27/06/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor, welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: Treatment rather than punishment - criticism of a senior

police officer who speaks out in support of decriminalising drug use.

If one area in the UK decriminalise drugs it would be a honey pot and

we would see tens of thousands of people descending on the city.

A council's �15 million investment in solar energy but will there be a

sunny outcome? It is quiet here now but the Olympics will bring 30,000

spectators every day to the Lakes here so what is being done to stop

local businesses grinding to a halt?

And she's beaten breast cancer but can this grandmother win a

triathlon gold in Europe? overtook two Spaniards on the

second leg and they were much younger than me and it really made

Unrealistic, preposterous and barking mad. Just some of the

criticism levelled today against a senior Sussex police officer after

he backed a call for Brighton and Hove to become the first place in

the country to see the decriminalisation of drug use.

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett has spoken out in support

of Green MP Caroline Lucas. She wants the city to become a pioneer

in liberal drugs policy. While keen to insist his views are his own, Mr

Bartlett says drug users should receive treatment rather than

punishment. So has Brighton and Hove's top policeman got it right?

Sean Killick reports. A decade ago, Portugal

decriminalised the use of drugs. Instead of going to court, drug

users such as these go before a 'dissuasion commission' which

offers treatment, not a criminal conviction. The man in charge of

policing Brighton and Hove thinks it's an approach which could work

in the city known as "the drugs death capital of Britain". We are

still losing almost one person per week in Brighton and Hove bob, to a

drugs death and still around 50% of our crimes, 15,000 crimes per year

in the city alone are based on dependency on drugs. There has to

be a step change. But the idea has been rejected by a minister who was

today ruling out an even more lenient drugs policies.

Government is firmly anchored Stitson do it at -- consistently

opposed to decriminalisation. We want to ensure proper enforcement

of our drug laws but also make sure that where people have a drugs

problem, we have effective treatment of that and effective

interventions in the criminal justice system. Brighton is known

for its easy-going approach to life. Local MP Caroline Lucas is

suggesting the use of the Government's localism Bill to allow

the city to develop its own drugs policy. But one of those whose

organisation works with many addicts things different policies

in different cities will not work. Adding Caroline Lucas was being

mischievous when she cited the localism Bill -- I think Caroline

Lucas was being. If one area decriminalise drugs, it would

become a honey pot and we would see tens of 1,000 people descending on

the area knowing that it is an area they could freely used. Way you

look at the experience in places like the Netherlands, they are

running back rapidly on their experiment on decriminalisation.

All agree that too many people are dying from drugs but the question

is whether lives will be saved by a The distorted our political editor

who is in Westminster tonight. How would this actually work in

Brighton and Hove? The Green Party believe this is an ideal used for

the localism bill. They are already a honeypot for drugs problems and

so the idea that this is mischievous is something they would

certainly reject. Be 2% of crimes as you heard there, 23 deaths in

every 1,000 in Brighton and Hove due to drugs. And already a pilot

scheme looking at treatment rather than punishment. They are saying

that they could free up resources which are currently used for

chasing people, treating them as criminals to actually getting at

the people who supply drugs. It is not legalisation, it is

decriminalisation. Public supply and regulation of drugs. But what

about political reaction to these ideas? Absolutely here at

Westminster, it seems unpalatable for the general public and some

thing they would not like to encourage. Some more reaction here.

The Government and the main political parties are against it

and Caroline Lucas is a single MP. The talk of decriminalisation is

sending out the wrong message, it is barking mad, frankly. The other

problem is that the police officer here, although he says this is his

personal opinion, his officers have to enforce that all, the law of the

land and a sense it makes messages. Thank you.

The closing speeches have taken place in the trial of Danilo

Restivo, who's accused of murdering Bournemouth mother Heather Barnett.

The 48-year-old was found dead in her flat in 2002. The prosecution

have linked her death to the murder of Elisa Claps who went missing in

Italy in 1993. Today, Restivo's defence accused the prosecution of

building evidence around their client. He denies murder.

Parents angry at a decision to cut funding for Sure Start Centres

across Hampshire have carried out a 12-hour protest today, all with a

1950s theme. It began ahead of a County Council cabinet meeting in

Winchester. Despite a hard-fought campaign to stop the merger of some

centres, parents are now keen to ensure the council monitors the

changes which could result. We feel it is time to really start to put

the pressure on central government because there is obviously David

Cameron on one side saying the money is still there but the ring

fence has been removed so we are just after the ring-fence been

reintroduced. Its a �15 million risk but one

which Hampshire County Council thinks is worth taking. Today it

decided to go ahead with a scheme to fit solar panels to around 200

of its buildings and sell the energy they produce back to the

National Grid. Currently the amount of cash it could receive is fixed

but the amount may fall following a Government review. That could leave

some to question such a financial commitment at a time of austerity.

The council estimates its energy bill excluding schools could double

from �4 million per year to �8 million by 2020. And by 2030, it

could have trebled to �12 million. Before the panels are installed,

they can generate 10% of the electricity needed in on school

buildings. For Hampshire County Council, the figures are looking

good. For a �50 million investment, they could get �24 million in a

tariff -- for a �15 million investment. But nobody knows what

the feeding tariff will be until a comprehensive energy review this

summer. Solar panels installed before 20th March 12 have their

feeding tariff income guaranteed for 25 years so the race is on to

maximise the best income from those panels. One council has just

finished its trial on council homes. We have generated over 1,100

kilowatts from the properties behind us. The city council has

benefited from the feeding tariff of over �400 and the residents have

saved nearly �80 on their bills themselves. It will be November

before the county council can start installing the panels but it says

it has not been slow off the mark. Nobody has attempted anything on

this scale before. It is easy enough to put a panel on one

particular office if it faces the right direction. It is something

else entirely to make sure you are doing it for all buildings. That is

what we after. The if the Government agrees to maintain it

bees feeding tariffs, so the panels will indeed have been a bright idea

to increase local authority income. Stay with us because later hitting

the right note, research into how music can help those who've never

Almost half of parents of children with autism are having to wait more

than a year to get their children into the right school. Even then,

it's often a long battle with experts claiming many mainstream

schools fail to understand the condition. A survey carried out by

the National Autistic Society found 48% of parents say they have waited

over a year to get the right support for their child. 30% feel

that the educational placement is not adequate and 18% have had to go

to tribunal to get the right support for their children. David

Allard's been to meet one family from Berkshire who faced a fight to

get the appropriate education for Max Green loves making films. The

14-year-old edits on his laptop and uploads them to YouTube.

favourite film is as good as it gets because that is a film about

someone who has got a problem and they are really nervous, they

cannot stand on cracks. But Max's outward confidence belies

his condition. Unpredictable behaviour as a toddler was followed

by an Asperger's diagnosis at nine. He also has ADHD and OCD. The

special needs unit at his mainstream secondary school

couldn't deal with him. It got so much for him and then I think

they've found it hard to cope with. And then it was getting the local

authority actually involve to find another placement.

Now West Berkshire Council pays for Max to go to a specialist school in

Oxford where he's making good progress. The National Autistic

Society says local authorities need to show more foresight. If they

planned but the poor services and actually identified children

earlier and put support in place earlier, they could save money in

the long term. This is Prior's Court School near

Newbury. It takes children with severe autism from across the UK.

Each costs their local authority tens of thousands of pounds.

But there's a high staff-to-pupil ratio and a defined structure to

education and living. From the moment they get up to the moment

they go to bed, our students are receiving a structured curriculum-

based activity programme which Ms they are learning not only in the

school but learning personal skills, vocational skills. We have got

animals on site and the students really connect and make some great

learning through the connection with the animals.

It's a model many parents will envy. They're now being urged to speak

out, to influence Government reforms and secure the right

Thieves who broke into an Oxfam music store in Southampton have

escaped with thousands of CDs. It's wiped out almost the entire CD

stock at the store in East Street but records were left behind. A

computer was also stolen. They're asking the public for music

donations. More than a million pounds is to be

spent improving flood defences in parts of Portsmouth. A Government

grant will be used to upgrade sea defences at Southsea, Milton and

Tipner. A further �250,000 will be used to tackle flash flooding from

rainfall. There are 396 days to go to the

2012 Olympic Games and already businesses near some of the venues

are rethinking their strategies. 30,000 extra people a day can be

expected at Eton Dorney in Berkshire where the rowing is

taking place. The lake is south of the M4. Currently access is by a

small road but during the Games this will be used by athletes. For

spectators there will be four park- and-ride sites which will terminate

A temporary bridge over the Thames will allow visitors to walk to the

lake. All this will mean delays to deliveries and difficulties for

staff getting to work in the local area. Let's join Allen Sinclair who

This will have a huge impact? venue is already looking impressive

but come the Olympic Games, there will be a massive grandstands on

either side of the water. Something like 30,000 spectators expected

here every day. And this is how they will cope with all that

traffic. This is the blueprint with perhaps an optimistic message, the

local businesses will be able to keep on running. A meeting was held

here today and that is an indication that there are many

unanswered questions. They know they will be affected by the

Olympics but they do not know how. Midsummer is the busiest time of

year here but with the entrance on the same road as the Olympic rowing

venue, it is not clear how staff or customers will get through.

there going to be a one-way system? Will people be able to get on to

cite? Will there be restrictions? All these things we have not had

answers to. Other nearby businesses are just as concerned about traffic

for the Games and what impact it might have. I think it is a given

that the business will be disrupted. I don't think there is any way of

avoiding that but it is how disruption is managed. For some,

thousands of visitors are an opportunity not to be missed.

excitement is building up and hopefully it will bring lots of

people to my doorstep. We are looking at putting up a marquee up.

100 local firms were at today's meeting but it was close to the

media. Perhaps in anticipation of tricky questions -- closed to the

media. It is working with businesses to accept that it will

be life being unusual but to ensure that not only for a successful

Olympic and Paralympic Games but that businesses will not just

survive but they can thrive during the Games and keep on running.

There is just over one year to find you the plans. -- took fine tuna

the plans. Businesses are urged to find out as

much information as they can and plan in advance. We know that the

races are being held during the morning, the afternoon should be

fairly quiet here. This is where staff can possibly work from home,

they might stagger journeys and deliveries. They have got 400 days

Let us hope the weather is as good next year as it was recently.

A pioneering project by researchers at the University of Southampton is

hoping to bring music back into the lives of people who feared they'd

lost it forever. The project helps people who have had cochlear

implants to restore hearing. The implants are good at helping people

hear speech but music presents particular problems. Roger Finn

Conrad freighter was totally deaf until he had a cochlear implant

seven years ago. The tiny device allows him to hear people speak

again the distinguishing the different tones of instrument and

music was not so easy. You can pick up the rhythm of the piece of music

and if you have got a drama on his own, that is fantastic. -- a person

play the drums. But if you try to listen to a singer or a violin with

a continuous flow of changing notes, then you tend to hear everything on

the same level. It becomes a bit monotonous. The workshops have been

set up by the University of Southampton thanks to a �100,000

grant from the arts and humanities Research Council. Looking at what

ranges of notes work best with the implant, how large the music should

be, what instruments sound clearer and what combinations of

instruments sound clearer to the implant used it. We will take this

feedback and incorporate it into a set of rehabilitation materials

that people can use to train with four stop the music used at the

sessions have been specially composed by the work leader.

piano works particularly well because it has a clear attack. But

a flute because there is a breathy sound at the beginning does not

come across very well. It is finding ways to use the parts of

what the cochlear implant can I love music and there followed

bands and to lose that was a big part of my life. To hear it again

I am sure that will create some fascinating research. And in sport,

and we will talk wind. We will Sailing, I mean. It was the 80th

anniversary of the round the Island race. The largest ever entry, more

than 1,900 boats and probably one of the windiest. And you can have

this massive, hi-tech yachts but you can also have one but with

about five people in it. At the moment, 16,000 competitors. They

knew that stiff breezes were forecast with gusts of breeze up to

28 knots. It was a lively day. The coastguards dealt with 75 incidents,

the RNLI had a very busy day and a pragmatic decision was taken by

many boats to turn round. Nick Rogers held Sundowner to the top

prize, the Gold Roman Bowl while South Today's reporter was there

Barbara Walton is recovering from cancer and is taking on the

challenge of the round the island not yacht race with the Alan

McArthur Cancer Trust. To get on a boat and step out on to that world,

possibly it is the first thing they have done for a few years because

they have been in hospital, it helps people to step out and the

change in four days can be I don't do sailing, I do this, and

go straight into a race, it is Going absolutely through the water

and getting drenched, it is a feeling that you want to do at some

The people on my boat are pretty amazing. They have all been through

a lot and they are like friends for life. Conditions this year tested

even the most experienced of sailors. 438 boats retired,

Stephanie's was one of them. Despite the disappointment, the

team was typically upbeat. atmosphere on the boat has been

terrific, everybody has been positive. We got halfway, that is

Stephanie and Allen had a great day nonetheless.

Organisers of the Island Games have defended criticisms of the signage

at the event on the Isle of Wight, following claims from some

spectators that signs don't clearly show the way to venues. Bosses say

they were developed under official guidelines to avoid distracting

drivers. London Olympics Chairman Lord Coe officially opened the

week-long event on Saturday. And Andy Frost won the hosts' first

gold medal in the hammer event. 3,000 competitors from 24 islands

are taking part in 14 different 24 islands, 3,500 competitors

working on the volunteers, getting a response is in place. I

understand, that is what I do every day of the week so I really take my

hat off to the achievement here of putting together something that is

so complicated. But it remains so locally based. Lot more from the

game's later in the week. There's a big local derby in the

South Group of cricket's Twenty20 tournament tonight. Third-placed

Hampshire host Sussex in second with both hoping Surrey can do them

a favour by beating leaders Somerset in a game which is under

way at The Oval. The top three sides are locked together on 12

points. And England's women have been playing the Australian team.

Former Brighton College pupil Holly Former Brighton College pupil Holly

Cole then with a key breakthrough with some smart fielding, broker

dangerous partnership. England winning by 16 runs and celebrating

with champagne because they also won the series.

It's not often you become a champion at the age of 62. But

Barbara Walton from the New Forest won gold at the European Sprint

Triathlon Championships in Spain at the weekend after recovering from

breast cancer. Alexis Green saw her My marker will be that marquee.

They are strict about the issues being directly in front of your box.

It is the day of the race on the nose are kicking in. The first

phase is the swim. 750 metres across a lake, and they're off.

17.5 minutes later, it's up and out of the water as quickly as possible

to the transition area where she'll will hop on to the bike. Every

second counts. In practice, I take my wet suit off, it is down to 12

seconds. 20 kilometres of road-riding ahead

and the course this year is particularly hilly. 43 minutes

later, Barbara's back at the transition area getting ready for

the run. Five kilometres through the streets of Pontevedra. The run

is the final phase in the sweltering temperatures are not

helping but a welcome sight for the athletes is the finishing line.

One hour, 26 minutes and 55 seconds after starting the swim, she

crosses the finishing line. Fantastic, I feel so much better

than first thing this morning! I overtook two Spaniards on the

second leg of the run and they were younger than me said really made my

day! Barbara wasn't the only person from

the South. Trish Deykin from Steyning in West Sussex has had to

fight to compete for a different reason. I was told to stop

competing interests off one's after being diagnosed with MS seven years

ago but I won't let it stop me doing it.

71-year-old Brian Grierson from Southampton is also among the

competitors. They all crossed the line flying

the flag. The South has certainly got talent.

For Brian, it was silver, and for Barbara, well... It was gold. From

sunny Spain, it's goodbye from me. Absolutely Fabulous. We followed

her through and it was so lovely. Well done to everybody taking part.

It was baking hot, I don't know how they did it in that weather.

that amount of heat. I have come back from France and they had all

four weather here. Yes, rub it in! It was about 39, 40 degrees. With

hardly any breeze. It is incredible. But we have had some nice, warm

temperatures here and today, has been the hottest day of the year so

far. I have got and statistics. In Gravesend, recorded 33 degrees. And

we have had just touching 30 in we have had just touching 30 in

Heathrow and in our part of the world, south Farmborough we saw 28

degrees and at Benson we saw 27 degrees. Not doing too badly at all.

And we had Mike Ball tweeting at bbc south weather and he described

it as a heat report rather than a heat wave. That sums it up. The

warm weather is just about to come to an end, we have got some pretty

warm conditions which could trigger some thundery showers through the

course of this evening. They will be quite hefty downpours. Earlier,

we could see the swathe of cloud pushing in and it did cloud over

from the West. The temperatures reacting to that and we did to the

temperatures cooling down in the West. Already we have some heavy

showers and we will see more cropping up and they could well be

heavy and may even contain the odd rumble of thunder, possibly some

hail and some dusty winds. Everything in the mix for tonight

but if you dodge those, it is likely to be a mild night. We are

looking at temperatures of around 12 degrees minimum. Temperatures

will drop away as we go through the week. You can see the colours

changing heading towards the end of this week and becoming much fresher

and that is how we start the day tomorrow. We will see those

temperatures much cooler as the day goes on. Generally a quieter day,

still the risk of some showers, particularly heavy out towards

Sussex as well. For most of us, seeing some bright and sunny breaks

as well. Temperatures of around 20 degrees. About average for this

time of year. As we go through tomorrow night, things calm down

again so drying out as we go through the overnight period.

Cloudy in the most part, perhaps some breaks and temperatures a bit

fresher, looking at single figures in some parts of the region. How is

it looking for Wednesday? A return to the sunshine and showers theme,

we will see some good brakes and the showers will be well scattered

so in the most part, aid dry end to Wednesday. This is your summary for

the next few days. A risk of some scattered showers through tomorrow

and becoming cooler and fresher as we head towards the tail end of the

working week. I love the tweet! Heat ripple, a new meteorological

term. We will use it more often. Keep those tweets coming into Sarah.