0:00:00 > 0:00:15total of 43 counts of child sex abuse against 11 victims.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Welcome to BBC London News. abuse against 11 victims.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I'm Sara Orchard. abuse against 11 victims.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Thefts and robberies on mopeds in London's main shopping
0:00:22 > 0:00:25hotspots have increased six-fold over the last two years.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Met Police data shows Oxford Street is the worst hit with one
0:00:27 > 0:00:30criminology expert saying it is the "crime of the moment"
0:00:30 > 0:00:31as it is "ridiculously easy" to do.
0:00:31 > 0:00:39Charlotte Franks has more.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Moped gangs on London's streets brazenly stealing from pedestrian,
0:00:43 > 0:00:49some going to any length to take from their victims.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54They assault and threaten innocent people. With the capital's busiest
0:00:54 > 0:00:59streets offering them rich pickings now, new figures obtained by BBC
0:00:59 > 0:01:03London show that moped assisted threats and robberies have increased
0:01:03 > 0:01:07six fold over the last two years. The data from the Metropolitan
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Police show it is here on Oxford Street where most offences took
0:01:12 > 0:01:18place last year, with 291 compared to 27 2 year before, busy street
0:01:18 > 0:01:22lines this offer thieves lots of crowds to hide in and plenty of
0:01:22 > 0:01:26people to choose from. The gangs travel on mopeds, often in pairs so
0:01:26 > 0:01:31they can easily steal bags and mobile phones as they ride past.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36Experts say the cities is now hugely concerning. Concerning. Earlier this
0:01:36 > 0:01:41months a the the 2-year-old man was stabbed after he chased down a
0:01:41 > 0:01:45passenger who snatched his phone on Oxford Street. Police say operations
0:01:45 > 0:01:52in the West End have led to a decrease in mopedened crime since
0:01:52 > 0:01:55October 2017. They are developing tactics to tackle the crime surge in
0:01:55 > 0:02:00an attempt to take back the streets.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03A murder investigation is underway after a 17-year-old boy
0:02:03 > 0:02:06was stabbed to death in east London last night in a "sustained
0:02:06 > 0:02:08and possibly targeted attack" - as he becomes the third teenager
0:02:08 > 0:02:10to be fatally knifed in the capital this year.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Police and the London Ambulance Service were called
0:02:15 > 0:02:17to reports of a male suffering stab injuries on Goldwing
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Close after 8pm.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Police are in the process of informing the next of kin
0:02:28 > 0:02:30and are appealing for information.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Library closures across London are a contentious issue -
0:02:32 > 0:02:34But Lambeth Council claim, they are winning the battle
0:02:34 > 0:02:35against government funding cuts.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37They've managed to keep open all the library's
0:02:37 > 0:02:39within the borough - by diversifying the space.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Carnegie Library reopens today - as a library, gym and cafe...
0:02:42 > 0:02:43But many residents, who protested when it
0:02:43 > 0:02:45closed two years ago - remain unhappy.
0:02:45 > 0:02:54Here's Chris Rogers.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Carnegie library in Herne Hill is re-opening.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Well - some of it.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02It's the latest in a long line of libraries that were under threat
0:03:02 > 0:03:03because of budget cuts.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Waiting inside, a local councillor, hoping to end local opposition
0:03:05 > 0:03:08to a smaller facilities to make way for a gym and cafe -
0:03:08 > 0:03:14still under construction.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16We're investing from capital about 1.5 million to change
0:03:16 > 0:03:19the building, and over the next 10, 15 years that will slowly pay back,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and into the future we will be running a library at a much reduced
0:03:23 > 0:03:25cost, but still providing a great fully staffed
0:03:25 > 0:03:29service for local people.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35We're investing from capital about 1.5 million to change
0:03:35 > 0:03:38the building, and over the next 10, 15 years that will slowly pay back,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and into the future we will be running a library at a much reduced
0:03:41 > 0:03:43cost, but still providing a great fully staffed
0:03:43 > 0:03:44service for local people.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47But locals are not convinced and plan a protest later
0:03:47 > 0:03:48when the library officially opens.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51They're not earning money from the gym, they are paying
0:03:51 > 0:03:53the gym people to put the gym in there, it's costing them
0:03:53 > 0:03:54huge amounts of money.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55They're not saving anything.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58This was all meant to be saving money and it isn't.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59And we lose our library.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01For nearly two years now we've had nothing.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03In April 2016, locals staged an occupation in protest
0:04:03 > 0:04:06at the focus on those wanting to keep fit, rather than read.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Chris Rogers BBC London News.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10City firms including giants Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have
0:04:10 > 0:04:12been called on to sign a gender diversity pledge which was
0:04:12 > 0:04:13first published in 2016.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan has written to 33
0:04:15 > 0:04:18financial services firms who have yet to sign up.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20She's asked the companies to confirm by Friday if they plan
0:04:20 > 0:04:22to join the initiative, or explain why they have
0:04:22 > 0:04:24decided not to do so.
0:04:24 > 0:04:34Many of the firms said they support the initiative to promote women.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39More than 50 of the Queens swans from a flock in Windsor have died
0:04:39 > 0:04:41following an outbreak of bird flu.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43There's now concern the disease could spread to other flocks based
0:04:43 > 0:04:44at Reading and Staines.
0:04:44 > 0:04:54The Queen's Swan Marker, David Barber, says The Queen,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Last night Brent Council's planning committee approved a new pop-up Mall
0:04:59 > 0:05:01in Wembley that will open later this year.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Boxpark - which already has sites in Shoreditch and Croydon -
0:05:04 > 0:05:07will open on a former car park site at the corner of Fulton
0:05:07 > 0:05:08Road and Olympic Way.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11The site will include food outlets and community spaces made up
0:05:11 > 0:05:20of shipping containers, but it will have a roof.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Last year teenage racing driver Billy Monger had an accident
0:05:23 > 0:05:25at Donnington Race Track that resulted in him having
0:05:25 > 0:05:26both legs amputated.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Even while he was still in hospital he insisted
0:05:28 > 0:05:38he would return to driving.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Thanks to a Surrey based racing team his determination to get back
0:05:42 > 0:05:44behind the wheel has paid off- Chris Slegg has the story.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Billy Mongerback behind the wheel already, in a car especially
0:05:47 > 0:05:48modified for him by his team, Carlin.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It has been completely changed, I guess, from how I normally drive,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54so I've got the throttle pedal, which is now a paddle
0:05:54 > 0:05:56for me and I use that to accelerate the car,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59then I brake with my right leg, I have a shorter prosthetic on,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and on this side I have two paddles, the top one being up gears
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and the bottom one down, and then hand clutch on the side
0:06:06 > 0:06:16to pull away with.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23In a Formula Four race at Donington last April Billy crashed
0:06:23 > 0:06:25into a stationary car at 120mph.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26He had to have both legs amputated.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29A crowdfunding page set up to aid his recovery attracted
0:06:29 > 0:06:31donations from the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Ten months on, Billy is hoping to show he is good
0:06:34 > 0:06:35enough for Formula Three.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Some people might think this is too soon to be racing again,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40that you've not probably had a chance to process what you've been
0:06:40 > 0:06:42through, what would you say to them?
0:06:42 > 0:06:45To be honest, it has been the most calm place since my accident,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48has been back behind the wheel of a racing car.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50That is where I've wanted to be since my accident,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and to get back behind wheel, I just feel completely in control,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55and just relaxed when I'm out there.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57For mum Amanda there is mixed emotions about seeing her son
0:06:57 > 0:06:58back on a race track.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I tell him every day that I'd like him -
0:07:01 > 0:07:03it's not too late to change his mind, joking about.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I know in his heart he's set his heart on it.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07He's happy.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11He's happy doing that, and I have to be strong for him.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Billy lobbied the FIA to allow disabled drivers to compete
0:07:13 > 0:07:14in able-bodied raced.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20His team were impressed by his times so far.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23He obviously had a goal that 2018 was going to be the year
0:07:23 > 0:07:25that he did British F3, and his accident isn't
0:07:25 > 0:07:27going to get in the way of that.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30His mental attitude is strong, he is ready for this mentally
0:07:30 > 0:07:32and his pace has been competitive as well.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36The more laps I do in the car and the more testing I do,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38the quicker I'll get hopefully, so just learning every lap I do.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41If all goes well, Billy Monger will be on the starting grid
0:07:41 > 0:07:51when the Formula Three season begins in April.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59Now let's check on the weather with Lucy Martin.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00Hello, good afternoon.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Some fairly settled weather as we move through the next few days.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Today started off with some beautiful skies.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07This photo of this gorgeous sunrise sent in by a weather
0:08:07 > 0:08:17watcher in Plumstead.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20There have been plenty of blue skies here in Kew Gardens as well.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21Barely a cloud in the sky.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23As we move through this afternoon, we'll stay largely dry,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26just the risk of seeing the odd isolated shower, and we'll hold
0:08:26 > 0:08:28on to much of that wintry sunshine.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Just the chance of the odd isolated shower, but those
0:08:30 > 0:08:32showers fairly scattered.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Most people staying dry this afternoon, but it will breezy and,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37despite highs of 11 Celsius, it will start to feel a little
0:08:37 > 0:08:39bit cooler as we move through this afternoon.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42That's a sign of things to come through this evening and overnight.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44A chilly night to come, with temperatures falling
0:08:44 > 0:08:46to an overnight low between minus two degrees
0:08:46 > 0:08:47Celsius and freezing.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Clear skies will allow the temperatures to fall away,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and I think we could see a touch of frost.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54We start the day tomorrow on a chilly note, but it
0:08:54 > 0:08:56will be largely fine, with plenty of wintry sunshine.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58A little bit of fair weather cloud bubbling up
0:08:58 > 0:09:01as we move into the afternoon, but we'll see lighter winds
0:09:01 > 0:09:04than today and highs of 10 Celsius.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05I'll leave you with the outlook.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08As we move into the weekend, still a lot of dry, bright weather,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11some good sunny spells, and we'll hold onto temperatures
0:09:11 > 0:09:13in double figures.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14That's about it from me.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Riz Lateef will be here with our 6:30 evening programme.
0:09:17 > 0:09:24But for now, from us all, a very good afternoon.