0:00:03 > 0:00:05'Never before, have so many on-the-spot fines
0:00:05 > 0:00:07'been issued in Britain.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10'We're going to be following the men and women who hand out
0:00:10 > 0:00:12'over ?30 million-worth of tickets
0:00:12 > 0:00:14'every month.'
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Oops. Round here, they are an absolute blight.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I'm up to 104, now. Wow.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22That is disgusting. Just walk away!
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'For behaviour that's downright dangerous...'
0:00:25 > 0:00:27That was stupid for these sort of conditions, wasn't it?
0:00:27 > 0:00:30'Simply selfish...' Look at the mess you've created in this street.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33How is that our fault? 'Or just...'
0:00:33 > 0:00:35What is he doing? 'Well, plain silly.'
0:00:36 > 0:00:38What a doughnut.
0:00:38 > 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.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Ouch. 'And how this could affect YOU.' Might give him a punch.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50You want to see me kick off?
0:00:50 > 0:00:53'The police are on it...' What the?!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55'The parking wardens are on it.'
0:00:55 > 0:00:58They should be thanking us for being here. 'And I'M on it.'
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Careful, there's a 30mph limit, here!
0:01:00 > 0:01:02I'm Dom Littlewood
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and I'm...On The Spot.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08This time, there's a spot of motorway madness.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09So you've left your wife and child
0:01:09 > 0:01:11on the hard shoulder of the motorway?
0:01:11 > 0:01:14I'm on the spot with the fag-butt police.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I witnessed you both littering a cigarette on the floor.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19You discarded them on the floor and you walked away from them.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23And a trip to the shops might end in a criminal record.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Like I explained to you before, it's a criminal offence to misuse
0:01:25 > 0:01:28a badge, one which we'll prosecute for.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32When it comes to dishing out on-the-spot fines,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35busy traffic cops are there on the front line.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40In Wiltshire, it's Friday night rush hour and traffic cop
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Warren Knight is on the lookout
0:01:42 > 0:01:44for misbehaving cars, trucks,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46motorbikes...and pedestrians?!
0:01:47 > 0:01:50The report was of pedestrians initially on the motorway,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53so we'll go and have a look and see what they are
0:01:53 > 0:01:54and what we need to do with them.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Pedestrians create a distraction
0:01:57 > 0:01:58and people will, as they did,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01call in to say there are pedestrians.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Sometimes, they will look at the pedestrians
0:02:03 > 0:02:05and not look at what's going on in front.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08We get quite a high fatality rate on the hard shoulder because
0:02:08 > 0:02:10if you fall asleep, even momentarily,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13if you're in this lane, this single first lane,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15you'll always go off to the left,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17naturally, you'll go off to the left.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19You generally don't go off to the right.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23So you put yourself in danger and you put other road users in danger.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Now, I seem to remember
0:02:25 > 0:02:26from doing the Highway Code
0:02:26 > 0:02:28and the big signs before you enter the motorway
0:02:28 > 0:02:33that pedestrians are banned, so with that in mind, is this a fine?
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Well, as long as it's not an accident, first.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38You can get a ?50 fine for being on the motorway.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40So, we'll go and have a look.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42And there's the pedestrian,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45taking a leisurely stroll on the hard shoulder.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Right, let's see what he's got to say.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51He'll probably need a good excuse if he's going to avoid a fine.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Hello, there. Have you broken down?
0:02:56 > 0:03:00No, what happened is, his father is in my car and we were at the
0:03:00 > 0:03:03services. He accidentally had his car key in his pocket. Right.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08And if I had to go farther, it was like 25 miles and then it was
0:03:08 > 0:03:12another exit, so we decided we'll walk halfway and then go back.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16OK, Warren, was that a fine-avoiding excuse?
0:03:16 > 0:03:19It's an offence to walk on the motorway, do you know that?
0:03:19 > 0:03:20Hm, didn't think so.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24You're not allowed to be a pedestrian on the motorway.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27What you should have done is called the emergency services,
0:03:27 > 0:03:28got them to pick up your colleague.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Oh, sorry.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I can definitely call them, the emergency services...
0:03:32 > 0:03:37I AM the emergency services, I'm the police. Oh, dear.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Yeah, what you've got is a member of the public, he's with
0:03:40 > 0:03:41another colleague...
0:03:41 > 0:03:44He's forgotten to pick that person up, he's got a set of keys...
0:03:44 > 0:03:46So where have you left your car?
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It's further down with my wife and the baby there.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51So you've left your wife and child
0:03:51 > 0:03:53on the hard shoulder of the motorway?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55This story is just getting worse.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Hang on a minute,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58here comes ANOTHER pedestrian and
0:03:58 > 0:04:01I'm guessing another potential fine.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Are there going to be any points or anything on my licence?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05No, it's not a driving offence, it's a motorway offence.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08So, no points, but definitely a fine.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11How much is the fine? It's about ?50.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Oh, no.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Right, let's get you off the motorway, that's the main thing. OK.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Right, you start walking back to your car.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23This could turn into a double fine,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25but that isn't Warren's number-one priority.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Well, I'm going to get them off the motorway,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30that's the first priority, is get them off the motorway.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33OK, now for afternoon stroller number two.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Can I ask you why you're on the motorway?
0:04:37 > 0:04:38DROWNED BY TRAFFIC NOISE
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Why didn't you just wait for him at the service area?
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Do you know you're committing an offence by walking on the motorway?
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Ah-ah-ah.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52The safest place for you is back in your vehicle on the service
0:04:52 > 0:04:54area, not on the hard shoulder.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03We'll just follow these two up to a vehicle, where it's safe,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05and get them off the motorway. Um...
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Why they thought it would be appropriate to walk along the carriageway, I don't know,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14but there is an offence under the Motorway Regulations Act that
0:05:14 > 0:05:16you're not allowed to be a pedestrian on the motorway.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Clearly these two have endangered themselves,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21and potentially distracted other road users
0:05:21 > 0:05:23by being on the carriageway.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24The motorway is a dangerous place.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27People will look and get distracted by these two.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Why he didn't just want to drive the circuit round...
0:05:30 > 0:05:32It's about six miles,
0:05:32 > 0:05:37a loop. I don't know. This is not an emergency.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40He's left his family, his wife and child, in that car,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43it's an unattended vehicle now on the motorway.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45So he's put them at risk as well.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47I can't even see his car.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48His car seems miles away,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51I can't believe they didn't just drive around.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I can't really fathom what they were thinking, to be fair.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It's not as if he's walked a short way.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59If he'd walked a short way, you could probably just,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01you know... Deal with them here.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06So is this going to be a double whammy of fines? What do you reckon?
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Is it a fine?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Where's your car? Down there...
0:06:10 > 0:06:13You can see... TRAFFIC DROWNS SPEECH
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Right. I'm going to caution you both, you don't have to say anything, but it may harm your
0:06:16 > 0:06:20defence if you do not mention when questioned, something upon which you rely on in court.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Anything you do say, may be given in evidence, do you understand the caution?
0:06:24 > 0:06:28OK, you have committed an offence under the motorway regulations.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31OK? You're not allowed to be pedestrians on the motorway.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33It's dangerous, it's distracting,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36you've left your family vulnerable on the hard shoulder.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It's more about your safety.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41You've walked about 5km.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44So it's good for your health, but not on the motorway!
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Let's take another look at that strange situation.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Not one, but two pedestrians
0:06:49 > 0:06:51walking down the hard shoulder of
0:06:51 > 0:06:52a busy motorway.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54So, what's it going to be, Warren?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57The way I propose to deal with it is give you both a ticket.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Yep, Warren wasn't going to let that bit of craziness go, was he?
0:07:01 > 0:07:05It's not one, but two ?50 on-the-spot fines.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07This isn't an emergency.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11This is a bit of forgetfulness on your part and to be fair,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13if I'm quite honest, a bit of laziness.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16That was an expensive stroll, wasn't it, guys?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18One in the front, one in the back.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21You go in the front seat, you go in the back.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Sometimes, the safest place is in the back of a police car, after all.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Now, there's not many things in life I hate, but let me tell you,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37littering is one of them and we've all seen it before.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40A crisp packet thrown out of a car window,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43a fag butt tossed to the floor.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46It might not seem like much, but when you add it up,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50it costs us taxpayers ?500 million a year.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54So if you don't pick up, you may be paying out.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I think sometimes it can be accidental and then it would
0:07:58 > 0:08:01possibly be a bit unfair, but I think a fine would
0:08:01 > 0:08:04definitely deter people from doing it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06You see a lot of crisp packets and everything,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09looking at it, it looks untidy.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I think, you know, they should be warned, at least, you know,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15if kids, or anybody for that matter, throw it on the floor,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19the same with dog ends or anything like that, find an ashtray,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22or find a bin and put it in, really.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25I'm going to be busy on the beat in Cardiff city centre.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Of all the local councils in Wales, Cardiff is at the top of
0:08:29 > 0:08:30the rubbish pile.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Cleaning the streets here costs the council taxpayers like you and I
0:08:34 > 0:08:38?5 million a year and it's waste enforcement officer
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Stephanie Marnell Jones' job to stamp out the litter louts.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44What a nice day to be patrolling the streets -
0:08:44 > 0:08:47pouring down with rain, you've got a hood, I haven't!
0:08:47 > 0:08:50'But the rain's not going to dampen Dom On The Spot.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54'Steph's on a one-woman mission and her biggest weapon in the
0:08:54 > 0:08:57'battle on garbage is an ?80 on-the-spot fine.'
0:08:57 > 0:09:02People take it well or do they object a lot? Not really.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Not nice to receive a fixed penalty,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07but if you've done something wrong, you can't really argue with it.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11People know that littering is an offence, but
0:09:11 > 0:09:15a lot of people don't realise their cigarette is classed as littering.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17"It's only a fag."
0:09:17 > 0:09:22But if four million people smoke and they all throw their cigarettes
0:09:22 > 0:09:26on the floor, it doesn't just become only a fag then, does it?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31The council are waging a war on smokers because smoking is
0:09:31 > 0:09:33one of the biggest causes of litter.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Even though many smokers don't even know they're breaking the law.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40So, if you followed someone down the high street smoking, would you
0:09:40 > 0:09:44say there's a very good chance they're going to throw that on the floor?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Yeah. Why is that? Why is that message not getting through?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I think it's because people think they can get away with it.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57I've just counted what I can see, 13 cigarette butts.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59And that's without looking too hard, isn't it? Yeah.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02That's just there to there in a couple of feet.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07You can imagine how many there are just with 13 in a couple of feet.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08I can see one there. They're everywhere.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Yeah, they're everywhere. You can't avoid them, can you?
0:10:11 > 0:10:16Dropping a fag in Cardiff can result in an ?80 on-the-spot fine.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Steph knows a hot spot for our butt patrol.
0:10:19 > 0:10:20A shopping arcade.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Could this non-smoking zone be penalty central?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27This lady here in the black coat, she's going to flick her fag, but
0:10:27 > 0:10:32there's a no-smoking sign. She's smoking right under the bin sign.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34There we are. In I go.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37And she's off the block.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Excuse me. Hi, could I just speak to you a second?
0:10:45 > 0:10:46The reason I wanted to speak to you is,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49I saw you smoking outside there, where you're not allowed to smoke
0:10:49 > 0:10:54and then you littered by throwing the cigarette onto the floor.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So, in the race to the shops, this offender failed to observe
0:10:57 > 0:11:00the sign and dropped her butt on the floor.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Will this smoker get a fine or be let off with a warning?
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Comes with a fixed penalty of ?80.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09That's what I'm going to issue to you now, all right?
0:11:09 > 0:11:13And she romps home with an ?80 fine for a soggy ciggy.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Do you feel, cos I didn't speak to her, with her attitude,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20that that will make a change her ways?
0:11:20 > 0:11:24I don't know, she seemed like a nice girl, but she didn't say,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26"I wouldn't do it again," or anything like that.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28And another culprit.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Hi, can I speak to you a sec?
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Has anyone seen that sign or the designated bins?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Another copycat crime and another ?80 fine.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It's a butt bonanza because here's yet another one.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Hi, can I speak to you a second? There it is. That's the evidence.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Will she charge her?
0:11:46 > 0:11:48I'm a waste enforcement officer for Cardiff Council.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50And I've just witnessed you littering by throwing
0:11:50 > 0:11:52your cigarette on the floor.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54I think what's a bit daft about this is - there's
0:11:54 > 0:11:56a dustbin there with a cigarette ashtray on top.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It's probably 15 metres or so.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01So for the sake of walking 15 metres,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04she possibly could be facing an ?80 fine now.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06She's got her notebook out.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Steph definitely means business.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13I'm going to issue with a fixed penalty for the offence of littering. OK.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Did you know it was an offence to throw a cigarette? No, I didn't. OK.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Well, it's hard to miss the notices and the bins.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24But for that blatant puff and drop, littering the pavement,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28no ifs, no buts, she gets ?80 taken off her
0:12:28 > 0:12:32as a fixed penalty notice, leaving this young lady very upset.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35You obviously just received a penalty there. Yes. ?80.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40You obviously know why, as well. Yes. Did it come as a bit of a shock to you?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Yes. Tell me why.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45I didn't know. You didn't know it cost ?80?
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Now you realise it's an offence. Yeah, I'll obviously throw it in the bin now.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Is this the last time you'll ever throw it on the floor? Yes.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57It came as quite a shock to her, but after that shock sort of passed,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59as she says, it's obvious now,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01it is littering, I just never really thought about it. Yes.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03I don't think she'll do it again.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I can tell you, if there was more Stephs here right now,
0:13:06 > 0:13:07there'd be a lot more penalties.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Everyone just seems to be throwing them on the floor without
0:13:10 > 0:13:11even thinking about it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15'People need educating. Butts don't biodegrade quickly.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17'They take 12 years to breakdown.'
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Steph, you're going to need a bigger pad and pencil, aren't you? I know!
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Steph's pushing on - to the high street.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27A couple out shopping? Surely not.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I witnessed you both littering - a cigarette on the floor.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34You discarded them on the floor and you walked away from them. We did, you're right.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Let's see that again.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40The smoker takes a final drag.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45The cigarette hits the floor, she stubs it out with her foot.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Steph also spotted him doing it, too.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Together, it could be a massive ?160 fine.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54It's ?80, it has to be paid within seven days.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57If you can't afford to do it within seven days,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59give us a call and we can offer you a payment plan.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Steph's decided to be lenient - jammy smokers.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05That's a lot of money, isn't it?
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Well, at the end of the day, she's right in what she's saying,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10there are ashtrays marked everywhere.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14You know, we're what, ten feet in any direction from a litter bin,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16from an ashtray and we put them out on the floor.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'This couple don't realise how lucky they've been, though.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Yeah, it's ?80 per person, so I think she's, yeah,
0:14:24 > 0:14:25it could have been a lot worse.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26It's going to make us think twice now.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29And we do hate litter. We really do hate littering.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33With a cigarette butt, you just don't think of it as being a big issue.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36I wouldn't dream of dropping a cup or a crisp packet.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38It just wouldn't enter my head.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I'd shove it in my handbag if I couldn't see anything. Yeah.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43I think you've hit the nail on the head there, Liz.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44I think that's what most people do.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46They don't consider cigarette butts as littering.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Now we've had a fine, it's going to make us think in the future.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Absolutely. An expensive day! Yeah.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Nice talking to you. And you.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Sorry you got penalised, but, you know, hopefully... Give up!
0:14:56 > 0:14:59We do, frequently!
0:14:59 > 0:15:03I know the feeling. Cheerio. Bye-bye. Goodbye.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05A bit of compassion I offered.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09I gave them one fixed penalty which was ?80. Two would have been ?160.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12It would have been very painful, wouldn't it?
0:15:12 > 0:15:13It would have been very painful, yeah.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16But they were together, it was in the same spot and, you know,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18so I gave them the one fixed penalty.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22She was very relieved when she realised it could have been two. Yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23'A hard day's work.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28'And a result for Cardiff Council.'
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Today, six people received a penalty. Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34That's nearly 500 quid into the council's offers to pay for
0:15:34 > 0:15:36the cleaning, etc, etc. Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39And no doubt those six people who got those penalties will be
0:15:39 > 0:15:43telling all their mates, all their work colleagues and saying, "Watch out."
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Yeah. "That just cost me 80 quid." Yeah.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Can I get you a tea and a brownie? Yeah, great.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00How would you like it if you found someone had dumped rubbish in
0:16:00 > 0:16:02your garden?
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Well, farmers get it on their land all the time.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15I'm not sure what it is. I don't know how big it is.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18But this is a typical scenario.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Our man in Pendle is Jon Yurek,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24an environmental crime officer.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27It's his job to work out who does the dumping.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Typical fly-tipping is out in the country, out in the sticks,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36whatever I'm looking for,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38it's got to be a truck or it's got to be a tipper.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44He's following a tip-off from a dog walker, who's spotted this
0:16:44 > 0:16:46down a remote green lane.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51A massive pile of what looks like builders' waste.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55This is a criminal offence punishable by fines of up
0:16:55 > 0:16:57to ?50,000.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Middle of nowhere, on a
0:17:00 > 0:17:03country road and they found this place and just done this.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08Unsurprisingly, Jon is keen to track down the culprit.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10What we've got is, we've got the nice countryside,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14we've got a nice green farmer's field,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16it's way out in the middle of nowhere,
0:17:16 > 0:17:21but yet again, the fly-tippers have found it and they've done this.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27It's estimated around two-thirds of farmers are affected by fly-tipping.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30The council will have to clear this, but first,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34it's down to Jon to sift through to find clues to the culprit.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I've got carpet underlay here so I'm going to have to be careful.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38I don't know the state of the house it came from.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40It could be covered in fleas,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43so I'm going to have to be a little bit more careful now because
0:17:43 > 0:17:46whatever's in here, I don't want crawling up my arm.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Jon's now bad guy.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53He's looking for clues to identify who did this.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54If caught in the act,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57they could be stung with an on-the-spot fine of ?400.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03He's spotted something. Just here, there's this little piece of paper.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Right, what have we got here?
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Will this be enough to lead him to the fly-tipper?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17It's not actually giving me anything as to who the customer is.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Jon suspects it could have been dumped by house clearers.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22A homeowner has paid a fee,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25but the unscrupulous dumpers ditched this lot for free.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29It's not fair, really,
0:18:29 > 0:18:34on the individual who thinks they're doing the right thing.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Someone has come round, "I'll take all your rubbish away for you,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40"don't worry, mate, it's all sorted," and you think you're
0:18:40 > 0:18:43paying this person a couple of hundred pounds to do the work.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Then they dump it all here and the breadcrumbs will start with
0:18:46 > 0:18:51you and you'll be like, "I thought I employed someone I could trust."
0:18:51 > 0:18:55You can only trust a professional house clearer if they can
0:18:55 > 0:18:59give you a receipt, business address and waste carrier number.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01End of.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04It's a real shame there's no evidence here.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Now someone's going to have to come and clean this up.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09At the taxpayers' expense.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13We all love the great British countryside,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and spoiling the view is a crime against nature.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20But the impact could be far worse
0:19:20 > 0:19:22for those trying to live and work here.
0:19:26 > 0:19:3115 miles away, up towards the Yorkshire Dales, in Skipton...
0:19:31 > 0:19:34This is the first time they've been out since September last year.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36That's their summer starting now.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Farmer Chris Mitton has been faced with fly-tipping on his
0:19:40 > 0:19:43land too many times.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49It's hard to take when you live out in the country and somebody just
0:19:49 > 0:19:51comes and dumps a heap of it for you.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53There's better places than dumping it at the side of the road
0:19:53 > 0:19:55for everybody to see.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Nearly two-thirds of all fly-tipping incidents involve household waste.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07One way to spoil the view.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Sinks.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Dispensers, disposable stuff,
0:20:13 > 0:20:18trainers, beds, mattresses, pillows.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Just rubbish.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24It seems to be the normal thing nowadays. They don't
0:20:24 > 0:20:27want to pay for it, they just throw it away. Sickening.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32Over the last few years, this farm has been plagued by litter.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35He shifts rubbish on a daily basis.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And the biggest worry for Chris is the danger it's causing to
0:20:40 > 0:20:41his livestock.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46All right, love? Good, thank you.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Chris's daughter, Laura, helps out on the farm and regularly
0:20:49 > 0:20:51has to deal with the consequences of fly-tippers.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54It's just around its neck there, look.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58This lamb has got itself caught in some rubbish.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01It's not hurting the lamb at the moment but it does need
0:21:01 > 0:21:04coming off because as she grows it will just get tighter and then it
0:21:04 > 0:21:05will suffocate her.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Some people don't think, they just threw stuff over and they think,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11"Oh, they'll be no harm at all to the animals," where it actually is.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14If that lamb grows any quicker, it's going to suffocate.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The bag urgently needs to be removed.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20We'll see if we can get it gathered. If we can, we'll get it off.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31A bit of old carrier bag. You know what I mean, it's nowt, but...
0:21:31 > 0:21:33The lamb was lucky.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39Almost 70,000 animals are killed or injured by litter each year.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41These are more dangerous, the smaller bits.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44It was a bit of rubbish like this which killed one of the
0:21:44 > 0:21:46family's sheep a few weeks ago.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Sheep had been messing about and foraging and it'll have
0:21:49 > 0:21:50picked it up by accident.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Obviously it's getting wedged in its throat
0:21:52 > 0:21:54and it suffocated from there, like.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56It was horrible.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59We've worked so hard to get the sheep and its lambs to the
0:21:59 > 0:22:04standard where they can come out onto the grass and next minute, you
0:22:04 > 0:22:06come down and it's not alive any more and then you've got two little
0:22:06 > 0:22:11lambs with no mum, that you then have to take home and bottle feed.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15For this farming family, there's only one way to deal with fly-tippers.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20I think if they're caught red-handed, give them a fine.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23If you can prove who it is, you know, they should be fined, end of story.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25There should be no question about it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Fly-tipping, I just think, is wrong.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Like, why throw it over the fence? Take it to the tip.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33And if you are going to fly-tip, then you deserve the fine.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55There are over 37 million vehicles in the UK and the law says
0:22:55 > 0:22:57they all need to be taxed.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Driving without it cheats the country's coffers out
0:22:59 > 0:23:02of ?80 million a year.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Well, they should be fined.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07And the cars should be taken off them.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12I don't see why these people should get away with not paying car tax.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14I've got to pay it.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17I think crushing, I think that's totally acceptable.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It teaches people a lesson, doesn't it?
0:23:20 > 0:23:23For those owners of untaxed vehicles, there are consequences.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32At the DVLA HQ in Swansea, I'm meeting chief executive
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Oliver Morley...
0:23:34 > 0:23:36You certainly run a very tight ship here.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39I mean, I can see everybody's busy.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43..whose job it is to ensure the ?6 billion in revenue from
0:23:43 > 0:23:47car taxes is properly collected and the tax evaders are dealt with.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Why are there so many people who still have untaxed vehicles on the road?
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Cos it's very hard to get away with, isn't it?
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Well, I think for the most part, it's very clear that people, you know, might forget.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00We do provide as many reminders as we can.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03We send the standard vehicle reminder to everyone
0:24:03 > 0:24:04who has a vehicle,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06who's updated their address.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07In the end, there are, however,
0:24:07 > 0:24:11some hardened evaders who we really do want to deal with.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13If they then don't pay, what happens?
0:24:13 > 0:24:15We, as you know, have a wheel clamping arrangement.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It's one of the very rare legal arrangements in which we can wheel clamp.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21If you don't pay your tax, you will get clamped.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28In Middlesex, John Kelly works on behalf of the DVLA
0:24:28 > 0:24:32to ensure untaxed vehicles are off the streets, by clamping and
0:24:32 > 0:24:33fining the owners.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38And he's got a special piece of tech to help identify them.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40CAR: Attention!
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Automatic number plate recognition cameras.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So the cameras are a great tool.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Cos, obviously, you can't just drive around guessing at what
0:24:51 > 0:24:54you think is taxed and what isn't taxed.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56You do need to have an up-to-date database.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59It's not just us.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04We're driving around with the ANPR cameras, the police are driving around with their ANPR cameras.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07So the chances are, yeah, you might get away with it for a few months.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13But eventually, somebody is going to come across your car.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17And when they do, it can mean a hefty fine of up to ?260.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's not long before the cameras pick up a potential car tax evader.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28But will John be issuing them with a fine?
0:25:28 > 0:25:31The registration is the correct read.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Quite clearly, the vehicle is parked half on the road,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36half on the pavement.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39The pavement does constitute the highway.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43The DVLA database confirms the car is definitely untaxed.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45What's the damage going to be?
0:25:49 > 0:25:52We've done the necessary checks. It's come up.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55He's declared it statutory off-road.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Having a statutory off-road notification or SORN means
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Having a statutory off-road notification or SORN means
0:25:59 > 0:26:02this car should not be on a public highway, let alone parked halfway on
0:26:02 > 0:26:04a pavement.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06To get the padlock off, he needs to ring
0:26:06 > 0:26:09the contact number on the information leaflet.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Pays ?260.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16We'll send somebody out. The clamp will then be removed.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19So that car shouldn't even be on the road and it's untaxed.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24Which means the owner will now have to fork out a ?260 fine.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Well, people, obviously, they're not happy.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32A lot of people just stand there going, "Mate, I'm really sorry.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34"I hadn't realised."
0:26:34 > 0:26:38I've had people actually say, "Well, can you wait five minutes, I'll ring it now and I'll make the payment."
0:26:38 > 0:26:42So, fine, I'll stand there, wait for them to make the payment,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45take it off, as long as they're going to do it straight away.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51If the owner of this car doesn't come forward, it will be taken to
0:26:51 > 0:26:55a compound where it could be put up for auction or even crushed.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02For John, tracking down untaxed vehicles is an essential job.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05If people aren't going to tax their car, then the next step, they're not going to insure their cars.
0:27:05 > 0:27:11It'd come down to the minority that are taxed and insured, MOT'd.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14You'd have all sorts of unroadworthy cars out there.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Untold accidents, the roads would be carnage.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21CAR: Attention. CAR BLEEPS
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Right, that gives us a hit on there. Hello.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27The cameras have spotted a potentially untaxed Mini.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32And that's not the only one. It's a bleeping bonanza.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35We've had a couple of bleeps.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39We've got that Volkswagen over there, the Serena...
0:27:41 > 0:27:42Something's not right.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46It's rare for John to get so many bleeps on one street.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47Basically, we've come down this street.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52We've tried to drive further down and they've pinged off on three vehicles over this side.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's very unusual you get four like that.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Not unheard of but very unusual.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02So, John spotted four cars parked on one road all without tax.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04I can feel some fines coming on.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Hang on, here comes the clamp.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16About time, mate. At least one resident is pleased to see John.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19All of these here are his, you know? I ain't got a clue.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23It turns out all those untaxed cars belong to one man.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26I think everyone down here pays their car tax.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31For this guy to come round, you know, dump them on our streets, it's a joke.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Why should everyone else have to play and, you know, these people get away with it?
0:28:34 > 0:28:38It makes me very angry when people don't pay their tax.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Does he live here? He lives up there in the maisonette, yeah.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45Is he a trader or...? They were all up for sale the other day and now he's took the stickers off them.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48So... All right, nice one. All right, see you, mate. Cheers.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Well, there's a gentleman who is obviously sick and tired of
0:28:51 > 0:28:54seeing these vehicles parked here with no tax.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58And he's over the moon to see that something is actually happening.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01It looks like that haul of untaxed cars is going to cost
0:29:01 > 0:29:03the owner a pretty penny.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07He's potentially looking at over ?1,000-worth of fines.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12All right, that's it, that's the job finished.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14And there's more bad news for him.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17With one million cars crushed every year in the UK,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21if those vehicles aren't claimed within the next 14 days,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23they could suffer the same fate.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30But it's all in a day's work for John.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40We are massive dog lovers in this country but lots of dogs
0:29:40 > 0:29:43means lots of doggy mess and while the majority of dog
0:29:43 > 0:29:46owners are responsible enough to bag it and bin it,
0:29:46 > 0:29:49there are some who aren't quite getting the message.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Here you go.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57Well, it's just disgusting. It really is disgusting.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59You know, you got... You can get diseases from it obviously.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03You can pick up anything, germs... It's just downright horrible.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05Really horrible.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Not nice at all.
0:30:07 > 0:30:13Well, they can pick it up, they can honestly pick it up.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Why don't they? They're not. Especially at night-time.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19As soon as it gets a bit dark, like, in the evening,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22they're just letting the dogs do it and walking on.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28So I have actually seen people let their dogs foul on pavements and
0:30:28 > 0:30:30it's just pure laziness.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32In Pendle, the council are on
0:30:32 > 0:30:35a mission to banish dog mess once and for all,
0:30:35 > 0:30:40handing out fines of up to ?75 for irresponsible dog owners,
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Environmental crime officer Jon Yurek is on the front line.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49He's come to a notorious dog-doo hot spot,
0:30:49 > 0:30:51armed with a secret weapon.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54It's a popular dog-walking route.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58But the main issue we have here is the dog fouling that occurs here.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02And so we've developed this idea that we were going to spray any
0:31:02 > 0:31:04dog fouling that we found.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08And that way, it allows the residents and the dog walkers to see it.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11And because you can see it more clearly, it becomes
0:31:11 > 0:31:16a little bit more offensive, which might put some people off just
0:31:16 > 0:31:19letting their dogs foul and actually take responsibility for their dogs.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21So, here's some now.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40It's disgusting because there's the dog bins right here.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42No reason why people can't pick after their dog.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47If Jon sees a dog owner allowing their pooch to poo on
0:31:47 > 0:31:51the path, he can issue them with a ?75 on-the-spot fine.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54But catching them in the act isn't easy.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58It's bad because we can't enforce it as well as we would like to
0:31:58 > 0:32:01because if we stand there, looking down,
0:32:01 > 0:32:04the road bends round to the left, so we can't actually see the
0:32:04 > 0:32:08dog walkers doing their entire route so we have to...
0:32:08 > 0:32:12It's difficult to try and walk up and down without looking suspicious.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16Jon sprays the mess so he can identify the old poo and
0:32:16 > 0:32:18keep an eye out for any new doggy deposits.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22When I come back, I can find out how long this has been here.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26And if any fresh dog mess has been put here,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I know it's on a daily occurrence.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34I like to try and explain it, like, if you're a child,
0:32:34 > 0:32:39a child is going to step in it, and then he's going to take his shoes off, then it's under
0:32:39 > 0:32:41his fingernails and his mum's going to make him a sandwich...
0:32:41 > 0:32:44The same hand that's got the dog mess on, he's going to put his
0:32:44 > 0:32:47fingers on his sandwich, the sandwich is going to go in his mouth...
0:32:47 > 0:32:49You know, that's... I wouldn't want to do that.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55Jon's right. Dog fouling isn't just an unsightly mess.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58It can have serious consequences for your health.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00As mum Becky Willoughby knows too well.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04Her daughter, Libby, suffers from a condition called toxocariasis,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07which affects around 50 people a year.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08Most of whom are children.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10You had a good day today?
0:33:11 > 0:33:14We first found out about the toxocara when Libby failed her
0:33:14 > 0:33:18eye test at school in reception, when she was five years old.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Libby's eyesight was permanently damaged by a tiny parasite
0:33:21 > 0:33:25that can be contracted by coming into contact with dog mess.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28So when people come into contact with faeces that have been left
0:33:28 > 0:33:32lying around, either because someone hasn't scooped up after their
0:33:32 > 0:33:34dog or if it's been a fox in your garden, and then a little
0:33:34 > 0:33:39parasite can get into your system and it burrows into the eyeball.
0:33:39 > 0:33:40And can damage it.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46But in this case, it was mum Becky who had come into contact with
0:33:46 > 0:33:49dog faeces while gardening when she was pregnant with Libby.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52It is really scary that this can happen with
0:33:52 > 0:33:55a pregnant lady who can pass it on to their unborn child.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Cos the ones you hear about are usually the child's been in
0:33:58 > 0:34:03the playground or on the field, whereas when you're pregnant,
0:34:03 > 0:34:07you wouldn't expect that you could pass on something like that to your child.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09It's not what you want as a mother.
0:34:09 > 0:34:14I was affected in my eye, so there's a scar in the middle of it,
0:34:14 > 0:34:18so light can't be reflected properly onto the retina.
0:34:19 > 0:34:24It's in this eye and I can see partially just in this bit.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28So if I close my eye, I can see but if I want to see over there I have
0:34:28 > 0:34:30to, like, tilt my head.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35But things could have been even worse for Libby, as this nasty
0:34:35 > 0:34:38creature is capable of serious harm.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41In Libby's case, it's only a slight bit of damage,
0:34:41 > 0:34:43but in other children, they've actually gone completely blind cos
0:34:43 > 0:34:46of the damage it's done in their eyeballs.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48People like me can go blind.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Which is bad but it can be worse because you can get scarred
0:34:53 > 0:34:56in your brain and your lungs and your liver.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58It could be really serious.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03As a mother, when you find out that your child's got their eyes damaged
0:35:03 > 0:35:07from something like that, you sort of immediately think, "How and why has it happened?
0:35:07 > 0:35:10"What could I have done to stop it happening? And what's the
0:35:10 > 0:35:13"impact going to be on her for the rest of her life?"
0:35:13 > 0:35:16With the fact that her eye is damaged and there's absolutely
0:35:16 > 0:35:18nothing at the moment that can be done to fix it.
0:35:19 > 0:35:25The experience has given Libby strong views about dog fouling.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28I do notice dog mess quite often.
0:35:28 > 0:35:33I think I subconsciously scour the streets for it.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37But it does make me quite cross that people haven't been bothered
0:35:37 > 0:35:42to pick up their dog's faeces because if you're going to have a dog,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44you have to look after it and if I could,
0:35:44 > 0:35:49I would walk round with dog bags and just, like, pick up all of it.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53Some people don't understand what it actually can do to people.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56My message to any dog walker is just scoop that poop.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58It won't take you long and it could make such
0:35:58 > 0:36:01a difference to somebody else's child.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Next, we're in sunny East Sussex.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Across the country, fraudsters are using the blue parking badges
0:36:13 > 0:36:16given out to disabled residents to pull a fast one.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Instead of paying for parking, they're getting it for free.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22What do you think of the people that might steal these badges?
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Well, I do think it's very bad for people who can't walk and who
0:36:25 > 0:36:29desperately need these things.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I have seen many people who don't need a blue badge.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34They're using somebody else's.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36The sooner they're caught, the better.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41It worries me that people that really do need the blue badge
0:36:41 > 0:36:45can't get it because of people that are abusing it.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49However, to the blue badge users of Eastbourne, Mark Jobling is
0:36:49 > 0:36:51a bit of a local hero.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53Hello, how are you?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56I'm fine, thank you. I thought you were looking, thinking, "I know them."
0:36:56 > 0:36:58I just said to her, "He's blue badge man."
0:36:59 > 0:37:03Yes, we're back again. Have a good day. You too. Take care.
0:37:03 > 0:37:04See you soon.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11It's estimated to cost taxpayers ?46 million in lost revenue
0:37:11 > 0:37:14and Mark Jobling is tasked with catching the blue badge
0:37:14 > 0:37:16fraudsters red-handed.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20Hello, good morning. I'm from the blue badge team, East Sussex County Council.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Can I have a look at the badge you've got displayed?
0:37:23 > 0:37:25The joint police and council operation
0:37:25 > 0:37:29has caught out more than 430 cheats in 18 months.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Hello, that's right.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34We're looking at blue badges today. Is it all right to have a look at your blue badge?
0:37:34 > 0:37:36That's great, thank you very much indeed.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Good morning.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40I'm from the blue badge team, East Sussex County Council.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Can I have a look at the badge you've got displayed? OK.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46This lady appears to be the badge holder.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50But it's not supposed to be used for her to just sit in the car.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Can I just ask the purpose of why you're parked here at the moment?
0:37:55 > 0:37:56OK, right.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01The blue badge is in the right hands but this owner is
0:38:01 > 0:38:02bending the rules.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Do you know... Under usual circumstances, the badge holder shouldn't sit in the car.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08The badge holder should come to their destination for the purposes
0:38:08 > 0:38:12of getting out the car and going to do their business.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15The lady claims that she was going to get out of the car
0:38:15 > 0:38:18but didn't feel well enough, so her son did the errand instead,
0:38:18 > 0:38:20leaving her in the passenger seat.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25Slightly bending the rules but Mark has decided to let her off.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Thank you very much, thanks for your time. Thank you.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31All I've done in this case is a bit of verbal advice in relation
0:38:31 > 0:38:33to the use of the badge and let the lady know that she shouldn't
0:38:33 > 0:38:35really be sitting in the car.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37No fine there.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39But Mark's spotted another blue badge.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43With this one, I'd...
0:38:44 > 0:38:47..really like to just hang around and see who comes back to
0:38:47 > 0:38:49the vehicle, and just inspect the badge.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54Again, to check that it is the correct or genuine badge holder.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58The personal details suggest it's an elderly female user.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00She's fairly elderly. She's in her 90s.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04And that would suggest that maybe this lady is not out and about.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07But that isn't always the case. We don't always assume.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Clock's ticking but the owner's still not back.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Mark must have eyes in the back of his head. Bear with me a second, Carol, hang on. Excuse me.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23That ain't no 90-year-old.
0:39:23 > 0:39:24Could it be a fraudster in action?
0:39:24 > 0:39:28I'm the investigating officer. Can I have a look at the badge you've got displayed? You can.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30It's my mother-in-law's, who I'm just about to pick up. OK.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Whereabouts is your mother-in-law at the moment? She's down the road in the Pizza House
0:39:34 > 0:39:35at the end of the road.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37OK. I was just about to go and pick her up.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39That's fine, right.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43What we need to do is, we need to see your mother-in-law, make sure that she's here, OK.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47OK, so what I'll do is, I'm going to keep a hold of this and I'll come and join you round there.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50You've got me bang to rights because she's not down there.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54OK. OK. Would you like to get in the car? I can discuss it with you. No, no, no.
0:39:56 > 0:39:57Gotcha.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59This blue badge offender could be facing
0:39:59 > 0:40:02a fine of anything up to ?1,000.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05It's my mother-in-law's card. Yeah.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07And she's disabled, she can't get anywhere without it. OK.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09PHONE RINGS Hold on just a second.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11After 18 months on the job,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Mark's seen and heard every trick in the blue badge book.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16I think I've heard it all.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19There is quite quick-thinking people when you inspect badges
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and the genuine badge holder actually isn't present at the time.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26We get, "They're at the shops round the corner. We're going to pick them up. We've just dropped them off."
0:40:26 > 0:40:29"They're at the hairdressers. "They're at the dentist."
0:40:29 > 0:40:32However, it doesn't take very long when you've got reasonable
0:40:32 > 0:40:35suspicion for believing that that person isn't actually present.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39They generally decide to come up and be truthful and admit that that
0:40:39 > 0:40:40person is actually not present.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44What I'm going to do first is, it's a criminal offence. Can I just say something very quickly.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47It's a criminal offence to misuse a disabled person's badge.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50So what I'm going to do is caution you very quickly. OK?
0:40:50 > 0:40:53The son-in-law is being read his rights.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55He could be facing a criminal charge.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57So you don't have to say anything but it may harm your
0:40:57 > 0:41:01defence if you don't mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court, OK?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04So where is BLEEP at the moment? She is at home at the moment.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06And am I correct in saying that's in Eastbourne?
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Yes. It is, yeah. Right, like I explained to you before, it's a criminal offence to misuse a badge
0:41:10 > 0:41:12and it's one which we prosecute for.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16So, what are the facts?
0:41:16 > 0:41:19The blue badge holder must be in the vehicle.
0:41:19 > 0:41:24In this case, she was at home in Eastbourne. So, what will it be?
0:41:24 > 0:41:25We've got another option, OK.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28The other option is called a community resolution.
0:41:28 > 0:41:29It's sort of a bit educational.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32It's a lower-level sanction but it is issued by the police.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33But it's a warning.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36What it does involve is you coming to see me at a future date.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39It involves you watching a video which is about 6 1/2 minutes long.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42It shows you the impact on genuine disabled badge holders, OK?
0:41:42 > 0:41:43That's what we would offer you.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45He's escaped a fine.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49He'll attend an awareness course and his mother-in-law's without her
0:41:49 > 0:41:50badge for a few days.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53I do need to have that in the car for taking the mother-in-law out
0:41:53 > 0:41:55and parking up to drop her off wherever she's going.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58OK, one thing you can say is, I'm retaining this badge from you.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00OK. Because I can't leave the badge with you.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03However, I'll facilitate the return of the badge back to your mother-in-law.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07When the mother-in-law comes out, that's when the badge should be coming out with your mother-in-law.
0:42:07 > 0:42:12And if that's only once every couple of months or whenever that might be, the badge should stay there.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13OK, thank you, cheers. Bye.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17So no fine on the cards.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Let's hope this man will think twice before trying to pull the
0:42:20 > 0:42:22wall over Mark's eyes in future.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28He very quickly held his hands up and said, "You've got me bang to rights."
0:42:28 > 0:42:31However, there's no previous misuse on the badge.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36The community resolution works as educational also, and due to him
0:42:36 > 0:42:38admitting the offence quite quickly,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40he is suitable for the community resolution.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43So it's highly likely, and I would suspect, that that badge
0:42:43 > 0:42:47has been used misused before, so it's a positive result for us...
0:42:48 > 0:42:52..in that we've actually removed that from being used.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56That's all for today.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Join me next time, when I'll be on the front line with the
0:42:58 > 0:43:01professionals who are issuing more on-the-spot fines.
0:43:32 > 0:43:37MUSIC: Powerful by Major Lazer
0:43:42 > 0:43:44GUN CLICKS
0:43:45 > 0:43:46# I can feel it
0:43:46 > 0:43:48# When you hold me
0:43:48 > 0:43:50# When you touch me