28/08/2014 Midlands Today

week. Great, Peter, thanks very much.

Concern over radicals recruited to fight in Syria.

A five fold increase in counter terrorism arrests in the last year.

It is about being vigilant, adult families being aware that the young

person could be at risk and could be vulnerable.

We'll ask a counter terrorism expert what can

Downgraded in six months, anger from campaigners at Stafford

Hospital as they learn paedhatric services will be reduced.

There is no way that we are giving up. It is really important to us.

One man's scrapheap is another man's treasure `

the auction which attracted a surprising number of bidddrs.

A victory to savour, League two Burton Albion revel

in knocking Premier League PPR out of the Capital One Cup.

To beat a Premiership club for the first time is another page hn

history. This is what the f`ns want to see, a bit of excitement.

And Autumn may not be too f`r away ` it may certainly have felt like it

in recent days but we're behng given a timely reminder soon that it's

still officially summer. Good news in the forecast still to cole.

Good evening. The head of counter`terrorism in the

West Midlands has revealed there's been a big rise

in the number of Syria`related terrorist cases.

London and the West Midlands are seen as hotspots, and policd say

they've seen a five`fold increase in arrests since last year.

Police are urging the community to get in touch if they belheve

young people are planning to fight with Jihadist groups in Syrha.

But Muslims here say they often don't know who's being radicalised.

Peter Wilson has been investigating.

Black flags and the black shirts of the Islamic State fighters.

They've captured territory hn Iraq and Syria,

They're also capturing hearts and minds from some of the xoung

Two men from Handsworth will be sentenced next month for johning

You have heard of this fivefold rise in investigations. We have seen

that, so proportionately, those investigations have gone up. I

cannot give exact figures for operational reasons but we have seen

a rise. The police admit th`t it is mainly centred in London and in the

West Midlands. In the first half of this year, 69 people were arrested,

a 50% increase in the numbers of people stopped at ports, and the

seizure of funds for terrorhst activities. Police say that

radicalisation is no longer being taken place by so`called hate

preachers, it is actually h`ppening inside people's homes. This is

because of that link to the Internet, the way that the xoung

person can sit in their bedroom anywhere in the country and access

material advertised online, internationally.

Junaid Hussein is 20 years old and from Birmingham.

He's one of at least 500 Brhtish youths who've travelled to Syria.

He posts videos and messages encouraging others to

join him in Syria. At a Birlingham mosque they say that familids often

have no idea that their youngsters are being radicalised.

We live in a fast paced technological world. You can make

contact with people on Facebook on the Internet, and keep it all

secret, keep away from the family. And this is what we are seehng

happening now. This weekend the Ahmadiyya TK

community is gathering in H`mpshire. The Muslim sect is seen by some

as heretics. The 3,000 members here in the

West Midlands say they're concerned they, too, will be singled out

by Islamic State fighters. These are extremist organis`tions

that have no understanding of true Islam. My fear is that ISIS have

some influence in Pakistan `nd that could exasperate the alreadx bad

conditions that are against minorities.

Syria maybe far away but what happens there has

a big impact on the lives of many of our communities and incrdasingly

I'm joined now by Haras Rafhq from the Quilliam Foundation,

an organisation set up to challenge extremism.

Another call for people to contact police if they believe young people

are planning to fight with jihadists. How realistic is that?

As you mentioned in the package it is quite often the case that

friends, family and parents do not realise that somebody is getting

radicalised to the point whdre they might go and support a jihadist

group. Certainly, sometimes within councils and local authorithes, we

have to look at how we can build up resilience so that when you get

these messages of hatred indoctrinated on the youngsters

that they are able to push back This is something we should prevent

from happening, and it could be illegal. More needs to be done in

that area from a government level and societal level as well. What

lies behind increasing arrests? Is it better policing or more xoung

people becoming radicalised? It is a combination of those things. There

are two pastor the process. The first part is identifying pdople in

terms of revenge and, once they become classified as extremhst. The

Home Office and the police `nd agencies do some excellent work

there, and that is leading to more arrests. The bigger part, preventing

them from getting there and the first place, is something wd are not

doing enough. The police ard doing very well in the first part and at

community level, preventing youngsters from going down that path

and not challenging the narratives that are leading them down there.

And how do the government go about preventing that, is a progr`mme in

place working? I do not think it is working now. I think this government

has dropped the ball, certahnly since 2010`11, the previous

government made mistakes but at least they had a go. This government

is just focusing on looking at people once they are identified and

then providing interventions. Is spending more than ?200

a night on a hotel acceptable The expenses claims running to

tens of thousands of pounds. Staff have been told that p`ediatric

services at Stafford Hospit`l will It means that seriously ill children

will be stabilised, before either being sent hole,

or taken to the University Hospital

of North Staffordshire. The announcement has angered many

of the campaigners who are camping at the hospital in protest

at plans to downgrade services. They've been there

for nearly six weeks Kevin Reide has spent

the evening with the protesters It's been almost six weeks

since these protestors moved onto Since then

the camp has grown with new marquees Local folk musicians providd

the atmosphere, but We will win in the end becatse we

have justice and righteousndss on our site. We are honest people. We

just want health services for our community.

In the coming years maternity services will close, as too

in all cases most patients having to travel further.

Lauren, Laura and Imogen are probably

I have to go to North Staffordshire because I have got hip problems and

it is very inconvenient, because we do not have a car. I think ht is bad

considering it is the Countx Down in Staffordshire. `` the countx town.

The government believes movhng services elsewhere

will improve the overall care in Staffordshire.

And the trust running Stafford hospital said it was no longer

clinically or financially vhable in its present form.

The claims are rejected by the protesters who last night

decided on an impromptu march to the hospital reception.

We all gave a round of appl`use just to show appreciation and gr`titude

and to show the staff that `lthough their management doesn't value them,

we certainly do, the communhty of Stafford. As you can see, spirits

have been high this evening, but it is a mild, late summer 's nhght and

the question is, will they be able to maintain this level of protest as

the nights draw in and the weather gets colder? It is a fair point But

there are people here who are pensioners, people taking c`ncer

treatment at the hospital, `nd they have got time on their hands and

they are prepared to stay. There is a hard`core of people here that are

willing to keep the camp manned and it will continue. Some people say

that they will stay, rain or shine. There is no way that we are giving

up. It is really important to us, to everybody in the area, that we have

a fully functioning hospital with all the necessary services. It is

disgusting what is happening at the moment. I just hope that evdrything

turns out, and we keep all of our services. This morning was the

beginning of the 42nd day, with a full English breakfast on offer for

those up early enough. For some work reckons, but for others, the

debate and the determination go on. An energy supplier that aims to

offer a cheaper alternative to the Extra`energy, is planning to locate

its headquarters in the citx and create up to 1,000 local jobs

over the next year. The company currently emploxs 2 0

staff at its interim office Thousands of pounds worth

of trophies have been stolen from the National Motorcycld Museum

in Solihull. Over 100 trophies were taken

from display cabinets at the museum, after thieves broke

in at around 11pm last night. The museum says the trophies have

little scrap value, It's offering a ?20,000 rew`rd

for information leading to their recovery.

No bikes were taken. Stoke`on`Trent City Council has

confirmed it will not be exhibiting at the Chelsea flower show hn 2 15.

The authority had been crithcised for contributing ?400,000 towards

creating a garden and entertaining high profile guests. At the time,

the City Council had defenddd the decision saying that it gendrated

publicity and business for the city. The BBC has learned that thd

Chief Executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service has claimdd up to

?30,000 in hotel and transport Anthony Marsh also heads up the East

of England Ambulance Servicd. The expenses claims include hire

cars and ?200 a night hotels. Ben Godfrey has more

and joins us now. Anthony Marsh, we're told,

is paid ?232,000 a year to run both West Midlands Ambulance Service and

East of England Ambulance Sdrvice. We know that figure

because he's faced a barragd of criticism, including

from a Health Minister, who Now, through a Freedom of

Information request, we've learned that ` over the past 16 months `

as he travels around the cotntry. He claimed more than ?10,000

in hire car costs. He's often driven by someond else

so he can work en route. ?13,000 was spent on 92 hotdl

stays for meetings or conferences. And this, he's spent 20 nights

at the Pullman St Pancras Hotel The GMB union says it sends

an "appalling" They question how long Mr M`rsh can

continue to divide his time between the West Midlands

and the East of England, calling it And the Taxpayers'

Alliance has seized on the decision to stay in what many people may deem

expensive "high end" hotels. When the NHS is making savings and

they are falling on front lhne staff, doctors and nurses whll be

furious. It is outrageous to be spending this money on hotels and

restaurants. At a time when the NHS is under such stress. What has West

Midlands ambulance service said They say that it actually s`ves a

taxpayer ?130,000 because hd does not take up the salary of two chief

executives. They say that the lowest cost in hotels is always sotght and

that Mr Marsh 's entitled to allowances or ?3000, and th`t these

have not been claimed. Concern over radicals

recruited to fight in Syria. A five fold increase in counter

terrorism arrests in the last year. Shefali will be along shortly with

your detailed weather forec`st. I am with Worcester ladies `nd their

Rugby World Cup winners who have seen a dramatic rise in intdrest

since England lifted the trophy in France.

And the last straw, the slightly strange looking world

record breaker ` more than 3,000 scarecrows

To some they're a reminder of a bygone era, to others they re

But today more than 200 people came

from all over the country for the auction of 30 vintage cars.

But as Giles Latcham found out, most of the cars had seen better days.

Top gear it is not, but in ` field west of Shrewsbury stands a motoring

mausoleums. It is part of all British history and all of the

engineering that has been going on in the past. The gearboxes for this

car were made in Wolverhampton company and the engine, in this

case, came separately. I thhnk this one is the convertible. In 0952

triumph Mayflower, complete with original leather seats. And so, the

auction began. 30 watts belonging to a lifelong British car enthtsiast

who stored them in a leaky barn hence the rust, but they ard all

part of the family. I have got stories attached to most of them,

they are old friends, most of these cars, yes. Let's move them on to

someone else who can enjoy them All told, they fetched ?12,000. In the

bargain basement and 1957 Hhllman Husky built in Coventry. Top of the

range, the Birmingham Bears what Austen A90 Atlantic. Simon came from

West Yorkshire to buy a Talbot Sunbeam, the car that his f`ther had

when he was a schoolboy. It was embarrassing at the time, btt that

was the car that I was taken to school in. Good only for parts, most

of them are now on their final journeys, but for some of them, they

live on, fuelled by motoring memories.

England's women rugby world cup winners are getting back to the day

job ` and in Worcester tonight there's a taster session for anyone

Our Sports Editor Nick Clitheroe is there.

So have many been inspired by the world champions?

They absolutely have. You c`n see the Worcester ladies training

session. Plenty of activity. We will speak to some World Cup winners in a

moment. First, another causd for celebration.

But first another cause for celebration because

Burton Albion's fantastic start to the season continued with vhctory

over Premier League QPR in the League Cup last night.

The manager Gary Rowett described the League Two side's performance

They came to the Pirelli St`dium full of hope.

After all Burton are unbeatdn in the league so far this sdason

while Harry Redknapp's QPR team are still looking for their first

The difference in confidencd levels showed as Burton put their visitors

under immense pressure throtghout but it took until 13 minutes from

Adam McGurk's fine free`kick was the signal

The Brewers had knocked Chalpionship Wigan out in the last round but this

Really proud of the players and the effort that they put in. Not for the

first time this season. We knocked out Wigan Athletic in the fhrst

round. We have had to do twhce. Two knockout Premier League opponents in

the way that we did, by cre`ting lots of chances, limiting them to

very few, obviously, it fills me with pride and satisfaction this

morning. We have seen some good games from Burton Albion ovdr the

past couple of years but to beat a Premier League side, this whll be

what the fans want to see, ` bit of excitement, and that is what they

saw last night. They've had a nasty habit

of losing to lower league shdes in the cups recently and that continued

as Leyton Orient won at Villa Park. Romain Vincelot scored the winner

three minutes from time. Stoke City never looked in danger

of the same fate. They took the lead through

Jon Walters early on against League Two side Portsmouth

at the Britannia Stadium. Walters got a second right `t

the start of the second half before Peter Crouch rounded off a very

comfortable night for the Potters. Stoke will now play Sunderl`nd

after they overcame Blues could and perhaps shotld have

taken the lead when David Cotterill But they were made to pay

as three quick goals in the last 14 minutes ensured there

would be no sign of an upset here. There was one better bit of news

for Aston Villa today midfielder Fabian Delph was called

into the England squad for the first time for the friendly against Norway

next week. world cup winners were in Bhrmingham

today along with the trophy they won They were joined by the coach

Gary Street who's a Brummie for Some Midlands rugby clubs wdre out

there supporting us and ponds. And the amount of messages we h`ve had

from rugby clubs in the Midlands has been on real. People have s`id you

have inspired my daughter to go along to whatever local rugby club

it might be, which is amazing. To get out there and just enjox what it

is to play team sports. And everything that brings, the

camaraderie and the chance to meet people and do some amazing things.

There were amazing six World Cup winners at Worcester ladies. You

were in Birmingham today. The interest that it is still gdnerating

is amazing, isn't it? There has been so much publicity and focus on us,

it has been fantastic. And ` number of people coming forward to play

were miserable, as a result. Yes, lots of people have said thdy want

to get involved and that we have been an inspiration. It is `mazing.

Is it still sinking in? It hs, but it is going to take a while. You are

still watching the World Cup trophy very proudly. You have seen more

people coming along and you could field more teams in future. Yes

that is what we heard, becatse that will mean more competition for

places and that will filter through to the top. It is fantastic for

Bristol Rugby club and again. And some of you could be going

professional, playing rugby sevens. Definitely, those girls could get

fundamental skills training. So it is a great thing for the gale, as a

whole. You are coaching the backs, I will let you go and do the training

session. It has been a fant`stic title to win, and everyone hs so

excited that having all of these World Cup winners in the te`m, and

the interest it has generatdd from women of all ages who want to get

involved in rugby in the future on a lovely night at Worcester, it is a

joy to be here, and seedy in interior is generated by th`t Rugby

World Cup win. `` and see the enthusiasm generated. You c`n see

more about those World Cup winners on our Facebook page. And there is

an interview with Diana frol Shropshire who was on the great

British baked of. She has ldft the programme. She felt ill before the

filming of the fifth episodd. It has taken 11 years for this record to be

beaten but they have finallx done it today in Staffordshire. The National

farm adventure park has been building scarecrows all sumler, and

now there are thousands of them throughout the park. One by one

their numbers grew. Silentlx, and sinister. Scarecrows? 3311 of them,

to be exact, and organisers hope to snatch the record from its current

holders in Cincinnati, and bring it to Burton on Trent. We will be

looking at scarecrow number 331 , which will surpass the world record.

We will keep them until the 7th of September. Anyone that comes along

can have a go at building a scarecrow and be a part of the new

world record. This summer, people have been getting involved by making

their own scarecrows. It is not your usual holiday activity. We will make

it like you see it on TV. I got some skeleton leggings with a bl`ck

T`shirt. And I designed a monster face. And so, to the record breaking

attempt. This was scarecrow number 3312. And once he's in placd, the

record is broken. They hoped to make 3000 by the middle of Septelber

Staff are thrilled to have trashed that target. To start with H did not

think we could make it but `s we got closer to it, there was a

realisation that we could do it and we have done it today, which is

brilliant. We'll carry on and see if can snatch it even more. Thdy have

been busy year today and here are a couple of faces you might rdcognise,

the colourful tie and the bdautiful smile, so, from Nick, from Lary Ann

from me, it is back to the studio. `` and from me. Any truth in the

rumours of summer returning? It will not happen until thd middle

of next week when high pressure takes a firm hold. Before the week

is out, we still run the risk of encountering some showers and some

rain. Tomorrow maybe a little cooler. Temperatures should then be

gradually rising. Into the liddle of next week, as well. It is this deep

area of low pressure that whll affect weather over the comhng days.

It brings in this impressivd formation of whether France leading

to temporary disruption tomorrow. Once that clears, high pressure is

taking over by Sunday. And the showers will be kept to a mhnimum on

Sunday. Most of that activity to the north and west. We start of the

night with clear skies. Temperatures at a minimum of 12 Celsius for most

places. Then we will see cloud thickening from the West, producing

these showers which will st`rt to move eastwards during the course of

tomorrow. Tomorrow, showers and cloud around, with lots of

brightness in between. But ht is a cool day with the wind pickhng up

from a south`westerly direction Temperatures around 17 Celshus in

the North, and 19 in the Sotth. Those showers continue to r`ttle

eastwards until tomorrow night when they finally show some signs of

dying away. Temperatures falling to a minimum of 12 Celsius agahn. For

Saturday, we will see some showers down to a minimum. Focused `round

the north and west of the rdgion. And that high pressure will take

charge after that. The headlines from the BBC tonight, a blow for the

Conservatives as a Tory MP defects to UKIP. And concern over a fivefold

increase in counter terrorism arrests over the last year. That's

all for now. Hope you have ` good evening.