0:00:15 > 0:00:16Good evening.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I'm Riz Lateef.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21BBC London has learned that there are fears a powerful drug
0:00:21 > 0:00:23to treat epilepsy could harm families for generations.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Sodium Valproate has been used to treat epilepsy since the 1970s.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29But thousands of pregnant women say they weren't warned of the risks
0:00:29 > 0:00:31of severe birth defects, including brain damage
0:00:31 > 0:00:35and spina bifida.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Tarah Welsh has this special report.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45You're going to swallow it.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50I know, it's horrible.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Bridget is 19, but she is cared for at home by her mum, Karen.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56When pregnant, she was prescribed a high dosage
0:00:56 > 0:00:57of the drug sodium valproate.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00She has epilepsy and the pills were meant to control the seizures,
0:01:00 > 0:01:01but the powerful chemicals that protected her health
0:01:01 > 0:01:03damaged her daughter's.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09I popped these tablets into my system, six months
0:01:09 > 0:01:11down the line, and turned round and say to me...
0:01:11 > 0:01:15What do you want to do?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18You want to have an abortion, you are carrying a spina-bifida baby.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Like many other women, Karen had no idea it was linked
0:01:21 > 0:01:23to her medication.
0:01:23 > 0:01:30Now 20,000 children in the UK are believed
0:01:30 > 0:01:33to have foetal valproate syndrome.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36These children have an increased risk of cleft incleft palate
0:01:36 > 0:01:45and they are more prone to spina bifida, or other defects.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50The risk of taking the drug in pregnancy have been known
0:01:50 > 0:01:51since the '70s.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53The Government regulates what information
0:01:53 > 0:01:57is given to patients and it chose not to reveal this.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59But in a statement, it told us that at the time,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02according to clinical practise, it was for the doctor to decide how
0:02:02 > 0:02:04much information a patient was given about their medicine.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Since then, the need for patients to be fully informed
0:02:07 > 0:02:17about their medication has been underpinned by legislation.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Yet many women say they still aren't aware of the risks,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24particularly alarming in light of new findings.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26While researching this film, we spoke to several
0:02:26 > 0:02:27families who suspect that
0:02:27 > 0:02:30sodium valproate is somehow not just harming their children,
0:02:30 > 0:02:35but their guardian children too.
0:02:35 > 0:02:43Until now, those suspicions have not been deemed credible.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But we have got the results of a major project in South Korea
0:02:46 > 0:02:49which supports the idea that the drug can harm
0:02:49 > 0:02:50successive generations.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52The study found autistic-like behaviour in the grandchildren
0:02:52 > 0:02:54and great grandchildren of mice that were injected with sodium
0:02:54 > 0:03:01valproate while pregnant.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04That was the first bit of evidence that we had,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07that this could be carried on.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11This is something now that needs to be looked at as quickly as possible
0:03:11 > 0:03:12to give families reassurance.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13Three generations of one family.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15They believe the drug has affected them all.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Sue was prescribed it decades ago, her daughters have the syndrome.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Although they didn't take the drug in pregnancy
0:03:20 > 0:03:24they believe their children have inherited the condition.
0:03:24 > 0:03:34I do think my grandkids have been affected by it.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38I have had my worry with my kids growing up.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I have it again with my grandkids, how long is it going to go on for?
0:03:42 > 0:03:45It is not fair, it is not fair, it is so wrong.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47So many people's lives have been affected and ruined.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Campaigners want the Government to pay compensation, and they believe
0:03:50 > 0:03:53this new evidence makes their case for support even stronger.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56We are in a good dialogue, the Minister appears to have taken
0:03:56 > 0:03:58this very seriously, is willing to engage with us,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01he appears to be completely conscious of the need to stop
0:04:01 > 0:04:11this scandal continuing.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12But it could be too late for Bridget.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Her health is deteriorating and she could have
0:04:15 > 0:04:18only months left - after a life of suffering, caused
0:04:18 > 0:04:22by something that was supposed to keep her mother alive.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Jim Wheble has got more on this.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27And just to clarify, this is one study?
0:04:27 > 0:04:32That's right, but the authors of this report believe that showing
0:04:32 > 0:04:37that the condition can be passed on through generations of mice,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40it can give us some kind of clue the same thing
0:04:40 > 0:04:49is happening to humans.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55lots more research needs to be done,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59What can these families expect in terms of compensation and support?
0:04:59 > 0:05:04If we look at different parts of the world like France, the Government
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and supporting families in the legal action and have set aside millions
0:05:07 > 0:05:12of pounds in compensation. Here, it was slightly different. In 2010,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16families took out a legal case against the drugs company who make
0:05:16 > 0:05:22this drug and they had to drop their case. Faced with the prospect of
0:05:22 > 0:05:26having to pay the drug companies legal bills. They struck a deal and
0:05:26 > 0:05:30they signed a letter saying they would never sing again. As we heard
0:05:30 > 0:05:36in the report, there have been positive conversations between the
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Department of Health and campaign is looking for a public inquiry. What
0:05:40 > 0:05:44that will result in, we do not know yet. One other thing worth
0:05:44 > 0:05:49mentioning is that if you are in this situation, don't just stop
0:05:49 > 0:05:53taking your drugs, consult a doctor before you take any action like
0:05:53 > 0:05:56that.Thanks very much.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59The Metropolitan Police has issued new guidance to its officers
0:05:59 > 0:06:00surrounding searching individuals, suspected of placing
0:06:00 > 0:06:05packages in their mouths.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07The advice follows the death of Rashan Charles, who died
0:06:07 > 0:06:14after being apprehended by police in a shop in East London last year.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Fashion is big business, with London at the centre
0:06:17 > 0:06:19of an industry worth around £28 billion to the UK economy.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22But one model has spoken to this programme about a darker side behind
0:06:22 > 0:06:24the beautiful images, and why she wants better
0:06:24 > 0:06:26regulation to protect those working in the industry -
0:06:26 > 0:06:31as Victoria Cook reports.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Dunja Knezevic started modelling succesfully at 17.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37She was excited about the future.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39At 19, that all changed.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Dunja was raped by someone high up in the industry.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Everybody told me to shut up about it.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49All the friends, fellow models, agencies, they didn't
0:06:49 > 0:06:54even want to look at me.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00They didn't want to acknowledge that that had happened.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Told me not to talk about it, and to just move on, because it
0:07:04 > 0:07:05would only be detrimental to me.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09It wasn't until later that Dunja realised she wasn't alone.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Other models were sharing similar stories.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13So, against fierce opposition from the industry, she started
0:07:13 > 0:07:17the first models' trade union.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Everybody kept saying to me - and especially models -
0:07:19 > 0:07:25you should just leave.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Why are you even sticking around?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I said, no, I love the fashion industry, I love fashion.
0:07:31 > 0:07:40So that is why I am sticking around.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Ten years later...
0:07:43 > 0:07:48And models are under the union Equity.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Despite that, it says more needs to be done to protect workers.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53When you are, in that that environment, models often feel
0:07:53 > 0:07:55like their voice is not welcome.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58It's the last voice anybody would want to hear on a shoot.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59That has to change.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02We want to see a culture where there aren't bystanders any more.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05With recent allegation of sexual exploitation in the media,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07the industry is under a spotlight.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Questions are being asked as to how safe models are at work.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Some high-profile agencies in the capital have signed up
0:08:12 > 0:08:13to a code of standards.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16I think it is difficult for a model to say no on a shoot.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19The model doesn't have to make a big scene, they tell us,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and if we are not happy with the situation, we deal with it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26And if that client is trying to get them to do something without it
0:08:26 > 0:08:28having been approved by us, then they are the ones
0:08:28 > 0:08:32in the wrong, abd if they say they won't want to work with that
0:08:32 > 0:08:35model, maybe we won't work with them.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37There are plenty of agencies that don't take that approach.
0:08:37 > 0:08:45The industry is largely unregulated.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Anyone can set up a modelling agency, so there are
0:08:48 > 0:08:49calls for the Government
0:08:49 > 0:08:52to step in and introduce stricter rules to keep models safe.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55The Imperial War Museum has teamed up with the Oscar-winning director
0:08:55 > 0:08:58behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy - to use latest technology
0:08:58 > 0:09:00to restore original archive footage of the First World War.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Grainy and faded images are enhanced to bring clarity
0:09:03 > 0:09:09to the pictures from a century ago.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Each frame will eventually be coloured - the end product -
0:09:12 > 0:09:14a short film to be shown in London this autumn.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16We're making a film that...
0:09:16 > 0:09:18that shows this incredible footage, which the faces of the men
0:09:18 > 0:09:23just jump out of you.
0:09:23 > 0:09:23just jump out at you.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27It's the faces, it's the people that come to life in this film.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28It's the human beings that were actually there,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31that were thrust into this extraordinary situation, that define
0:09:31 > 0:09:32the lives, in many cases.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33I'll say goodnight.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38And it's over to Stav for a check on this week's weather.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45It is going to be very mild. And it looks like it will be unsettled with
0:09:45 > 0:09:50it. Outbreaks of rain, and very windy. The middle part of the week.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Towards the end of the week, it turns cooler again before becoming
0:09:53 > 0:09:58milder into the weekend. Tonight is a very mild night. A lot of dry
0:09:58 > 0:10:02weather to begin with, but rain is waiting out West which moves during
0:10:02 > 0:10:06the course of tomorrow morning. It should ease away. Some of the rain
0:10:06 > 0:10:11could be happy for a time. Short lived. Any brightness will be very
0:10:11 > 0:10:17mild. We could see 14 Celsius. Compared to what we have seen,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19recently, that feels quite different. But the winds will be
0:10:19 > 0:10:23strong. They get stronger towards Wednesday. This area of low pressure
0:10:23 > 0:10:27moves through and it will be more severe across the North and West,
0:10:27 > 0:10:32bringing heavy rain and very strong winds. It starts fine and wild and
0:10:32 > 0:10:36windy, and the winds pick up as the cold front moves through. It could
0:10:36 > 0:10:41linger into the evening. 12, 13 degrees, but cooler air waiting
0:10:41 > 0:10:49behind it. And that arrives across our patch during Thursday. Around
0:10:49 > 0:10:53nine, 10 degrees. Sunshine in the morning and showers from the North
0:10:53 > 0:10:58West. Friday is dry, with sunshine, and even cooler with north-westerly
0:10:58 > 0:11:02winds. But it is turning milder again into the weekend. But