is investigating allegations that a serving officer raped two female colleagues. the prime minister's senior adviser on ethnic minorities, samuel kasumu, is to leave the role. borisjohnson says it's not related to the controversial government report about race. i've worked very closely with samuel in the last year or so. and he's done some great stuff, and i thank him very much, particularly on helping to encourage vaccine take up amongst more hesitant groups and communities. the nspcc says it's already receiving calls to its helpline which opened this morning for people to report sexual harassment in schools. long covid — a major study suggests more than a million people were living with it in february. and coming up on the bbc news channel, as gareth southgate and others ponder their selections for the european championship, uefa consider allowing managers bigger squads than usual to overcome any covid—related issues. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. a 22—year—old has become the first british police officer to be convicted of belonging to a banned neo—nazi terror group. in the past half hour, ben hannam, has been found guilty following a trial at the old bailey. hejoined national action after it had been outlawed. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. this was pc ben hannam at his passing out parade three years ago. his foundation training over, he was taking the oath in front of cressida dick, the commissioner of the metropolitan police. just two years earlier, he was part of the banned neo—nazi terrorist group national action. taking part in fight training in the woods. don't wait for him. no hesitation, get in there first, get him first. and daubing a nazi torch on a graffiti trip to swindon. traces of the graffiti ben hannam sprayed on that trip are still visible in swindon to this day. when he did it he was still an active member of a banned neo—nazi terrorist organisation. within weeks of doing it, he was applying to join london's metropolitan police. the propaganda video from the trip was uploaded just days before he put in his application. it took two years for the police to realise they had a nazi in the ranks, and to raid his home to seize phones and computers. just point them out, don't touch them. that's fine. that phone, this apple watch... they had only unearthed him because the membership of a neo—nazi internet forum had been leaked. on his bedroom wall he still had a picture of a german soldier from world war ii. this is a unique case, and never before has a serving police officer been prosecuted for being a member of a terrorist group. when we identified the person we were looking at was a police officer, it was of course a shock but we then moved very quickly to arrest ben hannam. pc hannam had carefully documented his life in national action, or na, noting the year he joined, the year he left, and the year he started in the metropolitan police service, the mps. among the otherformer national action members, jack renshaw has admitted plotting to kill his mp, zach davies was found guilty of attempting to behead an asian dentist, and jack coulson had made a pipe bomb. in all, 16 people have now been convicted of being members of national action after it was banned, including ben hannam. the founders of the group, alex davies and ben raymond, have never been charged. on hannam's phone detectives found this picture of him with a hitler moustache. in another propaganda video, he performed a nazi salute. on his police application form he had simply ticked a box saying he had never been a member of the bnp or similar organisation. the force never took a reference from the school he had just left... ..where teachers had noted his offensive expression of anti—immigration views. lots of questions thrown up by this case including how did he get accepted into the metropolitan police. ., ., v accepted into the metropolitan police. . . �*, ., , police. yeah and it's a very difficult question _ police. yeah and it's a very difficult question for - police. yeah and it's a very difficult question for the i difficult question for the metropolitan police to answer. the truth is that after alex davis, one of the founders of national action was raided, police had in their possession the counter—terrorism police network had in their possession pictures and videos of benjamin hannam, at that point not identified, they didn't have a name to those pictures but he was one of a very small numbers of national action in london before he was banned and he was going on meeting other members of national action after it was banned and you would have thought after it was banned at the end of 2016 a lot of work would have been done to try and identify all the people in the various videos and so on but that work wasn't completed and benjamin hannam was able to apply to join the metropolitan police and then to actuallyjoin the force, complete his training and do two years as a probationary officer and he was only then identified because of a leak, a public leak of a database of neo—nazis and finally when the police were working through that database they finally realised they had this neo—nazi in the ranks. and maybe they could have even got him without all of that, right at the very beginning, if they'd taken a reference from his school because he'd onlyjust recently left school, he'd onlyjust recently left school, he then went to university for only a few months and then joined the police. the school had identified him as someone who had expressed extreme racist views. the police never even asked the school so it's quite a difficult moment for them. daniel sandford, thank you. the metropolitan police is investigating allegations that a serving officer raped two female colleagues. the officer wasn't charged, and hasn't been suspended. the bbc and the bureau of investigativejournalism have found that he now faces a misconduct hearing — more than three years after the allegations were reported. the metropolitan police says it takes all allegations of domestic abuse seriously, and that the full circumstances of this case will be considered at the hearing. anna adams has this report. holly was a junior police officer when she started a relationship with an older, more senior colleague. she recalls one night when she was attacked and dragged around by her hair. we've changed her name and film with an actress. he threw me into the dining room table, and he was going crazy at me. i was saying, please stop, you're hurting me. it was an unbelievable amount of pain. holly was too afraid to report the assault. she says months later, she was raped. the male officer also had a relationship with another colleague, we are calling kate, who told us she was also raped and assaulted, including on police premises. he tried to kill me. he threw me against the chest of drawers in the bedroom, then ran at me, pinned me to the bed and strangled me. in 2017, the two women reported allegations of rape and assault. essex police launched an investigation, the suspect denied any wrongdoing. in 2019 at the crown prosecution service said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute. the following year the women were awarded a payout by the criminal injuries compensation authority. it is a government funded body that does not need the same standard of proof as a criminal court. it told holly police evidence indicates that you were a victim of sexual abuse, and kate serious physical abuse. the accused officer was taken off public duties but he was never arrested and he was never suspended. and it was just last month that the met decided he should face a disciplinary hearing. these women will have been asking for help from the day that they reported. the force is also investigating allegations that details were leaked to the male suspect. raising more questions about how the case has been handled. it has just taken so long for the met to take any action against this person whatsoever, and i think what that says to other victims of domestic violence is we say we will protect you, but actually it will take years and it may all come to nothing. in a statement the police said... holly is still proud to be a metropolitan police officer. but she says things have to change. i don't want anyone else to go through what i've been through. it's horrendous. he had his friends, he was looked after, when as we were just cast aside and not cared for. anna adams, bbc news. borisjohnson�*s senior adviser on ethnic minorities is to stand down. samuel kasumu will leave the role next month. downing street sources have rejected any suggestion that his departure is related to the commission on race and ethnic disparities report which was published yesterday. the prime minister has been giving his reaction in the past hour. i've worked very closely with samuel in the last year or so and he's done some great stuff and i thank him very much, particularly on helping to encourage vaccine take—up amongst more hesitant groups and communities. our correspondent rianna croxford is in westminster. do we know specifically why he is going? we do we know specifically why he is auoin ? ~ ., do we know specifically why he is anoin?~ ., , going? we do, so samuel kasumu -ist boris johnson's — going? we do, so samuel kasumu -ist boris johnson's most _ going? we do, so samuel kasumu -ist boris johnson's most senior _ going? we do, so samuel kasumu -ist boris johnson's most senior adviser . boris johnson's most senior adviser in race relations. he's worked for the government since 2019. he had actually intended to resign in february, earlierthis actually intended to resign in february, earlier this year, actually intended to resign in february, earlierthis year, he actually intended to resign in february, earlier this year, he had handed him his resignation letter but then retracted it following talks with ministers. in his letter, which was seen by the bbc at the time, mr kasumu said he was residing over what he described as unbearable tension is in number ten as well as what he called fears that the conservative party was pursuing a politics steeped in division. in particular i understand there have been tensions with the equalities office, specifically over its treatment of a blackjournalist earlier this year, who mr kasumu felt at the time had broken the material code. he had always intended to resign in may this year since then, the only reason he decided to stay on was in order to complete what he felt was important work in creating vaccine uptake amongst ethnic minority communities, which has improved since then. now, i understand last week he did confirm to downing street that he was resigning. many have questioned the timing of the announcement and while mr kasumu isn't commenting directly, i understand from close sources it was in relation in anticipation of yesterday's race report. anticipation of yesterday's race re ort. ., ., anticipation of yesterday's race reort. . ., ., ., ., ~ anticipation of yesterday's race reort. . ., ., ., ., the owner of liberty steel, sanjeev gupta, has promised to keep open all the company's plants in the uk. 3000 jobs at the firm, and 2,000 more at the parent company gfg, have been in doubt after the collapse of its financial backer, greensill. our business editor simonjack is here. i think it's the first time we've heard from him since the collapse of the financial backer?— the financial backer? that's right, on march the _ the financial backer? that's right, on march the 5th _ the financial backer? that's right, on march the 5th greensill - the financial backer? that's right, on march the 5th greensill capital went bust, it was essentially a source of cash for this company so there have been great concerns about there have been great concerns about the future of the company, about 3000 directjobs and 2000 in other businesses. we found out last week he had made an appeal to the government for a £170 million taxpayer bailout which the government turned down because they were worried the money would disappear into what they called his opaque and international empire, but today, he said without government support, —— with or without government support he was confident he would survive. i believe in the future of my steel business. it's still a tough journey ahead. liberty has many disadvantages. the uk steel industry has been decimated for the last few decades. we still have a lot of work to do. i'm not going to give up on the uk as long as i'm in charge my branch will stay open. that's a bold claim, he is a very rich man, they say there is a very hard sell to put taxpayers' money into an empire like that and not only that but since greensill went bust some of greensill�*s creditors, the investors who got burnt when that went bust, are now making claims on greensill�*s biggest customer, mr gupta, so it's very difficult to imagine how you can get refinancing when you've got people making claims on the assets he already has. now, this could take a couple of weeks to play out through the courts, maybe even longer than that, but the clock is ticking on this and by his own admission some of his suppliers are getting a little bit nervous about putting money into a business when they don't know exactly what the financial future of it is so worrying times still for those thousands of workers. the good news is the government said it would be crazy not to back british steel companies when you've got things like hs2, offshore wind turbines coming down the track. whatever happens the government will not let this company go, i think.— this company go, i think. simon jack, this company go, i think. simon jack. thank _ this company go, i think. simon jack, thank you. _ the nspcc says it is already receiving calls to a new helpline for people to report sexual abuse and harassment in schools. the support service, which opened this morning, has been set up after thousands of allegations were posted on the everyone's invited website. the government has ordered a review of school safeguarding policies in england, in both the state and independent sector. our education correspondent danjohnson reports. so many young women say they haven't felt safe at school. everyday there are more stories of and abuse. i've just come out of secondary school, and i can say these experiences are not foreign ones. it is something that so many young girls have to experience every day, from the groping to the explicit violence at parties. after being ignored for so long, their calls are now being taken, and accounts are being recorded. this is a watershed moment, in terms of many brave young people having the confidence to come forward and speak about these issues, and now we want to create this safe and independent space to discuss with those affected what the best course of action is for them. according to figures from children's charity plan international uk 58% of girls aged between 1a and 21 say they've been sexually harassed in the place they learn. and of those, two thirds say it was by someone from their school, college or university. the department for education's taken note of the vast number of accounts from young women, and the helpline should support them, while the review will ensure that protection measures are strong enough in schools. but there may well be some broader issues to address here about why toxic cultures grow in some places and why some young men hold such negative attitudes around sex, relationships and their behaviour towards women. many adults haven't had very good relationships and sex education themselves, so it is breaking out of that mould and finding a way to do this better with the next generation. and the only way to do that is sometimes feel a little bit uncomfortable and test out new ways of doing things, and that is easiest if you start young. this is just the first step to listen, to act, and to address years of abuse. then the question is why the youngest women were left feeling vulnerable in places they should have been safe. dan johnson, bbc news. and the nspcc helpline number is 0800136 663. less than 20% of people who have symptoms of covid—19 request a test, according to a new large study. and researchers say the number of people who follow self—isolation rules is low. experts say the findings suggest the impact of the test and trace system is limited, but the government says it has saved countless lives. our health correspondent dominic hughes reports. if you have symptoms, you need to get a test immediately. the test and trace system has been a key part of the government's strategy in the fight against the coronavirus, and will be equally important in the months to come. but a series of surveys involving more than 50,000 people across the uk reveals some worrying findings. overall, fewer than one—in—five said they would request a test if they developed symptoms of coronavirus. only half could identify the main symptoms of covid—19 — which include a cough, high temperature and a loss of taste or smell. and while 70% of people said if they were to develop symptoms they intended to self—isolate, the reality was that fewer than half reported that they did in fact do so. staying at home and self isolating is a really difficult behaviour to do and there are lots of reasons why people may not be able to do it. it might be they need to go out to work. they need to go out to care for someone, they need to go out to bring their kids to school, they need to go out to get food for their family or medicines for their family, and it's not really a one size fits all solution. today's report casts doubt... there is a big room for improvement. in some ways that's optimistic, but only if the government realises current model is not working and needs to fundamentally changed. ultimately a best way out of the remains vaccination. with the slowdown in the supply of vaccines on the horizon health chiefs are urging anyone over 50 who have yet to have a jab to get one soon. essen to have a 'ab to get one soon. even in the to have a jab to get one soon. even in the past — to have a jab to get one soon. even in the past fortnight _ to have a jab to get one soon. even in the past fortnight more than four fifths of people aged 50—50 for getting theirjab, and over 3 million people have never had their second dose which gives full protection —— 50—54. the message is don't delay if you're over 50 or in the high risk categories take up the offer. , ., the high risk categories take up the offer. , , offer. the government says test entries has _ offer. the government says test entries has saved _ offer. the government says test entries has saved countless - offer. the government says test| entries has saved countless lives and maintains the overwhelming majority of people self—isolate asked to. given the central test and taste will play in the recovery from the pandemic in the uk there will be concerns that a system that has cost £37 billion is still performing poorly. our health correspondent katharine da costa is here. some very interesting research being done about long covid? yes. some very interesting research being done about long covid?— done about long covid? yes, this is from the office _ done about long covid? yes, this is from the office for— done about long covid? yes, this is from the office for national- from the office for national statistics and this is the first time people have been asked to self—report their systems where macro symptoms and in the four weeks to the 6th of march the ons report is more than a million people in the uk had some form of long covid, one in five people had symptoms lasting in five people had symptoms lasting in five people had symptoms lasting in five weeks. 700,000 of symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks and 70,000, more than a year. two thirds of those said their day—to—day activities were being affected so a large number seeing a real impact on their lives. the term long covid covers a wide range of symptoms, things like fatigue, muscle pain, difficulty concentrating, and even people that i've had mild illness can have long—term effects. experts are starting to build up a better picture of who is at greatest risk, so it's detected more in women than men, in working ages of 35—69, those living in deprived areas and people working in health and social care, but it's not yet known whether it's because they are at greater risk of being exposed to the virus or because they are more susceptible to long covid after being infected. very quick thought about vaccine passports, because it's something the prime minister mentioned? yes. the prime minister mentioned? yes, he said it could _ the prime minister mentioned? yes, he said it could have _ the prime minister mentioned? yes, he said it could have a _ the prime minister mentioned? yes he said it could have a real role the prime minister mentioned? 12: he said it could have a real role to play in the future. he said they are definitely going to be used in a world in which international travel uses them. they could be used for three things, to show previous infection, whether you've been vaccinated or a negative test, no final decisions have yet been made, we are expecting an update this month under review is due injune. katharine da costa, thank you. our top story this lunchtime. a serving metropolitan police officer has been convicted of membership of a banned neo—nazi terrorist organisation. and coming up, easing lockdown across the uk. changes in northern ireland come into force, as key dates are outlined in wales. coming up on the bbc news channel, the investigation into tiger woods' car crash has been completed but the findings will only be released if the 15—time major winner allows them to be. he needed surgery after suffering serious injuries last month. in the past hour, the first minister of wales, mark drakeford, has confirmed the next steps in lifting covid restrictions. nonessential businsesses will be allowed to reopen on 12th april, which is also when people will be allowed to travel in and out of the country. pubs, restaurants and cafes can open their outdoor areas from 26th april. our wales correspondent mark hutchings has all the details. it's something to drink to, a date for the reopening of beer gardens around wales, as here at a rural pub on the outskirts of cardiff. the owner, rob pearson, says last year's financial assault course has sent any longer term retirement thoughts back five years or so, so it's crucial this latest easing of restrictions is made to work. we had last year and it was chop and change, chop and change, chop and change. we are hoping that this time it's going to be you are open, you are good to go, outdoors, another month, indoors, some normality going into the summer and people can't wait to come back to a pub, notjust to have a good drink, they can't wait to see friends and socialise, have a chat, good food, good company. so, in detail, subject to confirmation, on april the 12th all shops and contact services can open and all pupils return to school. travel in and out of wales is allowed. on april the 26th outdoor hospitality can resume, including cafes and restaurants as well as beer gardens. indoor gyms can start again for individuals on may the tenth. a week after, outdoor group sport for adults. and from may the 17th, organised indoor activities can resume. this is a significant package of measures, a series of steps forward in ourjourney back towards normality, and will give everybody a sense of life returning again. plaid cymru have accused the welsh labour government of taking too long to provide businesses with more certainty. the welsh conservatives say gyms should open earlier and the welsh liberal democrats say there needs to be a plan for those who face losing theirjobs or homes. wales has already partially opened up and today's news helps fill in some of the blanks in the calendar, although not soon enough for some. there is one other significant date, may the sixth, when voters will decide the next welsh government. it's proving to be a significant springtime in wales. mark hutchings, bbc news, cardiff. some restrictions in northern ireland have been eased today. up to six people from two households are now allowed to meet in a private garden. and up to ten people from two households can meet in a public outdoor space. let's speak to our ireland correspondent chris page. a little bit of an easing, a bit of tennis as well.— a little bit of an easing, a bit of tennis as well. ~ , , ~ ., tennis as well. absolutely, lockdown in northern ireland _ tennis as well. absolutely, lockdown in northern ireland has _ tennis as well. absolutely, lockdown in northern ireland has been - tennis as well. absolutely, lockdown in northern ireland has been in - in northern ireland has been in force since christmas so today, just before easter, a slight easing and it means it's an important day for people like the players at windsor tennis club in south belfast to have been missing their favourite sports, so coaches have been on court here since early this morning, lessons began around about 7am and people have been saying how glad they are to be back, how good it is to be serving and volleying and smashing once again. now, when it comes to the other outdoor sports, well, golf, very, very popular in this part of the uk, so golfers are also hitting the fairways and greens once more and many of them have also been out since daybreak. there's been a minor change in the retail sector. garden centres are able to operate click and collect. also, socialising and people's gardens can begin again. there's a limit though of six people from two households. it's understood the ministers in the devolved government meeting this afternoon to discuss further easements on the 12th of april, perhaps allowing larger retailers like car dealerships to open. ichris like car dealerships to open. chris pace, like car dealerships to open. chris page. many _ like car dealerships to open. chris page, many thanks. _ the national living wage has gone up by 19 pence, to £8.91 an hour. the government says it means a pay rise for about two million people on the lowest wages. but hundreds of thousands of low—paid workers on furlough won't get the increase. police investigating the disappearance of a 19—year—old student have expanded their search into essex — where he has been seen on cctv cameras. richard okorogheye, who has sickle cell disease, left his family home in west london more than a week ago. a leading brain surgeon who's been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer is backing calls for a change in the law on assisted dying. henry marsh, who's written books about his life as a neurosurgeon, is supporting a letter from a cross—party group of mps and peers, which is asking for the justice secretary to hold an inquiry. helena wilkinson reports. during his career as an eminent neurosurgeon, henry marsh operated on over 10,000 patients. today, he's dealing with his own diagnosis. i was diagnosed with what's called advanced prostate cancer, that's prostate cancer which has spread beyond the prostate gland. the first few weeks i was actually very, very frightened and scared indeed. his cancer diagnosis had made him think about his own death. he's always been an advocate of assisted dying. it's a myth verging on a lie from the opponents of assisted dying that with good palliative care death is always ok, and it means that patients and their families and palliative care doctors and all doctors cannot have an open, upfront discussion about what the options are. ' , ., ., , discussion about what the options are. '_, ., ,, ., are. the 71-year-old is supporting a call by politicians _ are. the 71-year-old is supporting a call by politicians for _ are. the 71-year-old is supporting a call by politicians for the _ call by politicians for the government to hold an enquiry. in a letter to thejustice government to hold an enquiry. in a letter to the justice secretary robert buckland, they highlight data from the assisted dying coalition that showed the number of people travelling to switzerland has increased six fold, whilst they recognise there are legitimate concerns about changing the law an enquiry would allow difficult questions to be explored in an objective way. some politicians who signed the letter, organised by humanists uk and the campaign group my death, my decision, previously voted against changing the law was yellow where people know that they are approaching the end of their life. ~ , ~ ., ., �*, ., ., life. when they know that's going to be an extremely _ life. when they know that's going to be an extremely painful _ life. when they know that's going to be an extremely painful experience, or where people realise that the quality of their life, you know, is going to be virtually negligible then i think we are entitled to the alternative option.— alternative option. currently assistina alternative option. currently assisting a _ alternative option. currently assisting a suicide _ alternative option. currently assisting a suicide is - alternative option. currently assisting a suicide is a - alternative option. currentlyj assisting a suicide is a crime alternative option. currently i assisting a suicide is a crime in england and wales. the care not killing alliance said the law protected the vulnerable. {line killing alliance said the law protected the vulnerable. one of the thin . s we protected the vulnerable. one of the things we have _ protected the vulnerable. one of the things we have learned _ protected the vulnerable. one of the things we have learned from - protected the vulnerable. one of the things we have learned from this - things we have learned from this pandemic is how valuable life is for everybody and how we need to take care of the elderly and vulnerable in our society and indeed just the other week the coc issued a report in which they criticise the human rights abuses that have taken place in relation to the response to the covid pandemic. the in relation to the response to the covid pandemic.— covid pandemic. the ministry of justice said _ covid pandemic. the ministry of justice said any _ covid pandemic. the ministry of justice said any change - covid pandemic. the ministry of justice said any change to - covid pandemic. the ministry of i justice said any change to the law must be for individual mps to consider rather than a decision for government. the law as it stands is one that sharply divides opinions on both sides. helena wilkinson, bbc news. the life and legacy of diana, princess of wales is going to be recognised with a blue plaque in london. it's thought it could be placed at her earl's court flat, where she lived before her marriage to prince charles. english heritage says it will be one of six new plaques dedicated to pioneering women. the organisation says it is continuing to try and address the gender imbalance in the scheme, which was set up 150 years ago. time for a look at the weather.