18/01/2017 South Today - Oxford

The sentences for organised dog fighting need to be tougher,

according to animal charities who say six months in

Service families say the complaints for improved accommodation are not

being heard. And a three-year-old is eight from her prosthetic hand made

from a 3-D printer. The sentences for organised dog

fighting need to be tougher, according to animal charities

who say six months in Figures obtained by the BBC show

that 400 incidents have been reported to the RSPCA in the South

in ten years. Nationally, only around

three percent of cases Peter Cooke has the story -

you may find some images Bloody and brutal - the hidden world

of illegal dog fighting. But animal rights groups say it's

also being found on our streets. Rival gangs using animals as weapons

- it's called a gateway crime. There is a strong link

to dogfighting with crimes such as domestic violence and violence

towards the elderly, violence And that is why it needs to be

a recordable offence, Rather than something that isn't

properly recorded by the Home Office, because if it isn't

recorded properly then the resources aren't put in to investigating

and catching the criminals. The activity's prosecuted

by the RSPCA - but those involved Despite 422 calls about organised

dog fighting to the charity in the South since 2006,

a tenth of the national total, only 137 people have been

convicted nationwide. Now politicians and animal welfare

groups want the current maximum six month sentence extended up

to five years. Mike Butcher has been trying

to catch those using dogs to fight Even though for any form

of cruelty, six months You get five years abroad in Europe

and longer than that in America and we are in this country

prosecuting more dogfights than anyone else probably,

we catch more dog fighters than anybody else yet

we have the lowest sentencing Both animal welfare groups are also

calling for a register of banned owners and a review

of the Dangerous Dogs Act. The Government says it already has

the right laws to tackle those Police have been carrying out

house to house enquiries A 26-year old man is believed

to have been stabbed at a property He was taken to Stoke Mandeville

hospital but died in the early An 18-year old man has been arrested

on suspicion of murder A man from Abingdon who duped

teenagers into performing sexual acts online has been jailed

for six years. Alex Orrs admitted 16 offences

including arranging the commission of child sexual offences and making

indecent photos of a child. The incidents took place

between 2012 and 2015. Military families have told

South Today that they're still living in damp and decaying

homes, six months after they were The firm in charge of maintaining

the properties was threatened with losing its multi-million pound

contract unless it improved. The Public Accounts Committee says

it has, but that's not the experience of residents

as Lewis Coombes reports. It is the battle that is closer

to home, a fight for an acceptable Living conditions

like this in Farringdon just one example of military

families of having to endure. Kim is married to an RAF

pilot based on the After 13 years he has decided

to leave his job partly due to the A small leak from

nearby resulted in the round ceiling be replaced as to

claimants to fix what was a simple Kim was heavily pregnant

and recently diagnosed with cancer. I just don't know what happens

between the people being called and The process doesn't

seem to work, the administration on the computer

system doesn't seem to work. It did affect my health

because I was just so stressed about it and so focused

about it and I felt so helpless. 47,000 homes are maintained in a

five-year contract worth over ?47 million. They are just not doing

that job that he had been paid to do so why should they be paid? BBC

south has been inundated with families on e-mail talking about

their experiences but are unwilling to do so on, over fears that the

consequences that could have won their jobs. It includes a soldier of

22 years who is weighing up whether to leave the military because he is

embarrassed about the standard of accommodation he is providing his

family. A group of MPs have been tasked with holding those in charge

of the contract to account. Those ways of looking after three children

and the husbands are flying typhoons... Serving personnel feel

under pressure not to talk to their MPs and that is something they

continue to work with but the spouses are free to do so and I know

have a confidential line that families from across the country can

contact me personally on. MoD figures show the average rent for an

unfurnished service almost ?300 per month. Families are few more

investment is needed. Doesn't seem that we are important enough to

assure Mikhail homes up to standard. We expect outcomes to be up to

standard and just doesn't happen. Brothers and sisters they are

working hard for personnel and families and focusing on how they

can improve things father. The MoD said they would absolutely not

hesitate to take further action if deemed necessary. The battle lines

have been drawn. The decision over who's

going to run council services in Buckinghamshire is now

in the hands of the Government. Aylesbury Vale District Council has

sent its plan to run everything in the Vale from collecting rubbish

to providing social care It's in direct conflict

with the plan he already has Sinead Carroll has been

looking into the options. From fixing potholes and picking

up our recycling to determining where and how Buckinghamshire's

houses or roads will be built. This discussion is all

about who should have responsibility At the moment Buckinghamshire has 1

county council and 4 district This week the districts agreed

a plan to scrap all those and replace them with 2

authorities called unitaries. One for Aylesbury Vale

and a second merging Wycombe, The red area at the top there -

that's Milton Keynes and that is already

a unitary authority. meanwhile has already

submitted its plan to effectively It would be the sole authority

and responsible for all our local The Vale say just one large

authority wouldn't work...So why The geography is not an south

Buckinghamshire so different. I believe having two different unit as

we can focus our attention on the specific demands of the respective

authorities. Why are these changes

being proposed?All councils difficulties and these

authorities agree the current Both proposals aim to save money-

money that could be used to deliver better services.The backers

of the two unitary plan say it will save tax payers almost

?58 million over a five year Buckinghamshire County Council

says its suggestion could save even more-

over 18 million pounds each year. Whichever option is chosen,

we know Buckinghamshire will see The Secretary of State won't make

any decisions until at least March. For the first time ever

Blenheim Palce has kept its doors open to the public whilst staff

carry out the annual deep Visitors can find out what it takes

to clean an eighteenth Everything from the carpets

to the ceilings are being dusted down, as Lucy Bickerton

has been finding out. The new year - and a clean start

for Blenheim Palace. An aroma of polish in the air -

the feather dusters, mops and vacuums are out

in force.However, usually the polishing of the Palace's family

silver takes place behind locked This year for the first time in the

palace is open throughout the year. In previous years it would have been

closed during the deep clean period is already excited to share that

with the public. We are running tours to be able to extend to the

public and show them first-hand exactly what happens here during the

deep clean. ten people will deep clean

the Palace from top to bottom. A painstaking procedure that's taken

place since it first opened It is not something you think about.

You clean your own house budget would think about something like a

property like this having to be cleaned.

Blenheim houses one of the longest rooms

And it's not just the room that needs cleaning:

We have just over 10,000 books and each one is carefully removed from

the shelf and opened and removed bus any dust with soft brushes, the

bindings are polished and each shelf is also cleaned and be put each book

back and watch our hallway through the library.

Add to that 40 busts and sculptures, 28 Marble tables, 18 clocks,

38 pieces of armour and 200 pieces of porcelain.

That's it for the moment. Abacus 1030.

sailor Alex Thompson, and here's Alexis.

I've been finding out why this beach in Southampton

'Give us more money or police services could suffer.'

That's the message from those in charge

today as they lobby the government for extra money.

The thin blue line is being stretched ever more thinly. In

Hampshire, the force has lost hundreds of art is supposed in

recent years and it seemed a specialist teams cut back and more

than 30 police stations are said to have been closed or it is set to go.

Today, the Chief Constable appealed directly to the Government for more

money. I am concerned because I wasn't concerned I would have penned

a letter to the Minister. It is a very serious issue. The formula

isn't fair. What we do know is it's a great police force and we have

already made significant changes. We are a really efficient constabulary.

Today is about securing our financial future in the longer term.

Hampshire says it is around 25% underfunded compared with other

forces, getting less money for policing. But the Government is

changing the way it calculates how much each force should get. That's

why Hampshire is making its case now. In a number of places around

Hampshire, police have moved out of the traditional police stations and

into shared buildings with the council and Fire Service, like here

in Southampton Civic Centre. That is cheaper. Before it says it got out

all the savings that can in they need another option. The current

national funding formula which is two thirds of my money is not fit

for purpose. There is a process at the moment are updated and I'm

giving the evidence to the Minister to nature we get the funding

nationally and they are funding locally. Police are being forced to

get ever smarter to make their limited resources go further, like

here at the frantic innovations centre set up at Portsmouth

University where Hampshire now uses its students and volunteers

alongside experienced officers to help fight cyber crime. The Home

Office said today it believes there is no question the police still have

the resources to do their important work, but will be considering

Hampshire's case and that of other forces in the coming months.

Emma, if funding isn't increased for Hampshire,

It's been made very clear today that Hampshire Police do believe there

are services could be under threat. What police do, they assess risk and

then the deal with crimes as they happen. With resources being

stretched, the bark of that would have to be set that much higher. --

bar. That could mean the police would not be able to attend as many

crime scenes as they once did I would have to get even less time to

the less serious offences. To some degree, that is already happening.

For example, some crimes are now dealt with over the phone where once

upon a time he might have had a police officer, to see you in

person. That's the kind of stuff for the public will not have the

difference. Is the Government decides to allocate funding to

different police forces is being reviewed now for the first time in

over ten years. The chance to influence this doesn't come along to

police forces very often. That's why we've seen Hampshire appealed

directly to the police minister, Brandon Lewis, very publicly today.

What we know is the Government will decide to make a decision on this

next month, whether they agree with Hampshire's case, Hampshire has told

us they think the Government is listening and that it does see this

kind of unfair deal and it believes it's getting. -- that it believes it

getting. Three year old Marla Trigwell

was born without a hand. It's never been an issue for her,

but now things could That's because she's just started

using a prosthetic hand. This was one made on a 3D printer

for just a few pounds. James Ingham has been

to meet her family. This was the moment Marla opened her

very special Christmas present. Her smile says it all -

this prosthetic hand It's a boost to her confidence and

it's a psychological boost for her. So, when she meets people,

instead of that, "Oh, Marla's hand was made

at a community workshop in Newbury Members of this club who love

working on technical projects offered to help,

turning a design that's freely To do it was actually not

very difficult at all. You've got the fingers, the palm,

the lower arm, the upper arm, the connecting pieces,

put them together and you can get I'm quite proud that this has turned

out better than I'd expected and it's really changing the lives

of young Marla and her family. Materials for this

hand cost only ?30. More traditional

prosthetics are thousands. And Marla wouldn't be

able to get one of them The NHS can't provide a functional

prosthetic until they're much older, Whereas with the 3D printing,

they're available now. She's three and a half

and she's already using one. Marla is very able with just her one

hand and she and her parents may decide never to wear a more

advanced prosthetic. But by using this lightweight

plastic hand, she will be better Marla's mum Joanne writes

a blog, with another mum, about their experience bringing up

daughters with Marla's condition. You can read that at

ontheonehand.co.uk. Sport now and this evening,

Alex Thompson has admitted that Vendee Globe glory is now

probably beyond his reach. But he is still going

and so are his supporters, Let's go live to Kris

Temple who is in a pub, a very special pub.

Kris. Tony was bouncing off that sofa last

night counting down to the thrilling We are here at the sea horse. The

reason we're here is because this pub, the landlord Alec Thomson 's

brother and Abbey. Here are a group of supporters that turn up every

Wednesday night. They have gone after the finish. The final 24 hours

sailing, Alex Thompson hot on the heels of the leader. Let's speak to

some special guests. Tracy is the assistant manager of the pub. You've

been left in charge. Tell us what's been drawing these people here. Alex

did it before he went to France and every Wednesday since he left they

have met, eating, not enough, and supported him all the way through

it. The are avid fans and I'm really proud of you all. You have live

Wednesday night chats with Alex. We've just had one. He called Abbey

and he talks every week and tells us what he's doing and has a chat. He

talks if the kids aren't here. He is the bit busy trying attack at the

moment. Simek easily got to step it up now. 300 miles to go. He's about

30 miles behind. A very tight finish. You've had this damage back

-- boat since November. Simek Alex's foils were revolutionary. They were

very quick. When he broke his foils, it was bad. He is a very experienced

around the world sailor and he's taken it in his stride. He's been

fantastic and kept on his heels all the way through it. What is this

last 24 hours going to be like? I'm not sure were going to sleep that

much. Can Alex do it? CHEERING

The pretty confident here at the Sea horse. Alex was very much in

positive spirit is hoping that he did take over the leader. We will

have the latest situation at our late bulletin.

Southampton's hectic fixture schedule continues tonight,

as they bid progress in the FA Cup at the second attempt.

Claude Puel's side host Norwich in a third round replay,

after being pegged back in the last minute in the original

Saints have lost four league games in a row,

but have a league cup semi-final next week too.

The winners tonight host Arsenal in round four.

Reading have completed the signing of Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori

The 23-year-old Portugese centre-half has moved

to the Madejski Stadium for an undisclosed fee.

The owner of Dorset-trained horse Cue Card has confirmed that he'll

run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, rather than

With his stablemate Thistlecrack the odds-on favourite

for the blue riband race, the Colin Tizzard yard had mooted

the possibility of Cue Card diverting to another race.

But owner Jean Bishop has said today that Cue Card

Here at the Sea horse, Alex is going to try and bring back the action. He

is going to try and call back in about an hour's time together is the

latest update but he is really tired. He's had a problem with an

anemometer and he is suffering from a lack of sleep. Fingers crossed,

Alex, you can do it. Everyone here at the pub is behind you. He has

certainly got the support, the support of so many people. We will

have all the news for you tomorrow and tonight on the late bulletin.

He's 75 years old and an ex pharmacology lecturer.

Yet, Richard Evans from Southampton, has chosen to spend his retirement

doing something completely different.

He's made it his weekly duty to regularly clean litter

from the city's Weston Shore beach - no matter what the weather.

This morning, I joined him on his cleaning round!

When I came to Southampton in 2001 and I walked down

on our Western Shore, I thought this is a lovely beach,

So I started picking it up and gradually it's taken on my life.

# I can see clearly now the rain is gone.#

Come rain or shine, retired pharmacologist Richard Evans

is found litter picking along the shingle of

A lot of it comes down if there's nice weather,

you get a lot of people down and people leave

Even though they've carried their food there,

they don't think to carry the wrappings away.

16 years of picking up litter is certainly not

His wife thinks he's barmy, but Richard's unpaid work

There's no doubt that Richard's an absolute star player

of ours and few have done more to keep Western Shore as clean

and green working partnership with the council as he has.

And it's a pleasure and a privilege to go litter picking alongside him.

The amount that he collects is phenomanal.

The famous 2014 Valentines Day storm, that brought incredible

amounts of lots of mud on this beach.

I think it's my way of trying to create heaven on Earth.

# It's going to be a bright, bright sunshine day.#

He is certainly a local hero. If we all did a little bit of that, we

would have a clean world. Lots of litter on our beaches but he is

helping clear it. Onto the weather. Very cold over the next few days. We

saw temperatures plunge last night going to around minus six Celsius.

This was the scene first thing. The glow of the sunshine over the water

in the Basingstoke with the morning frost. Temperatures dropped down to

around minus six Celsius tonight but tonight not as low. We are expecting

widespread frost with freezing fog patches. Temperatures tonight in the

countryside could drop as low as minus five. These are temperatures

in our towns and cities. Currently minus three Celsius. We will see

those temperatures tumble away. The farther north and west you are,

temperatures will be above freezing, it still the chance of frost through

parts of Oxfordshire. A lovely bright start of the day tomorrow

with frosty conditions in the morning, sunny spells in the

afternoon and cloud feeding in northern and eastern areas with

temperatures reaching a high of five or seven Celsius and the winds will

be light. In the evening, the cloud will thicken and it won't be as cold

as last night. Lows of around two or three Celsius, hovering above

freezing. Some clear spells and the chance of frost on Friday morning.

For most of us on Friday we will see a sunny spells but there is the

chance we could have the odd patch of rain. Not amounting to too much,

high-pressure remaining in charge of our weather. The best of the

sunshine will be very southern coastal counties. As we look ahead

to the rest of the week, tomorrow is a lovely sunny day, a chilly start,

more cloud the further north you are and we will see cloud started

filling from the east during the course of the day, arriving from the

north sea. Friday, some sunny spells and over the weekend there will be

varying amounts of cloud that we are hopeful that cloud will start to sin

and break with the breeze and we will see some sunny spells.

There'll be a news summary at 8pm and we'll be back at 10.30.

Hello. I hope you're well. I really do.

Because if you're not, then chances are the NHS won't be able to

look after you as well as it should. And that's wrong.