0:00:00 > 0:00:01Newsnight's about to begin over on BBC Two in a few moments.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Good evening and welcome to BBC London News,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18with me, Louisa Preston.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20The families of the men murdered by serial killer
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Stephen Port have learnt of "multiple failures"
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and "missed opportunities" by the Met.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Port drugged and raped four young men and dumped their bodies
0:00:28 > 0:00:30in a graveyard near his home in Barking.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34He was given a life sentence for their murders.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37The families of the victims say they are frustrated about how slow
0:00:37 > 0:00:39the report into the police investigation has been.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Frankie McCamley has the details.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46The graveyard in Barking where Stephen Port dumped three
0:00:46 > 0:00:50of his four victims' bodies.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53He invited them to his home using dating apps before killing
0:00:53 > 0:00:58them with a lethal dose of the date rape drug GHB.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor -
0:01:02 > 0:01:06all young adults with their futures ahead of them, all murdered
0:01:06 > 0:01:07by Stephen Port within the space of 15 months.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Police were asked multiple times whether they thought the deaths had
0:01:10 > 0:01:13been connected but officers missed all signs that there was in fact
0:01:13 > 0:01:18a serial killer at work.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Today the victims' families say they've been told a report
0:01:20 > 0:01:23into the Met's initial response to the four murders will be damning.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Well, in general terms we've been told the that report is highly
0:01:26 > 0:01:28likely to be critical of the Metropolitan Police
0:01:28 > 0:01:31and a good number of officers employed by the Met.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34There were 17 officers been interviewed and as I understand,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36a fair number of them remain under the microscope for some
0:01:37 > 0:01:46quite damning failings.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50The force has refused to comment but the Independent Office
0:01:50 > 0:01:52for Police Conduct launched the inquiry after families
0:01:52 > 0:01:53raised their concerns.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56If they'd done what they were supposed to, lives would have
0:01:56 > 0:01:58definitely been saved and obviously certain people wouldn't
0:01:58 > 0:02:00have been raped and gone through what they've gone through,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02so to us, they need to be held accountable.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05It's as simple as that.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Anthony Walgate's mother accused the force of ignoring the deaths
0:02:08 > 0:02:09simply because the men were gay.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15It was homophobic. I really do think that.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And they just refused to investigate anything.
0:02:18 > 0:02:19Didn't matter what you said to them.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23All we got all the time it was "nothing to investigate".
0:02:23 > 0:02:25The former chef was eventually given a whole life sentence
0:02:25 > 0:02:28in 2016 despite a catalogue of errors by police.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32But questions still remain.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Why did it take so long for police to take notice,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38and what can be done to stop it happening again?
0:02:40 > 0:02:40Frankie joins us now.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43You spoke to the lawyer working with the victims families today.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45How are they feeling?
0:02:45 > 0:02:51As you saw from my report, the families have spoken to the BBC on a
0:02:51 > 0:02:54number of occasions, saying how frustrated they are continuously
0:02:54 > 0:02:58with the police. Since their meeting with the independent office for
0:02:58 > 0:03:01police conduct, from what I have been told, that is still very much
0:03:01 > 0:03:05the case, especially as they are not as far down the line as they thought
0:03:05 > 0:03:11they would be. This is an extremely complex enquiries, not only looking
0:03:11 > 0:03:15at a dozen police officers, but also, unfortunately, looking at the
0:03:15 > 0:03:21deaths of four young men. The family solicitor does say that they all do
0:03:21 > 0:03:25understand this and appreciate how complex this is and really their
0:03:25 > 0:03:29focus now is to find out exactly what happened in that police
0:03:29 > 0:03:32investigation and they know they need to be patient for that.Is
0:03:32 > 0:03:37there any indication of when they will find out more?The enquiry
0:03:37 > 0:03:41findings will be handed to the Metropolitan Police by May. That
0:03:41 > 0:03:44doesn't mean the media will find out, the families will find out
0:03:44 > 0:03:49then, and that might be further down the line when the details are made
0:03:49 > 0:03:53public. What we know is 17 Metropolitan Police officers are
0:03:53 > 0:03:58being investigated, seven of whom could be sacked if found guilty of
0:03:58 > 0:04:01gross misconduct. Speaking to the Metropolitan Police, they say it is
0:04:01 > 0:04:07not suitable for them to comment at the moment.Thank you for that
0:04:07 > 0:04:12update.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Some homeless people who have been squatting in a Central London
0:04:15 > 0:04:18building during the cold weather say they don't know where they will
0:04:18 > 0:04:20sleep tonight, after leaving ahead of a court deadline.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23More than 150 people were staying in the Great Portland Street site
0:04:23 > 0:04:24and left voluntarily.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26But many were worried about where they would end up,
0:04:26 > 0:04:31as Helen Drew reports.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Midday today - the deadline for around 150 homeless people
0:04:33 > 0:04:35to leave this building.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37They waited for the bailiffs, who didn't show up.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41But they left anyway. Nearly all without a plan.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Brandon, where are you going to go now?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Well, this is the thing, we don't know.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47We haven't got a clue at the moment.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50We could be heading back to the streets, to doorways,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52to corners, with rubbish.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We could be eating out of bins. We don't know.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56We don't know what's going to happen tonight.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01They've had somewhere to sleep since the beginning of the month,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04when activists took over this four-storey building
0:05:04 > 0:05:05on Great Portland Street because of the cold weather.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08The primary object of this building was to try and beat
0:05:08 > 0:05:10the Beast from the East, to try to raise awareness
0:05:10 > 0:05:15of empty buildings, to try to save people's lives.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17I've been speaking to volunteers here, who've told me stories
0:05:17 > 0:05:20of the amazing generosity they've experienced from strangers.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22They tell me supermarket shops delivered straight to the door here.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26And one lady told me that when she gave a man a pair of socks,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29he cried and said it was the first time he'd had a pair
0:05:29 > 0:05:30of socks for years.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32But there are local residents who say they've seen people
0:05:32 > 0:05:34urinating outside and are worried about aggressive and
0:05:34 > 0:05:35drunken behaviour.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Last week, the building's landlord went to court saying these people
0:05:38 > 0:05:40had no right to be here, and the judge backed
0:05:40 > 0:05:44their eviction order.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Westminster Council tells us they're aware of the situation and have been
0:05:47 > 0:05:49offering support to those with a genuine housing need.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51They say they offer over 400 bed spaces every night
0:05:51 > 0:05:55through local partners.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57And the Mayor of London says his team have spoken
0:05:57 > 0:06:01to Westminster Council and made sure help is at hand.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04But most of the people we met didn't have a bed for tonight
0:06:04 > 0:06:06and volunteers feel frustrated.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09They will have food in their bellies, they would have
0:06:09 > 0:06:11had a hot cup of coffee. That's the best we can do.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14We'll keep in touch with them as best as we can.
0:06:14 > 0:06:15It is absolutely terrible.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18People are going to go out on the streets to die, basically.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20With all the buildings spare in this country,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22I don't understand what's going on, to be honest.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23I think it's disgusting.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26After we spoke to Andrew, he headed out to Bexley
0:06:26 > 0:06:32for a meeting with a charity about a place to stay,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35but they have nothing just yet so tonight he's come back
0:06:35 > 0:06:38to Central London. He may well rejoin the group.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40It's unconfirmed, but many told us they had found another
0:06:40 > 0:06:45building just down the road. But they wouldn't say where.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48In May, Londoners will be heading to the polls
0:06:48 > 0:06:50for the local council elections.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Today a campaign to crack down on voter fraud was launched.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55One of the measures being trialled in some parts of the capital
0:06:55 > 0:06:58will require people to show ID to vote.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00But as Marc Ashdown reports, some are questioning whether it
0:07:00 > 0:07:01will make a difference.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Your vote belongs to you...
0:07:05 > 0:07:07"Your voice, your vote" - that's the message behind this
0:07:07 > 0:07:17new campaign to tackle voter fraud.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Three areas in London will be running a pilot
0:07:20 > 0:07:22at the local elections and voters will have to present
0:07:22 > 0:07:24photo ID in order to cast their ballot.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27But it's prompted a group of 40 charities, campaign groups
0:07:27 > 0:07:28and academics to write to the Government
0:07:28 > 0:07:31outlining their concerns.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35The letter effectively says this is like using a sledgehammer
0:07:35 > 0:07:43to crack a nut and notes according to official figures there were 44
0:07:43 > 0:07:46allegations of voter impersonation in 2016 compared to 3.5 million
0:07:46 > 0:07:51potential voters in the UK who don't have access to photo ID.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53There's concern, then, that that 7.5% of the electorate
0:07:53 > 0:07:57might be put off even trying to vote.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00I think this is an unfounded concern and I think actually it rather risks
0:08:00 > 0:08:02scaremongering amongst people.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04People have said it, though - the Electoral Reform Society,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Age UK - lots of organisations saying there's a lot
0:08:07 > 0:08:10of people out there who don't have access to photo ID.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13The key point is this - the authorities who've taken part
0:08:13 > 0:08:15in the pilots are making sure that everybody can have an
0:08:15 > 0:08:17alternative method.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19If you're listening to this programme and you're concerned
0:08:19 > 0:08:22you might not have voter ID, you don't need to worry.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Speak to your council if they're part of this pilot,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and they'll help make sure you have an alternative method.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29In Tower Hamlets they're focusing on postal ballots
0:08:29 > 0:08:32after the 2014 fraud scandal.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Now, there'll be more checks and home visits
0:08:34 > 0:08:36where multiple people are registered to vote.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39The real challenge, though, may be getting people engaged.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45Will you vote in the local elections?Yeah.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Do you know when they are? I don't know anything.
0:08:48 > 0:08:49I'm not interested in votings and politics.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Nah, probably not.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54No? Why's that? I don't know how to vote.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56There's lots of fraud going on still.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Would it put you off if you had to show ID?
0:08:58 > 0:08:59No, it wouldn't.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01You'd still vote?Yes.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04This is really a solution looking for a problem and people should
0:09:04 > 0:09:07focus on getting the turnout up and not creating new barriers
0:09:07 > 0:09:13to people when they get to the polling station.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Turnout in local elections can be as low as 40% or lower.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19We should be focusing on people exercising their democratic right.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Ministers say this is keeping democracy safe and are urging anyone
0:09:22 > 0:09:26with concerns to report them to the police.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29That's it for now from me, so I'll say goodnight and hand you over
0:09:29 > 0:09:31to Chris Fawkes for the weather.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Are we in for warmer weather?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Are we in for warmer weather? It couldn't get much colder,
0:09:39 > 0:09:44temperatures have been moving in the right direction. Over the weekend,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47temperatures of 1 degrees, so today was the warmest day since the mini
0:09:47 > 0:09:52beast arrived on our shores, 4 degrees, warm is the wrong word. We
0:09:52 > 0:09:57had those bitter easterly winds, but a beautiful end to the day with
0:09:57 > 0:10:00barely a cloud in the sky over the City of London School is to there
0:10:00 > 0:10:05will be cloud in the sky tomorrow. Looking at this area of cloud across
0:10:05 > 0:10:09the north-east of England, just moving southwards, knocking on our
0:10:09 > 0:10:12doorstep towards the end of the night. We will lose clear skies we
0:10:12 > 0:10:17have. A frost is forming, a risk of icy stretches for a time, but it
0:10:17 > 0:10:20will cloud over at the end of the night and the cloud will be thick
0:10:20 > 0:10:24enough for one or two showers. They will be there or thereabouts in the
0:10:24 > 0:10:30morning, a few showers, a bittersweet or snow, but nothing
0:10:30 > 0:10:33significant. The cloud will clear southwards quickly on Tuesday
0:10:33 > 0:10:38morning, leaving us with sparkling sunshine to look forward to.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Temperatures, four today, doubling that and a bit more, nine in the
0:10:41 > 0:10:47centre of London. The wind still quite brisk, so feeling on the cool
0:10:47 > 0:10:52side, but better news as we head into the next few days, look at the
0:10:52 > 0:10:56trend in temperatures. For Wednesday and Thursday, cloud, but
0:10:56 > 0:11:00temperatures will build, a few brighter spells. Milder through the
0:11:00 > 0:11:03weekend, and into next week, temperatures as high as 15. That's