Browse content similar to 19/02/2018. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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Now on BBC one it's time
for the news where you are. | 0:00:00 | 0:00:01 | |
Good evening.
I'm Riz Lateef. | 0:00:12 | 0:00:15 | |
First tonight - an insight
into the state of some | 0:00:15 | 0:00:17 | |
of London's worst prisons. | 0:00:17 | 0:00:19 | |
A serving officer has told us -
the shortage of staff | 0:00:19 | 0:00:26 | |
makes her feel vulnerable. | 0:00:27 | 0:00:28 | |
It comes amid concerns
about a recruitment crisis | 0:00:28 | 0:00:30 | |
across the capital's jails, | 0:00:30 | 0:00:31 | |
as Caroline Davies reports. | 0:00:31 | 0:00:38 | |
I want my property! | 0:00:38 | 0:00:39 | |
Violence, drugs, drones, self harm,
suicide and even murders. | 0:00:39 | 0:00:41 | |
This is the state of London's
prisons, and according to some | 0:00:41 | 0:00:44 | |
critics, the lack of staff
is making it worse. | 0:00:44 | 0:00:45 | |
I've been working at prisons more
than 30 years and I have never seen | 0:00:46 | 0:00:49 | |
them in such a terrible state. | 0:00:49 | 0:00:51 | |
It is very bad for prisoners
and the public because it means | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
the prisoners are locked up all day
and dumped back on the street angry | 0:00:54 | 0:00:58 | |
and bitter and more likely
to commit another crime. | 0:00:58 | 0:01:02 | |
At the end of 2016, the Government
said it would recruit an extra | 0:01:02 | 0:01:05 | |
2,500 prison officers
across England and Wales. | 0:01:05 | 0:01:09 | |
So how many new officers
have been recruited | 0:01:09 | 0:01:11 | |
across London's eight prisons? | 0:01:11 | 0:01:14 | |
There has been a net
gain of only 22. | 0:01:14 | 0:01:16 | |
I really enjoyed it when I first
started, | 0:01:16 | 0:01:19 | |
I loved the buzz and that, | 0:01:19 | 0:01:20 | |
then it rapidly changed. | 0:01:20 | 0:01:23 | |
This woman is an officer
in a London prison. | 0:01:23 | 0:01:26 | |
We have concealed her identity
and dubbed her voice to protect her. | 0:01:26 | 0:01:29 | |
There are no staff any more,
they come in but as quickly | 0:01:29 | 0:01:32 | |
as they do, people are leaving. | 0:01:32 | 0:01:35 | |
There are people who have been
there 15 years and remember | 0:01:35 | 0:01:38 | |
when there were four officers
on a landing and now | 0:01:38 | 0:01:40 | |
there is only one. | 0:01:40 | 0:01:41 | |
What is it like when you're
just the one person? | 0:01:41 | 0:01:44 | |
You get worried because what if
you are the one that | 0:01:44 | 0:01:46 | |
gets attacked that day | 0:01:46 | 0:01:47 | |
and you can't get
a whistle to your mouth? | 0:01:47 | 0:01:50 | |
You better hope those prisoners
like you because they will be | 0:01:50 | 0:01:52 | |
the ones saving your life. | 0:01:52 | 0:01:54 | |
People will be shocked to hear
you rely on the prisoners | 0:01:54 | 0:01:56 | |
to keep you safe? | 0:01:56 | 0:01:58 | |
It is the truth, because there is no
one with you on the landing. | 0:01:58 | 0:02:01 | |
You have
to rely on prisoners. | 0:02:01 | 0:02:05 | |
What did the Ministry
of Justice's figures say | 0:02:05 | 0:02:08 | |
about the picture in London? | 0:02:08 | 0:02:10 | |
There might be 22 more officers
across London overall but some | 0:02:10 | 0:02:13 | |
prisons have even fewer staff
than before the Government started | 0:02:13 | 0:02:15 | |
this recruitment drive. | 0:02:15 | 0:02:21 | |
Belmarsh Prison has 22 fewer
officers, Pentonville 20 | 0:02:21 | 0:02:23 | |
and Wormwood Scrubs 15. | 0:02:23 | 0:02:25 | |
The prison service recruited just
over 4,500 new officers | 0:02:25 | 0:02:28 | |
across England and Wales last year
but they also lost nearly 2,000. | 0:02:28 | 0:02:34 | |
And almost 500 of those were
in their first year in a prison. | 0:02:34 | 0:02:39 | |
Rachel used to be a prison officer
in London but after less than | 0:02:39 | 0:02:42 | |
18 months, she quit. | 0:02:43 | 0:02:44 | |
She said there was little
time for rehabilitation. | 0:02:44 | 0:02:48 | |
Quite a lot of them are only
young and they are coming in | 0:02:48 | 0:02:52 | |
and being thrown into prison,
rightfully so, but they are being | 0:02:52 | 0:02:54 | |
put into a cell and locked away
for three days straight. | 0:02:54 | 0:02:59 | |
I was the one giving them the phone
calls and letting them out | 0:02:59 | 0:03:02 | |
to have a phone call and letting
them out to have a shower. | 0:03:02 | 0:03:05 | |
That to me is basic humanity,
and they can't even get that | 0:03:05 | 0:03:08 | |
because of a lack of staff. | 0:03:08 | 0:03:10 | |
So what would make a difference
to those still working | 0:03:10 | 0:03:12 | |
in London's prisons? | 0:03:12 | 0:03:16 | |
Staff, to begin with anyway. | 0:03:16 | 0:03:17 | |
I think I would feel more secure
if there was more staff. | 0:03:17 | 0:03:20 | |
Both sides are clear what's needed
but while staff are leaving | 0:03:20 | 0:03:22 | |
because of staff shortages, | 0:03:23 | 0:03:24 | |
the prison system in London seems
stuck in a vicious circle. | 0:03:24 | 0:03:28 | |
Alpa Patel is here
with more on this. | 0:03:31 | 0:03:34 | |
What is the Ministry
of Justice saying about this? | 0:03:34 | 0:03:40 | |
Well, the Ministry of Justice says
that it is on course to recruit | 0:03:40 | 0:03:45 | |
2,500 prison of this is and the
Justice Secretary told us that | 0:03:45 | 0:03:50 | |
staffing is the golden thread needed
to improve our presence, but as we | 0:03:50 | 0:03:55 | |
saw in Caroline's report, it is
retention that is the real key here, | 0:03:55 | 0:04:00 | |
especially of those experienced
officers who can deal with changing | 0:04:00 | 0:04:04 | |
and dangerous situations in prison
is better than new recruits can. | 0:04:04 | 0:04:08 | |
We've spoken to the Prison Officers
Association, who say the real | 0:04:08 | 0:04:12 | |
problem over retention is pay,
prison officers aren't paid enough | 0:04:12 | 0:04:16 | |
to either keep them in post or
recruit them to the posts that are | 0:04:16 | 0:04:21 | |
needed and until that changes,
retention will continue to be a | 0:04:21 | 0:04:24 | |
problem here in London. OK, thanks
very much for that. | 0:04:24 | 0:04:28 | |
News that celebrity chef
Jamie Oliver is selling his two | 0:04:28 | 0:04:30 | |
London steakhouses has highlighted
some of the challenges | 0:04:30 | 0:04:32 | |
facing restaurateurs more
widely in the capital. | 0:04:32 | 0:04:37 | |
Others claim that high rents
and business rates are forcing them | 0:04:37 | 0:04:39 | |
to take drastic measures
or face closure. | 0:04:39 | 0:04:41 | |
Here's Chris Rogers. | 0:04:41 | 0:04:43 | |
Business has been good
for the owners of this restaurant | 0:04:45 | 0:04:48 | |
in Hackney but they are closing
the restaurant next week. | 0:04:48 | 0:04:51 | |
Despite all the hard work
and awards, the rising costs of rent | 0:04:51 | 0:04:55 | |
and rates mean they need to start
again, with a new name | 0:04:55 | 0:04:59 | |
and a cheaper location
of Shoreditch but it comes | 0:04:59 | 0:05:01 | |
at the cost of their Michelin star. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:04 | |
Frankly, the rents in Shoreditch
are cheaper for us, | 0:05:04 | 0:05:08 | |
so straightaway that is the reality
of what we are doing. | 0:05:08 | 0:05:12 | |
As much as I love this
neighbourhood, I think it's | 0:05:12 | 0:05:15 | |
a business and we've got
to do what's right. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:22 | |
This is the latest London restaurant
to shut just in the last few days, | 0:05:22 | 0:05:29 | |
yet it has won loads
of awards, look at this. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:31 | |
So what is going on? | 0:05:31 | 0:05:32 | |
One of the main issues is there
are simply too many restaurants. | 0:05:32 | 0:05:35 | |
Dozens are closing and
opening all the time. | 0:05:35 | 0:05:37 | |
Add to that the rising cost of food,
the higher minimum wage, | 0:05:37 | 0:05:40 | |
a weak pound and Brexit
and you have the perfect storm | 0:05:40 | 0:05:43 | |
according to this restaurant
owner and consultant. | 0:05:43 | 0:05:46 | |
There is a shrinking labour market
because of issues with Brexit | 0:05:46 | 0:05:50 | |
and people not coming to the UK,
it is harder to employ. | 0:05:50 | 0:05:54 | |
A lot of the key positions,
more senior positions, | 0:05:54 | 0:05:59 | |
you're having to pay way over
the odds to get people. | 0:05:59 | 0:06:01 | |
It is just a real struggle. | 0:06:01 | 0:06:03 | |
The bite of rising costs is also
felt by some of the big chains, | 0:06:03 | 0:06:06 | |
among them chef Jamie Oliver. | 0:06:06 | 0:06:08 | |
He is closing some
of his restaurants. | 0:06:08 | 0:06:11 | |
His steakhouse in Piccadilly
was closed today. | 0:06:11 | 0:06:17 | |
While burger chain Byron is to close
up to 20 restaurants. | 0:06:17 | 0:06:20 | |
Announcements like that are bound
to shake the confidence | 0:06:20 | 0:06:22 | |
of the smaller London Independents. | 0:06:22 | 0:06:25 | |
There is only so much business out
there and only so much | 0:06:25 | 0:06:28 | |
money to be had. | 0:06:28 | 0:06:29 | |
I think this will be a bloodbath,
frankly, this year. | 0:06:29 | 0:06:33 | |
And that's always a necessary part
of the cycle of life. | 0:06:33 | 0:06:41 | |
Some analysts say the winners
will be the cheaper home | 0:06:41 | 0:06:44 | |
delivery companies. | 0:06:44 | 0:06:45 | |
A little far-fetched perhaps,
but as rising rents cause | 0:06:45 | 0:06:52 | |
restaurants to raise their menu cost
or close, the likes of | 0:06:52 | 0:06:54 | |
Next - it's proving
to be a hard sell. | 0:06:56 | 0:06:58 | |
Commuters are complaining
about the comfort of seats on some | 0:06:58 | 0:07:01 | |
new trains on Thameslink routes. | 0:07:01 | 0:07:04 | |
The train operator says it meets
strict fire safety regulations. | 0:07:04 | 0:07:07 | |
But is there cause for concern? | 0:07:07 | 0:07:08 | |
Our transport correspondent
Tom Edwards has been finding out. | 0:07:08 | 0:07:12 | |
These new Class 700 trains
are spacious and airy, | 0:07:13 | 0:07:18 | |
but as well as having fewer seats,
some commuters think | 0:07:18 | 0:07:21 | |
the cushioning is like concrete. | 0:07:21 | 0:07:24 | |
On this service this
morning to St Albans, | 0:07:24 | 0:07:28 | |
mainly uncomfortable agreement. | 0:07:28 | 0:07:30 | |
It's really uncomfortable,
it's ridiculous. | 0:07:30 | 0:07:32 | |
I can't believe this is a new train. | 0:07:32 | 0:07:34 | |
There's not much legroom. | 0:07:34 | 0:07:36 | |
Yeah. | 0:07:36 | 0:07:37 | |
And the backs are a bit
narrow for my liking. | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
If you're sitting next
to a stranger especially. | 0:07:39 | 0:07:41 | |
Then you're practically
on top of them, yeah. | 0:07:41 | 0:07:43 | |
Do you find them hard, the seats? | 0:07:43 | 0:07:45 | |
Very hard. | 0:07:45 | 0:07:46 | |
As you can see. | 0:07:46 | 0:07:51 | |
Soft seats, in my country the seats
is really different, | 0:07:51 | 0:07:54 | |
we don't have like these things,
the blue ones, so for me | 0:07:54 | 0:07:57 | |
it's great, I like it. | 0:07:57 | 0:08:00 | |
Complaints about train
seats aren't new. | 0:08:00 | 0:08:03 | |
The latest trains on Great Western
have also drawn criticism. | 0:08:03 | 0:08:07 | |
These trains on the Thameslink
Bedford to Brighton route | 0:08:07 | 0:08:10 | |
are now being rolled out
on the Great Northern | 0:08:10 | 0:08:12 | |
to Peterborough. | 0:08:12 | 0:08:15 | |
Then I'd like you to lift your
buttocks upwards, just slowly. | 0:08:15 | 0:08:18 | |
At this clinic in Maidenhead,
they're used to treating | 0:08:18 | 0:08:20 | |
commuters' aches and pains. | 0:08:20 | 0:08:23 | |
They say, over time, new harder
seats could make matters worse. | 0:08:23 | 0:08:28 | |
The thing is, people's bodies
don't adapt that easily. | 0:08:28 | 0:08:31 | |
I mean they're actually,
if you think about it, | 0:08:31 | 0:08:33 | |
often sitting in an office,
at an office desk all day. | 0:08:33 | 0:08:36 | |
They may be using
a computer all day. | 0:08:36 | 0:08:39 | |
They may try and take exercise
breaks, but fundamentally, | 0:08:39 | 0:08:42 | |
if their commute is uncomfortable
on a hard seat as well, | 0:08:42 | 0:08:45 | |
it's just adding more insult
to injury, in a sense. | 0:08:45 | 0:08:48 | |
The train companies say these seats
have to meet the strict criteria set | 0:08:48 | 0:08:51 | |
by the Department for Transport,
and that means they have to meet | 0:08:51 | 0:08:55 | |
strict fire regulations
and be graffiti proof. | 0:08:55 | 0:09:00 | |
But others say what this is really
about is cost-cutting. | 0:09:00 | 0:09:04 | |
We will shortly be
arriving at Three Bridges. | 0:09:04 | 0:09:07 | |
Passengers have also complained
about a lack of legroom, | 0:09:07 | 0:09:10 | |
and with no plans to change
the cushioning, commuters will have | 0:09:10 | 0:09:15 | |
to get used to seats that one
compared to an ironing board. | 0:09:15 | 0:09:22 | |
I'll say good night
and it's over to Phil Avery | 0:09:22 | 0:09:25 | |
for this week's weather. | 0:09:25 | 0:09:28 | |
for this week's weather. | 0:09:28 | 0:09:31 | |
My word, hard seeds and a pretty
damp commute this morning, it was | 0:09:31 | 0:09:36 | |
certainly wet when I skipped out the
door to catch the bin men and Dave | 0:09:36 | 0:09:40 | |
in King's Cross also captured the
scene and I'm sure he can send | 0:09:40 | 0:09:43 | |
something similar tomorrow because
there will be rain at times. A lot | 0:09:43 | 0:09:48 | |
of cloud around, two weather fronts
close to the British Isles, one then | 0:09:48 | 0:09:52 | |
the eastern side and a cold front
out towards the west which we will | 0:09:52 | 0:09:56 | |
see eventually but overnight, even
though the breezes from the north, I | 0:09:56 | 0:09:59 | |
think with quite a bit of cloud
around, the temperatures really | 0:09:59 | 0:10:03 | |
won't slip away very far, no
scraping up the cars tomorrow | 0:10:03 | 0:10:07 | |
morning but it will be a lead and
start to Tuesday. Then the cold | 0:10:07 | 0:10:11 | |
front I was talking about will drift
across us. Not much rain to the west | 0:10:11 | 0:10:15 | |
of the capital but over to the east,
it may integrate but behind it, some | 0:10:15 | 0:10:22 | |
of the low-level cloud will
disappear and we will be looking at | 0:10:22 | 0:10:25 | |
temperatures pretty much on a par
with today, nine or 10 degrees. Is | 0:10:25 | 0:10:27 | |
there any end to the dank weather?
Yes, there is, as we go through | 0:10:27 | 0:10:32 | |
Wednesday and Thursday and into the
weekend, at high pressure will keep | 0:10:32 | 0:10:36 | |
the Atlantic runs at bay and there
will be a fair amount of dry weather | 0:10:36 | 0:10:39 | |
around. So that is good. But
sunshine will initially be in short | 0:10:39 | 0:10:43 | |
supply. It may just poke out a wee
bit later on but you will see the | 0:10:43 | 0:10:48 | |
trend here is for temperatures to
really fall away, as far ahead as | 0:10:48 | 0:10:51 | |
the weekend. We're looking at six or
seven or 8 degrees and into the | 0:10:51 | 0:10:56 | |
start-up next week, it will feel
much, much cooler. There could be a | 0:10:56 | 0:11:00 | |
passing wintry shower | 0:11:00 | 0:11:01 |