0:00:03 > 0:00:06'Never before have so many on-the- spot fines being issued in Britain.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10'We're going to be following the men and women who hand out
0:00:10 > 0:00:13'over ?30 million worth of tickets every month...'
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Oops. Round here they are an absolute blight.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18I'm up to 104 now. Wow.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21That is disgusting. Just walk away.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24'..for behaviour that's downright dangerous...'
0:00:24 > 0:00:27That was stupid for these sort of conditions.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28'..simply selfish...'
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Look 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 > 0:00:35'..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 > 0:00:45Pays ?260. Ouch.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47'..and how this could affect you.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:49I'll give him a punch. Do you want to see me kick off?
0:00:50 > 0:00:51'The police are on it...'
0:00:51 > 0:00:53What the...?! Sir!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55'..the parking wardens are on it...'
0:00:55 > 0:00:57They should be thanking us for being here.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58'..and I'm on it.'
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Careful, it's a 30mph limit here.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02'I'm Dom Littlewood,
0:01:02 > 0:01:03'and I'm on the spot.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08'Today, we'll be meeting one man talking a load of old rubbish
0:01:08 > 0:01:11'with a ?400 fine at stake.'
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Do you know what? Everyone who's been through this BLEEP bin,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17get out now.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19'It's operation dog poo in Pendle
0:01:19 > 0:01:22'as one resident highlights an ongoing problem.'
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Ah, here we have some, here, look.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28And that's what it's all about.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31'And drivers who abuse disabled parking spaces
0:01:31 > 0:01:34'face a fate worse than a fine.'
0:01:34 > 0:01:37If you're actually embarrassed by what you've done,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39would you mind just putting your hand up?
0:01:40 > 0:01:43'It's a tough job policing our roads.'
0:01:43 > 0:01:45You were doing 81, average speed.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Why have you got your phone between your lap?
0:01:47 > 0:01:51I don't believe you were not using your phone.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54'Today I'm out with Gloucestershire traffic cops
0:01:54 > 0:01:58'PC Shelley Holloway and PC Olly Buxton.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05'We're in an unmarked police car,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08'which means traffic offenders can't see us coming.'
0:02:08 > 0:02:12We're in Cheltenham town centre.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14What are you likely to experience here?
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Being unmarked is great, because obviously it's busier,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22you're more likely to find people committing offences...
0:02:24 > 0:02:28..from the simple things like not wearing their seatbelt...
0:02:28 > 0:02:30'Over 95% of front-seat passengers
0:02:30 > 0:02:33'in Great Britain do remember to buckle up,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36'so you'd have to be a bit of a numpty not to.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38'Speaking of which...'
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Hiya. You're not wearing your seatbelt.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Is it done up under your body?
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Can I have a chat about that, if it's all right?
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Can you pull over and we'll have a chat?
0:02:46 > 0:02:49'This driver has made a conscious decision to ignore the law
0:02:49 > 0:02:51'and not wear his seatbelt.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'So it looks like it could be Shelley's first on-the-spot
0:02:54 > 0:02:56'fine of the day.'
0:02:56 > 0:02:57It's a brand-new car,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00he's obviously got an alarm which will tell him he's not wearing his
0:03:00 > 0:03:03seatbelt, so what they do to get around that is fasten it
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and then sit on the seat so it stops the alarm going off.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09It's a very deliberate effort to avoid wearing a seatbelt.
0:03:09 > 0:03:10I can't see the logic in that.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14No shortage of work for you, Shelley. No shortage of work at all.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17'I've got a feeling this could end up costing this driver.'
0:03:22 > 0:03:25I could see you weren't wearing your seatbelt. Is this your vehicle?
0:03:26 > 0:03:28OK, so how long have you had this vehicle?
0:03:30 > 0:03:31OK.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33'But hang on, there may be something
0:03:33 > 0:03:35'much more serious going on in this car.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:37I can smell cannabis in here.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Do you...? You don't use cannabis, no?
0:03:40 > 0:03:41'Hold on a minute.'
0:03:41 > 0:03:43There's a crowbar in the passenger seat.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Don't pick it up. What's that there for?
0:03:47 > 0:03:49'If they find cannabis in this car,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51'they could be looking at something
0:03:51 > 0:03:53'even worse than an on-the-spot fine.'
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Have you got anything on you you shouldn't have?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03'So what are Shelley's options
0:04:03 > 0:04:05'if this driver does have cannabis on him?'
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Obviously with cannabis, if you've got a personal amount
0:04:08 > 0:04:10it can be dealt with by way of a street caution,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12we don't have to arrest.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14That's why I gave you the opportunity to tell me whether
0:04:14 > 0:04:17you've got anything on you, OK?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Olly, cannabis in the car, as well, smell of.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'All because he couldn't be bothered to wear his seatbelt.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27'What does his passenger have to say?'
0:04:27 > 0:04:29You and your mate just got stopped. Yeah.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Your mate had pretended to put his seatbelt on.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35He clicked it into the little... Silly, isn't he? Why did he do that?
0:04:35 > 0:04:37I don't know. He must...
0:04:37 > 0:04:41He thought he put it on, but he put it over the back...
0:04:41 > 0:04:43He couldn't have thought he put it on!
0:04:43 > 0:04:47He had to click it himself. He's a naughty lad, I give him that.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50'I may have been born at night, but not last night.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54'I don't know about cannabis, but I think I can smell a fine coming.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:56What I need you to do is generate some saliva in your mouth
0:04:56 > 0:04:59by rubbing your tongue on the inside of your left cheek three times,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01then the inside of your right cheek
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and then across the bottom of your inside of your lip three times.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06And then stick your tongue out nice and long for me.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12As a result of Shelley being able to smell cannabis on the driver -
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and bear in mind this was a simple seatbelt stop -
0:05:14 > 0:05:17she's now done a drugs test, she's taken a swab from his mouth,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19and that's gone into some chemicals.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21It takes eight minutes to get a result.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24And as a result of her smelling that cannabis,
0:05:24 > 0:05:25she's now also called in a dog unit.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28So there's a dog going to be coming now, as far as I know.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30He'll go over to that car trying to spot any drugs that might be
0:05:30 > 0:05:31hidden away.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'Eight minutes to wait to see if there's a fine coming.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40'If he has been drug-driving, he could be looking at an unlimited
0:05:40 > 0:05:42'fine and up to six months behind bars.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45'But hang on,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49'it looks like there could be yet another offence to add to the list.'
0:05:49 > 0:05:52This rental agreement ends at two o'clock, though, today.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53So you might not be insured.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56'And if he wasn't in enough trouble already,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00'the rental car he's driving was supposed to be returned an hour ago,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03'so there may also be a fine for driving without insurance.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'I think this one may end up being a no-brainer.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:11As long as your credit card... It's the insurance I need to...
0:06:11 > 0:06:14It's got to still be valid, because it's...
0:06:14 > 0:06:16'PC Holloway calls the hire-car
0:06:16 > 0:06:18'company to see if he is still insured.'
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Hello, I've just stopped a vehicle belonging to you, and the agreement
0:06:21 > 0:06:24ended at two o'clock today.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27So I'm just ringing to find out whether you'd honour the cover.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30No, I don't want an e-mail address, I'd like to speak to someone.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Am I talking to Avis?
0:06:32 > 0:06:33In Barcelona?!
0:06:33 > 0:06:35No, I rang the Bristol number on his agreement.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41'Let's hope that's a mistake. It's a long drive to Barcelona.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44'But this guy seems to be driving himself closer and closer
0:06:44 > 0:06:46'to an on-the-spot fine.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:48All this just from not wearing a seatbelt.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Not wearing a seatbelt, yeah. That's normally the way.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53One thing throws up a lot of others.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57If the hire company won't extend his insurance, what will happen then,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59do you know? He's driving without insurance then,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01so the vehicle will be seized.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05And, yeah, he'll be having a ticket, six points.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07?200 fine.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10'OK, so let's review the mounting evidence.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12'This guy was caught not wearing his seatbelt.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16'There might be drugs in the car,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19'which means he could be found to be driving under the influence.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22'And on top of that, he might not be insured.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27'If it's all true, he could be looking at a shedload of fines,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29'a driving ban and even a prison sentence.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35'The canine reinforcements have arrived.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37'Will there be drugs in the car?'
0:07:41 > 0:07:45'As PC Holloway said, if this little guy finds anything,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48'then a small amount for personal possession could be dealt with using
0:07:48 > 0:07:51'a caution and an on-the-spot fine.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54'Has the dog found something?
0:07:58 > 0:08:00'The search is over.'
0:08:00 > 0:08:02That's clear, then.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05'It's clean, not a sausage.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'But what about the result for the drugs test?'
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Shelley carried out a drugs test on him. Do you know the results?
0:08:14 > 0:08:16I believe the drug test was negative.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19'So, no on-the-spot fine for possession of cannabis,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22'but that isn't the end of the list. What about the insurance?'
0:08:24 > 0:08:27It's in his name, the agreement, so I just needed to check
0:08:27 > 0:08:29they were still happy for him to have had the car
0:08:29 > 0:08:30in his possession.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33'Luckily for him, the car is still insured.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38'But for the offence which opened this whole can of worms,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41'not wearing his seatbelt, it's a ?100 fine.'
0:08:44 > 0:08:47So, as a result of spotting somebody trying to pretend they were wearing
0:08:47 > 0:08:51a seatbelt, that turned into quite a little episode, didn't it?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54It sure did. It normally does with me.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57But, to be fair to both occupants of the car,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00they clearly didn't have anything to hide today
0:09:00 > 0:09:01and they were both very pleasant.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05If he'd worn his seatbelt, it wouldn't have even happened. No.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07'Job done. On to the next.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18'Let's be honest, no-one wants to look out of their window and be
0:09:18 > 0:09:20'greeted by a street full of dumped rubbish.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24'Fly-tipping is a real eyesore, and it costs council-tax payers
0:09:24 > 0:09:28'like you and I over ?45 million a year for local councils
0:09:28 > 0:09:30'to clear it up.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34'Here in the Pendle district of Lancashire,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37'clearing up the mess is down to environmental crime officer
0:09:37 > 0:09:38'Lesley Brooks.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43'She's had a tip-off about some household waste that's been dumped
0:09:43 > 0:09:45'in a back alley in a residential area.'
0:09:48 > 0:09:53Just going to a street in Nelson, Elizabeth Street.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56One of the neighbours has phoned in to say
0:09:56 > 0:10:00the occupants of this property have just recently moved in and they have
0:10:00 > 0:10:04just cleared the contents of it out into this back alley.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09'If it's just a case of putting the wrong rubbish out on the wrong day,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12'then it might mean a fine of ?75.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15'But if the waste dumped is bad enough,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18'the fine could be as much as ?400.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20'Time to check out the scene of the crime.'
0:10:21 > 0:10:24This is what's supposed to have been thrown out onto the street,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I'm presuming, anyway.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29'So far, a few bits of everyday rubbish.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31'Not looking too bad at the moment.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35'But hold your horses.'
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I can't imagine that...
0:10:39 > 0:10:43It's just a right mess all the way down this back alley!
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Apparently it was cleared this morning,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49so this has only just appeared this afternoon.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52'What a horrible sight, right outside people's homes.'
0:10:53 > 0:10:58I've been given the information that someone has recently moved in here,
0:10:58 > 0:10:59so what they've done is just come to
0:10:59 > 0:11:02the back door with whatever rubbish they've got
0:11:02 > 0:11:03and slung it out.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07This hasn't even been bagged up. Furniture's been thrown out.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12I'll take photographs in case we're going to proceed with a prosecution.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16'It looks a right mess and also pretty unhygienic.'
0:11:18 > 0:11:20There's children here playing.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22I presume these are the neighbours' children.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26I suppose the one saving grace is it's not food waste.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30But even so, you don't know what it's contaminated with.
0:11:30 > 0:11:31'And to make matters worse,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34'they've only gone and chucked away a Shakin' Stevens album!
0:11:34 > 0:11:38'Now, surely that's just criminal. We all love a bit of Shaky.'
0:11:38 > 0:11:42That's got needles and stuff in, so that can't be left.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47'Needles? This gets worse and worse!
0:11:47 > 0:11:50'Not only unsightly but dangerous, too.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53'So, who is responsible for this shocking mess?
0:11:53 > 0:11:56'Time for Lesley to turn detective.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'It's often impossible to tell, but in this case paperwork
0:11:59 > 0:12:03'found amongst the rubbish confirms what Lesley already suspects.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07'First step, is anybody home?'
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Hiya. You all right? My name's Lesley Brooks,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22environmental crime officer from Pendle Borough Council.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Could you just come round the back of your house for me and speak to me
0:12:25 > 0:12:28at the back of the property? I've just moved in today.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Right, so...
0:12:30 > 0:12:32If you just open the back door and just come into the back...
0:12:32 > 0:12:34The landlord's got the keys.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I'm just paying the deposit this morning.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Right. We've just moved in. I'm her boyfriend.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40Right, OK.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45You on about all the rubbish at the back? It's scavengers everywhere.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'The new tenant's boyfriend is home
0:12:48 > 0:12:50'but doesn't seem to think the rubbish is theirs.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53'And if it's not theirs, who gets the on-the-spot fine?'
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Well, yeah, it's disgusting, isn't it?
0:12:57 > 0:12:59What it is, we've just paid the landlord,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01the landlord comes tonight at five o'clock.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05She's got to pay 600 quid and then she moves in.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I've just literally replastered, as you noticed.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11I'm in there plastering at the moment.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13But, yeah, it's disgusting.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16'But Lesley isn't going to let this go.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19'She has good evidence that the rubbish belongs to this house.'
0:13:19 > 0:13:22The stuff is obviously from the property.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27No. This... We've only... We've just decorated and moved in.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Right, OK. So, when did you decorate? This morning. Right.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Tell me again.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37There was no clothes in there. There was a big bag.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Here. It's all open, it's all across here.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46See all this paper? This was one bag. See this black bag? Yeah...
0:13:49 > 0:13:52There was stuff coming out of it. That's from the house.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56That was in this bin. There was only one bag come out the house.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58'So this chap says the bag full of stripped-off
0:13:58 > 0:14:01'wallpaper is his and nothing else.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05'It's still dumped rubbish and still a fineable offence.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:08So where was all this, then, at the weekend?
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Here, when I got here. It was all out here.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14'But I thought Lesley said there wasn't anything here this morning.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16'Something's not adding up.'
0:14:16 > 0:14:18When I come round the corner,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21one of the neighbours' children has been sat in the middle of all this.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Now, all right... That's disgusting, that.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27..I would suggest that to avoid any further action
0:14:27 > 0:14:29in regard to yourself...
0:14:29 > 0:14:32You've already told me that that bag, that you done that,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35that you're going to clear that bit up. Happily. Happily, love.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39'Time to lay it on the line, Lesley. Is it a fine or a warning?'
0:14:39 > 0:14:43I'm not happy that it hasn't come from you and it's been slung out.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47I know what you're saying about the paper, but there's too much here.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50You need to tidy this up, and if not,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52you'll get a letter from the council in regard to coming in
0:14:52 > 0:14:55for an interview, and then you get the opportunity to officially put
0:14:55 > 0:14:57your side of the story.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Everyone who's been through this BLEEP bin, get out now!
0:15:04 > 0:15:06'Well, that went well(!)'
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Whoever's gone through the bin wants to get out their houses now.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I'm not bothered. I am not digging through that.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16I'll help. If someone gives me help, because this is my missus's house,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I will help. It's BLEEP disgusting.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23I am fuming. I thought you was coming to help me.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Getting letters and that, BLEEP... If I get the brush out in a minute,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29love, sweep it all in a corner...
0:15:29 > 0:15:33If I get the couches over here and I take pictures myself,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36say someone else taking a picture with me as proof,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38is that going to be enough from my end?
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'This chap is adamant that this isn't his mess
0:15:41 > 0:15:44'but is going to have a go at clearing it up.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47'Will it be enough to avoid an on-the-spot fine, though?'
0:15:47 > 0:15:49I'll come back in an hour.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Done.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52All right, then. Thank you.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55'So, let's look at the situation.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00'We've got old furniture, electrical appliances, mattresses
0:16:00 > 0:16:04'and, to top it all, a box of needles which could be contaminated
0:16:04 > 0:16:06'in an area where there are kids playing.'
0:16:09 > 0:16:12I didn't really believe his story that he hadn't done it all, but...
0:16:14 > 0:16:15well, we'll see.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18'Whether or not Lesley believes this guy's story,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21'she's got a few different options of how to deal with him.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24'She can issue him with a caution,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28'she could hand him an on-the-spot fine of up to ?400,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30'or he could face a court summons.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33'I reckon the more you tidy now, fellas,
0:16:33 > 0:16:34'the easier she might be on you.'
0:16:38 > 0:16:41It's absolutely disgusting. I can't wait to go and get a bath.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'So Lesley's given the boys their promised hour,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48'but will the back alley look any less abused?'
0:16:56 > 0:16:58I'm presuming he's not going to be round the back,
0:16:58 > 0:17:02but I'll have a look there first anyway, take photos.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Wow. SHE LAUGHS
0:17:07 > 0:17:09I didn't think he'd have made that good a job.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11'What a transformation.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Yeah, he's cleared it up.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18He's made quite a good job of clearing it up, to be honest!
0:17:18 > 0:17:21I'm surprised. If I just take photographs...
0:17:21 > 0:17:24It's like a different back street, almost.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29I'm very pleasantly surprised.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32He's still not allowed to put stuff on the back street like this,
0:17:32 > 0:17:38but he's made an effort in that it's all been cleared up.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45'It costs the local council-tax payers of Pendle nearly ?150,000
0:17:45 > 0:17:47'a year to clear fly-tipped waste,
0:17:47 > 0:17:51'and any efforts to reduce those costs have to be a good thing.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55'So the boys' impressive tidying skills might just tip the balance in
0:17:55 > 0:17:58'their favour. What is Lesley's verdict going to be?'
0:18:00 > 0:18:02By rights, this shouldn't all be in the back alley now.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06It's down to the senior environmental crime officer
0:18:06 > 0:18:08if any further action was going to be taken,
0:18:08 > 0:18:12but I think it's unlikely. You've done a good job clearing it all up.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15'So it's a caution, even if he didn't think it was his fault.'
0:18:16 > 0:18:18This was definitely not us. I admit to one bag.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21'That's a good result. Don't spoil it, mate.'
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Cheers, thank you very much.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I've just got to go for a bath.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28'So no fine this time,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31'but there's still work for Lesley and her team to do.'
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Tidied up, but it may well be a mess tomorrow morning if people do come
0:18:34 > 0:18:36along and sort through it.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39So I need to make arrangements to try and get it moved
0:18:39 > 0:18:41as quick as possible...
0:18:41 > 0:18:44or we'll be back to square one again.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Dog poo, my favourite subject.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Not. In fact, nobody likes it. It's incredibly unhygienic
0:18:55 > 0:18:57and potentially dangerous to young children.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00And in most boroughs, if you don't pick up after your pooch,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02you'll get an on-the-spot fine.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05But sometimes finding the culprits can be easier said than done.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Having had children who come home with dog muck over their shoes,
0:19:12 > 0:19:13I think they should be fined.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15I think they should have their dogs taken off them.
0:19:17 > 0:19:24Most of the people I know do carry bags, dog bags, baby wipes.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28They should fine them for dog messing, but it's catching them,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31isn't it? That's the reason why I always carry bags with me.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34I always have done. I've got a dog of my own.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37What annoys me is when people, they leave it and
0:19:37 > 0:19:38they just don't bother.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43'Well, in Pendle, in Lancashire,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45'there are very strict rules about dog fouling.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50'Any dog owner caught in the business and not bagging it
0:19:50 > 0:19:54'round here will be hit with a ?75 fine.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58'But it's not always easy to catch the culprits.'
0:19:58 > 0:20:03Ah, here we have some, here, look. I'll show you what I've been up to.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'No, Bob Sloan isn't Pendle's resident Banksy.'
0:20:09 > 0:20:12And that's what it's all about.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17'76-year-old Bob is on one of his regular neighbourhood
0:20:17 > 0:20:18'dog-poop patrols, and
0:20:18 > 0:20:21'he knows all about how thoughtless dog owners behave.'
0:20:24 > 0:20:27It all seems to happen during the hours of darkness, when people are
0:20:27 > 0:20:33walking their dogs, they don't have much chance of being spotted by
0:20:33 > 0:20:36enthusiasts like me, because they can be prosecuted.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Ah! Look here.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Here we have a... Yeah,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47a doggy bag that's just been dropped.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50So here we go again.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'Bob sprays the mess to show the location
0:20:55 > 0:20:58'and e-mails the pictures to the council.'
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Just shows how absolutely inconsiderate people are,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06and if you're walking your dog and it
0:21:06 > 0:21:10does a dump on the pavement or elsewhere, pick it up,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14put it in a bag and then take the bag and put it in a bin.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19It just makes me wonder what goes on between the ears of some people.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23'Bob wanted to highlight the poop problem
0:21:23 > 0:21:25'after being caught out himself.'
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Many years, when I first came here to Bentham,
0:21:30 > 0:21:36I was taking a friend's dog for a walk and it did its business and I
0:21:36 > 0:21:40didn't do anything about it, and I was roundly told off by an elderly
0:21:40 > 0:21:44gentleman. The message stuck, I must admit.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46It wasn't a moment that I was particularly proud of.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50'Now armed with his can of paint,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53'Bob is on a mission to do HIS bit for the streets.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'And with more than 8 million dogs in the UK,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'producing nearly 400,000 tonnes of mess each year,
0:22:00 > 0:22:01'he's certainly got his work cut out.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08There we go, a nice, bright spot.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'But Bob's approach isn't appreciated by everyone.'
0:22:12 > 0:22:17There have been one or two objections to the fact
0:22:17 > 0:22:20that the paint stays after the dog muck evaporates.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23And I did get a
0:22:23 > 0:22:28fairly mild warning that I could actually be prosecuted for graffiti.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32But I don't know, I don't look at it that way.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I'm just going to keep on doing it because that's my business.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39'Well, I hope Bob doesn't appear later on in the show receiving an
0:22:39 > 0:22:41'on-the-spot fine for graffiti.'
0:22:41 > 0:22:45That was a very large and very overfed dog, I think.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49'And he's got loyal supporters...'
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Hi, Bob. '..as well as his critics.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55'For some residents, Bob's become a bit of a hero.'
0:22:55 > 0:22:58As you can see, there's one there, there's another one there,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01there's another one just round the corner. I have got two little kids,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03I've got a two-year-old and a five-year-old,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05and it's much easier to tell them
0:23:05 > 0:23:07to watch out for paint
0:23:07 > 0:23:10than it is telling them to watch out for dog mess.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14It makes a big difference to me, so personally I'm on your side.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Well, I'm really pleased
0:23:17 > 0:23:18to be of help.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20'One thing is for sure...'
0:23:20 > 0:23:22SPRAY-PAINT CAN RATTLES
0:23:22 > 0:23:26'..as long as there are irresponsible dog owners in Pendle,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28'Bob is going to be kept very busy.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36'Being a traffic warden may not be many people's idea of a dream job,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'but with more and more cars on our roads each year,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41'it's a job that certainly needs doing.'
0:23:42 > 0:23:46When I see a ticket on a car, I usually think
0:23:46 > 0:23:47that the person deserved that.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52I sometimes see people parked where there are double yellow lines
0:23:52 > 0:23:56and you feel, why haven't they had a ticket?
0:23:56 > 0:23:59You see them behind cars, especially the ones where they do...
0:23:59 > 0:24:01where you can stay there for half an hour.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04There's no time. No grace.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09They ain't got no grace. They stick the ticket, that's it.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11How do you feel about that? Do you feel a bit of a grievance?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Yeah. Grievance, it's about how
0:24:13 > 0:24:16to dispute it, to go around it, do you know what I mean?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19That's the hardest part, when you start... They are so difficult,
0:24:19 > 0:24:23it's like they don't want to help you. 'Well, the good news is,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25'if you do feel the fine was unfair,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28'you can actually do something about it.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32'Up to 50,000 people a year bring their cases to
0:24:32 > 0:24:36'the London parking tribunal, where an independent adjudicator
0:24:36 > 0:24:37'decides their fate.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43'Today, Mel Walker is here with an excuse of a rather delicate nature.'
0:24:45 > 0:24:47I was taken short in Camden,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49tummy problem,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51so I parked very quickly outside
0:24:51 > 0:24:54McDonald's or Burger King,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58went in, came out about 10, 15 minutes later and drove off.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03I had my blue badge up, disabled badge, and I drove off, and to me,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06that was the end of it. And then, of course, 10 or 14 days later,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08I got a ticket for parking.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'Mel has received a fine of ?130,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16'which reduces to ?65 if paid within 14 days.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18'As Mel's decided to appeal,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22'spending a penny could end up costing him a whole lot more,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26'unless he can persuade adjudicator Belinda Pearce to give him a pardon
0:25:26 > 0:25:27'for his tummy troubles.'
0:25:28 > 0:25:31If we just
0:25:31 > 0:25:34look at the allegation from the authority,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38it states that you parked contrary to this sign.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40The sign is a red-route sign saying,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44no stopping at any time between eight in the morning,
0:25:44 > 0:25:45seven in the evening.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Mm-hm.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48There is an exemption to that,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52and that's between eight in the morning and four in the afternoon,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54when certain vehicles can park -
0:25:54 > 0:25:58those that are loading and those that have disabled badges.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01And I understand you're saying you had a disabled badge.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04The contravention, though, is that you were parked at six o'clock.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06That's right.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09And from four to six, there's no stopping for any vehicles,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11rather four till seven.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15So you parked at a time when the prohibition didn't include
0:26:15 > 0:26:19an exemption for disabled badge holders.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Well, I don't think Belinda could be any clearer.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25When you think it's only ten minutes, because you're going to
0:26:25 > 0:26:27the toilet, you've got a blue badge,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29you do believe you can stop for ten minutes.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33You are entitled with your blue badge to stop at many more places.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Red routes, though, have a prohibition against parking.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38But they say you can park...
0:26:38 > 0:26:39But this one, you can't.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41'It's not looking good for Mel.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I did appeal immediately. Yes.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48And back came a letter from TfL, and they said,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50thank you very much for your appeal, we'll look into it.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Please do not take any action until you hear from us.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Yes. Two months later I had a letter saying,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59we've looked at this and you shouldn't park there,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and you're fined ?130.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05'?130 does seem a bit harsh,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08'especially if they told him not to do anything.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09'I think you might have a point,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12'but it's not up to me to uphold the on-the-spot fine.'
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Well, we all live and learn, don't we?
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Unfortunately. 'We certainly do.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20'Seems like Belinda has got two options.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22'To let him off or stick to the fine.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25'Question is, will it be number one or number two?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28'Let's take a look at this more closely.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29'Mel parks on a red route,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32'thinking his blue badge entitled him to be there.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37'Problem is, the sign clearly stated that he was there outside
0:27:37 > 0:27:39'of the designated times.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45'Mel's confusion about when to pay the fine has landed him with
0:27:45 > 0:27:46'a ?130 ticket.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50'Will Belinda see his side of the story
0:27:50 > 0:27:53'will Mel's call of nature end up costing him the earth?'
0:27:54 > 0:27:59I have to say that you were in the bay with the sign that clearly says
0:27:59 > 0:28:04that your three-hour dispensation as a disabled badge holder was only
0:28:04 > 0:28:06between eight and four.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10You were seen there parked at six, so I have to refuse your appeal.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12'There we go.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15'Mel's appeal has failed and he is going to have to pay up.'
0:28:16 > 0:28:21But I can say that that discount that you were talking about that you
0:28:21 > 0:28:25would have preferred to have paid is something that Transport for London
0:28:25 > 0:28:27are extending to you today.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30So the payment is ?65.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33'Well, at least that's some relief, Mel?'
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Not happy, but you can't be happy all the time.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Well, Mr Walker, on the evidence, on the facts, you were parked at six.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44Between four and seven, no stopping at a red route.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Your dispensation... When you're taken short,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50you don't really look up and see what you can or can't do.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Well, I hear what you say, but as I indicated at the beginning
0:28:54 > 0:28:57of the hearing, I have to make my decision on the evidence,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59and the facts say I must refuse it.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04But I'm able to tell you that the payment is ?65 in this case.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Have I got 14 or 21 days from now? You have 28 from today. 28.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09'Oh, poor Mel.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11'When you've got to go, you've got to go.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13'I do feel a bit sorry for him.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16'?65, that's a real inconvenience.'
0:29:18 > 0:29:19Right, Mel.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22It's a sort of, although it's a contradiction in itself,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25it's a bit of a win-lose scenario, isn't it?
0:29:25 > 0:29:26How do you feel about the outcome?
0:29:26 > 0:29:28I'm not happy.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31I'm not happy because sometimes you are not given a chance.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35I have problems. I have a badge because of these problems.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38If you're taken short and you want to stop for five or ten minutes,
0:29:38 > 0:29:40you don't go around looking and say...
0:29:40 > 0:29:43If you see it like I saw that car parked there, and you think,
0:29:43 > 0:29:45"Oh, that must be one of the bays I can park..."
0:29:45 > 0:29:48You were in the wrong, even though it was confusing.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51But when you are in the wrong, you should have that...
0:29:51 > 0:29:53she should have the right
0:29:53 > 0:29:55to turn around and say, "I understand where you're coming from,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58"I understand you have got a blue badge, you are not a well man,
0:29:58 > 0:30:00"you've had to stop. All right, don't do it again."
0:30:00 > 0:30:02But you don't get that chance.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05I'm going to ask you a question now, and give me an honest answer.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08How many times in your life, if ever, I've got to say,
0:30:08 > 0:30:12have you actually abused the parking and not got caught?
0:30:14 > 0:30:17That's a tough one. All right, just generally speaking.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Well, it's like anything else, you try...
0:30:20 > 0:30:23More than that or less than that? No, less than that. OK.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25More than that or less than that? Probably just more.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28OK. All right, you win some, you lose some.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31You got your bottom smacked a little bit, but it could have been worse.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33'So let this be a warning to all of you.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36'Last year, local authorities in England
0:30:36 > 0:30:39'forked out almost ?1 billion to
0:30:39 > 0:30:41'clear litter from the country's streets.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43'And the single most littered item?
0:30:43 > 0:30:46'My pet hate, cigarette butts.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48'The 31 billion fags that are smoked every year
0:30:48 > 0:30:51'result in over 5,000 tonnes
0:30:51 > 0:30:55'of waste, which take up to 12 years to biodegrade.'
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Put cigarette butts in the proper place.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59You see loads of them on the floor.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04I don't smoke myself so I think it's awful.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07There's plenty of litter bins around, but people
0:31:07 > 0:31:08just don't use them, too lazy.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12I believe people dropping cigarette butts as the same category as
0:31:12 > 0:31:13litter dropping.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Most filter tips just degrade by themselves, don't they?
0:31:16 > 0:31:18So if you're getting fined for a cigarette butt,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21which is, quite frankly, a minute thing,
0:31:21 > 0:31:25then that's just outrageous, isn't it?
0:31:25 > 0:31:28'Actually, I think it's the fact that it takes 12 years
0:31:28 > 0:31:31'for cigarette butts to biodegrade that's the outrageous bit.
0:31:34 > 0:31:35'In Pendle...
0:31:37 > 0:31:39'..environmental crime officer Jon Yurek
0:31:39 > 0:31:44'has clocked on for a shift looking out for antisocial smokers.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:50I'm in Nelson town centre now, dealing with
0:31:50 > 0:31:52the offence of littering,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54so I've just got my eyes on everyone as I can,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58just making sure everyone puts their cigarette ends in the bins,
0:31:58 > 0:32:00and if they don't, I will go and do my job.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05'Jon can issue ?75 fixed-penalty notices
0:32:05 > 0:32:09'smokers who drop their fag butts in the street.'
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Here we go. One, two, three.
0:32:21 > 0:32:22'What about her?
0:32:24 > 0:32:26'OK, not this time.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29'But Jon needs to keep his wits about him because fag-butt droppers
0:32:29 > 0:32:31'come in all shapes and sizes.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:35You can't pick and choose who you want to stop.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37I can stop an old lady who's 96 years old,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39probably been doing it her whole life.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41That's how the game's played.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45'And it's not long before Jon spots his first potential offender.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51'It's a game of cat and mouse as Jon waits for his moment to pounce.'
0:32:51 > 0:32:53SPAGHETTI WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS
0:32:53 > 0:32:56'Just as soon as that fag hits that floor,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58'he's off like a bee-stung stallion.'
0:32:59 > 0:33:01INDISTINCT MUTTERING
0:33:05 > 0:33:07All right, mate.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10From Pendle Borough Council. Environmental crime officer.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13You've just been stood out here with a cigarette and you just
0:33:13 > 0:33:14threw it like a bowling ball. Yeah. OK.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16You left the cigarette there and came in here.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18That's a littering offence, mate.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20'Will Jon get his notebook out?'
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Unfortunately, because you've done it,
0:33:22 > 0:33:24I've got to take some details off you.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26'It looks like he's got this smoker bang to rights.'
0:33:26 > 0:33:29What happens now is the council will write to you.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31You may get issued with a fixed-penalty notice,
0:33:31 > 0:33:32you might get a caution.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34Thank you very much, sir.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37'It's now down to the council whether to issue a caution
0:33:37 > 0:33:38'or a fine.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41'But that dropped cigarette
0:33:41 > 0:33:44'could end up costing this lad a whopping ?75.'
0:33:48 > 0:33:51'That could be Jon's first fag-butt fine of the day,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53'and it looks like there's another one about to hit the deck.'
0:33:53 > 0:33:55This guy with the tattoo on his arm,
0:33:55 > 0:33:58he's only smoking but he could be legit,
0:33:58 > 0:34:01he might put it in the bin or he might just throw it on the floor.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05'But is Jon within his rights to swoop this time?'
0:34:08 > 0:34:09Hmm.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14So unless you can see the cigarette actually leave his hand...
0:34:14 > 0:34:17I haven't seen him litter so...
0:34:18 > 0:34:19I am going to have to let that one go.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22'This guy lives to smoke another day.'
0:34:22 > 0:34:23But there's plenty more of them,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26so we'll go back to where we started.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28'And with the lunchtime crowd now in full swing,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32'it's not long before Jon spots the next potential offender.'
0:34:32 > 0:34:35SPAGHETTI WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS
0:34:35 > 0:34:36Hi, mate. Hiya.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38From Pendle Borough Council.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41You had a cigarette just then, a little roll-up cigarette.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Just before you met this gentleman, you threw it across there.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46That is littering. 'Out comes the pad and pen.'
0:34:46 > 0:34:48I'm going to take some details off you.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51'But faced with the prospect of a ?75 fine,
0:34:51 > 0:34:55'it seems this chap has completely forgotten his name and address.'
0:34:55 > 0:34:57What's your postcode? You don't know your own postcode?
0:35:00 > 0:35:02'Jon has seen it all before.'
0:35:02 > 0:35:05He was a bit slow in giving his details.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09Sometimes what people do is they will think hard about themselves,
0:35:09 > 0:35:12they might have an alias, so I get them to repeat the question and I
0:35:12 > 0:35:15repeat the answer to them and then I ask them the question again.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18If they remember what they've said, the chances are they're not lying.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21'Temporary memory loss isn't fazing Jon.'
0:35:21 > 0:35:24What I will do with his details he's given me now is I will go back to
0:35:24 > 0:35:27my boss, we'll do a council-tax check,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29verify the information he's given me and if it is correct,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32then I shall have the senior environmental crime officer
0:35:32 > 0:35:34write to him,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37explain to him what will happen next with regards to a fine or a caution.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39'So, armed with at least some details,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41'could this be an expensive cigarette?'
0:35:41 > 0:35:45The fine for littering is ?75.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47But if you can't afford it,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50and you can provide financial circumstances like you are on
0:35:50 > 0:35:52benefits or something, you will be given a ten-week extension.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54'If it doesn't get paid,
0:35:54 > 0:35:57'then the man could receive a court summons and an even bigger fine
0:35:57 > 0:36:00'of up to ?2,500.
0:36:02 > 0:36:03'Two offenders down, and news of
0:36:03 > 0:36:07'Jon's anti-fag-butt patrol has filtered through the town.'
0:36:07 > 0:36:11Because I've been compromised, everyone's starting to look at me.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14I've done two people now in quick vicinities,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17so I'm going to leave and I will come back.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19I'm going to go back to the van now.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23'A productive morning for Jon, and for the unlucky two,
0:36:23 > 0:36:27'they now face a wait to see if it's a caution or a fine
0:36:27 > 0:36:28'that arrives in the post.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32'And I wouldn't mind betting they think twice next time they light up.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45'There are 2.5 million blue badges in use in the UK,
0:36:45 > 0:36:50'allowing people with severe mobility issues to park for free
0:36:50 > 0:36:51'in parking-restricted areas.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54'But a shocking one in five are misused.
0:36:55 > 0:36:56'In Eastbourne in East Sussex,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59'council investigating officer Mark Jobling
0:36:59 > 0:37:02'wants to stamp out the illegal use of blue badges
0:37:02 > 0:37:03'once and for all.'
0:37:07 > 0:37:10Give me an idea of how many blue badges have been issued in the area
0:37:10 > 0:37:11you cover.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15We cover East Sussex, which is quite a vast area,
0:37:15 > 0:37:16geographically-wise,
0:37:16 > 0:37:21and we've currently got 24,000 badges issued and current.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Give me an idea of how many of those badges are misused.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27Currently, the Audit Commission says that approximately 20% of badges are
0:37:27 > 0:37:29misused, which will be one in five.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34And to those people who trivialise this, what would you say to them,
0:37:34 > 0:37:37what would be the message? I think if you listen to the genuine badge
0:37:37 > 0:37:41holders and the impact it has on them, I think that says it all,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45the impact on how it affects their daily lives, if they can't park.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48They are removing access to facilities
0:37:48 > 0:37:49for the people who can't, on a daily basis,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52access facilities like I or you can.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56'To show me what he means,
0:37:56 > 0:37:59'Mark and police colleague Lloyd take me to one of the town centre's
0:37:59 > 0:38:01'disabled bays.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04'But it's not long before Lloyd has spotted
0:38:04 > 0:38:07'a potential blue-badge offender.'
0:38:07 > 0:38:11She's a carer for a number of people.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13She's come to pick a lady up from
0:38:13 > 0:38:15the hearing centre around the corner.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18We popped round there, she's not there.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22'The carer says that she's heard the 90-year-old lady she is supposed
0:38:22 > 0:38:25'to be picking up is unwell and still at home.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27'But using the elderly lady's blue badge,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30'the carer has decided to park up and go to the bank.'
0:38:30 > 0:38:33So this is a sort of excuse you hear all the time, isn't it?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35Yes.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39'There's a chance this driver could end up in court being handed
0:38:39 > 0:38:40'a ?1,000 fine.'
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Often when you speak to carers,
0:38:43 > 0:38:46it's been a case of they've used the badge on a number of occasions,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50either through ignorance or lack of understanding.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52'So what is it going to be?
0:38:52 > 0:38:54'The evidence is pretty clear cut.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58'She's parking in a disabled bay using a blue badge that isn't hers.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03'But have her excuses convinced Mark?'
0:39:03 > 0:39:04You retain that badge.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07She has broken the rules.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10She shouldn't have been using that at all.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13She has. She's committed a offence by displaying the badge in order for
0:39:13 > 0:39:17herself to park. 'The driver is lucky.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21'Despite breaking the law, Mark has decided not to pursue a fine.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23'Instead, she'll be heading back to the classroom.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30'We've all heard of speed awareness courses,
0:39:30 > 0:39:34'but in East Sussex they do disability awareness courses.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36'And I'm joining in for the day.'
0:39:38 > 0:39:40From our point of view, we are trying to educate people,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42and we hope not to see these people again.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45And so far, out of all the resolutions we've done so far,
0:39:45 > 0:39:50which is up to about 100, we haven't had anybody return yet.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52That shows it's a success, doesn't it?
0:39:54 > 0:39:58'The purpose of this course is to show that parking illegally
0:39:58 > 0:40:01'in a disabled parking bay is not a victimless crime.'
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Everything takes stamina.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Just a simple task of
0:40:06 > 0:40:09just getting dressed or having a shower.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13Having to move your body around is quite hard.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18People don't understand how stressful having a disability is.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20That is not what life's supposed to be about.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22It's supposed to be about experiencing new things, but I
0:40:22 > 0:40:23find that stressful.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26I would say if you understood what having a disability meant,
0:40:26 > 0:40:30you wouldn't want to use my blue badge because it's closer.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33You'd appreciate your legs and your ability to be able-bodied.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35I'd love to have legs that work but mine don't.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41'Well, that certainly hammers things home.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44'But what I want to know is - has it sunk in with our offenders?'
0:40:44 > 0:40:48OK, that's the message from the people that it affects.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50And that's why we do what we do.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53I just didn't think about it at the time.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56It was just quick in and out of the Post Office to get some money.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57And who did the badge belong to?
0:40:57 > 0:40:59The wife. Right, but she wasn't with you?
0:40:59 > 0:41:03Nope. Does she know that you were using it when she wasn't there?
0:41:03 > 0:41:04No, because it was the first time.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06How do you feel about the fact that you're here now in this?
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Yeah, I admitted the offence.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10You think this classroom is good?
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Yes. Yeah. Will you ever do it again?
0:41:12 > 0:41:16No. Supermarket car park, half empty, Monday afternoon,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18didn't give it a thought. I thought, "Oh, that's handy,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20"I'll just get nearer the door."
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I thought private property, not many other people round,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26loads of disabled bays, so I thought no harm done.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28And has that video had an impact on you?
0:41:28 > 0:41:29Yeah, yeah.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31OK, how do you feel after seeing it?
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Um...
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Embarrassed and rather guilty, actually.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38'And for some, it's having the blue badge
0:41:38 > 0:41:40'temporarily confiscated that has
0:41:40 > 0:41:42'really hit home.'
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Mark had to take the blue badge away...
0:41:45 > 0:41:50Yes. ..for a few days and I couldn't take my wife out.
0:41:50 > 0:41:51You'd robbed her of that privilege.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Yeah. So that's what made me feel bad.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01Yeah. It affected the genuine person that could use it.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03I learnt my lesson.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04Yeah.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Don't do it again. If you're embarrassed about what you've done,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11would you mind putting your hand up so we can get an idea of...
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Yeah. You've had your wake-up call, haven't you?
0:42:13 > 0:42:16You've been let off with a bit of a warning and, as you said,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19no-one's going to do it again, so I think obviously the class has been
0:42:19 > 0:42:22quite good in what it's teaching people, hasn't it? Yes.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I was very impressed by everybody's reaction in there.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28They all said they'd never, ever do it again.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31They all seemed to have a reason why they did it.
0:42:31 > 0:42:32It was nearly always the same one,
0:42:32 > 0:42:35the fact that the badge was a legitimate badge
0:42:35 > 0:42:37belonging to a friend, family member or whoever,
0:42:37 > 0:42:39but they thought they could use it themselves
0:42:39 > 0:42:41and they knew it was wrong. But I think this is a great thing.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44The whole course took what? In total, 15 minutes.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Everyone said it's the last time they'd be seen in there.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49As Mark said, no-one's ever been back twice.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52This whole lesson here is having a very, very good impact.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Bye, cheers. Last one.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57That's all for today.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59Join me next time when I'll be out with the men
0:42:59 > 0:43:01and women who issue Britain's on-the-spot fines.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Home chefs with a passion for cooking
0:43:33 > 0:43:34join forces with professional chefs
0:43:34 > 0:43:37putting their reputations on the line.
0:43:37 > 0:43:38Mash the spuds!
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Take the risotto off for ten minutes!
0:43:40 > 0:43:41Who will rise and who will fall?
0:43:41 > 0:43:43How are you getting on?
0:43:43 > 0:43:44It's a cracking plate of food.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46Are you going to do me proud? Yes, chef.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Brand-new...