06/01/2017 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North.

Vigilante farmers declare war on gangs with dogs terrifying people

They came at me because my vehicle was blocking their exit.

There are people who are afraid to leave their own home.

They would, um, kill us if they could, I think.

The city of lights - organisers claim more than 100,000

people have flocked to night-time events in Hull since it became

There are just two more evenings left to see this spectacle

that has stirred the emotions of the people of Hull.

There is a buzz in Lincoln as the city's football team head off

And the campaign for a knighthood for the last

living British Dambuster gets celebrity backing.

He's one of the most charming people you could ever wish to meet,

and if anybody has given a public service to this country,

And a quiet and largely dry weekend to come. I will be back later with

the details. Farmers in Lincolnshire say

they are having to take the law into their own hands in order

to stop hare coursing. They claim criminal gangs

are trespassing on their land on an almost daily basis to take

part in the illegal blood sport, and are becoming increasingly

violent when confronted. The latest figures show that 19

people have been arrested or reported so far this season

for hare coursing in Lincolnshire. Seven dogs have been seized

and two vehicles taken. Police say dealing with

the activity, which sees dogs used to chase hares through fields,

is at the top of their agenda. Here's our rural affairs

correspondent, Paul Murphy. Chasing and killing hares

with dogs has been banned But you wouldn't know it

from looking at social media. It is awash with footage of those

who continue to break the law. What is changing, though,

is the level of violence that hare coursers mete out to those

who try to stop them. They came at me because my vehicle

was blocking their exit and they immediately started

to throw rocks at me, with me in the vehicle,

and hammered the side of my vehicle so that they could get

past and escape. These hare coursers escaped,

leaving their vehicle behind. They came back later to set it

alight, possibly to destroy any These actions are creating

fear in this community. This woman would only talk

if we didn't show her face. They have become aggressive, nasty,

uncontrollable and intimidating. There are people who are afraid

to leave their own home. I've spoken to several farmers

here on the Lincolnshire fens today, and although a lot of them have very

strong opinions, none of them wanted to appear on camera,

or to be identified, and that's simply because they are

afraid, they are afraid of the consequences for them

and for their families, the reprisals that could come

from the hare coursers. We know, as a police service,

we've got to up our game and make best use of our resources,

but the farming community needs to work with us,

it needs to keep itself safe and it needs to assist proactively

when we can prosecute. But hare coursing posts on social

media make a mockery of the law. In fact, some coursers take a thrill

from being chased themselves. The vehicle in pursuit

is being driven by a landowner. It's thought the injured hare

in the footwell was being taken away because it might have been

used as evidence. This is a stinger,

we put it in a gateway... This farmer says he's done

with relying on the police. He is making police style stingers

to puncture the tyres Other landowners are using drones

to monitor the fields. This farmer can only

watch as two cars drive Fields across this area show

signs of car damage. They would, um, kill us

if they could, I think. They've got no scruples, they have

got no respect for anybody. What we'd like to do is help

the police catch the culprits, but the police seem very reluctant

to talk to us and to work with us. It was in this same community

that Lincolnshire Police launched its anti-hare coursing

strategy last September. But the hare coursers,

like the ones seen here speeding through a farm shop car park,

are continuing to blight local life. I can see the lengths that farmers

have gone to, with trenches dug, with bollards in place,

massive rocks to try and deter them. It's not the farmers that

need to try and do more, As a resident, what I would like to

see is a greater police presence. But the hare coursers

are undeterred, even filming In a police force where resources

are stretched, these criminal gangs know they currently

have the upper hand. Some strong feelings from people in

South Lincolnshire. What have the police had to say? This is at the

top of the Lincolnshire Police agenda, the question is whether they

are capable of dealing with. They say they are facing two judges,

firstly the geography of linkage, and the second is the difficulty of

bringing prosecutions against hare coursers because you have to catch

them in the act and find witnesses who are courageous enough to stand

up and testify against them and that is proving challenging. The

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner has button to us and

says he will be meeting with the new Chief Constable when he starts work

in the coming weeks but certainly the force has a long way to go to

win back the confidence of those people in South Lincolnshire who are

being terrorised on a daily basis. As I say, we would like to hear your

views on this. Are the police doing enough to protect immunities? Here

are the details. -- protect communities.

I look forward to hearing from you on that subject and we will have

some before we finish. The new boss at Hull City,

Marco Silva, says it would be a miracle if they avoid relegation

from the Premier League. The Tigers sit bottom of the table,

and Silva also admits there isn't After arriving from Portugal,

he'll take charge of his first game As first meetings go, it was a short

debut from Marco Silva, who was introducing himself to supporters

after Mike Phelan's sacking. Many needed the introduction and most had

not even heard of the Portuguese when he was appointed, but the

39-year-old, who has coached in Greece and in his man, feels he is

the man to point Hull City in the right direction. -- in his homeland.

When you get a question about working in the Premier League or

working in Hull, it is not an easy decision. But it is a good club. The

Premier League is a fantastic step. Mourinho is Mourinho. He is a

friend, also. He is a great ambassador for the Portuguese

people. We want a lot of money to spend, but we have had to do what is

the best weather team, and for sure, we need to improve our team. We need

to do what is possible. How do you rate your prospects of surviving in

the Premier League? We need a miracle to remain in the Premier

League. Sometimes they happen. Maybe in May, it might happen. We will

see. But not everyone will see his first game against Swansea tomorrow

as some are planning to boycott it input -- in protest at the club's

owners. A big day for Hull City,

and we will be hearing about Lincoln City's big day

in the FA Cup tomorrow A man has admitted murdering a woman

whose body was found at a house in Lincolnshire.

Casey Scott, who is 29 and from Skegness, pleaded guilty

at Lincoln Crown Court to killing 28-year-old

Lenuta Ioana Haidemac in July. Her body was found at a house

in Drummond Road in Skegness. A jury's heard how two men accused

of smuggling Class A drugs into the UK by ferry were secretly

filmed talking in a Hull pub. A team of undercover officers

targeted P ship steward Edward Tron and cook Mark Quilliam

in June 2015. The pair deny charges

of conspiring to import cocaine, and Mr Tron's wife, Susan,

denies money laundering. The number of people attending A

departments in Lincolnshire rose by 11% in the week

between Boxing Day Just over 2800 people went

into hospitals in Lincoln, That's 300 more

than the week before. More than 150,000 people have been

to visit Hull during the first week A giant light show called

Made in Hull has drawn visitors to the city centre

every night this weekend. Organisers say they are delighted

with how it's been received. Caroline Bilton is live in Queen

Victoria Square for us tonight. Did they expect this many people?

Well, it is state they have been pleasantly surprised. Just take a

look at these cries this evening. The bad weather has not put people

off. This amazing spectacle is what they are here to see. It has been

like this every night of this week. To see this many people in the

centre of Hull on a series of weekday evenings is unprecedented.

It is not just here in Queen Victoria Square. Over at The Deep

just five minutes away from where I am, crowds are gathering to watch

more amazing projections that tell the story of Hull. We know from

talking to local businesses that there has been an increase in

footfall, they have been telling us it has been the busiest ever start

to a year. Today we got the official figures that confront that. 150,000

people have been coming to the city from Sunday to Wednesday and of

course, that figure will increase when we get the final figure on

Monday. It has been amazing, people have been in tears here tonight,

Peter. This is what they have been telling me.

Just everything, really. Absolutely brilliant. It was brilliant. I have

come all the way from Nottingham to see it because I come from Hull. My

mum is very into theatre things in placement. It is so amazing, I have

never seen anything like it. I have heard about it but I am gobsmacked.

Wonderful. All of this has helped to catapult

the city into the spotlight. Not all of it has been positive media

coverage. Earlier this week, the Sun paper faced criticism for running an

article referring to the city as the "Scrapital of Culture", alluding to

the violence in the city on New Year's Eve. But today, the paper has

published a more positive article in response to that criticism. On the

invite of Apprentice star Michelle Dewberry, they have to at the city

and they have delivered a report that gives a more fair

representation of the city's culture. So, there are just two more

nights to see this spectacle, this most amazing spectacle here in Hull.

Tonight and tomorrow are expected to be incredibly busy, the advice is to

come early if you can or indeed later. It runs from 4pm until nine

p.m.. And traffic is a lot busier than normal. Questions are being

asked as to whether or not this could run later in the year and I'm

afraid the organisers have told us that the answer is no, but they do

say that there are a lot more exciting things coming our way over

the next year and if this is anything to go by, beta, we have got

an awful lot to look forward to. -- Peter.

There's a buzz in Lincoln as the city's football team head off

And the campaign for a knighthood for the last British Dambuster

BBC One, tonight's photograph and keep those coming in. This was taken

by Nick Hedges of Beverley. Lots of people took photos of the contrails

yesterday. It would be nice if we could have a forecast for Christmas

night or Christmas Day. You are very cheeky! I suppose I

should be pleased you are listening and watching me!

I was watching the graphics very carefully. I wouldn't mind, but you

made the big mistake and I get all the grief of highlighting it, so I

can't win. Thanks a bunch! Lots going on this

weekend. The weather does not look too bad. There is not to be lots of

sunshine, there will be quite a lot of cloud, but at least it will be

generally dry. The best of any sunshine should be tomorrow. High

pressure dominating, but it is quite cloudy. Underneath the cloud it will

feel chilly. But we are frost free. A lot of cloud across our part of

the world and it has been producing rain through the afternoon. That

rain is now starting to move away. Followed by a few showers and quite

a lot of cloud. A bit of a grey night to come but I think it will

become dry overnight and temperatures will fall around -- to

around three four Celsius. The sun will rise at 17 minutes past eight,

setting again just before four p.m.. Here are the times of high water.

Tomorrow, there will be a lot of cloud, particularly to start. But we

should see an improvement. We will keep quite a lot of cloud but we

should get some break if not sunny spells. Across parts of East

Yorkshire, north-eastern part of Lincolnshire, we get the best of the

brightness later on in the afternoon. And it will be a dry

afternoon, like south-westerly breeze, temperatures getting up to

around eight Celsius. On Sunday, there will still be a lot of cloud,

so another fairly cloudy day to come. Rather blustery on Monday. On

Monday, a band of rain will sink southwards, perhaps some heavy

spells and blustery winds. Sunshine and blustery showers later in the

day. The rest of the week will be quite unsettled.

You can do no wrong, you make no mistake, I highlight it and I have

the deal with the grief! There were a lot of people who

highlighted it to me as well. Although Paul said it was an easy

mistake to make because he makes quite a few as well.

Have a nice weekend. Almost 5000 supporters will be

backing Lincoln City tomorrow as the Imps aim to cause a shock

in the FA Cup. They will play at Ipswich,

a team three divisions above them, and City are one of just five

non-league sides left If they were feeling nervous,

they didn't show it as they boarded the bus to Ipswich this morning

for one of their It was a surprise win over

League One team Oldham last month But they are feeling good

about the next round. There's definitely a buzz

about the lads and they're looking We're the underdogs

at the end of the day, So I think there's been a good

feeling about the place. The Imps' FA Cup run

comes as they sit top of the National League,

so with their current success, there's plenty of support

in the city, with around 5,000 fans expected to make the trip to Ipswich

for the match tomorrow. That's more than normally attend

a Lincoln City home game, which average crowds

of just 3,500 people. And in the morning, at least

25 coaches will carry those fans the 150 miles

from Lincoln to Ipswich. But there, they will

face tough opposition. Ipswich Town are three

divisions above, So, the manager says

they will need their fans. The connection between the players

and supporters is really strong. I think the reason why is

because there is natural chemistry. Lincoln as a city is full of honest,

hard-working, down-to-earth we would like to think our group

has similar traits. And even non football fans here say

they are backing the local team. You do feel that

it's something good. I think sport in general makes

a difference to people, and when you're on the winning side,

it lifts the spirit. Well, I would have thought the whole

city is feeling good about it. I can remember when I was a boy

and supported Lincoln City, it was a good football club,

the feeling was good and I think A win against Ipswich tomorrow

could take Lincoln's cup earnings to well over ?250,000,

but for the fans heading to the game, it is worth

so much more than money. Sarah Walton,

BBC Look North, in Lincoln. There are also games

for Scunthorpe United The Iron will move up to second

place in League One if they win Grimsby Town will be out

to extend their unbeaten run In rugby league,

Hull Kingston Rovers will be looking to get revenge over Hull FC

when the sides meet in Last January, Hull won by 60 points

to 20 on the eve of the season. The two sides face each other

this weekend in what could be A petition to get the last

British Dambuster a knighthood has been signed by more

than 160,000 people. George "Johnny" Johnson

was part of 617 Squadron, which was formed at

RAF Scampton near Lincoln. TV presenter Carol Vorderman

is backing the campaign and I will be talking

to her in a moment, but first, The campaign surrounding a

knighthood for George "Johnny" Johnson, the last remaining British

Dambuster, continues to gather momentum like a bouncing bomb

itself. With campaigns and thinning he has been snubbed from this year's

honours list. But what evidence is there to show he could have been

snubbed, and is it that simple to be awarded a knighthood for being a

last remaining Dambuster? It was Wing Commander Guy Gibson who led

the raid. He was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1943 and died in

the war a year later. Aviation engineer Barnes Wallis was the

inventor of the bouncing bomb. He did receive a knighthood for work

and services to his country in 1968, 11 years before his death. Johnny

Johnson ain't and dropped the bombs. It was one of 34 awarded the

distinguished flying medal for his part in the race. -- and was one.

But there are rules which make things more complicated for today.

The rules state you have to be active in the areas for which you

are being nominated, so Strictly speaking, Johnny's achievements,

certainly with regard to the Dambusters, happened many years ago.

But he is still active within the community and doing charity work, so

it just depends house straight the Cabinet Office want to enforce that.

The nomination can take up to two years. One campaigner we spoke to

officially nominated Mr Johnson in November of 2015. An application

that does not expire until June. But it did not make this new years list.

Size ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets, Carol Vorderman, who has

also met Johnny Johnson, has also submitted a nomination and started a

petition which has gained over 150,000 signatures so far. But if he

got it, what then? If it comes off, I shall ask with due humility and

majesty, if I can dedicate it to the 55,000 Bomber Command aircrews who

gave their lives to their countries during the war. I think she would

agree and that is the way I think it should go.

I asked Carol Vorderman if she was surprised by the reaction

to Mr Johnson being overlooked for an honour since we first talked

I'm not so much surprised as absolutely overjoyed, really. The

response has been tremendous, because he is such an incredible

man. Do you know what the latest figure is the number of people that

have been signing this petition this week? It is phenomenal. I only

launched its two days ago, and within 48 hours, there were 150,000.

It is now over 160,000 by this evening, I don't know how many. He

has been recognised for his military achievements. Why do think he needs

and deserves a knighthood? Johnny Johnson is quite an incredible

person. That only was he part of 617 Squadron and the Dambusters crew,

which is remarkable in itself, he has worked tirelessly with and for

children and charities ever since. He is one of the most charming

people you could ever wish to meet and if anybody has given of public

service to this country, it is Johnny Johnson. What do you think

about the system generally? One thing that has want people up is

that civil servants on 106 to ?5,000 a year or Victoria Beckham --

Beckham getting awards are people like Johnny. I think it is

reasonable for people like Victoria Beckham to get an award, or Andy

Murray, they are people who are part of the National culture. But I have

a problem with David Cameron's spin doctor been given a knighthood, or

certain civil servants, and they are given it for public service. Johnny

Johnson has given of himself and of public service more, I believe, than

they have, and he absolutely deserves a knighthood. So, do you

think now we have got their names on this petition and they are handed to

Theresa May or the Cabinet, do you think this decision can be reversed?

I am doing a fresh official nomination and within the next two

weeks, I want as many people as possible to carry on signing the

petition so the number can grow to the highest peak, and then I will

take that petition and the official nomination to Downing Street and if

they do not let me in, I will go to the Cabinet Office next door and

leave it there. We wish you well with that. Carroll, thank you for

your time. Thank you. Keep signing! Thank you for all the e-mails and

texts. We will follow the story and let you know if there are any

developments. Let's get a recap of the national

and regional headlines. A new legal challenge to allow

the terminally ill the right to die Vigilante farmers declare war

on gangs with dogs terrifying people Tomorrow's weather -

cloudy, but some bright or sunny spells possible,

especially across East Yorkshire. A response on the subject of hare

coursing after the report at the start of the problem. Martin says,

police should deploy resources to stop these thugs taking their --

take their cars and dogs and children. Rural communities do not

get the resources they should. Ian says, hare coursing is a despicable

pastime that is against the law. The police have to prioritise resources

and their priority is quietly -- quite rightly the protection of the

public. And this one, we had hare coursers on our fields at one

o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday. My son rang the police,

we watched them for an hour as one retrieved his dog and walked past

me. David says, the police can only do so much. Would it be an idea to

seek temporary resources from a neighbouring authority? A big

response on the subject of hare coursing from serving as you. Thank

you for watching. Have a nice weekend, enjoy Made in Hull if

you're going. I will see you on Monday, take care. Good night.

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