the bbc she will serve a full term until 2026, and she intends to press ahead with plans for an independence referendum. what will also happen and step up in earnest next year is the setting out of the substantive case for scotland becoming independent. we have the $$$ of a man with autism and learning disabilities held in a secure unit for 21 years because of a lack of community support. william and kate decide they want itv to show their carol concert, following a controversial royal documentary broadcast by the bbc. and we take a view of the future of the scottish highlands, where the race is on to return vast areas to their natural state. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on the bbc news channel... we'll get the latest from manchester city ahead of their champions league match against paris st germain. good evening. we start with the tragedy unfolding in the english channel, where at least 31 migrants are feared to have drowned while trying to cross the sea from france. their boat apparently capsized. at least 26 have been rescued, some of them in a serious condition, and a rescue operation is still under way. local fishermen report that weather conditions were very cold. only yesterday, the home secretary, priti patel, said further talks were taking place between the uk and france to try to stop the crossings. so far this year, an estimated 25,600 migrants have crossed the channel to the uk, more than three times last year's figure. our home editor, mark easton, has the latest. cold but calm seas encourage dozens of migrants, including many small children, to head down the beaches of calais this morning, preparing to make thejourney of calais this morning, preparing to make the journey across the channel. a number of small boats are understood to have pushed off around dawn, but it now appears at least one vessel capsized, with reports of around 30 deaths. a french fisherman reported seeing an empty dinghy with a number of bodies floating motionless nearby, unconscious or dead. the french interior minister headed to the scene, tweeting, strong emotions after the tragedy of a number of deaths following the capsizing of a migrant boat in the channel. we can't emphasise enough just how criminal smugglers who organise these crossings are. as news of the tragedy broke, the prime minister, borisjohnson, minister, boris johnson, announced he minister, borisjohnson, announced he would chair a meeting of the cobra emergency committee in response. i cobra emergency committee in resonse. , ., ., cobra emergency committee in response-_ cobra emergency committee in resonse. , ., ., response. i 'ust want to say i am shocked response. i just want to say i am shocked and — response. i just want to say i am shocked and appalled _ response. i just want to say i am shocked and appalled and - response. i just want to say i am | shocked and appalled and deeply saddened by the loss of life at sea in the _ saddened by the loss of life at sea in the channel. i think that the details — in the channel. i think that the details are still coming in, but more — details are still coming in, but more than _ details are still coming in, but more than 20 people have lost their lives, _ more than 20 people have lost their lives, as_ more than 20 people have lost their lives, as you — more than 20 people have lost their lives, as you know, and my thoughts and sympathies are first of all with the victims — and sympathies are first of all with the victims and their families, and it's an _ the victims and their families, and it's an appalling thing that they have _ it's an appalling thing that they have suffered, but i also want to say that — have suffered, but i also want to say that this disaster underscores how dangerous it is to cross the channei— how dangerous it is to cross the channel in — how dangerous it is to cross the channel in this way.— how dangerous it is to cross the channel in this way. french patrol vessels and _ channel in this way. french patrol vessels and three _ channel in this way. french patrol vessels and three helicopters - channel in this way. french patrol| vessels and three helicopters have been deployed as part of a search, with port authority suggesting the tragedies could be the largest single loss of life in the channel for many years. single loss of life in the channel for many years— single loss of life in the channel for many years. migrants have been cominu for many years. migrants have been coming from — for many years. migrants have been coming from their— for many years. migrants have been coming from their country _ for many years. migrants have been coming from their country are - coming from their country are spending months and months to get to hear, and they are close to their dream. fix. hear, and they are close to their dream. �* , ., ., , ., ~ dream. a number of migrants did make it to the kent — dream. a number of migrants did make it to the kent coast, _ dream. a number of migrants did make it to the kent coast, having _ dream. a number of migrants did make it to the kent coast, having crossed - it to the kent coast, having crossed one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. no one should underestimate the risks. {iii the world. no one should underestimate the risks. of dcs are incredibly dangerous _ underestimate the risks. of dcs are incredibly dangerous all _ underestimate the risks. of dcs are incredibly dangerous all of - underestimate the risks. of dcs are incredibly dangerous all of the - underestimate the risks. of dcs are incredibly dangerous all of the year| incredibly dangerous all of the year but particularly as winter approaches, and that's why i have been calling for some time to say that we must make sure that those boats are not leaving the french shores. ., ., ., shores. the un international organisation _ shores. the un international organisation for _ shores. the un international organisation for migration i shores. the un international. organisation for migration says between eight and 30 people have died in the english channel each year since 2014 stop before today, the figure for this year was already at 15. record numbers of migrants have crossed the channel in small boats this year, more than 25,000 since january. the home secretary promised last year to make the route unviable and put the people smugglers out of business. today, for news of the tragedy, the immigration minister explained what the numbers were still so high. —— before news. we the numbers were still so high. -- before news— the numbers were still so high. -- before news. we have challenges, a s stem before news. we have challenges, a system based _ before news. we have challenges, a system based on _ before news. we have challenges, a system based on outdated - system based on outdated legislation, much of it from the late 90s, which we are looking to change with the nationality and borders bill, due to come back to the commons for its report stage imminently, and that is where we are looking to try and make changes to make a difference and work with our european neighbours, particularly france, to get a grip on this. this isn't helping any european state. you only have to look at the situation on the belarus polish border. , ., . situation on the belarus polish border. , . . ., , situation on the belarus polish border. , . . border. the search has continued into the night. — border. the search has continued into the night, with _ border. the search has continued into the night, with french - into the night, with french emergency services continued to look for any victims and support survivors, a grim end to a grim day. 0ur correspondent, simonjones, is in dover. what is the latest information you have been given on the state of this operation and the latest information the authorities have been sharing about what happened? we the authorities have been sharing about what happened?— the authorities have been sharing about what happened? we are being told that more _ about what happened? we are being told that more than _ about what happened? we are being told that more than 30 _ about what happened? we are being told that more than 30 people - about what happened? we are being told that more than 30 people havel told that more than 30 people have died. research operation is continuing. a confusing picture because, when these boats take to the water, they are often overloaded, so it's not entirely clear exactly who is on board, so the searches will continue but, at this time of the year, dc is very cold so the chances of finding any survivors remain very small. the authorities on both sides of the channel have repeatedly warned it was only a matter of time before there was a tragedy at sea. that has now happened. i think home office officials were expecting numbers to fall quite dramatically as we went into autumn, as they have done in previous years, but it's now clear this is an all year round operation because it is so lucrative for the people smugglers organising the crossings. recently a boat was found on the channel with 88 people on board, each having paid around £3000. that would have made the smugglers are caught of £1 million from a single boat.— from a single boat. thank you for the update. _ from a single boat. thank you for the update, simon _ from a single boat. thank you for the update, simon jones, - from a single boat. thank you for the update, simon jones, our. the update, simonjones, our correspondent. he was live in dover. we will have more on that story before the end of the programme. here in scotland, the first minister has told the bbc today that she will present legislation to the scottish parliament, paving the way to a possible referendum on independence. nicola sturgeon said she was committed to trying to hold a vote by the end of 2023, and that work had already started on setting out what an independent scotland would look like. but a referendum can't take place without approval from westminster. the first minister also dismissed rumours about her future, declaring that she would serve a full term until 2026. ms sturgeon was speaking to our political editor, laura kuenssberg. the view from the top, on the desk of a politician who wants to stay there. nicola sturgeon was already in charge before brexit, before borisjohnson in number ten boris johnson in number ten certainly borisjohnson in number ten certainly before a world emergency she still grappling with. we certainly before a world emergency she still grappling with.— she still grappling with. we are in a osition she still grappling with. we are in a position in _ she still grappling with. we are in a position in scotland _ she still grappling with. we are in a position in scotland right - she still grappling with. we are in a position in scotland right now, i a position in scotland right now, and i say this with some trepidation, because we know how unpredictable this virus still is, cases have stabilised, they are slightly declining. the position remains precarious. thank a lot of scots are wondering why people can go to nightclubs but they can't see their kids in a nativity play. there is no 100% perfect logic to this put up is no 100% perfect logic to this put up some governments across europe up some governments across europe are up some governments across europe are faced again with invidious decisions,. are faced again with invidious decisions. -— are faced again with invidious decisions,. but the end of the pandemic— decisions,. but the end of the pandemic is — decisions,. but the end of the pandemic is important - decisions,. but the end of the pandemic is important to - decisions,. but the end of the pandemic is important to you | decisions,. but the end of the i pandemic is important to you for political reasons. you would like to move to another independence referendum after the pandemic. what is that? this referendum after the pandemic. what is that? �* , ., referendum after the pandemic. what is that? �* , _, ., ., is that? as we come out of the acute -hase is that? as we come out of the acute hase of is that? as we come out of the acute phase of this — is that? as we come out of the acute phase of this pandemic, _ is that? as we come out of the acute phase of this pandemic, recovery - phase of this pandemic, recovery from it does bring very much to the fore and into focus what kind of power is our has, what ability people in scotland have to choose the direction of the country. many people see independence as an urgent question. but people see independence as an urgent ruestion. �* , ., people see independence as an urgent ruestion. �* �* question. but you can't tell them when. question. but you can't tell them when- just _ question. but you can't tell them when. just be — question. but you can't tell them when. just be straight _ question. but you can't tell them when. just be straight about - question. but you can't tell them | when. just be straight about that. there is a reason i can't tell them. there is a reason i can't tell them. the duty of any leader in any country right now is to navigate our way through this pandemic. the exact timetable of another _ way through this pandemic. the exact timetable of another boat _ way through this pandemic. the exact timetable of another boat is - way through this pandemic. the exact timetable of another boat is hazy. - timetable of another boat is hazy. despite her undoubted dominance, polls suggest enthusiasm for independence is waning and doubts about her own future have crept in to the conversation. when it comes to the conversation. when it comes to the conversation. when it comes to the question of independence, is there any truth that you are a bit stuck? the country is doubly divided too much 50—50 on this. polling suggests enthusiasm for independence has faded. it suggests enthusiasm for independence hasfaded. ., , �* suggests enthusiasm for independence has faded._ there _ suggests enthusiasm for independence has faded._ there is - suggests enthusiasm for independence has faded._ there is a - suggests enthusiasm for independence has faded._ there is a 3% - has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% . a . has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average _ has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average in _ has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average in the _ has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average in the last _ has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average in the last six - has faded. it doesn't. there is a 3% gap average in the last six months. sometimes the polls are slightly above, sometimes slightly below 50%. do you ever worry you have missed the moment?— do you ever worry you have missed the moment? ha. people have wondered the moment? no. people have wondered if the moment? tip. people have wondered if your mind has turned to your own future. will you guarantee you will lead the party at the next holyrood election? i lead the party at the next holyrood election? ., ., election? i will fulfil the mandate i have election? i will fulfil the mandate i have been _ election? i will fulfil the mandate i have been given _ election? i will fulfil the mandate i have been given to _ election? i will fulfil the mandate i have been given to governors i election? i will fulfilthe mandate i i have been given to governors first minister for i have been given to governors first ministerfor this i have been given to governors first minister for this term of the scottish parliament. find minister for this term of the scottish parliament. and beyond that? i almost take _ scottish parliament. and beyond that? i almost take the - scottish parliament. and beyond that? i almost take the wishful l that? i almost take the wishful thinkin: that? i almost take the wishful thinking of _ that? i almost take the wishful thinking of my opponents - that? i almost take the wishful. thinking of my opponents as some unintended compliment. it's almost as if my opponents have concluded they can't beat me or remove me from office themselves so they are kind office themselves so they are kind of crossing their fingers and hoping that i will remove myself from office. but they are going to be really disappointed, because i am to be around a lot longer. thank group in an interview, you talked about writing your memoirs. people ask me, what are you going to do after politics? i am 51 years old. i have no intentions of going anywhere as first minister but i still think i will be relatively young when i get to the point of completing other things. to the point of completing other thins. �* :: ~ ., �*, ., things. after 2026, that's a different question, - things. after 2026, that's a different question, but - things. after 2026, that's a l different question, but nicola sturgeon is farfrom ready different question, but nicola sturgeon is far from ready to abandon the desk yet. i'm joined now by our scotland editor, sarah smith. especially on that road to a referendum, sarah, it's strewn with obstacles. ., referendum, sarah, it's strewn with obstacles. . , ., obstacles. there are several hurdles. _ obstacles. there are several hurdles, first _ obstacles. there are several hurdles, first of _ obstacles. there are several hurdles, first of all, - obstacles. there are several i hurdles, first of all, legislation would have to be passed in the scottish parliament, and there is a majority in favour of independence, but there would almost certainly then be a legal challenge from the uk government who will say holyrood doesn't have the power to authorise a referendum, and that battle could end up in the supreme court. there is also a significant political issue for scotland seems to be 50—50 on the question of independence. polls suggest last year, earlier this year, they were giving a small majority in favour of independence. that seems to have dropped recently to nicola sturgeon and the snp have to nicola sturgeon and the snp have to make a brand—new case for independence. a lot has changed since the last vote, we have had brexit and a pandemic, and the economic argument would be very different. in 2014, with the last vote, there were buoyant receipts from north sea oil. now it's clear an independent scotland conveys its economy on fossil fuels and nicola sturgeon has said she doesn't favour licensing a new oil field sturgeon has said she doesn't favour licensing a new oilfield near shetland. scotland could do well in renewable energy but that will take years. there is a lot of work to do to come up with a detailed proposition if they want to persuade voters in scotland they want to leave the uk.— voters in scotland they want to leave the uk. sarah smith, thank ou. a man with autism and learning disabilities has been held in a secure unit for 21 years because of a lack of support in the community. a seniorjudge has criticised the authorities for outrageous delays in handling the case. bbc news has now succeeded in getting a court order lifted, allowing us to name tony hickmott, who's 44. his case is by no means an exception. the latest figures show there are more than 2,000 patients with learning disabilities or autism in similar situations across england. bbc news has learned that at least 100 of them have been held in secure settings for more than 20 years. 0ur correspondentjayne mccubbin has been to meet tony hickmott s parents, who've taken their fight to the court of protection to get their son back. nine months... to be away for nine months until he found them a suitable place in the brighton area. that's what we was told. but it's far from the truth. he's lived there longer now that he's lived at home. you cannot take that turmoil away. 0njune 29, 2001, pam and roy's son tony was detained under the mental health act. like many young people with autism in a learning disability, he did struggle to cope as he became an adult. i love you... i love you, too, tony. he's now lived in an atu, and assessment and treatment unit, for almost 21 years 100 miles from his family. the bbc has had to go to court to tell you to ny�*s story. his family of had to go to court to try and bring them back to brighton. one week runs into a month, a month runs into a year. then a year went, and another year went in another year went. we level back sometimes and would pull in and we'd sit and cry. i mean, i come home and i've got pam come home and i've got pam, she's atu use are designed for short—term stays in a crisis. the problem here is not tony but the system. psychiatrists said he's been fit for discharge since 2013. this month, the family went to the core of protection to try and break the deadlock. there, a judge said the delays facing tony have been egregious, but the progress made to date has been glacial. the judges told him to get on with it, right? they're still not doing it. we're still fighting over money. they took the unusual step of lifting the anonymity order because she said she had no doubt tony's case is in the public interest. and it was clear that a lack of resources had left him detained for so long. tony's care right now is funded by the nhs, but ongoing support in the community will have to be paid for by his council, who told us... they're working with nhs and tony's family to find other options. it's a decade since bbc cameras captured the neglect and abuse of people with learning disabilities in winterbourne view. that prompted the government to set targets to move people into real homes with appropriate support, but those targets have been missed repeatedly. nhs england has yet to respond. ultimately these settings should not exist. - it'sjust appalling. the people are not criminals. they have not got - sentences through the criminaljustice process. they are stuck in - servicesjust as people used to be stuck in long stay institutions. - the judge has ordered authorities to finally find a plan to bring him back to brighton by may next year. tony's wait continues. we visited tone, we're leaving and he pushes his face in the window and watches us disappear. i cannot look back. what have they done to all of us? the family? they destroyed us. oh, dear. jayne mccubbin, bbc news. our main story this evening... the prime minister says he is shocked, appalled and deeply saddened after at least 31 migrants died when their boat sank in the english channel. the search operation is still under for survivors. still to come... we report on the future of the scottish highlands and plans to rewild and restore the country's ecosystems. coming up in sportsday in the next 15 minutes on the bbc news channel: accused of being a bad loser at the uk championship last night, shaun murphy tells us why it's unfair for amateurs to play against snooker�*s professionals. the duke and duchess of cambridge have chosen itv rather than the bbc to broadcast a special christmas carol concert. the choice was apparently made after the bbc broadcast a controversial documentary on royal life. the first part of the princes and the press was shown on monday, and led to the bbc being criticised by the royal households for giving credibility to what they called "overblown and unfounded claims". 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. it was billed as an examination of the relationship between the princes and the press. it's resulted in a sharp falling out between one prince in particular and the bbc. to understand why, we need to go back to another bbc programme, the panorama interview with diana, princess of wales. in a report earlier this year, the bbc�*s handling of the whole matter was strongly criticised. the anger of diana's eldest son, william, was palpable. it brings indescribable sadness to know that the bbc�*s failures contributed significantly to herfear, paranoia and isolation that i remember from those final years with her. and so when the bbc�*s media editor, amol rajan, began to look at a more recent family episode, the painful falling out between william and harry, the results induced royal indignation. in particular the hints, so far unsubstantiated, that royal officials may have leaked unflattering stories about harry and his wife meghan to the press. in a joint statement at the end of monday's first episode of the programme, buckingham palace, clarence house and kensington palace said... today, as the duchess of cambridge visited a school in north london, the royals removed from the bbc the right to transmit a christmas concert which the duchess will introduce from westminster abbey. the bbc will make the programme, but now itv will broadcast it. the bbc�*s chairman, richard sharp, was asked about the row over a conference video link. we have tremendous respect for all aspects of the royal family in all they undertake and do. one thing we can say, the circumstances which lie behind the breach between the brothers remain painful to all concerned. nicholas witchell, bbc news. well, let's look at the pandemic situation in the uk in more detail, with the latest government coronavirus figures. they show there were more than 43,500 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that's 5,000 cases more than last wednesday. on average, there were 43,296 thousand new cases reported per day in the last week. 149 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 132 covid—related deaths were recorded every day. and on vaccinations, more than 16 million people have now had their booster injection, which is more than 27% of the adult population over 12. gwent police has apologised to two female officers over its handling of allegations of domestic abuse made by them against a male colleague. that colleague resigned from the force before the hearing into his misconduct took place. our special correspondent lucy manning has been speaking to one of the female officers involved — both have been paid compensation by the force. abusive, violent, controlling and a police constable. it has taken years for the women to get an apology. i wouldn't be dramatic in saying this destroyed my career. jodi isn't her real name, but she is a gwent police officer. her complaints nearly a decade ago about the abusive behaviour of her ex—boyfriend, pc clarkejocelyn, were ignored. he then went on to do the same to another officer. he denied the allegations, but was found guilty of gross misconduct. we just felt like we were being ignored, but i think for them to actually give an apology shows just... well, itjust shows us that they finally listened after all these years. gwent accused of ignoring the warnings about their own officer. what i found hard was i was a response officer at the time, and i was dealing with things that were not as serious as what i was going through. yet i was arresting people, i was preparing files, but when it came to myself, nothing was being done. gwent offered a public and private apology. what have you said to these officers who you let down? i've had the opportunity to apologise. to be able to acknowledge the fact that it shouldn't have taken as long as it did and had the opportunity to be able to understand from their point of view how we go about putting this right for the future. more than 150 women nationally have come forward as part of a super complaint reporting domestic abuse carried out by police officers. is what has happened particular to gwent, or do you think it's a systemic issue? it is a systemic issue. it's about the culture of policing. it's about the lack of procedures in place to ensure independent. investigations where things go - wrong, where officers are accused of abusing their position. pcjoslyn used to referee boxing matches, but even afterjodi's fight for an apology from gwent she felt the police disciplinary system had still let her down. when he knew that he was going to be found guilty of gross misconduct, he actually resigned. he had the last element of control there. i think if somebody has been investigated for gross misconduct, they should definitely not be allowed to resign. they're walking away then. even a police officer can feel the police doesn't protect them. lucy manning, bbc news. today's bbc news at six is brought to you from glasgow, from the headquarters of the bbc in scotland. this is pacific quay, which opened in 2007, and is home to bbc scotland's television, radio and online services, covering all aspects of national life. one of those crucial aspects is the future of the scottish highlands. vast areas of the countryside are being bought by wealthy individuals keen to return the land to its natural state. they want to introduce the process of rewilding and to stop what they consider ecological degradation, deforestation, and loss of bio—diversity. our special correspondent allan little has been investigating. there is a juniper bush appearing and right down here we have a rowan that has got its orange autumnal colours on it there. across hundreds of thousands of acres, some of scotland's landowners are changing the way they use land. this is glenfeshie where most of the deer have been culled. do that and tree and other plant life comes back naturally. habitats and ecosystems lost to grazing for centuries are reseeding — insects, birds and mammals should follow. none of this is planted. this is all natural regeneration. that is why we have a 200—year vision to get this whole debate away from the here and now, me and you, them and us. it is a 200—year vision. we are not going to be here. this is for future generations. the aim is to undo the ecological degradation inflicted by previous generations. the victorians romanticised this land as wild and unspoiled but they turned much of scotland into shooting estates. deer for stalking laid waste to native plant and tree life. my own grandfather was a gamekeeper on a lowland estate from the 1930s to the 1970s and this is the game book from the estate. it is a meticulous record of every shoot that took place and it begins in 1847, just at the period when the victorians were turning so much of scotland over to bloodsport estates. this seems to me to be a historical artefact that bears witness to a period when human beings really thought they could bend nature to their own will to satisfy not just their need for food but also their desire for recreation and entertainment. in an age of climate crisis, can the grouse moors survive? estate managers say their land is a carbon sink where the peak land, if managed properly, locks huge quantities of carbon in the ground. this idea that nothing else happens apart from grouse shooting on grouse moors is just not true. you know, what you see is a balanced approach to managing the landscape so that you can give the best possible chance for a wild bird to thrive, and it is only the surplus which are shot, and country sports, yes, it's a pleasure in the same way that golf and hill walking and other things which happen in scotland are celebrated. you know, people come from all over the world because scotland has the best grouse shooting globally and that is something we should celebrate. but the rewilders believe they are turning the page on the victorian legacy and redefining scottish land use for the climate age. there are several big renature projects over hundreds of thousands of acres, mostly driven by the private passions of billionaire landowners, sometimes called the green lairds. we know these landscapes are socially unjust because of the concentration of land ownership, the land inequality, so i see a lot of the landlord—driven, the green—laird driven, restoration and rewilding projects as only really dealing with a small part of the problem in these landscapes. i want to see environmental restoration that also deals with the socialjustice issues of these landscapes. but for now, just as in the victorian age, it is private landlords with the power of their private wealth who are reimagining the scottish landscape in our day. allen little, bbc news, in the highlands. the in the highlands. ongoing debate about the future of the ongoing debate about the future of the magnificent highlands. time for a look at the weather — here's matt taylor. some pretty wild weather on its way to scotland and the rest of the uk. cool air in scotland and the north—west this afternoon and that is pushing southwards for all for the next 24 hours, bringing a noticeable chill tomorrow across the country, and preceded by an area of cloud, rain and drizzle across parts of england and wales. some very strong winds with frequent showers in the north of scotland. in between we have some clear skies and a chance of frost around tomorrow and a wind—chill. early cloud and drizzle towards the english channel and the safest first thing but for most looking at a dry and sunny day. the exception being around some of the coasts with showers in the eastern coast of england in particular and showers will be wintry across the northern half of scotland. that will turn to something better later in the day. a cold day but more sunshine than today. thursday been identify do we see the weather turned wilder. this wager system see the weather turned wilder. this wagersystem ? see the weather turned wilder. this wager system ? whether system pushing eastwards on a blustery wind. the winds will strengthen further and the wind turns colder and the shower is turning to sleet and the shower is turning to sleet and snow and on friday blizzards across scotland. strongest winds in northern and western areas, 60 to 70 mph, so friday night will be particularly wild, which will last until saturday and we are going to see rain, sleet and snow across parts of the country and in