13/05/2014 Midlands Today

chilly. That's all from the BBC News at

I am so happy and pleased. I know it is not the end of the road and the

end of the fight. The 24`year`old died

after being restrained by bouncers Criticism of a knife surrender

programme after only 16 knives It is a knee jerk reaction. It is a

good sentiment, but it is not addressing the root cause of the

problem. Left homeless by plans

for high`speed rail ` When the big ministers get involved,

things go slow slowly. And I've got

a sneaking suspicion that you might A small glitch to contend with

tonight, but otherwise things are A judge today ordered a review

of a decision not to prosecute anyone over the death

of a 24`year`old on a night out. Julian Webster's family said it

marked a turning point in In April, 2009, Julian Webster

died outside a Manchester pub after In May, 2012, an inquest said that

restraint played But in March last year, the

Crown Prosecution Service decided Since then,

his family have been battling to get that decision reversed.

Here's Cath Mackie. Sonia Webster's waited a long time

for this moment, a review into the death of her son,

Julian. I am overwhelmed. So happy, so

please. I know it is not the end of the road and it is not the end of

the fight, but it is... I cannot even explain.

The 24`year`old who was from Edgbaston in Birmingham died

on a night out in Manchester after returning to this bar to

When released, he collapsed to the floor.

The family's barrister Rajiv Menon QC told two senior

judges in Birmingham that the decision not to prosecute anyone was

so flawed and so irrational that the court should quash the decision and

The Crown Prosecution Service had argued there was insufficient

evidence, but the court ordered a review.

The family of Julian Webster clapped as Lord Justice Elias announced

Julian's mother, Sonia, closed her eyes and put her head in her hands.

But the family were told this didn't mean there would be

But it does mean the CPS has to review the case.

We want proper consideration as to whether there should be a

prosecution. Clearly, the evidence has not been properly considered

before now. Speaking at the family home

before today's hearing, Sonia Webster said the past five

years had taken its toll. Stressful for me, the complete

family. My husband. Everyone who was involved. Our lives have been on

hold. It has been five years and we cannot move forward because there is

unfinished business. Justice needs to be done for Julian. We cannot

move on until it is taken care of. In a statement,

the CPS confirmed they'll now carry Julian Webster's family say that

must begin as soon as possible. Knowing her "ippon" from her

"wazari"` we meet Kelly Edwards, selected for the Commonwealth Games

judo team this summer. It's been revealed that just 16

knives have been handed in as part of a knife surrender

programme in Birmingham. It began three months ago with

a lot of fanfare. Our special correspondent

Peter Wilson was at the launch then and joins us now

at one of the knife surrender bins. Peter, I suppose any weapon taken

off the streets has to be good news, That is right. This is one of three

nice surrender bins. They are placed outside churches where you do not

expect to find people carrying weapons. How many knives have been

placed in this particular bin? Not a single one. The organisers say that

the campaign is not a failure. It might have reigned three months ago

on the parade, but there were high hopes for what was seen as a

community`based nice surrender campaign. Yet the bins were put out

places of worship rather than police stations `` knife surrender

campaigns. Only 16 knives have been handed in since February. Any knife

taken off the street is a knife that could have committed a murder. It is

a slow start. We are hoping it will accelerate. That is the pattern

elsewhere. In London, it started slowly but accelerated. Previous

amnesties have seen hundreds of weapons handed in. People were

demanding action after a series of knife attacks soar five young people

killed in Birmingham including rap star Joshua Ribera. His mother

offered to help publicise the campaign but nothing happened. She

says education is the key to changing young people's attitudes.

If you can send them in the opposite direction from street crime and

knife crime and any kind of crime, that is successful. Guide them in

another direction to prevent more violence and deaths. The police and

crime commission says talks are under way to use young people and

the fan base of Joshua Ribera to reenergise what has so far been a

lacklustre campaign. Alison and I have met and she has agreed to help

us with the next wave of knife bins and discussions are on as to the way

she feels best able to put herself behind the campaign. A former gang

member questions the whole point of knife and misdeeds. It is a token

gesture, a knee jerk reaction. What should have been done, I think, was

for us to open up wider discussion and debate about the real issues

about why young people are carrying knives. More bins will be placed on

the streets but it is hearts and minds that need to be changed.

Has the type of been been successful elsewhere? It was pioneered in

London and since 2009 some 10,000 weapons have been taken off the

streets including guns. Here I have been talking to local people, some

of them have not even noticed this let alone any publicity. After the

three`month programme, what is likely to happen now? We are going

to get an extra five bins. Clearly in order to make this campaign

successful, you have got to energise people and excite people. You have

got to draw people in. We are talking about young people. The

message at the moment is not getting out. Perhaps if Alison, and using

Joshua Ribera's reputation and his charisma, he of course lost his life

to knife crime, perhaps that can reach out to young people. Thank

you. The family of Stephen Sutton

from Burntwood, Staffordshire, say his condition

in hospital has deteriorated. He was re`admitted over the weekend

with breathing difficulties. In a post on social media,

his family said tumours are blocking his airways but he's currently in

a comfortable and stable condition. He's

so far raised more than ?3 million More than 500 homeowners who live

on the route of the proposed high`speed rail link

between London and Birmingham have But it seems getting the money

isn't always straightforward. Midlands Today was contacted

by one family who ended up living in a caravan because

of continuing delays. HS2 agreed with this man last years

that his home would be blighted by phase one of the line. Keen to

resettle his family, it was agreed the house sale would be completed by

April the 16th. They said there would be no problem. We thought, no

problem at all. But when the date came, no exchange, no contracts. We

signed the contract but HS2 did not. When the big ministries like HS2 and

the transport ministry gets involved, things go so slowly. The

family relocated to Dorset, moving on a weekly basis from caravan to

chalet, hoping every day that the Department for Transport would

complete on the house sale. Were you a bit naive assuming it will be

sorted? I suppose we were. Too trusting. It is crazy. And

frustrating. Following the BBC's involvement, he was told payment was

imminent and whilst we were filming, a phone call. Good news.

Thank you. Goodbye. Who was that? But was HS2 saying the money has

just gone through. That is good news! The high`speed rail line is

planned to run exactly along the tree`lined and through this field.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said they were committed

to making payments under the compensation scheme as soon as

possible. If anybody thinks they have experienced delays, they should

let them know. This family today became just the 12th family in the

country to be compensated under the statutory provisions. Good news for

this family who now can finish the packing and move on.

A family's fight for justice ` now a judge orders a review into Julian

Julian Webster's death on a night out.

Your detailed weather forecast to come shortly.

Who will be next at the helm at the Hawthorns?

We look at the front runners to replace Pepe

And survivors and students working together `

the stories of D`Day veterans recorded for the 70th anniversary.

The Labour Party has made Walsall its top target

The council is a mirror image of the Government, run by a coalition of

And a key battleground is the youth vote with all parties focusing their

efforts on getting young people into work, as Ben Godfrey reports.

Ashley Lovell has been taken on as an apprentice in Walsall,

a town where thousands of teenagers are still struggling to find work.

For young people, it is difficult. Leaving school with not the best

grades, people tend not to find jobs. People are looking for

experience. Around 7% of 16 to 24`year`olds are

claiming Jobseeker's Allowance here. Labour has sent Shadow Health

Secretary Andy Burnham to Walsall. The party says it's

their number one target in the West Midlands and they're pledging

more apprenticeships. We really need to ensure the economy

works for our young people and that the apprenticeships that we create

are ones that will stage a lifetime with people. That is going to be a

major challenge. In the birthplace

of the saddle industry, Labour has But the council is run

by a minority administration. Mirroring Westminster, the

Conservatives, who have 24 seats, formed a coalition with the Liberal

Democrats, who have five seats. Two years ago, we put ?2 million

into the budget to create 500 apprenticeships. It has been

extremely successful, interest from just short of 3000 youngsters. Of

those, 380 have gone on to be apprentices. We have a pilot scheme

going on. There is a jobs club. That has got people who are long`term

unemployed, long`term dependent on benefits it has got them back into

jobs. Harnessing

a young workforce is something the Saddle Company would love to do,

but it's proving difficult. The Walsall firm is cautious

about creating a raft The problem is, the gap between the

training of the apprenticeships and suddenly there is a big gap and

there are very few people of the skill level left to train the

people. Unless action is taken quickly, that could be the downfall

of the industry, in a way. Labour lost control 14 years ago. This time

around they need a net gain of three seats to take overall control. The

jobs market is also a battle ground for UKIP. It claims unskilled labour

from Eastern Europe is driving up unemployment. It is fielding a

record number of candidates here. Staying with the elections...

The UK Independence Party launched its local and European election

campaign in the West Midlands today. UKIP is fighting 218 council seats.

It says that in the European elections it's expecting to do

UKIP is a far stronger `` is in a fast on the position in the West

Midlands. We are reaching out, not to this votes from Labour Lib Dems,

20% of our support is coming from people who have not voted in the

previous two elections. After the departure of Pepe Mel

yesterday, are we any closer to finding out who the new head coach

will be at West Brom? West Bromwich Albion have appointed

their former first team coach Terry Burton

as their new technical director. His first job will be to help find

a new head coach. And there are plenty

of names being talked of as There is flash photography at the

end of this report. In fact, we don't even know who's

in charge of the team. Pepe Mel's departure has

got people talking. He's an Albion fan,

but he's also a bookmaker and the market for Albion's new head

coach is wide open. The favourites include

the former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay, Aberdeen manager

Derek McInnes, a former Albion player, and former Birmingham City

manager Chris Hughton. New owners at Leeds could see Brian

McDermott looking for a new club. And Tim Sherwood sacked

only today by Tottenham. Among the outsiders is

the former Wolves boss Dave Jones. But whoever gets the job,

speed is vital. A number of players out of contract.

They want to know where they are. At the end of the transfer window last

season, players were shoehorned into the football club. We do not expect

to finish eighth in the Premier League. On the flip side, we do not

expect to finish 17th. Pepe Mel's four`month reign ended

with Sunday's 2`1 defeat Malky Mackay Roy, he was quite

successful and he would fit very well. `` Malky Mackay. Tim Sherwood.

Harry Redknapp. But recent histroy suggests we'll

be doing this again quite soon. From Tony Mowbray to Roberto Di

Matteo, Roy Hodgson to Steve Clarke, Albion are now looking for their

sixth head coach in eight years. Everyone

at the club will hope the next appointment endures longer than the

four months that Pepe Mel lasted. How significant is today's

appointment of Terry Burton as technical director? Very

significant. The chairman is saying, he was not very happy with the

appointment of Pepe Mel and he does not want them involved with the new

appointment as well. The fans would say, get a move on. As for who the

new manager will be or the new head coach, bookmakers and punters do not

have an idea. The head coach thing is important, someone like Dave

Jones might want control of signings as well as being head coach. More

established names might be ruled out. One thing Pepe Mel's

appointment has shown is that they may go with someone who speaks

English. Probably a good move. The Commonwealth Games

are just ten weeks away. Today, in Walsall, the England

judo team was announced. Seven men and seven women, including

Kelly Edwards from Shropshire. Look into these eyes

and tell me what you see. The eyes of Kelly Edwards,

focussed on success As a young girl growing up

in Telford, Kelly loved gymnastics. But her mum promised her ?5 for the

cinema if she'd have a go at judo. I think I had only been doing it a

couple of weeks and I started to progress at the club and I was

beating boys who were a similar age to me. I had good strength from

gymnastics and it helped me to progress quickly.

Six months ago, Denise Lewis opened the National Centre of Excellence

And today, Kelly joined her England team`mates for their

Amongst them, Nekoda Davis, a rising star with podium potential

who's moved from London to Walsall to benefit from these elite

To think I am not just going to be on a stage with just judo people,

there are going to be other sports, the likes of Mo Farah, it is pretty

amazing. I am really excited. What are you hoping for from the

Commonwealth Games? A gold as always. Anything can happen on the

day, but I am going out there to win. The Glaswegians want to show

London they can do it as well. The atmosphere will be electric.

Two years ago, Kelly Edwards cheered like mad

when her good friend Gemma Gibbons won Olympic silver at London 2012.

And this summer, Kelly would love to return to the Wrekin Star Judo Club

in Telford with a Commonwealth medal to call her own.

Good luck to Kelly. In judo terms, Dan means black belt. Have you got

one? No. There is not much chance of me getting one either.

Next month it will be 70 years since the D`Day landings,

an anniversary that will be commemorated here and in France.

The passing years mean there are fewer survivors

of a turning point which led to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

But in Coventry, schoolchildren are working to ensure the stories

of surviving veterans live on, as Kevin Reide has been finding out.

This mural being unveiled to Normandy veterans

at a civic reception in Coventry was made by students at

They were inspired after hearing first`hand accounts from

When you have heard firing squads, you have seen women being tarred and

feathered, those that collaborated with the Germans, you have seen

people hanging from lamp posts and things like that, it is an

experience you never forget. Ever. The mural depicts events

in Coventry, like the destruction of the cathedral

and the post`war celebrations.. The handshake symbolising

a handover from those who fought to D`day, it is all about the troops

storming in and winning the war and it is about peace and passing it on.

Learning from the history book is not the same as hearing about their

personal experiences. My favourite bit is the hands because it tells

you a story. It has a deep meaning within that. Six schools are

involved in project similar to this. It has been captured on film. It

will be screened in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral next month.

The Grace Academy are involved in making that film.

Part of it shows the story of a young boy waiting

for his dad to return from war, something that never happens.

They have responded so well to the veterans, they have showed them

respect and they have been really interested in their stories. It is

to promote long`term peace, but also to remember the lives that were lost

on Normandy day. I cannot think of a better way of passing on the

thoughts of those who died. This is exactly what they would want. They

are the children of their children that they did not have. They

represent those lads who are still buried in Normandy.

Next week, some of the Normandy veterans will

return to Northern France to record the final part of the film.

It's likely to be the last visit they make.

Right at the beginning of the programme, you were promising

something rather lovely. We did have great sunshine today. More to come?

Temperatures are definitely on the rise. This is how it is looking. We

have got mostly dry conditions. Quite sunny and warming up. Mostly

dry. We are seeing off the last of the current clutch of showers. But

there could be the odd one over the weekend as the warmth builds up. The

high pressure is now carving out its territory across us. This is going

to be resulting in the changes taking place over the next few

days. Currently, we are looking at a few showers still across the region.

These will be squeezed out of the way in favour of clearer skies and

colder conditions. The air is quite cold at the moment. Significant hail

showers. We have still got a north`westerly breeze. In sheltered

hollows tonight, there could be a touch of grass frost. Across the

board, we are looking at close of six or 7 degrees. They touch lower

than recent values during the night. Clearer skies will lead to bags of

sunshine tomorrow. A nice and sunny start. Chilly. A bit misty

initially. The temperatures will rise a couple of degrees higher than

today. Still got the light to moderate north`westerly breeze

however. The cloud will fill in tomorrow night. Not quite as cold.

Temperatures on a par with the values we have seen over recent

nights of around nine to 10 degrees. Cloudy but dry. There could be mist

in sheltered hollows. This is how we start the day on Thursday, dull and

cloud milling around, but values rising very nicely to around 18 to

20 degrees. Possibly even 21 for Hereford. A very warm end to the

week. Over the weekend, the temperatures may rise a touch

higher. Because the warmth is building, it could trigger the odd

shower. On Saturday, a band of rain waiting in the wings to the

north`west. But will travel down on Sunday in the evening. Lovingly

sound of the sunshine! The first arrest on suspicion

of murder in the case of Claudia Lawrence, the chef who went

missing five years ago. The UK armed forces are to be

investigated by the International Criminal Court for alleged abuses

against Iraqi detainees. A family's fight for justice ` now

a judge orders a review into Julian And criticism of a knife surrender

programme after only 16 knives Can I make something clear to you?

UKIP is not against immigration.