a "culture of cover up," after hundreds of children suffered sexual abuse at council run homes. it happened in lambeth from the 1960s to the 1990s. the council has issued an unreserved apology, but victims say it's too late. i don't care what lambeth have apologised for. their apologies are meaningless, it doesn't mean anything. because if they meant what they said, then they would've sorted this out and they would've got this done a long time ago. despite hundreds of complaints, only one member of staff at a children's home was ever disciplined. also on the programme — as more get vaccinated,

covid cases fall for the seventh day in a row, but daily deaths rise. so what's going on? candy bu gold and silver? yes! double joy for team gb in tokyo. gold and silver in the same race for the first time in over 100 years. 6,000 miles away in maidenhead, pandemonium, as tom dean's family, savour his victory. but there's a major upset as superstar american gymnast simone biles pulls out of the team final to focus on her "mental health". and coming up on the bbc news channel, bronze for bianca walkden, after a heartbreaking loss in the tae kwon do semifinal.

good evening, and welcome to the bbc news at six. an official inquiry has heard that hundreds of children in the care of lambeth council in south london, were abused on a scale that was "hard to comprehend" over many years, from the 1960s to the 1990s. more than 700 former residents complained about sexual abuse at five children's homes, butjust one senior member of staff was ever disciplined. the independent child abuse inquiry says the local authority was distracted by political arguments, and the children were treated as if they were worthless. lambeth council has made an unreserved apology to the victims. our home editor mark easton has the story. a chance conversation between a music producer and a friend he knew

from a south london children's home is what led to the worst child sexual abuse scandal in british history being uncovered. this video features some of hundreds of survivors from care homes and foster families in lambeth, people who, according to today's enquiry report, suffered almost an compensable cruelty from dozens of abusers over four decades. i cruelty from dozens of abusers over four decades-_ four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed- _ four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed- i— four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed. i felt _ four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed. i felt like _ four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed. ifelt like i- four decades. i felt dirty, i felt ashamed. i felt like i had - four decades. i felt dirty, i felt i ashamed. i felt like i had nobody four decades. i felt dirty, i felt - ashamed. i felt like i had nobody to ashamed. ifelt like i had nobody to listen to me. ashamed. i felt like i had nobody to listen to me-_ ashamed. i felt like i had nobody to listen to me— listen to me. i've got eight siblings. — listen to me. i've got eight siblings, and all— listen to me. i've got eight siblings, and all of- listen to me. i've got eight siblings, and all of us - listen to me. i've got eight siblings, and all of us have listen to me. i've got eight - siblings, and all of us have been through— siblings, and all of us have been through the care system, through lambetn — through the care system, through lambeth. each and every one of them has gone _ lambeth. each and every one of them has gone through horrific abuse. | has gone through horrific abuse. cannot has gone through horrific abuse. i cannot forgive lambeth for what they have done to me or my family. and no amount of money that they've paid out is going to put right what they done wrong. out is going to put right what they done wrong-— done wrong. today's report identifies _ done wrong. today's report identifies a _ done wrong. today's report identifies a culture - done wrong. today's report identifies a culture of - done wrong. today's report - identifies a culture of cover-up. identifies a culture of cover—up. police failed to follow up evidence leads, in particular links between perpetrators. lambeth council gave known abusers unimpeded access to

children, despite 33 council and police investigations into child abuse involving lambeth, they have been only six convictions and only one senior council employee has ever been disciplined. the report says that children in the care of lambeth council were treated as worthless, pawns in a toxic power game that inspired a vicious culture that left sex offenders feeling untouchable and children as captive victims. there was such a culture of cover—up that you need to look at the whole environment to make sure that you really get to the heart of why this happened, and that is our role to get to the heart of why this happened, and to do that, you need to poke in every corner, and every corner we poke in here, we found something wrong. this corner we poke in here, we found something wrong.— corner we poke in here, we found something wrong. this used to be a music production _ something wrong. this used to be a music production office. _ something wrong. this used to be a music production office. we - music production office. we turned it into _ music production office. we turned it into an_ music production office. we turned it into an investigations room. it it into an investigations room. [it is a it into an investigations room. is a measure it into an investigations room. it is a measure of the establishment's failure that it took the abuse survivors themselves to piece together the full scale and horror of what had happened.—

together the full scale and horror of what had happened. these are care records. of what had happened. these are care records- we — of what had happened. these are care records. we have _ of what had happened. these are care records. we have 1600 _ of what had happened. these are care records. we have 1600 care _ records. we have 1600 care records~ _ records. we have 1600 care records- - -— records. we have 1600 care records... ., ,, records... raymond stevenson, himself abused _ records... raymond stevenson, himself abused at _ records... raymond stevenson, himself abused at a _ records... raymond stevenson, himself abused at a home, - records... raymond stevenson, l himself abused at a home, turned records... raymond stevenson, - himself abused at a home, turned his music production office into an incident room. pm music production office into an incident room.— music production office into an incident room. �* . , ., incident room. an equal number of case files and _ incident room. an equal number of case files and references... - case files and references... survivors association has helped hundreds of victims claim more than £75 million in compensation from lambeth council, and there are many more. this afternoon, dozens of survivors assembled to give their verdict on the enquiry report. this is a missed _ verdict on the enquiry report. this is a missed opportunity. the failure to identify— is a missed opportunity. the failure to identify the police involvement in this_ to identify the police involvement in this cover—up isjust horrendous, and actually — in this cover—up isjust horrendous, and actually leaves the public exposed. and actually leaves the public exosed. , , ., exposed. the enquiry is calling on scotland yard _ exposed. the enquiry is calling on scotland yard to _ exposed. the enquiry is calling on scotland yard to consider - exposed. the enquiry is calling on scotland yard to consider and - exposed. the enquiry is calling on scotland yard to consider and in l scotland yard to consider and in criminal investigation into why allegations of sexual abuse made by allegations of sexual abuse made by a boy, laterfound dead at a care home, were not passed on to the coroner by lambeth. this afternoon, the council reiterated their apology

for what had happened, and apology the enquiry suggested had come far too late. and markjoins me now. this was truly a monumental failure to protect so many vulnerable children. ~ . ., , ,, to protect so many vulnerable children. ~ . . , ~ , children. what i really think is shockina children. what i really think is shocking is — children. what i really think is shocking is that _ children. what i really think is shocking is that you _ children. what i really think is shocking is that you had - children. what i really think is shocking is that you had all i children. what i really think is . shocking is that you had all those in official investigations, all those police enquiries —— all those official investigations, and in the end it is the victim to uncover what is going on. ifirst met is going on. i first met raymond stevenson seven years ago, i went into that office, there were just a few lists and silhouettes of people who are trying to identify on the walls. now as you see he has got hundreds of box files. putting together the case, and trying to get compensation for hundreds of victims. the establishment failed and failed again, and the enquiry report that this is not historical, they have got recommendations for now, they want lambeth to publish an action plan detailing how they are going to respond to the issues raised. they want better training for councillors, a review of vetting

procedures, and as you had, they want scotland yard to consider a criminal investigation into why a boy's allegations were not passed on to the coroner who was investigating his death. lessons still needs to be learned. a , his death. lessons still needs to be learned. , . ~ ., after the excitement of medal monday, it's been another golden day for team gb at the tokyo 0lympics. in the pool, tom dean from maidenhead won the men's 200 metre freestyle, with team mate duncan scott taking silver. it's the first time britain has placed one and two in the pool, for more than 100 years. but tom dean's path to the games wasn't straightforward, after twice contracting covid. a warning, this report from our sports editor dan roan contains flashing images. a century has passed since a british man last won an individual freestyle event in the olympics, but today came two contenders. the hope was that tom dean might make the podium, but having qualified fastest for the 200—metre final, focus was on duncan scott.

commentator: a long hold from the start, - and nerves really jangling. .. keep your eye on the two red caps. in the centre, the favourite initially trailed his younger team—mate, but soon there was nothing between them. commentator: duncan scott is going to come back, - i wouldn't write scott off in the middle. having won two silvers in rio, scott was aiming to go one better, but dean, despite twice recovering from covid in the last year, was proving more than a worthy match — this the thrilling finale. commentator: tom dean and duncan scott looking . really good at the moment, and they've got 15 metres to go. tom dean in six, duncan scott in four, and we could get two medals. and can they be gold and silver? can they be gold and silver? yes! tom dean is olympic champion in the 200 metres freestyle and duncan scott's got the silver. but if the celebrations in tokyo were joyous, just watch what it meant to dean's family and friends back home in maidenhead, watching on in the early hours as the drama unfolded. wild cheering.

and then a chance to listen to the two medallists. i just want to say thanks so much to everyone back home. my mum, my family, my girlfriend. i'm just lost for words. all the boys back in maidenhead, thanks for staying up. we've come on so far in the last 18 months, it's a pleasure to watch. it's great to be able to say he is a good mate out of the pool. announcer: tom dean! what a moment this is. you'd have been forgiven for thinking that british swimming was all about adam peaty at the olympics, but tom dean and duncan scott have changed all that. their remarkable one—two continuing what is becoming a phenomenal time for team gb here in the pool.

these are the first british male swimmers to share a podium at the games since 1908. later, dean telling me his take on the closing stages in the race of his life. i couldn't even see duncan, i was breathing to the right, and he was just closing down the competitors to my right. so it was going to be tight, four hundredths in it, that's how 0lympic races come down to it. but, i mean, two brits on the podium, silver,

all that heat training at home only to fly 6,000 miles and end up with british conditions. in the wind and the rain, triathlon victory was hard—fought by bermuda's flora duffy. flora duffy wins the tokyo 0lympic triathlon. a historic first gold for her nation. but for georgia taylor—brown, a sensational silver was reason to smile. 12 weeks ago, she'd been on crutches. silver medal today. later in the afternoon, once the weather had improved, she told me where this medal ranks in her career. the biggest achievement i've ever got, and it's even more special, because it's something i've dreamed

of as a ten—year—old child, and my parents have dreaed of. i just want to get home to everyone now and just share the moment with them. so here we go, the swim is done. britain looked strong coming out of the water, withjess learmonth leading and georgia not far behind. she had stuck with the leaders on the 40k bike ride, but the elements weren't all she was battling. i think georgia taylor brown has got a flat— i think georgia taylor brown has got a flat lyre _ it's everyone's worst nightmare, really. i did panic at first, but then i thought, "well, there's nothing i can do, "i can't really control this right now, i can only do my best." there was nothing she could do about flora duffy's commanding 10k, but it soon dawned on her she was going to come second. there was a lot of emotion coming down the finishing chute, and i cried, and ifinished on the floor, and it took a lot out of me mentally and physically. now it's, i guess, on to paris. so an early start, then, here in 0daiba bay, but elsewhere was still a packed day of sport forteam gb, including plenty of medal chances.

in the dressage team final, britain's double olympic gold medallist charlotte dujardin was last to go on newcomer gio, affectionately known as pumpkin. but his performance wasn't a patch on germany's, who danced to gold again, with usa snatching silver at the last, bronze for britain. and if these 0lypics have taught us anything, it's that tae kwon do can be cruel. bianca walkden was denied a place in the final with a kick to the head in the last second of her semi. but in the bronze medal match, a flurry of punches, a two—point kick, and a composed ending meant she matched her efforts in rio. and it will be great britain's bianca walkden taking home the olympic bronze medal. not the medal she wanted, but paris is just three years away. natalie pirks, bbc news, tokyo. there were some major upsets at the olympics, with simone biles, the most successful us gymnast of all time, pulling out of the women's team final,

saying, "i have to focus on my mental health." and the localfavourite in tennis, naomi 0saka, japan's face of the games, was knocked out of the ladies' singles. with more, here's our sports correspondent andy swiss. matt baker: all attentions turn to simone biles. - she's become synonymous with sporting perfection. simone biles starting off for usa in the women's team final, but her customary precision wasn't there. a big stumble, a low score, and it seemed something wasn't right. soon after, she left the arena with her coach, only to return a few minutes later and after speaking with her team—mates, it was announced she was withdrawing from the rest of the final for what was described as "a medical issue." biles stayed on to offer her support but without her, the usa could only manage silver behind the russian olympic committee. and afterwards, she said she needed to focus on her mental health. i'm 0k, just dealing with things internally that will get fixed out within the next couple of days,

but super proud of how they stepped up to the plate tonight and worked. few athletes are under such global scrutiny. on sunday, biles had posted a message on social media. "i truly do feel like i have the weight of the world "on my shoulders at times," she said. her next event is on thursday, but she says she's taking it one day at a time. the level of skill that she is doing is so incredibly difficult. the eyes of the world are on her, so it's really nice to see her opening up about that. forteam gb, meanwhile, there was an historic bronze — their first medal in the event for some 93 years, and just look what it meant. without each and every single one of us working hard and just doing the performances we did, it would have been impossible. i'm so thankful for all of you guys and so proud of all of you! i'm going to cry again! elsewhere, perhaps the biggest shock came in the tennis. marketa vondrousova knocking out japan's biggest star, naomi 0saka.

and on a day of stormy conditions, brazil's italo ferreira claimed surfing's first—ever olympic gold. and if you ever wondered just what that means, well, here's your answer. wild cheers andy swiss, bbc news. the latest government figures show daily infections have fallen for the seventh day in a row. there were just over 23,500 new cases in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average, there were 32,833 per day in the last week. 131 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours, meaning on average, 69 deaths were recorded per day in the last week. there are now more than 5,900 patients in hospital with covid—19. more than 88% of uk adults have now had theirfirstjab, and nearly 71% are now fully vaccinated. 0ur health correspondent

sophie hutchinson is with me now. infections are falling but deaths are rising, what is going on? today's figures showing a fall in covid the affections for the seventh day in a row. nothing less than tantalising, to be honest. are they a blip, is it due to the warmer weather? will we see another surge because of the unlocking last week but is something else of that? what surprised scientists is that after a recent surge in cases believed to be linked to football fans watching the euros, there has been such a steep decline in cases. some scientists are very cautiously optimistic that this could signal that we are close to a change in the pandemic, that widespread immunity in the population because so many of us have been vaccinated and so many of us have had the virus may be starting to take a real effect and

we can virus's power over us. it a glimpse at life lived alongside the virus, without risking major nationwide lockdowns and crises but it is still very, very early days. the prime minister today has warned we mustn't be complacent because at these figures. public health england is saying we are still in the midst of the pandemic, deaths are rising, they are at the highest point since march but they do relate to the previous bike. what is certain is all eyes will be on these daily infections to see whether this really is a turning point. {lilia infections to see whether this really is a turning point. 0k, thank ou. really is a turning point. 0k, thank yon sephie _ really is a turning point. 0k, thank you. sophie hutchinson _ really is a turning point. 0k, thank you. sophie hutchinson there. - the time is 6:18. our top story this evening — officials are accused of presiding over a "culture of cover—up" in children's homes in lambeth, leading to hundreds of victims suffering sexual abuse and cruelty. and coming up, we speak to tom dean's family in maidenhead after his stunning gold medal win. my heart is bursting. i'm just so...

you know, i'm so thrilled to see the journey go as far as you can imagine it could go. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel: one of the new 0lympic sports... the waves were perfect for the surfing finals, as stormy conditions affect parts of tokyo. the inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and �*80s has been hearing from lord clarke, who was one of the health ministers at the time. around 3,000 people are thought to have died after being given blood treatments containing hiv and hepatitis c, but lord clark told the inquiry he was "not responsible" for blood products, and the issue hardly ever came across his desk, as he was dealing with "closing victorian asylums "and old geriatric hospitals." here's our health

correspondentjim reed. jason evans is 31 years old. his father was the same age when he died after being given an nhs treatment he was told would transform his life. there are very few home videos i have where he is actually on camera. especially because, you know, he was aware that he had lost a lot of weight, what aids does to the body. thousands more haemophiliacs were infected with hiv and hepatitis after being treated with contaminated blood products. their relatives have been looking for answers ever since. when you've grown up dealing with the questions of how it happened, why had happened, who is responsible, why hasn't anyone been held to account or to blame? and one of those people that i personally feel is to blame

is ken clarke. ken clarke, now lord clarke, was the senior minister responsible for the health service in the early 80s, just as the aids virus emerged. a0 years on, he took the stand at the public enquiry into what has been called the worst medical disaster in nhs history. blood products were something that hardly ever came across my desk, and the tragedy with the haemophiliacs, i was aware it was there, and as you know, from time to time, usually at my own instigation, got on the edge of it, but i did not call meetings on... i was never the minister directly responsible for blood products. in what was a combative appearance, lord clarke appeared to become repeatedly frustrated at the level of detail he was asked. well, i gather you are doing... every policy decision i have ever been involved in involved some discussion and exchange of views. jason watched the evidence in person today.

he said it was a significant step, the first senior minister at the time to give evidence under oath. what i think most of us regard as the obvious truth is that there was a lot that could and should have been done differently, and the question, i suppose, is will he accept that? decades ago, thousands like jason's father were infected by an nhs treatment. it will take many more months if not years for those families to piece together the events that led to that disaster. jim reed, bbc news. borisjohnson is promising to cut crime in england and wales with a series of measures, including the wider use of electronic tags for burglars after release from prison. the prime minister also wants those found guilty of anti—social behaviour to carry out unpaid work while wearing hi—vis jackets as a part of their punishment. however, labour has accused the government of being "all talk and no action," and the police federation, the union which represents rank and file officers, says it's more money

that is needed to fight crime. here's our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford. if you want to know about the impact of crime, talk to darren awol, who was shot in the spine by people trying to rob him and still walks with crutches ten years on. his attackers have never been found and he thinks those who are caught are treated too leniently. with the stuff that's going on, there's not enough punishment for them. there's not enough... not enoughjustice. there's no way. some of them are coming out in two, three months. now because of covid, some people are not even getting in trouble. what's this one called? zorro. zorro! aware of public disquiet, the government promised today to build back safer after the pandemic, with less crime and fewer victims. the prime minister talked unapologetically about how some offenders should be treated, although the policy has been around since the labour years. if you're guilty of anti—social behaviour, i don't see... and you're sentenced to unpaid work, as many people are, i don't see any reason why you shouldn't be out there in one of those fluorescent

jacketed chain gangs, visibly paying your debt to society. while the government's beating crime plan has no major new policies, several pilot projects are being expanded, including one where burglars and robbers wear satellite tags, so their movements can be monitored after their release from prison and then mapped against new crimes. project adder, which looks to fight drug crime by tackling dealers and people who are addicted, is also being rolled out to new areas, and everyone in england and wales will have a name and contact details for their local police officer. the government have been promising an awful lot on crime for a long time. what they've done is they've made our streets unsafe by cutting police officers by over 21,000. we've heard all this bluster before. it's like a bank robber saying we'll give you some of the loot back after we've taken it. ministers are also in the middle of a drive to recruit 20,000 more police officers, reversing their own cuts. in march 2010, just before

the conservatives came to power, there were almost 144,000 officers. almost immediately, it started falling, bottoming out at below 122,000. the number has gone up by 9,000 since then and it's still rising but it's still 11,000 below what it was when they were first elected. the police federation, who were in downing street today with a letter complaining about the proposed pay freeze, said the government's beating crime plan was full of holes and gimmicks. daniel sandford, bbc news, westminster. a review examining child sexual exploitation in bradford says some children remain unprotected, and are still being abused. it was commissioned after nine men were jailed for exploiting girls in council care in the area in 2019. 0ur correspondent danny savage is in bradford for us this evening. this review is focused on five victims but there is concern there

could be more?— could be more? absolutely. this concentrates _ could be more? absolutely. this concentrates on _ could be more? absolutely. this concentrates on five _ could be more? absolutely. this concentrates on five young - could be more? absolutely. this i concentrates on five young people who grew up as children in the city who grew up as children in the city who were known to social services, who were known to social services, who after reading this, you can see why repeatedly let down by adults whose job it was to keep them safe. 0ne whose job it was to keep them safe. one of them referred to is anna and said of her experiences, if only the authorities had done what was recommended for me in that recommendation was to send her to a secure unit. instead, aged 15, this report shows she was allowed to marry her abuser in an islamic ceremony and then go on and live with his family. it's alleged her social worker attended that ceremony when she was just 15 years old. the big question that comes to mind after reading this is, how many other children were abusing bradford in the last 20 years? that is what some of the victims in this report want to see, a wide—ranging report to see how many other people were affected. because of the most alarming conclusion from reading

this is some children remain unprotected while some perpetrators remain unknown and unchallenged. it appears child sexual exploitation is very much still ongoing here in bradford at the moment. thank you for that, bradford at the moment. thank you for that. danny _ bradford at the moment. thank you for that, danny savage _ bradford at the moment. thank you for that, danny savage in _ bradford at the moment. thank you for that, danny savage in bradford. | a woman who suffered life—changing injuries after being hit by a car says her two—year—old daughter was saved by her husband throwing her out of the way. jenna 0'neill was airlifted to hospital after being hit at a festival in north wales at the weekend. she praised her husband stephen's quick reactions for saving ayla and said he was a hero. back to the olympics, and what a night it was for the family of team gb's gold medal winner tom dean. they watched him triumph from the family home in maidenhead in berkshire, and our sports correspondent eleanor roper has been to meet them. it's an all—nighter, but not like any other. tom's family this morning,

having still not been to bed. wild cheers this was the scene last night as tom swam his way to olympic gold. hours later, and his family still can't leave it. —— believe it. i can't even put it into words. it's just like the most amazing thing... oh, i'm going to cry, that's not good! ..that�*s ever happened. it's just like it makes everything worth it. and this is him at nationals. tom is one of five children who are all keen swimmers. his youngest brother william shows us tom in his goggles when he was barely old enough to walk but it is mum jacquie that has spent years driving everyone to the pool. i've taken tom to every one of his training sessions since he was a baby. i got him in the water when he was a few weeks old. i've taken him to all his events, counties, regionals, nationals, and all the open meets, and i've followed him around the world. you know, it's galling to not be there at the big one.

making it to the olympics is an enormous challenge for anyone, but for tom, this achievement is all the more amazing for the fact he has had coronavirus twice in the last year. i'm so thrilled to see the journey go as far as you could imagine it could go. there's nowhere else to go, and i am so thrilled for him. you know, he is having the best time of his life. tom is now preparing for the final of the 4x200 metre freestyle relay as he looks to add another medal to his already impressive collection. eleanor roper, bbc news. nice one. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith lucas. we have had a bit of sunshine around today but also frequent heavy downpours and thunderstorms as well. this was the picture a little earlier today in neath port talbot. we keep those torrential downpours. this is the radar and lightning data. you can see the extent of the

widespread thunderstorms and recent areas, particularly heavy in parts of northern ireland where we have already had some impact. an amber warning in force from the met office but thunderstorms across northern and central scotland through the evening. flooding and disruption likely with some intense rain in a short space of time. a rash of showers across much of the uk into the evening hours. four southern parts of england and wales, most showers should fade away through tonight but will continue across the north west of england and particularly the central parts of scotland through the night as well. temperatures 12—15, mild to start wednesday but pretty wet for many areas from the word go. this area of low pressure staying with us tomorrow. slow moving particularly across parts of scotland and another amber warning across parts of scotland and another amberwarning in across parts of scotland and another amber warning in force for parts of the highlands for heavy rain tomorrow. some flooding impact and disruption likely across parts of scotland. it is notjust scotland which will see heavy rain, heavy

showers and thunderstorms bubbling up showers and thunderstorms bubbling up through the day for many parts