:00:00. > :00:10.Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: the Home
:00:11. > :00:15.Office says it will consider a formal request for a public inquiry
:00:16. > :00:19.into the deaths of three men killed in the Birmingham riots. The IPCC
:00:20. > :00:26.report did not provide us with real answers. I will be speaking to the
:00:27. > :00:29.West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner about what he intends
:00:30. > :00:36.to do to hold the force to account. Put into special mergers, the new
:00:37. > :00:39.Academy formed to improve failing schools `` special measures. The
:00:40. > :00:48.school has let down its young people, families and community. Bus
:00:49. > :00:52.shelters go up in Coventry but they are missing vital information.
:00:53. > :00:58.Rubbish. Pensioners do not know where they are. People do not care.
:00:59. > :01:01.The Spring fair gets grown`up, becoming an official Royal
:01:02. > :01:06.Horticultural Society show. If only the weather was blooming
:01:07. > :01:09.marvellous. Flowers and folk, pelting rain and driving winds don't
:01:10. > :01:20.mix. So, will it improve? Find out later.
:01:21. > :01:28.Good evening. There are growing calls tonight for a public inquiry
:01:29. > :01:31.to be held into how West Midlands Police handled the investigation
:01:32. > :01:34.into the deaths of three young men killed during the Birmingham riots.
:01:35. > :01:36.An Independent Police Complaints Commission report into the case,
:01:37. > :01:39.published yesterday, has been criticised for making a scapegoat of
:01:40. > :01:42.a senior police officer. And for failing to examine documents that
:01:43. > :01:46.were held by the Crown Prosecution Service and providing the families
:01:47. > :01:49.of those who died with no real answers. The Home Office said today
:01:50. > :01:54.it'll consider a formal request for a public inquiry once it's been
:01:55. > :01:59.received. Here's our special correspondent, Peter Wilson.
:02:00. > :02:03.Three years on, the families of those who died say they still want
:02:04. > :02:09.answers. An independent report by the police watchdog posed yet more
:02:10. > :02:18.questions. Now one city councillor says the families are right, there
:02:19. > :02:23.must be a public inquiry. The IPCC report did not provide us with real
:02:24. > :02:27.answers. It opened up a can of worms and many more questions. The Crown
:02:28. > :02:33.Prosecution Service did not Corp rate with the IPCC. They did not
:02:34. > :02:36.provide important documents. The only way to get answers is through a
:02:37. > :02:39.public inquiry commissioned by the Home Secretary. And late this
:02:40. > :02:42.afternoon, a spokesperson for the Home Secretary, Theresa May, says
:02:43. > :02:44.they are deeply troubled by the conclusions of the Independent
:02:45. > :02:52.Police Complaints Commission.and they'll consider calls for a public
:02:53. > :02:57.inquiry. Haroon Jahan and brothers Shahzad and Abdul Musavir were hit
:02:58. > :03:04.by a car. The police re`enacted the speed. This man was the family
:03:05. > :03:09.liaison officer, an important role, but not normally central to the
:03:10. > :03:11.running of the investigation. Yet Detective Inspector Khalid Kiyani
:03:12. > :03:17.has been called reckless and blamed for offering witnesses immunity. But
:03:18. > :03:20.he's well trusted and respected by those who've worked with him.It was
:03:21. > :03:25.here at this Smethwick mosque that Khalid Kiyani offered eyewitnesses
:03:26. > :03:29.immunity from prosecution. There are questions about the quality of his
:03:30. > :03:33.work. These have not been made previously in 30 years of service
:03:34. > :03:38.until this particular issue at the end. He was a family liaison
:03:39. > :03:42.officer. I think some of those individuals who came forward to give
:03:43. > :03:50.evidence did so because they had trust in him as an individual and
:03:51. > :03:55.police officer. Do you think the criticisms of Khalid Kiyani are
:03:56. > :04:06.unfair? I think he is being made a scapegoat. He offered witnesses
:04:07. > :04:09.immunity from prosecution. That offer was not disclosed until the
:04:10. > :04:12.end of the trial of eight men accused of murder. They were
:04:13. > :04:15.cleared, but it jeopardised the case. One man who was at the meeting
:04:16. > :04:18.claims Kiyani didn't act alone. We were greeted by a number of
:04:19. > :04:22.officers, at least ten different members of the police. We were
:04:23. > :04:26.briefed that we would be offered, everybody should give a statement
:04:27. > :04:31.and everyone would be given immunity. That was the officer.
:04:32. > :04:35.There were at least ten officers there. Everybody went along with it.
:04:36. > :04:38.This was the most high`profile police investigation for nearly a
:04:39. > :04:47.decade, yet a series of mistakes were made. Public enquiries take a
:04:48. > :04:51.long time and are expensive. It can be a knee jerk reaction calling for
:04:52. > :04:59.them. But many people are now saying it is the only way to get the
:05:00. > :05:02.answers that people want to hear. A little earlier, I went to police
:05:03. > :05:05.headquarters and spoke to the West Midlands Police and Crime
:05:06. > :05:09.Commissioner Bob Jones who told me the families of the young men who
:05:10. > :05:18.died deserve to have all of their questions answered. Why are you
:05:19. > :05:26.tuning the calls for a public inquiry? `` joining. It is clear the
:05:27. > :05:32.families in Winson Green have not had the best service from the common
:05:33. > :05:37.justice system. The only way we can get answers, from the whole of the
:05:38. > :05:44.justice system, is through a public inquiry. What will you do if you do
:05:45. > :05:48.not achieve that? We will be asking questions within the police and
:05:49. > :05:54.seeking to get answers. But I have not got any powers to demand answers
:05:55. > :06:00.from the court, the CPS, the IPCC. But you can from the police? I
:06:01. > :06:05.cannot interfere with operational policing, I cannot determine who to
:06:06. > :06:10.arrest, I cannot substitute my judgement about the interpretation
:06:11. > :06:15.of the law. That is clear under the legislation. But I can do my best to
:06:16. > :06:19.ensure that we ask questions to make sure what went wrong and are we
:06:20. > :06:25.going to be able to do something to prevent it happening again? Tariq
:06:26. > :06:31.Jahan thinks he has been badly let down. Can you understand that? I can
:06:32. > :06:36.understand his frustration. He has behaved with enormous dignity and
:06:37. > :06:42.has been immensely responsible. The way he behaved in the aftermath of
:06:43. > :06:47.the riots very much led the way in diffusing tensions that could have
:06:48. > :06:50.led to greater problems. When he has behaved in such a dignified and
:06:51. > :06:57.responsible manner, the fact we have let him and the other family down is
:06:58. > :07:01.of immense concern. I would have thought you in your job, this is one
:07:02. > :07:08.of the most daunting challenges you have had to face. It is based there
:07:09. > :07:13.is of key issues that undermine the community's confidence in the
:07:14. > :07:18.police. It is essential. The community is our greatest partner.
:07:19. > :07:22.If we do not have their confidence and support, the police's job in
:07:23. > :07:28.protecting the community is made more difficult. How determined are
:07:29. > :07:32.you to nail this once and for all? I will do my utmost to try and give
:07:33. > :07:37.the families answers, but the only body that has the power to get all
:07:38. > :07:44.of the answers to all of the issues is a public inquiry. The Home
:07:45. > :07:58.Secretary will respond to Tariq Jahan's in the... I very much
:07:59. > :08:04.support that. Coming up later in the programme: A
:08:05. > :08:06.thank you from the trainee pilots learning their craft with the help
:08:07. > :08:17.of farmers in Shropshire. And a first in Shropshire, the Mint
:08:18. > :08:20.that tastes of strawberries. We're disappointed and we've let
:08:21. > :08:23.down our young people. That's the message today from the
:08:24. > :08:27.latest school in the region to be put into special measures. The
:08:28. > :08:30.Nuneaton Academy opened in 2012 as a replacement for two failing schools,
:08:31. > :08:33.but it hasn't yet managed a dramatic improvement in their results. A new
:08:34. > :08:35.principal and chairman of governors have now been appointed. Joan
:08:36. > :08:38.Cummins reports. Nuneaton Academy educates more than
:08:39. > :08:40.950 children from the town. Just like the hundreds of academies
:08:41. > :08:43.across the country, it's state funded but independent of local
:08:44. > :08:46.authority control. But according to Ofsted, standards at the school have
:08:47. > :08:54.dropped to inadequate and it's now in special measures. The teaching
:08:55. > :08:59.has not been fit for purpose. In response to that, what decisions I
:09:00. > :09:04.have made and taken with my team, with the support, is to improve
:09:05. > :09:08.where teaching is not as strong as it should be, we are looking to
:09:09. > :09:12.develop a whole team here so that we are a high performing Academy. The
:09:13. > :09:14.academy was formed in 2010 following the amalgamation of two other
:09:15. > :09:17.secondary schools. It's cost more than ?9 million. But now
:09:18. > :09:26.achievement, teaching, behaviours and leadership are all described as
:09:27. > :09:31.inadequate. A school that is described as being in special
:09:32. > :09:36.measures is a school that has let down the young people, families and
:09:37. > :09:41.communities. Is there any hope for Nuneaton Academy? Absolutely. I am
:09:42. > :09:44.confident it will move forward towards satisfactory, good and
:09:45. > :09:48.ultimately to outstanding. Inspectors said students were often
:09:49. > :09:51.bored and had no pride in their work. But pupils today remained
:09:52. > :09:59.optimistic for the school and their future. Considering we are
:10:00. > :10:03.teenagers, we get bored a lot. Lessons have kicked off to be more
:10:04. > :10:11.creative and we have more practical is going on. The resources have
:10:12. > :10:15.improved. The teaching quality has got better. The students should not
:10:16. > :10:18.get bored. They don't want to be learning then. They have improved.
:10:19. > :10:21.There are more than 300 schools with academy status across the West
:10:22. > :10:24.Midlands. 13 have already been judged inadequate by Ofsted, but
:10:25. > :10:35.supporters of the academy system say they still have a role. On the
:10:36. > :10:40.whole, academies demonstrated better achievement levels than their
:10:41. > :10:47.counterparts. Yes, there will be variations around that. Nuneaton
:10:48. > :10:52.Academy are not taking this judgement lightly. They have
:10:53. > :10:58.introduced a no excuse culture and it applies to both staff and pupils.
:10:59. > :11:07.Inspectors are due to revisit to see if it is working in six weeks.
:11:08. > :11:10.Passengers have described changes made to bus services in the centre
:11:11. > :11:14.of Coventry as a shambles. Long`running road works have meant
:11:15. > :11:17.some stops have had to be moved, but new ones have reappeared without
:11:18. > :11:20.numbers or timetables. The body which looks after public transport
:11:21. > :11:23.has apologised and says the problem will be fixed. Kevin Reide's been
:11:24. > :11:25.trying to work which bus is going from where.
:11:26. > :11:28.The Sir Frank Whittle statue adjacent Coventry's bus station. He
:11:29. > :11:32.helped pioneer high`speed travel, but his low`speed transport
:11:33. > :11:35.successors seem to be struggling. New bus shelters have been installed
:11:36. > :11:39.as part of a refurbishment scheme, but there's no information as to
:11:40. > :11:47.which bus stops where. And some are even stopping where there's no stop
:11:48. > :11:52.at all. I have counted half a dozen bus shelters that are like this one,
:11:53. > :11:59.no information, no numbers, no timetable. For some passengers, it
:12:00. > :12:03.is chaotic. Rubbish. Pensioners do not know where they are. People
:12:04. > :12:10.don't care. No information in any of the bus shelters. It is guesswork.
:12:11. > :12:15.Last time I was here, the bus stop was over there temporarily. Now
:12:16. > :12:19.there are no signs. I don't know any more. I don't know whether to stay.
:12:20. > :12:23.My daughter is in the rain. Chaotic. A couple of years ago in Birmingham,
:12:24. > :12:29.Centro put out stewards when there were changes to bus stops. Not so in
:12:30. > :12:33.Coventry today. We have done a certain amount of local publicity,
:12:34. > :12:37.but we have needed to change things frequently in commentary. It is part
:12:38. > :12:44.of a major scheme to redevelop the city centre, to improve pedestrian
:12:45. > :12:48.areas. Centro have apologised. But it looks as if the young mum we
:12:49. > :12:55.spoke to earlier has found her bus. Or has she? I asked the driver if it
:12:56. > :12:59.was the stop, he did not know. I am going to get a taxi now. Centro are
:13:00. > :13:06.now promising to label the stops and put in timetables. Until then, bus
:13:07. > :13:10.users will have to keep guessing. Now it's not a natural link to make,
:13:11. > :13:14.trainee pilots in the armed forces needing the support of farmers
:13:15. > :13:18.across Shropshire. But without being able to land in fields of all shapes
:13:19. > :13:22.and sizes, they wouldn't get the experience they need. Today RAF
:13:23. > :13:25.Shawbury held a special open day to say thank you to the landowners who
:13:26. > :13:32.support them. Joanne Writtle reports.
:13:33. > :13:36.Military helicopters can be a regular sight in the skies over
:13:37. > :13:39.Shropshire. Largely because of trainee pilots and crew from the
:13:40. > :13:45.defence helicopter flying school at RAF Shawbury taking to the air.
:13:46. > :13:50.But today there was a show for an invited audience, the dozens of
:13:51. > :13:59.landowners who allow the helicopters to touch down on their ground. The
:14:00. > :14:04.topography that we have in Shropshire offers us a mix of flat
:14:05. > :14:08.land and sloping land and open fields and clearings and woods. All
:14:09. > :14:12.of those environments something we need to get used to operating in
:14:13. > :14:22.safely. Some of the landowners were taken up today too. To go and fly
:14:23. > :14:25.around is really a treat. Also to learn more about the air force and
:14:26. > :14:32.the helicopters. It increases the understanding as well. They use the
:14:33. > :14:38.three fields when they wish. Alpha, bravo and Charlie, they call the
:14:39. > :14:43.fields. I keep cattle out of the way when necessary. If the sheep are in
:14:44. > :14:47.the way, they will not use it that day. Not quite Afghanistan
:14:48. > :14:50.conditions in Shropshire, but it is important they have the opportunity.
:14:51. > :14:54.It is no inconvenience to me. Princes William and Harry were among
:14:55. > :14:57.the thousands who've been trained here. This year, no royalty, but
:14:58. > :15:05.nonetheless, dedicated trainees from the Army, RAF and Navy. It is
:15:06. > :15:09.something we do on a day`to`day basis when we are front line.
:15:10. > :15:14.Because of that, it gives us the training now in the basic phase,
:15:15. > :15:17.when we are not under fire, not in an operational environment, when we
:15:18. > :15:20.are getting instruction. So, from rural Shropshire to foreign missions
:15:21. > :15:30.or search and rescue, the trainees here make good use of the land
:15:31. > :15:33.around them. Football now and West Bromwich Albion are still looking
:15:34. > :15:37.for the point which would absolutely guarantee their place in the Premier
:15:38. > :15:40.League for next season. They lost 2`0 at Sunderland last night and
:15:41. > :15:43.stay three points above the relegation zone. But it would need
:15:44. > :15:47.an extraordinary swing in goal difference to send them down.
:15:48. > :15:55.Aston Villa were also beaten, losing 4`0 at the champions elect,
:15:56. > :15:58.Manchester City. Meanwhile, England's women are at
:15:59. > :16:02.Shrewsbury Town this evening aiming to take a step closer to next year's
:16:03. > :16:05.World Cup. They're at home to Ukraine in their latest qualifier
:16:06. > :16:08.and Dan Pallett's there right now. And so far England are well on
:16:09. > :16:14.course for a place in Canada next year, Dan. Yes, England are top of
:16:15. > :16:18.the group and unbeaten. Well on course to qualify for the World Cup
:16:19. > :16:21.in Canada next summer. So it's a perfect time for a young Birmingham
:16:22. > :16:24.City midfielder to come into the squad for the first time and
:16:25. > :16:27.possibly make her debut this evening. She can't stop smiling.
:16:28. > :16:30.Remi Allen is usually a bubbly character anyway. But this week,
:16:31. > :16:36.she's been called into the England squad for the first time. To be
:16:37. > :16:41.honest, I still think I am in shock. I did not expect the phone call. I
:16:42. > :16:47.was delighted. I was a bit nervous. I think I still am, really. Everyone
:16:48. > :16:53.has been welcoming. It has been nice to come and hopefully have a bit of
:16:54. > :16:56.fun now. The 23`year`old has started the season in great form with
:16:57. > :17:00.Birmingham City. Her goals helped them reach the semi`finals of the
:17:01. > :17:04.Champions' League. She played well domestically and in the Champions'
:17:05. > :17:09.League, scoring goals and playing well. She has earned the right to be
:17:10. > :17:13.part of the squad. Of the age she is and mentality, she will naturally
:17:14. > :17:19.fit in and hopefully do well. And she joins an England squad in fine
:17:20. > :17:23.form. England have won all five of the qualifiers so far. Anything less
:17:24. > :17:29.than winning the group would be a disappointment. Tonight's opponents
:17:30. > :17:31.may have more on their minds than football. Unrest in Ukraine
:17:32. > :17:35.continues. This was pro`Russian activists fighting riot police in
:17:36. > :17:39.Donetsk on first May. It is a difficult time for them. A lot of
:17:40. > :17:42.them are playing domestically and probably have family involved.
:17:43. > :17:45.Incredibly difficult. They are probably glad to be here playing
:17:46. > :17:48.such an important match. England's training base at St George's Park
:17:49. > :17:51.couldn't be more different to the troubled areas of Ukraine. The home
:17:52. > :17:54.squad have enjoyed the Staffordshire sunshine. Now they want three points
:17:55. > :18:01.made in Shropshire. Let us set the scene. The head of FA
:18:02. > :18:08.development. You must be pleased with how the girls are developing.
:18:09. > :18:12.They have had good results. Mark has settled in well in charge. It is
:18:13. > :18:16.fair to say we are getting to the business end now. Ukraine are
:18:17. > :18:19.probably the highest ranked opposition in our group. We want to
:18:20. > :18:26.win the home game to put us in a strong position. Of course, the
:18:27. > :18:31.other game, in fact, they did well by getting a draw against Ukraine.
:18:32. > :18:41.Tonight is important to get a win and keep the very good form. The
:18:42. > :18:44.women are back in Shrewsbury. We have always got great support, good
:18:45. > :18:49.surface here. It is a ground where you get good atmosphere. The England
:18:50. > :18:53.team like to travel around, but this is a place where they have always
:18:54. > :18:59.turned out to support us. It is quite a nice vocal lively
:19:00. > :19:02.surrounding, close to the fans. Highways enjoyed laying at a stadium
:19:03. > :19:10.like this and I am sure the girls will. `` enjoyed playing. The girls
:19:11. > :19:17.go to Ukraine next month. Will the game be fine to go ahead? We have
:19:18. > :19:21.asked the question of UEFA. Over the west side, they think it is a long
:19:22. > :19:27.way from the trouble. As we are we are still going. UEFA will make the
:19:28. > :19:32.decision nearer the time. We will adhere to that. Thank you. If you
:19:33. > :19:38.want to watch the game, it is live on BBC Two.
:19:39. > :19:42.Thank you very much indeed. The annual Spring Festival in Malvern
:19:43. > :19:46.today opened today with a newly elevated status. It has become one
:19:47. > :19:54.of the official Royal Horticultural Society's top shows. This year it
:19:55. > :20:00.expects to bring 100,000 visitors to the area.
:20:01. > :20:05.Think or to culture and you think Chelsea. Hampton Court. `` think
:20:06. > :20:15.horticulture. Add Malvern to the list. The Spring Festival. Our
:20:16. > :20:21.relationship with the RHS is so important to us. It is a strong
:20:22. > :20:30.relationship. Having those letters RHS, it denotes we are one of the
:20:31. > :20:37.four top horticultural shows in the UK. What most people come for is the
:20:38. > :20:44.gardens, the beach and the weather. I am getting a bit wet. Thank you.
:20:45. > :20:51.From the experts who have picked up gold to amateurs, a competition
:20:52. > :20:58.winner who is using his opportunity to raise money for the RAF
:20:59. > :21:07.benevolent fund. To give back to the charity was one of my main reasons
:21:08. > :21:17.to enter. My brother is serving in the forces. This represents what we
:21:18. > :21:23.can do for our school. Being such a prestigious show, there are a few
:21:24. > :21:29.first, like the new mint that smells and tastes like strawberries. Just
:21:30. > :21:36.like strawberries. Very surprised! You can smell the strawberries. And
:21:37. > :21:46.a new variety of coniferous plant that actually likes the inclement
:21:47. > :21:53.British weather `` carnivorous. I love the show. I love gardening and
:21:54. > :21:58.it is lovely to see new things too. We were not that keen on the first
:21:59. > :22:03.one because we were not into gardening! Now I think it is
:22:04. > :22:07.brilliant. What sets Malvern aside is that there is more on offer than
:22:08. > :22:13.just flowers. Really spectacular this year. With the partnership they
:22:14. > :22:18.have got, it is like the Chelsea Flower Show but without the barrage
:22:19. > :22:22.of people to get past. What started 29 years ago has become one of the
:22:23. > :22:30.most important dates on the horticultural calendar.
:22:31. > :22:34.Looked a bit damp. Let us find out whether the sun will make a brief
:22:35. > :22:36.appearance at Malvern this year. I would say no chance. It has been
:22:37. > :22:47.horrendous today. No gold rosettes for sunshine. I am
:22:48. > :22:55.a tad more optimistic about tomorrow. Unfortunately, as it
:22:56. > :23:00.stands, it is as advertised and it is looking dire for the weekend. Wet
:23:01. > :23:05.and windy on Saturday. Blustery showers on Sunday. Over the next
:23:06. > :23:12.three days, the winds will prevail. Today's warm sector is out of the
:23:13. > :23:18.way. Temperatures will dip tonight. The main thing is we have the
:23:19. > :23:21.clearing, that is the improvement for tomorrow. Then this next warm
:23:22. > :23:27.sector pushes up for the weekend bringing rain. The winds starting to
:23:28. > :23:34.strengthen as the isobars tighten and turned to north`westerly which
:23:35. > :23:39.is why the temperatures will dip on Sunday. At the moment, the rain has
:23:40. > :23:44.cleared. The odd shower now and again. A lot of dry weather. Cloud
:23:45. > :23:51.as well. Towards the end of the night, when most of us are tucked up
:23:52. > :23:54.in bed, another line of angry looking showers. Hopefully these
:23:55. > :23:58.will be over by tomorrow morning. If they are not, you could be waiting
:23:59. > :24:04.up to them. Temperatures dropping again to a very mild eight to 10
:24:05. > :24:09.degrees. The wind is picking up in the morning. The showers will move
:24:10. > :24:14.away to the east. After that, just the odd shower. Otherwise, largely
:24:15. > :24:21.dry tomorrow. Sunshine breaking through. Temperatures rising to
:24:22. > :24:27.around 14 to 16. Coupled with that, blustery, gusty westerly wind which
:24:28. > :24:32.could be up to 40mph. Tomorrow night, it starts fairly dry, but
:24:33. > :24:36.then we see the warm sector moving in from the West. It will introduce
:24:37. > :24:39.the rain towards the end of the night and in the early hours of
:24:40. > :24:45.Saturday morning. This will be quite heavy. He winds quite strong. The
:24:46. > :24:51.dark colours, heavy to come. That is throughout Saturday. Blustery heavy
:24:52. > :24:53.showers for Sunday with a change in wind direction to north`westerly
:24:54. > :25:00.which is why the temperature is right down to 12.
:25:01. > :25:03.Tonight was my headlines: Female British soldiers could be allowed to
:25:04. > :25:08.serve on the front line for the first time.
:25:09. > :25:11.Barclays is to cut 19,000 jobs. The Home Office says it will
:25:12. > :25:16.consider any formal request for a public inquiry into the deaths of
:25:17. > :25:20.three men killed during the Birmingham riots. The new academy in
:25:21. > :25:25.Nuneaton has been put into special measures.
:25:26. > :25:52.That was Midlands Today. I will be back at 10pm. Have a good evening.
:25:53. > :25:57.No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 21st century,
:25:58. > :26:00.that Britain's affairs were being watched and scrutinised
:26:01. > :26:05.With the help of our three political parties,
:26:06. > :26:08.who lie to the British public about their intentions,
:26:09. > :26:12.minds immeasurably more bureaucratic than ours
:26:13. > :26:24.slowly and surely drew their plans against us.
:26:25. > :26:29.smashing our democracy and destroying our laws...