today at six: the home secretary says "strong and decisive new leadership" is needed at the metropolitan police to restore public confidence. civilian life now beckons for dame cressida dick, standing down as britain's top police officer. she says she lost the confidence of the mayor of london, while the home office was blindsided by her resignation. we'll have the latest. also on the programme... growth continues for businesses after covid with the uk's economic performance better than expected. despite omicron, the economy was remarkably resilient. we were the fastest—growing economy in the g7 last year and are forecast to continue being the fastest growing economy this year. six months after his son shot dead five people in plymouth,

we talk to mark davidson about his sorrow for the victims�* families. russia claims there's been a "misunderstanding" over olympic figure skater kamila valieva's positive drugs test. we can all feel scared sometimes, just like our little owl friend plop. and the royal good night from the duchess of cambridge. a bedtime story marking children's mental health week. coming up in sportsday later in the hour on the bbc news channel, we'll look ahead to a busy weekend in the six nations championship. it's the second round of fixtures and scotland will be looking to make it two wins out of two. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the home secretary,

priti patel, says "strong and decisive new leadership" of the metropolitan police is now needed to restore public confidence. she also says the challenges facing the force are stark and sobering. it follows the resignation of dame cressida dick as commissioner, who says she lost the confidence of the mayor of london, despite her view that she could bring change to a beleaguered force. the met has suffered a string of high profile scandals, over misogyny, racism and homophobia. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford has the latest. arriving at new scotland yard this morning, the woman who is walking away from the biggestjob in british policing. although she is highly respected in the force, she'd felt she had no option after intense pressure from the london mayor sadiq khan. cressida dick first came to public attention as the officer in command whenjean—charles de menezes was wrongly shot, though the jury

said she was not personally to blame. in hertime said she was not personally to blame. in her time as met commissioner, two officers took photos of the bodies of murdered sisters and worst of all, a serving mets policeman killed sarah everard. a team of officers at charing cross police station exchanged shocking, misogynistic, homophobic whatsapp messages and the met was slow to investigate alleged parties during downing street in lockdown. sarah's son anthony walgate was killed by the serial killer stephen port but detectives didn't realise that over a year. she says his case illustrated a force with big problems. illustrated a force with big problem-— illustrated a force with big roblems. . , ., ., , illustrated a force with big roblems. ., ., , problems. there was that many flaws that ou problems. there was that many flaws that you just — problems. there was that many flaws that you just couldn't _ problems. there was that many flaws that you just couldn't even _ problems. there was that many flaws that you just couldn't even put - problems. there was that many flaws that you just couldn't even put it - that you just couldn't even put it into words. i do think it really... it will take years to sort this problem out, i don't think it's a quick fix. it problem out, i don't think it's a cuick fix. ., , problem out, i don't think it's a cuick fix. . , . , quick fix. it was the recently revealed _ quick fix. it was the recently revealed whatsapp - quick fix. it was the recently l revealed whatsapp messages quick fix. it was the recently _ revealed whatsapp messages exchanged by officers here at charing cross police station in 2018, joking about

rape and turning african children into dog food that convinced the mayor that deeper reform was needed. former inspector of constabulary zoe bellingham believes it's a big task but not impossible. if bellingham believes it's a big task but not impossible.— bellingham believes it's a big task but not impossible. if their new met commissioner _ but not impossible. if their new met commissioner is _ but not impossible. if their new met commissioner is upfront _ but not impossible. if their new met commissioner is upfront and - but not impossible. if their new met commissioner is upfront and honestj commissioner is upfront and honest with the public about that, is a really clear on the package of measures that they are taking to root out inappropriate officers and bring them to justice when they failed the public, i think that will go a long way to restoring trust. i think the public are really sensible. they know that this isn't going to be solved overnight but they want to see progress being made. �* , , , ., they want to see progress being made. , ,,., ,, made. but is this 'ust an issue for scotland yard — made. but is thisjust an issue for scotland yard or a _ made. but is thisjust an issue for scotland yard or a sign _ made. but is thisjust an issue for scotland yard or a sign of - made. but is thisjust an issue for scotland yard or a sign of wider i scotland yard or a sign of wider issues in british policing? it would be wron: issues in british policing? it would be wrong to _ issues in british policing? it would be wrong to say — issues in british policing? it would be wrong to say this _ issues in british policing? it would be wrong to say this is _ issues in british policing? it would be wrong to say this is a _ issues in british policing? it would be wrong to say this is a policing l be wrong to say this is a policing problem — be wrong to say this is a policing problem confined to london, it would be wrong _ problem confined to london, it would be wrong for the people of london and wrong — be wrong for the people of london and wrong for the communities we serve _ and wrong for the communities we serve across the rest of the country for that _ serve across the rest of the country for that policing must respond to

this collectively deliver the consistency our public deserve. having — consistency our public deserve. having extended cressida dick's contract only last year because of a perceived other options pretty options priti patel now needs to find a new leaderfor the options priti patel now needs to find a new leader for the crisis options priti patel now needs to find a new leaderfor the crisis hit metropolitan police. a process which will take many months. daniel sandford, bbc news. let's talk to our political correspondent ben wright at westminster. the resignation came out of the blue for the home office by all accounts? they were caught on the hop by this. i think the manner of the resignation has strained relations between sadiq khan and the home office and now the mayor of london and conservative home secretary priti patel have to find agreement about who the successor to cressida dick should be. i think they share the view, though, that the police force that has been battered by scandals and failure does require fundamental and urgent change. it is

priti patel who actually made the appointment but sadiq khan will have appointment but sadiq khan will have a big say in it. one government source said to me today it could be a process that takes months rather than weeks and there is no obvious successor in the pipeline either. politically of course, this comes at a sensitive moment, a difficult time to be scouting around for a new met commissioner as the police force investigates potential breaches of lockdown rules regarding downing street and whitehall parties. labour and the lib dems today have said that the prime minister should have absolutely no role at all in deciding who the next met commissioner should be. tibia deciding who the next met commissioner should be. ok, thank ou. the uk economy has continued to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, with new figures showing growth of 7.5% over the last year. this is despite a slight dip in december caused by the spread of the omicron variant. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has welcomed the latest figures, which follow a 9.4% drop in 2020. but economists warn that with inflation still rising,

uk households will continue to feel a squeeze on finances. here's our economics editor, faisal islam. at union industries in leeds, the reopening of the economy is finally returning the manufacture of high—speed industrial doors back to normal, back to where it was before the pandemic. we're now back to pre—pandemic levels and looking for further growth in the future. you can certainly say that that pandemic blip is behind you and us and the economy? absolutely, the business blip is behind and now we're back into growth mode. today's figures for the whole of 2021 show the economy growing at the strongest rate since the second world war, and that is the fastest rate of the major g7 economies in 2021. that reflects a much—needed rebound, though, from having had the fastest fall in the first year of the pandemic in 2020. put all that together and the overall pandemic economic hit, compared with two years ago, has the uk in the middle — just below the size of the economy back then.

but that's in the past. what's happening now is a shock to prices and energy and in taxation. the big question is whether wages rise to compensate for inflation at over 7%. the chancellor not backing calls for wage restraint in the private sector, but seems to for public sector workers. when it comes to private wage settlements, i don't think it's the government's role, actually, to get involved. with regard to the public sector, the process we have is an independent process, and what that process does is balance making sure that pay awards are affordable for the taxpayer ultimately who is paying for all of them, but also making sure that we value public sector workers appropriately and also ensure that we can recruit and retain the workers that we need. the minimum wage is going up in april by over 6%, but even that increase is now on course to be gobbled up by fast—rising prices. the opposition say more is needed. households are facing a triple

whammy of rising prices, and in particular energy prices, tory tax rises that are being imposed on the economy at the worst possible time, and declining real wages. chancellor rishi sunak defended the coming rise in national insurance. you have energy bills going up, food bills going up, taxes going up, mortgage costs going up, all at the same time. it's just the confluence of this in one month that's difficult, and you're adding to that with this extra national insurance. well, that's why we've put these other measures in place as well, the national living wage. but you could havejust delayed the tax rise. well, we don't want to delay getting on with tackling the backlogs and reforming social care. in general, the economy is moving again, returning to some sort of normal service. but for household budgets, the picture's not looking so bright. faisal islam, bbc news, in leeds. for more on gdp and how it's calculated, head to bbc.co.uk/news.

in the past hour, president biden has been holding talks by phone with borisjohnson, the french president emmanuel macron and other european leaders to discuss russa's military build—up around ukraine. mr biden has warned that russia could invade its neighbour at any time and has urged all american citizens to leave ukraine, though russia continues to insist that it has no plans for an invason. our north america editor sarah smith joins us from the white house. is there a sense that the president needs to shore up unity among the nato partners in their response to russia? ~ ~' ., nato partners in their response to russia? ~ ~ ., ., nato partners in their response to russia? ~ ~' ., ., russia? well, we know that some leaders on — russia? well, we know that some leaders on that _ russia? well, we know that some leaders on that coal _ russia? well, we know that some leaders on that coal from - russia? well, we know that some leaders on that coal from france | russia? well, we know that some i leaders on that coal from france and germany for instance, take a different view of vladimir putin' �*s intentions than the us assessment. we know that cole has begun, no word yet on the content of it and to what extent that is being debated but it's taking place at a time the us

is making clear its increasingly concerned about the possibility of an imminent invasion. whether allies agree with that assessment or not. the administration says they are seeing troubling signs of russian escalation, including more russian forces arriving at the ukrainian border. that is why president biden is repeating his warning to us citizens to leave the country, saying that things could go crazy very quickly. they are also warning that an invasion could take place sooner, possibly even sooner than they anticipated, during the olympics, which are currently happening in beijing. that is why they are warning citizens to get out and also withdrawing more us officials because there is deep concern here in washington that if the us official was to be killed or injured it would make it almost impossible for the president not to further escalate the tension between washington and moscow and that is something everybody wants to avoid. 0k, something everybody wants to avoid. ok, sarah, thank you for that. something everybody wants to avoid. ok, sarah, thank you forthat. sarah smith in washington.

remaining covid restrictions in wales, including the use of face coverings and self—isolation, could be scrapped by the end of march. the welsh government says it's due to falling infection rates. covid passes will be scrapped from next friday. here's our wales correspondent, hywel griffith. rugby weekend in cardiff, when nation takes on nation. over the last two years, wales and scotland have often been on the same side, taking the same ultra—cautious approach to the pandemic. while self—isolation rules could soon be scrapped in england, the welsh government doesn't think that time has come. the real issue is why is england doing this on their own? why has the prime minister chosen to go it alone in a surprise announcement immediately before prime minister's questions? well, you need to ask him why that is. i can be clear our changes in wales come on the back of whole—government discussion and the clear advice of our chief medical officer. change is coming here, but at a slower pace. facemasks will stay in shops and on public transport until the end of march.

i think it's a good thing. i feel quite strongly about wearing masks, however with the business it is difficult, because there is so much confusion. there still will be confusion after march. the thousands coming here to the rugby tomorrow will need to have their covid pass with them. the scheme is being scrapped, but not for another week. some question whether it's been of benefit at all. nightclub owners argue passes have just kept customers away rather than keeping them safe. philip has had thejob of checking them. a lot of people who are caught out, all they'd done was did snapshots of their friends' and were showing their friends'. to cheat the system? that's right, yes. so how efficient and effectively it had worked in terms of everyone showing a genuine pass, i don't know. we may now be on the way out of the pandemic, but which nation has taken the right route is still deeply contested. hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff.

thousands of people will embark on half—term holidays this weekend, with many of the government's covid travel restrictions being lifted. from today, people entering to the uk, will no longer need to take any type of covid test, if they're fully vaccinated. the government says it shows the country was open for business. and spain has announced it will allow children aged 12—17 who are not fully vaccinated into the country from monday, provided they've taken a pcr test within 72 hours of arrival. let's take a look at the latest weekly figures for coronavirus. the number of cases being reported continues to fall, with just over 62,500 cases recorded on average each day in the last week. hospital admissions are also falling, with an average of 12,753 patients being treated in hospital over the last seven days. 193 deaths were reported in the latest 2a hour period — that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test,

although there will be some amongst this number who won't have died from covid. on average this week, 195 deaths were announced every day. russia claims there has been a misunderstanding over the case of one of its olympic ice skaters who failed a drugs test. kamila valieva tested positive for a banned substance in december, but the result was only reported, after she'd helped russia win the team figure skating event at the beijing winter games on monday. no medals will be awarded until an appeals process is completed. here's our senior sports news reporter, laura scott. with the eyes of the world on her, 15—year—old kamila valieva cast a disconsolate figure on the ice as she prepared for an event she might not be able to compete in, and then shielded herself as she walked past the press alone following confirmation she tested positive for a banned drug. such cases are not helpful to the games. these cases need to be prosecuted properly, taken care of properly and due

process needs to be gone through. otherwise, i think the confidence of people would be even less. ordinarily, someone as young as valieva wouldn't have been named in a doping case, but the international testing agency explained there was a need for official information given the heightened public interest in this matter and the immense speculation that's been swirling around beijing. this has now engulfed the games, but how did we get here? on christmas day, valieva was drugs tested during the russian figure skating championships in st petersburg. on monday here in beijing she helped the russian olympic committee win gold in the figure skating team event, making olympic history with her routine. the following day, the medal should have been awarded, but a swedish laboratory confirmed that her sample from december had tested positive for a banned substance, and she was provisionally suspended by the russian anti—doping agency. the following day, though, she successfully challenged that and her suspension was lifted.

but that decision is now being appealed by several organisations through the court of arbitration for sport. they need a result quickly because valieva is due to be competing again on tuesday as the favourite for gold. it's the chain of events, but again, ultimately you just feel so sad for the athlete, because i can't in my heart want to think that she knew what was going on. another olympics, another doping controversy involving russia, all at a time when the country is serving a two—year ban for a state—sponsored doping programme. at the heart of it, one of the youngest and most talented athletes of the whole olympics. laura scott, bbc news, beijing. it is 17 minutes past six. our top story this evening. after the resignation of dame cressida dick, the home secretary says a strong and decisive new leadership is needed at the metropolitan police. coming up, the government push to get1 million disabled people into work in the next five years.

coming up in sports day in the next 15 minutes, the skeleton is usually a bankerfor the british team, but not this time. seven days into the winter olympics in beijing, team gb still waiting for a first medal. it's six months this weekend since jake davison shot dead five people in plymouth, including his own mother and a three—year—old girl, before turning the gun on himself. tonight, in an exclusive interview, the gunman's father, mark davison, has described his sorrow for the victims' families. he claims he asked police not to give his son a shotgun licence, because of his history of mental health problems. devon and cornwall police say they can't comment while the case is still ongoing. mark davison has been speaking to our correspondent, jon kay. these are real people. i don't know what was going on in his mind, and it must be terrible for the victims' families. it must be horrendous.

mark davison still can't believe it. on a quiet evening last august, his son shot dead five people here in plymouth. first he killed his own mother, maxine, in the cul—de—sac where they lived. he then shot three—year—old sophie martin and her dad, lee, who were walking past. followed by stephen washington, a grandfather, and artist kate shephard. it was the uk's worst mass shooting in more than a decade. 22—year—old jake davison then turned gun on himself. six months on, what do you want to say to those other families now? i'd just like to say i'm sorry. it would have been bad enough if he'd have done what he did to his mam, but to go out and to go around and shoot all them poor victims in the close, people he didn't even know. i am sorry and i'm ashamed, and somebody has to stand up and say it, and, you know...

it's just an horrendous thing that happened, like, it really is. it's horrible. that little kiddie, a three—year—old little kiddie. it must have been so special to have a little kid like that, and the other victims as well. this is mark with his son two years ago. he says he didn't see much of him because he and his wife were divorced. but mark claims that when he heard jake davison was applying for a shotgun licence in 2017, he called police to raise concerns about his son's mental health issues and violent behaviour. i phoned them up and told them these things. it's not a water pistol, is it? you're not asking, dad, can i have a water pistol? it's a shotgun, for pity�*s sake. you know, and people with mental health issues, whatever they may be, whatever their labels are, he should have never had the gun in the first place.

he should have never, ever had a gun in the first place. devon and cornwall police say they can't comment on mark davison's claims as they're being investigated over the issuing of the firearms licence. but tonight, the independent office for police conduct has confirmed that his allegations are part of that investigation. what was he like? described jake to me. describe jake to me. he was in his own world at times. jake did struggle to show emotion. that rung alarm bells with me. if he didn't understand, it seemed to me that sometimes that he didn't really have the concept of consequences for actions. the government has now tightened up gun laws, but mark davison wants them to go further. he says his christian faith has helped him turn his own life around after a spell injail. six months after the shootings, he says his thoughts and prayers are with his son's victims this weekend. jon kay, bbc news, plymouth.

the labour mp neil coyle has been suspended from the party following allegations he made racially insensitive remark in a bar in the house of commons. mr coyle says he's very sorry for his insensitive comments, which were reported in a formal complaint by a journalist who's of british—chinese heritage. the west ham football manager david moyes says the player kurt zouma is available for sunday's game against leicester despite the controversy surrounding the defender being filmed kicking his cat last weekend. the rspca has seized both his pet cats as they investigate what happened. labour leader keir starmer says zouma should be dropped from the squad. the england and wales cricket board has lifted the suspension on yorkshire cricket club hosting international matches. the club was banned from hosting major games in november, following controversy over their handling of racism allegations by the former bowler, azeem rafiq. danny savagejoins me now

from headingley cricket ground. good news, then, finally, for the yorkshire team and its ground? yes. yorkshire team and its ground? yes, clive, yorkshire team and its ground? yes, clive. when — yorkshire team and its ground? yes, clive. when the _ yorkshire team and its ground? yes, clive, when the racist _ yorkshire team and its ground? 1a: clive, when the racist treatment of azeem rafiq became public here at yorkshire county cricket club, it wasn'tjust yorkshire county cricket club, it wasn't just a yorkshire county cricket club, it wasn'tjust a pr disaster, it was a financial disaster for them as well. sponsors began to desert the club, there were a number of resignations and then the ecb withdrew the rights for the ground here at headingley to host international matches, and that really was a financial problem for this club because test matches and the one—day internationals fill their stadium behind me with thousands of cricket supporters. but since those revelations were made, there is a new chairman here, a new leader, lord patel, and he has effectively turned the club around, righted many wrongs, and so the ecb have now decided that this ground can now host international matches again. azeem rafiq, who was at the centre of all of this at the

beginning, has told the bbc it is the right decision. the leadership of lord patel has earned the club another chance, and the club has shown a real willingness to change and has already come a long way in making those changes. and what in reality that means is there will be a test match here at headingley this summer, england versus new zealand injune, and a one—day international between england and south africa in july. but the club is on notice, it is being watched very closely to make sure it adheres to the new guidelines that the ecb has put to it so that there is no repeat of the problems of the past. clive. thank ou for problems of the past. clive. thank you for that. _ problems of the past. clive. thank you for that, danny _ problems of the past. clive. thank you for that, danny savage - problems of the past. clive. thank you for that, danny savage live - problems of the past. clive. thank you for that, danny savage live at| you for that, danny savage live at headingley. the government wants to see1 million more disabled people in work, in the next five years. the disability employment gap is stubbornly wide, with around half of disabled people in employment, compared to just over 80% of those who are non—disabled. our correspondent nikki fox has been to meet two people trying to find work.

my biggest fear is that i could go throughout my life never working, and that really, really frightens me. amrit is blind and has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in psychology and counselling. when her children started secondary school, she started looking for work. it's been five years and she's still not got a job. she's even struggled to get voluntary work. i was told that the office was not suitable for me as a blind person, that they wouldn't be able to accommodate a desk for me and it wouldn't be safe. the difference between the number of disabled people in work compared to non—disabled people is what's known as the disability employment gap. although it has slightly narrowed in the last few years, experts say this is in most part down to the fact that more people already in work are identifying themselves as disabled. turn around, go on, turn around, katherine, look at that. look at that. katherine loves volunteering

in her local charity shop. she worked for a major supermarket for 25 years but was made redundant. is this the kind of thing that you do, katherine? i do, putting things in the right sizes. how much do you love this particularjob here? i know you're volunteering. i like it. would you like this kind ofjob to be like your full—time job, i suppose? yes, i would like to have it full—time. yes. so, there's your labels. for people with learning disabilities, like katherine, the rate of employment in england is just over 5%, and that has gone down over the last decade. do you want me to come in with you or can you do it on your own? you can come in. katherine's being supported by a local organisation. they work with employers to try and overcome negative attitudes and some of the many barriers disabled people face. there's a job going for you, jeff. you know, you apply for a job and it's like, you have got to apply online and often people with learning disabilities, that's going to be a barrier to them. thank you so much. you do see that there can be a lack of support or a lack of empathy

with some employers, and that's really sad because you just think, oh, if only they could just... just help that little bit. katherine, what would be your dream? just get a good job and help me get a very good job. many felt the government's disability strategy wasn't the transformative plan it was promised to be and employment�*s just one part of it. the government says reducing the disability employment gap is a huge priority, along with improving the access to work scheme and meeting their target of getting 1 million more disabled people in work by 2027. good morning, sir. have you got a cv there for me? yes, i have. for katherine, her priority is getting that break, so that she can go back to doing what she loves. yes. working. ok, thank you. nikki fox, bbc news. australia has listed the koala as an endangered species in eastern parts of the country. climate change, land clearance and disease

mean the once thriving animal has seen a dramatic fall in numbers. the species was only listed as vulnerable in 2012, with conservationists saying it's a "shockingly fast decline for one of the world's most iconic animals". the duchess of cambridge has recorded a bedtime story reading for cbeebies to mark children's mental health week. she's chosen to read the owl who was afraid of the dark, which follows the story of plop, a baby barn owl who is encouraged by others to face his fears. the duchess described it as one of her favourite books as a child which she now reads to her own children. what an encouraging tale. we can all feel scared sometimes, just like our little owl friend plop. but as mrs barn owl said, it's better to find out about the things that scare us before we make up our mind. and with the help of others, we can often face things that worry us. now it's time for bed. night—night and sleep tight.

and you can hear that bedtime story on cbeebies this sunday evening at 6.50pm. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. hello. this morning most of us did have the stunning blue skies as we started the day. it was cold and frosty, but there weren't many exceptions to this blue sky start to the day. i did find one, though. here in the midlands, this is a cumulus home in, that is a posh way of saying a man—made cloud. thank you for sending that in. cloud moving in across many areas of the uk, spreading across most areas in the last hour or so, and that is the first signs of a change in our weather, with this area of low pressure set to bring outbreaks of rain in some fairly strong winds through the weekend. that rain is

going to continue to steadily push its way eastwards, and it has already begun to arrive across northern ireland, and overnight it will spread to scotland, across western parts of england and wales with the wind tending to pick up overnight. although things get chilly initially in eastern england, it is one of those where temperatures will be rising during the night, reaching seven celsius by dawn on saturday. the nation's weather splits into three areas across saturday. across the south—east, a fine —looking day, sunshine and breezy. we have this zone of heavy rain spreading into wales and across northern england, not the best of days here. scotland and northern ireland, quite blustery, widespread showers, and the temperatures coming up on account of the south—westerly winds. highs of 8—10, on the mild side for the time of year. one lot of rain for saturday, and another coming our way for sunday. another low pressure, this one is now going to push the rain further northwards, we are talking about that as a

possibility yesterday. you can see how the rain now reaches into parts of scotland, perhaps staying away