23/11/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. Our top story: Fit to dance, fit to work, but are genuine

claimants in the Northwest being forced to perform for tribunals

when they are really sick? Also in the programme tonight: Child sex

exploitation. Lancashire Police lead a nationwide fight against

grooming. Join me on the banks of the river Mersey to find out which

animal has returned here after 30 years. Find out what an intrepid

reporter did when he went a step too far for North West Tonight.

ten years afterwards that film was used address a BBC training film -

don't do this. Tony is here with all the fallout

from last night's champion league games W the emphasis on Manchester

City and United, face elimination in the group stages. It isn't

pretty. Stick with us. First, we are asking if too many people are

having to fight for benefits in the tribunal system because of a

Government push to get the sick and disabled back into work. It is a

year ago that the Government said it wanted to expose fraudsters and

help those trapped on benefits to improve their lives. Has reform

produced just as many victims as it has exposed cheats? They are the

images which anger everyone - the dance pro who claimed to be

crippled with arry tus. David Fish thinks he represents the other side

of the story. They say there is nothing wrong with me. The NHS says

I have had a stroke. I am not fit for work. Last year the Government

reassessed everybody on incapacity Those stats don't show the backlash.

David Fish worked on and auve since he was 15, until he had a -- off

since he was 15 until he had a stroke. I cannot retain information.

If someone asks, they will say how and when. I forget. His GP has said,

he's not fit to work. His consulant has said he's not fit to work.

Three Work Capability Assessments have said he is. Each time that

happens he's signed off his benefit and told to sign on to job seekers.

Something he is too scared to do. I meet him on his way for the third

appeal. What do they do for mon this. I'm not fit for work. I meet

him at home, where the latest tribunal results have arrived.

appeal is allowed. The decision is overturned at appeal.... Again.

It's a big merry go round from one person saying one thing, another

saying another. In fact the tribunal courts are awash with

these appeals. The figure of 95% in the past two years. Of course

that's a reflection of the reform working its way through the system.

Also a reflection of the number of people unhappy about the impact of

that reform on their lives T outcome of those appeals, in 37% of

cases, the Government is losing. I agree that there have been too

many cases which have gone to appeal and been overturned. That is

why we made the changes we did earlier this year. It is not taking

effect? It is too early. Improvements, he says, will be felt

soon. There were 55,000 appeals last year. 14,000 a month this year.

The cost of all this, the Ministry of Justice says it's impossible to

say. Some in the medical profession fear political targets are being

put ahead of individual lives. Those targets change with every

Government. We used to get patients who would be turning up, having

tried to sign on for employment benefit, but wanting sick notes. In

many cases they really weren't justified. Now, we are going the

other way around. It's funny when you've been in practise for a long

time. You see things going around in circles. The reforms might have

exposed cheats, they have helped others back into fulfilling work.

But David Fish says he is resigned to the fact he'll soon be

reassessed and that will probably end back in appeal.

The Government has admitted the problem of under 18s in England

being groomed for sexual activity takes place in far greater numbers

than imagined. Money, food, alcohol is used as coercion. Now agencies

are ensuring a strategy to ensure they are not sexually exploited.

Lancashire Police are leading the way. Lancashire police officers

from Operation Freedom are trying to protect children from sexual

exploitation. You get raped the first time by one of them. You

think to yourself, I'm not going back. Then you do. You keep on

going back to the same person because you feel afraid.

Government is tackling exploitation's plan will see

specialist training for police and other bodies, help for parents to

recognise exploitation. Just saying it's not a problem around here is

not an excuse. It is an admission somebody is not doing their job

properly. It is actually happening in every part of the country.

majority of abuses are white. The specific problem exists in some

areas of Asian men targeting young girls. There are Sikh temples,

Hindu temples, community leaders coming together saying we have to

be forthright and open about this. More importantly we have to work

with families to make sure the people involved in the crimes are

reported to justice. Lancashire Police was consulted on the draft

plan. Here the constablery has set up six child sexual explotation

teams, which include police officers and other agencies as part

of their work. Here, they are focusing on Internet grooming and

victims who see their abusers as boy friends. I think it's important

that we look at the problem and that we make sure there's support

for the children to go through court, to assist, to be assisted in

investigations in some of the major work we have on. The aim remains to

encourage more victims to come forward.

Earlier I spoke to Nicola Dunn from the children's charity Barnardo's,

which is one of the agencies involved. I asked her what she made

of the Government action plan? a Barnardo's perspective we are

pleased. It is something Barnardo's has campaigned on since we launched

our campaign. This is what we wanted the Government to come out

with. The problem is widely reported at times. It is worse

perhaps than people might imagine of people being, young people being

groomed by older men? I think the issue is that sexual explotation is

hidden. Most young people will not come forward and disclose they have

been abused in this way, which is why it is crucial that people are

starting to take it seriously and starting to think about some of the

issues in terms of identifying the young people at risk. It crosses

boundaries. One thing which was particularly identified and the

media have picked up on, is Asian men and white girls. Is that

problem as bad as it is portrayed to be, do you think? I think sexual

exploitation is happening in every community. Every community has to

be vigilant about this and be weary of it. I don't think it is helpful

to pinpoint one group necessarily. This report calls for agencies to

work better together. What have you done previously? What might you be

able to do better? There are different models across the country.

Some local authorities are responding very well. Others have

still got a lot of work to do. For example the Oldham service, which

is a multi-agency response, involving the police, local

authorities, Barnardo's and health. As a Greater Manchester group of

authorities and also as Greater Manchester Police Barnardo's are

working closely with all those authorities to look at how we can

respond better. You get support from them? Yes. Do you think that

goes across the Northwest, or do different areas need to work better

together? It is fair to say each area is at a different stage. From

a Barnardo's point of view it is encouraging all the Greater

Manchester authorities and police are coming to sit around the table

and look at this issue and how we can deal with it across the board.

Do we make it easy enough for young people to come forward and report

this? It is difficult. A lot of people who have been sexually

exploited think they are in a loving, consensuel relationship

with somebody who happens to be older than them and they are

showered with money and affection and sometimes drugs and alcohol. It

is about warning young people of the dangers of sexual exploitation

and what young people need to do to respond. The Prime Minister has

paid tribute to a soldier from Liverpool killed in Afghanistan.

25-year-old Lance Corporal Peter Eustace of 2nd Battalion The Rifles

died when he was hit by a bomb last week. David Cameron praised the

bravery of Lance Corporal Eustace and other soldiers when he spoke in

the House of Commons. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner

agrees with the police constable of Greater Manchester that the riots

would not have happened elsewhere if the police in London acted

faster. Bernard Hogan-Howe said he wished

he had not said it because it created tension between police

forces. Have you wondered where to turn when you want to contact the

police. Maybe it's not an emergency. You found yourself dialling 999.

Well, you would not be alone N the north-west 70% of 999 calls are for

non-emergencies and calls waste police time and can leave the

caller frustrated. Today in parts of the north-west a new number was

launched. It is 101 and can be used. Good evening. Maybe think of it

this way, those three numbers, 101 could revolutionise the way we use

emergency services. Just chatting to the team here from Cheshire

police, they say already it's making a difference, elevating some

pressure on genuine emergency calls. That is after less than 12 hours.

It has been similar for Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside

Police, where I spend this -- spent this morning. You have not seen the

owner back for three weeks. Adam has received a call from a woman

who is concerned a car on her street has been there for three

weeks. She has heard about the new number and dialled it. Is that the

kind of call you sometimes get to 999? You get all sort of strange

calls. I've had a theft of a snowman. You get people on a

Saturday or Sunday night with people having an argument with a

bouncer. You get all sorts. idea is you call 101 when there is

not an mediate threat to you or your property. Some people say it

will not make a difference, we have seen schemes like this before.

will make a difference. For the public it means you can ring a

short-dig get number, which is easy for them to remember. It does not

matter where you call from in the country you will be able to call on

this non-emergency number. It will save the time and the nerves of

Sometimes it is what is the weather like? 999 is so deeply embedded in

everyone's consciousness. All the time people will become more aware

of it. That is the key issue. You can use this service where ever you

are. If you are watching in Lancashire or Cumbria and asking

when you will have access to the handy number, the answer is 12th

December. If you were wondering what happened to the stolons Bowman,

the police said that by the time they found that the suspect had

melted! If you drive past any school you

will see a host of warning signs asking you to slow down but not all

motorists do. Speeding drivers in Wirral are being hauled in front of

a children's court. The pilot scheme brings speeding motorists in

front of a children's court. It is an attempt to reduce speeding in it

that the region. Did you realise that you were going

too fast? Know. I had to get into the office. These schools children

are taking the law into their own hands. They are not impressed with

the excuses of the drivers. They should not have that. They gave us

different excuses. Some of the excuses were bad. The scheme was a

joint venture with the school and local authorities. Drivers caught

speeding were given the option of taking penalty points, or sitting

in front of the children's court. This is Greasby Junior School. It

is in a 30 mph stretch of road. On the morning of the operation at

nine speeders record here and six chose to go one front of the

children's court. Their head teacher is pleased with

the results of the scheme. Adults were understandably upset. It will

stay with them forever, unlike their penalty points. It will have

a big impact. The message got across. They will not speed again.

With the children's court having had its first sitting, everybody

now hopes it will keep on running. Here is the sport.

Manchester City lost at Napoli. They now face possible elimination

at the group stage. They will be eliminated if Napoli defeat

Villareal cuts Villareal. And Manchester United could only

get a draw at Old Trafford against Benfica a.

Wait until you see the end of this piece. Manchester United are not

safe either. They must travel to Basel next. Even if they do make it

they could face top seeds like Barcelona. It was a night to forget

all round. The Champions League is at tough

competition. Chelsea have spent years trying to win it. Manchester

City might have the same problem. The Italians took the lead.

Manchester City equalised. The Italians went ahead again.

Manchester City are on the brink. They are top of the Premier League,

so it be a disaster to be eliminated from the Champions

League. I do not think we're good enough for the Champions League.

Winning the league is the top priority. Not much noise from

neighbours Manchester United. They could only draw with Benfica. Phil

Jones fired home in the wrong end. But just a united then equalised.

When Darren Fletcher scored it looked like business as usual, but

then this happened. Manchester United now face a winner-takes-all

clash in Basel. Alex Ferguson would not admit defeat. I standards

slipping? Are you serious? Do not worry - he was not running away.

Blackburn Rovers have dismissed reports that they have extended the

contract of their manager. The club has issued a statement saying it

has revised the contract, and says that the duration of a contract is

not affected. Salford City Reds have made Phil

Veivers head coach. He replaces That is cryptic regarding Blackburn

Rovers is it not? Who knows? Rangers were delighted when it they

stumbled across otter paw prints on the River Mersey.

It is evidence that the River Mersey which was a polluted river

is now returning to his former glory.

Richard Topley came across the poor Prince last month. Today we

discover more. These are probably female. That is a good sign.

Something is sustaining them here. The fact that we have seen them

again today shows it is not just a one-off. We did not come across the

real thing. These pictures of otters are from our archives. They

used to be a regular sight on the River Mersey. 250 years ago the

river was pristine. Then came the Industrial Revolution and pollution.

Waste was pumped into the water. Over the last 25 years there has

been a sustained campaign to clean up the river. Judging by the poor

Prince it seems to have been working.

People have been involved at every level. Companies have been a false.

-- have been involved. Otters on the left in healthy rivers. This

shows that that food chain is improving. The plan is to clean up

their a rare and install holts to encourage the animals to stay for

good. It is nice to see the otters back.

Such a glamorous life for a TV reporter - or is it?

I am missing my dog from last Friday!

Hour news homes have sniffed out the stories that matter. -- hour

news hounds. As part of a special series marking

the end of our time at Oxford Road Studios be at this report.

Dozens of reporters have faithfully documented the events of this

region. Some are remembered with fondness. I was at the docks at

4:00am every morning. For the studio presenters it is an easy

life. All the have to do is read the words out loud. For those of us

out in the field it is a different matter. We face all kinds of

weather. We have to meet the public. Little green men at coming towards

us. We have to remember our words and sound as if they know what

we're talking about. Over the decades dozens of

reporters have faithfully documented the events and

happenings of this region. Some are remembered with fondness. Fantastic.

4AM every morning. I became known as afresh. Fish merchants used to

invite me to their annual ball! seems almost inconceivable now...

This reporter did this beat for many years. I used to get lost all

the time. The newsroom was at the back of the building. I could not

find my way down to it. And in addition to the camera over there I

have a camera on my helmet. Some reporters liked to appear fearless

in pursuit of a story. Some keep a stiff upper lip more

successfully than others. This man was truly fearless. He

earned a reputation for going where most reporters would fear to tread.

We went up that ladder. It was a 40 mph winds. You could feel the thing

flexing. It was terrifying. There was no safety rope or harness. For

10 years afterwards that film was used as a BBC training film.

Sometimes reporters can add extra drama to a story.

This reporter asked Hess cameraman fought a close-up. Then he Smita

violently. Big gold dust erupted. It was all over my hair and his

hair. All over the floor. They guy who had Cameron was apoplectic

because he had lost several hundred pounds.

This reporter made the final story his own for many years. Doing funny

stories is not to everybody's taste. There were only a few who could do

it. I threw myself into it. You have got to be creative.

Tell them I am engaged! There are some household names who got their

first breaks on this programme. Take That's look more embarrassed

Take That's look more embarrassed than anyone else.

Here is the weather: For once Dave Guest told the truth! All you do is

read the words. When the Rui Marques -- this if you

were sent in pictures of daffodils. Could they be an eight at this time

my here? I think we will be in double

figures for a huge portion of the night.

Temperatures will not fall very far overnight.

Drizzly rain on the Isle of Man. Remit may come into Lancashire and

Cumbria. -- rain. The rain will travel back north and the early

hours of the morning. Double figures for most of us. When you

start a day with high temperatures, they will not get much higher. We

have a lot of cloud cover. Drizzly rain pushing north as the morning

goes on. It will leave as quickly. Look at that. A lot of cloud. A

glimpse of sunshine every now and then. Similar to the weather we had

today. We have got nothing to say because

We have got nothing to say because there is nothing on the autocue! I