13/02/2018

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0:00:00 > 0:00:00Have a good afternoon.

0:00:13 > 0:00:14Welcome to BBC London News.

0:00:14 > 0:00:16I'm Sara Orchard.

0:00:17 > 0:00:19BBC London can reveal the Government's been making

0:00:19 > 0:00:21millions of pounds by hiking the cost of becoming

0:00:21 > 0:00:23a British citizen.

0:00:23 > 0:00:25The Home Office collected more than £800 million in fees

0:00:25 > 0:00:28over the past six years.

0:00:28 > 0:00:30Ministers say the money is re-invested in protecting

0:00:30 > 0:00:31the UK's borders.

0:00:31 > 0:00:34But charities claim many eligible families can't afford the fees.

0:00:34 > 0:00:43Here's our Home Affairs Correspondent Nick Beake.

0:00:43 > 0:00:46Samsung was born in Nigeria, and came to London with his family when

0:00:46 > 0:00:51he was five. He was entitled to British citizenship, but never took

0:00:51 > 0:00:56it. But when he turned 18, he decided to apply, because as an

0:00:56 > 0:01:01international student at a UK university, he would have to pay

0:01:01 > 0:01:03much more. He then found out officially becoming British would

0:01:03 > 0:01:11cost nearly £1000.It was very difficult for my mum, having to go

0:01:11 > 0:01:15around looking at where she could get the money from. One of the main

0:01:15 > 0:01:20places we got help from was the church.BBC London has learned the

0:01:20 > 0:01:27cost of processing applications such as Samson's was only £260, a court

0:01:27 > 0:01:31of what he was charged.It is really quite upsetting actually that they

0:01:31 > 0:01:38are actually doing this, and for other people who may not be able to

0:01:38 > 0:01:42even get that money together, who are entitled or who have the right

0:01:42 > 0:01:47to British citizenship. Some charities which help families

0:01:47 > 0:01:51gain British citizenship condemned the rising Home Office fees.To know

0:01:51 > 0:01:55that you have a right to register as a British citizen, Parliament has

0:01:55 > 0:01:59given you that right, and the Secretary of State is trying to

0:01:59 > 0:02:02profit and sell the benefit that was giving by Parliament as far back as

0:02:02 > 0:02:081983, it is a complete scandal.The Home Office told us it has not been

0:02:08 > 0:02:11making any profit from these rising fees. It said any income generated

0:02:11 > 0:02:17above the actual cost of processing an application goes into the budget

0:02:17 > 0:02:21which hopes protect the UK border, and so actually reduces the burden

0:02:21 > 0:02:25on the taxpayer. Ministers also point out that for

0:02:25 > 0:02:32the likes of Samson, taking British citizenship is not compulsory. But

0:02:32 > 0:02:35he wanted his immigration status confirmed, although now fears others

0:02:35 > 0:02:38may also struggled to pay for that right.

0:02:38 > 0:02:41Nick Beake, BBC London News.

0:02:42 > 0:02:45The World War II bomb which caused London City Airport to be closed

0:02:45 > 0:02:48yesterday has been towed to the sea off Essex to be detonated.

0:02:48 > 0:02:51It was due to happen this morning, but the weather is causing delays.

0:02:51 > 0:02:53Tolu Adeoye reports.

0:02:54 > 0:02:59Through the night, the Royal Navy worked to move the unexploded 500

0:02:59 > 0:03:02kilogram German World War II bomb that grounded flights for an entire

0:03:02 > 0:03:04day at London City Airport.

0:03:04 > 0:03:06As City reopened this morning, preparations were being made

0:03:06 > 0:03:09to detonate the bomb which had been towed to Shoeburyness

0:03:09 > 0:03:11on the Essex coast.

0:03:11 > 0:03:13About ten hours driving it very slowly, very

0:03:13 > 0:03:17carefully down the Thames.

0:03:17 > 0:03:19They've just deflated the mine lifting bag and put it back

0:03:20 > 0:03:21on to the sea bed very gently.

0:03:21 > 0:03:28They are now guarding it and keeping a careful watch on it while we can

0:03:28 > 0:03:30prepare the explosives to go down and strap onto the bomb,

0:03:30 > 0:03:33and then we will hopefully detonate the bomb on the sea bed.

0:03:33 > 0:03:35It's estimated there are still thousands of unexploded

0:03:35 > 0:03:36bombs in and around London.

0:03:36 > 0:03:39Just this morning a suspected device which turned out to be a shell

0:03:39 > 0:03:41was found near the Dartford Crossing.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44Countless wartime relics have been discovered over the decades.

0:03:44 > 0:03:46Accepted wisdom on how to dispose of them has

0:03:46 > 0:03:47changed a lot in that time.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50What happens if the bomb does go off?

0:03:50 > 0:03:53There will be a big noise and quite a lot of damage.

0:03:53 > 0:03:56Some experts were quite literally working in the dark when a German

0:03:56 > 0:04:00mine was discovered in the Thames back in 1957.

0:04:00 > 0:04:02What's it been like down there?

0:04:02 > 0:04:03I'm sorry you are shivering with cold.

0:04:03 > 0:04:04Just jolly cold.

0:04:04 > 0:04:07Have you been able to see what you've been doing?

0:04:07 > 0:04:08No, you can't see a thing.

0:04:08 > 0:04:10Well, how have you been working, then?

0:04:10 > 0:04:13Just by touch.

0:04:13 > 0:04:15Modern disposal methods are more sophisticated,

0:04:15 > 0:04:17and controlled explosions have become more common.

0:04:17 > 0:04:20The Navy says safety is the top priority when assessing and dealing

0:04:20 > 0:04:23with the discoveries.

0:04:23 > 0:04:26So there is an element of risk, but the guys are very well trained,

0:04:26 > 0:04:32very well practised and competent, so it should be fine.

0:04:32 > 0:04:37The weather has meant delays to today's plans detonation,

0:04:37 > 0:04:40so we will have to wait a little longer for the big bang.

0:04:40 > 0:04:41Tolu Adeoye, BBC London News.

0:04:42 > 0:04:44Transport for London has announced it will be expanding

0:04:44 > 0:04:46Night Overground services in North London.

0:04:46 > 0:04:48The service will be extended to cover Canonbury and Highbury

0:04:48 > 0:04:50and Islington stations from the 23rd of February.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53It means the Night Overground will link with the Victoria Line

0:04:53 > 0:04:56Night Tube for the first time.

0:04:56 > 0:04:59The transport union Unite has attacked Transport for London's

0:04:59 > 0:05:01decision to allow a new independent bus service to operate on four

0:05:01 > 0:05:06routes in the capital.

0:05:06 > 0:05:09Tickets for the Chariot service can be booked via an app,

0:05:09 > 0:05:11and TfL says it welcomes the new innovation.

0:05:11 > 0:05:16Others are worried about drivers' wages, as Gareth Furby reports.

0:05:23 > 0:05:26Deli Brian lives in Shooters Hill, and says public transport

0:05:26 > 0:05:28there isn't the best.

0:05:28 > 0:05:29I get a bus service.

0:05:29 > 0:05:32It runs regularly, but it is very slow, and not too reliable.

0:05:32 > 0:05:35But now she's found an alternative, a new service that she books

0:05:35 > 0:05:36onto using an app.

0:05:36 > 0:05:38And it's telling me there a Chariot 6-8 minutes away.

0:05:38 > 0:05:42That's my ticket.

0:05:42 > 0:05:46The pick-up point is also marked on the app, and a few minutes later,

0:05:46 > 0:05:47her journey to work begins.

0:05:47 > 0:05:48Morning!

0:05:48 > 0:05:49Morning.

0:05:49 > 0:05:51It's an idea that started in California, and has now come

0:05:51 > 0:05:55to London, with four routes starting to operate within

0:05:55 > 0:05:58We were delighted that Transport for London approved

0:05:58 > 0:06:00the routes that we are taking, because they recognise there

0:06:00 > 0:06:10are areas where they are underserved by public transport.

0:06:11 > 0:06:20So we think that what we are putting in naturally complements

0:06:20 > 0:06:22public transport.

0:06:22 > 0:06:24But a bus workers' union is worried it could lead to this.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26The fierce competition for passengers that was seen

0:06:26 > 0:06:29in London before 1933, when public control was introduced.

0:06:29 > 0:06:31This is effectively going back 100 years, when you could come out

0:06:31 > 0:06:34with a bus and pick people up if that's what you wanted.

0:06:34 > 0:06:37We are going to have a series of routes now where bus drivers

0:06:37 > 0:06:40will be paid the London living wage, which is considerably less

0:06:40 > 0:06:43than the average bus driver now, who would earn about £28,000.

0:06:43 > 0:06:45I just stop at the bus stop here.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48But Daniel has chosen to work for the new company, and for 12

0:06:48 > 0:06:49years, he was a London bus driver.

0:06:49 > 0:06:52He says it does mean a pay cut for him of around

0:06:52 > 0:06:54£6,000, but it's worth it, because the working

0:06:54 > 0:06:55conditions are better.

0:06:55 > 0:06:57Here you work Monday to Friday, and you have

0:06:57 > 0:07:01Saturday and Sunday off.

0:07:01 > 0:07:04The London bus network carries over 6 million trips a day.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06This is very much at the margins of that.

0:07:06 > 0:07:09And we are seeing whether this can be a complement to potentially

0:07:09 > 0:07:10strengthen that network.

0:07:10 > 0:07:13And back with Deli, the new service may be costing her a bit more,

0:07:13 > 0:07:15but she is happy to pay.

0:07:15 > 0:07:17It is £2.40 per journey, which is about 90p more

0:07:17 > 0:07:20than I currently pay on the bus, which I find is excellent

0:07:20 > 0:07:22value for money.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25Probably saves me about 20 minutes on my journey time in the morning.

0:07:25 > 0:07:28She says she will never take a bus from home again,

0:07:28 > 0:07:31and in a few months we will know how many other Londoners

0:07:31 > 0:07:32are joining her.

0:07:38 > 0:07:47And finally, it is Shrove Tuesday.

0:07:47 > 0:07:49That means the annual Parliamentary Pancake Race has been

0:07:49 > 0:07:50held this morning in Westminster.

0:07:50 > 0:07:52MPs, including Ealing Central's Rupa Huq, took

0:07:52 > 0:07:54on the Westminster Press Pack, all in aid of the brain

0:07:54 > 0:07:55injury charity Rehab.

0:07:55 > 0:07:59This year, it was the press pack who clinched victory.

0:07:59 > 0:08:01Well done to them!

0:08:01 > 0:08:03Now let's check on the weather, with Kate Kinsella.

0:08:03 > 0:08:05Good afternoon.

0:08:05 > 0:08:07Well, we started the day on a reasonably positive note.

0:08:07 > 0:08:09We saw a bit of sunshine first thing.

0:08:09 > 0:08:10Beautiful sunrise pictures from the Thames here.

0:08:10 > 0:08:12But quite quickly the sky turned a little grey,

0:08:12 > 0:08:15and we've got some rain as we head through the afternoon as well.

0:08:16 > 0:08:18So, yes, it's still wet.

0:08:18 > 0:08:20And, yes, it's still rather breezy as well.

0:08:20 > 0:08:23Now, there's plenty of dry weather out there to end the day,

0:08:23 > 0:08:26but we do get some locally heavy bursts of rain accompanied by that

0:08:26 > 0:08:27strengthening southerly wind.

0:08:27 > 0:08:32It's been a cool seven Celsius.

0:08:32 > 0:08:35Now, later this evening, this rain and cloud will disappear east,

0:08:35 > 0:08:36leaving clear skies.

0:08:36 > 0:08:38And it's under these clear skies that the temperature

0:08:38 > 0:08:40is going to drop.

0:08:40 > 0:08:42Another cold night, between zero and -3,

0:08:42 > 0:08:44with a risk after today's rain of the little ice tomorrow

0:08:44 > 0:08:45morning and a frost.

0:08:45 > 0:08:48A bright start, though, until the cloud once again

0:08:48 > 0:08:51takes over from the west, and with it we get some rather wet

0:08:51 > 0:08:53and windy weather as we head through Wednesday afternoon.

0:08:53 > 0:08:54The temperature a touch milder, 7-8dC.

0:08:54 > 0:08:57Now, that rain and that weather front will clear up

0:08:57 > 0:08:58overnight Wednesday.

0:08:58 > 0:09:00For Thursday, it is looking like a much drier day,

0:09:00 > 0:09:02with the return of some welcome sunshine.

0:09:02 > 0:09:05But we're also dragging in some slightly milder air.

0:09:05 > 0:09:07So, the temperature rises a little as we head through Thursday.

0:09:07 > 0:09:10We're looking at temperatures back up into double figures right the way

0:09:10 > 0:09:13through to the end of the week, with the return of a

0:09:13 > 0:09:14little bit of sunshine.

0:09:14 > 0:09:15That's about it from me.

0:09:15 > 0:09:18Riz Lateef will be here with our 6:30pm evening programme.

0:09:18 > 0:09:20But for now, from us all on the lunchtime team,

0:09:20 > 0:09:23have a very good afternoon.