0:00:00 > 0:00:01Here on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Good evening, I'm Asad Ahmad.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17There's concern that hundreds of cases
0:00:17 > 0:00:20in the criminal justice system - including rapes and murders -
0:00:20 > 0:00:22could be in jeopardy, after the collapse of
0:00:22 > 0:00:24a private forensics firm.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27It handles samples of DNA for the Metropolitan Police
0:00:27 > 0:00:29and other forces, which have now stepped in
0:00:29 > 0:00:31to bail the company out.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36They say they've used public money to avoid potential
0:00:36 > 0:00:39miscarriages of justice. Here's Alpa Patel.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42An 18-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in what police have
0:00:42 > 0:00:44described as a senseless racial attack.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Stephen Lawrence was killed...
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Advances in forensics techniques finally led to the
0:00:51 > 0:00:54convictions of Stephen Lawrence's killers.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58It's one example of how the work of forensic scientists is
0:00:58 > 0:01:00crucial in catching criminals.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05But some we have spoken to say the industry is in crisis.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09It is after the collapse of this company, Key
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Forensic Services Limited.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14It is one of just three companies of its kind
0:01:14 > 0:01:16in England and Wales, processing samples for dozens of police forces.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21The collapse affects these seven forces in the south-east, including
0:01:22 > 0:01:24the Metropolitan police.
0:01:24 > 0:01:31Combined, these forces have more than 510
0:01:31 > 0:01:33samples and cases waiting to be processed.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36And that is why the police say they have stepped in,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39pumping in public money in order to keep the company
0:01:39 > 0:01:40going for at least two months.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43We don't know how much money has been spent, despite
0:01:43 > 0:01:45requests for that information.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49But it is reported to be in the millions.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52With only three commercial companies doing most of the work, if
0:01:52 > 0:01:56one of them is going to actually collapse, that is going to put
0:01:56 > 0:01:58a massive strain on the other two.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00We need to ensure that standards are kept high throughout
0:02:00 > 0:02:03all the processing of these cases, which means it's impossible
0:02:03 > 0:02:05to quickly ramp up all of those cases.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Invariably that means that evidence items will be delayed and
0:02:09 > 0:02:11that will have a knock-on effect on various cases
0:02:11 > 0:02:14that are at the moment going through the criminal
0:02:14 > 0:02:15justice system.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20All of this is raising questions about the government's
0:02:20 > 0:02:24decision to privatise the forensic science services in 2012.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Most forensic work is now outsourced.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Critics have raised concerns about the quality of that work.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35The senior detective in the Stephen Lawrence case says
0:02:35 > 0:02:44there is an argument to look again at how the industry responded.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47-- is funded.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49I don't think I could be that ungracious to say
0:02:49 > 0:02:53their only concern would be to make a profit, but my common sense tells
0:02:53 > 0:02:55me they would want to make a profit.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57So maybe if we took that burden away from them,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00that it wasn't a profit-making industry, then maybe
0:03:00 > 0:03:03that would be better for the criminal justice system.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Yesterday, the forensic science regulator
0:03:04 > 0:03:06called for a review into the involvement of private
0:03:06 > 0:03:14companies and raised concerns about the industry.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17We did approach Key Forensic Services Limited about our story but
0:03:17 > 0:03:18they declined to comment.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The police watchdog is examining a video which appears to show
0:03:21 > 0:03:25a Metropolitan Police Officer punching a demonstrator
0:03:25 > 0:03:26in North London.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28The incident took place during a march at the weekend.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Chris Rogers is here now.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35You've looked at this footage closely.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40Yeah. The video was posted on social media by a Kurdish campaign group.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It was filmed by an eyewitness on Sunday in Haringey at a march
0:03:43 > 0:03:50against Turkish military attacks on Kurdish territories inside Syria.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53According to eyewitnesses, protestors clashed with
0:03:53 > 0:03:57demonstrators supporting the Turkish military action. The footage shows
0:03:57 > 0:04:01two police officers, one a medical officer, we know that because of the
0:04:01 > 0:04:06Green Cross on his shoulder, pinning the protest to the ground and the
0:04:06 > 0:04:10medical officer, it appears, pointing him. We don't know where he
0:04:10 > 0:04:16punched him. That is what it appears to show. Now that video is being
0:04:16 > 0:04:18referred by Scotland Yard to the Independent police watchdog.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20So what happens now?
0:04:20 > 0:04:24They will study the footage and speak to the officers involved. Some
0:04:24 > 0:04:30experts have suggested that could be a police tactic. It is not for us to
0:04:30 > 0:04:34decide. It is down to the police watchdog. They could come back with
0:04:34 > 0:04:39a decision as early as this Friday. That decision will be to launch a
0:04:39 > 0:04:41formal investigation into exactly what happened.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Chris, thank you.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46The illegal practice of Female Genital Mutilation
0:04:46 > 0:04:50in London, was brought up by politicians today.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53And the question they were asking, was why, after the police had
0:04:53 > 0:04:55logged hundreds of complaints and the NHS had identified
0:04:55 > 0:04:57thousands of victims, was there not a single prosecution
0:04:57 > 0:05:03in London last year?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Tim Donovan has been hearing from a survivor.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10I was cut at the age of 11.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14I was cut together with my cousins and sisters.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16We were 15 in number. I remember everything today.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It's like it just happened yesterday.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Imagine it has been 20 odd years.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23This woman suffered FGM.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Now an outreach worker in Southwark, she campaigns against it.
0:05:28 > 0:05:35They believe that women who are not cut are unclean.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39And the chances of them getting married is very slim.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44According to officials figures last year, there were more than 2500
0:05:44 > 0:05:46cases of FGM identified by the NHS in London.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Conservatives on the London Assembly questioning why then
0:05:49 > 0:05:52there were only 199 reports of FGM logged by the police, and why there
0:05:52 > 0:05:55were no prosecutions.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Police have got to start working closer with the
0:05:58 > 0:06:01NHS, or the other way round.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I feel for the police because it is such a difficult thing.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07In France, I think, in quite a few years they have had
0:06:07 > 0:06:12at least 100 prosecutions. In this country we haven't.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Police say it is misleading to compare recorded Met
0:06:14 > 0:06:17figures with anonymous NHS data.
0:06:17 > 0:06:24The vast majority of those referred to
0:06:24 > 0:06:27in the NHS data set are adult women were subject to FGM prior to
0:06:27 > 0:06:29arriving in the UK.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31A statement says there would be no requirement on any
0:06:31 > 0:06:33health professional to share this information with police.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35We have a lot of cases were professionals,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38social workers in particular, who have suspected FGM
0:06:38 > 0:06:48and make a referral.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50If police think it's complex they do here, too.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52A training session for health and social workers in Sutton
0:06:52 > 0:06:54on how to detect and how to intervene.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56It's not just about prosecution but about prior action
0:06:56 > 0:06:58through FGM prevention orders.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01These are orders you get from the court are quite specific.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03They will say a child or an adult woman cannot go to
0:07:03 > 0:07:06their country because they have suspected FGM takes place.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08So in some ways it has prevented FGM from taking place.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11So we have had over 200 of those go through the family
0:07:11 > 0:07:15courts where applications have been made, similar to an injunction.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Some say too much negative review over
0:07:19 > 0:07:21prosecutions could further undermine confidence, making it less
0:07:21 > 0:07:22likely people reported.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25But campaigners say that frankly every opportunity needs
0:07:25 > 0:07:31to be seized to raise awareness.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34So it's a hundred years since women were allowed to vote -
0:07:34 > 0:07:37and for the first time, all men over the age of 21.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41To mark the centenary, tonight we meet Mary Ellis.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44She's the last surviving female pilot from the Second World War -
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and she's been speaking to Sarah Harris about
0:07:46 > 0:07:51her magnificent work.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55She was born before women first got the vote and became
0:07:55 > 0:07:56an aviation pioneer.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01Even at 101 years old, Mary likes to visit Biggin Hill
0:08:01 > 0:08:06to see the planes she flew solo during the Second World War.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Much to the shock of the male ground crew who initially refused
0:08:09 > 0:08:12to take her to check-in.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15"We can't go, we're waiting for the pilot."
0:08:15 > 0:08:20I said, "I am the pilot."
0:08:20 > 0:08:25There is little me in my navy blue and gold blazer, you know.
0:08:25 > 0:08:31They wouldn't believe me.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33They sent two men in to search the aeroplane to make sure.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34ARCHIVE.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37The daily delivery of operational aircraft is only a man's job.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Training machines and other less powerful planes
0:08:39 > 0:08:41are piloted by the women, and it's a job they're
0:08:41 > 0:08:43doing exceedingly well.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46In fact, Mary was flying bombers solo where men
0:08:46 > 0:08:48would have a team of seven crew.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51There were other dangers too.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Along came another aeroplane beside me,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57with German markings on it.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02I thought - oh, my goodness.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Oh, I haven't seen any of those before.
0:09:05 > 0:09:11I waved him away like that, and he waved to me like that.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16I was so frightened.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Now Mary encourages other young women to take up flying in a world
0:09:19 > 0:09:22still dominated by men.
0:09:22 > 0:09:28She says there's nothing quite like it.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Up in the air on your own and you can do whatever you like.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37You know, I flew 400 Spitfires and occasionally I would take one up
0:09:37 > 0:09:42and go and play with the clouds, which was so delightful and lovely.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Oh, I can't tell you how wonderful it was.
0:09:45 > 0:09:54Sarah Harris, BBC London News.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57A great example for both men and women. Now the weather.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02A great example for both men and women. Now the weather. Very cold
0:10:02 > 0:10:07indeed today. But bright. We had sunny skies overhead. This picture
0:10:07 > 0:10:13sums elope perfectly. One of our Weather Watchers in Waterloo. Blue
0:10:13 > 0:10:17skies overhead. I can't promised that would be the case tomorrow. We
0:10:17 > 0:10:23will start the day with clear skies. Starry skies at the moment in most
0:10:23 > 0:10:27places. Underneath the clear skies it will turn into a very cold night.
0:10:27 > 0:10:34Even -3 in town. -6 in the countryside. Tomorrow morning, where
0:10:34 > 0:10:38you see the Green map, that shows bright skies and sunshine. The grey
0:10:38 > 0:10:46shading is cloud. A fair amount of cloud as we go into the afternoon.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Most places staying dry. Patchy rain in the west later. A touch milder
0:10:51 > 0:10:56than it has been. Six or 7 degrees. Here is your Outlook for the next
0:10:56 > 0:11:02few days. Temperatures dipping away. The weekend milder. Rain on
0:11:02 > 0:11:02Saturday,