12/04/2012 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening. On the programme tonight, bobbies

off the beat - civilians to tackle crime. Anger over South Yorkshire

plans to have community support officers as the frontline on the

streets. If we are not careful, we will know that the days for the

uniformed police are in cars and a detached from what is going on in

the immediate community and only dealing with serious and Emergency

crimes. We will be speaking to the Chief

Constable of rent -- bind those plans.

Also, the cost of ceremonial mayors. How much I be costing us every

year? And the so far that has been

offered as a home from home in York city centre -- the sofa.

A and it has been another showery day. They are more showers to come

tomorrow. Good evening. First, he has only

been in office for a few days, but the new Chief Constable of South

Yorkshire says he wants to get rid of bobbies on the beat. He wants to

replace him with community support officers. It would involve saving

policemen are far more serious incidents, with civilian police

staff becoming the first port of call for members of the public. It

is already attracting criticism. Good evening. David Crompton has

only been in post for one week. But tomorrow, he is going to police

authority meeting where he will give them the suggestion that beat

bobbies should come off the beat and be replaced by police community

officers. They would need to have more training and they could

ultimately, controversially, have the power of arrest.

These police community support officers are familiar faces around

the city centre. We do a very different job to the police

officers. We spend a lot of time in the community and have that time to

spend in the community. At the moment, these officers are

employed by the police but her civilian workers. They have so-

called warranted powers and can take on various roles. They do not

work later than 10:00pm, but a police officer works at 24-hour,

seven-day-a-week pattern. They can make citizen's arrests, and also

issue some fixed penalty tickets. A police officer, though, can arrest

and detain people. There is some criticism of these plans to beef up

the roles of these officers. There is a police end -- there is a

police in South Yorkshire police for these officers, but a bit him

on the front line we will have to train them and there is a cost to

that training. Sheffield MP David Blunkett was the

Home Secretary who first introduced police community officers. He said

they were never intended to be used on the front line. They were

supposed to be part of a neighbour who team, not left to it as the

only ones left on the beat. If we are not careful, we will go back to

the day's wear the uniform police themselves were in cars, they were

detached from what was going on in the immediate community. It is

better to have proper policemen on the streets, really. Police

community support officers might be able to assessed. I think it is a

good idea, the more support the best to even though they have not

had full training. As the police face Budget cuts, the

public say this is another example of FNGetting even thinner.

Earlier today I did speak to David Crompton and he said that this was

something that he wanted to try out. He said that if it doesn't work,

the maybe considerate then the line. Those criticisms, from David

Blunkett and the Police Federation, were worth asking about. I think it

is reasonable that they are seen in many ways as the sort of glue that

sticks together at the policing. All this is, actually, is about

trying to match people's powers better to the sorts of roles that

they have. What will that mean in real terms?

Will you be looking to get them more training and more powers? So

that in an ideal world, would be be able to make an arrest, for

example? As you are perhaps aware, the police support officers here do

not have the power of detention. However in some other forces they

do. That is something that we are actively looking at, to see if we

want to change that are not. It is something we are thinking about.

The low point of all of this is that people out there, in their

neighbour EDS, will still have the same number of police officers and

the same number of police community support officers as before. There

will still be the same number of officers as they always have had.

In due course, we will see how all this works and I am hopeful that

this will be a roaring success. But actually, if we look at it in a

year's time and we think, we needed wicket a little bit, then we will

do that. Do you remember the previous Chief

Constable of South Yorkshire? He was against plans to beef up the

powers that police community support officers have. He could

find himself on the up -- on the shortlist for her the Labour

candidate for their police commissioner.

Preparations for one of Europe's biggest ever military training

exercises had been taking place today at RAF Leeming. The Army,

Navy and Air Force were all involved, as well as invited Allied

nations including forces from France.

At RAF Leeming today, the Hawk jets based here were taking off on their

normal routine flights. But these teams were working together for a

project which starts next week. They are cultural differences,

clearly, but when we worked together her own we can work off

each other's capabilities perfectly filled much -- perfectly.

They both basically have the same role, they are aggressive squadrons

from different their forces. That basically means that for the sake

of this forthcoming exercise they are the baddies. It is not the

first time the squadrons have flown together. But it follows an

agreement between -- between Britain and France two years ago,

which pledged closer military co- operation and sharing of resources.

We have to play the bad guys during this exercise. We are going to try

to gamble -- we are going to be always the aggressors. We will wait

for their their team and to try to recognise them.

It is about having a contingency capability, to react quickly to an

unfolding crisis - something which has not been practised much in

recent years because of ongoing military commitments in Afghanistan.

Coming up later on the programme, one of a -- one of the true heroes

of the most famous shipping disaster ever. We look at the

Dewsbury connection of the man who insisted that the band played on as

the Titanic sank. Next tonight, just how much should

be spent on a were ceremonial me years? They have been around for

centuries, but can we afford the role when every council in the

country is having to cut back? Using the freedom of information

act, we have uncovered big deviations on just how much

Yorkshire councils are spending on them.

The figures given us -- given to us for 2010 and 2011 sure as that in

Leeds, the cost of the Lord Mayor was �308,000 for the year. In

Bradford, it was to and �92,000, but that does not include food,

hospitality or ceremonial events. Harrogate's civil mayor was a lot -

- was among the cheapest, just 84,000 pounds for the year. Just

how is this money being spent? For hundreds of years there had

been -- they have been figureheads for our towns and cities. Large

mayors and civic mayors are purely ceremonial, unlike the elected

mayors many of us will vote on next month will stop but with ceremony

comes expense, and Yorkshire council is spending the money very

differently. From 2010 and 2011, Look North has discovered that the

clothes bill for the look not -- for their office in Leeds, was

�8,000. In Barnsley, it cost �46,000. But in Scarborough, the

bill was 12000p. The official car and petrol in Calder deal cost

�25,000 for the year, but in Doncaster, the cost was 1,600

pounds. But the biggest expense is staff in the Lord Mayor's office.

In Bradford, it was �262,000, that paid for 10 workers including a

housekeeper, two chauffeurs and his secretary.

Lord Mayors are kept busy, they help promote their towns and cities

at home and abroad and help raise money for charity. 1 Scarborough

councillor who used to be Meier says that the roles important. --

Meier. It is very important and people remember them from their

childhood. Eimear takes pride in what the day and children

especially you remember it. If they come to the town hall and have at

tour and you the history of the media.

As spending cuts bite, some say ceremonial mayors are too expensive.

It is a view held by Doncaster's elected mayor. A I do not see why

these expenses should be paid. As far as clothing and food is

concerned it is ludicrous. I am in favour of the idea of the Civic

Meir as a historic -- of -- as a historical relic. But we do not

need a flash car for thence. This is unsustainable.

Councillors in the Archers say that people have affection for

ceremonial meals, -- ceremonial Nears, but their future is in doubt.

A woman who claimed she was raped by the Sheffield United striker

Ched Evans and another footballer has been -- has told police that

she cannot remember the attack and thinks that her drink was spiked.

Ched Evans and Clayton McDonald deny raping her. The women says she

has no memory of what happened. Both men have admitted having sex

for power, but the prosecution claims that the women was too drunk

to consent to sexual intercourse. Plans for immediate link road in

Doncaster, which could be vital to the locker -- to the local economy,

could go and -- could go ahead. A decision is expected in June.

Six Liverpool fans had begun a charity run between Hillsborough

and Anfield. This is ahead of the 23rd anniversary of the

Hillsborough disaster. The group began by laying a wreath at the

Hillsborough ground to remember the 96 that were killed there be for

their three-day ban. They are raising money for their

Hillsborough Families Support Group and the Hillsborough Justice

Campaign. Labour leader Ed Miliband is in

Bradford tonight, the very first time since his party's shock defeat

by a George Galloway in the Bradford West by-election.

The Respect Party is targeting a Bradford again, this time in the

local elections. I have just come I to the meeting

that Ed Miliband was end. He told find Ella, they have just stopped

for a cup of tea and he is going to start again. He says he is here for

lessons, but they do not have much time to learn them. The council

elections is in just three weeks's time. I have been having a look in

one of those words will respect his standing. -- de Respect Party is

standing. A week ago, this man would never

have dreamt of standing as a counsellor. Now, the political

future of Bradford could be in his hands. This man is the candidate

for the Respect Party in Little Horton. This is a real opportunity

to have a change and to bring about a change. That is what has inspired

me and a lot of other people who are a first-time voters or who have

just got involved in politics. The 43-year-old youth worker had

previously not even been a member of a political party. The political

climate, which was dark clouds over Bradford for a number of years, has

now been swept away. At his victory rally, George

Galloway said that the Respect Party would flood brand -- flood

Bradford with candidates. In fact, there are just 12 standing.

This Labour councillor is defending his seat in Little Horton. Labour

is just one short of an outright majority.

I fight local elections on local issues. I was born and brought up

here and have represented it for 17 years. I understand the concerns

that people have, in particularly the fact that they are suffering

under government cutbacks and that young people cannot get a job.

Their regeneration of the district has also not need for a was a as it

should do. The main parties insisted is not

just a two course rates. -- a two horse race. By-election is

something different, but local let election people look at the person

and they want to know their local issues. I think if we offer a

positive vision and continue our positive campaign, I think that the

people of Little Horton will see that we are fighting for them and

for Bradford. We three weeks to go before polling

day, this award is likely to be a major focus of attention.

A few minutes ago, I disturbed Ed Miliband in his tea break and said

that the meeting was full of gloomy faces. I think you are heaving

lessons about politicians not been engaged with the -- politicians not

engaging with the people here in Bradford. There are concerns about

regeneration in Bradford and whether Bradford is doing well. Not

all of these things can be laid at the Labour Party's door.

Those council elections are in three weeks's time on May 3rd, it

$NEWLINE Some sports news now, and Leeds United seem to be pulling out

all the stops to keep Robert Snodgrass at the club. Snodgrass,

seen here scoring against Middlesbrough, has been offered a

contract that would make him the best paid player at Elland Road.

Manager Neil Warnock says he's asked his captain to give Leeds

another year to make it into the Premier League.

Now who could forget this emotional scene from the film A Night To

Remember, where the band plays on Marvellous stuff. But did you know

that the band leader Wallace Hartley was from Dewsbury and

played with the Huddersfield Philharmonic?

As the nation prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's

sinking, Amy Garcia's been delving into the archives to find out more

Just a line to say we have got away all right. This is a fine ship and

there ought to be plenty of money on her. We have a fine band and the

boys seemed nice. I shall probably be home on Sunday. With luck to all,

Wallace. A letter sent from the Titanic to

his parents in Jewsbury. The band master never arrived home, but

stories of his bravery did. -- Dewsbury. When the White Star liner

hit an iceberg, the violinist and his musicians stood by their posts

playing songs to calm passengers as they entered the lifeboats.

Wallace's story restores faith in human nature. There are to Minister

of the stories around, but Wallace's is one of selflessness.

He was born in Lancashire in 1878. But it is Yorkshire where he really

flowed as a musician. At the age of 17, he moved to Huddersfield. He

played violin in the Philharmonic Orchestra. He settled here in

Dewsbury. This would be his final home.

It is thought he worshipped and payday churches in the area,

including St Mark's. By 1901 he was playing violin for a living in

musicals in Yorkshire, including the Royal Hall in Harrogate.

He spent the next few years playing on the Atlantic before his fateful

post on the most luxurious liner of her time, Titanic.

There are different ideas of what the band performed in their final

moments. Cards and clippings from the time suggested was nearer My

God To thee. It is a hymn that will be played across Yorkshire this

week to honour the band who played Incredible, isn't it?

De four finals in the Titanic, I think only three of them worked. --

the four finals. There is a group in Halifax who are

planning the musical of Titanic, and this week, as the real Titanic

would have sunk, so their performance should will go down.

Really? It is good, that.

Three students from York have been invited to take part in the London

Olympics. Nothing unusual in that, you might think. But Sarah Kay,

Carys Cooke and Chris Ward will be packing a pink two-seater sofa and

plenty of tea and cake for their trip South this summer. It might

seem a bizarre shopping list for the world's biggest sporting

celebration, but not when you find Meet you at York Minster, I said.

It will be good training. And so they did. Sarah, Carys, Chris and

They have just been invited to take part in London 2012, representing

Great Britain in the street entertainment division.

Have a cake! Do sit down. The university students founded

their community theatre company in October last year. Their mission is

to carry out random acts of kindness.

A really great idea! I think it is wonderful. When it says it is free,

you wonder. But no, they are genuine.

We really want to bring people back together, to have them talk to each

other instead of been rushing around. -- instead of them rushing

around. It is so they can reconnect. It is all very well come into your,

but people aren't so friendly in London. I love London. Hopefully

with the Olympics, people might be friendly. Hopefully they will take

it how it has been received here. The three friends graduate this

summer, but after the Olympics, who That is the kind of place Yorkist -

friendly. If Paul Hutton were here, he would

If Paul Hutton were here, he would be saying I will have that so far.

You have got a beautiful tub, but no sunshine today.

Very lucky if you managed to enjoy today's weather. Look at these

fantastic thunderstorms. This is hell covering Bernard's gardener.

Finally, this one. Keep your photos coming. We have got some heavy

thunderstorms around Sheffield at the moment. We are going to see

showers continue through the day tomorrow. But hopefully they should

not turn out to be thundery as we head through the day. You can see

on the chart that low-pressure is in charge, keeping the weather

unsettled. It is going to turn cooler as we head through the

weekend, which may turn the showers into sleep and snow. Back to today,

you can see on the satellite picture where the clouds are. That

is where the showers have been heaviest. We have got some heavy

showers in South Yorkshire. As we head through the evening, the

showers will continue. As we head through the night, they are going

to become lighter, fewer and further between. The skies are

going to clear to the north. Temperatures will be down to two or

three degrees, but where we keep the cloud and showers, four or five

degrees. This is the sun rise and high water times. Tomorrow is going

to be a cloudy start for West and South Yorkshire, with one or two

showers. The cloud is going to break up and we see some sunshine

returning. The cloud will be more frequent through the day, and the

showers will not be as heavy as today. We are still struggling

temperature-wise, with eight degrees along the coast. Ten

Celsius in York. The showers will retreat back to the coast into

Saturday, but they will concede to affect the case. -- continue to

affect the coast. Saturday is wintry. Sunday, most of the showers

will be to the coast. The best of the sunshine will be towards the

the sunshine will be towards the Pennines. But it is going to be

cold, just nine degrees. Have we been broadcasting -- had we