this is bbc news. the headlines. a serving metropolitan police officer has been convicted of membership of a banned neo—nazi terrorist organisation. benjamin hannam is the first british officer to be convicted of a terrorism offence. never before has a serving police officer been prosecuted for being the member of a terrorist group. when we identified the person was a police officer it was of course a shock but we then moved very quickly to arrest ben hannam. why did you join a terrorist organisation and then joined the police? — police? the 22—year—old was also convicted of lying on his met police application and having documents detailing knife combat techniques

and making explosive devices, at the old bailey trial. a 2a year old man has been found guilty of murdering lorraine cox last summer. she disappeared after a night out in exeter. the prime minister's senior adviser on ethnic minorities, samuel kasumu, is to leave the role. borisjohnson says it's not related to the controversial government report about race. i've worked very closely with samuel in the last year or so. and he's done some great stuff, and i thank him very much, particularly on helping to encourage vaccine take up amongst more hesitant groups and communities. the fourth day of the trial of derek chauvin — the former police officer accused of killing george floyd — is underway. george floyd's girlfriend is giving evidence. around one in 370 people in england had covid—19 in the week to march 27 —

down slightly from the previous week, according to new figures. a 22—year—old has become the first british police officer to be convicted of belonging to a banned neo—nazi terror group. benjamin hannam was also convicted of lying on his met police application and having documents detailing knife combat techniques and making explosive devices, at the old bailey trial. hejoined national action after it had been outlawed. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. this was pc ben hannam at his passing out parade three years ago. his foundation training over, he was taking the oath in front of cressida dick,

the commission of the metropolitan police. just two years earlier, he was part of the banned neo—nazi terrorist group national action. let's go. taking part in fight training in the woods. no hesitation, get in there first, get in there first. and daubing a nazi torch on a graffiti trip to swindon. traces of the graffiti ben hannam sprayed on that trip are still visible in swindon to this day. when he did it he was still an active member of a banned neo—nazi terrorist organisation. within weeks of doing it, he was applying to join london's metropolitan police. the propaganda video from the trip was uploaded just days before he put in his application. it took two years for the police to realise they had a nazi in the ranks and to raid his home

to seize phones and computers. just point them out, don't touch them. yeah, yeah. no, it's fine. phone, this apple watch. a nazi internet forum had been leaked, and on his bedroom wall he still had a picture of a german soldier from world war ii. this is a unique case, and never before has a serving police officer been prosecuted for being a member of a terrorist group. when we identified the person we were looking at was a police officer, it was of course a shock, but we then moved very quickly to arrest ben hannam. he had carefully documented his life in national action, or nao, noting the year he joined, the year he left and the year he started in the metropolitan police service, the mps. among other former national action members, jack renshaw has admitted plotting to kill his mp. zach davis was found guilty

of attempting to be head an asian dentist and jack wilson had made a pipe bomb. in all, 16 people have now been convicted of national action after it was banned, including ben hannam. the founders of the group, alex davies and ben raymond, have never been charged. on ben hannam's phone detectives found this picture of him with a hitler moustache. in another propaganda video he performed a nazi salute. on his police application form he had simply ticked a box saying he had never been a member of the bnp or a similar organisation. the force never took a reference from the school he had just left where teachers had noted his offensive expression of anti—immigration views. daniel sandford, bbc news. and daniel gave us more details about the trial and the questions it raises for the metropolitan police. how was it that a man who had been involved in a neo—nazi terrorist organisation untiljust weeks before he applied to join the metropolitan

police wasn't unearthed 7 how is it that their vetting system is such that you just tick a box and say you have never been part of the bnp or a similar organisation? how did they have pictures of ben hannam just years before hejoined the police but had not managed to identify him from those videos or his name and could have then spotted him when hejoined the police? so it is a very difficult day for the metropolitan police. ben hannam has not yet been sentenced and has been set free on bail. instead of coming out of the door there behind me where most people come in and out of court every day, he was allowed out of a side door. we did manage to catch a shot of him as he sneaked out and tried to ask him some questions. sirens. why did you join a terrorist organisation and then join the police? ben, why.

the force had been keen to point out that they regard this as a very unique case. they don't think this is a sign of widespread membership of nazi organisations within the force, not that i think anyone would seriously make that suggestion. they say the overall vetting and application form procedure nationally is being looked at, not necessarily in light of this case but they are hoping that some modernisation of that system will come out of that. in the end, how do you vet every single member of any police force at the moment theyjoin? if you want to seriously pick up cases like this that would need a massive overhaul and would probably be something that would be incredibly expensive. that is not necessarily something they could do overnight. but i think the issue for the force from this is that actually if they had simply gone to the school he had left a few months earlier and said, "could you give us a reference?

the school might well have flagged up that one of the teachers was deeply concerned about one of the things he said in the school assembly about brexit and an essay he was going to submit as part of his sixth form studies. maybe this could all have been avoided if they had talked to the school about the ben hannam the school had known as opposed to the ben hannam as he presented himself on his application form. a man has been found guilty of murdering lorraine cox, who disappeared after a night out with friends in exeter last year. azam mangori, who's 2a, had denied killing lorraine cox, but he admitted preventing a lawful burial. the court heard that he dismembered her body — some of her remains were found in an alleyway in exeter, others in woods just outside the city. a warning, jon kay's report does contain distressing details. lorraine cox thought she was safe on the streets of exeter.

but walking alone after a night out with friends last september she was being followed by a stranger. the man with a blue circle above him was 24—year—old azam mangori. cctv shows him shadowing her through the empty city centre. for several minutes. then he crosses the road to chat to her. the jury was shown this footage of azam mangori leading 32—year—old lorraine back to his flat above a fast food outlet. there he murdered her and dismembered her body. over the next few days he tried to conceal his crime, buying plastic sheeting and air fresheners. hiding evidence, sending fake messages, placing her remains in bags and disposing of them in bins. mangori even took a taxi to bury

body parts at a local beauty spot. mangori told the court that lorraine had died accidentally after drinking and taking drugs. he claimed he panicked because he was a failed asylum seeker and thought he could be deported back to iraq. this case has resonated in exeter especially with the national campaign against violence to women. she is forgotten already, for lorraine cox. what makes this case even more shocking is that this is not the first time lorraine cox was the victim of a serious crime. just a few years before she was murdered she was sexually assaulted here in exeter by another man in an unrelated attack. in a region of the uk that has one of the lowest crime rates what has happened to lorraine cox has provoked dismay,

disgust and disbelief. after the verdict speaking after the verdict, devon and cornwall police gave their reaction. i'v e i've seen the cctv footage in this case and it's really chilling how he stocked lorraine. chose to pursue his own needs and desires over the life of another human being. he's going to pay the consequent of that. his subsequent activity to try and pretend that lorraine was still alive and delay the course of justice and his attempts to dispose of the relevant evidence just goes to the heart of the individual we are dealing with here. this is an evil person who deserves to be locked up. borisjohnson�*s senior adviser on ethnic minorities is to stand down. samuel kasumu will leave the role next month. he had previously handed in his resignation in february

before retracting it. downing street sources have rejected suggestions his departure was linked to the findings of an official report on race and ethnic disparities — which was published yesterday. speaking about his advisor�*s departure, borisjohnson said mr kasumu had done valuable work increasing vaccine uptake among ethnic minorities. i've worked very closely with samuel in the last year or so. and he's done some great stuff, and i thank him very much, particularly on helping to encourage vaccine take up amongst more hesitant groups and communities. actually we are seeing some real success there. it is true that different groups have been coming forward at different paces but everyone is increasing their take—up and i thank him very much to that. on the race review, it has been largely condemned by people of colour and equality campaigners, are they wrong? look, this is a very interesting piece of work. i don't think the government

will agree with absolutely everything in it but it has some original and stimulating work in it which i think people need to read and to consider. there are very serious issues that our society faces to do with racism that we need to address. we have got to do more to fix it. we need to understand the severity of the problem and we will look at all the ideas they have put forward and we will make oui’ response. the accusation is you have rigged the report by picking commissioners who have previously dismissed institutional racism and then, surprise, surprise, they say this is not a problem. if you look at it they have come forward with about 2k interesting ideas to promote equality and to promote equality of opportunity, to give people of all communities, all races, all backgrounds of this country more opportunity, but also to understand the true

nature of the barriers and the discrimination they unquestionably feel. so there are some interesting i won't say we agree with every word but we're going to be responding in due course. author and historian, david olusoga — is professor of public history at the university of manchester. hejoins me now. thank you very much for being with us on bbc news this afternoon. very striking that the resignation letter and then retracted in february he described the commission as having the potential to better explain an alternative worldview on race relations in britain. one that was distinctively hours as a conservative, one that spoke to individuals like they had agency over their lives, won that better explains inequality in britain. is that what you think the commission tried to achieve if not didn't

achieve in its report yesterday? i don't think that was the ambition of the report and i wish it had been. i think another phrase in his resignation, retracted resignation has a lot more to say about what this report is really about. he spoke then about the politics of division. and that's really what this report is been created to agenda and that's why it was delivered into the news media in such a bizarre way. you delivered into the news media in such a bizarre way.— delivered into the news media in such a bizarre way. you mean that actually intentionally _ such a bizarre way. you mean that actually intentionally designed - such a bizarre way. you mean that actually intentionally designed to l actually intentionally designed to stoke up division? i actually intentionally designed to stoke up division?— stoke up division? i think it's designed _ stoke up division? i think it's designed to _ stoke up division? i think it's designed to attack— stoke up division? i think it's| designed to attack strongmen stoke up division? i think it's - designed to attack strongmen and create false enemies that don't really exist. it's designed to suggest that we have a choice in this country, we can look at issues around class or we can assume that there is issues around race. everybody i know is involved in thinking and writing about race is fully aware in rights and speaks about the interplay between race and class. understand that there are multiple forms of the ways in which

disadvantage and prejudiced operating, they operate along lines of class, race, gender everyone is well aware of this was up there is lots of strongmen that are failed in this report. things i don't think anyone ones actually saying. i notice a lot of people on social media were accusing reports of officers of engaging the process of gas lighting. otherwise getting people to doubt their own experience. you retreated without comment at the stage i saw twitter, a comment we heard about the caribbean experience. was pretty dismissive about the use of that phrase will stop do you think there is gas lighting? do you think it is designed to have the effect of undermining peoples confidence in their own experience? i undermining peoples confidence in their own experience?— undermining peoples confidence in their own experience? i don't know what the motivations _ their own experience? i don't know what the motivations of _ their own experience? i don't know what the motivations of the - their own experience? i don't know| what the motivations of the authors are and i could speak to that. i think it's quite obvious given the nature of the head of this commission that he doesn't believe

in institutional racism. therefore he was always going to report accordingly. the fact that the governments now admitted that many people who gave evidence to the report didst peak about their experience and institutional races and that doesn't appear in the report. i think that is disturbing. again, ithink report. i think that is disturbing. again, i think this is a report about false binaries and strongmen. people don't say brinson institutionally raises country because britain is not an institution. people talk about racism existing in many institutions. i think this report shows that the government has been left behind company after company organisation at the organisation is looking at these structures, looking at their practices and cultures and trying to take the spirit of that the spirit of black ice mirrors seriously to try and create the society we want, the society in which people are are in charge and our life chances are determined by race the same as the class and gender or sexuality. race the same as the class and gender orsexuality. but race the same as the class and gender or sexuality. but we don't do that by denying it. this is a report that by denying it. this is a report thatis that by denying it. this is a report that is full of claims that no one is really making. which it then

dismisses. is really making. which it then dismisses-_ is really making. which it then dismisses. ~ . �*, , dismisses. what's interesting in the conservative _ dismisses. what's interesting in the conservative party _ dismisses. what's interesting in the conservative party terms _ dismisses. what's interesting in the conservative party terms about - dismisses. what's interesting in the conservative party terms about this| conservative party terms about this is when teresa mae became prime minister she commissioned work about race inequalities and life experience of black, asian and other ethnic minority groups in britain. and that work was undertaken, she called her to raise audit. that work was never completed. and then the successive government moved on to this approach. do you think there was a missed opportunity they are or was a missed opportunity they are or was even that pursuing an agenda that you don't think was particularly constructive? i think there has been _ particularly constructive? i think there has been a _ particularly constructive? i think there has been a profound - particularly constructive? i think i there has been a profound change particularly constructive? i think - there has been a profound change in how seriously we take race issues in britain and london this current government compared to others. i think this report speaks to a mentality which is about division. i think he was right and his resignation that was retracted last month. this is about the politics of division. this is creating a false choice. race and class intersect and

all sorts of ways and everybody writing about this except that. this report keeps making defences of attacks that aren't being made. it keeps talking about things which aren't really happening. it says that white authors are being taken out of curriculums. that's not is what happening for that what happens is curriculums are being brought into have the voices of non—white people. this report is full of these strange claims which he then defends the country against which no one is making. these are falsehoods in the minds of the authors of this report that they then want to disparage. you said that his not achieved he said in his original resignation letter he had hoped it would achieve. putting the commission aside, what could the government most use of the lead be doing in terms of addressing some of the issues you highlighted? and the interaction of equalities, thieves talked a lot about leveling up geographically but perhaps less about leveling up in terms of class and ethnicity. i about leveling up in terms of class and ethnicity-—

and ethnicity. i thinki could look at the evidence _ and ethnicity. i thinki could look at the evidence of _ and ethnicity. i thinki could look at the evidence of the _ and ethnicity. i think i could look. at the evidence of the commission ignored. evidence shows the connection between race and class. evidence that shows clusters of inequality and unequal outcomes in all sorts of aspects of british life particularly the criminal justice system. the report is significant for what it didn't look at for as much as it did look at. they're good recommendations in this report. it's not something i entirely reject but it's full of strains assertion of attacks on britain on on institutions which aren't really happening. it characterises the debate about race and it's actually quite childish. when it comes to talk to talking to british history i don't recognise at all that history or the relationship with british history that it describes. it's almost as if they have never read any of the history they are talking about. this is a very strange and slightly amateurish report as well as a disturbing lawn.— as a disturbing lawn. professor david olusoga _ as a disturbing lawn. professor david olusoga thank— as a disturbing lawn. professor david olusoga thank you - as a disturbing lawn. professor david olusoga thank you for i as a disturbing lawn. professor| david olusoga thank you for the as a disturbing lawn. professor - david olusoga thank you for the time this afternoon.

the latest figures from the office for national statistics show that. the percentage of people testing positive for covid—i9 in the week ending 27 march decreased in england toi in 370. in scotland, in the same week, the figure dropped to i in 320. in northern ireland, it'si in 220. and in wales, where new measures for easing lockdown have been announced, it was i in 570. the figures don't include people living in care homes, hospitals or other institutional settings. tim spector is a professor of genetic epidemiology at king's college london and the principal investigator of the zoe covid symptom study app. hejoins me now. thanks very much for being with us. you talked about the app many times before and the value of it as a way of people keeping up to date, reporting symptoms and you trying to bring that information together. what is it telling you at the moment about the extent of covid infection in the uk? we about the extent of covid infection in the uk? ~ ., , about the extent of covid infection in the uk? ~ . , , ,

in the uk? we measure slightly different to _ in the uk? we measure slightly different to the _ in the uk? we measure slightly different to the ons _ in the uk? we measure slightly different to the ons in - in the uk? we measure slightly different to the ons in that - in the uk? we measure slightly different to the ons in that we | in the uk? we measure slightly i different to the ons in that we get a number of new cases as opposed to the number of existing cases in total. ourfindings are broadly in line with what they are saying. we are just a little line with what they are saying. we arejust a little bit line with what they are saying. we are just a little bit of head of them in terms of the latest data which is showing us that we are now about 3800 cases a day. it's now been moving down fast again in the last week compared to a two week period where it really, nothing happened. we think that was because of schools going back and a slight increase in the younger part of the population. but it's all looking pretty good now. we are saying about one in 1000 people have symptomatic infections. which is starting to get low in where we were perhaps injune last year. so overall, it's looking pretty good. we are seeing about a

threefold difference between some regions. there are still differences but in general the trends are really good. particularly when you put it into context of other countries like france which has about seven times the rate that we currently do, it's going in the opposite direction. generally, it's pretty good news. i wanted to ask you about that because it will be for many people baffling. they will look at a couple of things, they will look at those figures on the uk and was i had on a minute, all the countries have had the same medical advice, basically. although their pr may have been different they've chosen individual dates probably they've all been operating in the same environment. yet the figures are still slightly different, dramatically so it wales seems to be doing significantly better. can you explain why things should be so much worse in a country like france with it again has tried to respond to public health data? is it simply explained by different politicaljudgements, was it more

complicated than that my question gives the impression? i complicated than that my question gives the impression?— gives the impression? i think we have to do _ gives the impression? i think we have to do very _ gives the impression? i think we have to do very much _ gives the impression? i think we have to do very much be - gives the impression? i think we have to do very much be humble gives the impression? i think we - have to do very much be humble when we're dealing with this fire and epidemics that it's not really totally and our hands what happens. we saw this earlier in the year when wales had in early spike as did scotland in about november, if you remember. at that time the south of the country and london was really unaffected for at least a month, six weeks. we never really explained why that happened. and we didn't explain these big regional differences we saw in our own country. we always like to blame politicians or blame students or children or evil partying or whatever it is. but very often these viruses seem to have a life of their own, a will of their own. something sets them off. they

could be very unpredictable. that's definitely true one we start looking at the confident when we see france which didn't really have a big peak when we did in december and january. for reasons again unclear. when we were hit terribly and there was a lot of cross channel transport stop and now they are having real problems. where as spain right next to france is, had a peek at the same time as us and has come down like us and has rates only slightly higher than ours. i think we have to take the picture that we are in control of the situation. except once we vaccinate. and i think that's what we're seeing it now. our data is showing the rates in the over 60 says really dropped to virtually nothing. because this group has now received one shot of the vaccine. i think we just have to take an

approach that we can't really explain everything that's going on we've just got to look at the data. yes, look at the dater and that old advice to shoot the messenger. thank you very much for being with us. george floyd's girlfriend, courteney ross, has been giving emotional testimony in court today, on the fourth day of the trial of derek chauvin, the former police officer accused of killing him. previous days of the trial saw several witnesses breaking down on the stand as they described their attempts to intervene. speaking in court, ms ross talked about the early days of her relationship with mr floyd. just about every day we sorry other as much as we possibly could. where there times where you are not as close? ~ ., _, , , ., as close? like all couples we argued sometimes and _ as close? like all couples we argued sometimes and it _ as close? like all couples we argued sometimes and it might've - as close? like all couples we argued sometimes and it might've taken - as close? like all couples we argued sometimes and it might've taken a l sometimes and it might've taken a break but... like most couples? like most couples, i assume. did

break but... like most couples? like most couples, i assume.— most couples, i assume. did you learn whether _ most couples, i assume. did you learn whether he _ most couples, i assume. did you learn whether he was _ most couples, i assume. did you learn whether he was new - most couples, i assume. did you learn whether he was new to - learn whether he was new to minneapolis? {lib learn whether he was new to minneapolis?— learn whether he was new to minnea olis? , ., ., , ., minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories — minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories and _ minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories and tell _ minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories and tell me _ minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories and tell me he - minneapolis? oh yeah, our first date our histories and tell me he was - our histories and tell me he was from houston.— our histories and tell me he was from houston. what kinds of things that the two — from houston. what kinds of things that the two of— from houston. what kinds of things that the two of you _ from houston. what kinds of things that the two of you do _ from houston. what kinds of things that the two of you do together - from houston. what kinds of things i that the two of you do together when you would get together and do things? you would get together and do thins? ., .,, you would get together and do thins? . ., ., you would get together and do thins? . .,, ., . , you would get together and do thins? . ., ., . , things? that was new to the city so eve hinu things? that was new to the city so everything was _ things? that was new to the city so everything was new— things? that was new to the city so everything was new to _ things? that was new to the city so everything was new to him. - everything was new to him. everything was new to him. he made it seem like i was new to my own city. we liked to go to, he lived right by a lake, we like to go down there a lot and enjoy the outdoors. live to our correspondent

lebo diseko — she's in minneapolis. chauvin trial iso feedsprosecution iso np 33defence team iso np36judge and witness iso np 37> what have we learned in the course of the session so far? we what have we learned in the course of the session so far?— of the session so far? we learned that she had _ of the session so far? we learned that she had a _ of the session so far? we learned that she had a very _ of the session so far? we learned that she had a very close - that she had a very close relationship with george floyd. they were a couple on and off for some two and half, three years. the reason the prosecutor who wanted her to testify is to humanise george floyd and also to tackle head on this issue of drug addiction. they both used drugs together. they were both used drugs together. they were both recovering addicts, had relapses on various occasions, sometimes together sometime separately. i think the prosecution would want to show that this is an issue that affects all americans black, white from a fresh spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds as well. very often when it comes to police brutality cases involving

black people, there is a narrative around drug use that is used. actually, the family lawyer has released a statement saying that objecting to this narrative around george floyd and saying that he was walking, talking, breathing before he encountered derek shelving. we then saw the girlfriend cross—examined by the defense. they really took her to task on a number of things. one, they appointed out the questioning show that there were times when george floyd relapsed when she hadn't known and he took drugs that she did not know about. i suppose the line of thinking there is to show that she might not have known what he was taking on the day. also showing two discrepancies between what she had said on the stand, the testimony or statement she had given to the fbi. i guess they're trying to question her credibility a little bit. finally,

they showed but they tried to show they showed but they tried to show the two friends that are been with george floyd in the car had also in the past sold him drugs. one of those friends had been due to give evidence. he has now entered a statement saying that he wants to take the fifth, that he will not be giving evidence on the witness stand. i5 giving evidence on the witness stand. , ., , , , giving evidence on the witness stand. , . i, , ., giving evidence on the witness stand. , . , , , . stand. is there any sense that you aet stand. is there any sense that you net that stand. is there any sense that you get that the _ stand. is there any sense that you get that the prosecution _ stand. is there any sense that you get that the prosecution is - stand. is there any sense that you get that the prosecution is trying l get that the prosecution is trying to create an impression that perhaps either that george floyd was more aggressive than therefore the behaviour of the police was justified in some way or alternatively that his use of drugs might have contributed to his death? in other words another suspect restrained in the way with this leg leaning on his throat may not have succumbed? the leaning on his throat may not have succumbed?— leaning on his throat may not have succumbed? , . ., ., ., succumbed? the prosecution who are ”rosecutin succumbed? the prosecution who are prosecuting derek _ succumbed? the prosecution who are prosecuting derek chauvin _ succumbed? the prosecution who are prosecuting derek chauvin and - succumbed? the prosecution who are prosecuting derek chauvin and trying | prosecuting derek chauvin and trying to argue that his use of force was unreasonable, they are trying to show that george floyd posed no

threat. that even if he did have drugs in his system, even if he was somebody that was struggling with drug addiction, when he was taking drugs, he did not pose a threat and relayed that the drugs generally made him behave in a manner that was fairly calm. the defence are trying to show that he was erratic, he had taken drugs that had, they spoke about something called a speedball. so a combination of something that hypes you up or brings you down. his behaviour was unpredictable therefore derek chauvin use of force was reasonable. for the defence all they have to show is reasonable doubt about each of the three charges. doubt about each of the three char: es. , ., charges. underlines the how difficult it — charges. underlines the how difficult it has _ charges. underlines the how difficult it has been - charges. underlines the how difficult it has been in - charges. underlines the how difficult it has been in the i charges. underlines the how. difficult it has been in the past charges. underlines the how- difficult it has been in the past to prosecute police officers for crimes of this kind. thank you so much. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello, it feels colder for more of the country today and the reason for that as we have more of a breeze but the breeze is coming

in from the east or north—east from off a cold north sea so a drop in temperature is greatest compared to yesterday across northern and eastern parts of england's with the high—temperature stores are south—west. we do have more sunshine in scotland and northern ireland compared to yesterday. more cloud coming and going across other parts of england and wales through this evening and overnight, where we have clearer skies in scotland and northern ireland were likely to have a frost, possibly down to “4 in sheltered and centred parts of scotland. the frost makes its way down to england and wales where the is more variable. more cloud tomorrow coming down the eastern side of england and we should see a brightening up later but the sunnier skies are further west across northern ireland, wales and the south—west. temperature here are no better than 13 degrees. it is even colder than that for the east. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines.

a serving metropolitan police officer has been convicted of membership of a banned neo—nazi terrorist organisation. benjamin hannam is the first british officer to be convicted of a terrorism offence. a 2a year old man has been found guilty of murdering lorraine cox last summer. she disappeared after a night out in exeter. the prime minister's senior adviser on ethnic minorities, samuel kasumu, is to leave the role. borisjohnson says it's not related to the controversial government report about race. the fourth day of the trial of derek chauvin — the former police officer accused of killing george floyd — is underway. george floyd's girlfriend is giving evidence. around one in 370 people in england had covid—19 in the week to march 27 — down slightly from the previous week, according to new figures. sport and for a full round up,

from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh ferris. leicester manager brendan rodgers sez it's �*great news�* their fa cup semi final against southampton will be selected as the first football event to pilot the return of fans. the government's reported to have picked the game on the 18th april. the second of the two matches at wembley that weekend. to have four thousand supporters attending. but it's understood they won't be fans of the two teams. instead they're likely to be local residents and possibly some health workers too. the fa cup final in may is also one of the pilot events. i think it is great news that it is a start and support back in the stadiums and it may look small, but i think it's the access for supporters, and of course, both teams would've loved to have been their own supporters, given the opportunity but at least, we are making movements towards supporters coming back. so, that is great news.

uefa are considering whether to allow squads at euro 2020 to have more than the normal 23 players. the coronavirus pandemic has already led to the tournament but with cases rising across mainland europe, being delayed by a year. but with cases rising across mainland europe, and the difficulty of postponing any matches, uefa may well let coaches select a bigger squad to cope should there be any positive tests within a camp. i know there's some discussion about perhaps an extended number, i am not certain i am behind that. i know covid—19 could play a part but i think there is a skill to picking 23 and it means you've got to make good decisions and important decisions and i think some of that can be lost as you get an extended group and so, yeah, let us see how that develops. but i am not 100% for it, i have to say. real madrid captain sergio ramos is expected to miss both legs of their champions league quarter final because

of a calf injury. the defender picked up the problem on internatoinal duty with spain and his club revealed the nature of the injury this afternoon. reports suggest ramos could now be out for up to a month. he'll also likely miss the latest clasico against barcelona, which is between the two liverpool games. yeovil town have announced their captain lee collins has died at the age of 32. the national league club have postponed their game against altrincham tomorrow after revealing he passed away yesterday. the defender played his last game in february, but was on the bench for yeovil�*s match against barnet on saturday. they say their thoughts and prayers are with his family. lee collins, who's died at the age of 32. worcester warriors wing chris ashton has been banned for six weeks after his red card for dangerous play against northampton on saturday. that means the former england international will miss all but the last two premiership games. as his suspension will end on the first ofjune. worcester are seven points adrift at the bottom of the table helena rowland will start at flyhalf for england's opening

women's six nations match against scotland on saturday. the number 10 shirt was up for grabs following the retirement of world cup winning captain katy daly—mclean. and head coach simon middleton sez rowland's main competitor for the position. zoe harrison of saracens who was due to be on the bench has been dropped because of a breach of covid protocols. she was selected onto the bench but we have a few protocols in place that are integral to the environment and in the morning on a regular basis and, so he, slight misdemeanor with reporting and in they will be out for this game. that's all the sport for now. about half of the field already out on the course for their first round for the inspiration. you

on the course for their first round for the inspiration.— for the inspiration. you can check out the latest _ for the inspiration. you can check out the latest scores _ for the inspiration. you can check out the latest scores at _ for the inspiration. you can check out the latest scores at bbc. i for the inspiration. you can check out the latest scores at bbc. and j for the inspiration. you can check i out the latest scores at bbc. and of course on the bbc sports app. sports they will be in an hour but that is it from me for now. today is the first day that four million people who've been shielding in england and wales will no longer be advised to stay home. they are still being advised to minimise social contacts, to work from home where possible, and to stay at a distance from other people. rob smith has muscular dystrophy and lives in a flat by himself in hull. it is lovely to speak to you. first day, how's it been?— it is lovely to speak to you. first day, how's it been? strange. very stranae, day, how's it been? strange. very strange, really. _ day, how's it been? strange. very strange, really. i— day, how's it been? strange. very strange, really. ithought- day, how's it been? strange. very strange, really. i thought you i day, how's it been? strange. very i strange, really. i thought you would be difficult at first but i had a letter a few days ago, just saying that shielding is finally coming to an end. but of course, it is not as simple as that and the people who

have been locked in for almost a year now, the thought of going out there and rejoining the human race, so to speak, i am very anxious, you know. mixing with people again and doing the stuff i used to do before. and i have been out today, but it is certainly not like it used to be, ? is it necessary and am i going to be close to people. so, you have to weigh all of that up as a risk of going out where as before, you would not think twice. . i5 going out where as before, you would not think twice. ._ not think twice. . is been hard for us of been _ not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able _ not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able to _ not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able to carry _ not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able to carry on - not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able to carry on a i not think twice. . is been hard for us of been able to carry on a trip| us of been able to carry on a trip going to flats to quite understand what it means. what space have you beenin what it means. what space have you been in for that, i suppose there's been in for that, i suppose there's been no space, flat with no garden

and i must�*ve thought a bit like a safe space, but also your cell. certainly a very small one bedroom flat and that is no garden. it is ok for one person but when you're on your own, and you'rejust for one person but when you're on your own, and you're just looking at the same four walls, the room seems to get smaller, almost. and all i can do is look out the window and watch people walking by on a lovely sunny day is horrible. it's a horrible feeling. this not being able to have that freedom that people have to go out when they want to and feeling almost trapped within these four walls, you know? bill to and feeling almost trapped within these four walls, you know? biigi these four walls, you know? all of these four walls, you know? all of the reasons _ these four walls, you know? all of the reasons why _ these four walls, you know? all of the reasons why everybody - these four walls, you know? all of the reasons why everybody knows the reasons people are asked to do this, but it's been a big sacrifice and particularly a sacrifice for you because you had a dog, you own a dog and he had been the very important part of your life, a very important

friend to you, but you have had to be without him for his own sake. yeah. and that's been hard because one of my best friends. you spend a lot of time together and you can imagine, so, you have to take a moment to look after him and me being on my own without him here is been really hard and used to walk him every day and not being allowed to do that, that has affected my physical well—being as well because exercise to me is vital. and i have muscular dystrophy so without the exercise on a daily basis, they can deteriorate very quickly and indeed it has done. and having him here was a massive help and not only physically, emotionally. yeah, it has been very tough.—

physically, emotionally. yeah, it has been very tough. when are you auoin to has been very tough. when are you going to get _ has been very tough. when are you going to get him — has been very tough. when are you going to get him back? _ has been very tough. when are you going to get him back? there i has been very tough. when are you going to get him back? there has i going to get him back? there has been a lot more _ going to get him back? there has been a lot more easing _ going to get him back? there has been a lot more easing of - going to get him back? there has been a lot more easing of the i been a lot more easing of the lockdown, so i've been able to go out for walks with him and so i do kind of have him injust under half of the week and my partner works from home and so she takes care of him and sometimes i'm able to take a month for a walk. whereas before, i would have them seven days a week. we are seeing pictures of him now and these are probably from earlier today by our colleagues at bbc look north to mark your first, as today by our colleagues at bbc look north to mark yourfirst, as it were, escaped from captivity. i guess from what you said, it's that confidence in being able to trust your surroundings and trust yourself outside and help regain the strength in your muscles and what are you

looking forward most of doing now? i reallyjust want to get back to really just want to get back to being the person i was before this started that may sound dramatic to people watching but it really has had a massive effect on me. i mean, i've almost entirely gone into myself and hates to be very outgoing person, very chatty and friendly but because you're not talking to somebody all day, you're quiet and just get used to not talking, i know it's on strange but to be able to get out and mix with people again, i mean, i do have a part—timejob in they'll be good to get back to that and interact with people and just do the things that people take for granted. it isjust the things that people take for granted. it is just amazing to think, so amazing they can mean so much when it's taken away from you. so just looking forward really to hopefully getting back to where was

before it started.— before it started. though split been able to help — before it started. though split been able to help you. — before it started. though split been able to help you, you _ before it started. though split been able to help you, you mentioned i before it started. though split been i able to help you, you mentioned your partner in particular of course, which must�*ve been an enormous help. i mean, my partner is been absolutely amazing and i cannot think her enough for what she has done for me. but i have to say, it is been a very disappointing service, obviously on the whole, because without them i would not had any help at all. i think i had to food deliveries in the year of lockdown and i think i've had to phone calls in the time to see how i am emotionally. it got to the point where i've actually called them samaritans on two occasions because i was so low, i felt so alone and at my lowest point and i thought who can i talk to? and for me to do

that, it takes a lot because i am generally a very positive get so low, it was very frightening place to be. �* ., low, it was very frightening place tobe. ., ., , to be. and he reminded that anybody can have those _ to be. and he reminded that anybody can have those feelings _ to be. and he reminded that anybody can have those feelings and - to be. and he reminded that anybody can have those feelings and that i can have those feelings and that kind of help and the samaritans were able to help you release give your voice to talk to.— voice to talk to. they were. it's aood to voice to talk to. they were. it's good to be _ voice to talk to. they were. it's good to be able _ voice to talk to. they were. it's good to be able to _ voice to talk to. they were. it's good to be able to talk - voice to talk to. they were. it's good to be able to talk to i voice to talk to. they were. it's i good to be able to talk to somebody who was maybe not associated with that because obviously, you do not want to put that burden on your family. you do not want to worry them. so, ijust kept it to myself i suppose, my partner knew this but she was there every day and at the end of the phone for me. and without her, it will be a very tough year, so i owe them a lot. we her, it will be a very tough year, so i owe them a lot.— so i owe them a lot. we are delighted — so i owe them a lot. we are delighted to _ so i owe them a lot. we are delighted to be _ so i owe them a lot. we are delighted to be able - so i owe them a lot. we are delighted to be able to i so i owe them a lot. we are l delighted to be able to speak so i owe them a lot. we are i delighted to be able to speak with you. good luck in the coming days

and weeks, will be quite an adjustment but i'm sure that we look back, you'll be glad you made the adjustment. and good luck for you and your partner. there will be allowed to reopen on the 20th of april which is when people will be allowed to travel in and out of wells. the first minister of wales mark drakeford has confirmed the next steps in lifting covid restrictions. non—essential businsesses will be allowed to reopen on 12th april, which is also when people will be allowed to travel in and out of the country. pubs, restaurants and cafes can open their outdoor areas from 26th april. our wales correspondent mark hutchings has all the details. it's something to drink to, a date for the reopening of beer gardens around wales, as here at a rural pub on the outskirts of cardiff. the owner, rob pearson, says last year's financial assault course has sent any longer—term retirement thoughts back five years or so, so it's crucial these latest

easing of restrictions is made to work. we had last year and it was chop and change, chop and change, chop and change. we are hoping that this time it's going to be you are open, you are good to go, outdoors, another month, indoors, some normality going into the summer and people can't wait to come back to a pub, notjust to have a good drink, they can't wait to see friends and socialise, have a chat, good food, good company. so, in detail, subject to confirmation, on april the 12th all shops and contact services can open and all pupils return to school. travel in and out of wales is allowed. on april the 26th, outdoor hospitality can resume, including cafes and restaurants, as well as beer gardens. indoor gyms can start again for individuals on may the 10th. a week after, outdoor group sport for adults. and from may the 17th, organised indoor activities can resume. this is a significant package of measures, a series of steps forward in ourjourney back towards normality, and will give everybody a sense of life returning again. plaid cymru have accused the welsh labour government of taking too long to provide

businesses with more certainty. the welsh conservatives say gyms should open earlier and the welsh liberal democrats say there needs to be a plan for those who face losing theirjobs or homes. wales has already partially opened up and today's news helps fill in some of the blanks in the calendar, although not soon enough for some. there is one other significant date, may 6th, when voters will decide the next welsh government. it's proving to be a significant springtime in wales. mark hutchings, bbc news, cardiff. some restrictions in northern ireland have been eased today — up to 6 people from two households are now allowed to meet in a private garden. and up to 10 people from 2 households can meet in a public outdoor space. this from our ireland correspondent chris page. the last time rackets were swung here was christmas eve. butjust before easter, tennis has returned. at windsor in south belfast, coaches were back on court taking lessons at seven o'clock this morning. we've had a beautiful day for it. it's the best day in a long time. we have been busy.

we've had all five courts going for the last couple of hours. the booking system says it will be busy right the way through till 9pm. so, for the first time in 2021, the service and slices and smashes are coming thick and fast at clubs like this. for people who've missed their favourite sport, today marks a turning point. sunshine, singles. superb. absolutely fabulous to be back. looking forward to a season of great tennis. yes, i havejust about got my breath back. it shows how we have missed tennis. great to be back. it isjust fantastic, for the mental well—being, as well as physical. so golfers at two o'clock, so i've got to go. golfers have been taking to the fairways and greens since daybreak. at rockmount, just outside the city, a sense of relief that the game has got going again. i am not alone in saying i found| the second lockdown a lot more difficult than the first lockdown.

so it is very important to see people out playing golf- and enjoying themselves, i and of course getting exercise. there has also been a minor change in the retail sector. garden centres can operate click and collect services. but their owners say it's no substitute for full reopening. whilst we will do click and collect and give it our best shot, it is just not the same as being open properly. so fingers crossed for good news in the next couple of weeks. it is understood ministers in the devolved governments are meeting this afternoon to discuss some further easing of the rules later this month. but health officials are asking people not to let their guard down over this holiday weekend. fewer than 20 percent of people who have symptoms police investigating the disappearance of a 19—year—old student in london have expanded their search into essex, where he has been seen on cctv cameras. richard okoro—gheye, who has sickle cell disease, left his family home in west london more than a week ago.

detective superintendent danny gosling from the met police gave this update. we have conducted a number of inquiries into his mobile phone activities and his financial activities and his financial activities and his financial activities and where able to identify that he paid for a taxi which brought him here and having spoken to the taxi driver, we were confident that this is his last sighting in past midnight into the early hours of tuesday the 23rd. the national living wage has gone up by 19 pence, to £8.91 an hour. the government says it means a pay rise for about two million people on the lowest wages. but hundreds of thousands of low—paid workers on furlough won't get the increase. google is to place limits on future remote working for its employees, as part of plans to reopen its offices.

the tech giant says its staff will have to apply to work from home, if they want to do so more than fourteen days in a year. google says it will continue its remote working arrangements until september, but people can voluntarily return to its us offices from next month. the life and legacy of diana, princess of wales' is to be recognised with a blue plaque in london. it's thought it could be placed at her earl's court flat, where she lived before her marriage to prince charles. english heritage says it will be one of six new plaques dedicated to pioneering women. the organisation says it is continuing to try and address the gender imbalance in the scheme which was set up 150 years ago. anna eavis is the english heritage's curatorial director — she told my colleaguejane hill about the criteria nominated people have to meet to receive a plaque. as long as the candidate meets three important conditions, it has to do something incredible, make incredible contribution to society. they have to have been dead for 20 years and there needs to be a london building with which they are

associated. that building needs to survive. so, what happens is we receive nominations and in this case, the nomination came through the london assembly. they had conducted a campaign inviting people to nominate more women for plaques. it then goes to our panel, an expert panel that consider our nominations and we put up around 12 every year, but we get a lot more nominations than that, so it is competitive. i5 than that, so it is competitive. is it not other parts of the country? and that not be part of the process? english heritage happens to run the london scheme. there are many plaque schemes run by local authorities, civic trusts and then london, there are other schemes and itjust happens that the london blue plaques scheme that also have in 1866 has transferred to us in 1986 having been run by the glc in the london

county council and that is outcome or schemas london focused. find county council and that is outcome or schemas london focused. and yes there are other— or schemas london focused. and yes there are other schemes _ or schemas london focused. and yes there are other schemes and - or schemas london focused. and yes there are other schemes and people| there are other schemes and people might be used to spotting them on local buildings and wondering who makes that ultimate decision, actually. diana, princess of wales was decided, particularly for the campaigning charity work, how is that ultimate decision reached? you're right. that is the reason, really. diana was by any standards, and extraordinarily significant figure in the late 20th century britain in the world, really. she was very famous, wasn't she? she had great personal charisma and warmth, she seemed to be able to connect with everyone she met but, i think it was the fact that she put all of that to great use, particularly in her help in the stigmatizing hiv, aids in the early 90s and it's very

important photographs are taken of her shaking the hand and holding the hand of aids sufferers and also the work that she did with the red cross on landmines towards the end of her life and the panel felt that she was absolutely a worthy candidate for a plaque. absolutely a worthy candidate for a ”laue. , ., .,y absolutely a worthy candidate for a dame, , . . absolutely a worthy candidate for a lauue. ., . , now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett. a dry bright afternoon and the biggest change we and the biggest change have had highs of 19 degrer the we have had highs of 19 degrees. at the same time, one area that is been very warm airfor the the same time, one area that is been very warm air for the past few days, link and share with the cloud coming off the north sea was only nine celsius. cloud did break up to get some late sunshine, but the cloud is coming back in across parts of england overnight but also if feeding into areas of scotland overnight. in particular scotland away from the cloud in the north, there will be some frustr around.

the frost extends into northern england and wales and also parts of the mittens too. and right of the easter weekend it remains on the cold side with further frosted night but on easter, it remains particularly cold in the wind and we could have some winter showers around too. the odd showers possible, on the coast of easter scotland, northeast on the inland, we get some sunshine. the cloud filters its way further west and have the sunshine and also the sunshine in northern ireland after that cold start. 1a degrees with the high on friday and more eastern areas in the uk, we are struggling up areas in the uk, we are struggling up to nine or 10 celsius. cooler air having pushed on across the uk and trapped underneath that area of high pressure, at least it's keeping us fine dry. but the breeze off the north sea, we can expect more cloud and practice for a while into the mittens too. for many other western and northern parts of the uk, we should enjoy it some sunshine,

temptress lifting across scotland but again, the highest temperatures around 13 degrees. heading into easter sunday, does not look too bad across most of england and wales, leiter wins in the south with some sunshine and further on, they will expand the rain coming down into scotland and northern ireland. behind that, it does turn wintry in the temptress or instructor drop way it should be a less cold day in the sunshine and later winds for the eastern side of england. but it gets colder everywhere in time for easter monday. the uk bringing in some rain and there's all the wintry weather falling from behind and we can trace the winds all the way back from the arctic is a real arctic blast of air for the east of monday and feeling colder and the wind and there could be some sleet and snow showers as well.

tonight at six — the first british police officer to be convicted of a terrorist offence. 22—year—old benjamin hannam, a probationary officer with the metropolitan police, was a member of the banned far—right neo—nazi group national action. why did you join a terrorist organisation and then join the police? he was also found guilty of fraud for lying on his police application form. never before has a serving police officer been prosecuted for being a member of a terrorist group. his conviction is the latest in a series of damaging incidents for scotland yard. we'll be looking at the impact on the uk's largest force. also tonight... murdered by a stranger — a man is found guilty of killing lorraine cox after she went missing after a night out with friends.