Updates for Wednesday 17 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume on Thursday
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Police are asking for help in identifying a man who looks like this e-fit...
Image source, Leicestershire PoliceIt's been drawn up after an elderly man in Oadby had a visit from two men claiming they needed to switch the water and gas off.
The suspect in the image checked the victim’s house while the second searched the property.
The elderly man got suspicious and they made off empty handed.
A Burbage man has been accused of raping five women he met through the online dating, external site Match.com.
Jack Rafferty
BBC Radio Leicester
Developers at the Blue Gates "pocket park" in Castle Hill Park discovered a hidden gem...
This is a rare wild pear tree.
Developers are now encouraging the local community to come along and help plant their own fruit trees.
Jack Rafferty
BBC Radio Leicester
Three community groups in Leicester have been given funding to build "pocket parks" in previously neglected areas.
I went to see a couple of them this morning.
This plot of land on Heathcot Road will be transformed into Saffron Pocket Park.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
A man has been in court this morning charged with an armed robbery in Hinckley, external.
It happened on Friday afternoon at a convenience store in Ashby Road.
Image source, GoogleThe 42-year-old man, from Leicester, has been charged with robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence and bilking.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
So what is the government saying about this inspection?
Well, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Leicester’s report is an example of how our ageing prisons need to reform.
“We take our duty of care to staff and prisoners extremely seriously and tackling violence and drugs must be a priority."
Image source, Getty ImagesThey went on to say: “We will be investing £1.3bn to transform the prison estate over the next five years, to better support rehabilitation and tackle bullying, violence and drugs.”
News that the Lamp Lighters pub is due to close , externalhas been greeted with widespread – but not universal – delight.
Image source, Leicester MercuryAmy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
So, it wasn't ALL bad news for HMP Leicester...
Inspectors found support for those with a drug problem was good and about 80% of prisoners felt respected by staff.
They were also pleased with prisoners' achievements when they took part in courses in education and vocational training, although the quality of teaching required improvement.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Francis Cook is the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform and says the prison is way too overcrowded.
She says the "chaos" in the prison isn't doing staff, inmates or the community any good.
Image source, Getty ImagesShe says: "It's not fit for purpose, it's grossly overcrowded, it's easier to get drugs than it is to get clean underwear.
"The problems here are so deep seated but there is a solution and if you identify what the problem is you can solve it."
She says the problem is overcrowding and that's not something that's going to be solved by a new governor.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Let's look at the figures in this latest report on HMP Leicester.
Inspectors found there had been 75 assaults on staff or other inmates in the six months leading up to the visit.
There had also been 23 fights, that's significantly more than other similar jails.
There had been 237 incidents of self harm, and three people had died in custody since the last inspection.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Glyn Travis, from the Prison Officers Association, says the problem is with a shortage of front-line staff not the building.
He says: "There's absolutely nothing wrong with the building, what's wrong with it is the infrastructure of the building.
"The way the government is funding things and the way we are consistently trying to achieve basic essentials, it's very difficult."
When asked about prison staff not being able to locate all prisoners during the inspection, Glyn said staff at HMP Leicester don't have the facility or the time to keep control of prisoners 24-hours a day.
BBC Leicester Sport
Leicester Tigers boss, Richard Cockerill, thinks the club will remain at the top of English rugby despite a few surprise defeats recently and investments being made elsewhere.
Image source, Getty ImagesCockerill was speaking after the announcement that Danny Cipriani will join Wasps next season.
He says that whilst the names around them may change, Tigers will still be at the top.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Here's a photo of the tent found by the mountain rescue team yesterday in their search for missing Tim Newton and Rachel Slater.
The operation to find them is still on hold until weather conditions improve.
Image source, Lochaber Mountain RescueAmy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
The report said the segregation unit, used to house the prison's most disruptive inmates, was described as "appalling" and "should be shut down immediately".
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Inspectors turned up at HMP Leicester unannounced in September and found there were high levels of overcrowding and violence.
There were 325 inmates, that's 50% above capacity.
They claim drugs and alcohol were readily available to inmates, but basics like toiletries and clean clothes often weren't.
Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
BBC Leicester Sport
Well done to Leicester's Mark Selby...
The snooker star was up into the small hours to make the third round of the Welsh Open after beating Peter Lines 4-2.
Image source, Getty ImagesSelby's not happy though about the scheduling of the competition. He's got to be back on the table again this afternoon after just 12 hours' rest.
A pub and restaurant at the centre of an investigation into an outbreak of salmonella poisoning, external is to reopen.
Image source, Leicester MercuryAmy Woodfield
BBC Local Live
Searches are expected to resume today for a couple missing on Ben Nevis.
Tim Newton, who's originally from Leicester, and Rachel Slater from Bradford haven't been seen since Sunday.
Image source, Police ScotlandMountain Rescue teams suspended their search yesterday because conditions became "too dangerous".
A green tent belonging to the couple was found behind a hut on the north side of the mountain.
