08/09/2011 Midlands Today

Hello. The headlines tonight: the could have reacted faster and we've

learnt lessons says the West Midlands chief constable. We felt

that we were to stationery, and too slow.

Is it a comeback for the energy business?

Now these parents could be fined. Thanks to whaler for transplant,

James goes to school for the first time. It's a day his family thought

Good evening, welcome to Thursday's Midlands Today from the BBC.

Tonight, police didn't react quickly enough in the first hours

of last month's rioting. In his first detailed report, the Chief

Constable of the West Midlands has admitted that tactics at first were

wrong and had to be changed because of the scale of the disturbances.

But Chris Sims insisted there was no hard intelligence of what was to

be unleashed in Birmingham and elsewhere and that, as the public

began to understand the onslaught officers faced, many got in touch

to offer thanks and support. Here's our Special correspondent, Peter

Wilson. The scale of the riots was totally

unprecedented. There are now separate investigations into the

looting and robberies. The murders of three men who'd been standing

outside a petrol station in Winson Green. And the inquiry into the

armed gangs who fired on police lines. It's now the biggest

investigation carried out by the West Midlands force since the

Birmingham pub bombings in 1974. Today the chief constable spoke of

the bravery of his officers but also admitted that there'd been

mistakes. For the first hour or so, I felt, and I know officers felt,

that we were probably to stationery, too slow, too busy trying to

disperse people that in effect were then regrouping and attacking

different premises. -- too stationary. So who were those

involved in the lootings? The ages ranged from 12 to 59. Three

quarters of those arrested had previous convictions. The average

age of the offenders was 23. But many were sixth formers. This

meeting has revealed the police came under attack. People had

missiles and petrol bombs. 91 police vehicles were damaged and

even the West Midlands police website came under cyber attack.

The police authority were today holding the chief constable to

account but they too have been criticised in recent weeks. There

are sufficient resources across the force that would ensure that the

policing of the West Midlands would not be at the point of breaking but

it was stretched. Yet some community leaders were less than

impressed with the report. On that particular Monday at 4pm, I

received in e-mail from the police are saying they had intelligence to

say they would be possible problems in Birmingham. They said they would

provide a proportionate response. But clearly did not take place on

the Monday evening. -- that. The police coped during the riots

despite already losing a thousand staff in the cuts. If the riots

were to happen in four years' time, could we respond to the same way?

Obviously not. Across the country, we will be 16,000 officers down on

the numbers at present. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether we

would be able to respond and the same manner. -- in the same manner.

The commander on the night of the first riots says firing plastic

bullets into crowds was never an option. But had her officers stood

back at the beginning of the unrest. The riots have cost the police �12

million the main lesson they say is a need for greater mobility greater

flexibility during fast moving unpredictable events.

In a moment we'll be putting some of the points raised in that report

to the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Chris Sims who's with us

here tonight. But first, the scale of those riots

stretched resources to the limit. Police were assaulted, shot at and

even petrol bombed. Claire Marshall has this exclusive report on how

police are looking at new tactics in the light of what happened and

how it could alter riot training in the future.

During last month's rioting, the police were accused of being timid.

This was their response. Faced with a new kind of crime, looting and

violence on a have a massive scale, they are learning new tactics. --

on a massive scale. Controversially, the Taser is one weapon that may

well be used more widely. Take a shot. The sensation of being hit is

1000 times worse than cramp. In a normal Taser, that sound as

electricity going through the person. Yes and it wouldn't be

anywhere near as loud. This is the kind of situation in which it could

be used. CCTV of the disturbances in the Handsworth area of

Birmingham shows men firing out police with handguns. One of those

officers targeted says retraining is vital. There is a need for us to

have of, to deal with those threats. The traditional disorder, people

throwing bricks and rocks, but has never been seen on our streets to

that magnitude. This is the society we live in now. Training will

evolve to deal with that. This is the kind of course... The police

will have to tread a very fine line between being tough enough and

being seen and not to go too far. Just a training scenario but this

old aircraft carrier looks eerily like the streets of London or

Birmingham in early August. If there is a next time, police hope

to know much more about how to respond.

With us now is the Chief Constable of the West Midlands, Chris Sims.

Just looking at that report, you are clearly moving quickly to make

sure you're better prepared next time? Yes, I think one of the

lessons... Your report carried the notion that in the first hour or so

we were trying to apply a conventional tactic to something

that was unprecedented and different. I'm really proud how one

of the night officers adapted incredibly quickly. By the end of

that first night, we had arrested 116 people. Why did you get it so

wrong at the beginning? I don't think we did. You said you were too

slow. It takes the benefit of hindsight to interpreted different

challenge and then a duck to it. I think actually we did remarkably

well. -- and then adapt to it. Renate... He said he had no hard

evidence of what was to come but surely those events in London must

have told you something was going on. It was highly likely it would

come here. It if you look at the report I delivered to the authority,

you will see that we started planning in effects after the

events in Tottenham. Carnival on the Sunday was peaceful. We had

extra reserves. From Monday morning, as events shifted in London, we did

mobilise a great deal of officers said that even without intelligence,

250 offices, equipped, mobile and ready to go, were available in the

centre of Birmingham. Can I let you hear something that happened in

evidence to a Commons committee today? MPs have been listening to

this evidence about the riots. Let's hear what the smile from

Handsworth had to say. People were standing outside trying to protect

their properties and didn't believe or think the police were responding

quickly enough. The perception, even at that time, on the coal face,

was why were the police protecting the jewellery Court and the City?

Implying that the people of hands with a decision. One MP was saying

in the event they felt they were left on their run. -- on their own.

I would like to speak to his MP and a half attempted to do so. I do

think that we were stretched. There was absolutely no case that we were

picking parts of the city to protect and parts of the city not

to protect. It was a very challenging night. He say that

despite your best endeavours, you were unable to offer the committee

the protection which is your sworn duty. But Mr chokey. That is the

honest view after a -- after an might like that. I'm proud about

how we've bounced back and reactive. There are many more rests to come.

I think by creating that sort of deterrent, it is our best hope that

this will not happen again. You're with Midlands Today. Much

more still ahead tonight, including how this trainee vet is saving

There was further evidence of a likely revival of fortunes for the

Midlands motor industry today. The Chinese-owned Birmingham car maker

MG has revealed it's landed more than �5 million worth of orders for

its new model, the MG6. Our Business Correspondent is that

the factory now. This is good news, isn't it, for MG?

Yes, hopefully. This is that the new car, a big hit in China. Also a

big hit here. It is mainly produced in China with final assembly

happening here. Today, we have been given exclusive access to the

Are this the first all-new model to be a major within a decade.

Currently, only 66 cars per week are made here. Many of those

working here, like the Lisa and Jeff, lost their jobs when MG Rover

collapsed. Did you think you would ever be back at Longbridge? No, I

thought it was gone for good. I retrained in the gas industry.

worked elsewhere and then got a call to come back. I'm glad I did.

We produce great cars. It is all good. This is what the cars look

like when they come in from China. About 80 % of a vehicle is build

their. The remaining 20 % is assemble and -- his assembled here.

They put in the gearbox, the engine and exhaust. It is a bit like

building a huge ethics model without the glue. This process

starts 6000 miles away in China. It is a complicated supply route. It

has taken a fair deal of planning with the China team and the UK

logistics team. It is now down to a fine art. This is the first all-new

MG for 16 years... Already orders worth �5 million have come in and

more and more dealerships have been recruited to sell the new car.

Those who think the NG6 is a Chinese car should probably think

again. This is where it was designed. It is long bridge, where

the man in charge is proud of what they created. I think we can

justifiably say a large part of the car is British. A lot of the

styling and engineering content of all the cars with engineers in this

business so far on behalf of Shanghai Automotive have come from

British people. Launching a new car in a recession can mean a bumpy

ride but for M G, orders so far have been good and increases in

sales could mean more jobs in the future. -- MG.

Peter, we're not talking big numbers but this is good news at

last for MG isn't it? What kind of numbers are they expecting to sell

with the MG6? They have had 300 orders but there

are not saying much more. It is difficult to predict in a volatile

model bus market. Other models could come too long bridge as well.

They are looking at a derivative of this concept car. The M G three is

already on sale in China. -- MG3. Peter we seem to be hearing lots of

good news about the car industry, new models, new factories. After so

many bad years are things turning around? we probably are.

With heard good news of new factories. -- we have heard. There

are advance orders on Ford cars which is encouraging. Next week,

Jaguar and Land Rover are expected to unveil new models at the

Frankfurt Motor Show. It is looking Other news and a 100,000 signature

petition has been handed into Downing Street today calling for a

referendum on Britain's EU membership. The delegation was led

by the Independent MEP for the West Midlands, Nicki Sinclaire. The MEP

commissioned an independent survey, which shows that 60% of the

electorate are in favour of a vote on Europe.

Inconsiderate parking outside schools has long been a concern.

But the problem has become so bad in some areas that the police say

they have no choice but to fine parents. Bob Hockenhull braved the

front line of these twice-daily parking wars, where harassed

parents face angry residents, who say they are constantly being

blocked in. If within a few minutes the streets outside many schools

are transformed from this into this. Residents living next to Wheelers

Lane School in Billesley in Birmingham say they are constantly

being blocked in by what they call selfish parents. The for parents

who think they're protecting their children, they are actually

endangering them. There is cars everywhere.

Five minutes after Mr Turburfield has gone, this is what the street

looks like. It is not just a problem here. In Harborn, they are

to start issuing fines from next week. People of just parked their

cars and abandoned them without thinking about the other residents.

The numbers of children walking to school fell by 8% in the UK between

2000 and 2010, while the number of children travelling by car

increased by 5% over the same period.

Back in Billesley, the parking has not just upset the authorities but

other parents too. I do drive, but I either just park on one of the

other roads and take the extra five minutes to walk. I would say that

anyone who does absolutely not need to drive, should simply use their

legs a bit more. And barriers have now been erected to keep their cars

away. And those drivers who do continue

to upset residents face fines of between �30 and �70.

Still ahead for you tonight... Aston Villa's new signings - can

they get the fans believing again? And warm tomorrow, but wild by the

weekend. The former Hurricane Katia is on the rampage. How bad could it

get? Find out later. One likely consequence of the rise

in university tuition fees is that students will choose to study at

their local university and save money by living at home. But not

one Shropshire student. She will be studying 1,000 miles from home and

reckons it will save her tens of thousands of pounds.

Harriet Moore from Booley in North Shropshire gets to grips with the

practical side of her chosen profession.

She is doing work experience with a vet in Shropshire before returning

to Kosice University in Slovakia to do her final year in veterinary

science. The main reason was money. It was my second degree and to do

another would have cost �17,000 the year.

So she did some research and found she could study abroad for a lot

less. The cost here was high because she had already done a

degree in zoology. Harriet was told it would cost �17,000 a year to

study veterinary science as a second degree at Liverpool

University three years ago. A figure which today is closer to

�20,000. In Slovakia, she is paying �5,700 a year. The course in

Slovakia is taught in English specifically for overseas students

and she will be qualified to work in the UK. A I know lot of people

who have been qualified and they are now doing fantastically.

Ironically, the vet she is working with came here from Belgium, as he

preferred to practise in this country. As a partner in his firm

in Hanwood, he would have no qualms with employing someone like Harriet.

I'm would have no problems with that. It is the practical aspects

of it. I think all the degrees have got a high-level of Theory, so the

day of the knowledge, but you just have to be practically changed -

Macro practically trained. So as students here worry about the

prospect of higher fees next year, Harriet is proving that it is

possible to achieve her ambition and gain life experience.

It was something his parents thought they would never see - the

first day at school for their son who was born with a rare type of

liver disease. Four-year-old James Jenkins needed a transplant for a

condition that affects just one in 17,000 babies. Meet James Jenkins,

who is making a big splash in Worcester. After catching up on

television with his sister has, it was ready to get to school. He was

born with a serious liver problem. He was three months old when it was

detected. He had a life-saving liver transplant at just eleven

months old. We never dreamed that he would be able to get to five and

be able to go to school. It was James leading the way to school

this morning. Ring the bell. That top one. And now the moment that

his mum what is waiting for. James was soon making new friends. Every

day, children are diagnosed with serious liver problems and the

family are now trying to raise awareness of the problem., advice

to parents is if the new born jaundice continues after two weeks,

go and see your doctor. Jaime is is in good health and in the first

assembly, they all looked a bit too tired from all the plane. They will

soon have plenty more time to learn all the words. Do you think he is

watching at the moment? I hope so. I hope he is just as enthusiastic

about going back to school tomorrow!

Onto sport now and the Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish admits they

are unable to compete with the big money clubs of the Premier League.

But he hopes that the new signings of Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton

will lift their chances of being in the next bracket of clubs chasing

European honours. One is a young Englishman looking to play for his

country again. The other is a Scottish defender who knows his new

manager well. And Alex McLeish hopes Alan Hutton and Jermaine

Jenas can make a difference to Aston Villa. And no Alan Hutton

from my days at Scotland and at Rangers. And Germaine is a very

bright player. He is the player who wants to make up for lost time.

Both players have come from Tottenham - Jenas on loan and

Hutton as a transfer. Neither see it as a backwards step, despite

Spurs finishing higher in the last two seasons. A I think both squads

are very strong. It can just be a case of getting a few victories

together inner succession. Seoul will the new signings make a

difference? Yes, I think they should do the job for us. At would

have liked to have seen a few more, but they seemed like some good

signings. We will soon find out if Villa have spent the money wisely.

Warwickshire are on course to go top of cricket's county

championship with a match to play, after a good day at Edgbaston. This

evening, the Bears declared to put Nottinghamshire into bat chasing a

massive 574 just to finish the first innings on level terms. Notts

closed the second day on 86-1. The Bears total of 574-7 included

centuries for Ian Westwood, Rikki Clarke and captain Jim Troughton.

This weekend, we will all have a chance to take a look at some

hidden treasures - buildings that are usually private or off limits,

but are part of our heritage. So you could step inside the home of a

16th-Century weaver or even find out the fascinating history of a

Birmingham graveyard and the secrets it holds.

A desperate shortage of burial space in booming 19th-Century

Birminhgham forced our forefathers to open one of the country's first

public cemeteries. Now, across seven acres and after 150 years, a

team of volunteers are uncovering and preserving the stories of the

100,000 people buried at Warstone Lane Cemetery. This is the reminder

of all the people from here that worked in all these trades. It is

way the city became the second city in the British Empire. Glass-

fronted catacombs were trialled here, but abandoned for more

traditional tombs. Plaques remember James Cooper, who won a Victoria

Cross, but was buried in an unmarked public grave, and those

lost in the tragedy of the Titanic, but remembered by relatives at home.

This weekend, volunteers will be sharing the secrets of the cemetery.

There are people here who are long forgotten about who were very

famous in their day. You could come across any sort of Gen. Like this

weaving cottage. This offers a unique insight into a Kraft man's

life. The all reflect the merchant classes and above. A it is hoped

this weekend's three nationwide event will hit make people remember

are unique and fascinating heritage. Across the region, there are more

than 300 venues for the public to visit and there are hundreds more

historic places throwing open their doors from tomorrow. You can find

lots more details by going to heritageopendays.org.uk. Let us

Yes, we have got their it remains of the hurricane from America

heading or away, and it could bring us some strong winds and rain. All

these blue areas represent rain coming our way. Before that, for

tomorrow, I think we can enjoy the warm day of the week. We have got

this area of rain coming from north to south. You can see temperatures

no long lower than 14 degrees Celsius overnight. Tomorrow morning,

that is the good part. It is dry, and as the morning develops, we

will see some bright spells. It could spark off the odd shower, but

it should beat the Friday or any name for most of us. Tenby just

getting up to 21 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow night, very warm, but a

bit of moisture around. The make the most of tomorrow.

A look at tonight's main headlines. An inquiry condemns the appalling,

gratuitous violence meted out by British soldiers that led to the

And we were slow to react to the riots, but quickly changed our