gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 1:00 on wednesday, the 15th of may. a gb news exclusive. >> we reveal how people smugglers have changed tactics as channel crossings surge by 40. are we entering a dangerous new phase of this crisis? >> a commons clash over crime on the day of the government's big anti—knife crime push, sir keir starmer and rishi sunak accused each other of letting dangerous criminals run free, and sex education in schools is set to be banned for under nine year olds, and a total ban on teaching children. >> they can change their to . >> they can change their to. gender critics say these restrictions could put children at risk.

>> now, this, sex education guidance is due to be published tomorrow. but as always happens, it seems to have been leaked almost in its entirety to the press. and there's lots of different rules. so under 19 is complete ban on sex education. they're allowed to talk about under nines. under nines. sorry a complete ban on sex education. apart from talking about nice things like families and, being nice to each other and having respect and all that, what's the most controversial thing, i guessis most controversial thing, i guess is a overall ban on teaching gender ideology, or essentially that you can change your gender? >> yeah, i suppose some critics are saying that this is going to be over interpreted, and that schools are sort of going to tear books out of libraries and not not be able to say that transgender people exist, because some schools back in the days of section 28, when you weren't allowed to teach that gay people existed or you weren't allowed to teach lgbt issues , schools over interpreted

issues, schools over interpreted that so they wouldn't run foul of the law. and you had sort of broad censorship that, i suppose, is a risk of some of that, of some of that legislation. yeah. >> i suppose it could be, but i think it's, i think it's gone the other way. has it. not in schools. i mean, children are being taught all sorts of things that, you know, sex might be that, you know, sex might be that gender is more important than your biological sex and issues of safeguarding and all of this stuff. i'm interested to know what you at home think. do you think sex education should be completely banned? do you think there should be absolutely no talk of transgenderism or gender ideology, or being able to change your gender in schools? we're going to be having that debate a little later on in the show, because we've got two very different views on this, some concern that it could, leave children at risk if they don't understand various things about sex education and sex and relationships. but we'll get stuck into that. so get your views in gbnews.com/yoursay should we get the headlines ?

should we get the headlines? >> very good afternoon to you. it's 1:02. >> very good afternoon to you. it's1:02. i'm aaron >> very good afternoon to you. it's 1:02. i'm aaron armstrong. it's1:02. i'm aaron armstrong. sir keir starmer used all six questions at today's pmqs to grill rishi sunak about prisons and the early release of prisoners . the labour leader prisoners. the labour leader referenced a recent report which says high risk prisoners are being released up to 70 days early at short notice , without early at short notice, without sufficient planning coming just days after mr sunak suggested labour couldn't be trusted with national security , sir keir said national security, sir keir said the prison system is in chaos and accused the government of failing to provide any detail on inmates due for early release. >> the early release of stalkers , domestic abusers and those considered a risk to children sound like the work of someone who is making the country more secure. >> mr speaker, as i've said, as i've said , no one should be put i've said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the public. and let me be crystal clear, it does not apply to me. absolutely. it does not apply to anyone serving a

life sentence. anyone convicted of a serious violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence and crucially, in contrast to the system that labour had put in place, mr speaker , governors and the speaker, governors and the pfison speaker, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on the scheme who shouldn't be well i >> -- >> the government's also suggested police could make more use of existing stop and search powers as part of new measures to tackle knife crime . the to tackle knife crime. the searches were curbed a decade ago by the then home secretary, theresa may, after it was found black and other ethnic minority people were being disproportionately targeted . disproportionately targeted. £55 million will be invested into developing new technology , into developing new technology, which could help police detect suspects carrying knives by scanning them from a distance. new proposals could see schools in england banned from teaching students about gender identity . students about gender identity. it would also see all sex education halted for children under the age of nine. the prime minister ordered a review into relationships, sex and health

education last year over concerns some kids were being exposed to inappropriate content. policing minister chris philp says politically contentious issues have no place in the classroom. well, i think the report is due to come out very shortly . very shortly. >> i'm sure that the education secretary will then move to make the changes quickly and look as a parent as well . i don't want a parent as well. i don't want my children to be honest, to be exposed to inappropriate content at a pretty young age. and i don't, nor do i want politically contested ideas like the trans issues being taught as if they're facts. i think, you know, childhood is a really like special time, and i don't think we need to introduce some of these ideas too early. >> the mother of barnaby webber, who was stabbed and killed in nottingham last year, has told gb news she feels the killer's sentence was the result of a flawed, weak police investigation. barnaby webber, grace o'malley kumar and ian coates were killed last june by valdo calocane . the 32 year old,

valdo calocane. the 32 year old, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia , was given an schizophrenia, was given an indefinite hospital order. emma webber told us the case revealed weaknesses in the legal system. >> we were not expecting anything other than the outcome yesterday . i think we've yesterday. i think we've hopefully made it very clear that all three families united, do not accept, the plea of diminished responsibility . so diminished responsibility. so therefore, manslaughter, alongside the attempted murder charges . and we feel it's the charges. and we feel it's the result of a very, very flawed and failed police investigation and failed police investigation and a weak, cps prosecution from the east midlands and an utter overreliance upon doctors reports gb news can reveal the number of people crossing the channel has increased by 40% this year after an apparent switch in people smuggling tactics, sources say. >> criminal gangs are now pushing out fewer boats at any one time, but more often in a bid to avoid french beach patrols. it's resulted in almost a fortnight of continued low

level migrant activity when boats were launched from the french coast each day over the past 12 days, the biggest single day of arrivals was the 4th of may, when five small boats brought 244 people to british waters . finally, if you've ever waters. finally, if you've ever been stuck on hold and who hasn't ? how about waiting 800 hasn't? how about waiting 800 years? that's how long people in britain spent waiting to talk to the taxman. last year , a damning the taxman. last year, a damning report from the government's spending watchdog has found . spending watchdog has found. taxpayers were on hold to hmrc for around 7,000,000 hours in that tax year, which is more than double since before the pandemic, the report says. advisors are answering fewer calls and those who do manage to get through spend longer on the phone amid what's been described as a declining spiral of customer service . more on all of customer service. more on all of our stories on gb news alerts. you can scan the qr code on your screen or go to the website for more details. now back to tom and . emily.

and. emily. >> well, it's 107 and there's >> well, it's107 and there's been quite the clash in the commons this lunchtime over who's tougher on crime. rishi sunak says labour let out dangerous criminals early keir starmer says sunak is doing exactly the same with domestic abusers as well. >> this comes on the day that the government attempts to crack down on knife crime. so who's right to dissect it all? joining us from downing street is our political correspondent , political correspondent, katherine forster. catherine, it's all crime and justice today. who do you think came out on top ? well, i think actually on top? well, i think actually they were both very spirited and i think they both had their good moments. >> now keir starmer really went to town on all this lanyard business and said, you know, i know that the prime minister has done seven relaunches and he's busy with that gravest of threats , lanyards. but rishi threats, lanyards. but rishi sunak hit back on all starmer's

points very, very forcefully. let's take a look first at what starmer had to say about prisons. >> does the prime minister think that his decision to let prisoners out 70 days early makes our country more secure? yeah >> now let's see what the prime minister came back with it. >> their scheme. let out thousands upon thousands of violent offenders onto our streets and even to terrorists . streets and even to terrorists. thankfully, we've toughened up sentencing against those criminals with new legislation. but he voted against it. mr speaker , now, starmer used all speaker, now, starmer used all of his questions on prisons, but rishi sunak was very keen to divert off that topic onto defence. >> their 2.5 that they've pledged by 2030 onto the economy, which, according to an economist from the ons, is going gangbusters, etc. etc. but on

prisons specifically , he did say prisons specifically, he did say that no one deemed a threat would be released and that there were very strict kerbs in place. now in the lobby briefing afterwards , they gave us afterwards, they gave us a little bit more detail. they said it was only going to be people who were not deemed a threat to the public, that they would be electronically tagged, that if there was any breach of their conditions , they'd be their conditions, they'd be taken back in and said that this was nothing really unusual. they denied that the prisons were completely full, though clearly they must be pretty full for this to be happening. but their bafic this to be happening. but their basic message was, oh, this is nothing to be alarmed about and there's nothing to see here. they were also very, very keen to point out what happened under the last labour government when, according to them, they said that 81,000 prisoners were released early, including, they say, 16,000 violent offenders.

they say there was no power of veto, less supervision , no veto, less supervision, no tagging and that this scheme was eligible to prisoners no matter what they had done. of course, when we asked for the figures in terms of the numbers being released now, they said they didn't have those figures, but the ministry of justice would be releasing them in due course. so both parties want to be seen as the party that will keep you safe. but i think questions to answer certainly from the conservatives but also labour on their past record. >> yeah quite difficult for rishi sunak to claim that absolutely no dangerous criminals are being let out of prison early because it was only yesterday that the prison watchdog said exactly the reverse, that, despite prison staff objections , there were staff objections, there were people being let out, including dangerous stalkers , is so hard dangerous stalkers, is so hard to know. what the truth is, is

here on this one. but what about the knife crime push that the government is talking about today ? today? >> yes. so the government have announced another £4 million to tackle knife crime. they're going to be using technology . going to be using technology. they have plans for these knife detection wands that ultimately police can use to scan somebody as they're walking along the street and tell whether they have a knife or not. also, things like facial recognition that they've trialled in places like croydon that they're saying very effective . if there's very effective. if there's somebody that they're looking for that they can they can get them easily, that innocent people's details will be wiped straight away. but the policing minister, chris philp, wrote in the telegraph today about the importance of stop and search because knife crime is almost at record levels and in london it is at record levels and the amount of stop and search is

basically only one quarter of what it was going back to about 2010, 2011, when theresa may said use it cautiously. the government has now said it's being underused, the police have the powers and should use them because people are dying on our streets . streets. >> well, katherine forster live from downing street. thank you very much for all of that. now on that knife crime issue, these stops and searches back in february 2014, 20 year old dwayne simpson was stabbed to death as he tried to protect his friend in what was called a senseless killing. >> and for the last ten years, his mother , pastor lorraine his mother, pastor lorraine jones, has been a fighting force in her community, working to keep young people away from knife crime . she joins us now. knife crime. she joins us now. thank you so much for joining us, lorraine. really appreciate your time, considering everything that's happened . and, everything that's happened. and, in the last ten years, tell us a little bit about your reaction to the various changes in government policy, particularly

with relation to stop and search. the government clearly want the police to be doing more of it. what's your perspective ? of it. what's your perspective? >> well, in the community, we do need it. >> what we have been, voicing out is the way in which the stop and search is being carried out. >> that is how how it's been encountered, how they're doing it. we haven't got the resources, and we're not in the position to be stopping anyone and taking taken away any knives. that is the job of the police. the truth of the matter is, every single day there is a stabbing. we're only hearing about the fatalities , but there about the fatalities, but there are a lot of stabbings going on where people have survived. it is a state of emergency and parent, grandparents and young people are fearing for their life. >> now, you've been in this field for ten years now. what's your sense of how things have

changed, how attitudes might have changed one way or the other? is it or is it simply not changing? what's it like out there on the ground? >> i work with the police, as the iag, chair for lambeth police, and i also attend a number of meetings at scotland yard. i can see that there has been a change. i can't echo enough.the been a change. i can't echo enough. the deputy, commissioner eddie adelakun. he's brought about two initiatives which the majority of the community that were involved with bought into that, that was a precise stop and search, focusing on hot spots where these incidents are happening so that the police are not just stopping anyone everywhere . they're precise in everywhere. they're precise in their stop and search. the other one, the other one is the stop and search charter. now, that involves a number of young people, other community leaders , people, other community leaders, stakeholders, where we spoke about the issues which young

people are experiencing through the stop and search through that charter, it was identified the quality of the encounter, improved supervision , improved improved supervision, improved training for the officers, improved complaints and handling better use of technology. there's a lot of work gone into that, so if the police can really support those initiatives, which we've had a part in, to improve the type of stop and search that's going to be happening, it will work. if it's going to just be the traditional way. it's been done, especially with the black community. a lot of our young boys have experienced bad stop and search. my son in particular, i must say, and it's important for me to say this. >> oh, i think we might have lost your audio. well pastor lorraine jones, we're going to try and get your audio back . let's. >> awful timing. >> awful timing. >> let's try and see if we can

re—establish that because that's a very, very important distinction to make actually that not all stop and search is created equal. some of it's slapdash, haphazard, not intelligence led, but focusing intelligence led, but focusing in hot spots in areas where gangs operate is potentially something much more targeted and much better use of resources. and perhaps more useful to pick up some of those issues . up some of those issues. >> yeah, it's interesting to hear to hear what lorraine was going to say about this issue, because of course, there are a lot of young black men in particular, who complain that they're stopped and searched for no other reason than for the colour of their skin, and i was wondering what lorraine had to say. there in particular about, you know, how to square that. how to square that, but we shall move on for now , because schools move on for now, because schools in england will be banned from teaching sex education to children under nine years old. this is a new government guidance expected to be published tomorrow. >> well, the education secretary, gillian keegan, will also announce that once sex education starts, pupils must be taught about the reality of

biological sex. >> well, joining us now is fiona mckenna, director of campaigns at sex matters. thank you very much indeed forjoining us, fiona , for your perspective on fiona, for your perspective on all this. is this a positive move ? move? >> yes, this is very welcome. teachers have been calling out for some time for clarity about what they should be teaching, when instead what we've had is a kind of ideological wild west where all kinds of external groups can come in and teach whatever they think is appropriate. and then, to add inqu appropriate. and then, to add insult to injury, parents have often not been able to see the materials that are being used to teach their children because they're told it's commercially sensitive . so what's really good sensitive. so what's really good about this? this proposal is that the parents will have a right to see the materials that their children are going to see, and that schools will will stop teaching gender identity as a fact. you know, there's been a huge increase in children expressing confusion about what sex they are , so it's very

sex they are, so it's very welcome to see that that will at least will not be exacerbated by what they're being told in school . school. >> i think everyone can see that, that parents being able to see what their children's children are being taught is clearly a step forward. it's amazing that this hasn't happened and until this point. but on the issue of this, this ban on discussion of gender issues, is there a risk that, especially for older children, people even at the age of 16, 17, even 18, in some cases , that 17, even 18, in some cases, that the very top end of schools, is it really right to ban discussion over these areas? >> i haven't seen the guidance, but i don't think that they're proposing to ban discussion. what i think is important is that they're proposing to teach the facts about human bodies and sex and all the things that children need to know to stay safe and look after themselves and to have good relationships. and as they get older, there

are, of course, more things to be discussed. but you know, teaching little children that you can't know what sex you are is clearly not true. and it's not responsible. and it's really good to see an end to that . good to see an end to that. >> do you think that children should be taught that trans people exist? so, for example, a parent, a parent at the school could be transgender and could present as a different gender from the one that they were born in, or biologically are , do you in, or biologically are, do you think that children should be taught that or that should just be something that they learn from their parents or throughout life, or from meeting other people? al how do you see it working in practice? >> well, i think we have to separate out sex education from relationships . education and relationships. education and those in turn are somewhat different from teaching children in school to be tolerant, to be inclusive, to be respectful of difference. and i think part of the problem here is they've all been rolled into one. and so children have ended up being taught that almost that they can choose an identity, even while

they're still not clear, that there is male and female and where babies come from. i mean , where babies come from. i mean, fiona, it is it is quite incredible. >> there's been quite a lot of investigative reporting into what's happening at schools and essentially these outside bodies, the these outside organisations and charities are sort of providing teachers with materials that parents have never seen. they don't know of. parents are then finding out what their children are being taught. what their children are being taught . it's what their children are being taught. it's going around facebook, twitter, social media, etc. and parents are absolutely shocked. i mean, what's to say that that won't continue ? that that won't continue? >> yes. well, this is supposed to be statutory guidance. so that should mean that it will stop. but there have been legal challenges by parents to try and get to see what their parents are being taught. and as you say, that's a bizarre state of affairs. and groups like transgender trend have been pushing for years to say it's irresponsible to teach children that you can choose your sex, or that you can choose your sex, or that you can choose your sex, or that you can't know what sex anyone else is. and so, you know

, we'll we expect that this is the kind of clear guidance that teachers really mostly want . teachers really mostly want. well, fiona mckenna, thank you so much forjoining us. and talking through those issues. really significant changes that of course, not yet published. we've just got reporting , but it we've just got reporting, but it seems that they've been pretty substantially briefed to the papers this morning. >> yeah, it seems there's already been a huge backlash mish on all of this, people claiming that this is just the government engaging in another culture war. this is just using children's education as a political football and all of this. but i'm not sure it is about that . i think there have about that. i think there have been there have been growing concerns in schools about what children are being taught, whether parents have enough oversight, whether they're being told at an extremely young age that they can change their gender just because they want to. and i think it's right that the government thinks about this, does a proper consultation and then provide schools with

guidance. it's better for teachers, it's better for parents, and it's better for children. but will the schools follow? >> well, it's right that parents will be able to see what their children are being taught. i think that's got to be the most, forward thinking, extraordinary thing that it hasn't actually happened. >> although you might have mobs outside schools saying, you know, don't teach that gay people exist. >> you already have that in parts of birmingham. exactly but but i think it is slightly odd that children under the age of 13 will not be able to be taught about sex, but they will have to be taught about revenge porn and sending nude pictures and, sexual harassment. they will have to be taught about nude pictures, revenge porn and sexual harassment , but not about sexual harassment, but not about sex. i mean, you can see how no conversations about sex that is abouti conversations about sex that is about i don't want to get too into this. >> i mean, it's a it's the afternoon, but it's lunchtime. but that's more about, you know, explicit like where, where prophylactics. well, yes. >> well i mean that's useful, useful advice that perhaps. >> no. do you welcome this new guidance from what you've seen and what you've heard?

gbnews.com/yoursay. we'll get the other side of the debate as well a little later on. >> well, next, the nhs has warned that the hour, on average ten pharmacies are closing every week in england . why on earth is week in england. why on earth is this happening? we're heading straight to leeds to speak to a pharmacist about this. after this very short

break. >> well. good afternoon. britain. it's 127 now. the nhs is warning that an average ten pharmacies are closing every single week in england. yes. >> serious news. this. it comes as a blow to the prime minister, rishi sunak, who only months ago announced his flagship pharmacy first scheme, which allows pharmacists to treat common illnesses in the place of doctors . doctors. >> so why on earth are they all closing at such a rate? gb news reporter sophie reaper joins us

now. sophie, i understand you're in leeds. you're in a pharmacy. tell us why are so many pharmacies closing ? pharmacies closing? >> i am indeed at a pharmacy in leeds. >> i am indeed at a pharmacy in leeds . good afternoon to you leeds. good afternoon to you both. these are incredibly shocking figures that we have seen this morning, 177 pharmacies closing this year. so far alone. incredibly unbelievable figures joining me now is kostas iliadis who is the manager at this pharmacy kostas. unbelievable. what can you tell us about it , unbelievable. what can you tell us about it, unfortunately i was part of the i was watching the figures as well. >> and the problem we have is that pharmacies are closing down at a rate we weren't expecting a difficult times, especially after covid. the situation is bad for all businesses, not just for pharmacies, but a lot of our colleagues are losing our jobs colleagues are losing ourjobs and a lot of pharmacies are closing down. and the problem is they're not being replaced by other pharmacies. so the situation is bad . the workforce situation is bad. the workforce is struggling. we are struggling because we have to cope. when a

pharmacy closes down, we have to take on the workload and unfortunately we're not in a position to take on the workload because it will require more resources and the funding isn't there. so it's really challenging times . it's really challenging times. it's really challenging times. it's really challenging times. it's really challenging times for all of us. we're trying to do our best with the resources we have. but the problem is the patients are suffering. my team is suffering, our people in pharmacy is suffering and we just have to find ways to deliver the same with less , which is really, with less, which is really, really challenging at the moment. >> the same with less is an incredibly scary statement going forward. what needs to happen to try and rectify this issue that's affecting the nation ? that's affecting the nation? >> so i was part of a webinar recently from the pwc committee, which is the local community pharmacy committee, and there's other people that negotiate on our behalf with the government for the next five year contract. and unfortunately, it was a bad news. again, it wasn't anything positive coming out of the meeting where they were saying to us that the government unfortunately does not want to

listen to what they're putting through to them. so we have to do more with less. the funding isn't there . they're trying to isn't there. they're trying to secure more funding, but it doesn't look that it's going to get any better any time soon. and any time soon is five years. that's a five year contract coming out. and they were mentioning it's the same situation with the gps. it's the same situation with the dentists as well. the fellow healthcare professionals and the pot is the same for all of us. and if the dentists are losing, we're getting if we are losing, they're getting. that's the situation. and it's bad because if i'm supposed to continue delivering the same services i was before and i have to do it with less dispensers or less resources or no free deliveries anymore , it's really challenging anymore, it's really challenging because every single bag has to because every single bag has to be right. we have to be 100, 100% accurate of what we do. there is no not even no point 1% to fail there. so as you can imagine , that's challenging. imagine, that's challenging. >> you mentioned the government there. of course, rishi sunak has introduced his pharmacy first scheme just this year. in the last few months alone ,

the last few months alone, that's supposed to be taking pressure off other nhs services. what are your thoughts on that though? if we've got ten pharmacies closing every single week, do you feel that you can still deliver on pharmacy first? >> so pharmacy first was basically a way where they're the funding they took away from us years ago. they reintroduced it by saying that now, in order to get the same funding back that you were getting for dispensing prescriptions, you're going to have to get it by doing services . but the problem going to have to get it by doing services. but the problem is the funding is not enough. we are helping the doctors. we definitely are. we're taking some appointments often , some some appointments often, some really good figures there, but they've put some gateway criteria and some minimum requirements to reach the payments that are not achievable. and it doesn't look like many of my colleagues will be able to hit what they call the gateway criteria to secure the gateway criteria to secure the funding. there was no time we got given about a month to do the training, and that's we're talking about some pretty clinically demanding services. so there wasn't any time the funding and the service

specification was given to us just before christmas , flu just before christmas, flu season, covid season. and it feels like it feels like nobody is listening. if i'm to be honest, it feels like we're just talking to people that actually don't want to listen. >> thank you so much for your time this afternoon, kostas. there we go. it feels like people aren't listening to our pharmacies, and if action isn't taken, it could be even more closures come the end of the year. yeah >> yes. really interesting to get that insight from a pharmacist there in leeds. thank you sophie reaper really great to speak to you. worrying times for that industry and for patients. i wonder at home if you've if your local pharmacy has closed down. i mean if ten in england every week are closing, perhaps you're being affected . let us know if that is affected. let us know if that is something that you've noticed. yeah. >> and i wonder if what the prime minister makes of it famously, of course, the son of a pharmacist. oh, yes. but still to come, gb news can reveal how people smugglers are using new tactics to get people to cross the channel and enter the uk illegally. what are those new tactics? we'll reveal all after a half past the hour? news

bulletin . bulletin. >> it is 132. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom . armstrong in the gb newsroom. rishi sunak and sir keir starmer sparred over crime and national security at prime minister's questions. earlier, the labour leader repeatedly asked the pm about conservative plans to release some high risk inmates up to 70 days early because of overcrowding in a prison system he described as in chaos or coming days after rishi sunak suggested labour can't be trusted with national security , trusted with national security, sir keir accused the government of failing to provide any detail about which inmates might be released early . released early. >> just the early release of stalkers, domestic abusers and those considered a risk to children sound like the work of someone who is making the country more secure. here >> mr speaker, as i've said, as i've said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the public. >> and let me be crystal clear,

it does not apply. >> it absolutely does not apply to anyone serving a life sentence. anyone convicted of a serious violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism , anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence and crucially , in contrast to the crucially, in contrast to the system that labour had put in place , mr speaker, governors and place, mr speaker, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on the scheme who shouldn't be. >> released could make more use of existing stop and search powers as part of new measures to tackle knife crime. official figures show. it rose by 7% in the year to december 2023. £35 million will be invested into developing new technology , which developing new technology, which could help police detect suspects carrying knives by scanning them from a distance. new proposals could see schools in england banned from teaching students about gender identity . students about gender identity. it would also see all sex education halted for children under the age of nine. the prime minister ordered a review into relationships, sex and health

education last year over concerns some kids were being exposed to inappropriate content . you can get more on all of our stories by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash. >> cheers! >> cheers! >> britannia wine club proudly sponsors the gb news financial report and a quick look at the markets today. >> the pound buys you $1.2615 ,1.1648. the price of gold £1,872.62 per ounce. the ftse 100 is currently at 8440 points. >> cheers britannia wine club proudly sponsors the gb news financial report

good afternoon. britain. it's 1:38 now. time for a gb news exclusive. our homeland security edhoh exclusive. our homeland security editor, mark white, can reveal that channel migrant crossings have increased by 40% this year. this as criminal gangs launch fewer boats, but more frequently in a surprising new tactic. >> yes, sources have said that gangs are pushing fewer boats more often to avoid french beach patrols, which has resulted in a fortnight of low level migrant activity, with boats launching from the french coast. >> meanwhile, today it's been reported that britain has taken 50 migrants from ireland just months before rishi sunak said he refused to accept any following this row we've been having with dublin. but joining us now is mark white, our home and security editor, and mark, just explain for us what this precisely means, this change of tactics , fewer boats, more tactics, fewer boats, more regularly. >> well , what regularly. >> well, what we're used to with the channel people smugglers is

really big record crossings on the flat , calm days. the flat, calm days. >> they had a tactic and probably still do have that tactic as well of pushing out very large numbers of boats. about a dozen at least from the beaches of northern france . beaches of northern france. really, just to overwhelm the police security patrols on the beaches there, to and ensure that the majority of those boats make it into the water with a view to then trying to reach the uk. what we've observed now , uk. what we've observed now, really over the past 12 days since the 4th of may, has been fewer numbers. and we're talking really one, two, three boats maximum. but every day since the 4th of may. and that all adds up .even 4th of may. and that all adds up . even though we're only talking 100 or less each through. it's still 1250 migrants that have

crossed the english channel in that period of 12 days. and that all adds up to showing that the total so far this year is now at 9550, which is 40% higher than where we were at this point last yeah where we were at this point last year. now, the reason that percentage figure is , is percentage figure is, is significant is because, remember, last year the government was trumpeting just how well they were doing in managing the small boats crisis and telling us that they had reduced small boat crossings , reduced small boat crossings, the number of migrants crossing by 36% over last year. well, this 40% increase just this year now completely reverses and then some. all the good work that the government says was down to their stop the boats policy. >> yes, mark, they do continue to trot out that line that they've had this reduction . but they've had this reduction. but they've had this reduction. but the facts fly in the face of that, mark so this new tactic,

it seems a little more advanced. is that fair to say? yeah, it seems to be a bit more nuanced, the sources we've been speaking to are suggesting that what they're doing here is trying to throw off the authorities by launching on days that they normally wouldn't launch on because the weather conditions are just a bit too choppy in the channel but they seem to still be pushing out boats in these days that the authorities are not expecting boats to launch. and by doing that, and only 2 or 3 at a time, spread out over a very wide area, it seems to thus far at least be quite a successful tactic . as always, successful tactic. as always, with these people smuggling tactics, they evolve and the authorities will catch up and that will force the people smugglers to change tactics and evolve. once again. but for the moment, what we're seeing is

this tactic of pushing out much fewer numbers of boats over a much more protracted period of time. so much more frequently, but smaller numbers of boats, which, as i say over a period of time , still adds up to giving us time, still adds up to giving us a very significant increase on last year, which all in and of itself increased the danger, increases the risk that people will get hit by a big wave in choppy water. >> frankly , will drown, making >> frankly, will drown, making this treacherous journey . this treacherous journey. >> yeah, absolutely. you put your finger right on the mark there, tom. this is what the sources we've been speaking to have told us that there's some real concern now , remember, real concern now, remember, we've already had 14 lives lost in the english channel in a number of separate incidents involving migrant boats since the beginning of this year. but the beginning of this year. but the real concern is now that the tactic appears to involve trying to push out on days when they

feel that the authorities won't be expecting launches. the upshot of that is these days are much more dangerous to try and cross, and then the potential for a boat . these flimsy boats for a boat. these flimsy boats that are overcrowded, the potential for them to run into trouble is, of course , that much trouble is, of course, that much more acute and there's been some cunous more acute and there's been some curious changes in the makeup of who's crossing the channel in these boats, a few weeks ago , it these boats, a few weeks ago, it appeared as though the vietnamese were a huge proportion , perhaps even the top proportion, perhaps even the top proportion, perhaps even the top proportion of people. do we have any update of the makeup of where these people are coming from? >> yeah, they are still in that, top percentage in terms of those on the boats, the nationalities on the boats, the nationalities on the boats, it's vietnamese. and indeed the government is using that as their the reason , using that as their the reason, they say, for the increase in small boat arrivals this year. the migrants arrivals is because

the people smugglers, according to the government, have tapped in to the vietnamese market in quite a significant way, encouraging them to come across. there is some truth to that, i think, but clearly the numbers are just up very significantly anyway. regardless of the vietnamese proportion of that, there's another interesting point in this. i think that's worth exploring , which is the worth exploring, which is the other nationalities represented are from countries like iran and syria and afghanistan. the big percentage of those crossing are from those countries. now you have the labour, party and the government, if it does get elected, saying that they're going to scrap rwanda. but of course, a big part of rwanda is offering the british government that third country option to send people to, that they can't send people to, that they can't send back to the likes of afghanistan , syria and iraq. afghanistan, syria and iraq.

>> yes, of course, there will be no returns . agreement with those no returns. agreement with those countries has to be a third party agreement, at least under this plan. quite extraordinary how the authorities are just so many steps behind these new tactics seem to take them by surprise. but mark, really great to speak to you. thanks for that exclusive gb news homeland security editor, of course, mark white. >> really extraordinary that vietnam is that top country. of course, it's a country with many problems in and of itself, but it's a member of the cptpp. it's got lots of foreign direct investment, particularly from the americans. now as a sort of counterweight to china in the region. it's a growing and developing country . it's not developing country. it's not a country that's torn by war or anything . anything. >> well, its criminality isn't it? probably motivated by that. but still to come, a leading food bank charity announces a record number of parcels delivered to people over the last year. we're going to head to stoke to find out what is driving the surge in this need you're watching. good afternoon britain, we're on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's coming up to 10 to 2 now. food bank charity. the trussell trust announces a record number of parcels delivered to people in the last year. >> yes, calling. they're calling on political parties to back a more supportive social security system. >> the charity reported a shocking 3,121,404 parcels. very specific numbers , very important specific numbers, very important by the end of march 2023, delivered . a third of these were delivered. a third of these were for children. >> so what's driving this? let's find out. joining us now from a food bank in stoke is gb news. reporterjack food bank in stoke is gb news. reporter jack carson. what's the situation there ? situation there? >> yeah. good afternoon to you both. i mean, it's a 94% increase on the last five years increase on the last five years in terms of the amount of emergency food parcels delivered. so to get that perspective of really what's

happening on the front line, we're joined with jane baker from the newcastle staffs food bank here. i mean, just kind of tell us, you know, in reaction to those figures, you know, how kind of concerning is it that these, these amount of food parcels are having to be delivered? you know, are increasing year on year? >> it's really sad that the numbers are still going up. it's not right that people are having to rely on charity for putting food on the table. >> i mean, what are you seeing? you know, day to day, you know, you're here on the front line. this is one of your warehouses where you stock a lot of the a lot of the food that then goes out to your food bank centres. i mean, what are you seeing now day to day? and over the past yeah day to day? and over the past year, over the past year, we've given out over 9600 food parcels, which is a 9% increase for us, 113% increase on parcels, which is a 9% increase i 0 l l for us 113°/ |ncrease on five for us, 113% increase on five years ago. >> so we've seen our need more than double, and we're seeing people coming to us for the first time, not knowing how they've got them to this situation often. >> i mean, why do you think that is? i mean, obviously we know we've had the pandemic. we know we've had the pandemic. we know we've had the pandemic. we know we've had cost of living over the last year. i mean, what may be other reasons that people are telling you and what kinds of

people are you seeing now? is it different to maybe what you've seen before? >> we're seeing a lot more people that are in work now, we've 58% of our referrals are due to the rising cost of essentials . so that's had a big essentials. so that's had a big impact on our numbers , but also impact on our numbers, but also people with priority debts, people with priority debts, people with priority debts, people with ongoing physical or mental health conditions, anyone , an or anyone everyone can find themselves in need of support from the food bank. we don't have a particular group of people that are always at our d00h people that are always at our door. it can be anyone. >> i mean, we're seeing loads of different types of food around here as well. you know, we've got everything from tins of things like baked beans, you know, to things like nappies behind us as well. so it's a range of support. i mean, what usually kind of goes into a food parcel, we provide three meals a day for three days and that's bafic day for three days and that's basic food cereal tins of fruit, tins of meat, nothing extravagant. >> milk, juice, that kind of thing. we do provide toiletries as well because people can't afford that. and as you say, nappies and things to support families. i mean , how for you families. i mean, how for you should, you know, should the system work? >> because obviously, you know, it's meant to be a safety net,

but it's obviously not catching everyone. people are falling through having to use places like yourselves. i mean, what kind of system should it be, in your opinion , when people come your opinion, when people come to us because they've not got enough money, that's the bottom line. >> and we've seen over the past with the cost of living payments, our knee goes down when that payment comes in. but that's only a short term fix. we need a long term solution and part of that we're calling for is an essentials guarantee. so that the rate of universal credit matches the cost of those bafic credit matches the cost of those basic essentials , which it basic essentials, which it doesn't at the moment. >> i mean, the government say that they've managed to keep more than a million people out of poverty over the last year. you know, they are, you know, cutting things like national insurance . they are increasing insurance. they are increasing things like state pensions and benefits, and they're back to work. you know, they're trying to get people into work. i mean, is that the right kind of system? what are you seeing on the ground? you know, with the government's policy at the moment, the reality on the ground is that people don't have enough money to buy these things , whether that's because their rate of pay isn't high enough in their job, whether it's because they don't get enough from

benefits , we know what the benefits, we know what the answer is, long term, there needs to be a sort of structural change. that means that people have got enough money for the essentials. >> all right, jane, thank you very much for giving that reaction to those trussell trust figures today. jack carson, thank you very much for bringing us that live from stoke. >> some viewers writing in to suggest that maybe not everyone who uses a food bank absolutely needs to. but very, very interesting stuff. yeah. >> what's your experience? do people take advantage of food banks, or do you imagine ? i banks, or do you imagine? i mean, they're clearly necessary. >> much more to come though next hour, >> much more to come though next hour , including that commons hour, including that commons clash over crime. don't go anywhere. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb solar sponsors of weather on. gb news afternoon. >> welcome to your latest weather update from the met office here on gb news. some sunny spells around tomorrow,

but a greater chance of some heavy downpours across the south again. northern scotland may well see the highest temperatures. low pressure is dominating down to the southwest , this weather front providing a band of thicker cloud and some rain and drizzle over northern england. southern scotland that'il peter out , england. southern scotland that'il peter out, as will england. southern scotland that'il peter out , as will the that'il peter out, as will the heavy showers we've got scattered across parts of the midlands through the early evening. so many of us will have a dry night , evening. so many of us will have a dry night, quite murky and misty on the east coast and in the south. some thicker fog patches could form through the early hours as well, as temperatures dropped to 11 to 12 celsius. a little cooler in northern scotland, with some clearer skies here onto thursday, it is a bit of a messy one. murky again on some eastern coasts, much of the south starting dry , but the likelihood starting dry, but the likelihood of some showery rain pushing into parts of eastern england. early doors any early morning mist and fog in the south should be clearing away by rush hour. generally dry and bright for wales and northern ireland. some fine weather again across much of scotland, although southern scotland may well start a little

dull and damp and we will again have this breeze coming in from the east. that's going to make for some misty conditions again. at times on some of those eastern coast could be a little bit of heart around. but again, for northwest scotland we should see plenty of sunny spells elsewhere. quite a lot of cloud for northern england and some showery rain. working once more, initially into lincolnshire and east anglia , but then spreading east anglia, but then spreading across parts of the midlands and later towards wales. some heavy showers, likely across south wales and southern england , come wales and southern england, come the afternoon. in the brighter spells here, 20 degrees 2122 in western scotland, maybe a little higher along the moray firth, but cooler again on those north sea coasts, and cooler where we've got this rainy zone staying pretty wet across northwest england and north wales into the evening. the outlook is for more sunshine and showers , but the showers fading showers, but the showers fading through the weekend, many of us looking dry and fine for sunday. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:00 on wednesday, the 15th of may. >> a clash over uk law and order between rishi sunak and keir starmer. plays out in the commons, with both accusing each other of being soft on dangerous criminals. it comes on the day, of course, that the government reveals its big push on knife crime, sex education in schools is set to be banned for under nine year olds, and a total ban on teaching children they can change their gender well . change their gender well. >> critics say these restrictions could put our children at risk. >> we'll have the debate and an update on that shocking ambush on a prison van in france, in which two guards were shot dead. a huge manhunt continues to catch the killers and the escaped inmate.

>> and of course, this show is nothing without your views. gbnews.com/yoursay is how to get involved. let's take a look at some of those views that have been sent in over the last hour. livy says that our schools used to be a place of learning. now we have teachers changing nappies because parents can't be bothered to train them. they'll have multi—language children and they'll have children with special needs all in the same class. how can they be expected to teach like this? yeah, that is true. >> actually . i mean, how many >> actually. i mean, how many reports have we seen of children being sent to school unable to use the toilet, yes . being sent to school unable to use the toilet, yes. isabel being sent to school unable to use the toilet, yes . isabel says use the toilet, yes. isabel says inever use the toilet, yes. isabel says i never had any sex education at school and very pleased not to have had any. i think it's appalling that we have allowed sex education for such young children in our schools. children should be allowed to grow up naturally, nurtured properly and not be subjected to such adult subjects. i have a lot of sympathy with that view , lot of sympathy with that view, but graham says a child should experience the love and wonders

of childhood. >> they do not need to know everything they learn when they're ready and they can make their own minds up. yes, i guess one of the problems is, is that if they're not learning about it in the classroom , they may well in the classroom, they may well be learning about it on tiktok. >> which one is worse? yes >> which one is worse? yes >> or indeed. we all know how children talk to one another, not learning the proper way. the respectful way to treat other people. there is a risk that you learn things from the internet, and it creates a much less safe world. >> yeah, well, keep your views coming in gbnews.com/yoursay okay, let's get to the headlines i >> -- >> good afternoon to you. it's 2:02. i'm aaron armstrong. sir keir starmer used all six questions at today's pmqs to grill rishi sunak about overcrowded prisons and the early release of prisoners . the early release of prisoners. the labour leader referenced a recent report which says high risk inmates are being released up to 70 days early at short nofice up to 70 days early at short notice , without sufficient notice, without sufficient planning coming just days after mr sunak suggested labour

couldn't be trusted with national security . sir keir says national security. sir keir says the prison system is in chaos and accused the government of failing to provide details about who might get out early. >> the early release of stalkers , domestic abusers and those considered a risk to children sound like the work of someone who is making the country more secure. >> mr speaker, as i've said, as i've said , no one should be put i've said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the public. and let me be crystal clear, it does not apply. it absolutely does not apply. it absolutely does not apply to anyone serving a life sentence. anyone convicted of a serious, violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence and crucially, in contrast to the system that labour had put in place, mr speaker , governors and place, mr speaker, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on the scheme who shouldn't be. >> the government's also suggested police could make more use of existing stop and search

powers as part of new measures to tackle knife crime . the to tackle knife crime. the searches were curbed a decade ago by then home secretary theresa may, after it was found black and other ethnic minority people were being disproportionately targeted. £3.5 million will be invested into new technology , which could into new technology, which could help police detect suspects carrying knives by scanning them from a distance . new proposals from a distance. new proposals could see schools in england banned from teaching students about gender identity. the government's review would also see all sex education halted for children under the age of nine. policing minister chris philp says politically contentious issues have no place in the classroom. >> well, i think the report is due to come out very shortly . due to come out very shortly. i'm sure that the education secretary will then move to make the changes quickly and look as a parent as well . i don't want a parent as well. i don't want my children to be honest, to be exposed to inappropriate content at a pretty young age, and i don't, nor do i want a

politically contested ideas like the trans issues being taught as if they're facts. i think, you know, childhood is a really like special time. and i don't think we need to introduce some of these ideas too early . these ideas too early. >> well, breaking news, a red nofice >> well, breaking news, a red notice search warrant for an escaped french prisoner has been issued by interpol . the 30 year issued by interpol. the 30 year old mohamed amara, also known as the fly, escaped a prison in northern france, sparking a major manhunt. it's a day after he was broken free from a prison van by gunmen in an attack that killed two prison guards . more killed two prison guards. more food parcels were handed out over the past year than ever before. the trussell trust says it donated more than 3 million emergency packages in the year to the end of march , as the cost to the end of march, as the cost of living puts more households under strain. more than a million of those were for children, and the overall total has almost doubled in just five years. the trust is calling on the government to tackle long term deficiencies in the welfare system. the mother of barnaby webber, who was stabbed and

killed in nottingham last year, has told gb news she feels the killer's sentence was the result of a flawed and weak police investigation. barnaby webber grace o'malley kumar and ian coates were killed last june by valdo calocane. the 32 year old, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was given an indefinite hospital order. emma webber says the case has revealed weaknesses in the legal system. >> we were not expecting anything other than the outcome yesterday. i think we've hopefully made it very clear that all three families united, do not accept, the plea of diminished responsibility. so therefore manslaughter alongside therefore manslaughter alongside the attempted murder charges. and we feel it's the result of a very, very flawed and failed police investigation and a weak, cps prosecution from the east midlands and an utter overreliance upon doctors reports. >> well, gb news can reveal the number of people crossing the

channel has increased by 40. this year after an apparent switch in people smuggling tactics. source say criminal gangs are now pushing out fewer boats at any one time, but more often in a bid to avoid french beach patrols. it's resulted in almost a fortnight of continued activity when boats were launched from the french coast every day over the past 12 days. we'll be back with more news in about 25 minutes time, or you can scan the qr code on your screen to get our news alerts. right now . right now. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:07 now. a clash in the commons this lunchtime over who's tougher on crime. rishi sunak says labour let out dangerous criminals early. keir starmer says sunak is doing the same with domestic abusers . with domestic abusers. >> yes, this comes on the day the government attempts to crack down on knife crime. let's speak to our political correspondent

katherine forster, who is there in downing street . thank you in downing street. thank you very much indeed, catherine. quite the clash in the commons this. >> but first, catherine, i understand behind you in number 10. now, the tory polling guru isaac levido has been meeting with senior tory mps. what's going on? >> yes, that's right, a bit of activity behind me. meeting for conservative mps started at 2:00. so those rolling in now are officially late. and i've just seen steve baker. he was asked if there were any further defections to come. he said he thought it was very unlikely. kit malthouse was asked if everyone was behind the prime minister. he seemed not to hear that question. but basically this is the second session that isaac levido the tory election mastermind, has hosted along with the prime minister and richard holden, the chair of the conservative party it's basically a debrief after those

disastrous, local elections . so disastrous, local elections. so it's going to be an exercise, i am sure, in reassurance and listening and making them feel that there is there is a path, perhaps, to victory or at least not to complete annihilation. and we know that isaac levido has told them again and again and again, that top of the things that they need to be doing is appearing united, something that the conservatives are not terribly very good at. >> there were so many rumours over the last couple of days that there might be yet another defection from the conservatives to the labour party. rishi sunak must be rather relieved that that didn't happen today. >> yes, i think so. and i think he had a bit of a spring in his step as did keir starmer. but immediately before pmqs started and labour were entertaining themselves by giving audible ooh, every time a conservative mp walked in to see which side they would sit on. and then,

when it didn't go over to the labour side. so it was keeping them all entertained. rishi sunak will be relieved, certainly. and i think he had quite a good pmqs today. it was very lively . he wanted to paint very lively. he wanted to paint the picture that britain is safer under the conservatives. he made the big speech the other day , didn't he? he's always day, didn't he? he's always trailing that 2.5% defence spending. but keir starmer made it pretty difficult for him because keir starmer wanted to talk about prisons. he put all of his questions on that following the news, of course, that the prisons are pretty much full and that the government is letting people out early. now the government says those are only people that are nearly the end of their sentence, that are tagged, that are no danger to the public. but there have been reports of people who've been convicted of domestic violence and stalking being released early. so what the prime minister has said is not reassuring to everybody by any means. now the prime minister's

spokespeople after the pmqs were very keen to point out the last labour government's record on this. and they said that under labouh this. and they said that under labour, some 81,000 prisoners had been released early, including 16,000 violent offenders, and that there hadn't been , any restrictions on what been, any restrictions on what type of conviction you'd had to be considered for release, that there'd be no tagging , less there'd be no tagging, less supervision, etc. so both parties trying to say, you're safer with us questions, i think for both of them. on whether that's the case. >> well, katherine forster, thank you very much for joining us there. live from downing street. really appreciate it. it is, of course, all about law and order, crime and all the rest of it. joining us for more on this is ken haynes, the former chair of haringey independent stop and search monitoring group . ken, search monitoring group. ken, thank you so much for making the time for us. crucially, this is a contentious issue. stop and search. most people agree that

when it's done well, it can work well, but there is a huge amount of political controversy around it. >> yes, and what the controversy is around it is just how effective is stop and search in tackling or getting knives and other dangerous weapons off our streets. >> now , as i said, i'm still >> now, as i said, i'm still part of this, haringey independent stop and search monitoring group and one of the executive members. so we actually drilled down on the data each month to see what's going on and what we have seen. we haven't seen much positive movement around the amount of knives that's been found on a stop and search. it's roughly around about 3% if we. yes, 18% are weapons, but we've drilled down what we talk about knives and zombies and things of that nature is only 3% of their stop and search that leads to any , and search that leads to any, positive outcomes around. sorry, ken, when you say 80% of stop

and searches , take get weapons, and searches, take get weapons, but only 3% reveal knives, what are the other weapons ? well, we are the other weapons? well, we can talk about. you could have a brick. you can have bottles, you can have baseball bats. you can have hammers , but you can any. have hammers, but you can any. you can use anything as a weapon. so you pick up a brick, for example, or you use a bottle to hit someone with. that's an offensive weapon . so we've got offensive weapon. so we've got all these kind of things that makes up that 18. but when we drill it down to knives and that we specifically want to knives and guns , we found around about and guns, we found around about 3. my thing is simply this we are doing currently doing some good work at a local level. and what they have allowed us to do is have what we call a deep dive to look a month worth of stop and search figures that what they call the 500 900 forms, that's a stop and search slips to find out what kind of trends, who's doing what, what's working and what ain't working. that's the kind of evidence based stop

and search we want to see. now, the minister to talk about. yes, he wants to see more stop and search on reasonable grounds. that's exactly what the, the, commissioner is doing and promoting and telling his, his young police force to do and they're doing it reasonably well and together in collaboration with grassroots groups like the stop and search community monitoring groups around around london. but my thing is simply this they've got something coming in called facial recognition . i've got serious recognition. i've got serious concerns about safeguards around that, because one of our colleagues got trapped in that , colleagues got trapped in that, one of those, special events that they had, operation. they had, and he was innocent, but yet he got detained for up to 30 minutes and questioned, and grill wanted to take his fingerprints , wants to question fingerprints, wants to question him deeper, even though they realised that he wasn't the man who are looking for it led to other unsavoury interaction. my

thing is always the same. we want to see more professional stop and search. we want to see more positive interactions at the moment i am, i am, mentoring the moment i am, i am, mentoring the victim charles rae, who got stopped six times in five months. that's leading to iopc investigation , where eight investigation, where eight officers are facing possible , officers are facing possible, gross misconduct, charges. so what we want to do again, there is a place for stop and search, but let it be evidence based. let us, the community see it is working and if it isn't, what we can tweak to make it work better. we don't need ministers to give soundbites because there's an election coming up with talking about things that i've been involved for the last 30 odd years that isn't working. we want to change the narrative because we want to. >> yeah, ken, it's easy. it's easier for a minister to come out. i take your point. it's easy for a minister to come out and say, we need more stop and search. we need to, you know,

cut down on knife crime massively. but having the actual on the ground experience of what exactly is going on with this stop and search is obviously very important . i have to ask, very important. i have to ask, you're wearing a, you're wearing a vest for this interview. i can just see street fathers, what is that, ken? >> what is street barbers ? we >> what is street barbers? we are a voluntary organisation made up of just men. we call ourselves street barbers and some of us, yes, have got, experience of actually being involved in, in crime. but what we've done, we've turned our lives around and what we do, we engage with the community, we go into the hotspot areas, we take knives off the mandem along with aaron paul, who i'm mentoring . aaron paul, who i'm mentoring. he's doing some amazing work and i've been doing it for the last ten years, unsung hero, and doing amazing work. but what we doing amazing work. but what we do specifically, we engage with the young people, and if we find a knife on them, we give them the option to either give it up to us or give it up to the police. if you get up to us,

you'll get a strong talking to. we will work with you to see what your issues are and to turn, try to turn your life around. but if you don't , we around. but if you don't, we you.then around. but if you don't, we you. then you have to give up to the police. but to walk away with that knife is not an option that we give to them . they that we give to them. they respect us because we're one of the mandem. we're from the community and we're out to safeguard everyone . when we go safeguard everyone. when we go into these hotspot areas, you find people saying, wow , you find people saying, wow, you know what? when you're around, we don't have to look over our shoulders. we're not scared we're there. but we know that you're going to step in and safeguard us. that's the sort of work that we need to continue and to collaborate . we need to have. >> ken, really appreciate your time. ken haynes , former chair time. ken haynes, former chair of the haringey independent stop and search monitoring group. great to get your perspective on all this . all this. >> now some breaking news. the slovakian prime minister, robert fico, has reportedly been shot and wounded in an incident near the capital bratislava . this the capital bratislava. this just ahead of the european elections, which his party are

of course, contesting. that's the slovakian prime minister robert fico, reportedly shot wounded, being taken to hospital near the capital bratislava in slovakia. >> yes, this is very much breaking as we speak. we'll bnng breaking as we speak. we'll bring you more updates on what exactly has happened. but what we do know is that the prime minister of slovakia, robert fico, has been injured in a shooting and he has been taken to hospital. that's according to local media reports. >> it's now fico, of course, led his sort of populist left wing party that has been criticised in recent months and years. it did sit alongside the labour party in the european parliament and other socialist parties in the european parliament, but was suspended from the socialist group after it was accused of russia philia being too close to vladimir putin. we don't know if that has anything to do with this shooting, but of course tensions around russia have been

rising significantly in the last few days. we've seen what's been happening in georgia. we've seen the advances in ukraine, and now we're seeing a shooting in slovakia. we're not saying any of this is linked at all, of course, but it does feed in to this narrative of chaos, particularly in eastern europe , particularly in eastern europe, all tying into a much more dangerous world a shooting of a prime minister of an eu member state. >> so, yes, quite extraordinary. we will be getting the very latest from our homeland security editor, straight edhoh security editor, straight editor, straight after this break. so do stay with us. you won't want to miss it. you're watching. good afternoon

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:22. now, back to that breaking news. just coming in. in the last few minutes, the prime minister of slovakia , robert

minister of slovakia, robert fico, has reportedly been shot and wounded in an incident after and wounded in an incident after a government meeting near bratislava , 150km northeast of bratislava, 150km northeast of the capital. yes, it's understood that he has been taken to hospital and a suspect suspect has been detained. >> joining us now is our home and security editor, mark white, to tell us more. mark, what are you hearing? >> well, robert fico had been attending a meeting of the government at a cultural centre in handlova, which is not that far from bratislava, the caphal far from bratislava, the capital, when outside, apparently, he'd gone to greet individuals who were outside in a crowd there when shots were fired . we are then told that he fired. we are then told that he was bundled into an awaiting security car and taken to hospital. now it's understood that he suffered a gunshot wound or wounds to the abdomen, to the stomach and also that one person

has been arrested at the scene. there are images now coming through that hopefully will bnng through that hopefully will bring to you soon that show the suspected gunman in handcuffs on the ground initially before he's lifted up by security services. but clearly a serious incident that has taken place not too far from bratislava and very worrying. reports that the prime minister, the longest serving prime minister in the history of this country , has been shot in this country, has been shot in the stomach, clearly that will be a serious injury which you will be treated in hospital. yes, a hugely serious injury and, a hugely serious incident. >> let's not forget slovakia, an eu country. this is a country that will be going to vote in just three weeks time in the eu elections . robert fico has been elections. robert fico has been known as a bit of a left wing

populist. as prime minister he's been seen as a bit close to, vladimir putin, close to the sort of russian side of politics. it's made him fairly controversial in european politics. he was his party was expelled from their european grouping just last year, do you think there is anything in the in the closeness of this shooting to those european elections due on the 6th of june? >> well, it's certainly possible , he said in the past that he would favour a negotiated , would favour a negotiated, solution to the situation in ukraine. and as you say, there are those who believe that he's much closer to putin's viewpoint than he is to that of vladimir, vladimir zelenskyy , but we don't vladimir zelenskyy, but we don't know to be honest, at this stage, these incidents can be motivated by a number of different scenarios, and we just don't know what this individual,

had in mind. i mean, the fact that he clearly has been arrested, so he is alive. look to be. well, certainly from the images that are coming out, we can show you some of the still images. now that show the immediate aftermath of this incident. you can see the man on the ground that is not, the prime minister. he had already by this point , being prime minister. he had already by this point, being taken off in a security vehicle for hospital treatment. but you can clearly see the person who was lying on the ground. now, on setting up again, he's lying down there , but his hands are down there, but his hands are behind his back , secured by the behind his back, secured by the security services. the police there in that local area. and as i was saying , the fact that he i was saying, the fact that he is, it seems alive and well will at least allow the police and security services to speak to him, providing he is

cooperative. that is, with a view to trying to determine what it was that motivated this shooting. and of course, they'll know who he is. he may be known to the authorities already . to the authorities already. they'll be delving into his background to look , to see if background to look, to see if there are any links to known groups out there. but as i say, a very worrying situation . these a very worrying situation. these situations or these moments , i situations or these moments, i should say, when a vip senior politician often, is taken from the security or the relative security of a building , to their security of a building, to their motorcade is always the most worrying point for the security details, because clearly the then out in the open, in amongst members of the public. and it's often in these situations when a politician is face to face with the public, that there is the potential for incidents, to unfold that put that person's

life in jeopardy. the any security , person that's involved security, person that's involved in close protection duties will tell you the most worrying time they have is when a politician goes anywhere near a line of people from the public because they just don't know. in most situations, those people will not have been screened, they will not have gone through any sort of metal detectors if it's just an outside environment. so you're trusting to the quick reactions of those close security teams to be able to get in there and to stop an incident unfolding. but it's so quick, for someone to just reveal a gun and start shooting that really the quickest of reactions are often unable to stop that incredibly dramatic pictures. >> you were just talking us through there of what appeared to be the suspect detained on

the ground. we can't see if there was much resistance , there was much resistance, although it appears as though there may well have been to arrest there. this is a politician who is not free of controversy . as you say. he's controversy. as you say. he's beenin controversy. as you say. he's been in the business for many years. he's been prime minister three times. he's had quite a lot of pushback from the european union, from brussels over , anti—liberal policies and over, anti—liberal policies and the like, he may well be a politician with enemies . politician with enemies. >> yeah. i think with, you know, any politician who, like him has come back and taken for office a third time. there's baggage there. there's a history. third time. there's baggage there. there's a history . and there. there's a history. and undoubtedly there will be people in the country who have issues with this man. but as i say , with this man. but as i say, we've just got to keep stressing. we don't know at this stage what on earth the motivation was that , pushed motivation was that, pushed someone to take a gun to this event and to target the prime minister as he left this,

conference in a town that's just over 100 miles from the capital, bratislava, but there were clearly where members of the pubuc clearly where members of the public outside, you could see there are there were makeshift security barriers in place around there. but as i go back to that point , it is around there. but as i go back to that point, it is one of the most difficult and tense situations, for members of the security services , when you have security services, when you have politicians exposed out in the open, moving from a building to their vehicle and sometimes, as they often do, interacting with those members of the public, especially if they believe there might be supporters there. so we believe that at least the prime minister was close enough to this individual for them to open fire and shoot the prime minister accurately in the stomach. so whether he'd gone up on, effectively, an impromptu walkabout or he was just near him as he headed towards his

vehicle, we don't know . we're vehicle, we don't know. we're still in the very early stages of this incident, but clearly some very worrying reports that are coming out because gunshot wounds to the abdominal area are always very serious because of the potential to rupture some of those vital organs , in the main those vital organs, in the main abdomen hugely, hugely concerning news concerning news for all european leaders really in the run up to these european elections in just three weeks time. >> mark white, thank you so much for bringing us the very latest there that the slovakian prime minister robert fico, has been shot. >> yes, stay with us. we'll get your headlines now and we'll be back in a . tick. back in a. tick. >> it's 231. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom , and we start in the gb newsroom, and we start with some breaking news. as you've just been hearing, slovakia's prime minister robert fico has been shot following a government meeting in handlova ,

government meeting in handlova, just under 100 miles outside the capital bratislava . witnesses in capital bratislava. witnesses in the area said they heard several shots before a man was detained by police. the slovakian president has condemned what he's described as a brutal attack and has wished robert fico a speedy recovery. as we mentioned earlier, a developing story. we'll bring you more as we get it here @gbnews rishi sunak and sir keir starmer sparred several times over crime and national security at prime minister's questions earlier , minister's questions earlier, the labour leader repeatedly questioned the safety of government plans to release some high risk inmates up to 70 days early because of a chaotic, overcrowded prison system. on monday, rishi sunak suggested labour can't be trusted with the country's security. but at pmqs, both leaders tried to position themselves as the party for law and order. >> the early release of stalkers domestic abusers and those considered a risk to children sound like the work of someone who is making the country more

secure. here >> mr speaker, as i've said, as i've said , no one should be put i've said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the public. and let me be crystal clear, it does not apply be crystal clear, it does not apply . it absolutely does not apply. it absolutely does not apply apply. it absolutely does not apply to anyone serving a life sentence. anyone convicted of a serious violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence and crucially, in contrast to the system that labour had put in place, mr speaker , governors and place, mr speaker, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on the scheme who shouldn't be. >> interpol have issued a red nofice >> interpol have issued a red notice search warrant for an escaped french prisoner, 30 year old mohamed amara, known as the fly, escaped from a prison van in northern france yesterday, sparking a major manhunt. he was broken free by gunmen in an ambush that killed two prison guards. i'll be back with more at the top of the hour. or you can get more right now by scanning the qr code on your

screen for gb news alerts.

>> some breaking news. just coming in. the slovakian prime minister, robert fico, reportedly shot and wounded, now being taken to hospital in an incident after a government meeting near bratislava in slovakia. of course, it's understood that he has been taken to hospital and a suspect has been detained. now, this all folds into what has been an extraordinary week for european security. we've seen protests in georgia. mass protests, of course, are still a full scale war in ukraine, a mass migration crisis with crossings up 40% over the english channel, but

also in france, a dangerous prison break and yes, a red nofice prison break and yes, a red notice search warrant for this escaped french prisoner has now been issued by interpol. >> two prison officers were shot deadin >> two prison officers were shot dead in an ambush by gunmen which freed this fugitive gangster, known as the fly, yesterday. he is still very much on the run. there is this now, this international arrest warrant out? >> yes. prison officers across france are now protesting following the incident, a minute's silence was held at 11 am. in memory of the killed officers . well, at one prison officers. well, at one prison near marseille, more than 100 prison officers gathered beneath a banner saying we are not paid to die. >> yes, this is turning into a national crisis in france. but joining us live from paris is guillaume bigot, political editor of c news. guillaume, thank you very much indeed. just heanng thank you very much indeed. just hearing this update that an international arrest warrant has

now been issued to find this man. what's the latest ? man. what's the latest? >> hello, to first of all, what is extremely striking in this story is an incredible and tragic story. is that the so—called fly is not a big man in the in the drug trafficking business in france is maybe a second hand, third hand person . second hand, third hand person. so to recruit people capable not only to give deaths that easily, but also to , put themselves at but also to, put themselves at risk to be in jail for life, it's incredible the level of violence and the, the easiness, to, to recruit, what we should call soldiers of drug is amazing , these people are younger and younger and, they can they can kill you for less than ,1,000. it's extreme , highly frightening

i >> -- >> it is extremely frightening. and, i'm reading here that the french justice minister, eric dupond—moretti , said the two dupond—moretti, said the two prison officers were slaughtered like dogs by men for whom life means nothing . you say ,1,000? means nothing. you say ,1,000? >> yes , everything is a pretty >> yes, everything is a pretty worrying thing. the. it's rather easy to find , a ak 47, ak 72, easy to find, a ak 47, ak 72, 47. sorry around paris, for instance, it will cost you less than ,500, i can take you . we than ,500, i can take you. we can go maybe, 20 or 30 minutes away from where i live, in the centre of paris. and we can find one j 47 pretty easily. i can, get on my, whatsapp, connect. whatsapp channel and find any kind of drugs i want, and they can serve that drug in my house. so now it seems that, the, the,

our actual minister of justice talk, who pronounced very strong words, killing them like dogs and the republic, will make them pay and the republic, will make them pay and so on and so forth. he knows by heart, because he was, he was one of the main, advocates for these people, when he was, before entering the government . and his name was government. and his name was akua qatar, which means the guy who was able to save everybody from jail. so he knows that the legal system in france is such to defend the rights of individual rights, that it's pretty easy to take someone out of jail. and by the way, the jails are overcrowded. we have, maybe 65,000, facilities for , maybe 65,000, facilities for, for, for places for, inmates in france . and today we have more france. and today we have more than 72, 72,000 people. so, any judge, even with a strong will, is like an airbnb. you know,

manager, he has no room. he doesn't know where to put the people. yeah. >> guillaume, we have a precisely the same problem in the united kingdom. real overcrowding crisis in our prisons. but i suppose the implications of this audacious scheme to break this prisoner out, as you say, not the highest, linchpin of any crime network several rungs down. if they'll do that for this individual, it really does highlight how many more people could be on the verge of being broken out exactly as the political adviser, maybe, more than 15 years ago, i had to work with a prominent, not only french politician, but one of the most famous, maybe ministry of interior, in france. his name was charles pasqua. he was very well known. and charles pasqua once told me, you know, mr bigot, you have been inside your body, you have bacteries. you have, you have bad things inside your body which help cleanse your body which help cleanse

your, your body which help cleanse your , your body. so if you take your, your body. so if you take medicine, if you kill everything thatis medicine, if you kill everything that is bad inside your body, in fact, the result will be counterproductive. that is to say, before we enter this, transparency , completely transparency, completely compliant world, with human rights and everything is under control. everything is transparent . and for that, we transparent. and for that, we had something called, the, the, the meaning of the state. and the meaning of the state. and the state. every state in the uk, in france and the united states, everywhere , all the states, everywhere, all the governments were able to let, let's say, a tiny little bit of organised crime, which was able to clean himself what was going on. it's still the case in japan.in on. it's still the case in japan. in a country like japan, you have, press conference side to side. you have the chief of the police in tokyo, and you have the chief of the mafia, and they're talking together. and sometimes they say, well, the mafia is not doing your job mafia is not doing yourjob properly because the crime rate, the crime rate is rising in today. europe, we want to play the human rights. we want to

play the human rights. we want to play transparency. and in fact , play transparency. and in fact, the pavements to, to paradise lead us directly to hell. >> well, thank you very much indeed. guillaume. bigo, live from paris, political editor of ce news. really interesting to get your perspective on on all this a dangerous world, it appears a dangerous europe. anyway, joining us now is our home and security editor, mark white, who has some fresh video, i believe, from slovakia . the i believe, from slovakia. the slovakian prime minister reportedly shot , slovakian prime minister reportedly shot, yeah. we've just obtained a new video that show the moments just after robert fico has been shot. you can see him, just hunched over there, being taken to that , there, being taken to that, vehicle and taken away. we understand it was airlifted to a hospital. the video then panning to show the suspect on the ground having been wrestled to the ground by members of the police and security services. so

we're just showing that again, slow, slowed down. you can see robert fico, we are told that he suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen. one eyewitness has reported hearing between 3 and 4 shots and also saying that as well as apparently being injured in the abdomen , reporting that in the abdomen, reporting that there was some kind of head injury as well. we know that the prime minister had fallen to the ground and was quickly scooped up ground and was quickly scooped ”p by ground and was quickly scooped up by those members of the security services and taken to that awaiting armoured vehicle , that awaiting armoured vehicle, for a short journey to a helicopter which has airlifted him to a hospital for treatment . him to a hospital for treatment. this time. we don't know yet what his condition is. we've just heard from eu president ursula von der lie—in, who has condemned the shooting, in this town about 110 miles from the

slovak capital, bratislava. and as yet, we don't know any motivation. we know that the alleged shooter here is in custody. there have been other images which show a man in handcuffs lying on the ground initially, and then sitting on the ground before he is taken into police custody , as far as into police custody, as far as robert fico is concerned, he is a long serving politician. in fact, the longest serving prime minister, having served three previous terms as prime minister in slovakia. he's a controversial figure seen as pro—russian. in fact, one of the first things he did when he assumed office after forming a coalition government in september of last year, was to halt all aid from slovakia to ukraine, he has also moved to dismantle the public service

broadcaster in slovakia as well. so a man, not without controversy , but a man who has controversy, but a man who has been shot and potentially seriously injured. although, as i say, we still await an update on his condition from the government in slovakia. >> really, really serious news there. some words in from donald tusk, who of course is the prime minister of poland. former president of the eu council, he says shocking news from slovakia . robert, my thoughts are with with you in this very difficult moment. of course, poland, a neighbouring country to slovakia and of course, all in the context of eu elections across every member state in just three weeks time. this will send shock waves throughout europe. many european leaders will be feeling nervous . nervous. >> yeah, i mean, of course, any time when you enter an election penod time when you enter an election period is always high risk. tom because what it requires of a

politician is , is a politician politician is, is a politician who is willing to engage with the electorate . and that often, the electorate. and that often, of course, means attending pubuc of course, means attending public events either outside or inside, with, multiple members of the public in attendance at any one time. and while an event inside a building can be a bit better controlled in terms of searches that can be carried out when you're outside in a street, as we are here, you can see there are barriers up there , there are barriers up there, that, acted as crowd control barriers . that, acted as crowd control barriers. but that, acted as crowd control barriers . but what there barriers. but what there wouldn't have been as there neveris wouldn't have been as there never is in these kind of public walkabouts, are , you know, any walkabouts, are, you know, any kind of metal detectors to check for weapons? you can see an ambulance there going , into the ambulance there going, into the local hospital. we don't know if that was the ambulance carrying, prime minister frico or just because this is a busy hospital.

there are ambulances coming and going from there. accident and emergency centre. but the trauma centre at this hospital, is where this prime minister, robert fico, has been taken to , robert fico, has been taken to, we expect an update very soon from officials in slovakia as to the prime minister's condition, but it didn't look good. as i say, he fell to the ground immediately, was scooped up by his security detail and very quickly taken to that armoured vehicle. but absolutely horrific and frightening scenes unfolding. and as you say, tom, quite rightly, there will be nervous politicians , you've got nervous politicians, you've got the european elections in this country of course, later this year we expect an election to be called . and it is that time when called. and it is that time when politicians are at their most vulnerable, when they're out and about, up close and personal with the electorate. >> absolutely . and watching this

>> absolutely. and watching this footage here, how frantic the scene is, how quickly everything happened , members of the public happened, members of the public there, it appears this completely came out of the blue, just in broad daylight. a prime minister of a european country shot. would he have been wearing ? is there any chance that he might have been wearing a some kind of vest underneath his normal clothing? lots of prime ministers, lots of leaders around the world do. >> yeah, it's a very good point, emily. and i think if, the politician , concerned is politician, concerned is perceived as being high risk under threat, then that is one option. but it is not for common politicians to have to resort to wearing , body armour. they don't wearing, body armour. they don't like it for obvious reasons. they're uncomfortable, they're unseemly, you know, trying to put a jacket over the top of a big piece of kevlar is never

easy. so if they can avoid it, they don't like to do it. they don't want to see in many instances, be perceived as being weak and having to resort to sort of body armour to protect themselves as well. and their egos, of course, many , in many egos, of course, many, in many instances, will perhaps show them that or tell them that, you know, they're not as unpopular as we perhaps need to be protected from those that would do their harm. them harm. we don't know what the situation with robert fico is, but we do know on that score that he is, a relatively divisive figure in slovakia. he wasn't able to win outright at the elections last september, and instead was given the go ahead by the slovakian president to form a coalition government, which he then did, successfully . but it has not successfully. but it has not been without its controversies in the, the first months in

office, suspending the aid to ukraine. and of course, also now just in recent weeks, making that very controversial announcement to disband the equivalent of the bbc, out in slovakia should say that we have heard, of course , from the prime heard, of course, from the prime minister of poland, donald tusk, now the prime minister of hungary , another number hungary, another number neighbouring country to slovakia , has issued a statement. >> viktor orban says i was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend , prime attack against my friend, prime minister robert fico. we pray for his health and quick recovery. god bless him and his country. that's the hungarian prime minister, viktor orban. in a statement issued in the last two minutes. this is, of course , two minutes. this is, of course, sending shockwaves from country to country. many different countries , neighbouring, countries, neighbouring, slovakia, of course, including austria, poland, hungary and even ukraine. >> yes, indeed. i should just say that we are getting an

update from the slovak emergency services who confirm that they dispatched a helicopter to a 59 year old man. well, we know, of course, that robert fico is a 59 years old, receiving information that he had been shot and confirming that he was shot and hit in the abdomen, but no further details as yet from the emergency services. >> words now to from the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen . she says i strongly condemn the vile attack on prime minister robert fico. such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy. well, mark white, thank you very much for joining well, mark white, thank you very much forjoining us. for now, much for joining us. for now, and no doubt you'll be with us throughout the ensuing hours as we learn more about this developing situation in slovakia. up next to take us through the next steps of this is martin daubney , who joins us is martin daubney, who joins us now, martin, as a former member of the european parliament

yourself, you must have some, this this this must affect you to . to. >> yeah, it's an astonishing thing to happen . it just goes to thing to happen. it just goes to show you how vulnerable politicians are, even in those short meet and greet. >> very, very vulnerable moments. >> of course, we'll have the full update. >> anything that comes through on that robert fico story. >> and also tonight, jacob rees—mogg will meet nigel farage. could there be the godfathers of the right coming together and forming a sensational electoral pact? of the full update on that and my show three till six. but first, here's your latest weather forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> afternoon. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office here on gb news. some sunny spells around tomorrow, but a greater chance of some heavy downpours across the south again. northern scotland may well see the highest

temperatures. low pressure is dominating down to the southwest on this weather front, providing a band of thicker cloud and some rain and drizzle over northern england. southern scotland that'il peter out , england. southern scotland that'il peter out, as will england. southern scotland that'il peter out , as will the that'il peter out, as will the heavy showers we've got scattered across parts of the midlands through the early evening, so many of us will have a dry night , evening, so many of us will have a dry night, quite murky and misty on the east coast and in the south. some thicker fog patches could form through the early hours as well, as temperatures dropped to 11 to 12 celsius. a little cooler in northern scotland, with some clearer skies here onto thursday. it is a bit of a messy one. murky again on some eastern coasts, much of the south starting dry , but the likelihood starting dry, but the likelihood of some showery rain pushing into parts of eastern england. early doors any early morning mist and fog in the south should be clearing away by rush hour. generally dry and bright for wales and northern ireland. some fine weather again across much of scotland, although southern scotland may well start a little dull and damp, we will again have this breeze coming in from the east. that's going to make for some misty conditions again.

at times on some of those eastern coast could be a little bit of heart around. but again, for northwest scotland we should see plenty of sunny spells elsewhere. quite a lot of cloud for northern england and some showery rain. working once more, initially into lincolnshire and east anglia , but then spreading east anglia, but then spreading across parts of the midlands and later towards wales. some heavy showers, likely across south wales and southern england , come wales and southern england, come the afternoon. in the brighter spells here, 20 degrees 2122 in western scotland, maybe a little higher along the moray firth, but cooler again on those north sea coasts, and cooler where we've got this rainier zone staying pretty wet across northwest england and north wales into the evening. the outlook is for more sunshine and showers, but the showers fading through the weekend, many of us looking dry and fine for sunday. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good afternoon to you. >> a very good afternoon to you. >> it's 3 pm. and welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart of westminster all across the uk. on today's show, the slovakian prime minister, robert fico, has been shot and wounded . fico, has been shot and wounded. >> mr fico was shot in front of a cultural community centre in the town where a government meeting was being held . meeting was being held. >> we'll have all of the latest on this breaking story. next up, the policing minister has demanded that police must increase their use of stop and search to tackle the cancer of knife crime and stop bowing to campaign groups who slam it as racist . i'll speak to a top cop racist. i'll speak to a top cop and also a mother and a grandmother who've lost loved ones to knife crime , and food ones to knife crime, and food bank users are at an all time high, with a 94% increase in five years, and labour say this

is a result of 14 years of tory