0:00:00 > 0:00:01That's Newsnight with Evan.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15Good evening from BBC London News.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17First tonight, it's claimed that a healthcare company which employed
0:00:17 > 0:00:21a care worker who stabbed a 90-year-old was told she had
0:00:21 > 0:00:31a previous conviction for assault.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Pamela Batten's family says theya are extremely angry
0:00:40 > 0:00:41and are considering legal action.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45One charity has told this programme the home care sector is in crisis.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46Yvonne Hall reports.
0:00:46 > 0:00:5090-year-old Pamela Batten left disabled and very frightened
0:00:50 > 0:00:55by a so-called carer who tried to kill her.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Her son Sammy has filmed his mother for us.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59This is what the so-called carer did to Pamela.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02She hit her over the head with a hammer and stabbed her
0:01:02 > 0:01:03in the neck for cash.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06She's been jailed for 21 years for attempted murder.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08She had convictions for assault and burglary and should never have
0:01:08 > 0:01:10been given a job looking after vulnerable people.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11I'm really angry.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14It may not look it from the outside, but I'm very, very angry.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17The company who employed the carer has always insisted that
0:01:17 > 0:01:23despite robust safety checks, it was not told by the government's
0:01:23 > 0:01:27criminal records checking system, the DPS, that the carer had previous
0:01:27 > 0:01:30convictions for assault and burglary.
0:01:30 > 0:01:40It says it would not have employed her if it had been told.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44But today, the DPS said it had warned Avant about the applicant's
0:01:44 > 0:01:45violent past and added, this certificate listed Beavis
0:01:45 > 0:01:48convictions, serious offences such as ABH would not be filtered
0:01:48 > 0:01:51and would be disclosed.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53This was Pamela Batten's reaction today.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56I am surprised, because they always said they didn't know
0:01:56 > 0:02:02anything about it.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04So I am surprised.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Her son Sammy is furious and is now considering legal action.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14I'm really upset.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16All through this, I've been calmly upset, but now I'm extremely angry
0:02:17 > 0:02:18and I want something done.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22And I want to see it done, I don't just want to hear words.
0:02:22 > 0:02:29I want to see positive actions and I want something done about this.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32A charity campaigning for more protection for elderly people says
0:02:32 > 0:02:37it's concerned that others also be at risk.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The reality is that the care sector has been in crisis for a long time.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43People are making decisions that are expedient, that
0:02:43 > 0:02:47are there for the moment, and they are starting to disregard
0:02:47 > 0:02:53the protection of vulnerable people.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56We have been trying all afternoon to get some response from Avant
0:02:56 > 0:03:01health care services to the DBS statement saying the company
0:03:01 > 0:03:03was warned about the applicant's violent background, but so far,
0:03:03 > 0:03:03nobody from turkey has been available.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12nobody from Avant has been available.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15As well as action to stop anyone else going through what she has,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16Pamela would also like an apology.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17I'm disappointed.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23I mean, I haven't heard anything from them apologising or anything.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25The new Justice Secretary, David Gauke, has announced a review
0:03:25 > 0:03:28of procedures following the ruling of the Parole Board to release
0:03:28 > 0:03:29the London taxi driver John Worboys.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32The decision to free the serial sex attacker nine years
0:03:32 > 0:03:38after he was sent to prison has prompted anger from victims.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Frankie McCamley joins me now.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Understandable concern.Yes, absolutely. Now one of the main
0:03:47 > 0:03:52things that went wrong following this parole board hearing was how
0:03:52 > 0:03:56victims were told. What we know is that these victims that were
0:03:56 > 0:04:00involved in the trial were either notified via letter, e-mail or phone
0:04:00 > 0:04:05call. Those who received letters or e-mails, some didn't get through for
0:04:05 > 0:04:09one reason or another and they found out through the media. We have also
0:04:09 > 0:04:12heard from one of his victims today, she didn't want to be identified,
0:04:12 > 0:04:19but she spoke to the BBC and what she's demanding is an answer and to
0:04:19 > 0:04:27find out exactly why Worbooys was released. She said the law must be
0:04:27 > 0:04:31changed and is asking for this transparency and she says, I quote,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36until that happens, we can have zero confidence that he won't re-offend.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Now with with a new Justice Secretary has anything changed?
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Well, in the Commons we did hear from the new Justice Secretary and
0:04:43 > 0:04:47he echoed the statement made by his predecessor that he is ordering an
0:04:47 > 0:04:54urgent review with a report by Easter into the transparency of
0:04:54 > 0:04:58these decision-making process and exactly how the victims are told.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Although that will be welcomed, this doesn't really get to the heart of
0:05:01 > 0:05:04what most of these victims are concerned about and that's his
0:05:04 > 0:05:08release date. They were wrongly informed by the police that he would
0:05:08 > 0:05:12be released after serving around ten years. But now they are facing the
0:05:12 > 0:05:18prospect that he will be released. Thank you.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Should parents of premature babies be given more paternity leave?
0:05:20 > 0:05:25Around one in every 13 is born prematurely.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Now one London borough is believed to be the first employer
0:05:27 > 0:05:30in the country to give extra time off to people to care
0:05:30 > 0:05:34while their premature newborns are in hospital.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37With more details here's Tolu Adayoye.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Imagine spending the start of your new baby's life in hospital,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42worried about their health instead of at home, enjoying watching
0:05:42 > 0:05:46them grow and develop.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Granny had to wait more than six weeks to hold you.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51What?
0:05:51 > 0:05:52That's what happened to Katrina.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58Her son Samuel was born at 30 weeks.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00She says she then had to go back to work before
0:06:00 > 0:06:02she or Samuel were ready.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05We were in hospital for eight weeks before bringing him home,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and then when we came home, he was very tiny and it was
0:06:09 > 0:06:11difficult to bond with a baby that had been taken away
0:06:11 > 0:06:14from you at birth and you had to leave him
0:06:14 > 0:06:17in the hospital for so long.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21And within months, it was time to go back to work and for me,
0:06:21 > 0:06:26that was too soon, but I had no option but to return to work.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28In the UK, maternity and paternity leave start the day
0:06:29 > 0:06:30after a baby is born.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Katrina has been campaigning for extra leave for parents
0:06:32 > 0:06:34of premature babies, and her charity has
0:06:34 > 0:06:35its first real victory.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Waltham Forest Council is thought to be the first to decide
0:06:38 > 0:06:42to change its policy on leave, even though there is
0:06:42 > 0:06:44no legal requirement.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49For every week before the due date, the parent will be entitled
0:06:49 > 0:06:53to full pay and leave for maternity and paternity.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's the right thing to do for the right reasons to make
0:06:56 > 0:07:00a difference to our staff, to be a good employer
0:07:00 > 0:07:10and to hopefully be a beacon to others to follow suit.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14For example, once a baby is home, there are likely to be further
0:07:14 > 0:07:15hospital appointments and follow-up.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Often, sadly, there are also often medical conditions that follow
0:07:17 > 0:07:19from a premature birth, so keeping that understanding
0:07:19 > 0:07:22going beyond the return to work and looking forward is also
0:07:22 > 0:07:23something employers should be looking at.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26The idea to extend leave has been discussed by MPs, and there
0:07:26 > 0:07:27are guidelines advising employers.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Waltham Forest Council is a start, but Katrina says she will keep
0:07:30 > 0:07:33fighting until more parents of premature babies get the leave
0:07:33 > 0:07:40she believes they need and deserve.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42A trip to the circus these days can be a spectacular
0:07:42 > 0:07:44sight, with acrobats and cutting-edge visual effects.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46But the attraction has a long history which started
0:07:46 > 0:07:56here in the capital 250 years ago, as Wendy Hurrell reports.
0:08:01 > 0:08:07Horses in head addresses, clowning cricket, the ringmaster, all under
0:08:07 > 0:08:11the Big Top tent. Circus has been an enduring family entertainment. But
0:08:11 > 0:08:17the history goes much, much further back than this mid-century archive.
0:08:17 > 0:08:24It was on this day, 250 years ago, that an ex-cavalry man roped off an
0:08:24 > 0:08:29area here in Waterloo and performed tricks on horseback. Later he filled
0:08:29 > 0:08:34his shows with astonishing acts, jugglers and tumblerers, it was the
0:08:34 > 0:08:39world's first circus.He even married an expert horsewoman and she
0:08:39 > 0:08:45did an act where she dipped her hands in honey and bees were
0:08:45 > 0:08:53attracted to her hand. She would go around the ring with bees around her
0:08:53 > 0:08:57hands. Extraordinary.What must Londoners have made of this
0:08:57 > 0:09:02spectacle?I think they thought it was absolutely wonderful and it
0:09:02 > 0:09:08attracted them to the South Bank of the river which was the rather side
0:09:08 > 0:09:14of the theatre for entertainment. Back north of the river today's
0:09:14 > 0:09:17circus isn't about equines, rather a theatrical show of super human
0:09:17 > 0:09:25strength and skill. As demonstrated here. This is at the
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Royal Albert Hall this week.The traditional circus still exists and
0:09:29 > 0:09:34it's important to maintain that history and culture. In 1984 we took
0:09:34 > 0:09:37away the animal aspect and focus on the strength and amazing aspects of
0:09:37 > 0:09:42what people can do. We have been able to take those crafts and grow
0:09:42 > 0:09:50with them and modernise them and bring it to a new level.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Quite a sight.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I'll say goodnight and it's over to Stav for a check on the weather.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57I'll say goodnight and it's over to Stav for a check on the weather.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02Thank you very much. A disappointing cloudy grey, cool day today with
0:10:02 > 0:10:07drizzle around. We are going to see a change as we head overnight. A
0:10:07 > 0:10:10weather front slowly moving in from the west is going to introduce
0:10:10 > 0:10:14outbreaks of rain. It's going to slow down as it continues to move
0:10:14 > 0:10:19eastwards. By the time we reach the end of the night it will be across
0:10:19 > 0:10:23our patch. We will start off with that rain through the morning. It
0:10:23 > 0:10:29will slowly clear its way eastwards but there could be a handback. It
0:10:29 > 0:10:44looks like eastern parts of the City and to Essex e forescompl Area of
0:10:44 > 0:10:47low pressure clears away and we see a weak ridge of high pressure
0:10:47 > 0:10:50building in across the country. That means with light winds and clear
0:10:50 > 0:10:54skies it's going to be a chilly start to Thursday. There will be
0:10:54 > 0:10:58mist and fog around. It's going to be on the cool side. That's how it's
0:10:58 > 0:11:01going to be towards the weekend, on the cool side with cloud around