Episode 14

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05'Never before have so many on-the-spot fines

0:00:05 > 0:00:06'been issued in Britain.

0:00:06 > 0:00:09'We're going to be following the men and women who hand out

0:00:09 > 0:00:13'over ?30 million worth of tickets every month...'

0:00:13 > 0:00:15Oops. Round here, they are an absolute blight.

0:00:15 > 0:00:18I'm up to 104, now. Wow.

0:00:18 > 0:00:20That is disgusting. Just walk away. HE GRUNTS

0:00:22 > 0:00:24'..for behaviour that's downright dangerous...'

0:00:24 > 0:00:26That was stupid for these sort of conditions, wasn't it?

0:00:26 > 0:00:30'..simply selfish...' Look at the mess you've created in the street.

0:00:30 > 0:00:32How is that our fault? '..or just...'

0:00:32 > 0:00:33What is he doing?

0:00:33 > 0:00:36'..well, plain silly.'

0:00:36 > 0:00:37What a doughnut.

0:00:37 > 0:00:40'We'll be revealing the cost of their bad behaviour...'

0:00:40 > 0:00:42?100 fine.

0:00:42 > 0:00:44Pays ?260. Ouch.

0:00:44 > 0:00:46'..and how this could affect you.'

0:00:46 > 0:00:49I'll give him a punch. Do you want to see me kick off?

0:00:49 > 0:00:53'The police are on it.' What the f-? Sir!

0:00:53 > 0:00:54'The parking wardens are on it...'

0:00:54 > 0:00:57They should be thanking us for being here. '..and I'm on it.'

0:00:57 > 0:01:00Careful! It's a 30mph limit here!

0:01:00 > 0:01:03'I'm Dom Littlewood and I'm on the spot.'

0:01:06 > 0:01:10'This time it's a case of stop-and-fine on our highways...'

0:01:10 > 0:01:14How do you feel about the fact you were stopped? BLEEP off!

0:01:14 > 0:01:16'..and a flaming fly-tip in Buckinghamshire.'

0:01:16 > 0:01:19Look, you can see the flames right up there.

0:01:19 > 0:01:21'But who's going to pay the penalty?'

0:01:21 > 0:01:24That's the pile that I believe you dumped. Did you?

0:01:24 > 0:01:28'And it's time to face the fines on the streets of London.'

0:01:28 > 0:01:30I am actually going to

0:01:30 > 0:01:33say something that you're really not going to be happy with.

0:01:37 > 0:01:42I'm in Gloucestershire in the back seat of an unmarked police car

0:01:42 > 0:01:46in hot pursuit of a vehicle... Oscar-Tango 5-6.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49..with traffic police PC Shelley Holloway and PC Olly Buxton.

0:01:51 > 0:01:53He's still holding something in his hand.

0:01:53 > 0:01:56Just clearly not paying attention.

0:01:56 > 0:02:00'The unmarked car is the perfect cover to keep the motorway safer by

0:02:00 > 0:02:05'sniffing out misbehaving motorists and issuing on-the-spot fines.'

0:02:05 > 0:02:08Olly just spotted somebody in a vehicle there with his mobile

0:02:08 > 0:02:10phone in his hand. Not using it at this point.

0:02:10 > 0:02:13What Shelley's done, she's dropped into this inside lane now

0:02:13 > 0:02:15to allow this person to overtake

0:02:15 > 0:02:18just to see if he's suddenly using his phone.

0:02:19 > 0:02:22'If he is, it could be three penalty points on his licence

0:02:22 > 0:02:24'and a fine of ?100.'

0:02:24 > 0:02:26I think he's got it in his left hand,

0:02:26 > 0:02:28holding it up in front of his face.

0:02:28 > 0:02:31That's probably a satnav thing, is it? Where he's using it?

0:02:31 > 0:02:33No, I think he's talking on loudspeaker perhaps.

0:02:33 > 0:02:36He's just passed. No, he's seen us now. He's seen us.

0:02:36 > 0:02:39He knows that we're police. Well, I think it's worth a chat.

0:02:39 > 0:02:41Cos I saw him holding it in his hand, so...

0:02:41 > 0:02:43He's put his seatbelt on as well now. See that?

0:02:43 > 0:02:46Put his seatbelt... That's when he wobbled.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49Not wearing a seatbelt. It just gets worse.

0:02:49 > 0:02:55That's an offence that could hit him with an on-the-spot fine of ?100.

0:02:57 > 0:03:01How's it going? Can I see your phone, please?

0:03:01 > 0:03:03Who were you on the phone to? What were you holding your camera for?

0:03:03 > 0:03:07The driver claims he's been using his camera but Shelley is not

0:03:07 > 0:03:09taking his word for it.

0:03:09 > 0:03:12Who were you on the phone to? You were holding it in your hand.

0:03:12 > 0:03:14There's a lot of activity on your phone, isn't there?

0:03:14 > 0:03:17And suddenly all the call history has just gone.

0:03:17 > 0:03:20All the call history is gone. That's messages.

0:03:20 > 0:03:22All the call history is gone.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25So where are they from the previous day?

0:03:25 > 0:03:27It doesn't wash with me that you were using it,

0:03:27 > 0:03:29holding a camera in your hand. It doesn't wash with me.

0:03:29 > 0:03:32Have you got points on your licence at the moment?

0:03:32 > 0:03:34Can I have your driving licence? No identification on you?

0:03:34 > 0:03:36What's the situation here, Shelley?

0:03:36 > 0:03:40So, he's point-blank denied using his mobile phone.

0:03:40 > 0:03:43There's no call history for today, which is unusual.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47Lots of text messages exchanged but nothing recent.

0:03:47 > 0:03:49There is activity on his phone and there's

0:03:49 > 0:03:52a voicemail icon up ready to notify him he's got a voicemail.

0:03:52 > 0:03:54He's saying he was holding his camera in his hand and didn't

0:03:54 > 0:03:58realise but he has admitted not wearing his seatbelt. Right.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00So... What do you feel about that?

0:04:00 > 0:04:03He's obviously someone who's quite switched on, isn't he?

0:04:03 > 0:04:05Yeah. We get it all the time.

0:04:05 > 0:04:07They think they're using excuses and, you know,

0:04:07 > 0:04:11I can't prove categorically he was using his phone.

0:04:11 > 0:04:14All we do know he was holding something in his hand and

0:04:14 > 0:04:19he has got a camera and a phone on the passenger seat.

0:04:19 > 0:04:21Obviously you know why you've been stopped. Yeah.

0:04:21 > 0:04:22The officers thought you were on the phone

0:04:22 > 0:04:25and you weren't wearing a seatbelt, I believe.

0:04:25 > 0:04:27Yeah. No seatbelt, yeah.

0:04:27 > 0:04:31How do you feel about the fact you were stopped? Erm...

0:04:31 > 0:04:34Be honest. Erm... BLEEP.

0:04:34 > 0:04:38Yeah. But it's my own fault. I wasn't on the phone.

0:04:38 > 0:04:42But I wasn't wearing a seatbelt. So, you know. OK.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45Caught again. Second time. Second time, no seatbelt. Yeah.

0:04:45 > 0:04:47Why wouldn't you wear it? I don't know.

0:04:47 > 0:04:50I just jump in lorries in the morning and they haven't got any

0:04:50 > 0:04:52so you get lazy, don't you, I suppose.

0:04:52 > 0:04:55When you say you're cheesed off about being stopped, is that

0:04:55 > 0:04:58with the officers or yourself? With myself.

0:04:58 > 0:05:00I don't know if you're going to receive a fixed penalty notice,

0:05:00 > 0:05:02whether they do that at the moment. If you do...

0:05:02 > 0:05:06If they do, then I just have to pay it and be more cautious in future.

0:05:06 > 0:05:09Yeah. Do you have any resentment about being pulled over?

0:05:09 > 0:05:12No, not really. No. Will it change the way you drive? Yeah.

0:05:12 > 0:05:14I'll put my seatbelt on for a bit so, yeah.

0:05:14 > 0:05:18At what point did you realise that you were about to be pulled over?

0:05:18 > 0:05:21When I seen all them yellow jackets. Ah, right. Yeah.

0:05:21 > 0:05:26Then I put my seatbelt on quick. So, what stacks up in this case?

0:05:26 > 0:05:29He could have been using his mobile phone.

0:05:29 > 0:05:32That would be a ?100 fine plus three penalty points.

0:05:33 > 0:05:37And not wearing his seatbelt, that could be another ?100 fine.

0:05:39 > 0:05:41Shelley's decided to drop the phone charge.

0:05:41 > 0:05:44But what about the other offence he admitted to?

0:05:45 > 0:05:50What we will deal him for is the seatbelt. OK. So there it is.

0:05:50 > 0:05:54A ?100 fine and all for not belting up.

0:05:56 > 0:06:00Does it annoy you when you get someone like him who

0:06:00 > 0:06:06has got excuses that you have to take as being true

0:06:06 > 0:06:09and your instinct might not necessarily think it is?

0:06:09 > 0:06:11Is it frustrating?

0:06:11 > 0:06:14It's annoying that people aren't as honest as what they should be,

0:06:14 > 0:06:18but I think it will still stop him using it in the future.

0:06:22 > 0:06:26'One on-the-spot fine down and we're back on the motorway.'

0:06:26 > 0:06:29We've got a trailer in the middle lane.

0:06:29 > 0:06:31I don't know if you notice there, the right wheel is clearly...

0:06:31 > 0:06:34I would say that's probably beyond unbalanced.

0:06:34 > 0:06:37That's actually the bearing on it because it's... It's wobbling badly.

0:06:37 > 0:06:40It's wobbling badly, so I don't think it'll be very long

0:06:40 > 0:06:41before that will fly off.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44You know, he's travelling in excess of the speed limit.

0:06:44 > 0:06:47When you're towing a trailer, it's 60mph and he's doing 70.

0:06:47 > 0:06:51So we'll just do a following check and see before we stop him.

0:06:51 > 0:06:53'If his wheel falls off at 70mph, he'll have

0:06:53 > 0:06:56'a lot more to worry about than just a fine.'

0:06:56 > 0:07:00There's a fair old wobble on that trailer, isn't there? Yeah.

0:07:00 > 0:07:03Don't brake on lane one. Use the hard shoulder, please.

0:07:03 > 0:07:06You do sometimes get that where people will actually just

0:07:06 > 0:07:10stop in the lane. Really? I've had it in lane three. On a motorway?

0:07:10 > 0:07:14On a motorway. I'll go and have a word with him. OK, no problem.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22Maybe he didn't know the speed limit.

0:07:24 > 0:07:27Nope, he's got it written on the back. No excuses there then.

0:07:27 > 0:07:29So, it's this wheel here.

0:07:29 > 0:07:32Have you got a tool or anything to remove the cap

0:07:32 > 0:07:34so I can check all your wheel nuts are present?

0:07:34 > 0:07:41'The offending wheel will be scrutinised once PC Holloway's found the right tools.'

0:07:41 > 0:07:44Don't worry. I'll get the crowbar then. You've just been stopped.

0:07:44 > 0:07:47Were you aware you could only do 60? Yes. Yeah. OK.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50I thought as much, cos you've got a sticker on your trailer there.

0:07:50 > 0:07:53And I do try and keep to it, but... That's good.

0:07:53 > 0:07:57..on this occasion I was going faster. I don't normally speed.

0:07:59 > 0:08:01What will Shelley find?

0:08:01 > 0:08:07A car that is seriously unroadworthy can earn the driver a ?5,000 fine.

0:08:08 > 0:08:10So, what are we dealing with here?

0:08:11 > 0:08:14A driver breaking the 60mph speed limit for a car towing

0:08:14 > 0:08:18a trailer, and that can be a ?100 fine.

0:08:18 > 0:08:21And the trailer itself, which appears to be unroadworthy,

0:08:21 > 0:08:24that can be up to a ?5,000 fine.

0:08:25 > 0:08:29But has Shelley been able to find anything conclusive?

0:08:29 > 0:08:31Could be the brake on one side. You just don't know.

0:08:31 > 0:08:33Could be a lot of things. Just get it checked. All right.

0:08:33 > 0:08:37I will do that. OK, thanks for your time. Take care. Bye-bye.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40Shelley hasn't found anything obviously wrong with the trailer,

0:08:40 > 0:08:44so he can continue on his way with no fine and just a warning.

0:08:49 > 0:08:53Shelley, you could have potentially written out two tickets on that last stop.

0:08:54 > 0:08:58What made you decide to give the guy just an advisory note? A warning?

0:09:00 > 0:09:03Well, I think possibly the wheel vibration was due to the speed,

0:09:03 > 0:09:06so we've solved both of those by giving him some advice,

0:09:06 > 0:09:11and he was only 9mph over the speed limit allowed when you're towing a trailer.

0:09:12 > 0:09:16So for me, I used my discretion then and decided he'd benefit from

0:09:16 > 0:09:20education, and then it solved the wheel problem, too.

0:09:23 > 0:09:28Councils have to deal with about 900,000 cases of fly-tipping

0:09:28 > 0:09:31every single year. That's about 2,500 every day.

0:09:34 > 0:09:37And this crime against the environment

0:09:37 > 0:09:39gets you hot under the collar.

0:09:39 > 0:09:42fly-tipping, definitely fines, cos, you know,

0:09:42 > 0:09:46someone dropping a bit of paper, yeah, it's not cool but someone

0:09:46 > 0:09:52dropping 30 washing machines on your doorstep, that's not so cool.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55I think fly-tipping is disgusting and people are just happy to

0:09:55 > 0:09:58see their stuff disappear if they're throwing it out,

0:09:58 > 0:10:01without knowing where it's going.

0:10:01 > 0:10:03You know, we all live quite near tips and things

0:10:03 > 0:10:05if there's stuff to get rid of.

0:10:05 > 0:10:08You should just have a bit of respect for your environment

0:10:08 > 0:10:12and if you've got too much rubbish, go to the tip, surely.

0:10:12 > 0:10:16If it's someone that's a clearance company that have left the

0:10:16 > 0:10:20litter on the street or the footway or just dumped it and fly-tipped,

0:10:20 > 0:10:23I think it's disgusting. They should be prosecuted.

0:10:23 > 0:10:25fly-tipping, I think there should be a fine for that as well,

0:10:25 > 0:10:28because otherwise the place would be a mess, really.

0:10:28 > 0:10:32Don't be lazy. Go and find the right way to get rid of your rubbish.

0:10:32 > 0:10:37But fly-tippers beware, because a fine might be coming your way.

0:10:37 > 0:10:39Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money

0:10:39 > 0:10:43is spent clearing up illegally dumped waste

0:10:43 > 0:10:46and, in Buckinghamshire, David Rounding and Chris Smith are

0:10:46 > 0:10:48waste enforcement officers.

0:10:48 > 0:10:51Their specialist subject...? You guessed it - waste.

0:10:53 > 0:10:56Possibly the worst cargo to spill is milk.

0:10:56 > 0:11:00Cos if that gets in the water table, it causes all sorts of...

0:11:00 > 0:11:03It has the highest... We call it a biochemical oxygen demand.

0:11:03 > 0:11:06Milk has the highest biochemical... I knew that. I knew that.

0:11:06 > 0:11:11It's their job to track down illegal dumpers and make them pay.

0:11:11 > 0:11:15A concerned resident in the village of Langley has given them a tip-off.

0:11:15 > 0:11:18This is the entrance where they drive in.

0:11:18 > 0:11:22They've been able to reverse in and get completely out of sight

0:11:22 > 0:11:27from the road and deposit the waste in that location.

0:11:27 > 0:11:30You can see now it's starting to fill up slightly

0:11:30 > 0:11:34so they are...or would now be visible from the road.

0:11:34 > 0:11:36But that doesn't seem to have deterred them.

0:11:36 > 0:11:38They still keep coming back.

0:11:39 > 0:11:43Over the past few weeks, this field on the edge of the village

0:11:43 > 0:11:45has been the scene of illegal waste dumps.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49The scale of it even shocks veterans like David and Chris.

0:11:49 > 0:11:53It's a horrific pile. There's in the region of six-to-eight

0:11:53 > 0:11:55decent truckloads of waste here.

0:11:56 > 0:11:59It's a nice area, completely blighted by this.

0:12:01 > 0:12:04You do tend to hypothesise when you turn up to these events and

0:12:04 > 0:12:07try and work out what they were thinking.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09Erm, but I just can't on this occasion.

0:12:11 > 0:12:14David and Chris have had the site under observation for the last week.

0:12:14 > 0:12:18But in the past few days and before the council could clear it up,

0:12:18 > 0:12:22this local environmental disaster took a turn for the worse.

0:12:22 > 0:12:25Look, you can see the flames right up there.

0:12:25 > 0:12:27They got obviously a significant fire.

0:12:27 > 0:12:30And right the way back there, as well.

0:12:30 > 0:12:33I was aware that it took the fire brigade in the region of two hours

0:12:33 > 0:12:35to be satisfied the fire was out.

0:12:35 > 0:12:37That tells you... It's got to tell you it's a significant fire

0:12:37 > 0:12:40that could cause a lot of harm.

0:12:42 > 0:12:44Despite a lot of charred remains,

0:12:44 > 0:12:47Dave and Chris are here to search for clues.

0:12:49 > 0:12:52If they find who's responsible and it goes to court,

0:12:52 > 0:12:54the charge could be pretty steep.

0:12:56 > 0:13:00The maximum fine for fly-tipping is ?50,000 and possibly

0:13:00 > 0:13:02a 12-month jail sentence.

0:13:05 > 0:13:08We get a lot of results out of this, what we call bag-diving,

0:13:08 > 0:13:12ie sort of going through the bags to try and find evidence.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16Oh! And it looks like whoever dumped this stuff

0:13:16 > 0:13:18didn't cover their tracks.

0:13:18 > 0:13:25It looks like a delivery label from a supplier to a kitchen fitter.

0:13:25 > 0:13:27Or fitting company, anyway.

0:13:27 > 0:13:31So it could be from this label that the kitchen fitting company

0:13:31 > 0:13:34might be able to identify who their customer was.

0:13:34 > 0:13:37So it's... Yeah, it's possible.

0:13:37 > 0:13:41It's the kind of lead environmental waste officers dream of.

0:13:41 > 0:13:43On a job of this size, the stakes are high.

0:13:43 > 0:13:45They want to have their cake and eat it

0:13:45 > 0:13:48ie they want to charge the client for dealing with the waste,

0:13:48 > 0:13:50but then they want to dump it illegally and save the cost of

0:13:50 > 0:13:52disposing of it lawfully.

0:13:54 > 0:13:59We go to dumps like this every day of the week for 25 years.

0:14:00 > 0:14:02We don't want it. We're paid to stop it happening.

0:14:02 > 0:14:06I understand the person who's done this is motivated by money

0:14:06 > 0:14:10and they've saved themselves some money. A few hundred pounds.

0:14:10 > 0:14:13And hopefully we'll end up prosecuting them and the

0:14:13 > 0:14:16court will make sure that they pay more than that.

0:14:16 > 0:14:20Chris and Dave suspect the site has become a dumping hotspot.

0:14:20 > 0:14:22They've got a secret weapon.

0:14:22 > 0:14:25When they first discovered the dump, they installed

0:14:25 > 0:14:29a motion activated CCTV camera to catch any returning tippers.

0:14:32 > 0:14:35Well, that's another fine mess you've got me into!

0:14:37 > 0:14:41A few days later, Dave and Chris review the first bit of evidence

0:14:41 > 0:14:42caught on camera.

0:14:42 > 0:14:46By six o'clock that evening, it had already filmed its first offence.

0:14:46 > 0:14:48A truckload of waste and, coming off the site

0:14:48 > 0:14:50a few minutes later, with the truck empty.

0:14:50 > 0:14:54It was the registration of the vehicle that the covert camera saw.

0:14:56 > 0:14:58There's been a breakthrough.

0:14:58 > 0:15:00Chris has tracked down the truck owner,

0:15:00 > 0:15:02who's volunteered to be interviewed,

0:15:02 > 0:15:05but knows nothing about the covert camera footage.

0:15:05 > 0:15:09This is our opportunity before a decision is made whether

0:15:09 > 0:15:13they're prosecuted or not to see the evidence and comment upon it.

0:15:13 > 0:15:18The evidence for this particular chap is very, very encouraging.

0:15:18 > 0:15:21On his way in, it shows waste in the back of the truck and on his

0:15:21 > 0:15:24way out, it shows the back of the truck is empty.

0:15:24 > 0:15:28All in all, this guy's got some problems.

0:15:31 > 0:15:34Did he do it? Was the owner in the truck?

0:15:36 > 0:15:38Chris would like some answers.

0:15:39 > 0:15:41This interview is conducted under caution.

0:15:41 > 0:15:44Caution says you do not have to say anything but it may harm your

0:15:44 > 0:15:48defence. This incident is involving a black Isuzu truck. Yeah.

0:15:48 > 0:15:51Do you own that vehicle? Yes.

0:15:51 > 0:15:54Did you deposit some waste in the hedgerow?

0:15:54 > 0:15:58In the woods? Yes. No. Between the road and the field.

0:15:58 > 0:16:02Right now the suspect hasn't got a clue about the camera footage.

0:16:02 > 0:16:04But he's no stranger to the site.

0:16:05 > 0:16:08You say you've seen the rubbish there. Yeah.

0:16:08 > 0:16:10The rubbish I'm talking about. Yeah.

0:16:10 > 0:16:13Obviously not all of it, because there's probably eight-to-ten

0:16:13 > 0:16:16lorry loads. There's a hell of a lot there. Yeah. The only...

0:16:16 > 0:16:18Every time I've went, there's been more dumped.

0:16:18 > 0:16:21This side, have you seen that bit? Yes. There's some green waste.

0:16:21 > 0:16:24Yeah, yeah. The tree waste. Yeah. So, you didn't dump any of that? No.

0:16:24 > 0:16:25You don't know anything about it. No.

0:16:25 > 0:16:30I decided to put a hidden camera in that location. Yeah.

0:16:30 > 0:16:34Now you know that, do you want to change what you're saying to me? No.

0:16:34 > 0:16:38No? OK. Here's the tape. You sure? Yeah.

0:16:38 > 0:16:41Cos I don't want you to look... You're digging yourself a hole...

0:16:41 > 0:16:43Yeah. And I don't want you to look worse than you are,

0:16:43 > 0:16:45let's put it that way. Yeah.

0:16:46 > 0:16:49So you're sticking to your story so far.

0:16:49 > 0:16:51For a minute.

0:16:51 > 0:16:53You're grinning. For a minute. All right.

0:16:53 > 0:16:56Let me show you some more photographs.

0:16:56 > 0:16:58His attitude started to change.

0:16:58 > 0:17:02I then mentioned to him that I, as a result of visiting there in

0:17:02 > 0:17:05the morning, I installed a hidden camera at the location.

0:17:05 > 0:17:10And I think that was the point where he realised the game was up.

0:17:10 > 0:17:14That's the pile that I believe you dumped. Yeah. Did you?

0:17:17 > 0:17:22I might have done. Tell us, then. I did dump that bit. OK.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24What's the story? Where did it come from?

0:17:24 > 0:17:28He admitted that it was for payment, which is a significant factor,

0:17:28 > 0:17:32and that he brought it out from the Southall area.

0:17:34 > 0:17:39This is fly-tipping on an industrial scale, with photographic evidence

0:17:39 > 0:17:42and an admission of guilt.

0:17:42 > 0:17:45So, what will the penalty be?

0:17:45 > 0:17:48I would anticipate this case will go to the Magistrates Court. Yes.

0:17:48 > 0:17:52He'll end up with a significant fine and

0:17:52 > 0:17:57a significant award of costs to the council for all the effort

0:17:57 > 0:18:00that it takes to get these people to the court.

0:18:00 > 0:18:02So, this case could be going to court,

0:18:02 > 0:18:06where the maximum fine for fly-tipping is ?50,000.

0:18:08 > 0:18:12It's a painful charge with a significant crime,

0:18:12 > 0:18:13and a result for the council,

0:18:13 > 0:18:16who turned the case around in a matter of weeks.

0:18:18 > 0:18:21The word will have got round to the local community that we can

0:18:21 > 0:18:23respond quickly to incidents,

0:18:23 > 0:18:26install a camera if it's necessary and appropriate,

0:18:26 > 0:18:28and track them down very quickly,

0:18:28 > 0:18:32and it just, it will be a great deterrent for the future.

0:18:39 > 0:18:43Kam Paul is a civil enforcement officer

0:18:43 > 0:18:46with Havering District Council in the north-east London.

0:18:46 > 0:18:49I don't think she just went to the pharmacy because there's

0:18:49 > 0:18:53no way it took an hour and a half, unless they're operating on you.

0:18:55 > 0:18:59She takes no-nonsense and, if anyone dishes it out,

0:18:59 > 0:19:01she's got the kit to prove it.

0:19:01 > 0:19:03Right, you can't drop off here at this time.

0:19:04 > 0:19:07At what point do you turn this camera on?

0:19:07 > 0:19:10Normally I would turn it on as soon as someone approaches me... OK.

0:19:10 > 0:19:13..cos you want the conversation to be on film

0:19:13 > 0:19:16and that's mainly because you'd be amazed at how many people go back,

0:19:16 > 0:19:18complain to the council

0:19:18 > 0:19:21and just totally fabricate the whole statement.

0:19:21 > 0:19:23What sort of things have been made up?

0:19:23 > 0:19:24"She swore at me.

0:19:24 > 0:19:26"She told me to F off.

0:19:26 > 0:19:29"She threatened me. She gave me attitude.

0:19:29 > 0:19:31"She almost hit me." I've even had people say that.

0:19:31 > 0:19:34Is any of it true? Of course not!

0:19:34 > 0:19:37Kam soon spots her first potential offender.

0:19:37 > 0:19:40If it doesn't say free parking or it doesn't have a bay,

0:19:40 > 0:19:43you're parked somewhere where you're not supposed to be. Right.

0:19:43 > 0:19:45This is a loading bay... Yeah.

0:19:45 > 0:19:50..which is designed for vans and HGVs only.

0:19:50 > 0:19:52Let's look at this case -

0:19:52 > 0:19:54parking in a loading-only bay.

0:19:56 > 0:19:58Designated for larger vehicles.

0:19:58 > 0:20:00This is an offence.

0:20:00 > 0:20:03So, does this person get a grace time or is it instant ticket?

0:20:03 > 0:20:06No, it's an instant. Ouch. Ouch, yeah.

0:20:06 > 0:20:10Mind you, with a motor like that, I think he can probably afford it.

0:20:10 > 0:20:14Parking here has just cost this driver ?130.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20I've got to say, nice car. My nephew's got the same one.

0:20:20 > 0:20:23We were admiring it, yeah. You were admiring it a bit too much, I think.

0:20:23 > 0:20:25Yeah, sorry.

0:20:25 > 0:20:27I'm just wondering, the reason I parked here...

0:20:27 > 0:20:30Are all the rest of those loading bays getting tickets as well? No.

0:20:30 > 0:20:35Now, I am actually going to say something that you're really

0:20:35 > 0:20:38not going to be happy with. There's no time plate over there...

0:20:38 > 0:20:39Right. ..so that is a free bay

0:20:39 > 0:20:42and that's why they're all parked with no ticket.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44Come over here, sir.

0:20:44 > 0:20:48The way bays work, they've all got their own time plate

0:20:48 > 0:20:51and, especially with these, these are actually two loading bays.

0:20:51 > 0:20:52Two completely separate loading bays.

0:20:52 > 0:20:55Yeah, cos you've got a big yellow line in between, separating them.

0:20:55 > 0:20:58I'm learning something every day. So am I. I didn't know that.

0:20:58 > 0:21:01So basically, the way it works is

0:21:01 > 0:21:04this bay has its own time plate,

0:21:04 > 0:21:07there's a yellow line to break up the bay,

0:21:07 > 0:21:09and this is a separate loading bay

0:21:09 > 0:21:11but it's not being used right now, there's no time plate.

0:21:11 > 0:21:15So where's the lamppost that tells you the time for that?

0:21:15 > 0:21:17There isn't one. That's exactly what I'm trying to explain to you.

0:21:17 > 0:21:20If any bay, whether it's a loading bay or resident bay

0:21:20 > 0:21:24or a pay-and-display, if it doesn't have a time plate,

0:21:24 > 0:21:25it turns into a free bay,

0:21:25 > 0:21:28because if the bay does not instruct the driver,

0:21:28 > 0:21:31if it doesn't give the details to the driver

0:21:31 > 0:21:33as to what kind of bay it is,

0:21:33 > 0:21:36what days it's enforceable and what times... Anyone can park there.

0:21:36 > 0:21:39..then anyone can park there. 'You learn something new every day.'

0:21:39 > 0:21:42It's a stark reminder to always check the signs when you park

0:21:42 > 0:21:44or you could end up with a fine.

0:21:44 > 0:21:46I'm going on to that site.

0:21:46 > 0:21:48Where should I park? Well... Obviously not here.

0:21:48 > 0:21:49Obviously not there.

0:21:49 > 0:21:51You could leave it there for the whole day but...

0:21:51 > 0:21:53I'll move it. ..technically, yeah,

0:21:53 > 0:21:55the best thing to do would be park it into that bay.

0:21:58 > 0:22:01I just saw you arguing your point there with the traffic warden.

0:22:01 > 0:22:05You don't seem very happy. It doesn't make sense, though.

0:22:05 > 0:22:08I've moved my car five yards and that's...that's...

0:22:08 > 0:22:11a ticketable offence and that's free.

0:22:11 > 0:22:14Are you pretty aggrieved by what's happened?

0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yes. To me, it seems silly but, at the end of the day,

0:22:16 > 0:22:18I'm not going to stand here

0:22:18 > 0:22:20and argue cos I've got better things to do with my time. Yeah.

0:22:20 > 0:22:22Obviously, appeal is something you can do. Yeah.

0:22:22 > 0:22:23You did mention a point there -

0:22:23 > 0:22:26is it worth your time and money to do that? Are you going to?

0:22:26 > 0:22:29I probably will, depending on how much it is.

0:22:29 > 0:22:33It's ?65 now. 130 if you don't pay it within a short period of time.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35So I'll appeal it. I'll just take pictures and send it off

0:22:35 > 0:22:37telling them, to me, it doesn't make much sense. Yeah.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41I can see where you're coming from. I think we were both educated then.

0:22:41 > 0:22:42I didn't realise that was the difference.

0:22:42 > 0:22:46If he'd parked a few metres further forward in the first place,

0:22:46 > 0:22:49he could have saved himself a lot of money.

0:22:49 > 0:22:52You certainly need a thick skin to be a traffic warden,

0:22:52 > 0:22:55but even Kam has a softer side.

0:22:55 > 0:22:58Oh! I don't want to give this car a ticket.

0:22:58 > 0:23:01Because he's got a dog on the back seat? Oh, God, he's so cute.

0:23:01 > 0:23:04I did see the dog after. I really feel bad now.

0:23:07 > 0:23:11They may have left the dog in a well-ventilated car in the shade,

0:23:11 > 0:23:15but I'm afraid the driver is still in the doghouse with a ?130 fine.

0:23:17 > 0:23:21Next, Kam has spotted a car parked in a pay-and-display car park

0:23:21 > 0:23:24where some drivers have been trying their luck.

0:23:24 > 0:23:26Why do you think somebody's blatantly parked there?

0:23:26 > 0:23:28You're standing over there by the machine and they

0:23:28 > 0:23:31disappeared without even bothering to get a ticket.

0:23:31 > 0:23:33Chances are, two options.

0:23:33 > 0:23:37They probably thought it's free because the machine's covered up.

0:23:37 > 0:23:38They probably haven't read it properly.

0:23:38 > 0:23:41Or they've read it and thought, "Do you know what?

0:23:41 > 0:23:43"I'm only going round the corner to get at tea from Greggs.

0:23:43 > 0:23:45"I'll be back within ten minutes."

0:23:45 > 0:23:48Cos they all know we have to give them a ten-minutes grace,

0:23:48 > 0:23:50so some of them will just race against the clock and think,

0:23:50 > 0:23:53"As long as I'm back in ten minutes, I'm all right."

0:23:53 > 0:23:56What's the case against this vehicle?

0:23:56 > 0:23:59Parking in a permit holders only car park.

0:24:01 > 0:24:04After a ten-minute observation period,

0:24:04 > 0:24:06she could hand out a fixed penalty notice.

0:24:07 > 0:24:10Once that issues a ticket, that's it.

0:24:10 > 0:24:12There's no way you can go, "Oh, sorry, all right.

0:24:12 > 0:24:14"I'll give you a chance. I'll cancel it." No.

0:24:14 > 0:24:17Kam does what the law requires and waits.

0:24:21 > 0:24:26Time's up and this motorist's wallet just got a whole lot lighter.

0:24:26 > 0:24:31To me, I mean, 11 minutes is enough time to get change from anywhere.

0:24:31 > 0:24:35Ouch. It's a ?130 on-the-spot fine.

0:24:35 > 0:24:36You've left the vehicle.

0:24:36 > 0:24:39Whether you've got delayed now or not,

0:24:39 > 0:24:42you've left it initially with no ticket and no intention to pay.

0:24:42 > 0:24:44Why should you not get a ticket?

0:24:44 > 0:24:47Bearing in mind, these, you know... Everyone else has paid.

0:24:47 > 0:24:51I can see your argument. They've all paid good money for their permits.

0:24:51 > 0:24:55Why should this driver not get a ticket and everybody else pay

0:24:55 > 0:24:56for their parking?

0:24:59 > 0:25:02Now, you can appeal your ticket,

0:25:02 > 0:25:05but you can't avoid it just by chucking it away.

0:25:07 > 0:25:10Surely that means now, if they don't pay that,

0:25:10 > 0:25:12it's going to go up to 130 quid? Yeah.

0:25:12 > 0:25:15Kam issued this one to another car earlier.

0:25:15 > 0:25:18Clearly, the driver isn't a fan of parking enforcement.

0:25:18 > 0:25:21I wonder if they've taken it out the actual envelope. Nope.

0:25:21 > 0:25:22I guarantee you.

0:25:24 > 0:25:26It's in there. Yeah, you're right.

0:25:26 > 0:25:28That's a driver who constantly parks here.

0:25:28 > 0:25:31Every day, this person will get themselves a ticket,

0:25:31 > 0:25:33they will just chuck it and drive off.

0:25:33 > 0:25:35Well, they must be paying. Nope.

0:25:35 > 0:25:38So basically one day they're going to get pulled over,

0:25:38 > 0:25:40someone's going to grab them

0:25:40 > 0:25:42and they're going to have a huge amount of tickets to pay for.

0:25:42 > 0:25:44Is it a criminal offence?

0:25:44 > 0:25:49Yeah, because basically what we have to do when tickets aren't paid

0:25:49 > 0:25:52is wait for three of them to reach warrant stage

0:25:52 > 0:25:54and then they send bailiffs.

0:25:56 > 0:25:58I can hardly keep up with her. She's like a whippet.

0:25:58 > 0:26:02So far today, I've already seen Kam issue three tickets,

0:26:02 > 0:26:06so I've got a burning question that most of us want answered.

0:26:06 > 0:26:10Are you financially rewarded for the amount of tickets you issue? No.

0:26:10 > 0:26:12Absolutely not. Under any circumstances.

0:26:12 > 0:26:16You could go out one day, issue zero tickets,

0:26:16 > 0:26:19you will be paid the exact same amount

0:26:19 > 0:26:21for the following day if you issued 100 tickets.

0:26:21 > 0:26:23Are you target-driven?

0:26:23 > 0:26:25Are you told to issue as many tickets as possible?

0:26:25 > 0:26:29That is the part of the job where people get confused.

0:26:29 > 0:26:31They're all under the impression that we're on commission and

0:26:31 > 0:26:34they're all under the impression that we're on targets,

0:26:34 > 0:26:35which is not true.

0:26:40 > 0:26:43In Pendle, Lancashire, there's been a report of

0:26:43 > 0:26:48a serious case of fly-tipping and the big guns are on the case.

0:26:48 > 0:26:50INDISTINCT

0:26:50 > 0:26:54David Alexander is head of the Environmental Crime Team.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56Along with his colleague, Jeff Brown,

0:26:56 > 0:26:59they have been summoned to a fly-tipping offence.

0:27:06 > 0:27:09This builders' waste appeared overnight.

0:27:09 > 0:27:12The culprit could be hit with a ?400 fine,

0:27:12 > 0:27:15but the team need clues to track them down.

0:27:17 > 0:27:19That's interesting.

0:27:19 > 0:27:20Take a photograph of the bag.

0:27:22 > 0:27:23David suspects the waste

0:27:23 > 0:27:26may have come from the house behind this wall.

0:27:27 > 0:27:32It's all a matter of connecting this rubbish to over there.

0:27:32 > 0:27:36And a key piece of evidence would seem to confirm his suspicions.

0:27:36 > 0:27:38There's a tape measure in there.

0:27:39 > 0:27:42It's broken. There's no...

0:27:42 > 0:27:44There's no tape in it.

0:27:44 > 0:27:48And, lo and behold, just over the...

0:27:48 > 0:27:51over the wall, in the fire, there's a bit of tape measure.

0:27:51 > 0:27:54So it proves that it's his rubbish.

0:27:55 > 0:27:57When you shift the bag...

0:27:59 > 0:28:00Shift the bag.

0:28:00 > 0:28:04That's been there a few days. It's all green under there.

0:28:04 > 0:28:06It's actually our land,

0:28:06 > 0:28:10and he's not got permission from the Parks Department or anybody

0:28:10 > 0:28:12to put his stuff on there.

0:28:12 > 0:28:15What have we got down here?

0:28:15 > 0:28:18But the illegal dumping doesn't end there.

0:28:18 > 0:28:20There's more builder's waste

0:28:20 > 0:28:23chucked next to this stream a few yards away in the local park.

0:28:23 > 0:28:26If this waste can be linked to the same offender,

0:28:26 > 0:28:29it's a bigger deal than they first thought.

0:28:29 > 0:28:31Again, it's dumping.

0:28:31 > 0:28:34It's more than a couple of bags' worth, so it will be fly-tipping.

0:28:34 > 0:28:38A few bags of rubbish the wrong side of a garden wall

0:28:38 > 0:28:41could be dealt with by means of a fixed-penalty notice of ?400,

0:28:41 > 0:28:44but this looks like a much bigger dump

0:28:44 > 0:28:47and could be classed as fly-tipping,

0:28:47 > 0:28:51potentially punishable in court with a fine of up to ?50,000,

0:28:51 > 0:28:55and David could take this to court if the evidence is strong enough.

0:28:55 > 0:28:58If you want to pull the branches out...

0:28:58 > 0:29:01Right, that has got to match.

0:29:01 > 0:29:04David is now on the hunt for anything that will tie this

0:29:04 > 0:29:08load of rubbish to the waste left outside the house.

0:29:08 > 0:29:11He has noticed a few cut-off trees in the back garden.

0:29:11 > 0:29:12There you are.

0:29:12 > 0:29:14Perfect match.

0:29:14 > 0:29:18He can't... He hasn't got an excuse now.

0:29:18 > 0:29:20That's been dumped down an embankment,

0:29:20 > 0:29:22obviously out of sight,

0:29:22 > 0:29:26so he's obviously no intention of clearing that out.

0:29:26 > 0:29:29The property owner suddenly appears.

0:29:29 > 0:29:33Are you having some work done here? Yes. So you've authorised...

0:29:33 > 0:29:34You're having the work done?

0:29:34 > 0:29:38The woman says she is having a patio made by a local builder.

0:29:38 > 0:29:41So, what is all this rubbish over here?

0:29:41 > 0:29:44What is the rubbish down the side of the banking?

0:29:44 > 0:29:47She says the work is still going on

0:29:47 > 0:29:50but the waste by the stream is nothing to do with her.

0:29:50 > 0:29:56He has basically fly-tipped a load of your stuff onto the park.

0:29:56 > 0:30:00He has then also taken some of the stuff, he has just slung them

0:30:00 > 0:30:03down the embankment, and I'm not prepared to have that happen.

0:30:03 > 0:30:06He has fly-tipped, so I need to speak to him.

0:30:06 > 0:30:09She tries ringing him, but he's not picking up.

0:30:09 > 0:30:11She says it's not her problem.

0:30:11 > 0:30:15So, ultimately, madam, it is, because it's your waste.

0:30:15 > 0:30:17It's stuff from your property.

0:30:17 > 0:30:20Now, if you say the builder's doing it, that's fine.

0:30:20 > 0:30:22We'll speak to the builder.

0:30:22 > 0:30:25The homeowner has a phone number for her builder,

0:30:25 > 0:30:27but she doesn't want to hand it over.

0:30:27 > 0:30:30Well, it's your responsibility. I will need those details from you,

0:30:30 > 0:30:33otherwise you will be held responsible for your waste.

0:30:33 > 0:30:37This has been here quite a few days, because the grass

0:30:37 > 0:30:39has gone yellow underneath the bags.

0:30:39 > 0:30:43Eventually she sees sense and, after a call from Jeff, the builder

0:30:43 > 0:30:47comes back to confess and possibly face a pretty hefty fine.

0:30:47 > 0:30:51He threw it down. I didn't know. Sorry about that.

0:30:51 > 0:30:53He's here to face the music.

0:30:53 > 0:30:57But the builder claims the waste in the park is down to a workmate.

0:30:57 > 0:30:59He threw it, I didn't know about it.

0:30:59 > 0:31:02But when faced with the evidence outside the house,

0:31:02 > 0:31:05it doesn't take long for him to crumble.

0:31:05 > 0:31:08Yeah, I put that there. You put that there? OK.

0:31:08 > 0:31:09And I meant to take it away.

0:31:09 > 0:31:11Yeah, you meant to, but it's not been taken away,

0:31:11 > 0:31:14it's been here for a few days. That's the offence of fly-tipping.

0:31:14 > 0:31:16Oh? Yeah. Did you know that?

0:31:16 > 0:31:19THAT most certainly is. THAT is an offence of fly-tipping.

0:31:19 > 0:31:21You have got a responsibility, as a tradesman.

0:31:21 > 0:31:24You're accountable for it and you must pay the consequences for it.

0:31:24 > 0:31:28OK? Do you know what the penalty is for fly-tipping? No.

0:31:28 > 0:31:30So, what's the offence here?

0:31:31 > 0:31:34A patio renovation that has turned into fly-tip...

0:31:34 > 0:31:38over the wall into a council park and into the bushes.

0:31:38 > 0:31:42This guy accepts the waste by the wall is his,

0:31:42 > 0:31:45but he's still blaming his mate for the dump in the bushes.

0:31:45 > 0:31:48What's the penalty to be?

0:31:48 > 0:31:51?50,000 and five years in prison is the maximum. Right?

0:31:51 > 0:31:54So that's how serious fly-tipping is.

0:31:54 > 0:31:58However, it can be dealt with by way of a fixed-penalty notice,

0:31:58 > 0:32:01which comes in at ?400.

0:32:01 > 0:32:05For this offence, it's a ?400 fine,

0:32:05 > 0:32:08AND he'll have to move the waste.

0:32:08 > 0:32:10They will also be chasing his colleague

0:32:10 > 0:32:13for the streamside rubbish.

0:32:13 > 0:32:16I will be more careful with waste, but the problem is,

0:32:16 > 0:32:20when you go down to the recycling,

0:32:20 > 0:32:26they're charging you for everything, like, you know, the stone rubble...

0:32:26 > 0:32:30You go down with the van and they charge you ?60, you know?

0:32:30 > 0:32:34People can't afford that. So that's why there's a lot of fly-tipping.

0:32:34 > 0:32:37It's their own fault.

0:32:37 > 0:32:40So, I feel a good day's work by Jeff.

0:32:40 > 0:32:44People don't deserve to have their green spaces ruined by builders.

0:32:44 > 0:32:48One case solved, but it's one of many in Pendle.

0:32:48 > 0:32:52Jeff is now joining his colleague, Matty Hargreaves, across town,

0:32:52 > 0:32:55where the problem is a whole lot bigger.

0:32:55 > 0:32:59Another fly-tip on the back street, but this one is more or less...

0:32:59 > 0:33:01A significant fly-tip? Yeah.

0:33:04 > 0:33:05Ah!

0:33:05 > 0:33:09This huge pile of waste was dumped in one go,

0:33:09 > 0:33:11and it's a blockade of a whole alleyway.

0:33:11 > 0:33:16Whoever did this could be hit with a fine or even taken to court.

0:33:16 > 0:33:20Not acceptable at all. It's blocking the whole back street.

0:33:20 > 0:33:23No-one can get up or down it, really, without clambering over it.

0:33:23 > 0:33:27It's down to Matty and Jeff to find a clue to the offender,

0:33:27 > 0:33:31and the soon-to-be-owner of a hefty fine.

0:33:31 > 0:33:34It's waste. It's just everywhere.

0:33:34 > 0:33:37There's wood, there's old settees.

0:33:37 > 0:33:40There's old rags and things like that.

0:33:40 > 0:33:43And it's just not acceptable to dump your waste

0:33:43 > 0:33:45and expect other people to clear it up.

0:33:45 > 0:33:49Matty has spotted what looks like the contents of a house

0:33:49 > 0:33:52in the pile and realises, just around the corner,

0:33:52 > 0:33:54is a house that has been recently gutted.

0:33:54 > 0:33:57It's finding the stuff that's on the back street that's related

0:33:57 > 0:34:02to the house, and that's going to be the difficult part.

0:34:04 > 0:34:08Time for a bit of bag-diving to link this dump to the house in question.

0:34:10 > 0:34:11What have we got here?

0:34:11 > 0:34:14I've got an envelope there. Name and address on it.

0:34:14 > 0:34:16Clearly come from the bag.

0:34:16 > 0:34:19This is the first bit of tangible evidence we've got

0:34:19 > 0:34:21linking a name and an address to this.

0:34:21 > 0:34:23Happy days...ish.

0:34:24 > 0:34:28Now some door-knocking to find the answers.

0:34:32 > 0:34:34There's no-one at the house in question

0:34:34 > 0:34:37but an outraged neighbour IS home.

0:34:37 > 0:34:39It made me feel really frustrated,

0:34:39 > 0:34:41where we couldn't get out the back gate. And I was mad.

0:34:41 > 0:34:44I was absolutely mad. I called the police.

0:34:44 > 0:34:47You don't want to live in an area that is full of rubbish.

0:34:47 > 0:34:49You don't want to see things that breeds rats.

0:34:49 > 0:34:51If they're caught doing it,

0:34:51 > 0:34:55I think they should be fined and at least some jail time.

0:34:55 > 0:34:57Let's have a look at Matty and Jeff's evidence.

0:34:57 > 0:35:01A massive pile of waste blocking the whole alleyway,

0:35:01 > 0:35:04a house that has been recently gutted,

0:35:04 > 0:35:09and an address in the rubbish linking the pile to the property.

0:35:09 > 0:35:12We've got a bit of work to do in relation to trying to find

0:35:12 > 0:35:15the individual named in the letters we've got.

0:35:15 > 0:35:18There is a lot of detective work ahead, but if the lead pays off then

0:35:18 > 0:35:23this fly-tip could result in some lazy litter lout ending up in court.

0:35:24 > 0:35:27But in the meantime, someone has got clear the rubbish.

0:35:27 > 0:35:30We've got to pay for actually removing it,

0:35:30 > 0:35:33so it's all money that the taxpayer picks up, really,

0:35:33 > 0:35:38because somebody is too lazy to dispose of the waste properly.

0:35:46 > 0:35:51In Gloucestershire, PC Holloway and PC Buxton are on patrol.

0:35:51 > 0:35:54The front seat passenger is a child in the car in front,

0:35:54 > 0:35:59and you can barely see his head over there door,

0:35:59 > 0:36:02so I just want to make sure

0:36:02 > 0:36:05that he's in the right car seat and find out why he's in the front,

0:36:05 > 0:36:08because it's always preferable to have children in the back...

0:36:08 > 0:36:11because the adult airbags are for adults.

0:36:13 > 0:36:15I mean, in these big cars,

0:36:15 > 0:36:18the seating area at the front is quite large,

0:36:18 > 0:36:20so it could be perfectly fine,

0:36:20 > 0:36:23but a child has got to be in a child seat up until the age of 12,

0:36:23 > 0:36:26or 135cm, whichever they reach first.

0:36:26 > 0:36:30It's the drivers responsibility to ensure passenger safety,

0:36:30 > 0:36:34so this motorist could face an on-the-spot fine.

0:36:35 > 0:36:38The reason I've stopped you is, I've just seen you've got

0:36:38 > 0:36:41a child in the front passenger seat who looks quite small.

0:36:41 > 0:36:44Why would it be your preference for her to sit in the front?

0:36:44 > 0:36:47This driver thought the best way to stop her daughter misbehaving

0:36:47 > 0:36:49was to let her sit in the front.

0:36:49 > 0:36:52But after some gentle persuasion from PC Holloway,

0:36:52 > 0:36:55the girl decides to relocate to the back seat.

0:36:55 > 0:36:57Until your body gets big enough,

0:36:57 > 0:36:59this adult seatbelt would be too high.

0:36:59 > 0:37:01If you weren't sat on this,

0:37:01 > 0:37:03it would be too high round your neck and then if Mummy

0:37:03 > 0:37:06has to brake hard, because another driver pulls out in front of her,

0:37:06 > 0:37:10the seatbelt would jar and you could get more injured.

0:37:10 > 0:37:12So, when you're sat on this nice seat,

0:37:12 > 0:37:13it's perfectly across your shoulder.

0:37:13 > 0:37:16So then, if Mummy brakes hard and you have to go forwards,

0:37:16 > 0:37:18it's not going to hurt you. It's going to save you.

0:37:18 > 0:37:21The daughter may be causing her mother grief,

0:37:21 > 0:37:25but it's up to the driver to make sure young ones are safe.

0:37:25 > 0:37:29The question is, will PC Holloway fine the parent?

0:37:29 > 0:37:31Let's take a look at the law.

0:37:31 > 0:37:35All passengers need to wear seatbelts, including children,

0:37:35 > 0:37:38but if the child is under 135cm tall

0:37:38 > 0:37:42before their 12th birthday, then he or she needs to be on

0:37:42 > 0:37:45a suitable booster, or sitting on a seat with a seatbelt extender.

0:37:45 > 0:37:49If not, the driver could face a ?100 on-the-spot fine,

0:37:49 > 0:37:51so what's it to be?

0:37:51 > 0:37:54I'm not going to be giving you a fixed-penalty notice today,

0:37:54 > 0:37:56or a report. It's just a warning, really.

0:37:56 > 0:37:58But in future, obviously,

0:37:58 > 0:38:01anyone under the age of 14 is the driver's responsibility.

0:38:01 > 0:38:03No charge this time.

0:38:03 > 0:38:07Instead, a few stern words to both mother and daughter from the police.

0:38:07 > 0:38:12There seemed to be a parental issue there where the daughter wasn't

0:38:12 > 0:38:15doing what she was told, so we had a bit of a chat and I think

0:38:15 > 0:38:18from now on, she'll be doing as Mum tells her in the car.

0:38:20 > 0:38:22SIREN BLARES

0:38:22 > 0:38:25Back on the road, the alarm bells are ringing.

0:38:25 > 0:38:28I'm going after this white van, it's got a light out.

0:38:28 > 0:38:30And it's driving like a loon.

0:38:30 > 0:38:33So, we are just going to run it through first of all,

0:38:33 > 0:38:36see who might own it. Insurance is held.

0:38:36 > 0:38:38Ford Transit white panel van.

0:38:38 > 0:38:42Driving without fully working lights is an offence that could

0:38:42 > 0:38:45leave the driver with an on-the-spot fine.

0:38:45 > 0:38:47Hiya.

0:38:47 > 0:38:50I just stopped you because your brake light is out.

0:38:50 > 0:38:52Oh, is it? I didn't realise. Yeah, this one is out.

0:38:52 > 0:38:55Don't panic. Is it yours? Yes. Got your driving licence handy?

0:38:55 > 0:38:58No, I don't. Any ID? Only my Gas Safe.

0:38:58 > 0:39:01This van is about to get the once-over.

0:39:02 > 0:39:04Indicate.

0:39:04 > 0:39:05OK. That one.

0:39:05 > 0:39:07OK, flash.

0:39:09 > 0:39:12But it seems the van has seen better days.

0:39:12 > 0:39:14So, you have got a side light out.

0:39:14 > 0:39:17That one is missing. Your headlights are out as well.

0:39:17 > 0:39:19So, it's only your main beam that works. I didn't know that.

0:39:19 > 0:39:22That's with your main beam turned off, you've got no headlights.

0:39:22 > 0:39:26I didn't know. It was all right last night. I travelled from Swindon.

0:39:26 > 0:39:28When I asked you to turn the headlights on,

0:39:28 > 0:39:31it was defaulted to the main beam. I'll get that sorted.

0:39:31 > 0:39:34You've got three bulbs out here and your brake light, all right?

0:39:34 > 0:39:36I wasn't aware of that. Well, you should be.

0:39:36 > 0:39:39You need to check it every day. It was all right last night.

0:39:39 > 0:39:42I didn't check it this morning because I came to work in daylight.

0:39:42 > 0:39:45If we suddenly had a downpour and it got really dark and you

0:39:45 > 0:39:48turned your headlights on, that is all you'd have, that side light.

0:39:48 > 0:39:51I'll rectify that tonight. Yeah. No problem.

0:39:51 > 0:39:53PC Holloway is not done yet.

0:39:53 > 0:39:56She carries on her checks inside the vehicle.

0:39:58 > 0:40:00Don't forget your hat. I'll get it in a minute.

0:40:00 > 0:40:03The handbrake is on the very last notch.

0:40:03 > 0:40:05You have to yank it up.

0:40:05 > 0:40:08I'll get the lights looked at and then I'll get that looked at.

0:40:08 > 0:40:14So, a long list of faults. Defective lights could attract a ?50 fine.

0:40:14 > 0:40:17The police have powers to take faulty vehicles off the road.

0:40:17 > 0:40:21So, we stopped the van because it had no brake light,

0:40:21 > 0:40:23and on checking the vehicle over,

0:40:23 > 0:40:26none of the front headlights work apart from one side bulb.

0:40:26 > 0:40:30So we've got three defective lights. The handbrake is borderline.

0:40:30 > 0:40:33It does stop the vehicle, but only if you yank it up,

0:40:33 > 0:40:35so that's not an offence yet.

0:40:35 > 0:40:39So we will be giving him a vehicle defect rectification notice,

0:40:39 > 0:40:42a VDRS, for him to get the lights fixed and checked

0:40:42 > 0:40:45and send it back to us to prove that he has done it.

0:40:45 > 0:40:47So, it's a vehicle defect rectification notice

0:40:47 > 0:40:49for this driver,

0:40:49 > 0:40:51which means he's got 14 days to get the work done

0:40:51 > 0:40:53or face court proceedings.

0:40:53 > 0:40:56If I can get you to sign the form here, I'll give you your copy.

0:40:56 > 0:40:59Because I am reporting you for an offence

0:40:59 > 0:41:01which may or may not end up in court,

0:41:01 > 0:41:03I've got to caution you and give you an opportunity to reply to that.

0:41:03 > 0:41:06You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if

0:41:06 > 0:41:09you do not mention now something which you later rely on in court,

0:41:09 > 0:41:11and anything you do say may be given in evidence.

0:41:11 > 0:41:14There you go, then. That's yours. Any questions at all? No. OK.

0:41:14 > 0:41:17Are you going straight back now? Straight away. OK. Swindon.

0:41:17 > 0:41:19I've got to drop them off and then I'll try and get my van fixed.

0:41:19 > 0:41:22Obviously, if you have adverse weather and it's dark enough

0:41:22 > 0:41:24that you need your lights on,

0:41:24 > 0:41:26I would advise you to pull over and wait for the weather to pass,

0:41:26 > 0:41:29because you're not visible like that at the moment. OK. OK? OK.

0:41:29 > 0:41:32No problem. Take care. I will. Thanks. Thank you.

0:41:33 > 0:41:35Olly and Shelley are on their way again,

0:41:35 > 0:41:40and it's from one white van man to another. Or should that be two?

0:41:40 > 0:41:43These two are having a conversation, the Vauxhall...

0:41:43 > 0:41:46Tell him to pull over and the other one.

0:41:48 > 0:41:51It's not the time to have a conversation, on the roundabout,

0:41:51 > 0:41:53with him.

0:41:53 > 0:41:57Careless and inconsiderate driving can lead to a fine of ?5,000.

0:41:57 > 0:42:00It's not the place to have a conversation, is it? No, it's not.

0:42:00 > 0:42:04You were holding up all that traffic. Was it that important?

0:42:06 > 0:42:08Oh, yeah, that old story. Ridiculous.

0:42:08 > 0:42:12The first driver claims he was asking for directions.

0:42:12 > 0:42:14Time to speak to the other driver.

0:42:14 > 0:42:17Not the time or place to have a conversation, on the roundabout.

0:42:17 > 0:42:20He claims the other guy was asking to buy his truck from him.

0:42:20 > 0:42:23Oh, that's funny. He told me a different story. I'm not having it.

0:42:23 > 0:42:25You don't do it.

0:42:25 > 0:42:28If you knew him, you pull over and speak to him on the phone.

0:42:28 > 0:42:31Just drive on, because you can't hold up other traffic

0:42:31 > 0:42:33just to have a chitchat, can you? All right.

0:42:34 > 0:42:37No fine, but a serious ticking-off.

0:42:40 > 0:42:41Cor, that's the way.

0:42:41 > 0:42:44You see nothing all day and then we're just trying to go home,

0:42:44 > 0:42:48two instances within the space of two of three minutes.

0:42:48 > 0:42:50Right, let's go home.

0:42:52 > 0:42:54One thing is for sure,

0:42:54 > 0:42:58the men and women who hand out these fines don't have it easy.

0:42:58 > 0:43:01That's it for today. Join me next time for more Dom On The Spot.

0:43:35 > 0:43:37If there is nothing new, then the Court of Appeal

0:43:37 > 0:43:40aren't going to change their decision.

0:43:42 > 0:43:44You have to question everything.

0:43:44 > 0:43:47There were two areas of fingerprints on the carrier bag.

0:43:47 > 0:43:50It's an obvious case to re-examine.