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Catch up on all the latest news from across the county with Chloe Brewster.
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00:26Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight live here on
00:29KMTV. I'm Chloe Brewster and here are your top stories on Thursday the 9th of July.
00:35Red card. Kent police prepare for a rise in antisocial behaviour as football fever takes
00:41over the county. We'd obviously like everyone to have a really safe time out and about so
00:46we'd ask everyone to drink in moderation, enjoy themselves, look after each other.
00:50Kent council clash. Minister slams reformist proposals ahead of a major authority shake
00:56up. When you get the chance to streamline it, reform or against reform. And tons of tins.
01:03KMFM will hold their annual campaign to stock shelves at food banks across the county. Last
01:09year we raised 11.1 tonnes of food. We were able to donate that across the county.
01:24But first tonight, as the World Cup brings fans across the county into the pubs, Kent police
01:29are taking measures to help prevent a rise in antisocial behaviour. With pubs and sports
01:35bars staying open later to show the matches, police are advising fans to drink in moderation,
01:39plan their journey so as to not risk drink driving and to look after one another. Tim Forster
01:45reports.
01:49As World Cup fever grips the county, scenes like these are common across Kent. However,
01:55with pubs and sports bars staying open later to allow fans to watch the matches, cases of
02:00antisocial behaviour are at risk of growing. So how do pubs prepare for the increase in customers
02:05and the potential for rowdiness? We've done what the government have told us to do. We obviously do
02:11it anyway. They know the score. No diseases are off. I talk to people, tell them what they've got to
02:17go. Appreciate the neighbours. Try to keep any noise down. But how safe do people feel during the
02:23World Cup season? We spoke with Maidstone locals to hear their thoughts. Completely safe. No problems at all.
02:31I suppose it depends on how drunk people get. It's not safe at the best of times, but I feel
02:36like it
02:36depends on what your attitude is when you're outside. The police need to be re-educated and understand
02:42what's right and wrong. Data from the National Centre for Domestic Violence revealed that incidents
02:47of domestic abuse increase by 26% when England play and by 38% when they lose. So what precautions
02:56are
02:56Kent police taking to ensure football fans can enjoy the beautiful game safely? So during the matches,
03:01we've got local beat officers. We've got our licensing team who are out and about engaging with
03:07licensees to make sure we can work with them. And we've also got our policing teams who are trained
03:12to work in public order and working with large crowds to make sure that we can intervene, support and
03:19look after and keep people safe. We're also deploying our project vigilant officers to ensure
03:24that we tackle sexual violence in the night time economy. Kent police take domestic abuse seriously
03:29all year round and it's really important to us that people feel safe and that they know they can
03:34contact us for help. So we've got additional patrols out to make sure that we can respond to
03:39any calls for assistance. And again, we just ask people, get in touch, talk to us, tell us if you
03:45need us
03:46and we'll be there. As we continue to progress through the tournament, police precautions and
03:51advice will ensure everyone can safely celebrate the success of the three lions. Tim Forster for KMTV.
04:03The man who was sent down for one of Kent's most notorious murders could actually be innocent.
04:08That's what a top human rights lawyer has said. 30 years ago today, a mum and her two daughters were
04:14attacked with a hammer in a country lane. Lynn and Megan Russell lost their lives while the other
04:19daughter survived. The killings were later dubbed the Chillingdon murders. Former Gillingham resident
04:25Michael Stone is serving three life sentences for their murder. But now the 66 year old will undergo
04:31new tests, which could prove he was not actually at the scene. So we're joined live now by Karen Todd,
04:37another human rights lawyer representing Mr. Stone. Thank you so much for joining us, Karen. Just before we get into
04:43it,
04:43can you explain just quickly for our viewers how we got to this point?
04:49So Michael was convicted in 19, well he was arrested in 1997, so a year after the murders.
04:56He was convicted, then he was given a retrial by the Court of Appeal and then he was convicted again
05:03solely on the basis of a cell confession by another prisoner who said that he'd heard him confess to the
05:10murders down a drain pipe from the next cell. There is no forensic evidence or identification evidence
05:16tying Michael Stone to these murders. He's been in custody now for 29 years and finally the CCRC have agreed,
05:27given the developments in DNA testing, that they will take a DNA test and in fact they took his DNA
05:34at HMP Franklin this morning.
05:38And, you know, it was only in October that the Criminal Cases Review Commission said there was no evidence
05:43for these convictions potentially being quashed. I know you speak about the DNA evidence.
05:48What exactly is it about that DNA evidence that could mean that he is innocent now?
05:53Well, there are a number of items that can still be tested. Some of the items such as the lunchbox
05:58have been lost,
05:59but actually most of the items are still available for testing.
06:03And firstly, we want them to be tested with the new developments that there are in DNA to show that
06:09Michael was not present,
06:10that he's excluded from the scene. And there are also some names that I want to put forward to the
06:16CCRC and ask them to compare those people,
06:20those persons DNA to try and get what hopefully will be a conclusive result.
06:27And you've been known to take on quite big, big human rights cases. Why did you decide to take this
06:33case on?
06:35I've always been aware of this case and always thought that it was a big miscarriage of justice.
06:41And then Mark McDonald, who is Michael's barrister, contacted me in February and asked me if I would become involved.
06:48And so since February, I've been his solicitor and I've been pushing things forward.
06:52Obviously, we've got the DNA testing done today. And there are other things that I'm looking at that I'm very
07:00interested in to take to the CCRC.
07:04And have you spoken to Michael? How is he?
07:07Yeah, I spoke to him this morning. He is, I mean, he always finds the 9th of July very difficult
07:14because obviously people died today.
07:16And he, you know, he sympathises and understands that. But nevertheless, he has been in custody for 29 years.
07:24And, you know, he's excited about the developments in his case and the fact that we are now pushing forward
07:30with the appeal.
07:32You know, the family members of Lynn and Megan, it must be quite hard to have this all dredged back
07:39up again.
07:40Do you think it's worth it? Do you really think Kent Police could have this all wrong?
07:45I'm absolutely certain they've got it all wrong. I've never felt so certain about a case in my entire career.
07:52And I think that they have got it wrong.
07:55And obviously everyone sympathises with the Russells, but I'm also sure that they would want the right person to be
08:03convicted of this offence.
08:05And how long do you think it will be until we get an update when this might appear back in
08:12court?
08:12What's kind of the timeline now?
08:15I'm going to be putting some fresh evidence that I've obtained to the CCLC in the next 14 days.
08:21And then I think we can anticipate some sort of result from the DNA, certainly this year.
08:27I'm hoping by the end of this year.
08:29Thank you so much for joining us, Karen. That's been really, really interesting.
08:38The minister in charge of shaking up Kent's councils has slammed Reform UK's proposals for one giant authority as the
08:46government prepares to announce its own plans.
08:49Whitehall wants to scrap all of our existing authorities in favour of putting local services into the hands of just
08:55a few councils.
08:56But while a decision about what this will look like is expected before next Thursday, Kent County Council suggestions have
09:03got an icy response so far.
09:05As local democracy reporter Olly Leader reports.
09:08There are clear dividing lines between communities.
09:11Parts of our county are going to be hugely disadvantaged.
09:14I think they're appalling and they're quite disrespectful the way that this has happened.
09:17After months of heated debates, the wait for answers is nearly over.
09:23Next week the government is expected to announce how our existing authorities will be replaced by a handful of bigger
09:33councils that bring all local services under one roof.
09:38What that could actually look like here in Kent is up in the air.
09:43There's some politicians who want three councils, others four and Kent County Council just want one huge authority.
09:50Well, you know, it's very strange to see reform councillors going around saying they want to change things, they want
09:57to reform things.
09:58And then when you actually get the chance to take duplication out of local government, to get rid of two
10:04-tier councils,
10:05to eliminate two sets of councillors, two sets of chief executives, two sets of finance directors,
10:11when you get the chance to streamline it, reform or against reform.
10:15But the leader of Kent's largest local authority insists that nothing has yet been taken off the table by the
10:24government.
10:25Well, I don't think he's made any decision yet. Of course, we won't have the decision until next week, if
10:31at all.
10:31We've been given a date next week to expect some sort of decision from the government.
10:35But as usual with this government, nobody knows what their thinking process is.
10:40Nobody knows how they've come to any decision.
10:43You know, they chop and change their minds so often.
10:45The whole LGR process has just become a guessing game, really.
10:48So I'm as much in the dark as everybody else.
10:50We don't know the exact date the government's decision will be announced.
10:56But with five options on the table for how to redraw Kent's political map,
11:03the dividing lines have never been more stark.
11:07Olly Lieder in Kent.
11:11Now it's time for a quick break, but don't go anywhere because coming up,
11:15we'll be taking a look at another amber weather warning in place over the weekend
11:19and what this means for those in Kent.
11:21We're sending Megan, well, she's sent actually, Megan Shaw down to the water side to let you know all about
11:27that.
11:27We'll also be looking at footage of a flooded road,
11:30meaning that those in Dartford and Crayford are left with little to no water pressure.
11:34We'll also be hearing about the punishment of a man who helped steal copper from towns across Kent.
11:40We'll also be speaking with our reporter Finn McDermid,
11:43who has spoken to our sister station, KMFM,
11:46about a campaign they're running to keep food shelves stocked across the county.
11:50All that and more, so please don't go anywhere.
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15:19main route between two towns has been flooded and homes are without water due to a burst
15:24pipe. Footage shows a stream running down Crayford Road outside the entrance to Tower
15:29Retail Park in Crayford. Those living in the DA1, DA6 and DA7 areas, which include both
15:36Dartford and Crayford, are experiencing no water or low water pressure. A notice on the
15:42Thames Water website said, our specialist team is en route to the area to investigate
15:47the cause of disruption and restore the flow of your water supply. We know how disruptive
15:52it is if you lose your water supply, so we'll work hard to get things back to normal as soon
15:57as we can. A getaway driver who helped steal copper from towns across Kent has been jailed.
16:04Frederick Ryer from Sittingbourne alongside right-hand man Mark Baker targeted sites across
16:10Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay and Maidstone. Their shenanigans caused whole roads to be
16:16without power for 24 hours and cost local businesses more than £220,000. After pleading guilty to
16:24multiple charges, Ryer was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court to two years and three months imprisonment.
16:31Baker received two years and nine months.
16:34Now don't forget you can keep up to date with all of our latest stories by logging on to our
16:38website kmtv.co.uk. There you'll see stories including this one about a former Olympian helping
16:45the Invicta Volleyball women's team break into the sports top division here in the UK.
16:51Invicta Volleyball's women's team currently compete in the third division of the National League but they
16:55have aspirations of playing at the top level here in the UK, the Super League. And to achieve that goal
17:01they've brought in a new coach, Nathan French, who once competed for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics and
17:06has also played abroad.
17:08I do have high ambitions for my division three team. The FEMA I do think we're going to push to
17:13division two within the season. I'm also looking to execute and win in the shield. So I really want
17:19to win silverware this year along with the men's. The men's have, you know, unfortunately they didn't get
17:25across to division one this year. That is going to be the ambition. Anything short of division one for the
17:30following season, you know, that's what we're pushing for. And then it's that Super League structure.
17:35So I do think within the season, Invicta will be on the map. Within the two seasons, people are going
17:41to want to come to this club.
17:43Today marks the tryouts for the next season, which sees returning players and new faces trying to earn a spot
17:48on the roster.
17:49Now, Invicta Volleyball is a performance team. So a player is only guaranteed one season of play. After that,
17:56they have to come back here and try out with everyone else. And as you've seen, there's a real range
18:01of ages.
18:02There's some younger players who come to the tryouts with aspirations of one day making the heights of the first
18:06team.
18:07I think it's really inspiring to have someone that's played high level before to help people like us learn and
18:13play and
18:14maybe even get to that level in the future. And I think, especially if he's experienced stuff like this before,
18:19it really helps you to know that you're doing okay when he tells you what you can. His tips and
18:24stuff like that really
18:25will help you and benefit you in the future.
18:27I feel privileged. I don't think it's every day you get such an experience and I feel like it's a
18:33once in a lifetime thing
18:34and I'm really happy to be here.
18:35Despite the fact that everyone's competing for the same spots, there's a good atmosphere among the players.
18:39Well, we've got a mixture definitely of cultures and ages. So, you've got people from Eastern Europe,
18:44you've got English people, you've got people who played professionally for several years previously,
18:49you've got people who are juniors and at the beginning of their career.
18:52So, it's nice to see a mixture from various heights, various ages, various countries, I suppose, and nationalities.
18:59Yes, different experiences.
19:00It's always very nice to have younger players. They're very energetic and it's very interesting for us to be with
19:09them.
19:10And, yeah, I mean, it's just a cool environment and we feel welcome here.
19:16Whether it's a former Olympian giving advice or a large group of players helping each other,
19:19it's looking like Invicta Volleyball are setting themselves up for a strong season.
19:23Finn McDermid for Kame TV in Maidstone.
19:28How are you coping in this heatwave?
19:30Well, it's not going to get any better. It's just going to get hotter.
19:34And Megan Shaw, who we sent down to the Strand Lido, is going to tell you all about it.
19:39Join me at the Lido at the Strand in Gillingham.
19:42And it's another hot and sunny day in Kent as it's entered its third heatwave of the year so far.
19:48And yet, we're not even in the peak of summer.
19:51This heatwave is set to be one of the longest since 1976 and could last, especially in the south, up
19:58to 14 days.
20:00It's not the first time that we've seen record-breaking weather in the county and the country,
20:05as both May and June had their own hot weather records broken.
20:10But it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
20:13Yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency issued an amber weather warning until the 12th of July here in the county.
20:20And that's the second most severe weather warning we have in the country.
20:24Although it's not as serious as a red weather warning, it does mean that there's an increased likelihood of disruption
20:30to people's plans,
20:31as well as a risk to health as well.
20:34An amber weather warning means that residents should consider changing their daily lives around the weather.
20:40That might mean not leaving the house at the hottest point of the day, which is midday.
20:44It might mean refraining from walking your pets on the concrete because it might be too hot for their feet.
20:49And it might mean abstaining from your usual outdoor activities.
20:53For example, I definitely wouldn't want to play football right now because it's incredibly hot.
20:57And here in Kent, being in the south of the country, we often face a lot of the brunt of
21:03these heat waves.
21:04Temperatures are expected to rise over the next couple of weeks as high as 35 degrees for some areas in
21:11the south.
21:12On Tuesday, we saw the peak temperature in the UK being Frittenden in Kent.
21:17That was at 32.4 degrees and those temperatures are set to climb.
21:21Heat waves, of course, are just as disruptive to everyday normality as blizzards and storms might be.
21:28Right here in the county, we're in the midst of a hose pipe ban which affects all southeast water customers.
21:35That is almost all of the county apart from the east coast and the northwest.
21:40Areas like Medway, Dartford and Gravesend are not covered by southeast water.
21:45But for those customers who are in places like Maystone or Sevenoaks or Ashford,
21:49that means they could risk a £1,000 fine if they're caught using a hose pipe or a pressure washer
21:55for essentially non-essential purposes.
21:58That might be filling a paddling pool, watering your plants, washing your car.
22:02All of these things are banned.
22:05And now the weather.
22:11It's going to be another warm night for all of us here in Kent.
22:16It's looking at 29 degrees in Medway, hot also around the coast.
22:20Going into tomorrow morning, very, very sun.
22:22It looks very bright, but not as hot going into the afternoon.
22:26Also rather hot, sun still staying out.
22:28So hopefully you've got some weekend plans booked in.
22:31And now for our outlook, it's 28 degrees on Saturday, 27 on Sunday and 26 on Monday.
22:37So not cooling down anytime soon.
22:47A concrete football pitch in Hive is set to receive £54,000.
22:52The games area on Hive Green has been left untouched for 26 years
22:57and is equipped with two goals and two basketball hoops.
23:00But now Hive Town Council has approved plans to refurbish and redesign the pitch.
23:05Councillor Stephen Bailey said,
23:06I've been working on this for many years and even before I was elected.
23:10And this definitely ranks up there as one of my most successful projects.
23:13He hopes the area will accommodate a five-a-side football pitch, basketball court and an additional activities area.
23:19He also said he hoped the activities would help deter antisocial behaviour.
23:24Kent's biggest theatre is set to take on a historical building for just £1 a year.
23:28Canterbury's Marlow Theatre will absorb the former Poor Priest Hospital into its portfolio in a bid to turn it into
23:35a creative and learning centre through £8.5 million of investment.
23:39The 800-year-old property in Stowell Street, which has served as an arms house, prison and school, has been
23:44closed to the public for years.
23:50Our sister station, KMFM, have restarted their Tons of Tins campaign and donation lines are now open until the 24th
23:56of July.
23:57Last year they managed to send out more than 11 tonnes of food to distributors across Kent and this year
24:02they hope to beat that record.
24:03From McDermott reports.
24:06KMFM have brought back their Tons of Tins campaign and it's more needed than ever, with the cost of living
24:10putting families' finances under heavy strain.
24:13And food banks are feeling the stress too, like one in Deal that's reporting a more than 50% increase
24:18in food parcels they've sent out.
24:20So we've been running Tons of Tins for the past four years on KMFM and it's a campaign that we
24:25do every summer to help replenish food banks across the county.
24:29Our way of giving back to the community and trying to fight food poverty here in Kent.
24:34Our goal is to really get as close or beat last year's total as possible.
24:39Last year we raised 11.1 tonnes of food. We were able to donate that across the county.
24:44If we can better that or get as close to it as possible, that would be amazing.
24:48But we know whatever we donate, it's going to the right places.
24:52So the radio station have opened up their donation lines to help support 19 food banks in Canterbury, Dover, East
24:58Morling, Gravesham, Maidstone, Margate, Herne Bay, Medway, Thanet, Swale and across the rest of the county.
25:04So currently our goal is to raise £8,500 on our Just Giving page.
25:09We're also inviting people to donate physical donations here at KMFM.
25:14What's changed this year is we're actually helping more food banks than ever before.
25:18So we're helping 19 different organisations and charities across the county to try and reach as many people in the
25:25community as possible.
25:27Around 2,400 tins make up a tonne and last year KMFM gave out 11.1 tonnes of donations, a
25:34.k.a. 26,640 tins, which the team are hoping to beat this year.
25:40They've been hearing from listeners who say they've been struggling.
25:42Yeah, there are parents who have said that they are eating toast for meals just because they want their kids
25:48to have a hot meal and to get by, which is awful to hear.
25:52You know, I'm sure anyone watching right now would agree that toast is not a sufficient meal for an adult
25:57and we don't want anyone here on our doorstep in Kent to be going through that.
26:01And, you know, food poverty is real and that's why KMFM's Tons of Tins is back
26:05and we want to raise as much as we did last year, which was 11.1 tonnes.
26:10You can submit donations to them through a few different ways by donating online through the campaign's Just Giving page,
26:16ordering on an online shop or coming in in person to drop off non-perishable foods at KMFM's headquarters.
26:22KMFM will stop taking in donations from Friday the 24th of July and deliveries will start on Monday the 3rd
26:28of August.
26:30So the presenters will be here taking your calls and your donations all to help the people of Kent.
26:36Finn McDermid for KMTV at KMFM.
26:40Now you've been watching Kent tonight live here on KMTV.
26:44There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening. Stick around.
26:47Thank you so much. Goodbye.
26:48.
26:53.
27:14Transcription by CastingWords