Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20180106

Another morale sapper in the ashes for englands bowlers only picking up two wickets all day, as australias batsmen pile on the runs. And the travel show helps to the largely undiscovered north east of india thats in half an hour here on bbc news. Good morning and welcome to bbc news. A lawyer who represented victims of the serial sex offender john worboys says some of her clients, whose cases werent taken to trial, want prosecutors to re examine the evidence. Warboys, a former black cab driver, is being freed after serving ten years in jail. He was convicted of 19 offences, although at the time police said they believe he attacked more than 100 women. Tom burridge reports. The decision to release rapist john worboys has raised profound questions about the way sexual crimes against women are investigated, and whether the procedures for releasing criminals need changing. Worboys picked up young women in his black cab, duped and drugged them, and then carried out his attacks. He was convicted of 19 offences in 2009, and given an indefinite sentence. But, in total, more than 100 women said worboys tried to drug and assault them. But no further action was taken on the advice of the crown prosecution service. What we cant know is why the parole board has now decided that he now poses no further risk to the public. We are not allowed by law to explain the decision, and i would like to get that changed. So, this pushes the idea that the parole board this pushes the idea that the parole boa rd processes this pushes the idea that the parole board processes need to be much more open and transparent. If we can get support for that and i think something will have come out of all of this. We need to understand weather he has admitted guilt in the case of the cases which he was prosecuted for and i think the police will need to look again at prosecuting him for those many further offences. Worboys victims are said to be horrified about his release. And lawyers representing other victims say their evidence should now be considered. Im joined now via webcam by dr ruth tully, a consultant forensic psychologist, who works in prisons and secure hospitals, including appearing at parole board hearings. Thanks forjoining us. First of all, what sort of assessments are made prior to a sex offender being released . The parole board are furnished with a range of reports from a range of professionals who are involved in the supervision and management of any sex offender. This would include reports from Probation Services in the community, the supervisor in prison who is responsible for the prisoners sentence plan. Usually a psychologist in this type of case and in cases where Mental Health is and in cases where Mental Health is an issue, possibly a psychiatrist and reports from other departments as well. All of that information is brought together before the parole board and all the report writers have seen information from security for and from the wing about the behaviour of the prisoner in day to day life in the prison. Professionals give their opinion based on the evidence about manageable 80 in the community. The panel then have a very difficult decision to make, because whilst professionals make the recommendation it is the panel which makes the ultimate decision. Actually the panel could get a range of conflicting views or differences of conflicting views or differences of opinion, and they have to decide what is best. Let me pick you up on the phrase evidence of management in the phrase evidence of management in the Community Talking about is managing somebody in the community when you have only experienced managing them in a controlled environment, so even if they have been on a sex offender programme, which is supposed to help assess their suitability for release, and they have said they understand what they have said they understand what they did was wrong and theyre trying to manage their feelings and all the rest of it, none of that has actually exposed a person to a situation where they could actually find. Therefore youre never actually measuring how they might behave in the community, it is almost impossible to do that . That isa almost impossible to do that . That is a very good question. The prison environment is somewhat artificial and thats why in many cases prisoners are given a determinate sentence and they go to open prison before being released. In this case there must have been a very robust Management Plan in pace for the panel to decide that direct release was appropriate. Youre right in saying that sex offender treatment programmes help consider suitability for release but it is not as straightforward as that. Theres growing evidence of around some sex offenders treatment working for some people some of the time, but it does not work for everybody. People go through treatment and say the right things, but there has to be some good evidence of change, a good insight into understanding their offence formulation before progression would be recommended. The parole board, when when you were talking to our producerjust before coming on air, you made the point that they are looking to see if the risk of reoffending is low enough to manage, not that the risk of reoffending is low can you explain the distinction . When i say that it has to be low enough to manage, somebodys risk does not have to be classified as low, and certainly it would not be classified as nonexistent. There is always going to be some risk. So it has got to be considered safely manageable. The pa role considered safely manageable. The parole board needs to decide that on the basis of the life and limb prince budget it is now more usefully summarised as risk of serious harm. So, somebody could still pose a moderate risk, meaning that there might be a number of fact those which might contribute to the decision to be violent or sexually violent, but with the changes that person has made, they may well be safely manageable in the community. And that plan is then put in place. None of us know the details about worboys exactly and we have heard that up old board are not anyway legally able to disclose the grounds for their decision, but what sort of conditions in a similar case are likely to be put in place, when youre talking about somebody has committed serious sexual crimes against women and has spent the last decade in prison . There will have to be there will have to be conditions such as approved residency. Usually somebody who has just been released will have to reside in an approved premises, which used to be caught hostels or halfway houses, and is now much more modern and up to date in terms of what works with offenders. There are key workers on site at the residences, curfews in place, including perhaps a disruption cu rfew to including perhaps a disruption curfew to make sure that they know that the person cannot get more than an hour away from an approved premise before somebody knows about that. There will be drug and alcohol testing. There will probably be a condition around a polygraph, if the person has breached a supervision before or has been deemed high profile. A lie detector effectively . Absolutely. In the uk they are not permitted as evidence in court because they are not deemed to be reliable enough. But in the Community Working with sex offenders, the research is showing that people who are subject to a polygraph are often more open with their supervisors and managers about things that might be going wrong for them, so theyre disclosing issues because of the polygraph whereas in the past they might have kept those issues to themselves. Psychologist dr ruth tully, thank you very much for being with us this morning. The us secretary of state, rex tillerson, has insisted hes never doubted president trumps Mental Health. It follows claims in Michael Wolffs new book about the white house. President trump has hit back on twitter overnight, calling the author a total loser, and accusing him of making up stories. He also calls his former chief strategist steve bannon sloppy steve, claiming he cried when he was fired. The author has defended his book. He told the today programme that the president was in the dark when it came to brexit. I interviewed him two weeks before the brexit vote and he didnt know what brexit was. And then he came out and said of course i know what it was believe me, he didnt know what it was. Are you saying that donald trump didnt know what the word brexit meant that is impeded not know what it was . |j what the word brexit meant that is impeded not know what it was . I will tell you exactly the exchange that happened. I interviewed him in the beginning ofjune, so that said, how do you compare yourself politically to the populist movements in europe, and specially, i said, with the brexit vote coming up . And he said, what . and i said brexit. And he repeated, what . and i said, the move in the uk to leave the european union. And then he kind of said, oh, iam forthat. Union. And then he kind of said, oh, i am for that. That is the entire exchange. Make of it what you will. Michael wolff also responded to claims that his book would destabilise the white house. Claims that his book would destabilise the white houselj claims that his book would destabilise the white house. I think one of the interesting effects of the book so far is a very clear emperor has no clothes effect. That the story that ive told seems to present this presidency in such a way that it says, he cant do this job. The emperor has no clothes. And suddenly, everywhere, people are going, oh, my god, its true, he has no clothes. That is the background to the perception and the understanding that will finally end this, that will end this presidency. That was Michael Wolff talking to the today programme this morning. Easyjet, ladbrokes and virgin money are among the major employers whove revealed that they pay women on average at least 15 percent less than men. 0rganisations with more than 250 workers must publish their figures by april more than 500 have done so. Another 8,000 have until april to reveal theirfigures, or risk being fined under a new law intended to tackle workplace discrimination. Two passengerjets have collided on the ground at a toronto airport one of the planes caught fire but there are no reports of serious injuries. Its the second such collision at Toronto Pearson International in five months. Bill hayton reports. Concern, but then panic. After the collision, fire breaks out. Passengers begin to scream, while the crew call on them to remain seated. All of a sudden there was fuel all over the wing and then about a second or two later, not even a second, its kind of all ignited and there was a big fireball, and then everyone started yelling and panicking. The fire was on the other, empty airline, and all 168 passengers and six crew were able to leave this plane safely by the emergency slides. They had just arrived after a four hour flight from mexico. Their plane was stationary when it was hit by the other airline, which was being towed by ground crew. This is the second time in five months that planes have had minor collisions at canadas busiest airport. Had minor collisions at canadas busiestairport. Inquiries had minor collisions at canadas busiest airport. Inquiries are under way into how it could have happened. In the meantime, all are thankful that everyone here escaped without serious injury. The Department Store chain house of fraser has asked for a reduction in the vent it pays for some of its stores. The company says it has contacted landlords asking for their support, as the company has been battling to cut costs after suffering significant losses in the last six months. Rival chain debenhams is also struggling and it issued a profit warning this week after disappointing pre christmas sales. We can now speak to kate ha rd castle sales. We can now speak to Kate Hardcastle who runs the retail consultancy insight with passion. Shejoins us from consultancy insight with passion. She joins us from wakefield. What do you make of this . Is it a worrying sign . You make of this . Is it a worrying sign . I think it is very honest look at where the retail environment sits. This time last year house of fraser were issuing warnings, saying it had been a very challenging, difficult yearfor them. And in it had been a very challenging, difficult year for them. And in the 12 months following that, there has been no real change in their marketplace. Their consumers are still tight on budget, there is still tight on budget, there is still more entrants coming into the marketplace. We have moved from one in seven pounds spent online to one in six. And we buy more experiences and lesmo on food items, so this is all eating away at house of fraser. House of fraser has tries to move online, hasnt it . It has, all of these brands have an online presence, but there is a difference between having an online presence, which is basically a catalogue for you to purchase online, and there being a real online brand, such as asos. We know from asos that their figures have been superb this year. Theyre into engaging with the customers on social media, and it is pa rt customers on social media, and it is part of a whole movement. House of fraser dont have that speed and efficiency. They dont have that kind of brand and im afraid a lot of their consumers are being pulled away in every direction, either down to the discounters, and we know that supermarkets in their fightback have had huge successes in great value fashion, right through to brands like zarra who came into the mid market but had such a Quick Movement that they have been able to provide the consumer with exactly what they want. Zarra proves one thing, that it is not necessarily that the high street in itself is a problem, it is possible to be successful high street . |j problem, it is possible to be successful high street . I think that is absolutely right. We know there are actual examples of uplift where brands have brought Something Different to the marketplace and been successful, or indeed using things like events or bringing in experts knowledge or even just Great Customer service to the high street. Im afraid those other brands do not really sta nd im afraid those other brands do not really stand for very much. The Department Stores, their point of being was to bring many brands together in one place with lots of different products to make it easier for us to shop. If that doesnt summarise what the internet is for shopping, i dont know what does. When you stand back and begin to realise how many Department Store names have sort of disappeared. I have in my head from childhood and advert about all of the Department Stores, dingles, david evans anothers. There were lots of them all over the country. A few years ago we spoke about the death of british schools and people said it proves the Department Store is furnished and yet they are still there. Of british home stores. And some of them likejohn lewis seem to be in good health what is working for some and not for others . If you look at a brand likejohn lewis, it is the brand never knowingly undersold, the reassurance of value and high attention to customer service. If you look at some of the more unique Department Stores like selfridges or Harvey Nichols at the luxurious end, we really do like the Shopping Experience if it is fun. We dont need to go shopping for the basics any more. When i think back to my childhood many, many years ago, the Department Store was a treat on a saturday, to go to a cafe, to have a cup of tea. There wasnt really that facility anywhere else. Now, our high streets are laden with food and beverage offers and we go there to socialise and meet friends. Sadly some of the original Department Stores can be quite a dull environment. Thank you very much for sharing that with us this morning. 0ur sharing that with us this morning. Our main headlines. A lawyerfor victims of the serial sex offender john worboys says some of her clients whose cases were not taken to trial want prosecutors to re examine the evidence of. The us secretary of state says hes never questioned Donald Trumps Mental Health. It follows claims in a book that people around the president doubt his fitness for office. More than 500 major employers reveal their gender pay gaps. Some have disclosed that they pay women on average 15 less than men. Were going to be talking more about that gender pay gap story after the midday news. Time for the sport now, with mike bushell. Starting with the cricket, and it is looking like really into ans best hope now in australia is a draw in the final ashes test, and even that might be beyond them after the third day. Going into the fourth day tomorrow, australia lead by 133 and theyve still got six wickets remaining. Patrick geary was watching. A brutal day for england, a wonderful one for australia, only two wickets falling all day. Australia 133 runs ahead and england having to toil in the syd ney and england having to toil in the sydney hit. This was the tenth pink day in honour of jane sydney hit. This was the tenth pink day in honour ofjane mcgrath, sydney hit. This was the tenth pink day in honour of jane mcgrath, the late wife of the australian fast bowler Glenn Mcgrath and her Breast Cancer foundation. The crowd were on their feet to claim a 100 from Usman Khawaja in the city he grew up in. They were then expecting steve smith to follow him to 100 but in the end he was caught and bowled by moeen ali. Mason crane appealed for lbw against what a and the review showed it would have hit the stumps but it was given as a no ball, somewhat co ntroversially. Was given as a no ball, somewhat controversially. Khawaja went on to get 150 before mason crane eventually got his first test wicket, having him stumped. The marsh brothers then started to take the game away from england to, as they increasingly attacked towards they increasingly attacked towards the end of the day. England must go back into the field tomorrow, when the temperatures will be even hotter. They will be drained. Australia very much have the advantage. It was a pretty tough day yeah it is 150 overs into the innings, there is going to be a few tired bodies, that is part and parcel of test cricket, it is not the first time that we will have fielded 150 overs, and it will be not the last time, im sure. I thought the way the guys really worked hard was really impressive, and thats really good to see for us asa and thats really good to see for us as a side going forward. In the fa cup third round, all the top teams enter the competition. And in the merseyside derby, last night, the worlds most extensive defender scored the winner for liverpool. Manchester united left it late to beat derby county at old trafford. Drew savage rounds up both matches. The pressure lifted off the shoulders of the man with the £75 million price tag on his back. A debut to remember for van million price tag on his back. A debut to rememberfor van dyck million price tag on his back. A debut to remember for van dyck on a night that provided plenty of talking points. For example, was this a penalty . Liverpool boss jurgen klopp did not think so but bobby madley thought it was. James milner was the calmest man in anfield. Evertons Mason Holgate wasnt if there was bound to be a reaction from Roberto Firmino and the referee decided to step in. Liverpool had at most of the play but everton countered with some quality, Gylfi Sigurdsson with a worthy equaliser in the second half. Before the big moment arrived for a certain dutch defender. Van dyck did it the man brought in to strengthen reds defence delighted fans and manager alike. In front of the cop it makes it even better really good, it was the merseyside derby, so good, it was the merseyside derby, so that is an extra bush for both teams, and you saw that tonight, it was a proper, proper cup fight, and i like that. Championship side derby put upa i like that. Championship side derby put up a proper fight away to Manchester United and they were six minutes away from a replay, when this happened. Hes done it again, Jesse Lingard magnificent strike derby will be free to concentrate on their push tojoin derby will be free to concentrate on their push to join united derby will be free to concentrate on their push tojoin united in the premier league. Lukaku wrap things up premier league. Lukaku wrap things up at the end. Jose mourinhos side pleased to have avoided another cup exit against a club from the championship. There was an incident in that first match as you saw in that report involving Roberto Firmino and Mason Holgate. Lets have another look. Holgate pushes firmino into the stands. Afterwards it appeared that firmino said something unwelcome to holgate as the players came together. The referee has included it in his report. They were not booked at the time. Im sure we will be hearing more about that in the days to come. Nine premier league teams today hoping to avoid an upset against lower league opposition. 0ne hoping to avoid an upset against lower league opposition. One of them is newcastle united, who take on newport town from league two. In their side will be the two sons of former england midfielder rob lee, who made his name at newcastle. did not really pay much attention to it. Nice to be appreciated m did not really pay much attention to it. Nice to be appreciated it is only since ive got into professional football that i thought, dont like to tell him but he was half decent rob lee do you ever think about the fact that youre brothers when youre on the pitch but only sometimes you have some surreal moments when youre walking out together and thinking, he is behind me it is a strange feeling but it is nice, as a midfielder, trying to set him up. Plenty of fa cup action on the bbc this weekend. It all starts at lunchtime with Fleetwood Town of league one against leicester city. That is live on bbc one at 12. 115. In by that is live on bbc one at 12. 115. In rugby unions premiership, baths losing run is over. Lockjames phillips scored only the second try he has got in 63 league games. That was enough to get bath a bonus point. In the pr014 scarlets made it 17 home league wins in a row, with victory over the dragons. Each try was scored by a different player. They opened up a 7 point lead at the top of their conference. Elsewhere, edinburgh beat southern kings. You can find out more on those stories and all the fa cup build up on the bbc sport website and you have interviews and features there. More sport for you in the next hour. The United States has been criticised by other members of the United Nations Security Council for calling of the United Nations Security Council for calling an emergency meeting to discuss Anti Government protests in iran. China and france said the unrest did not threaten international security. The Iranian Ambassador called the meeting a farce and repeated our state Department Correspondent Barbara Plett usher reports. Nikki haley warned if iran that the world was watching its response to the Anti Government protests. She used the platform of the un to amplify the message of president trump, whos been tweeting support for the iranian demonstrators. The United States stands unapologetically with those in iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families and dignity for their nation. This unusually robust stance on human rights from the Trump Administration coincides with a policy to curb what it sees as irans malign influence in the middle east. The Iranian Ambassador called the meeting a farce. 0ther Council Members urged iran to allow free and peaceful demonstrations, and the Russian Ambassador accused the us of playing politics. Translation mr president. The real reason for convening todays meeting is not an attempt to protect human rights or promote the interests of the iranian people, but rather as a veiled attempt to use the current moment to continue to undermine the joint comprehensive plan of action. Thats the agreement which restricts Irans Nuclear programme, which mr trump says is deeply flawed. He has to decide next week whether to continue waiving sanctions suspended under the deal. Five Online Gambling companies could have their licenses revoked over concern theyre not doing enough to help problem gamblers, or prevent money launderers from using their sites. The Gambling Commission has written to all 195 Online Casino operators, to tell them about the safeguards they should all have in place. Our Business Correspondent jonty bloom reports. One third of all gambling in the uk is now online, and its worth billions of pounds. The Gambling Commission has been reviewing the safeguards that all companies should have in place. Theyre designed to prevent problem gambling getting out of control, and to prevent money being laundered by criminals or terrorists. Sarah harrison, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said. But the Commission Found many signs of customers gambling becoming compulsive were not being followed up, and some staff had little idea of how to stop money laundering, or, in some cases, even what it was. As a result, the Gambling Commission is warning all Online Casino operators to review their procedures, and has begun an investigation into 17 online companies. Its considering whether it should review the licences of five of them. Losing its licence would mean a company would be unable to continue to operate in the uk. Jonty bloom, bbc news. Plans to improve reading standards amongst children from disadvantaged backgrounds have been announced by the department for education. There will be a network of 35 literacy teaching centres across england, to work with primary schools that are in challenging areas. Labour says the funding will do nothing to change government cuts to school budgets. There will also be schemes to improve the vocabulary of Pre School Children in the north of england. Posing the inequality gap in classrooms is key to giving every child the best start. Research has shown that five year olds who struggle with language are six times less likely to reach the expected standard in english at the age of 11 than those with good language skills. Today the government has launched a literacy plan backed by £26 million of investments to improve standards in reading and writing. The idea is a letter one launched in 2014 for maths and it will enable high performing schools to share knowledge and resources with those in deprived areas. This is about investing around the country, bringing together teachers and literally specialists, so that we can make sure that we do even better on reading and writing and standards, but also that we dont see any children falling behind. The plans also include a £5 Million Investment to improve vocabulary for children before they go to school in the north of england. Labour says the north of england. Labour says the funding will do nothing to change government cuts to school budgets. Weather forecasters in the United States have warned that this weekend could bring record breaking low temperatures in some parts of the north east. The National Weather service predicts wind chills as low as 40 degrees celsius. Russell trott reports. The public coming to the aid of public transport on the streets of eastern boston, as snow and ice left many stranded. The public coming to the aid of public transport on the streets of eastern boston, as snow and ice left many stranded. Elsewhere in the city, the Emergency Services were working flat out, and in deep water, as high tides flooded roads close to the harbour. Plummeting temperatures meant much of massachusetts was under huge quantities of snow. And after a 3ft storm surge brought seas inland, the flood water froze, trapping cars in ice. For the homeless of chicago, life on the streets is now all about survival. Those who do find shelter are happy to be anywhere but outside. We see an average of 700 800 people every single day. Sometimes there are people who come in when its extremely cold who wont come in when its not so cold. A sudden drop in temperatures can hit hard anywhere. In florida, where in some parts snow fell for the first time in 30 years, cold seas saw hundreds of turtles rescued after their muscles started seizing up. As thousands of snow ploughs are deployed throughout the eastern seaboard, forecasters warn that the weekend could bring record breaking low temperatures