through the process. the met has been trying to rebuild public trust following several high profile cases involving serving officers being convicted of serious crimes, including rape and murder. let's speak to dr charlotte proudman, a barrister and founder of right to equality, which campaigns to change discriminatory laws against women. thank you for coming on the programme. what was your reaction when you heard his comments this morning? i when you heard his comments this mornin: ? . , when you heard his comments this mornin: ? .,, , when you heard his comments this mornin? ., , , when you heard his comments this mornin? , ., morning? i was very disappointed to hear his comments _ morning? i was very disappointed to hear his comments that _ morning? i was very disappointed to hear his comments that we - morning? i was very disappointed to hear his comments that we still - morning? i was very disappointed to | hear his comments that we still have a way to go around potentially three years to deal with problematic, potentially inappropriate or dangerous police officers in the metropolitan police force. we know that trust and confidence in the police of women and girls especially, but not exclusively, is at an all—time low. following the most horrendous cases which have been prolific and high profile of david carrick, just this week a police officer was in court charged with multiple offences of rape, therefore standing trial. we know that there are around 50 allegations of violence, offences and inappropriate behaviour made every single month in respect of met police officers and their staff. so to learn that still those that are rotten apples, as they were once referred to within the metropolitan police, have still not been got in bed of and still continue to operate within an institution which has enormous power and has a role and duty to protect women from male violence, yet they themselves are potentially perpetrating that same violence, deeply concerning. what violence, deeply concerning. what about the argument _ violence, deeply concerning. what about the argument that - violence, deeply concerning. what about the argument that was setting out a realistic timetable that has to be a process to be followed in all these individual cases, and that therefore leads to the timeline? he is therefore leads to the timeline? he: is right, of course, that there needs to be a process that is followed, but three years is simply unacceptable. given the gravity of some of the allegations that have been made against those police officers. if a victim of rape, and i work with victims of rape and represent them up and down the country, is raped by a stranger or a partner within their home, do they have the confidence to telephone the metropolitan police when they have suffered that violence, or will they fear that they could potentially be at risk from the offices that are supposed to protect them? this is a real and alive question that they need to grapple with. it will take three years, then potentially more crimes can be committed by those same police officers? if they remain on duty. i hear what he said earlier in the interview, that one of the issuesis in the interview, that one of the issues is changing regulations concerning police officers that fail vetting, read vetting procedures like you say, so those going through the process again and seeing whether they are suitable to continue in the force, and looking at how they can be sacked quicker. they shouldn't take three years, it should be done immediately! the safety and duty to protect women and girls must be a priority, not protecting those within the police force. mali has declared three days of national mourning after dozens of people were killed in attacks by islamist militants. a boat on the niger river in the northern gao region, and a military camp at bamba were targeted. 50 militants are also thought to have been killed. live now to our reporter chris with the latest. what is the latest. what we have seen is a wave _ what is the latest. what we have seen is a wave of— what is the latest. what we have seen is a wave of attacks - what is the latest. what we have seen is a wave of attacks over . what is the latest. what we have | seen is a wave of attacks over the past 24—hour. the latest is where the military has described a complex suicide attack near the airport, where military base is located. the army did not give much details except to say that they are assessing the situation. but on thursday there were attacks carried out on a boat that was carrying passengers from gao in the north—east and travelling through bamber to timbuktu, then to central mali. it came under attack and as we understand, more than 60 passengers were killed. 23 others have been injured and taken to hospital. locals have been telling me that evacuation was ongoing because some of the passengers were thought to have jumped off the boat into the river, probably got drowned. militant groups also attacked a military base on thursday, in that gao area. we understand that 15 soldiers were also killed, sparking fears of increasing attacks on militant groups in the area. united nations troops are pulling out of mali. i5 nations troops are pulling out of mali. , :, , , , ., mali. is there any sense that authorities _ mali. is there any sense that authorities there _ mali. is there any sense that authorities there have - mali. is there any sense that authorities there have a - mali. is there any sense that authorities there have a plan mali. is there any sense that i authorities there have a plan or mali. is there any sense that - authorities there have a plan or the resources to try and combat these sort of attacks?— sort of attacks? basically the military government - sort of attacks? basically the military government in - sort of attacks? basically the military government in mali l sort of attacks? basically the l military government in mali is sort of attacks? basically the - military government in mali is being helped by the russian wagner group which has about 1000 troops in the area, but activities of the armed groups have increased in recent months and in recent weeks. the united nations is warning that these increasing attacks could actually cause humanitarian situation in the area. there had been a blockade on timbuktu last month, and within the period there was shortages of food and people couldn't get essentials. the situation out with this attack is likely to cause further fear and anxiety and fears for safety among the people. anxiety and fears for safety among the --eole. :, ~ anxiety and fears for safety among the maple-— a massive rescue operation has been launched in turkey after an american man became trapped in a cave complex at a depth of about 1,120 metres, or 3,600 feet. about 150 people have been working to rescue mark dickey since getting stuck in the morca cave on saturday. he was co—leading a team to map a new passage in the cave when he began to suffer gastrointestinal bleeding. six units of blood were delivered to him, and his condition has now stabilised. he recorded a message from the cave, thanking rescuers. i want to thank everyone that's down here and thank the response of the caving community. yeah, the caving world is a really tight—knit group and it is amazing to see how many people have responded on the surface. we're still waiting for communications to actually reach down here. so right now it's a day to two days' worth of travel for information to get back and forth. so i don't quite know what's happened, but i do know that the quick response of the turkish government to get the medical supplies that i needed, in my opinion, saved my life. i was very close to the edge whenjessica got back to me. so many thanks to the turkish government and the turkish cavers that are helping to support the international community here. and i look forward to working with everyone to safely get myself out with their assistance. as you can see, i'm up, alert, i'm talking, but i'm not healed on the inside yet. so i need a lot of help to get out of here. and this is, in the caving world, a great opportunity to show just how well the international world can work together. so i'm hoping to see many people from many countries all coming together. we take care of our own. people living in russian—occupied areas of ukraine are being asked to vote in what the de—facto authorities are describing as local elections. kyiv and the organisation for security and cooperation in europe have denounced the polls as illegal. candidates are all either russian or pro—russian, and include governors handpicked by moscow. many people taking part in early polling were asked to vote in the presence of russian soldiers. earlier, i spoke to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams in kyiv and asked what this process means for the ukrainians living under russia—controlled areas. this is the second time in a year that around 2 million ukrainians living under russian occupation in four southern and eastern regions of ukraine have been asked, invited, encouraged, to go to the polls. last year, of course, it was for a referendum on the annexation of those territories to russia, which went ahead with an overwhelming yes, not surprisingly. regarded by, notjust by ukraine, but by the vast majority of countries around the world as a complete sham. now it is local elections, coordinated with local elections and municipal elections in russia itself, and for the last week or so there has been early voting, but today the polling stations opened and ukrainian officials have reported multiple stories of people going around door—to—door, collecting votes, sometimes in the company of armed soldiers, people being sent text messages on their phones, encouraging them to vote for vladimir putin's ruling party, and very little evidence of a any remotely free or fair process. this is, i think, once again a highly orchestrated event, designed by moscow to underline the fact that these parts of ukraine are now thoroughly part of russia, as moscow would like to see it. what has been the response, then, from ukraine? they have obviously condemned this round of elections, just as they did with the referendum. they have also been telling people, look, if you are approached by someone and told to vote, just go ahead and do it, it is completely meaningless and there won't be any repercussions for you. however, what they have done is warn any ukrainians who are connected in any way with organising and orchestrating the selection, that they know who they are, they are compiling lists, and that those people will face punishment later on. interestingly, there have been slightly more direct interventions, at least a couple of explosions in the last week or couple of weeks, aimed at facilities where this election was being prepared and organised, all part of ukraine's more covert actions in these areas under russian occupation. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. now we've all heard of animal sanctuaries, but what's thought to be the first "tree sanctuary" in the uk — if not the world — has opened in the midlands. trees that have been vandalised, damaged by animals or were in the way of construction work are being rescued by a small team of young people calling themselves the tree amigos. tom, adam and owen. it all started when they came across vandalised saplings and decided to fix them. they are now thriving. we saplings and decided to fix them. they are now thriving.— saplings and decided to fix them. they are now thriving. we spent 17 ears they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around _ they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it. — they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it, it _ they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it, it is _ they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it, it is a _ they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it, it is a shame - they are now thriving. we spent 17 years around it, it is a shame to i years around it, it is a shame to see this environment fall apart, is nice to keep it going for generations. it nice to keep it going for generations.— nice to keep it going for uenerations. , , generations. it is expanding across the community. — generations. it is expanding across the community, as _ generations. it is expanding across the community, as more _ generations. it is expanding across the community, as more and - generations. it is expanding across the community, as more and more young people come down to help out. the people have already rescued trees which were about to be chopped by a developer. we trees which were about to be chopped by a developer-_ by a developer. we have birch, air tree. it by a developer. we have birch, air tree- it has _ by a developer. we have birch, air tree. it has been _ by a developer. we have birch, air tree. it has been the _ by a developer. we have birch, air tree. it has been the catalyst - by a developer. we have birch, air tree. it has been the catalyst for. tree. it has been the catalyst for the tree century _ tree. it has been the catalyst for the tree century by _ tree. it has been the catalyst for the tree century by tom's - tree. it has been the catalyst for the tree century by tom's mum. j tree. it has been the catalyst for. the tree century by tom's mum. -- the tree century by tom's mum. —— tree century. so if you see a tree that needs rescuing, this century as a place to go. —— this sanctuary. is there place to go. you're live with bbc news. the number of disposable vapes being thrown away in the uk has nearly quadrupled in the past year, to 5 million per week, according to new research. it means eight are thrown away every second, with huge amounts of materials, including lithium and copper, ending up in landfill. this plant recycles the waste of two million people in south london, sorting it out so it can be turned into new cans, bottles, cardboard and paper. but it's not designed to handle disposable vapes. here are some of the vapes that have been thrown away here. they're in all different shapes and sizes, but they're all complicated bits of equipment — containing copperwires, lithium batteries, and plastic — and they're causing big problems when it comes to how to deal with them once they're thrown away. the batteries can catch fire on the conveyor belts, causing a major hazard, and forcing the plant to stop working. the owner, veolia, says vapes and other lithium batteries cause around one fire a day. here's where they should go — a special bin only for disposable vapes, which are then recycled by hand. there should be one like this in every shop that sells vapes — although many don't have them. if you buy this item, return it back to the shop or store who is selling — that's regulation, they should provide this. and if they don't, ask them — you know, ask them to provide this service, because they should — that's the number one thing. don't litter them into the street and, more importantly, you know, don't put them in your bin at home, because it's where it could create some fires on the trucks or on the site. the vapes problem has been getting worse — eight are now thrown away every second, according to research. the number being binned has nearly quadrupled in a year, to five million each week. and the cost of recycling these vapes could be up to £200 million a year. the industry says the rise of vapes has been so rapid that it's been difficult to keep up. all of the major waste—care companies in the uk have waste recycling or vape recycling programmes up and running now — they didn't have six months ago. so everything is catching up. now we just have to get consumers to actually do the right thing. the scottish government is considering a ban on disposable vapes — and if the industry can't find a way to reduce the waste problem, pressure will grow for more government action around the uk. ben king, bbc news, south london. live now to scott butler, executive director of recycling campaign group material focus. what do you think, give us an idea first of all in your eyes off the scale of the damage being done? we first scale of the damage being done? - first took a look at this issue around a year ago and at that point the research said that 1.3 million vapes were being thrown away, a shock at the time. in one year it has quadrupled. 5 million are being thrown away, that some of the most valuable resources on the planet, lithium and copper, essentialfor the green future we are aiming for. but they pose a major fire risk, if they go into the wrong place, they can be crossed in waste vehicles or at waste sites, lithium batteries coming into contact with the air and water, they can go big. 0ften surrounded by other waste materials, it is a real fire hazard. surrounded by other waste materials, it is a realfire hazard. qm. surrounded by other waste materials, it is a realfire hazard.— it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do _ it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do you _ it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do you try _ it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do you try and - it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do you try and do - it is a realfire hazard. ok, so what do you try and do about| it is a realfire hazard. ok, so i what do you try and do about it? we heard calls by some to just ban them altogether. heard calls by some to 'ust ban them altoaether. , , altogether. there is existing regulations _ altogether. there is existing regulations around - altogether. there is existing regulations around waste i regulations around waste electricals, a special type of electricals, a special type of electrical base, so it should always be recycled, people can search recycle your electricals, you have a postcode located there. vapes every real challenge, a fast piece of technology that wasn't plan for when the recollections were first written, they were looking at fridges and tvs. we are calling on the industry to meet its clear financial and legal obligations to make it as easy to recycle a vape as buy it, and you can buy them everywhere, so we want recycling points in all of those places and in public places where people are actually vaping. public places where people are actually vaping-_ public places where people are actually vaping. public places where people are actuall va-ain. . :, ., :, actually vaping. what about the idea that we heard _ actually vaping. what about the idea that we heard in _ actually vaping. what about the idea that we heard in that _ actually vaping. what about the idea that we heard in that report - actually vaping. what about the idea that we heard in that report that i that we heard in that report that actually the industry is catching up, that they haven't quite caught up up, that they haven't quite caught up yet with the scale of the increase in numbers but they are doing their bit and then they will catch up? doing their bit and then they will catch u? ,, :, , , doing their bit and then they will catchu? ,,:, , , , , catch up? statistically the industry is not catching _ catch up? statistically the industry is not catching up. _ catch up? statistically the industry is not catching up. you _ catch up? statistically the industry is not catching up. you have i catch up? statistically the industry is not catching up. you have some| is not catching up. you have some small independent companies that have leaned into this issue and unfortunately that is a small part, they are now in supermarkets, petrol stations, barbershop they are now in supermarkets, petrol stations, barber shop sometimes as well. if you look at the amount of collection points compared to the places where they can be sold, there is a huge gap, it is growing. talk of action is easy, acting as the hard part. we have been speaking t