:00:07. > :01:18.Good evening. There are clahms tonight of a "sense of panic" in
:01:19. > :01:20.Birmingham's Muslim community following the announcement of
:01:21. > :01:25.another investigation into the so`called Trojan Horse plot. Peter
:01:26. > :01:29.Clarke, a former head of cotnter terrorism in London, has bedn asked
:01:30. > :01:34.to oversee an inquiry into `n alleged plot by Islamic extremists
:01:35. > :01:37.to take over schools in the city. His appointment has been crhticised
:01:38. > :01:40.by the Chief Constable of Wdst Midlands Police and also Muslim
:01:41. > :01:48.leaders in Birmingham. Here's our Special Correspondent Peter Wilson.
:01:49. > :01:51.Students today celebrating their degrees outside Birmingham's Council
:01:52. > :01:56.house ` the city's population is a global one. All nations and
:01:57. > :01:59.religions reflected here, all united in wanting a first class edtcation
:02:00. > :02:07.and they see Birmingham as offering the best. Allegations about
:02:08. > :02:13.extremism and infiltration of the city's schools casts a shadow. Today
:02:14. > :02:15.the Chief Constable hit out at the government's appointment of a
:02:16. > :02:29.Education Commissioner who's a former counter terrorism expert
:02:30. > :02:32.Peter Clarke's former role hn counter`terrorism is sending the
:02:33. > :02:40.wrong message. My understanding is it is primarily an issue around
:02:41. > :02:45.school governance, an issue around social cohesion. But not an issue
:02:46. > :02:48.around counter`terrorism. Who is Peter Clarke? He's now
:02:49. > :02:51.investigating the so called Trojan Horse plot for the government.
:02:52. > :02:54.Previously he was Scotland Xard s Mr Counter Terrorism ` tackling the
:02:55. > :03:00.aftermath of 9/11 and home grown Al`Qaeda`inspired plots. His
:03:01. > :03:03.appointment greeted even in police circles with disbelief but `mongst
:03:04. > :03:15.all sections of the Muslim community a sense of alarm. There is ` real
:03:16. > :03:20.danger that a small thing could trigger this into something big We
:03:21. > :03:24.are worried about that and lanaging expectations. We constantly reassure
:03:25. > :03:30.them to have faith in the establishment, there will bd a fair
:03:31. > :03:34.and impartial just investig`tion. The management of community
:03:35. > :03:37.relations over this is crithcal and so far I have to say it has been a
:03:38. > :03:39.catastrophe. Yesterday, the City Council
:03:40. > :03:43.announced a two pronged investigation into Trojan Horse We
:03:44. > :03:51.also have Ofsted inspecting 15 schools. Now the Education Secretary
:03:52. > :03:59.wants a counter terrorism expert to investigate. It's left the City
:04:00. > :04:03.Council scratching their he`d. I was surprised by the announcement that a
:04:04. > :04:07.former counterterrorism offhcer was appointed because it gives out the
:04:08. > :04:11.wrong messages. We have to be concerned about the schools and the
:04:12. > :04:17.children and we have to get this away from an issue of terrorism We
:04:18. > :04:23.are trying hard to manage community fears. There are a lot of pdople who
:04:24. > :04:28.will be worried that this is going to escalate and all ready the way in
:04:29. > :04:32.which the last few weeks has led to tensions and people feeling isolated
:04:33. > :04:34.and worried and concerned, dven children.
:04:35. > :04:37.But the Education Secretary Michael Gove wants answers and he w`nts his
:04:38. > :04:41.own man in charge: These allegations need either to be substanti`ted and
:04:42. > :04:46.firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. Peter Clarke brings a
:04:47. > :04:49.wealth of relevant skills and experience, and is very well placed
:04:50. > :05:01.to lead a fair and thorough assessment of the evidence. The
:05:02. > :05:05.police reiterate Trojan horse is not a police matter, let alone `
:05:06. > :05:11.counterterrorism investigathon. Sometimes it seems as though this
:05:12. > :05:15.whole saga is like a runawax train. If the appointment of Peter Clarke
:05:16. > :05:18.can get to the bottom of thhngs perhaps that rain can be stopped.
:05:19. > :05:25.But at what cost? We asked the Education Secrdtary for
:05:26. > :05:29.an interview, but neither hd or anyone from his Department for
:05:30. > :05:40.Education was available. I'l joined now by Khalid Mahmood, Labotr MP for
:05:41. > :05:45.Birmingham Perry Barr. Astonished by the appointment. Peter has done a
:05:46. > :05:51.fantastic job for counter`tdrrorism. I have a high regard for hil but he
:05:52. > :05:55.isn't the right person for this job. This job entails looking at the
:05:56. > :06:00.issues of how governors are appointed, what has happened to the
:06:01. > :06:05.schools and then look at thd issue of what the role of the govdrnors
:06:06. > :06:12.and the complaints received by the local authority to deal with it We
:06:13. > :06:18.had a Chief Constable believes it could send out the wrong message,
:06:19. > :06:25.concern for community coheshon. What effect could it have? A dev`stating
:06:26. > :06:30.effect. I think what people perceive that to be, all of the Muslhm
:06:31. > :06:37.community in Birmingham and 25 schools will be seen as being under
:06:38. > :06:42.the scope as terrorists and that would be judgemental to the
:06:43. > :06:46.community in Birmingham. If we are to move forward with an enqtiry we
:06:47. > :06:50.need to look at local engagdment with local people and working with
:06:51. > :06:56.the Department for Education to get to the bottom of this. Have you been
:06:57. > :07:02.in touch with Michael Gove? No, he is away at the moment. I will speak
:07:03. > :07:06.to him and the leaders in the city. I have a meeting with the
:07:07. > :07:11.Commissioner of police. I al trying to coordinate that to see how we can
:07:12. > :07:18.work together. Do you agree that has to be a thorough and professional
:07:19. > :07:23.investigation? Absolutely. H am one of the main people raising that The
:07:24. > :07:26.sensitivity issue is import`nt, putting somebody who doesn't
:07:27. > :07:32.understand the structure of education, we need to deal with that
:07:33. > :07:41.and not cause harm. Sir Albdrt Bore said he doesn't believe there is a
:07:42. > :07:45.plot behind this. Do you? Yds, I do. The evidence I have received and the
:07:46. > :07:49.issues and the group that is responsible for this is of `
:07:50. > :07:56.different school of thought in Islam and most of the parents are from a
:07:57. > :07:59.different school of thought. Coming up later in the programme: Fears for
:08:00. > :08:06.the future of a Black Country market ` traders say an increase in rent
:08:07. > :08:09.could put them out of busindss. A hospital criticised for putting
:08:10. > :08:11.patient safety at risk by under`staffing wards has begun
:08:12. > :08:14.recruiting nurses from Europe. An inspection last year found a
:08:15. > :08:17.shortage of nurses on surgical and dementia wards at New Cross, in
:08:18. > :08:22.Wolverhampton. There's a national shortage of qualified nurses. Since
:08:23. > :08:27.2009/10, over three thousand annual nurse training places have been lost
:08:28. > :08:31.across the UK. But the profdssion is competitive ` with ten people vying
:08:32. > :08:36.for each place. Around a qu`rter of all NHS Trusts are now lookhng
:08:37. > :08:39.abroad for staff. Senior NHS managers from Wolverhampton have
:08:40. > :08:46.been to Greece to find a new generation of nursing talent. Ben
:08:47. > :08:49.Godfrey has this exclusive report. In a hotel in Thessaloniki,
:08:50. > :08:54.Aphrodite Karga is hoping for her big break. She wants to work as a
:08:55. > :09:05.nurse in Wolverhampton, and she s travelled for five hours to her job
:09:06. > :09:10.interview in Greece's 'second city'. I have heard in UK you have good
:09:11. > :09:15.nursing system and hospitals. Here in Greece we can't find a job
:09:16. > :09:18.unfortunately. Aphrodite could be one of the 1 0
:09:19. > :09:21.nurses recruited to New Cross Hospital to meet patient deland and
:09:22. > :09:31.offset a shortage of qualifhed nurses in Britain. They are being
:09:32. > :09:33.tested on their ability to calculate drugs and respond to specifhc
:09:34. > :09:42.clinical scenarios. Their written responses will be assessed for their
:09:43. > :09:46.English language skills. We need to understand their training, their
:09:47. > :09:49.valuables and care and comp`ssion and their personal values and we are
:09:50. > :09:58.looking to recruit for the right person for Wolverhampton. I know it
:09:59. > :10:06.is an urban city. 35 minutes driving Ron Birmingham. `` from Birlingham.
:10:07. > :10:10.It has a good night life. Wd understand the hospital will pay for
:10:11. > :10:14.flights to the UK ` Greek ntrses will get the same starting salary as
:10:15. > :10:17.those from the UK, around ?21,0 0. Last November, the Care Quality
:10:18. > :10:25.Commission found that staffhng on surgical wards at night madd it
:10:26. > :10:32.difficult to provide safe c`re. One patient group is cautious about
:10:33. > :10:36.recruiting abroad. If recruhtment is done abroad, those nurses nded to be
:10:37. > :10:40.competent and skilled and are safe to treat and care for patients.
:10:41. > :10:44.Clearly, Greece isn't always favoured by the NHS. You've chosen
:10:45. > :10:47.not to recruit midwives frol Greece because of concerns about the number
:10:48. > :10:50.of Caesarean sections they perform, but here you are in Greece dmploying
:10:51. > :11:00.nurses in other areas, is that right? I am confident the ntrses we
:11:01. > :11:07.are recruiting today will bd of the right calibre and right for Arthur.
:11:08. > :11:11.They promise no locally qualified nurse like these at the University
:11:12. > :11:20.of Wolverhampton will be denied a job but the reality is it's a global
:11:21. > :11:22.market. Welcome to nursing bootcamp. At Thessaloniki's Alexander
:11:23. > :11:25.Technological Institute these students train for four years, and
:11:26. > :11:39.spend many intense days `in Greece's hospitals. UK give us opportunities.
:11:40. > :11:45.Korea in advancing our statts `` studies. I would like to st`y in
:11:46. > :11:48.Greece and see Greece provide. One recent international survey
:11:49. > :11:55.found that the UK and Greecd have something in common ` their nurses
:11:56. > :12:00.are the most stressed in thd world. Will they fit in? They are willing
:12:01. > :12:04.to allow themselves three months where they can get the langtage
:12:05. > :12:09.right and simple things likd a bedpan. There is no easy
:12:10. > :12:12.translation. Interviews beg`n last Wednesday, as Greek nurses joined a
:12:13. > :12:17.General Strike, opposing Government austerity measures which have left
:12:18. > :12:25.many unemployed. Anastasia `nd Panos are competing for the same job and
:12:26. > :12:35.engaged to be married. I control my anxiety. It was easy. We have an
:12:36. > :12:40.economic crisis here. The sxstem is inadequate.
:12:41. > :12:43.30 candidates will be offerdd jobs after recruitment drives in Greece
:12:44. > :12:46.and Italy. How many know wh`t challenges lie ahead, as thdy
:12:47. > :12:56.prepare to arrive on the wards of Wolverhampton by late June.
:12:57. > :13:01.A man's critically ill after a stabbing in Birmingham last night.
:13:02. > :13:04.Emergency services were called to Slade Road in Erdington at `round
:13:05. > :13:08.ten to eleven after reports of a fight ` they found a 24`year`old
:13:09. > :13:11.with knife wounds. Police s`y he has life threatening injuries. The road
:13:12. > :13:17.was closed off while forenshc tests were carried out. Plans for an
:13:18. > :13:20.increase in the cost of a gtn licence have been criticised by
:13:21. > :13:25.shooting enthusiasts who fe`r they could be forced out of the sport.
:13:26. > :13:28.The Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, Ron Ball, is
:13:29. > :13:31.supporting a rise, saying it currently costs his staff ?200 to
:13:32. > :13:35.process the paperwork, whild each applicant pays just 50 pounds. Bob
:13:36. > :13:39.Hockenhull reports. Shooting ` enjoyed by an estimated
:13:40. > :13:44.three quarters of a million people across the UK. But the cost of a gun
:13:45. > :13:48.license could be about to ndarly double to ?92. Besides using a
:13:49. > :13:54.shotgun for his work, Worcestershire farmer Phil Sanders is a kedn clay
:13:55. > :14:02.pigeon shooter. He fears such a hike will cause enthusiasts to ldave the
:14:03. > :14:07.sport. People with the lowest incomes, it would be one more thing
:14:08. > :14:09.they would decide to no longer continue with.
:14:10. > :14:18.The police are proposing thd increase. Across West Merci` and
:14:19. > :14:21.Warwickshire, it costs nearly 2 0 pounds to administer each lhcense.
:14:22. > :14:24.The Police and Crime Commissioner says the public is effectivdly
:14:25. > :14:28.subsiding gun ownership. Thd current prices are so out of line whth the
:14:29. > :14:31.actual costs that we need to start addressing that. I have to find the
:14:32. > :14:42.money from somewhere. It will start appearing in areas the publhc will
:14:43. > :14:46.not like. There are nearly 40,0 0 gun`owners across Warwickshhre and
:14:47. > :14:51.West, one of the highest figures in the country. It isn't just xour
:14:52. > :14:59.typical farmer or shooting competitor who owns a shotgtn.
:15:00. > :15:02.Victoria Knowles Lacks organises the largest women only shoot in the
:15:03. > :15:08.country and warns against an above inflation rise in licence fdes. It
:15:09. > :15:12.is such a wonderful and inclusive sport that it would be such a shame
:15:13. > :15:18.if there was a radical height and it would price people out. It hs worth
:15:19. > :15:21.billions to the economy, 70,000 jobs.
:15:22. > :15:27.The debate on fee increases will continue with a decision expected
:15:28. > :15:31.before the end of the year. This is our top story tonight: Concdrn for
:15:32. > :15:33.community cohesion as a forler counter terrorism chief is `ppointed
:15:34. > :15:39.to investigate an alleged Mtslim plot to takeover schools. Your
:15:40. > :15:43.detailed weather forecast to come shortly from Shefali. Also, in
:15:44. > :15:46.tonight's programme. Not just a pretty face ` the Miss Engl`nd
:15:47. > :15:47.contestants being put through their paces.
:15:48. > :15:50.And the Grand National winndr may have put it on the map, but could
:15:51. > :16:03.you find the village of Clahnes Market traders in the Black Country
:16:04. > :16:08.say they could be pushed out of business because of increasds in
:16:09. > :16:11.rent. Stallholders in Bilston are facing a five per cent rise by
:16:12. > :16:14.Wolverhampton City Council for the second year running. The cotncil
:16:15. > :16:24.needs to save ?123 million over the next five years. 2,000 jobs will be
:16:25. > :16:27.lost. And council tax bills have gone up by 2% this year as the
:16:28. > :16:30.authority tries to balance the books. But market traders s`y they
:16:31. > :16:34.can't cope with the extra rdnt they're now being asked to pay.
:16:35. > :16:38.Louisa Currie reports. Market traders have been setting up
:16:39. > :16:54.shop in Bilston for hundreds of years. But today's stallholders say
:16:55. > :16:58.their future is uncertain. We are struggling and find it harddr to pay
:16:59. > :17:10.the rent. There was a 5% increase and some of us can't carry on. We
:17:11. > :17:14.can't afford any more incre`ses We will look at a business package to
:17:15. > :17:19.keep prices down to give us a chance to survive. It is a difficult time.
:17:20. > :17:26.All of the traders are concdrned. The market sustains 200 stores in
:17:27. > :17:30.doors and outside. Selling everything from sweet and ctrtains
:17:31. > :17:38.and flowers and telephones. I couldn't imagine Bilston without a
:17:39. > :17:46.market. You get great bargahns, that's what I like! Aftersh`ve,
:17:47. > :17:48.clothes, it's useful. In a statement the City Council says
:17:49. > :17:56.it's: Meanwhile a petition against the
:17:57. > :17:59.increase has been submitted ` and the Council says traders will be
:18:00. > :18:06.given the chance to address councillors at a date still to be
:18:07. > :18:09.fixed. Aston Villa have suspended two of
:18:10. > :18:12.the club's senior members of staff, pending an internal investigation.
:18:13. > :18:14.Gary Karsa, who's head of football operations, and Ian Culverhouse the
:18:15. > :18:19.assistant manager, will step aside from their normal duties. Former
:18:20. > :18:22.player Gordon Cowans and go`lkeeper Shay Given will work with P`ul
:18:23. > :18:29.Lambert to prepare the team for Saturday's vital Premier le`gue game
:18:30. > :18:33.at home to Southampton. It's not your traditional ilage of a
:18:34. > :18:36.beauty queen, but contestants in this year's Miss England colpetition
:18:37. > :18:39.are being put through their paces at a military`style bootcamp.
:18:40. > :18:42.Semi`finalists from around the region gathered in Worcestershire to
:18:43. > :18:46.experience the pain of an extreme fitness work`out. Ben Sidwell was
:18:47. > :19:05.there to see them in action. The life of a beauty queen.
:19:06. > :19:08.Glamorous, stylish, and luxtrious. If you thought Miss England was all
:19:09. > :19:21.about champagne and pampering, think again. I can't do any more! This
:19:22. > :19:26.year, there won't be a swimsuit inside. Instead, if they won the
:19:27. > :19:30.crown, they have to survive a military style Boot Camp.
:19:31. > :19:35.It isn't what you expect for a traditional beauty pageant. It is
:19:36. > :19:38.nice to have something diffdrent and something to aim for.
:19:39. > :19:46.When people see what the girls go through it will change opinhons
:19:47. > :19:49.about the competition. Five of the Miss England hopefuls
:19:50. > :19:55.are getting a taste of what is to come.
:19:56. > :20:01.Tiring. It is hard work. Thdy are pushing us to the limits.
:20:02. > :20:05.Keep going, keep going until I can't do any more.
:20:06. > :20:10.Pushing the girls to breaking point, military trained
:20:11. > :20:14.instructors. It is a beauty pageant. This is a
:20:15. > :20:24.gimmick. We are there creating a complete
:20:25. > :20:28.package. Fitness, personality and what they do outside.
:20:29. > :20:39.To look this good takes a lot of hard work. Around 80 girls will
:20:40. > :20:43.battle it out in the semis. They will face yet another gruelling
:20:44. > :20:50.physical work`out. It is more about being sporty and
:20:51. > :20:54.charitable and well rounded. I think it shows the girls intelligdnce more
:20:55. > :20:58.than what it ever has. There is still bound to be tears and
:20:59. > :21:06.tiaras but after battling through boot camp, this years winner will
:21:07. > :21:18.truly have earned her title. Looks a riot. It was supposed to put it on
:21:19. > :21:21.the map. The village which hs proud to be home to this year's Grand
:21:22. > :21:24.National winner, but it seels some visitors are struggling to find
:21:25. > :21:27.Claines in Worcestershire. Now villagers want a road sign to their
:21:28. > :21:30.community to stop drivers gdtting lost. Pam Caulfield has man`ged to
:21:31. > :21:37.get there. Pam, what's the problem? I got here fine but I have lived
:21:38. > :21:42.here for most of my life. It seems visitors and cry national f`ns are
:21:43. > :21:48.finding it harder. Villagers tell me they need a sign. Sitting to the
:21:49. > :21:53.northwest of Worcester ` Cl`ines has plenty to boast about an ancient
:21:54. > :21:57.church. Stunning scenery. An award winning pub. And now a Grand
:21:58. > :22:07.National winning horse ` Pineau de Re ` who's being shown off proudly
:22:08. > :22:14.in the local. It has been in motion or but absolutely incredibld. It has
:22:15. > :22:18.put us on the map. It was all ready on it but even more so now. But
:22:19. > :22:23.despite all that right here in the heart of the parish there's
:22:24. > :22:27.something missing. Its own welcome sign. Now following the Grand
:22:28. > :22:31.National success ` it's somdthing villagers are campaigning for. It is
:22:32. > :22:37.part of what you grow up with. I guess for people coming to the place
:22:38. > :22:48.people visiting they are not always sure. That naffs are not always that
:22:49. > :22:54.accurate. `` sat mats. As you approach it is written on the road
:22:55. > :22:57.but after the roundabout whdre is it? And only having signs on the
:22:58. > :22:59.outskirts could be costing them passing trade.
:23:00. > :23:13.But BBC Hereford and Worcester's also on board ` We can do whth the
:23:14. > :23:19.flag and Worcestershire won the Grand National, for heavens sake.
:23:20. > :23:23.You wonder where you are. A side, listeners are backing it.
:23:24. > :23:27.So with plenty of support on their side ` a new sign could be on the
:23:28. > :23:35.cards ` meaning more people can sample what Claines has to offer.
:23:36. > :23:45.Plenty of muscle behind the campaign. Are we going to gdt a
:23:46. > :23:52.sign? We will and hopefully one at each end which is what the residents
:23:53. > :23:59.would like. Two signs, what will they look like? A fairly st`ndard
:24:00. > :24:05.local authority sign saying welcome please drive slowly and then the
:24:06. > :24:09.special bit underneath would be home of the Grand National winner, 2 14
:24:10. > :24:19.or something along those lines. There will be a nod to the horse. We
:24:20. > :24:22.have agreed the process and we will talk to the county councillors and
:24:23. > :24:26.then the local community to ask if that's what they like and wd will
:24:27. > :24:33.put the wheels in motion. Shx weeks, something like that. Thank xou for
:24:34. > :24:37.that great news. All of this Grand National publicity has been worth
:24:38. > :24:44.it. Not one but two signs. Back to you!
:24:45. > :24:53.Glorious sunshine there in Worcestershire. Another sprhng day.
:24:54. > :24:58.The sun does seem strong. It is strong. We are coming to thd end of
:24:59. > :25:03.the day so not as strong as earlier but we have a couple of beattiful
:25:04. > :25:08.days and UV levels will be high Don't be fooled by the breeze or
:25:09. > :25:15.Chile starts. Protect yoursdlves. Slightly bad news for the E`ster
:25:16. > :25:20.weekend. Yesterday confident was low as to how it would turn out but it
:25:21. > :25:26.seems confidence is slightlx higher and it will be fairly unsubtle for
:25:27. > :25:30.the second half. This is Easter Sunday. Good Friday and Sattrday,
:25:31. > :25:34.temperatures will be pegged back but it will be largely drive. Hopefully
:25:35. > :25:42.things will change as the wdek goes on. The pressure chart shows high
:25:43. > :25:46.pressure in control, today `nd tomorrow but a slight changd by the
:25:47. > :25:50.end of tomorrow into Thursd`y as this cold front starts to slip down
:25:51. > :25:56.from the north`west introducing more in the way of cloud. Pressure is
:25:57. > :26:01.fairly high throughout the week except for the second half of the
:26:02. > :26:06.weekend. Tonight, and a high`pressure largely clear skies,
:26:07. > :26:12.temperatures dipping to thehr lowest point which could be near freezing
:26:13. > :26:16.in rural spots. We could sed a touch of frost, also some misty p`tch is
:26:17. > :26:22.developing into the morning. On the whole, temperatures in built`up
:26:23. > :26:29.areas around four or five and a dry night. Dry tomorrow, other than the
:26:30. > :26:33.mist and a touch of frost, looking beautiful. Overall, a touch warmer
:26:34. > :26:39.than today, dry and the sunshine is with us from the word go. Vdry
:26:40. > :26:44.little in the way of cloud `nd UV levels will be high. Temper`tures
:26:45. > :26:50.rising nicely up to 15 for lost places and in the south`west of the
:26:51. > :26:57.region temperatures could ntdge up to 16 Celsius. Tomorrow night, there
:26:58. > :27:04.will be cloudy conditions so frost is less likely and temperattres a
:27:05. > :27:10.little bit higher but lingering into Thursday and giving off spots of
:27:11. > :27:14.rain. Temperatures back to 03 or 14. . Sounds like make the most of
:27:15. > :27:19.tomorrow. Tonight's headlinds from the BBC. The fight back beghns `
:27:20. > :27:22.Ukrainian forces start to otst pro ` Russian gunmen from the east of the
:27:23. > :27:25.country. Concern for communhty cohesion as a former counter
:27:26. > :27:28.terrorism chief is appointed to investigate an alleged Muslhm plot
:27:29. > :27:31.to takeover schools That was the Midlands Today. I'll be back at ten
:27:32. > :27:43.o'clock with more news from around the region. I hope you can join me.
:27:44. > :27:46.Good evening. Goodbye for now.