15/02/2018 London News

That's all from the BBC News at Six

so it's goodbye from me

On the programme tonight.

Thefts and robberies involving

mopeds increase six-fold over two

years in London's main shopping

hotspots but experts say it's

a "ridiculously easy" crime.

It is certainly the crime of the

moment, it appears in London. There

has been a significant increase over

the past two years.

The family of an inmate stabbed

to death at Wormwood Scrubs leads

a protest about safety

in London's prisons.

Also coming up -

a remarkable return to racing.

The teenager who lost both legs

in an accident on the track prepares

to test the car he hopes to race

in.

To be honest it's been the most calm

place since my accident, being back

behind the wheel of a racing car.

I mean, that's where I've wanted

to be since my accident.

Everyone has their own truth.

And

the film based on the two story of

ice skater Tonya Harding, we talk to

Margot Robbie at the premiere of I,

Tonya in London, one of her

favourite cities.

Welcome to BBC London News

with me, Riz Lateef.

First, the crime of the moment, that

is what one criminology expert calls

it.

Thefts and robberies on mopeds

in London's main shopping hotspots

have increased six-fold over

the last two years.

Oxford Street is the worst hit area

according to data from the

Metropolitan Police.

Charlotte Franks has more.

Moped gangs on London's streets,

brazenly stealing from pedestrians,

some going to any length

to take from their victims.

Indiscriminately they assault

and threaten innocent people.

With the capital's busiest streets

offering them rich pickings.

I noticed something out of the

corner of my eye, I saw it was a

mopeds but I still did not realise

what was happening, they snatched my

phone and rode off down the road. It

wasn't helplessness for me, it was

anger.

Just one of many victims last

year. New figures obtained by BBC

London show that mopeds assisted

threats and robberies have increased

six fold over the last two years.

over the last two years.

The data from the Metropolitan

Police show it is here on Oxford

Street where most offences took

place last year, with 291 compared

to 278 the year before,

busy street like this offer thieves

lots of crowds to hide in and plenty

of

people to choose from.

Regent Street and Bond Street of

ulcers in thefts increased

dramatically. The situation is of

great concern to criminologists.

It

is certainly the crime of the

moment, it appears in London and

gang gang affiliated boys for

example will actively want these

phones because they can sell for

high value. There can be decoded and

reused. So there is a profit margin

to be made.

Earlier this month and

22-year-old was stabbed as he chased

about passenger who had snatched his

on Oxford Street. Rees and City Hall

say intensive tactics in the West

End have led to a decrease in this

type of crime since 2017.

We've been

working with the Metropolitan Police

to deal with mopeds crime and this

match is happening on mopeds and the

money that has put into extra

policing will have an impact on the

crime. That includes a bed crime.

We've also been working in

partnership, calling on the bed

manufacturers to do their bit to

ensure that it is harder to steal

mopeds -- calling on the bed

manufacturers.

This victim says it

is no surprise that he still feels

unsafe and is still wary when

walking alone.

A look over my

shoulder more than I used to, there

is a slight feeling of being an edge

because of what happened back then.

That's to be expected.

And Charlotte is on Oxford Street

now, the worst affected area -

and of course a busy area,

which is what they aim for?

It is busy streets like this which

are very appealing to thieves and

mopeds. As you can see Oxford Street

has very wide roads which makes it

easy for thieves on mopeds to escape

quickly. And we have a lot of crowds

on Oxford Street as well so plenty

of places for thieves to hide and

plenty of places for them to

disappear quickly. We also have lots

of people on mobile phones, so lots

of victims. And when we are on the

phone many of us are unaware of our

surroundings, perhaps looking close

to our phone, not focusing on what

is going on either side of us. We

are known as mobile phone zombies.

This is again a brilliant prospect

for any thief looking to steal from

us.

And concern that the tactics

also changing.

Yes, experts have

told me about two new tactics being

adopted, firstly, the spotter,

someone who stands on the pavement,

perhaps walks along with the

shoppers and identifies someone who

could be an easy victim. He will

then signal to his team members and

enable them to sleep in a memo pad

and attempt to steal a phone. The

other tactic used as weapons, so

knives, anything sharp that can

intimidate someone into handing over

their valuables. I've been told by

criminologists that people don't

want to use these weapons when they

are going about trying to steal

these firms but if it comes to it

they well.

Charlotte, in Oxford

Street, thank you very much. You are

watching BBC London News.

Coming up later in the programme.

The Justice for Grenfell action

group takes inspiration

from a Hollywood film to question

authorities about the tragedy.

The family of an inmate

who was stabbed to death

at Wormwood Scrubs

have led a protest

about safety in prisons.

25-year-old Khader Saleh was killed

2 weeks ago while on remand.

The government says it's improving

safety in London jails.

Here's our Home Affairs

Correspondent Nick Beake.

SHOUTING

We demand justice. For Khader Saleh

and his family! Among those calling

for justice outside Wormwood Scrubs

was mulling a grieving mother. When

her son was sent to prison after

pleading guilty to supplying drugs,

she thought he would be safe. But

while awaiting sentence, he was

attacked and killed.

You can't

describe how very hard this.

The

family of Khader Saleh fear more

prisoners could be killed unless

safeties improved.

We don't want

this to happen to anybody else. We

lost our loved one, and we believe

if this carries on in the same way a

lot of people will be the same

position as us, losing their loved

ones inside prisons.

Three inmates

have been charged with the murder of

fortnight ago. Today we met one

mother whose teenage is inside. She

is deeply concerned in light of the

death.

I was here on the day this

totality happened. Wardens were

running around, asking for help, a

quick response. It is very sad for

his family today. And I have grave

concerns for my son in this prison,

grave concerns.

Repeated inspections

here have found high levels of

violence and staff shortages in a

place that is overcrowded and rat

infested. The anger you see is not

just directed at what is happening

in Wormwood Scrubs, protesters are

concerned about the safety of

prisons across London. 21-year-old

Jamal, also from Somali background,

was stabbed to death in Pentonville

prison in October 20 16. Three men

were later cleared of murder the

Ministry of Justice say they have

taken decisive action to reduce

violence in prisons. And more staff

are being recruited. Campaigners

here acknowledge many people would

prioritise funding for schools and

hospitals ahead of prisons but the

demand is for basic safety for a

place where inmates can serve their

time. Nick Beake BBC News Wormwood

Scrubs.

A murder investigation is under way

after a 17-year-old was stabbed

to death in Canning Town last night

in a "sustained and possibly

targeted attack".

He's the third teenager

to be fatally knifed

in the capital this year.

Police and the London

Ambulance Service were called

to reports of a male suffering stab

injuries on Goldwing

Close after 8pm.

Police are appealing

for information.

More than 50 of the Queen's swans

from a flock in Windsor have died

following an outbreak of bird flu.

There's now concern

that the disease could spread

to other flocks based

at Reading and Staines.

The Queen's Swan Marker,

David Barber, says Her Majesty,

who technically owns all the swans

in Britain, is being kept informed.

The Justice For Grenfell action

group have been campaigning

for survivors of the fire to get

more help from the authorities

ever since the disaster

happened eight months ago.

Today it took inspiration

from a hugely successful film

to stage a publicity stunt which it

says will encourage people to ask

why no one has yet faced

justice for what happened.

Victoria Cook reports.

Three red billboards travelling

outside St Paul's Cathedral, London.

These made their way around the

capital with a powerful message from

those affected by the grand felon

disaster. The community say it is

time to remind the public that the

victims have not had justice.

It is

about making their voices heard. We

have 71 voices that can't be heard

because they are not with us today.

So it is making sure that we are

fighting their cause as well and not

letting it go and they are seeking

the answers.

The billboards may seem

familiar. They have been inspired by

the award-winning film Three

Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

I know, chief, but I think we've got

kind of problem.

I would do anything

to cut your. 'S killer but I don't

think those billboards are very

fair.

Like the film campaigners say

the billboards will put pressure on

the authorities, not just their

calls for justice but their plea for

better support. More than 80

families are still in hotels waiting

for permanent homes.

Eight months

and here we are, no drew dress, no

answers, Theresa May busy with

Brexit. -- no redress. It's like

it's been forgotten.

This isn't

going to stop. This will carry on

figures. -- for years. I'm not

giving up but I want to get on with

my life for a change.

To higher

advertising fans like this normally

would cost quite a lot of money but

the Justice programme for campaign

group has not had to pay anything

for them, they have all been donated

by an advertising agency. An inquiry

into the disaster is under Way,

aiming to establish the facts and

stop the same thing happening again.

It cannot find anyone criminally

responsible. Victoria Cook, BBC

London News.

Still to come this evening. We speak

to BAFTA nominated actor Margot

Robey at the premiere of the film

based on the life of American ice

skater Tonya Harding. And in the

weather blue sky with showers today,

blue skies tomorrow, even fewer

showers and the temperatures

slightly higher. The full forecast,

later on.

Library closures across London

are a contentious issue

but Lambeth Council claims

it is winning the battle

against government funding cuts.

They've managed to keep

open all the library's

within the borough by

diversifying the space.

Carnegie Library reopens today

with a gym and cafe to follow.

But many residents,

who protested when it

closed two years ago, remain

unhappy.

Here's Chris Rogers.

London's libraries are under threat

because of budget cuts. Many are

being closed. But Lambeth Council

have different ideas.

And Councillor

Jim Dixon, a member for health and

happy communities. Today is an

exciting day, Carnegie library in

Herne Hill is opening a game all the

things people want from a library,

study spaces, places and people to

meet, and it is exciting because it

means Lambeth's ten libraries are

all up and running and providing a

great service. The plan here is to

maintain the magnificent library and

ensure other things will bring

people into the building, they will

be a gym in the basement, a cafe

area behind me, performance space,

opportunities for community groups

that flourish in the area to meet

here. We think that is the future of

libraries. Libraries alongside other

uses that people can enjoy and bring

them into the building. We can't go

into the area where the gym is being

built because it's a construction

site but in five months' time they

will be an open gym, people using it

and bringing income in which will

help keep the library open.

But all

that comes at a cost to the size of

the library, all these books will

eventually have to be moved into a

smaller room. We shall not be moved!

Locals are furious. In April 2016

they staged an occupation in

protest, delaying its closure for a

week. Today they are back to check

that the facility.

We are taking our

libraries back.

Lambeth taking their

chances, they have brought in

security.

My name is Julie Nash, I'm

a local resident, grandma and a mum.

We are left with an excuse for a

library which is just not sufficient

and not acceptable and Lambeth

should be ashamed. OK, so we've just

come in and had our first look at

what Lambeth are opening as a

library. This used to be our adult

library. This is a temporary room,

which eventually will just be moved

into a much smaller room which was

our children's library and gallery.

I suppose as locals we feel like the

wool has been pulled over our eyes.

Cancels one more closures are likely

unless libraries can pay for

themselves. But the last count in

201631 had been closed, many others

only saved by volunteers and

crowdfunding. Chris Rogers, BBC

London News.

The May local elections may still be

three months away but the campaign

to let some voters know that

for the first time they'll need

to bring ID to their

polling station.

Residents in four areas around

London will be affected.

Our Political Correspondent Karl

Mercer has more details -

and the aim to prevent voter fraud?

Yes, we knew this was coming, the

Government announced in September

they would pilot these schemes and

there are four councils where that

will happen in our area. They will

all try slightly different methods

but as you say, from today we are

seeing the start of that campaign

saying to people that things are

changing. You have never had to take

ID to a voting booth before, this

time if you don't take any you won't

be voting. We have seen some stuff

from Bromley today, they have

started their campaign and they are

saying that if you turn up you need

to bring things like a passport or

photo driving licence. Perhaps to a

nod to the over 60s, they said you

can bring your freedom pass or other

forms of photo ID. If you haven't

got those, you can bring two forms

of another IDE like a credit card

bill and council tax statement. They

are saying do go along, and you can

do postal voting. This comes on the

back of concern is over people

essentially turning up and

pretending to be someone they are

not, which has doubled over the last

couple of years. There was

commissioned the Government did on

voting which came up with

recommendations for these pilots a

couple of years ago.

And this move

comes in the wake of the 2014

elections in Tower Hamlets.

Very

much so. That was the election when

Lutfur Rahman won election to be the

mayor and was a year later found to

have acted illegally and corruptly

in that election. There were big

concern there. Surprise perhaps

Tower Hamlets was not one of the

borough 's chosen to pilot this, but

they are doing postal voting pilots.

They also have measures in place in

Tower Hamlets, all police officers

in the borough are to get two hours'

training on election law. Every

polling station will have a police

officer on it, and any house with

more than five people registered to

vote at it will get a visit from the

council to check that those people

are actually registered legally to

be voting there. So they might not

be taking part in this pilot in

Tower Hamlets but they are saying

they are taking it very seriously

this time around.

A lot of effort

going into it. Thank you.

Brent Council's planning committee

last night approved a new pop-up

mall in Wembley that

will open later this year.

Boxpark, which already has sites

in Shoreditch and Croydon,

will open on a former car park site

at the corner of Fulton

Road and Olympic Way.

The site will include food outlets

and community spaces made up

of shipping containers.

Next, a remarkable return to racing

for teenager Billy Monger.

It was just ten months ago

that he suffered an horrific crash

at Donington race track that

resulted in him having

both legs amputated.

He always insisted he'd

return to driving.

That determination has paid off -

as Chris Slegg reports.

Billy Monger back behind the wheel

already, in a car especially

modified for him by his team,

Carlin.

It has been completely changed,

I guess, from how I normally drive,

so I've got the throttle pedal,

which is now a paddle

for me and I use that

to accelerate the car,

then I brake with my right leg,

I have a shorter prosthetic on,

and on this side I have two paddles,

the top one being up gears

and the bottom one down,

and then hand clutch on the side

to pull away with.

In a Formula Four race at Donington

last April, Billy crashed

into a stationary car at 120mph.

He had to have both legs amputated.

A crowdfunding page set up

to aid his recovery attracted

donations from the likes

of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Ten months on, Billy

is hoping to show he is good

enough for Formula Three.

Some people might think this is too

soon to be racing again,

that you've not probably had

a chance to process what you've been

through, what would you say to them?

To be honest, it has been the most

calm place since my accident,

has been back behind the wheel

of a racing car.

That is where I've wanted

to be since my accident,

and to get back behind the wheel,

I just feel completely in control,

and just relaxed when I'm out there.

For mum Amanda, there are mixed

emotions about seeing her son

back on a race track.

I tell him every day

that I'd like him -

it's not too late to change his

mind, joking about.

I know in his heart he's

set his heart on it.

He's happy.

He's happy doing that,

and I have to be strong for him.

Billy will need to secure

sponsorship. His team insist he has

the talent to drive at a Formula 3

level.

His accident won't get in the

way. His mental attitude is strong,

he's ready mentally and his pace has

been competitive as well.

Last year Billy lobbied the FIA

to allow disabled drivers to compete

in able-bodied races.

To get the all clear with the rule

change was a big step in the right

direction for me, and to get back

out in 2018 in a race car.

If all goes well, Billy Monger

will be on the starting grid

when the Formula Three season

begins in April.

It's the film based on a saga

from the '90s about the competitive

world of ice-skating.

Margot Robbie plays the US skater

Tonya Harding who rose

through the ranks to become

the world's best figure skater

but it all came crashing

down when she was banned

from professional skating.

Asad Ahmad caught up with her

at the UK Premiere in London -

first here's a quick taste

of the movie.

The haters always say, Tanya, tell

the truth. Everyone has their own

truth. I was the best figure skater

in the world at one point in time.

I'm joined now by Margot Robbie.

Could you I skate before you made

the film?

At a basic level but I had

to do a lot of training to be able

to play Tonya.

It's no secret you

lived in Clapham the many years, the

nearest ice rink would have been

stratum, did you go there?

I didn't.

Somebody wrote about you in this

film, saying you have found a match

for your talent, a real compliment

and a departure from your glamorous

roles in the Wolf of Wall Street.

Have you turned your back on that

sort of role?

No, I don't really

look at the role and consider the

aesthetic first and foremost, that

comes later when you are working

with costume designers. I don't

know, I enjoy playing conflicted

characters, outspoken characters,

characters who have the sort of

complicated character traits you

sometimes cannot -- you can see,

they have a common thread they are

unapologetic women.

I was speaking

to a colleague up for best actor,

can you see a time sometimes in when

there won't be a distinction between

male and female actors?

I don't see

it happening any time soon, it is

competitive enough as it is but may

be.

If you have left London for LA,

what didn't you like about London

that made you go?

There is nothing I

don't like about London, I even love

the rainy days in London. I left

because we opened up our production

office in LA so I had to go.

What do

you miss most?

Everything, my

friends, catching the tube,

everything.

Do you still own an

Oyster card?

Yes, I have three in my

wallet!

You are true Londoner! Good

luck at the Oscars.

Interesting that she said she loves

the tube! Time now for a check on

the weather with Nick Miller. Is it

getting less chilly?

the weather with Nick Miller. Is it

getting less chilly?

By day, and

also the welcome return of some

sunshine today. I know there were

some heavy showers dotted about but

much more blue sunshine. Your

weather watcher pictures were taking

that into account. Some speckled

cloud coming in, and some of these

showers made their way across from

west to east so you may have been

caught in a downpour. As we look at

the picture into tonight, that

patchy cloud that produced the odd

shower dissipating and it is mainly

clear skies. Overnight the winds

easing a bit further so that is a

recipe for temperatures dipping away

and this blue on the map shows a

widespread frost developing,

scraping the ice off the car again

in the morning as temperatures fall

several degrees below freezing. Make

no mistake, a cold start in the

morning but then lots of sunshine on

the way. Just the odd patchy cloud

moving towards us but even less of a

chance of a shower. The vast

majority will stay dry and the

temperatures after the cold start

edging into double figures. This is

Saturday morning, there could be

some fog first thing on Saturday

some more of a great start to begin

with but as we go through the first

day of the weekend some cloud around

but also of sunshine. You will know

we have had some rubbish weekends

recently. We will try to change that

this weekend. Saturday already

looking quite fair. This is the

picture going into Sunday, a weak

weather front moves across the UK

but that leaves us with fine weather

following behind as well. Absolutely

need to point out what's going on

into the weekend. Saturday on

Sunday, broken cloud, sunny spells

coming through and the temperature

holding into double figures. The

days might start cold and frosty,

but on the whole at this stage, and

we are getting closer to it, the

weekend is looking fine. More cloud

around by the time we get into

Monday though and we could see

outbreaks of rain. Fingers crossed,

it is looking promising at last for

a weekend!

I love how enthusiastic

you are! Thank you.

A reminder of the day's main

headlines: At least 17 people

are dead after a 19-year-old man

opened fire at a high school campus

in Parkland, Florida.

The suspect was Nikolas Cruz,

a former student at the school

who had been expelled.

The former football

Coach Barry Bennell has been found

guilty of seven more charges

of sexual abuse of boys in his care.

He's now been convicted of 43

offences in all against 11 victims.

He'll be sentenced on Monday.

Thefts and robberies on mopeds

in London's main shopping hotspots

have increased six-fold

over the last two years.

Met Police data shows

Oxford Street is the worst hit.

The family of an inmate stabbed

to death at Wormwood Scrubs have led

a protest outside the prison.

25-year-old Khader Saleh was killed

two weeks ago while on remand.

That's it for now,

thanks for joining us.

More from the London

newsroom at 10.30.

And plenty more of course

on our website and Facebook page.

Do have a lovely evening.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.