:00:18. > :00:19.Hello and welcome to BBC London News.
:00:20. > :00:28.From tonight, armed officers from British Transport Police
:00:29. > :00:30.are to travel regularly on the London underground.
:00:31. > :00:32.Officers say the scheme's been months in the planning and isn't
:00:33. > :00:34.connected to terror attacks in Berlin and Nice.
:00:35. > :00:39.Clearly an heavily armed. From tonight, British Transport Police
:00:40. > :00:44.will carry guns on the tube. It was done as a one-off last year and the
:00:45. > :00:48.team behind that say they are sending a strong message to those
:00:49. > :00:52.travelling on the Underground. You are safe, you are surrounded by
:00:53. > :00:58.people who can respond to any threat, and I hope it deters any
:00:59. > :01:02.would-be person that might threaten to do anything wrong. It is not
:01:03. > :01:06.about terrorism, it is about criminality. These are not regular
:01:07. > :01:15.patrols. They will be using the tube to get across town. They say this is
:01:16. > :01:24.not a response to any threat. We are more used to seeing armed officers,
:01:25. > :01:31.but does seeing them make us feel safer or more anxious? This is a
:01:32. > :01:35.matter for the beholder. Some will see it as a reassuring and others
:01:36. > :01:42.will see it as threatening. We are not used to seeing this and it might
:01:43. > :01:48.be that the more guns we have, the worse off we are. Earlier, a report
:01:49. > :01:54.warned that an attack on London is likely. Most of what is done is done
:01:55. > :01:56.to keep us safe. This latest move is a sign that London is prepared to be
:01:57. > :01:59.more public in its protection. Well the police aren't the only
:02:00. > :02:01.emergency service out in force on the capital's streets
:02:02. > :02:03.for New Years Eve. The London Ambulance Service say
:02:04. > :02:06.an ongoing rise in emergency calls means it's likely
:02:07. > :02:08.to be their busiest night ever. Just under half of the calls they'll
:02:09. > :02:23.attend will be alcohol related. We are experiencing unprecedented
:02:24. > :02:28.levels of demand. It has gone up 10% per annum at the moment. On top of
:02:29. > :02:35.that, New Year's Eve is historically one of the busiest nights of the
:02:36. > :02:38.year. We are anticipating increased activity as a matter of course.
:02:39. > :02:41.A new scheme to help women who feel uncomfortable or threatened by men
:02:42. > :02:44.in clubs and bars has been introduced at venues in Wimbledon.
:02:45. > :02:46.Specially trained bar staff will be on hand to help them.
:02:47. > :02:52.Caroline Davies has been finding out more.
:02:53. > :03:00.Party season in London but not all attention is wanted. Virus in the
:03:01. > :03:05.Wimbledon have put up these notices. If you are in trouble but don't feel
:03:06. > :03:12.you can ask for help, ask Angela. Sexual assault rates are notoriously
:03:13. > :03:17.under reported and that is the idea behind this campaign. It is to tell
:03:18. > :03:21.women they have someone to talk to. The idea started in Lincolnshire but
:03:22. > :03:24.has come to Wimbledon. It is about giving confidence to people to ask
:03:25. > :03:29.for help and to call the police and we will take them seriously. This is
:03:30. > :03:33.the first council to rule them out but it is hoped it will be picked up
:03:34. > :03:41.across London. It has had a good reception from customers. I think
:03:42. > :03:47.it's a really good idea. People don't know what to do. It is good to
:03:48. > :03:56.know that someone else understands where they're coming from. Around 35
:03:57. > :04:00.pubs have volunteered so far. You cannot sort it out if you don't know
:04:01. > :04:05.there's a problem so we need to know that someone needs help. Are you
:04:06. > :04:10.concerned you might put your staff into a vulnerable situation? It's a
:04:11. > :04:14.conversation I had with my staff, they are very well trained and if
:04:15. > :04:18.there is a conversation they don't feel comfortable with, they've got
:04:19. > :04:24.their phones and they've been told they can get the appropriate help if
:04:25. > :04:33.need be. The message is not to stay quiet. If they need help, ask. The
:04:34. > :04:39.weather. If you're heading out you might need a coat and umbrella.
:04:40. > :04:44.There will be drizzle. It will not be great at the start of the New
:04:45. > :04:50.Year. Top temperature of just 9 degrees. The crowds are already
:04:51. > :04:58.gathering for the London fireworks later. Wherever you are, whatever
:04:59. > :05:00.you're doing, have a safe and wonderful New Year. You can keep up
:05:01. > :05:05.with all the best. Happy New Year. wonderful New Year. You can keep up
:05:06. > :05:17.with all the best. Happy New Year. Good evening. As we head through the
:05:18. > :05:25.final few hours of 2016 the weather is on the change. We've got called
:05:26. > :05:30.her swooping in and there is a weather front bringing a soggy New
:05:31. > :05:32.Year's Eve. It is raining across southern Scotland and Northern
:05:33. > :05:37.Ireland and that will push south as we head towards parts of northern
:05:38. > :05:40.England. Showers moving in from the North Southwark could be icy
:05:41. > :05:42.stretches across there. Adding further