:00:00. > :00:00.a UN school and a crowded marketplace in Gaza. That is all
:00:00. > :00:26.It's devastating to see the pier gunfire. It's a real shame that
:00:27. > :00:30.something like this has happened. A Police Community Support Officer
:00:31. > :00:35.who stole more than ?15,000 Victims of anti`social behaviour
:00:36. > :00:44.will get the chance to decide how offenders are punished under new
:00:45. > :01:01.plans by police chiefs in Stssex. Definitely, a victim should have
:01:02. > :01:04.more of a sea. They always get the headlights of people getting away
:01:05. > :01:06.with light sentences. If we can have an influence, that makes sense to
:01:07. > :01:07.me. And we take a first look
:01:08. > :01:09.at Folkestone's centenary arch to mark the town's unique role
:01:10. > :01:21.in the First World War. A huge fire and plumes
:01:22. > :01:26.of thick black smoke have engulfed People in the town could only watch
:01:27. > :01:31.as the two`storey building at the front of the iconic Victorian
:01:32. > :01:34.pier went up in flames. More than 60 firefighters from
:01:35. > :01:38.East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have been battling the blazd,
:01:39. > :01:41.which spread quickly on a hot but The fire's rapid progress w`s
:01:42. > :01:46.documented by onlookers who've posted dramatic
:01:47. > :01:49.pictures on social media. Well let's cross live to Eastbourne
:01:50. > :01:52.and speak to Rebecca Willials. Rebecca, from what you can see,
:01:53. > :02:11.how much damage has been catsed Yes. Around 33% of the pier has been
:02:12. > :02:15.destroyed. As you can see, there is still thick smoke here. Hundreds
:02:16. > :02:18.have gathered to get one last glimpse of what remains. We
:02:19. > :02:22.understand that the fire st`rted at 3:15pm. We believe it began inside
:02:23. > :02:36.wood panelling inside the arcade. A giant plume of smoke fills the air
:02:37. > :02:40.over Eastbourne. It started just after 3:00pm this afternoon. Flames
:02:41. > :02:45.ripped through the roof of the budget building on the pier leaving
:02:46. > :02:50.an empty shell. The popular seaside destination was very busy. Witnesses
:02:51. > :02:55.say up to 100 people were inside when it started. Eastbourne beach
:02:56. > :03:00.crowded with people enjoying the sunshine. There was smoke coming in
:03:01. > :03:05.the games room and then the alarms went off and we had to get out
:03:06. > :03:11.quickly. How long did it take to evacuate? It must have been about
:03:12. > :03:20.five minutes. It's an absoltte tragedy. It's part of our hdritage.
:03:21. > :03:23.It has always been with us. Around 60 firefighters from stations around
:03:24. > :03:32.Sussex were said to fight the flames. Lifeboats were sent to
:03:33. > :03:42.rescue anyone who had jumped from the pier. We could see flamds very
:03:43. > :03:48.high in the sky. There are ` dozen emergency services on scene at the
:03:49. > :03:57.moment. Fire engines are all over the place at the moment. It is just
:03:58. > :04:04.a really bad site. We just had a coach driver tell us he could see
:04:05. > :04:07.the smoke in Hastings. Thesd are the dramatic images posted on social
:04:08. > :04:12.networking sites as the fird took hold. It is understood it started in
:04:13. > :04:24.wall panelling building arc`de games. Hundreds gathered to watch
:04:25. > :04:32.the pier garden. Police prevented people from getting too close.
:04:33. > :04:37.Causing devastation to Eastbourne's beggars to list attraction `t the
:04:38. > :04:41.height of summer `` biggest tourist attraction.
:04:42. > :04:50.This of course is a pier stdeped in history, officially opened hn 1 47.
:04:51. > :05:00.The local MP saw what happened. I was working in my office 200 yards
:05:01. > :05:04.away. Someone told me the pher was on fire. I rushed outside and there
:05:05. > :05:13.was a little fire on top of the arcade room. Minutes later, it was
:05:14. > :05:17.ablaze. I spoke with the police and firefighters and, thank God, as far
:05:18. > :05:24.as know one is injured. My second concern was that if it spre`d, we
:05:25. > :05:30.would have had what happened in Hastings. I think it has bedn
:05:31. > :05:34.stopped at the arcade which, thank God, means the bulk of the pier is
:05:35. > :05:39.still there and should be able to be restored. It is a private sdctor
:05:40. > :05:44.company that owns it and have had it for ten years or so. I had ` meeting
:05:45. > :05:49.with the general manager wedks ago. He was telling me about his
:05:50. > :05:54.investment of opening new stores, so it is a real blow for Eastbourne. I
:05:55. > :05:57.have a meeting tomorrow with the council leader to work out how we
:05:58. > :06:02.can get through this and have a good summer. I'm joined by locals who saw
:06:03. > :06:11.what happened. Describe the scenes this afternoon. It is reallx
:06:12. > :06:14.upsetting to see the pier gone. What was such a brilliant, iconic
:06:15. > :06:24.statement of Eastbourne is slowly disappearing. Terrible shock. I just
:06:25. > :06:27.came around the corner along the seafront and the main amuselent area
:06:28. > :06:36.was just engulfed in flames. Luckily, the lifeboat has s`ved
:06:37. > :06:38.people at the pier. During the Second World War, this pier was
:06:39. > :06:43.ordered to be destroyed so the enemies couldn't land. It m`naged to
:06:44. > :06:44.stay put but, as you can sed today, is thought of it has now bedn
:06:45. > :06:47.destroyed. As Eastbourne Pier burns, so too
:06:48. > :06:50.does nearly 150 years of history. The structure has been
:06:51. > :06:52.the focal point of the town since the Victorian era,
:06:53. > :06:55.surviving two World Wars and rising It was opened in 1870,
:06:56. > :07:01.the vision of the famous pidr designer Eugenius Birch who also
:07:02. > :07:05.designed Hastings Pier. In 1940, the decking was reloved
:07:06. > :07:07.and machine guns installed And the pier has already bedn
:07:08. > :07:17.the victim of fire with the theatre Piers Hopkirk has been lookhng
:07:18. > :07:30.back at its chequered history. For nearly 150 years, it stood as a
:07:31. > :07:34.monument to Victorian engindering. This grade two listed buildhng was
:07:35. > :07:39.described as one of the findst of its kind. Today, fire has rdduced
:07:40. > :07:44.Eastbourne's historic pier to a shell. It is the end of an dra. It
:07:45. > :07:48.is a question of going back to the drawing board. It is was tr`gic to
:07:49. > :07:52.lose a structure like this that has stood for well over a century. This
:07:53. > :08:00.is a very distinguished one from architectural point of view.
:08:01. > :08:06.Probably the finest on the south coast, often used for filming on
:08:07. > :08:12.television. I can only be grateful that there is no loss of life. The
:08:13. > :08:17.beer was officially opened hn 1 70. 1000 feet long, it was one of the
:08:18. > :08:21.great Victorian seaside strtctures. Designed by Eugenius Birch, it was
:08:22. > :08:29.one of his last remaining creations, a symbol of the dra us
:08:30. > :08:37.passion for piers. There ard elements of his original designs
:08:38. > :08:48.there. It is a serious blow. We hope it will not be a mortal blow to
:08:49. > :08:52.Eastbourne pier. It was a focal point for Eastbourne's angldrs. In
:08:53. > :09:03.the 50s, it was the set of point for day trips to France. It served as a
:09:04. > :09:07.double for Brighton's Palacd Pier. Eastbourne Pier is not alond and
:09:08. > :09:13.falling victim to fire. Brighton's pier was destroyed in a blaze in
:09:14. > :09:22.2003. Seven years later, thd same fate befell Hastings pier. Ht has
:09:23. > :09:26.only now been restored. Obvhously, it is a tragic event in Eastbourne.
:09:27. > :09:31.But I think the lesson from Hastings is how much people care abott their
:09:32. > :09:39.pier. Hastings has been abld to relay channel that amazing
:09:40. > :09:43.perfection for the structurd and memories that the pier evokds. That
:09:44. > :09:51.is what has really given hope for the future. Tonight, the qudstion
:09:52. > :09:55.for many is what can be savdd? What can be restored?
:09:56. > :09:59.Well let's speak to BBC Radho Kent reporter Phil Harrison.
:10:00. > :10:11.Phil, I understand you were on the beach when the fire started?
:10:12. > :10:22.We drove into the town about 4:15pm. We saw the towering plume of
:10:23. > :10:29.smoke come over the seaside area. We realised it was the pier. Sloke
:10:30. > :10:37.brown and grey in colour, w`s rising 250 metres of the peer. We realised
:10:38. > :10:41.we had a fire on her hands. Obviously, you had gone for a nice
:10:42. > :10:46.day at the seaside. Was it frightening? What was the rdaction
:10:47. > :10:50.of people looking? It seemed that people had begun their summdr
:10:51. > :10:56.holidays, on the beach in their swimming costumes. They werd all
:10:57. > :11:02.looking along the seafront to see the fire. They had their calera
:11:03. > :11:05.phones out, taking pictures, just surprised by what they were seeing.
:11:06. > :11:10.I don't think there was fear in the era. It was only when fire trucks
:11:11. > :11:12.arrived about 15 minutes later that we realised they could have been
:11:13. > :11:19.something a bit more serious happening. When she had a chat with
:11:20. > :11:22.people, what was the reaction like? I think it was a leaf more than
:11:23. > :11:25.anything, people telling me we couldn't believe what they were
:11:26. > :11:29.seeing. I spoke to a couple who were with their young children. They were
:11:30. > :11:37.in the amusement arcade when the fire alarm went off and thex calmly
:11:38. > :11:40.what of the pier to safety. They praised the safety officers for
:11:41. > :11:42.getting them out of there any calm manner.
:11:43. > :11:45.We'll have more on this story later on in the programme and
:11:46. > :11:48.of course you can tune into the BBC Sussex who will be covering this
:11:49. > :11:52.all evening and we have full coverage on our website also.
:11:53. > :12:03.Success for the South East on day seven of the Commonwealth G`mes
:12:04. > :12:07.A Police Community Support Officer who stole more than ?15,000
:12:08. > :12:11.from airport passengers is tonight facing the prospect of jail.
:12:12. > :12:15.Alexis Scott, who worked at Gatwick, was found guilty
:12:16. > :12:18.of conning seven long`haul travellers out of sums ranghng
:12:19. > :12:24.She is alleged to have told departing passengers they wdre
:12:25. > :12:27.not allowed to take more th`n ?1,000 out of the country.
:12:28. > :12:30.Canterbury Crown Court heard that Scott then took
:12:31. > :12:32.their money seconds before they went through the departure gate
:12:33. > :12:46.The disgraced former police community support officer, pictured
:12:47. > :12:52.on Camara, having just call and the passenger at Gatwick out of more
:12:53. > :13:01.than ?1000. Alexis Scott abtsed her position, targeting passengdrs.
:13:02. > :13:06.Clearly the victims have thd right to expect that police officdrs are
:13:07. > :13:10.people that they can trust. On this occasion, she was woefully below
:13:11. > :13:18.that standard and, as a restlt, has been found guilty. Alexis Scott was
:13:19. > :13:21.found guilty of six counts of theft at Gatwick Airport in April last
:13:22. > :13:25.year. She dishonestly told passengers they couldn't take more
:13:26. > :13:31.than ?1000 in cash out of the country. Alexis Scott took ?300
:13:32. > :13:37.from a women travelling to Turkey that was intended to help p`y for an
:13:38. > :13:39.operation. Her crimes came to light because she had told some of the
:13:40. > :13:44.passengers they could reclahm the money she had taken from thdm when
:13:45. > :13:48.they returned to the United Kingdom. Some of them tried to do thhs,
:13:49. > :13:51.approaching the airport information desk only to be told that the money
:13:52. > :13:57.was not there and they had been conned. The judge said it w`s
:13:58. > :14:01.inevitable that she will face a custodial sentence. He said she had
:14:02. > :14:08.seriously undermined public trust in a public service.
:14:09. > :14:11.Nine beaches in Thanet that were closed to bathers after a sdries
:14:12. > :14:13.of sewage discharges have bden reopened this afternoon.
:14:14. > :14:15.Businesses in the area had to close yesterday after debris
:14:16. > :14:19.Southern Water say they had to release sewage from pumping stations
:14:20. > :14:22.in Margate and Broadstairs to ensure local homes were not flooded
:14:23. > :14:31.A partnership between the University of Kent and the Kent Messenger Group
:14:32. > :14:34.has been awarded a new local TV licence for Maidstone and Tonbridge.
:14:35. > :14:36.The stations will broadcast on Freeview Channel 8.
:14:37. > :14:39.It's the second local TV licence to be granted in the South East,
:14:40. > :15:00.following Brighton's Latest TV which launches at the end of August.
:15:01. > :15:02.Victims of anti`social behaviour will decide how the perpetr`tors
:15:03. > :15:04.are punished under proposals put forward by police chiefs.
:15:05. > :15:07.Sussex Police and Crime Comlissioner Katy Bourne has put together
:15:08. > :15:09.a list of possible punishments including repairing damage to
:15:10. > :15:10.property, behaviour contracts and financial reparations.
:15:11. > :15:13.The initiative which is being taken on by all crime commissioners builds
:15:14. > :15:16.on the idea of punishing lower`level offenders outside of the cotrts
:15:17. > :15:20.It's the kind of behaviour that can blight a community and causd anguish
:15:21. > :15:23.for individuals who have to live with it. But now victims of
:15:24. > :15:27.anti`social behaviour will be able to pick what punishment shotld be
:15:28. > :15:31.handed down. Later this year, victims will be able to choose from
:15:32. > :15:35.a list of options, from an `pology to repairing damage that has been
:15:36. > :15:41.caused. It is all about givhng the victim some power. That's what
:15:42. > :15:47.victims need. We need a gre`ter say in the punishment of offenddrs and
:15:48. > :15:51.keeping them out of the court system so that they don't get a crhminal
:15:52. > :15:55.record. It has been shown that it can't stop them from offendhng
:15:56. > :16:02.again. There are already schemes were those convicted can make amends
:16:03. > :16:05.as part of the sentence. It goes further, with victims having a
:16:06. > :16:10.direct say on what should h`ppen. The measures are meant to ddal with
:16:11. > :16:14.low`grade anti`social behavhour like this which make many lives ` misery.
:16:15. > :16:21.But how much say should the victim have? Definitely, a victim should
:16:22. > :16:27.have more of a say. The law is skewed against that. I'm not a rabid
:16:28. > :16:33.right`winger or anything like that. It seems the logical thing to take
:16:34. > :16:36.forward. We all read about her sentencing is a challenge and you
:16:37. > :16:42.always get headlines about people getting away with light sentences.
:16:43. > :16:46.It makes sense to me. If thd perpetrator is cleaning up the
:16:47. > :16:52.graffiti or whatever, that's good, isn't it? I think the victils have
:16:53. > :16:57.to be at the centre of this. Frankly, if someone damages your
:16:58. > :17:00.property, you want them to pay to repair it and say sorry. Th`t's a
:17:01. > :17:05.lot better than dragging its record for months or years. It's a good
:17:06. > :17:11.idea but only when the victhm wants it. Sussex's police and crile
:17:12. > :17:12.commission showed that anti`social behaviour had been one of the
:17:13. > :17:22.biggest concerns for local people. On Monday, the town of Folkdstone
:17:23. > :17:25.will play a major role in the nation's commemoration
:17:26. > :17:28.of the outbreak of World War One. Prince Harry will unveil
:17:29. > :17:30.a memorial arch, the only pdrmanent structure to be built in Brhtain to
:17:31. > :17:33.remember those who took part A parade will then follow the route
:17:34. > :17:41.marched by millions of soldhers along the road which became the
:17:42. > :17:44.gateway to the trenches in France. Our reporter Sara Smith is
:17:45. > :17:58.in the town for us now. Glinting in the sunshine, it has
:17:59. > :18:01.taken years to get to this point but at last, Folkestone has a mdmorial
:18:02. > :18:11.to mark the role it played hn World War I. Its first, an act of
:18:12. > :18:19.commemoration to remember the soldiers and services. Secondly it
:18:20. > :18:31.is to educate the children, which is what our charity is all abott.
:18:32. > :18:37.Today, it is a host to thosd enjoying the sunshine. On Monday,
:18:38. > :18:41.1000 people of military and civilian, will congregate at the new
:18:42. > :18:45.memorial to March. Prince H`rry will formally unveil a new memorhal. 100
:18:46. > :18:49.years ago, men across Britahn and the Empire came to Folkestone on
:18:50. > :18:53.their way to the front line. At the top of the steep road, they were
:18:54. > :19:01.told to step short so they could take the hill in their stride. On
:19:02. > :19:13.Monday, marchers will take the same order progressed in the Wrote Of
:19:14. > :19:21.Remembrance Sends Back. `` Road The Simple Shape Is Designed To Resonate
:19:22. > :19:24.Around The World. It Has Bedn Used For Thousands Of Years And
:19:25. > :19:35.Architecture. If It Had Been Here Hundreds Of Years Ago, he would
:19:36. > :19:40.recognise it. Hopefully ever give you comfort and a manger of why you
:19:41. > :19:48.were here and what you were doing `` it would give you comfort. The
:19:49. > :19:52.creation of this new memori`l arch which will be unveiled by Prince
:19:53. > :19:55.Harry is a real community project. I have been part of it for six or
:19:56. > :19:59.seven years with the group of volunteers. We have raised loney to
:20:00. > :20:04.create this memorial which H believe is a perfect tribute to the memory
:20:05. > :20:10.of those soldiers and the role that Folkestone played during thd First
:20:11. > :20:15.World War. At 11:00pm on Monday the lights you will dim to mark the
:20:16. > :20:19.moment is the well across the country `` lights here.
:20:20. > :20:22.And our World War One commelorations continue with a special event
:20:23. > :20:25.in Folkestone on the 4th of August, the day that war was declardd 1 0
:20:26. > :20:29.BBC South East Today and BBC Radio Kent will be broadcasting
:20:30. > :20:38.live and you can join us at a free all`day event on the harbour.
:20:39. > :20:40.It's 6:49pm. This is our top story tonight:
:20:41. > :20:42.And many of you have been contacting us about Eastbourne Pier.
:20:43. > :20:49.We'll be reading out your thoughts a little later in the progr`mme
:20:50. > :20:56.We go live to images from E`stbourne pier. Firefighters are still there
:20:57. > :21:10.trying to bring the fire under control. We're not losing the
:21:11. > :21:11.sunshine altogether, but it does seem unsettled towards the dnd the
:21:12. > :21:21.week. There's been no medal winning
:21:22. > :21:23.performances from the South Easts competitors so far on day sdven
:21:24. > :21:26.of the Commonwealth Games btt it The England women's hockey team
:21:27. > :21:30.containing six players from Kent and Sussex, are through to the last four
:21:31. > :21:35.and Canterbury bowler Sian Gordon Neil Bell joins us from Glasgow
:21:36. > :21:42.Another busy day? Plenty going on but the acthon was
:21:43. > :21:45.temporarily overshadowed by the arrival in town of
:21:46. > :21:49.our very successful shooting team. Back on Super Sunday,
:21:50. > :21:53.Sussex shooters Charlotte Kdrwood and Steve Scott both won
:21:54. > :21:56.their double trap competitions We couldn't have hoped for
:21:57. > :22:03.anything better, winning together. Definitely not. It's an amazing
:22:04. > :22:05.experience. I watched Charlotte shoot and win
:22:06. > :22:08.her gold and then, a couple of hours You have both won Commonwealth
:22:09. > :22:15.medals before but I guess it is For me,
:22:16. > :22:19.it is my third individual one This is the one that I wantdd
:22:20. > :22:24.to come home with and I did. Same here. I had a pairs in India
:22:25. > :22:28.and now I managed to do it by my Were you able to watch Charlotte
:22:29. > :22:33.compete, She was able to watch me
:22:34. > :22:37.in the final. For the qualifying rounds,
:22:38. > :22:39.that wasn't the case because we were close together
:22:40. > :22:42.but she was there cheering le on. I could hear her quite clearly
:22:43. > :22:45.through the crowd of thousands! So it was a good inspiration,
:22:46. > :22:52.that's for sure. The highlight of today's action came
:22:53. > :22:56.early this morning when the England women's hockey team beat arch rivals
:22:57. > :23:05.Scotland 2`1. Canterbury's Susannah Townsdnd put
:23:06. > :23:08.England two up shortly before half time with a neatly taken go`l but
:23:09. > :23:11.the Scots rallied and pulled a goal back through Nikki Kidd, ond of two
:23:12. > :23:14.Canterbury players in the Scotland side but England held
:23:15. > :23:22.on to make the last four. England skippered by
:23:23. > :23:24.Canterbury's Sian Gordon also beat Scotland in the bowls this `fternoon
:23:25. > :23:27.which helped them to top thdir group Brighton's Seb Rodger finished
:23:28. > :23:35.a creditable fourth in the semi finals of the 400 metres hurdles
:23:36. > :23:38.but sadly that wasn't good dnough Gillingham's Grace Clements has two
:23:39. > :23:46.more events in the heptathlon to come and Brighton
:23:47. > :24:04.badminton player Heather Olver is Let's go back to Eastbourne Pier.
:24:05. > :24:09.The fire is thought to have began in a games arcade. There's got back to
:24:10. > :24:14.our reporter, Rebecca Willi`ms. What more do to be now?
:24:15. > :24:29.Around 33% has been destroydd in the fire. People are taking photos of
:24:30. > :24:37.what remains. He very sad d`y. Indeed. It is an important part of
:24:38. > :24:44.our Victorian seaside. It w`s built in 1870 by Eugenius Birch. The front
:24:45. > :24:48.end has been totally destroxed. The good news is that everybody was
:24:49. > :24:54.evacuated safely and there `ren t any injuries to the public or
:24:55. > :25:05.firefighters. What will you be doing now? We will be having a medting
:25:06. > :25:10.tomorrow to see what plans we can get together to get it oper`tional
:25:11. > :25:16.again as soon as possible. @ very sad day.
:25:17. > :25:24.Lots of you have been commenting on Facebook and Twitter and posting
:25:25. > :25:34.pictures. Here is a sample. Jamie Smith says it is incredibly sad
:25:35. > :25:54.Sylvia says another Sussex pier up in flames. What is going on? Chris
:25:55. > :26:01.Austin echoes views. Heather steeply says I cannot believe it has
:26:02. > :26:05.happened again. Peter says, with a note of optimism, it could be the
:26:06. > :26:07.best thing that ever happendd as Hastings Pier was fully rebtilt and
:26:08. > :26:11.will hopefully be better th`n ever. Join in the conversation on our
:26:12. > :26:33.Facebook and Twitter. A very warm day we have had so far.
:26:34. > :26:37.Cooler along the coast with a westerly breeze. There is more late
:26:38. > :26:43.sunshine to look forward to. A very clear night and feeling fresher with
:26:44. > :26:52.temperatures down to 14 or 05 Celsius. Still a fairly warl night
:26:53. > :26:56.but comfortable to. A fair `mount of sunny spells tomorrow but l`ter on
:26:57. > :27:00.we see the risk of showers. Our corner of the world is feelhng
:27:01. > :27:10.pretty well compared to somd part of the UK. `` parts. We are looking at
:27:11. > :27:19.temperatures in places like Gravesend getting to 24 Celsius The
:27:20. > :27:23.coast will make it to 20 Celsius. More clear spells through the night.
:27:24. > :27:26.We might have heavy bursts first thing in the morning with
:27:27. > :27:30.temperatures down to 15 or 06 Celsius but during the day there is
:27:31. > :27:42.a brighter risk of showers. Saturday is looking bad to, but much better
:27:43. > :27:54.on Sunday. We will leave yot be short of Eastbourne Pier.
:27:55. > :28:09.Cos the more he can't have you the more he'll want you.
:28:10. > :28:39.When wild animals get sick, it takes radical thinking,
:28:40. > :28:43.extraordinary medical skills and great bravery