12/06/2014 North West Tonight

cooler through the weekend, but the weather is looking pretty good for

Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and Annabel Thffin.

Holiday`makers fears over the Liverpool passport backlog.

Workers are told they'll be disciplined

We join Merseyside Police as they launch raids on organised crime

Criticism for the binge drinking document`ry which

Lift`off for the prestigious horse trial, as Bolesworth puts Cheshire

I'm here for the bigger World Cup kick`off. `` the big World Cup

kick`off. An anxious time

for passport applicants tod`y, some were trying to collect

passports in person others were putting in second applications under

the faster premium service to try to An anxious time

for passport applicants tod`y, some were trying to collect

passports in person others were putting in second applications under

the faster premium service to try to No one really explains what was

going on. Over the past week, I have phoned at least twice a day to find

out what is happening. Eventually I finally got some action. Thdy said I

can pick it up today but it has been horrible.

I'm really anxious. It has been quite stressful. The worry of losing

my holiday has not been fun. British Nationals working abroad are

also caught up in the backlog Martin Cairns from Liverpool works

in Senegal applied for a passport I'm very disappointed. My whfe is

stressed out. Obviously we want to have a good summer holiday.

Fortunately we have not booked flights but I know people who had.

It's disappointing that this can happen.

Theresa May leaked pictures of documents waiting to be processed

in Liverpool sparked this row, now staff here are being investhgated

250 additional staff have bden transferred to front`line

operations. 50 additional staff will be working on the customer helpline.

There will be new space opened in Liverpool to help staff with

processing passport applications. Theresa May leaked pictures

of documents waiting to be processed in Liverpool sparked this row, now

staff here are being investhgated Earlier, I spoke to the union that

represents the workers at the passport office.

I think it is a disgraceful and over the top response from the government

to a member of their workforce raising legitimate concerns. I think

what we have seen over the last couple of days is that the release

of those photographs was overwhelmingly in the public

interest. Was there another way this could have been handled rather than

leaking photographs? We don't know what was going through

the person's mind who released those photographs. Clearly they h`ve

serious concerns about the state of the service they provide. They felt

the best vehicle to highlight those concerns was to draw a picttre of

the people of just how bad the situation was.

They are under a lot of pressure as now have this threat of disciplinary

action. Will this affect thd way they are under a lot of pressure as

now have this threat of disciplinary action. Will this affect thd way

they're working? To be honest, I would suggest that

morality is already at a low. Workers in the passport offhce are

already being asked to work round the clock in order to get the

government out of the mess that they have created for themselves. This is

a further attack on staff morale. Staff should be rewarded and

recognised for the vital work that they are doing on the ground every

day to keep the service as ht is best.

Why do your members think that things have gone so wrong?

The government has cut staff in the passport office and the service is

not able to handle the demands. We have been saying to the govdrnment

that went demands goes back to normal, the service will not be able

to cope. I think we have bedn completely vindicated.

Now that's reason they had said there will be an increase in staff,

do you think people will get their passports in the right amount of

time? I sincerely hope they do get their

passports in time. It is not our wish that anyone would miss a

well`deserved holiday. The leasures that the government have put in a

lot of them are short term. They don't address the underlying issues.

There is a Sirius question `bout whether this could happen again

Thank you very much. `` a sdrious question.

It was Liverpool's biggest dver crackdown on serious

Today, hundreds of police officers carried out raids across thd city

The yearlong investigation has already led to the seizure

of millions of pounds worth of drugs along with firearms.

So far today 32 people have been arrested, as Ian Haslam reports

It?s 7am and more than 400 Merseysidd police

officers are heading out to various destinations on what the force calls

Minutes later, suspects receive a rude awakening.

It's around 7:15am. This is one of 38 borrowers being investig`ted

across the county. At the same time, a mile down

the road in Dingle, another raid. There were no occupants

but there was a cannabis farm. The lack we get information from our

community who tell us where these individuals are plying their trade.

This involves to organised crime groups who are effectively have been

using violence of firearms to facilitate their trade.

Since Operation Azuga began a year ago, drugs with a street

value of ?3 million have bedn seized ` along with a number of firearms,

We are working to make sure that people aren't going to come in and

fill the void that has been left. We have taken out a significant number

of people involved in drug supply in this area.

proof say Merseyside police, that they're making major progress

The way the community has stpported the police in gathering that

information, all of that is really encouraging.

Following today's raids offhcers have been posting information

leaftets in a bid to reassure residents.

Those arrested are tonight being questioned at Police stations

A report's found that Greater Manchester Police couldn't

have done anything to prevent the death of a woman and her 15 year

old son in a house fire in Altrincham started by her p`rtner.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission looked into the contact

officers had with Tracey and Shaun Jones before David Potts carried out

the arson attack in 2011, btt said police had no information to help

500 jobs are at risk at Wirral Council as part of plans to

An email sent to all staff by chief executive Graham Btrgess

warns compulsory redundancids can't be ruled out.

The council cut over a thousand jobs through voltntary

An Air Accident Investigation Branch report says that ice may have caused

a light aircraft to crash in North Wales killing

a Lancashire man and seriously injuring members of his famhly.

The Piper Cherokee lost powdr as it approached Caenarfon @irport

Royal Mail says it will consider actions

by workers who've refuse to deliver free copies of the Sun newspaper

The publishers agreed not to distribute copies in Liverpool

because of anger at the way they reported the Hillsborough dhsaster.

Some members of staff in Skelmersdale said they'd walk out

if they were made to deliver the newspapers.

An ITV documentary has been criticised for paying students to

drink dangerously high levels of alcohol which could have

Britain's young Drinkers whhch was part of the Tonight programle spent

hundreds of pounds on alcohol for four Liverpool University

Students on a night out in order to see what effect it would have.

Alcohol Awareness charities have criticised the programme

Our Health Correspondent El`ine Dunkley reports.

It was meant to be an ITV investigation into how much young

people drink now the progralme is under investigation.

One of the students from Liverpool John Moore's Univdrsity

drank 48 units the equivalent of 24 pints...and

In a bar another one, all otr students had two shots of tdquila.

The students wouldn't talk to us because they've signed a de`l with

a national newspaper but drink awareness charitids have

I'm not sure it's particularly scientific. I think it has been done

in an irresponsible way. I `ccept the fact that students will drink a

lot, but actually giving thdm a blank cheque to go and do what they

want I think is not a sensible way of going about things.

In tests the following day, one of the students had a blood

alcohol level consistent with a patient in A that had poisoning.

I do think it is a problem that affects the student community. We

are dealing with isolated incidents across campuses and across the

country, where these kinds of activities are taking place. I think

it is important for us to ghve the right message around responsible

drinking. I have drunk a lot but never

ridiculous amounts. They shouldn't have just given them a free bar

I think it was a really terrible idea. Students are responsible but

when they're given that opportunity they will milk it for all it is

worth. In a statement ITV said, "Following

a complaint from a family mdmber of one of the participants hn the

Tonight programme, ITV immediately carried out an investigation

into whether its strict intdrnal The series producer has left

the programme." When Robert Hart set out

for the Parklife music festhval in Manchester at the weekend,

he was looking forward to sdeing But the 26`year`old

from Macclesfield died in hospital yesterday, after being punched while

trying to stop his girlfriend being Police say Robert's

family are inconsolable. Officers have appealed to fdstival

goers to check their mobile phones and comd forward

if they saw or filmed the attack. Robert Hart and his girlfridnd came

to the Parklife festival in Heaton Park last weekend ` `long

with 140,000 other music fans. But after being brutally attacked

by the main stage on Saturd`y His family described him as a loving

and caring man. He was living in Liverpool at the time with his

girlfriend. He is originallx from Macclesfield. It is a terrible

incident. His family are utterly devastated.

Robert and his girlfriend wdre at the front of the stage

Police said today there appdars to have been some sort of confrontation

after Robert?s girlfriend w`s hit with an inflatable doll.

He was given CPR but died yesterday in hospital.

Police have released an e`fht of the suspect ` he's of mixed race, in

He was wearing shorts and a blue bomber style jacket with

Robert wasn't the only person assaulted.

Officers are looking at this picture being circulated on social ledia

which claims to show a man being kicked in an unrelated attack

at the festival ` they haven't yet identified the victim or offender.

There were also two stabbings with one teenage boy slashed

Police say they need festiv`lgoers to go look through their pictures

and video to see whether thdy captured Robert's attack.

The organisers of Parklife say they're dev`stated

by Robert's death and are hdlping police with their investigation

The government has warned the University of Chester that

standards at three of its academies are "unacceptably low".

Ministers have today issued a so`called "pre`warning notice

to the University of Chester Academies Trust or UCAT telling it

Our political editor Arif Ansari is outside one of those academhes

So this is one of the three academies in qtestion.

Just explain further what the problem is.

The government wrote to you cats in April. That letter has been made

public today. The significance is that there are schools that

struggle, but some of them being turned into academies and they have

academy sponsors, of which the University is one. Its job hs to

raise those standards. The government has flagged up concerns

about three academies. One of those is behind me. Two others ard the

University of Chester Acadely in Northwich and the Universitx Of

Chester Church Of England Academy. I have spoken to children who go to

this Academy and they were far from comp entry. The National unhon of

teachers claimed that the school was improving until the council took

over. I am extremely concerned about the

situation. It is a `` it is letting down the people who are attdnding

that Academy. Improvements have to be made.

Louise Ellman says the young people are being let down. What happens

next? This is the letter, the pre`warning

notice letter that the government has sent out. It essentiallx says to

UCAT, you have 15 days to ilprove things. They write that the

Secretary of State considers that there has been a serious brdakdown

in the way some of the acaddmies within the trust are managed or

governed. As for the University of Chdster,

they say that they received the letter in April but have had some

time to improve matters. Thdy have been working hard

behind`the`scenes. They havd to convince the government of that and

if they don't manage it within the next few days, the government does

have the ability to take thd Academy away from sponsoring those ghouls.

That would be a big move, nationally, in terms of education

policy. What are your thoughts on another

political story tonight, th`t the MP Joe Benton is going to leavd

Parliament? There has been ` bit of toing and froing on this story. What

is the significance? This is another unusual one because

Mr Benson wanted to continud as the MP but his constituency party had

other ideas. One bit of polhtical trivia, back in 1990, the

constituency had three MPs. Two of them died and Mr Benson took over in

a by`election. As far as his constituency party or concerns, they

don't feel that his media profile has been as much as they wotld

like. It is a safe Labour sdat and I don't think they will have lany

problems finding a successor. Thank you.

The weather is coming up shortly. Thousands of you have been dnjoying

the sunshine. Thousands of people have bedn

enjoying the summer sunshind and the show jumping at the Boldsworth

International Festival in Cheshire. It's and event that's dragghng

the sport's focus away from its traditional heartl`nd away

from the Home Counties. With unbridled ambition

it's attracting top riders and horses and it's now

in the top five show jumping events Our Cheshire reporter Mark Ddwardson

has spent the day at the festival. It's magnificent central ardna is

playing host to horses and riders from around the world, incltding

Olympians. There are worse ways of spending 81

Thursday afternoon. We don't get this temperature often.

These are beautiful surroundings. It's lovely. The weather helps, of

course. This is no glorified gymkhana. The

competition is deadly seriots. Olympic gold medallists are among

the riders. It's a privilege to have thhs event

in our country. Some were focused on the central

arena, but backstage the stores were being groomed.

She is 12 years old. She is cheeky. She is a quirky mayor. She gets a

bit shy at times, but she's sweet. `` a cheeky force.

It takes a month because yot have to exercise of horses, make sure they

are fit enough for the job. You have to get them to enough shows.

One man who was the million with the arena was invited to perforl the

opening. He is a local lad. I am into the racing and my wife and

daughter are into dressage. This was a grass field last time I w`s here.

All the great names were colpeting here, but now it is a big n`tionwide

events. Bolesworth is relatively yotng

compared to its rivals in the south, but that has not trained in its

ambition. We would like to have some

championships here. That is our ultimate aim.

The festival goes on for another three days. There is a treat in

store for you, because I have found out that the boy bands Blue are

playing here will stop I know you are both fans!

I am looking forward to hearing them perform again!

It's amazing what you can fhnd on the Internet.

Now, believe it or not, the World Cup is fast approaching.

The opening ceremony is at 7pm. England played their first latch on

Saturday. Ardent fans have just completed the adventure of `

lifetime to cheer on their team They fed us,

let us watch the football at their house, arranged for us to bd able to

get safely across to the next town Then there was the stray Urtguayan

dog who followed them, became part of the team

and whom they made a film about think he will agree that is pretty

impressive. People here might have one or two of their own that with

sweepstakes. They are supporting one country in

particular. England's! Chris Livesey on the streets. You

like to make an effort, don't you? We do. We love it here on England

Street, as it is now. It's good community spirit. We are supporting

the boys out in Brazil. I think they will win! Those lads are gohng out

there with no fear. Come on, England! He said that with `

straight face. This place is already building up, I can feel it. What

will it be like ahead of thd first game?

It's going to be great. We will be getting our flags into the windows

and getting dressed up. We will all get ready to watch the match in the

evening. We will be watching in rain,

sunshine, whatever. I think we need a final prediction

from the kids. Who's going to win? England

I told you that would shock you I've been promised a free bders so

perhaps I will be back on S`turday. One of those occasions when everyone

in Wales will be supporting England. Wales streets.

I've got England in the offhce sweepstakes.

I got Hollander so I am quidtly optimistic.

`` I got Holland. Some subtle changes in the forecast

over the next couple of days. A couple of weather fronts emdrging.

They will introduce more cloudy conditions and they will also bring

in cooler conditions. Follow the eye for Boris and you can see which way

the wind is blowing. It is coming from the north. `` follow the

isobars. You will see a drop and you will notice that it will fedl

cooler. For some people that might be welcome. Today we saw

temperatures of 21 widely across the North of England. A beautiftl

evening in store with most `` with most places dry and fine. Qtite a

bit of clear weather tonight, so really you might be down to eight or

nine. In towns and these, a nice warm night. Temperatures up to 4

degrees. When you get up tolorrow morning, the same start as this

morning with plenty of sunshine The best of the weather will be before

lunchtime. After lunchtime, conditions will change. Through the

morning, look at that picture. It will feel lovely if you're out and

about. Here we go, just to the north of us there is a line that hs trying

to get towards us. It is merely used words but also dropping south.

Through the afternoon, it whll introduce more cloud cover `s that

cloud brings in the warm air with rocks. You could see showers

starting to break out. I 4pl, you may see showers on the Isle of Man.

It's all really ahead of a lore organised area of weather. @t

weather front will work its way down across north`western England on

Friday night into Saturday lorning. Tomorrow, I lunchtime we will be at

19 or 20 degrees. Most of the day is decent, that's towards the dnd

things will change. We are introducing much more in thd way of

cloud cover, and temperaturds cool off slightly, but it's not ` bad

forecast. I have heard that the officd

sweepstakes are paying out for the worst team as well.

Enjoy the little bits of nice weather we're having. Good night.