08/10/2013 Look East - West

Hello and welcome to Look East in tonight's programme. A year on from

a fire in Essex which killed a mother and her five young children,

their father says he wants answers. I hope someone will come forward and

help me and my family and the whole closure. We don't want anything

help me and my family and the whole enforcement — police in Bedfordshire

and their attempts to cut down street robberies on teenagers The

scheme, but is it really affordable? And, the Duke of Edinburgh back

scheme, but is it really affordable? public duties and enjoying some

Good evening. A father whose family was killed in a suspected arson

attack on their home has today said he still wants answers. It's almost

a year since the fire ripped through the downstairs of the terrace in

Harlow. Dr Sabah Usmani and her the downstairs of the terrace in

young children were killed. Their father, Dr Abdul Shakoor, was the

only survivor. The police launched a murder investigation — their biggest

to date. But still, no—one has been charged. In a moment we'll hear

to date. But still, no—one has been Dr Shakoor, after this report from

Shakoor spoke to Susie Fowler—Watt. It is the stuff of nightmares. To

watch your house burn and to find more tragedy was to follow. His

remaining son died soon after, and his remaining daughter days later.

In the last few minutes, we found out that the little boy didn't make

it. There is no easy way to break extreme for her three—year—old body

to cope with. The site of the burnt out house and six hearses carrying

six coffins brought the community together to grieve. Friday prayers

minute's son is at all its games the next day, and at a public meeting,

people showed how they felt. How is that father going to cope with

losing his whole family? Police believe the fire was started after

burglars targeted the house. Despite three arrests and a £10,000 reward,

no one has been charged with the murders. For now, their friends

remember them on benches at a local school, inscribed with the names of

the children. They are sheltered by the canopy of their mother. Earlier

today, Dr Shakoor spoke to our correspondent. The last year was

very tough. Even though one year has almost passed, the memories of that

tragic night is still in my mind very fresh, that separated my family

enormous, but the strong belief very fresh, that separated my family

faith in Allah has given me great solace. The memories of my children

are in my heart. Also, I am getting flashbacks of the night. It is hard

for me. You mention the memories of your children. Can you mention more

about the children. Your daughter wasn't she? She was beautiful, our

beloved daughter. She was very members. Everyone loved her. She

also used to bring a smile. When we saw her, we were always thankful

that he has blessed us. The other children were such a blessing on us

too. How helpful has the support of memorial at the local school, been

for you? Absolutely, the support is amazing. Especially in my hospital,

Princess Alexandra. They really started from the beginning. I came

to the hospital and my family were brought there. I am having ongoing

memorial that has been installed in the school. There are five beautiful

children engraved. And also the whole community stood with me at a

difficult time. Me and my family. They helped me to stand, basically.

They have played an important role in my recovery. How difficult is it

for you that nobody has been charged with any crime in relation to what

happened? Me, my family, everyone in the community, they have suffered a

lot from what has happened. And still they will suffer. My mother,

everyone, they are anxiously waiting to see the killers of this innocent

family brought to justice as soon as possible. If there is anyone out

there who is watching this, who knows something about what happened

that night, what would you say to them today? I hope and I leave that

forward, and help me and my family and all the community so we can

forward, and help me and my family to closure, come to terms, you know.

The other important thing is that we don't want anything to happen again.

We want other families to be safe. That is really important. It is

We want other families to be safe. great nation, we have to make sure

regardless of our bindings and associations. So mother and children

feel safe on the streets and in their homes. Thank you very much for

talking to us. Thank you very much. robberies against teenagers. Almost

a third of all victims are under the age of 18. Offenders are also likely

to be in their teens. Recent crime figures show the number of robberies

Bedfordshire Police say there are reports on how officers are using a

enforcement to tackle the problem. Bedfordshire Police robbery squad.

They are calling on a teenager 13—year—olds. The boy, aged 17,

They are calling on a teenager reluctant to answer the door. Hello.

Do you want to come down so we can have a chat? The officers are not

going anywhere will stop he has little choice but to let them in. As

it stands, I need to speak to you about eight robbery. You are under

arrest rest at the moment. A few days away, the robbery squad also

search the teenager's home. They recover various items of interest,

including cash and a mobile phone. Almost two thirds of victims of

street robbery in Beds are aged under 26. Offenders tend to be of a

similar age. Police say it is a worrying trend. Young people today

have so much more technology in their pocket than 20 years ago.

have so much more technology in did not have mobile phones or iPods.

They are seen as easy targets. The most likely person to be a victim of

a robbery is a male between 16 and 24. Education is just as important

as enforcement. The force's Street safe campaign has now been rolled

out to dozens of schools across safe campaign has now been rolled

county. These teenagers told me safe campaign has now been rolled

has made them think about their personal safety. I am going to go

out in groups more. I am going to stay in groups and not have my

headphones in. I know I have to stay in groups and not have my

out in groups, and that I must make sure I am in well lit areas. For

those who become involved in street robberies, the consequences can

those who become involved in street severe. A lot of young people don't

realise that a street robbery is a criminal offence that has a maximum

sentence in the UK. If they are criminal offence that has a maximum

of a group and one person in that group commits an offence, they can

be found guilty of street robbery. Luton street robbery squad say they

will continue their operation to Next tonight, what the Government's

Help To Buy scheme means for people trying to get onto the housing

ladder here. The Prime Minister chose Northampton today to launch

offering mortgages to people who have just a 5% deposit. Two banks

have already offered lending rates of 4.99%. So what does that mean? In

Northampton, this is the average price of a house — £165,000. If

Northampton, this is the average bought that with a 95% loan over 25

years you'd be paying £915 a month where the average house price is

Northampton for David Cameron's You took a tour around the estate

behind you estimate he did. There is a mixture of homes have. Behind

behind you estimate he did. There is is a three bed house. With a normal

But with this scheme, the deposit is just £10,000. The Prime Minister in

Northampton. Here to launch his scheme to get more people a leg

Northampton. Here to launch his the property ladder. The answer

Northampton. Here to launch his to make sure that hard—working

people can get on the housing ladder and own a home of their own. House

prices across the country are not accelerating at an unsustainable

rate. No .8% increase in house prices if you exclude London and the

hard—working people who can afford mortgage payments you can't get

hard—working people who can afford mortgage because they have to raise

a huge deposit. Couples like Kaylee and Chris from Kettering. They have

rented for five years. Now, with the 95% loan, they can get a mortgage.

It is affordable. We have seen a mortgage adviser and looked over

their goods. It is more than we mortgage adviser and looked over

paying in rent, but at the end of the day it will be our home. There

costing from £200,000 upwards. The developer since the Help to Buy

Scheme came in, sales have doubled. Help to buy was only for new homes.

Today, it was extended to older properties to. Housing experts say

the housing market could once again overheat. Help To Buy could push up

prices. The main problem is the overheat. Help To Buy could push up

of housing supply. We are building about half as many homes as we need

in this country. Unless we address this problem, prices will carry

in this country. Unless we address going up. This housing development,

where we are, the person who runs it says they will bring forward more

housing, or building more quickly because of the Help To Buy scheme.

That is the simple fact. Builders won't build if the buyers can't

That is the simple fact. Builders Today, the Prime Minister visited

one of the fastest—growing regions in the country. A region where many

have struggled to afford a home in the country. A region where many

So far, the deals under the scheme have a fixed rate of interest for a

interest rates to go up dramatically in the future, there are questions

as to whether people will be able to afford their repayments. People

as to whether people will be able to asking the question, why not just

Police in Northampton will tonight retrace the steps of a man who was

murdered in the town centre a week a ago. Jamie Macmahon's body was found

in the churchyard of St Giles last Wednesday morning. He'd suffered

head injuries. Tonight, officers factory is now being overlooked and

the future of its workers ignored. Still to come on Look East tonight:

Chris Bell will be here with your weather and news of a cold snap on

the way. And who was the Duke so pleased to

see on a visit to this region? One in ten of us get on a bike at

least once a week and in some parts of the region it's almost half of

us. So, of course, there are more bikes on the road and more

opportunities for them to be stolen. The latest figures show that more

than 26,000 bikes were stolen in this region over the last year. The

biggest number were taken from Cambridgeshire, which is why the

police have decided to try something a bit different.

Cambridge city centre and a bike thief appears to be busy at work

using a bolt cutter he breaks the lock. This is actually a lock—up

stage by Cambridge police. The officer is wearing plain clothes and

with a cutter in his hand he rides away through a busy street and not

one person reported it. I think Google raleigh on others to do it

for them. They watch the theft occurring and we think someone else

will contact the police. We would contact —— we would urge people to

contact the police and we will assist you. As part of a push to

stop the thefts, they were at the student fair trying to help students

to keep their bikes said. The campaign has been timed to coincide

with Freshers' Week when hundreds of new students arrive in Cambridge and

will be buying new bikes like these, in some cases spending more

than £2500 on the bike itself but not buying a decent enough lock to

keep it safe. Across East angler, Cambridgeshire was the worst area

for bike theft. Here are this this this text... ——

statistics... Some locks are said to be no better

than using a piece of ribbon to secure your bike, but with no

industry standard to gauge people, how do cyclists choose a lot? I

suppose if it looked newer and stronger, I would take that one.

Cambridgeshire Police said more bikes are stolen in October than any

other month and we hope this campaign will make life more

difficult for the thieves. There was a time when you had to go

to a dusty museum or an art gallery if you wanted to see great

paintings. Do they not have good cleaners? ! But now a BBC project is

trying to change all that for children at schools across the

country. It's called Your Paintings and means that instead of going to

see art, the art goes to see the pupils. Today, one of them was at

the Benjamin Britten High in Lowestoft. Kevin Burch was there

too. There was a real buzz of Benjamin

Britten High to the, so what could create such clamour? Grand Theft

Auto IV? No, they all wanted to see this painting called That Conjurer.

It is worth £14 million and is one of several that is being taken into

schools. The students can get closer to it and see the detail rather than

going to an old dusty gallery. Slowly a story builds and in this

case it is about how people can be naive and be deceived. It is one of

the early works by one of the founders of the Pre—Raphaelite

brotherhood. In terms of security we have two members of staff here and

we brought it over using a van driven by proper art transporters

and the van is secure. It has environmental controls and all sorts

of things. You know, it is pretty safe where it is for the day.

Normally the painting is kept at the museum but this is every opportunity

for the children and after studying at the start to sketch their own

images on the theme of the Conjurer. I am not sure what I should be

drawing. It is a good idea to inspire younger people to get into

art. I will let you carry on. I have to say, it has been fantastic. I

think a lot of people worry about going to art galleries and the fuel

that art is not for them. By bringing a piece of really important

art to a school where children are in their own environments, they are

used to it, it will stimulate the curiosity without making them feel

like they should be quiet, or they should not ask questions, or they

are in a beard or unusual environment. This is one of a string

of schools that will play host to great pieces of work. The idea seems

to be clever and captivating. The headteacher is to blame, he

thinks they are dusty! And you can find out more about the

project online at bbc.co.uk/your paintings.

It is just two months since the Duke of Edinburgh resumed his public

engagements following his operation and spell in hospital in June. Today

he was in Norfolk, touring a new care complex in the market town of

Aylsham. The £14 million development has been described as a model for

the future care of the elderly. He was clearly in good form at the

age of 92. During his visit to the one with one of the people that the

Duke met was older than him. He was escorted by a retired pharmacist who

was the founder of the Aylsham care trust 22 years ago. The volunteers

at its new centre are like a big society in action. The Duke liked

what he saw. The Broadlands School Of Dance added to the festivities.

They said Michael 's care complex also includes a care home and

pharmacy. He visited Giving Lane View which has 30 apartments. It is

promoting independent living backed up by 24 hour in his care. I told

him that we were living in flats but we had our own sense of

independence. It is the best of both worlds, really. Do you think he was

impressed by what he saw? Yes, he was genuinely interested. Ted and

Barbara presented the Duke with a patchwork wall hanging adorned with

words of us from all the tenants. They are present to his new

great—grandson Prince George. We have put the initials of Kate and

William and George on to patchwork. Always tell them that you love them.

The royal visit to mark the bringing together of so many different

amenities made it an emotional day for rice. It was the highlight of my

life. I have tried to make a few lives better. Quite a few lives,

hopefully. He is now 87 and this centre has

been his vision for almost 30 years. Today the visit of the Duke marked a

dream fulfilled. The cold weather is set to return. A

series of cold fronts are working their way towards us. The first came

through to the —— today slowly, and some cloud with that cold front.

Throughout this evening it will continue to make its journey

southwards and eastwards. There could be some light patches of

rain. Most of the night will be dry but there are cloudy skies.

Temperatures were the cloud breaks will dip to nine or 10 Celsius.

Mostly it will be 11 or 12 Celsius with a light breeze. A pretty mild

night coming up and that will be the last mild night for a while. This

cold front will move in and bring some of the colder here tomorrow.

You can see the blue the chart indicating that colder here. It will

start to feel colder as we get into the afternoon. Mainly dry but some

sunny intervals to. Some scattered showers will move on from the North

and West towards the late afternoon. Temperatures are still quite high at

around 14 or 15 Celsius. Slightly lower than today. For the rest of

the afternoon on Wednesday into the evening, some of those blustery

showers will move through, there could be some heavy showers and

places. On Wednesday night and two Thursday morning, a few showers

coming down the North Sea for Norfolk and Suffolk. Some rumbles of

thunder of of the North Norfolk coast. Quite unsettled weather.

Gusts of 30 mph. That will continue to bring unsettled weather for

Friday night into Saturday morning. Henry Rayment possible across Easter

and Anglia. —— Easter and parts of Anglia. Temperatures made it up to

21 Celsius today and in those same sports it will be 11 or 12 Celsius

on Thursday, so quite a big difference. For Thursday there is a

high temperature of around 12 Celsius. It will stay unsettled on

Friday into Saturday. Drier in the West. Quite windy conditions for the

East. Overnight lows of five or eight Celsius. Feeling chilly at

night. Thank you, Chris.

And just before we go, a reminder that we're looking for this year's

Sporting Unsung Hero. It's for people who give up their own time to

help others play sport. If you know someone who fits the bill then you

can nominate them for the award. For all the details go to

bbc.co.uk/unsunghero. Join us at 10:30pm. Goodbye.