08/05/2014 Midlands Today


08/05/2014

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Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: the Home

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Office says it will consider a formal request for a public inquiry

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into the deaths of three men killed in the Birmingham riots. The IPCC

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report did not provide us with real answers. I will be speaking to the

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West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner about what he intends

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to do to hold the force to account. Put into special mergers, the new

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Academy formed to improve failing schools `` special measures. The

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school has let down its young people, families and community. Bus

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shelters go up in Coventry but they are missing vital information.

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Rubbish. Pensioners do not know where they are. People do not care.

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The Spring fair gets grown`up, becoming an official Royal

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Horticultural Society show. If only the weather was blooming

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marvellous. Flowers and folk, pelting rain and driving winds don't

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mix. So, will it improve? Find out later.

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Good evening. There are growing calls tonight for a public inquiry

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to be held into how West Midlands Police handled the investigation

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into the deaths of three young men killed during the Birmingham riots.

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An Independent Police Complaints Commission report into the case,

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published yesterday, has been criticised for making a scapegoat of

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a senior police officer. And for failing to examine documents that

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were held by the Crown Prosecution Service and providing the families

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of those who died with no real answers. The Home Office said today

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it'll consider a formal request for a public inquiry once it's been

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received. Here's our special correspondent, Peter Wilson.

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Three years on, the families of those who died say they still want

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answers. An independent report by the police watchdog posed yet more

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questions. Now one city councillor says the families are right, there

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must be a public inquiry. The IPCC report did not provide us with real

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answers. It opened up a can of worms and many more questions. The Crown

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Prosecution Service did not Corp rate with the IPCC. They did not

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provide important documents. The only way to get answers is through a

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public inquiry commissioned by the Home Secretary. And late this

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afternoon, a spokesperson for the Home Secretary, Theresa May, says

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they are deeply troubled by the conclusions of the Independent

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Police Complaints Commission.and they'll consider calls for a public

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inquiry. Haroon Jahan and brothers Shahzad and Abdul Musavir were hit

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by a car. The police re`enacted the speed. This man was the family

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liaison officer, an important role, but not normally central to the

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running of the investigation. Yet Detective Inspector Khalid Kiyani

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has been called reckless and blamed for offering witnesses immunity. But

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he's well trusted and respected by those who've worked with him.It was

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here at this Smethwick mosque that Khalid Kiyani offered eyewitnesses

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immunity from prosecution. There are questions about the quality of his

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work. These have not been made previously in 30 years of service

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until this particular issue at the end. He was a family liaison

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officer. I think some of those individuals who came forward to give

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evidence did so because they had trust in him as an individual and

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police officer. Do you think the criticisms of Khalid Kiyani are

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unfair? I think he is being made a scapegoat. He offered witnesses

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immunity from prosecution. That offer was not disclosed until the

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end of the trial of eight men accused of murder. They were

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cleared, but it jeopardised the case. One man who was at the meeting

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claims Kiyani didn't act alone. We were greeted by a number of

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officers, at least ten different members of the police. We were

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briefed that we would be offered, everybody should give a statement

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and everyone would be given immunity. That was the officer.

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There were at least ten officers there. Everybody went along with it.

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This was the most high`profile police investigation for nearly a

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decade, yet a series of mistakes were made. Public enquiries take a

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long time and are expensive. It can be a knee jerk reaction calling for

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them. But many people are now saying it is the only way to get the

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answers that people want to hear. A little earlier, I went to police

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headquarters and spoke to the West Midlands Police and Crime

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Commissioner Bob Jones who told me the families of the young men who

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died deserve to have all of their questions answered. Why are you

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tuning the calls for a public inquiry? `` joining. It is clear the

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families in Winson Green have not had the best service from the common

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justice system. The only way we can get answers, from the whole of the

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justice system, is through a public inquiry. What will you do if you do

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not achieve that? We will be asking questions within the police and

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seeking to get answers. But I have not got any powers to demand answers

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from the court, the CPS, the IPCC. But you can from the police? I

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cannot interfere with operational policing, I cannot determine who to

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arrest, I cannot substitute my judgement about the interpretation

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of the law. That is clear under the legislation. But I can do my best to

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ensure that we ask questions to make sure what went wrong and are we

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going to be able to do something to prevent it happening again? Tariq

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Jahan thinks he has been badly let down. Can you understand that? I can

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understand his frustration. He has behaved with enormous dignity and

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has been immensely responsible. The way he behaved in the aftermath of

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the riots very much led the way in diffusing tensions that could have

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led to greater problems. When he has behaved in such a dignified and

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responsible manner, the fact we have let him and the other family down is

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of immense concern. I would have thought you in your job, this is one

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of the most daunting challenges you have had to face. It is based there

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is of key issues that undermine the community's confidence in the

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police. It is essential. The community is our greatest partner.

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If we do not have their confidence and support, the police's job in

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protecting the community is made more difficult. How determined are

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you to nail this once and for all? I will do my utmost to try and give

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the families answers, but the only body that has the power to get all

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of the answers to all of the issues is a public inquiry. The Home

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Secretary will respond to Tariq Jahan's in the... I very much

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support that. Coming up later in the programme: A

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thank you from the trainee pilots learning their craft with the help

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of farmers in Shropshire. And a first in Shropshire, the Mint

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that tastes of strawberries. We're disappointed and we've let

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down our young people. That's the message today from the

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latest school in the region to be put into special measures. The

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Nuneaton Academy opened in 2012 as a replacement for two failing schools,

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but it hasn't yet managed a dramatic improvement in their results. A new

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principal and chairman of governors have now been appointed. Joan

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Cummins reports. Nuneaton Academy educates more than

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950 children from the town. Just like the hundreds of academies

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across the country, it's state funded but independent of local

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authority control. But according to Ofsted, standards at the school have

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dropped to inadequate and it's now in special measures. The teaching

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has not been fit for purpose. In response to that, what decisions I

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have made and taken with my team, with the support, is to improve

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where teaching is not as strong as it should be, we are looking to

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develop a whole team here so that we are a high performing Academy. The

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academy was formed in 2010 following the amalgamation of two other

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secondary schools. It's cost more than ?9 million. But now

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achievement, teaching, behaviours and leadership are all described as

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inadequate. A school that is described as being in special

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measures is a school that has let down the young people, families and

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communities. Is there any hope for Nuneaton Academy? Absolutely. I am

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confident it will move forward towards satisfactory, good and

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ultimately to outstanding. Inspectors said students were often

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bored and had no pride in their work. But pupils today remained

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optimistic for the school and their future. Considering we are

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teenagers, we get bored a lot. Lessons have kicked off to be more

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creative and we have more practical is going on. The resources have

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improved. The teaching quality has got better. The students should not

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get bored. They don't want to be learning then. They have improved.

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There are more than 300 schools with academy status across the West

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Midlands. 13 have already been judged inadequate by Ofsted, but

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supporters of the academy system say they still have a role. On the

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whole, academies demonstrated better achievement levels than their

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counterparts. Yes, there will be variations around that. Nuneaton

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Academy are not taking this judgement lightly. They have

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introduced a no excuse culture and it applies to both staff and pupils.

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Inspectors are due to revisit to see if it is working in six weeks.

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Passengers have described changes made to bus services in the centre

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of Coventry as a shambles. Long`running road works have meant

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some stops have had to be moved, but new ones have reappeared without

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numbers or timetables. The body which looks after public transport

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has apologised and says the problem will be fixed. Kevin Reide's been

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trying to work which bus is going from where.

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The Sir Frank Whittle statue adjacent Coventry's bus station. He

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helped pioneer high`speed travel, but his low`speed transport

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successors seem to be struggling. New bus shelters have been installed

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as part of a refurbishment scheme, but there's no information as to

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which bus stops where. And some are even stopping where there's no stop

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at all. I have counted half a dozen bus shelters that are like this one,

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no information, no numbers, no timetable. For some passengers, it

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is chaotic. Rubbish. Pensioners do not know where they are. People

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don't care. No information in any of the bus shelters. It is guesswork.

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Last time I was here, the bus stop was over there temporarily. Now

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there are no signs. I don't know any more. I don't know whether to stay.

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My daughter is in the rain. Chaotic. A couple of years ago in Birmingham,

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Centro put out stewards when there were changes to bus stops. Not so in

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Coventry today. We have done a certain amount of local publicity,

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but we have needed to change things frequently in commentary. It is part

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of a major scheme to redevelop the city centre, to improve pedestrian

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areas. Centro have apologised. But it looks as if the young mum we

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spoke to earlier has found her bus. Or has she? I asked the driver if it

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was the stop, he did not know. I am going to get a taxi now. Centro are

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now promising to label the stops and put in timetables. Until then, bus

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users will have to keep guessing. Now it's not a natural link to make,

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trainee pilots in the armed forces needing the support of farmers

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across Shropshire. But without being able to land in fields of all shapes

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and sizes, they wouldn't get the experience they need. Today RAF

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Shawbury held a special open day to say thank you to the landowners who

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support them. Joanne Writtle reports.

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Military helicopters can be a regular sight in the skies over

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Shropshire. Largely because of trainee pilots and crew from the

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defence helicopter flying school at RAF Shawbury taking to the air.

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But today there was a show for an invited audience, the dozens of

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landowners who allow the helicopters to touch down on their ground. The

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topography that we have in Shropshire offers us a mix of flat

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land and sloping land and open fields and clearings and woods. All

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of those environments something we need to get used to operating in

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safely. Some of the landowners were taken up today too. To go and fly

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around is really a treat. Also to learn more about the air force and

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the helicopters. It increases the understanding as well. They use the

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three fields when they wish. Alpha, bravo and Charlie, they call the

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fields. I keep cattle out of the way when necessary. If the sheep are in

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the way, they will not use it that day. Not quite Afghanistan

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conditions in Shropshire, but it is important they have the opportunity.

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It is no inconvenience to me. Princes William and Harry were among

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the thousands who've been trained here. This year, no royalty, but

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nonetheless, dedicated trainees from the Army, RAF and Navy. It is

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something we do on a day`to`day basis when we are front line.

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Because of that, it gives us the training now in the basic phase,

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when we are not under fire, not in an operational environment, when we

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are getting instruction. So, from rural Shropshire to foreign missions

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or search and rescue, the trainees here make good use of the land

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around them. Football now and West Bromwich Albion are still looking

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for the point which would absolutely guarantee their place in the Premier

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League for next season. They lost 2`0 at Sunderland last night and

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stay three points above the relegation zone. But it would need

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an extraordinary swing in goal difference to send them down.

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Aston Villa were also beaten, losing 4`0 at the champions elect,

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Manchester City. Meanwhile, England's women are at

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Shrewsbury Town this evening aiming to take a step closer to next year's

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World Cup. They're at home to Ukraine in their latest qualifier

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and Dan Pallett's there right now. And so far England are well on

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course for a place in Canada next year, Dan. Yes, England are top of

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the group and unbeaten. Well on course to qualify for the World Cup

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in Canada next summer. So it's a perfect time for a young Birmingham

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City midfielder to come into the squad for the first time and

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possibly make her debut this evening. She can't stop smiling.

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Remi Allen is usually a bubbly character anyway. But this week,

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she's been called into the England squad for the first time. To be

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honest, I still think I am in shock. I did not expect the phone call. I

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was delighted. I was a bit nervous. I think I still am, really. Everyone

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has been welcoming. It has been nice to come and hopefully have a bit of

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fun now. The 23`year`old has started the season in great form with

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Birmingham City. Her goals helped them reach the semi`finals of the

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Champions' League. She played well domestically and in the Champions'

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League, scoring goals and playing well. She has earned the right to be

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part of the squad. Of the age she is and mentality, she will naturally

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fit in and hopefully do well. And she joins an England squad in fine

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form. England have won all five of the qualifiers so far. Anything less

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than winning the group would be a disappointment. Tonight's opponents

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may have more on their minds than football. Unrest in Ukraine

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continues. This was pro`Russian activists fighting riot police in

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Donetsk on first May. It is a difficult time for them. A lot of

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them are playing domestically and probably have family involved.

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Incredibly difficult. They are probably glad to be here playing

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such an important match. England's training base at St George's Park

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couldn't be more different to the troubled areas of Ukraine. The home

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squad have enjoyed the Staffordshire sunshine. Now they want three points

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made in Shropshire. Let us set the scene. The head of FA

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development. You must be pleased with how the girls are developing.

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They have had good results. Mark has settled in well in charge. It is

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fair to say we are getting to the business end now. Ukraine are

:18:13.:18:16.

probably the highest ranked opposition in our group. We want to

:18:17.:18:19.

win the home game to put us in a strong position. Of course, the

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other game, in fact, they did well by getting a draw against Ukraine.

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Tonight is important to get a win and keep the very good form. The

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women are back in Shrewsbury. We have always got great support, good

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surface here. It is a ground where you get good atmosphere. The England

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team like to travel around, but this is a place where they have always

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turned out to support us. It is quite a nice vocal lively

:18:54.:18:59.

surrounding, close to the fans. Highways enjoyed laying at a stadium

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like this and I am sure the girls will. `` enjoyed playing. The girls

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go to Ukraine next month. Will the game be fine to go ahead? We have

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asked the question of UEFA. Over the west side, they think it is a long

:19:18.:19:21.

way from the trouble. As we are we are still going. UEFA will make the

:19:22.:19:27.

decision nearer the time. We will adhere to that. Thank you. If you

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want to watch the game, it is live on BBC Two.

:19:33.:19:38.

Thank you very much indeed. The annual Spring Festival in Malvern

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today opened today with a newly elevated status. It has become one

:19:43.:19:46.

of the official Royal Horticultural Society's top shows. This year it

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expects to bring 100,000 visitors to the area.

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Think or to culture and you think Chelsea. Hampton Court. `` think

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horticulture. Add Malvern to the list. The Spring Festival. Our

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relationship with the RHS is so important to us. It is a strong

:20:16.:20:21.

relationship. Having those letters RHS, it denotes we are one of the

:20:22.:20:30.

four top horticultural shows in the UK. What most people come for is the

:20:31.:20:37.

gardens, the beach and the weather. I am getting a bit wet. Thank you.

:20:38.:20:44.

From the experts who have picked up gold to amateurs, a competition

:20:45.:20:51.

winner who is using his opportunity to raise money for the RAF

:20:52.:20:58.

benevolent fund. To give back to the charity was one of my main reasons

:20:59.:21:07.

to enter. My brother is serving in the forces. This represents what we

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can do for our school. Being such a prestigious show, there are a few

:21:18.:21:23.

first, like the new mint that smells and tastes like strawberries. Just

:21:24.:21:29.

like strawberries. Very surprised! You can smell the strawberries. And

:21:30.:21:36.

a new variety of coniferous plant that actually likes the inclement

:21:37.:21:46.

British weather `` carnivorous. I love the show. I love gardening and

:21:47.:21:53.

it is lovely to see new things too. We were not that keen on the first

:21:54.:21:58.

one because we were not into gardening! Now I think it is

:21:59.:22:03.

brilliant. What sets Malvern aside is that there is more on offer than

:22:04.:22:07.

just flowers. Really spectacular this year. With the partnership they

:22:08.:22:13.

have got, it is like the Chelsea Flower Show but without the barrage

:22:14.:22:18.

of people to get past. What started 29 years ago has become one of the

:22:19.:22:22.

most important dates on the horticultural calendar.

:22:23.:22:30.

Looked a bit damp. Let us find out whether the sun will make a brief

:22:31.:22:34.

appearance at Malvern this year. I would say no chance. It has been

:22:35.:22:36.

horrendous today. No gold rosettes for sunshine. I am

:22:37.:22:47.

a tad more optimistic about tomorrow. Unfortunately, as it

:22:48.:22:55.

stands, it is as advertised and it is looking dire for the weekend. Wet

:22:56.:23:00.

and windy on Saturday. Blustery showers on Sunday. Over the next

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three days, the winds will prevail. Today's warm sector is out of the

:23:06.:23:12.

way. Temperatures will dip tonight. The main thing is we have the

:23:13.:23:18.

clearing, that is the improvement for tomorrow. Then this next warm

:23:19.:23:21.

sector pushes up for the weekend bringing rain. The winds starting to

:23:22.:23:27.

strengthen as the isobars tighten and turned to north`westerly which

:23:28.:23:34.

is why the temperatures will dip on Sunday. At the moment, the rain has

:23:35.:23:39.

cleared. The odd shower now and again. A lot of dry weather. Cloud

:23:40.:23:44.

as well. Towards the end of the night, when most of us are tucked up

:23:45.:23:51.

in bed, another line of angry looking showers. Hopefully these

:23:52.:23:54.

will be over by tomorrow morning. If they are not, you could be waiting

:23:55.:23:58.

up to them. Temperatures dropping again to a very mild eight to 10

:23:59.:24:04.

degrees. The wind is picking up in the morning. The showers will move

:24:05.:24:09.

away to the east. After that, just the odd shower. Otherwise, largely

:24:10.:24:14.

dry tomorrow. Sunshine breaking through. Temperatures rising to

:24:15.:24:21.

around 14 to 16. Coupled with that, blustery, gusty westerly wind which

:24:22.:24:27.

could be up to 40mph. Tomorrow night, it starts fairly dry, but

:24:28.:24:32.

then we see the warm sector moving in from the West. It will introduce

:24:33.:24:36.

the rain towards the end of the night and in the early hours of

:24:37.:24:39.

Saturday morning. This will be quite heavy. He winds quite strong. The

:24:40.:24:45.

dark colours, heavy to come. That is throughout Saturday. Blustery heavy

:24:46.:24:51.

showers for Sunday with a change in wind direction to north`westerly

:24:52.:24:53.

which is why the temperature is right down to 12.

:24:54.:25:00.

Tonight was my headlines: Female British soldiers could be allowed to

:25:01.:25:03.

serve on the front line for the first time.

:25:04.:25:08.

Barclays is to cut 19,000 jobs. The Home Office says it will

:25:09.:25:11.

consider any formal request for a public inquiry into the deaths of

:25:12.:25:16.

three men killed during the Birmingham riots. The new academy in

:25:17.:25:20.

Nuneaton has been put into special measures.

:25:21.:25:25.

That was Midlands Today. I will be back at 10pm. Have a good evening.

:25:26.:25:52.

No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 21st century,

:25:53.:25:57.

that Britain's affairs were being watched and scrutinised

:25:58.:26:00.

With the help of our three political parties,

:26:01.:26:05.

who lie to the British public about their intentions,

:26:06.:26:08.

minds immeasurably more bureaucratic than ours

:26:09.:26:12.

slowly and surely drew their plans against us.

:26:13.:26:24.

smashing our democracy and destroying our laws...

:26:25.:26:29.

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