13/08/2017 London News

That's all from me, stay with us on BBC1.

It's time for the news where you are.

Good evening and welcome to BBC London News.

I'm Sonja Jessup.

A Met police chief has accused the private car hire firm Uber

of failing to report serious crimes, including sex assaults,

in order to protect its reputation.

Inspector Neil Billenny has written to Transport for London,

claiming officers are being kept in the dark about some offences.

Uber insists it always works closely with the police.

Dan Freedman has this report.

It's quick, it's easy, but is it dangerous?

A senior Met police officer says Uber are turning a blind eye

when drivers are accused of serious crimes by passengers.

In a letter to TfL he cites the example of a driver

who denies a sexual assault, continues to work for Uber,

but then allegedly commits a more serious sexual assault

while working.

Uber did not tell the police.

I think anyone travelling by private hire vehicle in London wants to know

that vehicle is going to be safe and their driver is safe.

And I think this raises very, very serious concerns

about the operation of Uber.

And if the police have got those serious concerns,

then clearly Transport for London will need to look

at that as they review the license going forward.

But Uber say the serious sexual assault was a hug

that, while inappropriate, might not have prevented

the second incident if reported.

In the second incident, the driver placed their hand

on a passenger's leg.

They add that if there is a serious incident

involving a licensed driver, they are prevented

from using the app and TfL is promptly notified.

They were reviewed in May, and in May they were given

another four months' license, and they really shouldn't have

been given one in May.

You see all the correspondence from the police to TfL warning

them what's going on, and TfL have abdicated responsiblity.

TfL say...

More than a million Uber journeys happen every single week in London.

It's clearly popular with some customers, but this is

bad news at a very important time for the company,

with Transport for London currently reviewing whether to extend

their license or grant them a five-year one when

it expires in September.

Passengers flying into Stansted Airport have

had their flights diverted - some to the East Midlands -

after the runway was closed for a time for maintenance work.

The captain of a Ryanair flight, with a BBC reporter on board,

told passengers there was a hole in the runway.

The airport says operations have returned to normal.

Tens of thousands of people in Hertfordshire have been

celebrating a Hindu festival today marking the birth of Krishna.

Organisers say the event in Watford is one of the largest

of its kind outside of India.

Here's Ayshea Buksh.

It's one of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar

and at the UK headquarters of the Hare Krishna movement

near Watford, this annual celebration of Lord Krishna's

birthday certainly draws in the crowds.

Lord Krishna is often depicted with blue skin, playing the flute,

and is regarded as the god of love and compassion.

His birthday is also known as Janmashtami.

The Hare Krishna lifestyle and Janmashtami is all about world

peace and happiness but it begins with inner peace, then we can have

global peace and that's what we want to introduce

to everyone, that inner peace through yoga and meditation

and through the chanting of God's holy names.

Throughout the day, visitors pray inside the temple manor house,

which was originally donated by Beatles George Harrison,

and on the grounds of the house they are entertained by music

and song and given a free vegetarian meal.

It's a special day of the year for us and so I'm just going to see

the festival and for her to see the festival for the first time,

it's our little daughter.

We have a local temple celebrating at home as well but to be amongst

the people and connected to people is a great thing.

And for all generations, the celebrations will carry

on late into the night.

Let's get the weather now - here's Wendy Hurrell.

Good evening.

It's not often that the weather is so perfect you can fly a hot air

balloon across London first thing in the morning,

but it was this morning.

And tomorrow morning, well, it's a warm start.

That will turn more hazy as the day goes on,

but it should stay mostly dry, and temperatures could get as high

as 24 degrees in London.

Most of the rain falling this week should be at night.

Well, that's it from me.

Victoria Hollins will be here tomorrow morning with updates

during BBC Breakfast.

Goodnight.