in

webcam for customers on the Internet

in real time. Nikki worked in the

industry in the capital for years.

It's easy enough to screen clients.

Everybody used to pay in cash and

you were often in a situation where

it was hard to find out who clients

are.

Despite this, she says the new

way of working still has risks.

Invasion of privacy is a major

problem. There is now more of an

expectation that you put more

information about yourself out

online and it can cause problems.

You can be exposed to family and

friends and online stalking and

harassment has definitely gone up.

This study is spoke to over 600 sex

workers and found most would not be

involved without the Internet.

Web

camming is a indirect form of

contact and wouldn't exist without

the Internet.

Advertising sexual

services online in this country is

not illegal but many sex workers

don't feel like they can turn to the

police for help. Some were worried

that their identities could be

revealed, others were concerned that

their complaint could turn into

their own conviction. The report

authors say the police in response

to the changing industry is

inconsistent and underdeveloped.

The

level of knowledge that we have a

moment is incomplete and we are

commissioning further research to

properly understand the extent and

prevalent of sex working across the

UK at the moment.

Despite this

industry's growth, there is still

little insight into the lives of

people who offer sex for money

online, just a few clicks away.

Now the BBC's Blue Planet series has

done much to highlight

the problem of plastic pollution

and the immense impact

it has on the environment.

With research showing how the UK

fails to recycle 16 million bottles

per day -

there's a plan to get Londoners

to help reduce the level of waste.

The Mayor's announced a new scheme

which will see more drinking

fountains and businesses offering

to refill water bottles.

Our Environment Correspondent,

Tom Edwards has more.

Lunchtime at Borough market

where thousands flock to eat and now

also free tap water

and this is what the mayor

wants to see more of.

Drinking fountains

and bottle filling points.

I think it's a really good idea,

considering the amount

of waste that is generated

from plastic bottles.

So, having the opportunity

to refill would be great.

This is practical, as well.

Because you don't have to carry

around from your house to work.

Yes, I think it's really good.

Threequarters of a million pounds

wuill pay for a pilot in five areas

for bottle filling points.

Retailers will be listed on an app

if they provide free tap water.

20 water fountains will also be

installed, some at Tube stations

or in busy shopping areas.

Borough market put in these

fountains last year.

Clearly, everybody's seen

the Blue Planet everybody seen

the impact plastic has

on the marine environment.

And they want to do

something about that.

What's really important

is that we provide the facilities

for people to be able to make that

conscious decision and by bringing

a reusable bottle rather

than single use plastic.

You really do need

to have the facilities

to allow people to do that.

There were once many public

drinking fountains in London

but the number has dwindled

as they fell into disrepair.

Now, the tide is turning

against the use of plastic bottles.

A report recently found

that the capital has some

of the worst recycling rates

in the UK with Londoners using more

bottles per per person than anywhere

else in the country.

Once people have the option,

I think, through these schemes,

we're going to make this

available then I think people

will change their behaviour.

We need to see that

behaviour change.

We know that people want to do this.

So, yes, I think it's

going to be a success.

Sceptics warn that there have been

promises of more water fountains

before but further funding

isn't clear yet.

Others want the matter go further

with a deposit scheme on plastic

bottles but we could see more free

tap water in the capital

in the future.

Tom Edwards, BBC London News.

Still to come

this Tuesday evening...

I spent the day with a plumber who

is set to start for England's women

in the upcoming six Nations.

And in

just a few minutes, after today's

clouds, the very latest on

tomorrow's wet and windy weather.

Providing adequate

care for our growing

elderly population is one

of the UK's biggest challenges.

But one London mum has been

recognised for her "outstanding"

work by the industry regulator.

Clare Jefferies set up her service

after seeing how her terminally ill

parents were treated.

Emma North has been to meet her.

It's called doing the mum test.

Looking after other people

in the same way you'd

care for your own parent.

-- looking after older people.

Today it comes in the shape

of a coffee and culture morning.

For £4, you get a history

lesson, some intelligent

conversation and a break.

This woman's husband has dementia.

It normally stops them from going

out, but here, it doesn't matter.

All of a sudden, life is

sort of worth living again,

because there are places we can go,

people we can meet and friendships

can be formed, we can do interesting

things without worrying

about the behaviour

of the person you are with.

And that makes a huge difference.

It's all the idea

of Clare Jefferies.

She was horrified by the care

her parents were given

in their final months.

So, she started her own company.

The aim is to keep people's quality

of life as high as possible.

Looks completely wiggly!

Let's do the wiggle woggle.

And it's through little touches.

Penny has dementia,

but art makes her happy.

So, her carer is also

an illustrator.

He also understands the problems

faced by many older people.

They do need some help.

I know certainly people

suffering from loneliness,

they might be on their own,

in their homes for long periods

of time, which obviously is not fine

and it's not OK at all.

And increasingly, private firms

like hers are being called

to fill in when the NHS and social

services can't cope.

We are getting increasing phone

calls from discharge planners,

social workers, the local authority,

saying, can you cover this care?

And we've always shied away from it,

because they've only been

interested in 15-minute,

half-hour calls from us.

Now, not only are they willing

to take the hour's care,

they are also willing

to pay our rates as well.

Because they are desperate.

Clare's advice is for people to save

early for their care in old age.

Give us your best shot!

Because when it comes

to health and happiness,

it's all about the service.

Emma North, BBC London News.

The Duchess of Cambridge

has said she's committed to helping

the youngest and most vulnerable

in society as she launched a

mental health website for teachers.

Speaking at Roe Green

Junior School in Kingsbury

in North West London,

she said the site, due to be

piloted in 50 schools,

would give teachers easy access

to trusted resources at all times.

Placed by the Royal Foundation

with close collaboration

from our heads together partners,

this new online resource

would transform schools access

to high-quality information

and guides teachers and school

leaders towards the best

support out there.

Turning now to how to solve

the problem of long queues

at the supermarket till.

Well, a new "instant"

checkout system which

promises to revolutionise

shopping is being trialled

in Holloway, in North London.

Which is where we can

join our reporter, Ayshea Buksh.

Tell us more.

Well, if you're in a

hurry and you hear the words

unexpected item in the bagging area,

it can be a real pain. Some feel

might say we're only to calm down a

bit. But for computer technology

companies, there is a real

opportunity to help us check out

quicker at the checkouts.

It's time for a rather

unconventional shopping experience.

The first thing I'm going

to do is get my bag out.

This North London convenience store

is trialling a prototype instant

checkout, with the finished

product being prepared

for its debut later this year.

Because when it comes

to actually checking out,

the tag that is on the products

will be instantly scanned in one go,

you can just put everything

in here straightaway,

although it does sort of feel wrong!

And something sweet.

So, I have everything

I need in my shopping bag,

but I can't leave just yet.

In fact, this is the fun bit.

It's time for the instant checkout.

I put down my bag full of items,

and immediately, what's in that bag

seamlessly comes up on the screen.

At this point, you get

out your smartphone,

where you should have already

downloaded the app and have your

payment details securely stored,

you need to make sure

that your Bluetooth is turned

on, and at that point,

you simply tap the reader.

A process so quick that

even if the store becomes busy,

a queue is unlikely to develop.

So now, I can actually leave!

But what have the public

been making of this?

It was really quick,

it was excellent.

I thought that was

really, really cool.

One thing that I always struggle

with with self checkouts is,

you know finding the bar code

and scanning it,

and it's really annoying?

The fact that I just

put it on there, done.

IBM's long-term hope is for this

technology they've created to be

rolled out across all areas

of retail, along with suitable sized

checkout areas and the repositioning

of shop assistants to actually

assist you around the shop.

Meanwhile, yesterday's launch

of Amazon Go's cashierless

Seattle store provides

a place where customers can

scan their phone on arrival,

and after being tracked

by cameras and sensors

to see what they pick up,

have their Amazon account

instantly charged.

But whilst this sort of convenience

may appeal to some, you can't,

of course, please everyone.

You liked it?

But on balance, you prefer a person?

I still prefer a person.

So, that report from Click. I'm

joined by Mary Wallace from IBM's

digital team. Thank you for joining

us. Who is this technology aimed at?

Some people might think it is aimed

at millennial is, but it is aimed at

anyone who needs to get into a store

and out quickly, whether they are

time pressured or they just need a

quick shop at the end of the day. It

is also aimed at retailers who want

to make better use of their physical

stores and to get stuff back out

onto the shop floor helping

customers when they need it most.

So

could this be the death of the bar

code?

Absolutely not. It still has a

practical use in all types of

scenario, not just retail, but this

is about helping customers and

retailers understand more about the

product, get better information and

understand more about not just the

checkout, but the whole

merchandising and product inventory

process.

Could this mean a loss of

jobs?

No, it is about enabling staff

to make better use of the time in

the store. Rather than having shop

floor staff at the back, have them

on the shop floor making better use

of the time, helping customers and

running that store better.

But

somebody still needs to the

technology. I sometimes still need a

human to come and help with the

technology.

Absolutely, but one of

the things I really like about the

solution is it is not about the

technology, it is about creating a

better store for everyone, shoppers

and retailers. And we have taken the

problem of reading the bar code

away.

In the report, one lady said

she just likes a human touch just to

have someone say hello and thank

you. That will never be replaced?

No, because humans like to

interact with other humans. This is

about to start engaging with

customers. If you want to use your

phone, that's great, if not, there

are staff there to help you.

This

technology is aimed to be rolled out

later this summer.

By day she's a full-time plumber -

but Marlie Packer is also

an England and Saracens player.

Now she's hoping to help the team

to Six Nations success -

with the tournament

starting next month.

Sara Orchard has been to meet her.

If I get aboard listen, I will use

my... This is Marlie Packer, halfway

through a day's training with the

rugby squad ahead the 6-nation. But

happy to spend how much power

showing me around her plumbing van.

So, ceilings or pipes, this is

another one. This is my baby!

Do you

have the coolest job in the England

team?

Sometimes I think on a Friday

evening when I am unblocking a

toilet and it is not quite happening

and I have to get to the gym, it is

a little bit different.

She is right

up there in terms of the

high-profile personalities in the

side. She is so passionate about the

game, she takes the game incredibly

personally. That is what makes her

the player and the person she is.

Marlie was a World Champion with

England in 2014 and part of the

squad that lost to New Zealand in

the World Cup final last year in

Ireland. But they are getting ready

for less than a fortnight, when

England will be defending their Six

Nations title against Italy.

Take

away the World Cup, the conversation

that you want to win and be involved

in most, this is my third one so I

have been in the England programme

for a few years, but this is only my

third Six Nations.

She moved clubs

to Saracens this season, and the

North London side are top of the

table, although playing for Sarries

does have one drawback.

The traffic

on Tuesday and Thursday night is a

nightmare, but to get home is not

too bad.

But the most pressing

question of the day dost-mac she

fixed your trolley?

She is a pretty

good deal at what she does, yes!

England and Marlie will be hoping to

avoid any blockages when they start

the campaign a week on Sunday.

Let's get a check on

the weather with Phil Avery.

Let's get a check on

the weather with Phil Avery.

You said it would be mild? And it

was, about 14 sources, so they tell

me. But what a cloud fest today. I

do not think I saw the sunshine

until about to occur. And Storm

Stella, the first of tonight's

storms, also captured the moment

where the cloud broke. But you get

the sense that was an awful lot more

in a way of cloud than there was

sunshine. It was generally speaking

that sort of day. We had not one but

two weather fronts. But give us a

damp start, and essentially a dry

night, quite breezy coming in from

the South and South West, maybe the

odd passing bit of rain. And you

will not need the heavy quilt

tonight, ten or 11 Celsius should

just cover it for most. You may have

heard the chat already about

Georgina, which is heading towards

the north-western quarter of the

British Isles. But the isobars begin

to squeeze up even across us, so it

is a mild, slightly damp start to

the day. Then if you think you're

going to get away with it, you will

not because here comes the weather

front down from the North, heavy

pulses of rain and a really windy do

as well. Brightening up and drying

up to the North of that area, 13 is

the best on offer. Earlier in the

day. Later it will be done to about

nine Celsius. A somewhat fresher

night. On Thursday, noticed the

isobars are still running at us from

the South West. Not just as many of

them and they have a weather front

of the Northwest so it will be a dry

enough start across all parts. Still

than noticeable breeze coming in

from the South West. If you have

your washing out late, you might

find you will pick out some showers

and some obvious bowls of rain. By

that stage, we're looking at around

nine or ten. So tomorrow, watch out,

really wet and windy. By Friday, a

quieter

really wet and windy. By Friday, a

quieter day, as well.

Thanks for the warning about

tomorrow!

Recapping the main headlines:

Boris Johnson is rebuked

by the Prime Minister

over his public push for more money

for England's NHS.

Theresa May tells Cabinet that

conversations about the future

of the NHS should remain private.

Scotland Yard

is investigating a new

sexual assault allegation

made against the black cab

rapist, John Worboys.

The alleged incident

was more than 20 years ago,

which is several years earlier

than his first known offence.

More on the day's

stories on our website -

and you're welcome of course to get

in touch on our Facebook Page.

I'll be back with our late news.

From all of us here -

do enjoy your evening.