Episode 10

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0:00:02 > 0:00:04Never before have so many on-the-spot fines

0:00:04 > 0:00:05been issued in Britain.

0:00:05 > 0:00:08We're going to be following the men and women who hand out

0:00:08 > 0:00:13over £30 million worth of tickets every month.

0:00:13 > 0:00:15- Oops.- Round here, they're an absolute blight.

0:00:15 > 0:00:17- I'm at 104 now.- Wow!

0:00:17 > 0:00:21- That is disgusting! - Just walk away!- Grrr!

0:00:21 > 0:00:23'For behaviour that's downright dangerous...'

0:00:23 > 0:00:26That was stupid for these sort of conditions, wasn't it?

0:00:26 > 0:00:27'..simply selfish...'

0:00:27 > 0:00:29Look at the mess you've created in the street!

0:00:29 > 0:00:30How is that our fault?

0:00:30 > 0:00:31'..or just...'

0:00:31 > 0:00:33What is he doing?

0:00:33 > 0:00:35'..well, plain silly.'

0:00:35 > 0:00:36What a doughnut!

0:00:36 > 0:00:39'We'll be revealing the cost of their bad behaviour..'

0:00:39 > 0:00:43- £100 fine.- Pays £260.- Ouch.

0:00:43 > 0:00:45'..and how this could affect you.'

0:00:45 > 0:00:49- I'll give them a punch. - You want to see me kick off?

0:00:49 > 0:00:50'The police are on it...'

0:00:50 > 0:00:52- What the...?!- Sir!

0:00:52 > 0:00:54'..the parking wardens are on it...'

0:00:54 > 0:00:56They should be thanking us for being here.

0:00:56 > 0:00:57'..and I'M on it.'

0:00:57 > 0:00:59Careful! It's a 30mph limit here!

0:00:59 > 0:01:01'I'm Dom Littlewood.

0:01:01 > 0:01:02'And I'm On The Spot.'

0:01:06 > 0:01:09'Today, I try to keep a steady hand on the trigger

0:01:09 > 0:01:11'and a sharp eye on the fines.'

0:01:11 > 0:01:14- That said zero.- Nope.

0:01:14 > 0:01:15I'd never make a good cop.

0:01:15 > 0:01:18'We meet a dirt detective with a stinky problem.'

0:01:19 > 0:01:21Urgh. Air!

0:01:21 > 0:01:24Do you think Mulder and Scully ever did something like this?

0:01:24 > 0:01:28I'm riding shotgun with the traffic cops from Wiltshire Police today

0:01:28 > 0:01:31to find out what actually happens out on the road.

0:01:31 > 0:01:33And I've been warned to expect the unexpected.

0:01:37 > 0:01:40Misbehaving motorists, watch out.

0:01:40 > 0:01:43Sergeant Warren Knight is on your tail.

0:01:43 > 0:01:45From his stealth cop car,

0:01:45 > 0:01:48he has the power to issue a whole host of on-the-spot fines.

0:01:52 > 0:01:56But one of the most common has got to be the speeding ticket.

0:01:56 > 0:01:58Get one of those and you could be coughing up £100.

0:02:01 > 0:02:06And as the evening rush hour dies down, people's speeds seem to go up.

0:02:06 > 0:02:09Which means it's time for Warren to get the big guns out.

0:02:10 > 0:02:13- Have you used...? Have you seen this working?- No, I haven't.

0:02:13 > 0:02:15It looks very interesting. It looks like...

0:02:15 > 0:02:17Shall we get out the car? I'll show you.

0:02:17 > 0:02:19Warren's kindly offered to show me how it works.

0:02:19 > 0:02:21I mean, how hard can it be?

0:02:22 > 0:02:25- If you look through there, you'll see a little red dot.- Yes.- OK?

0:02:25 > 0:02:30- Put the red dot on a number plate and press the trigger.- OK.- OK?

0:02:30 > 0:02:32See how you get on.

0:02:32 > 0:02:33'Sounds simple enough.'

0:02:35 > 0:02:37DEVICE BUZZES AND BEEPS

0:02:37 > 0:02:40Try not to move it. Keep the red dot on the number plate.

0:02:40 > 0:02:42The number plate that you want.

0:02:44 > 0:02:46- All I'm getting is EO1. - That's an error.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49Cor, it's not easy, is it?

0:02:49 > 0:02:51'OK, let's see how the expert does it.'

0:02:53 > 0:02:56There you go. 98. So he can have a ticket.

0:02:56 > 0:02:57And, within seconds,

0:02:57 > 0:03:01the pro has clocked the first speed demon of the day.

0:03:01 > 0:03:02SIREN WAILS

0:03:02 > 0:03:05We know they're in a VW Golf in the outside lane.

0:03:05 > 0:03:08Probably quite far ahead as well, if they were going at that speed.

0:03:08 > 0:03:11And now it's down to Warren to catch up with a car

0:03:11 > 0:03:13that's just been clocked at almost 100mph.

0:03:13 > 0:03:16That's a very close speed to an instant ban as well, isn't it?

0:03:16 > 0:03:17Yeah, it is.

0:03:19 > 0:03:23Anyone going over 100mph could be eligible for a driving ban.

0:03:23 > 0:03:26Could this be Warren's first fine of the day?

0:03:27 > 0:03:30- You've got to be so observant, haven't you?- Yeah.

0:03:31 > 0:03:34'We're in hot pursuit.'

0:03:38 > 0:03:40We manage to get alongside.

0:03:40 > 0:03:43And it's time for Warren to make himself known.

0:03:45 > 0:03:47And for this driver to face the music.

0:03:47 > 0:03:49Is there any reason that you can give me

0:03:49 > 0:03:51why you were travelling so fast?

0:03:51 > 0:03:54- No, there isn't.- OK. Do you have any points on your licence?

0:03:54 > 0:03:56If you come and sit in the car,

0:03:56 > 0:03:59- have you got your driving licence with you?- Er, yeah.- OK, cool.

0:03:59 > 0:04:02This guy's been stopped. He was caught doing 98.

0:04:02 > 0:04:05What happens now, obviously, I don't know.

0:04:05 > 0:04:10This chap was clocked by Sergeant Knight doing 98mph on the motorway.

0:04:10 > 0:04:15Anyone caught doing 96mph or more is eligible for a driving ban,

0:04:15 > 0:04:17so will he be losing his licence,

0:04:17 > 0:04:20picking up some points, or receiving a fine?

0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Technically, at that speed, you can get disqualified.- Right.- OK?

0:04:25 > 0:04:28The way I propose to deal with it is by way of a fixed penalty ticket.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Yeah.- OK? Three points on your licence and a £100 fine.- Yeah.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34So I'm using my discretion not to take you to court

0:04:34 > 0:04:38because that is, you know, right on that threshold.

0:04:38 > 0:04:40It's a £100 fine.

0:04:40 > 0:04:43So he's narrowly escaped a driving ban.

0:04:43 > 0:04:47I do this road every single day, pretty much. Six days a week.

0:04:47 > 0:04:49Going home to watch football. You know, there's no excuse.

0:04:51 > 0:04:55And back on the road, it's not a car that catches Warren's eye.

0:04:57 > 0:05:02It's people taking a stroll on the side of the dual carriageway.

0:05:10 > 0:05:14Right, I'll probably have to turn round and just deal with those,

0:05:14 > 0:05:19because pedestrians on a major carriageway can be a hazard.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22You've got to be crazy to do that, haven't you?

0:05:22 > 0:05:25'Warren can't issue pedestrians on a dual carriageway with a fine,

0:05:25 > 0:05:28'but he can't let this one go without having a few words.'

0:05:28 > 0:05:30It's a busy dual carriageway.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32There is no footpath, so they just need to be mindful of that.

0:05:39 > 0:05:43Are you carrying on up the road or are you staying on the A419?

0:05:44 > 0:05:47I would never advise you walking on the 419, cos I've dealt with...

0:05:47 > 0:05:48- Sorry.- It's not about "sorry".

0:05:48 > 0:05:50It's about your safety, more than anything else.

0:05:50 > 0:05:51All right, no problem.

0:05:51 > 0:05:54Warren gives the walkers some friendly, very sensible advice.

0:06:01 > 0:06:03If, like me, you're outraged by littering

0:06:03 > 0:06:06then this will make your blood boil.

0:06:06 > 0:06:09Pendle's litter detective, Jon Yurek,

0:06:09 > 0:06:14has just discovered a big pile of rubbish, but is it an illegal dump?

0:06:16 > 0:06:20I don't know how many days' worth of bin bags they've put out in one go.

0:06:20 > 0:06:23I'm going to have to make a quick phone call

0:06:23 > 0:06:28and check when the last time the guy came round to collect the bin bags.

0:06:28 > 0:06:30Cos if he's done...

0:06:30 > 0:06:34If this has been out for more than a couple of days,

0:06:34 > 0:06:37then the person who has put them here is clearly

0:06:37 > 0:06:41abusing the facilities, abusing the rights he's been given.

0:06:44 > 0:06:45Hello?

0:06:47 > 0:06:48Right. OK.

0:06:48 > 0:06:51I need one of you, OK, either one of you,

0:06:51 > 0:06:56I don't really care who it is now, I need a van with green search bags.

0:06:56 > 0:06:59I'm at the rear of A Centre.

0:06:59 > 0:07:03It's not bin collection day, so this lot has been flytipped.

0:07:03 > 0:07:05If Jon can discover who left it there,

0:07:05 > 0:07:09they could be in line for a fixed penalty of £400,

0:07:09 > 0:07:13and failing to pay that could get them a whopping £2,500 fine.

0:07:13 > 0:07:16Jon's partner in grime, Lesley,

0:07:16 > 0:07:19has arrived to try and help him find the culprit.

0:07:19 > 0:07:22So now we're going to have to rip open these black bin bags,

0:07:22 > 0:07:25find out if there's any information as to where they've come from,

0:07:25 > 0:07:26and then deal with it.

0:07:26 > 0:07:28Right, time to get digging.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32I don't envy them, but there is a fine at stake.

0:07:32 > 0:07:38Put them in these green bags, because when we rip open the bag,

0:07:38 > 0:07:41everything will just go spilling everywhere, so we contain it

0:07:41 > 0:07:47and then if you look inside, you can see it's a black bin bag

0:07:47 > 0:07:50and inside the black bin bag is carrier bags tied up.

0:07:51 > 0:07:54Even though this looks disgusting,

0:07:54 > 0:07:56I call this an environmental autopsy.

0:07:56 > 0:07:59Oh, God! And he does, as well!

0:07:59 > 0:08:01Rather you than me, Jon.

0:08:04 > 0:08:06I can almost smell that from here.

0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Urgh. Air! - SHE CHUCKLES

0:08:12 > 0:08:16Urgh! Do you think Mulder and Scully ever did something like this?

0:08:16 > 0:08:21I think it's more Agent Mouldy, where you're concerned, Jon.

0:08:21 > 0:08:23The dirty work has paid off.

0:08:23 > 0:08:26Buried amongst the horror are some all-important clues

0:08:26 > 0:08:28as to whose rubbish this is.

0:08:28 > 0:08:31See that? That's a number one. That's a number two.

0:08:31 > 0:08:34So, European. Eastern European writing.

0:08:36 > 0:08:39An expenses form.

0:08:39 > 0:08:42So what I've got to do is I'll have to go through another bag,

0:08:42 > 0:08:45see if that name appears in another bag and if it does...

0:08:48 > 0:08:52this person has either come from this address and dumped it here,

0:08:52 > 0:08:56or possibly he's moved from wherever he has to here.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59We've got to make sure that it all links up somehow.

0:08:59 > 0:09:03There's no stone left unturned or bin bag un-emptied

0:09:03 > 0:09:05in the search for vital evidence

0:09:05 > 0:09:08that could lead to a fine.

0:09:08 > 0:09:11Jon's in luck. He's not only found a name,

0:09:11 > 0:09:15but a full rundown of the possible culprit's past employment.

0:09:15 > 0:09:21Right. Well, this is his CV, it's got his name. OK.

0:09:21 > 0:09:24It's got his address. It's got his mobile number.

0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's got everything I need to know about this person.

0:09:27 > 0:09:30Enough to become him for the day, you know?

0:09:30 > 0:09:34Jon's certainly mucked in to try and find the culprit,

0:09:34 > 0:09:36but has he done enough?

0:09:36 > 0:09:39There's eight bin bags dumped on the street,

0:09:39 > 0:09:41unsorted waste,

0:09:41 > 0:09:44and three forms of ID pointing to an address.

0:09:44 > 0:09:46Is it enough for a fine?

0:09:46 > 0:09:48Over to you, Jon.

0:09:48 > 0:09:53If the names, er, verify that that person

0:09:53 > 0:09:55lives at this address,

0:09:55 > 0:09:59we'll write to them, invite them in for an interview,

0:09:59 > 0:10:04to which we'll then have to ask him the questions as to

0:10:04 > 0:10:08why he's put out so many black bin bags here

0:10:08 > 0:10:12and we'll let the senior Environmental Crime Officer

0:10:12 > 0:10:15decide what will happen to him with regards to

0:10:15 > 0:10:18a fine or a caution.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21If Jon can make this stick, and not just to his gloves,

0:10:21 > 0:10:25by tracing the name and address he's found in the rubbish

0:10:25 > 0:10:28then there could be a £400 fine on the way to them.

0:10:35 > 0:10:40In rural Buckinghamshire, the local council have a problem -

0:10:40 > 0:10:43the county's country lanes and beauty spots

0:10:43 > 0:10:45are being blighted by rubbish.

0:10:47 > 0:10:51Fly-tipping is a serious issue.

0:10:51 > 0:10:55Anyone caught can be fined, and serious offenders face court,

0:10:55 > 0:11:01possible jail time and receive a fine of up to £50,000.

0:11:01 > 0:11:06David Rounding is an environmental waste officer at the county council.

0:11:06 > 0:11:08It's his job to take on the big tippers.

0:11:08 > 0:11:14Clearing all this up costs taxpayers in England £50 million a year.

0:11:16 > 0:11:19It's an ongoing, apparently never-ending problem,

0:11:19 > 0:11:22and it costs a lot of money to pick up,

0:11:22 > 0:11:25so every time we have to clear something like this,

0:11:25 > 0:11:30it's one less set of textbooks for a class of schoolchildren.

0:11:30 > 0:11:33What we're doing now, with more camera work,

0:11:33 > 0:11:35is we can target places like this.

0:11:35 > 0:11:38People might wonder, are there cameras everywhere?

0:11:38 > 0:11:40The county council catches and convicts a fly-tipper,

0:11:40 > 0:11:43on average, every week.

0:11:43 > 0:11:46Some people ignore them, but that's their mistake,

0:11:46 > 0:11:48because they mean what they say.

0:11:48 > 0:11:49We catch people regularly,

0:11:49 > 0:11:53so it's a mistake to fly-tip in Buckinghamshire.

0:11:55 > 0:11:58This is a beauty spot - that's how we want it.

0:11:58 > 0:12:01We will keep on taking people to court if they keep dumping.

0:12:01 > 0:12:03People will get the message in the end. They have in the past.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05They will stop.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07The key to prosecuting serial offenders

0:12:07 > 0:12:09is to catch them in the act,

0:12:09 > 0:12:12and, in David's neck of the woods, they do it with covert cameras.

0:12:16 > 0:12:19The cameras are whirring 24 hours a day,

0:12:19 > 0:12:22and back at council HQ, the team are watching in.

0:12:22 > 0:12:24Will they catch a tipper in the act?

0:12:24 > 0:12:28There's a hefty fine ready and waiting if they do.

0:12:28 > 0:12:30It looks like the cameras have already picked up

0:12:30 > 0:12:32a van that's up to no good.

0:12:32 > 0:12:36This is the previous day. The waste hasn't been deposited yet.

0:12:36 > 0:12:42It's gone dark and at 11:30,

0:12:42 > 0:12:44near midnight,

0:12:44 > 0:12:46the van pulls in.

0:12:46 > 0:12:48It's a bit late for a woodland stroll.

0:12:48 > 0:12:50Perhaps they have other motives.

0:12:50 > 0:12:52And they start unloading it.

0:12:54 > 0:12:57He's just having another quick check there's nobody coming,

0:12:57 > 0:12:58and they don't want to get caught.

0:12:58 > 0:13:00They know it's illegal.

0:13:00 > 0:13:04It seems they've been caught in the act, but what did they dump?

0:13:06 > 0:13:08Basically, a lot of kitchen waste dumped on

0:13:08 > 0:13:10a really beautiful country lane,

0:13:10 > 0:13:14but it was also a location where I knew that we had a camera hidden,

0:13:14 > 0:13:17so, while I was there looking at the waste, I...

0:13:17 > 0:13:21I examined the images that the hidden camera had recorded.

0:13:26 > 0:13:29I've printed these out, but they...

0:13:29 > 0:13:33They show two men in a van in the middle of the night

0:13:33 > 0:13:35are the people who dumped that.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38It's quite odd that they always...

0:13:38 > 0:13:41Even though it's 20 to midnight when they did the dumping,

0:13:41 > 0:13:45they're very much on the lookout to see if anybody's around -

0:13:45 > 0:13:48anybody witnessing them doing the dumping.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50It's time to investigate.

0:13:50 > 0:13:52Who are these nasty night owls?

0:13:52 > 0:13:55- OK.- David's joined by fellow officer Chris Smith,

0:13:55 > 0:13:57another environmental waste officer.

0:13:57 > 0:13:59At this time of year, it's very busy.

0:13:59 > 0:14:02Everybody's getting out in the garden or getting up in their loft

0:14:02 > 0:14:05and sorting things out, and a lot of that waste,

0:14:05 > 0:14:07unfortunately, ends up on our streets.

0:14:07 > 0:14:09KEYPAD BEEPS

0:14:09 > 0:14:11Time to make a few important phone calls.

0:14:11 > 0:14:14Will they find the owner of the van?

0:14:14 > 0:14:16It sounds like double doors at the back that open out

0:14:16 > 0:14:19from the middle outwards.

0:14:19 > 0:14:22We have managed to trace the vehicle and we're in contact

0:14:22 > 0:14:25with the registered owner of that vehicle.

0:14:25 > 0:14:27At last, a result -

0:14:27 > 0:14:30the owner's been located by tracing his number plate.

0:14:30 > 0:14:32This tipper could be in trouble.

0:14:32 > 0:14:34It'd be very unlikely, in my opinion,

0:14:34 > 0:14:36to result in just a warning.

0:14:36 > 0:14:39It's quite a gratuitous dump of a large amount of waste

0:14:39 > 0:14:40in a beauty spot.

0:14:41 > 0:14:43It's not my decision to make -

0:14:43 > 0:14:46I just think he would be unlikely to receive a warning.

0:14:48 > 0:14:52A court could give these cowboys a fine of up to £50,000.

0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Have we got everything? - Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

0:14:58 > 0:15:00We've come to Wembley Police Station.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02We've made an appointment to interview the van driver -

0:15:02 > 0:15:03the owner of the van.

0:15:03 > 0:15:06We've gathered the evidence of the waste having been dumped.

0:15:06 > 0:15:09We've got the CCTV footage.

0:15:09 > 0:15:11We know the vehicle.

0:15:11 > 0:15:14And, basically, we have to put it to the owner of the vehicle

0:15:14 > 0:15:17that the vehicle was used and ask him for the explanation

0:15:17 > 0:15:19of who it was who was driving it.

0:15:19 > 0:15:21Time to confront the suspect.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24There's no need for us to ambush him in any way.

0:15:24 > 0:15:27We just put the evidence to him and he has to tell us what happened.

0:15:27 > 0:15:29This is serious.

0:15:29 > 0:15:31This interview could provide vital evidence

0:15:31 > 0:15:34needed to secure a prosecution.

0:15:34 > 0:15:36'The specific incident that we're looking at

0:15:36 > 0:15:39'is covered by CCTV images of the deposited waste from a van,

0:15:39 > 0:15:41'which we believe to be your van.'

0:15:41 > 0:15:44We believe that you were probably driving the van,

0:15:44 > 0:15:48but if you're going to tell us it wasn't you, please speak now.

0:15:50 > 0:15:52I lend my van to a lot of friends.

0:15:52 > 0:15:54I'll be honest with you, like, a lot of...

0:15:54 > 0:15:57Yeah, a lot of friends - they ask me to lend my van.

0:15:57 > 0:16:00The van owner says he was with his family the night of the crime,

0:16:00 > 0:16:03and lent the van to a friend.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05These aren't the greatest pictures.

0:16:05 > 0:16:08- I can't look at this picture and say, "It's you. It's- BLEEP."

0:16:08 > 0:16:10- I can't do that.- Hmm.

0:16:10 > 0:16:12But it isn't great, from your point of view,

0:16:12 > 0:16:16that it's visibly similar to you, to your physical build.

0:16:16 > 0:16:19- Hmm, hmm...- This is a big guy and you're a big guy.

0:16:19 > 0:16:22It doesn't help that this is kitchen waste,

0:16:22 > 0:16:25because you do kitchen fitting, don't you?

0:16:25 > 0:16:27No, I don't do kitchen fitting.

0:16:27 > 0:16:31I do kitchen marble, like granite, and I do marble and tiles.

0:16:31 > 0:16:33It's nothing to do with the kitchen, as a rule.

0:16:33 > 0:16:36- But it... All I'm saying is, it's not great.- Yeah.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39- It doesn't help you that you're involved in kitchen...- Yeah, yeah.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42Yeah. Yeah, you try to blame me for so much of it,

0:16:42 > 0:16:43and I do not know why.

0:16:43 > 0:16:46You don't know why? It's your van.

0:16:46 > 0:16:47It's my van. I know it's my van.

0:16:47 > 0:16:51- And you look like the bloke in the picture.- I... It's my van.

0:16:51 > 0:16:52And I say it like, "This is my van."

0:16:52 > 0:16:54I'm not saying it's not my van.

0:16:55 > 0:16:57But it wasn't really me...

0:16:57 > 0:17:00The van, you know - it wasn't really with me.

0:17:00 > 0:17:02- Now, now... - We just have a duty to ask you.

0:17:02 > 0:17:05I know, I know, I know, I know. I mean...

0:17:05 > 0:17:07I do understand you have to do your work

0:17:07 > 0:17:09- in order to find this fly-tipping. - Yeah.

0:17:09 > 0:17:11Because this horrible thing is...

0:17:11 > 0:17:13- It's a mess, isn't it? - Yes, it's a mess.

0:17:15 > 0:17:18The suspect claims he didn't do the dumping.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21He is still saying it wasn't him who was driving the van

0:17:21 > 0:17:22and dumped the waste.

0:17:22 > 0:17:27We will make further enquiries and try and establish whether or not

0:17:27 > 0:17:31we can put full credence to the story he has given us,

0:17:31 > 0:17:33or whether it's something we should be looking to

0:17:33 > 0:17:35challenge and undermine,

0:17:35 > 0:17:38and we do have quite a lot of work still to do on it.

0:17:38 > 0:17:42Now it's up to the inspectors to dig a bit deeper.

0:17:42 > 0:17:46We will fully investigate all of the remaining leads

0:17:46 > 0:17:48and find out where they take us,

0:17:48 > 0:17:51but, at the end of the day, it may well still fall to him,

0:17:51 > 0:17:54the responsibility for the dumping from the van, because it is...

0:17:54 > 0:17:56because it is his van.

0:17:56 > 0:17:58He may still be held responsible for the dumping that took place.

0:17:58 > 0:18:01The case is yet to go to court, but, if found guilty,

0:18:01 > 0:18:04this guy could be hit with a fine of up to £50,000,

0:18:04 > 0:18:07and a possible 12-month jail sentence.

0:18:11 > 0:18:14SIREN WAILS

0:18:14 > 0:18:16I'm on speed patrol in Gloucestershire

0:18:16 > 0:18:18with PCs Shelley Holloway

0:18:18 > 0:18:20and Olly Buxton.

0:18:20 > 0:18:22Oscar Tango 5-6.

0:18:22 > 0:18:25They're on the lookout for motorists breaking the law,

0:18:25 > 0:18:29and, when they're found, they can dish out on the spot fines of £100.

0:18:29 > 0:18:32Shelley, can I ask you, have you ever been nicked for speeding?

0:18:32 > 0:18:34Yes, I have. About ten years ago,

0:18:34 > 0:18:37I don't mind admitting that I got some points for speeding.

0:18:37 > 0:18:40Tell me what happened there.

0:18:40 > 0:18:44I was on my motorbike, and I'd been riding for about

0:18:44 > 0:18:46three or four years,

0:18:46 > 0:18:50and I actually got caught by another police officer.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53OK, and what... And you did get prosecuted?

0:18:53 > 0:18:55Well, I got a fixed penalty notice at the time,

0:18:55 > 0:18:59which was three points and a small fine.

0:18:59 > 0:19:00Yeah.

0:19:00 > 0:19:04And how did you feel about that at the time?

0:19:04 > 0:19:05You know, what could I say?

0:19:05 > 0:19:09Yes, I was exceeding the speed limit and I shouldn't have been, so, um...

0:19:09 > 0:19:12I had it coming to me, really.

0:19:12 > 0:19:15'It just goes to show that nobody gets special treatment

0:19:15 > 0:19:18'in the eyes of the law.

0:19:18 > 0:19:21'Today, we're parked up at an offending hot spot on the M5.

0:19:21 > 0:19:23'The traffic cops are on the lookout

0:19:23 > 0:19:27'for motorists using their phones behind the wheel.'

0:19:27 > 0:19:31We're sitting here under the motorway bridge on the M5, waiting

0:19:31 > 0:19:34for you to catch people coming off the slip road and using their phone.

0:19:34 > 0:19:37What would you say to people who would say that was sneaky?

0:19:37 > 0:19:40I would disagree with them. It's not... It's not sneaky at all.

0:19:40 > 0:19:42It's about safety, you know?

0:19:42 > 0:19:46I'm in a marked police car and just doing my job.

0:19:46 > 0:19:49You know, people shouldn't be on their phones driving,

0:19:49 > 0:19:51and I'm sure it would only be the people that are

0:19:51 > 0:19:54on their phones driving that would probably say it was sneaky.

0:19:54 > 0:19:56Yeah, that's a good point.

0:19:56 > 0:19:59'If they catch anyone in the act, they could be looking at

0:19:59 > 0:20:03'a fine of £100 and three points on their licence.'

0:20:03 > 0:20:05Oh...

0:20:05 > 0:20:07I think he just dropped it.

0:20:08 > 0:20:10- Which vehicle?- This one.

0:20:10 > 0:20:14Shelley suspects the driver saw the police car and dropped his phone,

0:20:14 > 0:20:15so she's pulling him over.

0:20:15 > 0:20:18Getting rid of his call history, do you reckon?

0:20:20 > 0:20:22How are you doing?

0:20:22 > 0:20:24Were you using your phone?

0:20:24 > 0:20:27Tucked under your shoulder, under your chin,

0:20:27 > 0:20:29as you came down the slip road.

0:20:29 > 0:20:30Yeah, I saw it,

0:20:30 > 0:20:34and, as you saw me, you dropped your shoulder and it dropped, didn't it?

0:20:34 > 0:20:37Yeah, you can't use your phone while you're driving, and that's...

0:20:37 > 0:20:39that's specifically why we were at that point.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42The gentleman in this car has admitted he was using his phone,

0:20:42 > 0:20:46and, as soon as he saw the police officer, he dropped it.

0:20:46 > 0:20:47'And there's another problem -

0:20:47 > 0:20:52'a quick check on the car has found it doesn't have a valid MOT.'

0:20:52 > 0:20:55Subsequent to pulling him over, they discovered that the vehicle's MOT

0:20:55 > 0:20:58ran out about three weeks ago, so, obviously, the plot is thickening.

0:20:58 > 0:21:01'The guy doesn't seem to know if he's MOT'd or not,

0:21:01 > 0:21:04'but he is pleading to Shelley that, if it isn't, he'll get it sorted.'

0:21:04 > 0:21:07Honestly, 100%, tomorrow this will have an MOT on it,

0:21:07 > 0:21:10if it hasn't got one already, and I'll be furious if it hasn't.

0:21:10 > 0:21:13I don't think it has, cos our database is pretty spot-on.

0:21:13 > 0:21:15And I get that, so...

0:21:16 > 0:21:19So, not only has this guy been using a phone while driving,

0:21:19 > 0:21:22but his MOT has recently expired.

0:21:22 > 0:21:26Driving without a valid MOT carries a fine of £100,

0:21:26 > 0:21:29but how will Shelley choose to deal with it?

0:21:29 > 0:21:31- So, I will get it done tomorrow morning.- OK.

0:21:31 > 0:21:33I've nearly finished here.

0:21:33 > 0:21:35I just need to tell you that I'm reporting you for using

0:21:35 > 0:21:36your mobile phone whilst driving.

0:21:36 > 0:21:38You do not have to say anything...

0:21:38 > 0:21:41'It's a £100 fine and three points for using his phone,

0:21:41 > 0:21:43'but it could have been worse.

0:21:43 > 0:21:46'As for driving without a valid MOT, it's a warning.'

0:21:46 > 0:21:48The officer - I was sitting in the back of the car -

0:21:48 > 0:21:50- was very eagle-eyed.- Yeah.

0:21:50 > 0:21:52She saw your head jerk very, very quickly.

0:21:52 > 0:21:55- Yeah.- I mean, you know, I didn't see it.

0:21:55 > 0:21:57- You know, so, I think you were very...- Yeah.

0:21:57 > 0:22:00You were very unlucky to get caught, but, as you say,

0:22:00 > 0:22:02- you know what you were doing and... - Yeah.

0:22:02 > 0:22:05You've taken it on the chin, which I admire, you know, but...

0:22:05 > 0:22:08- Do you feel hard done by a little bit?- No, not at all.

0:22:08 > 0:22:10At the end of the day, I did what I did and it's against the law.

0:22:10 > 0:22:12The thing is...

0:22:12 > 0:22:15You know, it's one of those things, isn't it? I got caught.

0:22:15 > 0:22:16DOM LAUGHS

0:22:20 > 0:22:22SIREN WAILS

0:22:22 > 0:22:24'Back on the road, the traffic cops

0:22:24 > 0:22:26'have just been informed of a serious incident.'

0:22:26 > 0:22:28For us looking for this two-vehicle RTC,

0:22:28 > 0:22:30- are there any more further details? - SIREN WAILS

0:22:30 > 0:22:33'A two car head-on collision -

0:22:33 > 0:22:36'it's the kind of event that these guys are trying to stop

0:22:36 > 0:22:38'by catching and fining careless drivers.'

0:22:41 > 0:22:44Thanks. So, we'll just find out if there's anyone seriously injured

0:22:44 > 0:22:46or not and we'll clear the road.

0:22:46 > 0:22:49'I just hope that this incident hasn't resulted in any casualties.'

0:22:49 > 0:22:52Hi. Is anybody badly hurt?

0:22:52 > 0:22:54'The cars are badly damaged

0:22:54 > 0:22:57'and the female driver is suffering from shock,

0:22:57 > 0:23:00'so I'm going to keep out of the way for now.'

0:23:00 > 0:23:02If it'll drive, we can just put it in the lay-by down there.

0:23:02 > 0:23:04That's not a problem.

0:23:04 > 0:23:07Have a think about it while I go and check on the other chap, OK?

0:23:07 > 0:23:11'Thankfully, this time, neither of the drivers are seriously injured.'

0:23:11 > 0:23:12I think it's a non-injury.

0:23:12 > 0:23:16The lady's just very, very shaken up by what's happened to her.

0:23:16 > 0:23:20She's not in the wrong and has had a head-on collision

0:23:20 > 0:23:22with someone turning right across her path.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25So, we're going to give her a few minutes just to calm down

0:23:25 > 0:23:28and think about what we need to do with her next, really.

0:23:28 > 0:23:31'And with thousands of incidents like this happening every year

0:23:31 > 0:23:34'in Gloucestershire alone, it shows how important it is

0:23:34 > 0:23:37'to keep your wits about you on the roads.'

0:23:37 > 0:23:40This junction, in my experience, is always a bit tricky

0:23:40 > 0:23:42because, if you're coming down here, turning right,

0:23:42 > 0:23:44you've got very restricted visibility

0:23:44 > 0:23:47and the road markings clearly aren't all that.

0:23:47 > 0:23:49So, if you're not from the area, it can be...

0:23:49 > 0:23:51It can be a bit tricky.

0:23:53 > 0:23:57'With the scene secure, we head back on the road,

0:23:57 > 0:24:02'and, as night falls, we're nearing the end of the traffic cops' shift.'

0:24:02 > 0:24:05So, it's now 9.30 at night.

0:24:05 > 0:24:07Tell me what's going to happen next.

0:24:07 > 0:24:09We're going to head into Cheltenham.

0:24:09 > 0:24:12The night-time economy will be out now

0:24:12 > 0:24:16and it should be fairly busy on the roads,

0:24:16 > 0:24:18so we'll just see what...

0:24:18 > 0:24:20what we pick up on the camera first, on the ANPR,

0:24:20 > 0:24:21or what we see with our eyes.

0:24:21 > 0:24:24And then, if not, we might consider parking up somewhere

0:24:24 > 0:24:29and doing, like, just a watch for any offences that come past.

0:24:29 > 0:24:31What sort of offences do you normally come across

0:24:31 > 0:24:34at this time of night in a town like that?

0:24:34 > 0:24:37Um, I mean, obviously, the night-time will bring out,

0:24:37 > 0:24:39potentially, drink-drive offences, that sort of thing.

0:24:39 > 0:24:41Um...

0:24:41 > 0:24:44- But it could be any number of offences, really.- OK.

0:24:44 > 0:24:47So, it's really just a fishing trip. You know, see what happens and...

0:24:47 > 0:24:49In an ideal world, you'd get nothing,

0:24:49 > 0:24:52but I bet that doesn't happen very often, does it?

0:24:52 > 0:24:55No. Again, you'd be hard pushed to do a shift in Cheltenham

0:24:55 > 0:24:57without picking something up.

0:24:57 > 0:25:00And, also, you know, in a marked car, we're highly visible.

0:25:00 > 0:25:03We're that visible presence, so it might encourage people

0:25:03 > 0:25:06to report stuff or stop us and have a chat and tell us about stuff.

0:25:08 > 0:25:10'Traffic offenders might think they're safer

0:25:10 > 0:25:12'under the cover of darkness,

0:25:12 > 0:25:15but it won't stop the cops from trying to catch them.'

0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's going to be harder to spot your seatbelt offences in the dark.

0:25:19 > 0:25:22'Shelley soon spots a car with some dodgy lights.'

0:25:22 > 0:25:24Actually, when it brakes for this corner here,

0:25:24 > 0:25:26you'll see it only got the one brake light at the top.

0:25:26 > 0:25:28It's a moving traffic offence.

0:25:28 > 0:25:32It'll be enough for us to stop and see what else is up with the car.

0:25:32 > 0:25:35'Is this driver about to be hit with a £100 fine?'

0:25:37 > 0:25:40Because one of your tail-lights doesn't work, as you can see here.

0:25:40 > 0:25:42Oh, no, I didn't even know that.

0:25:42 > 0:25:43The only brake light that works is this one.

0:25:43 > 0:25:46Shall I show you, if I get in your car and you watch from the back?

0:25:46 > 0:25:49'So, the driver claims she was unaware about the lights.

0:25:49 > 0:25:51'I wonder if Shelley will believe her.'

0:25:51 > 0:25:53Can you see your brake lights?

0:25:53 > 0:25:55- Yeah. Yeah, I see. - HIGH-PITCHED BEEP

0:25:55 > 0:25:58- So, that's why we stopped you, OK? - Oh, OK. Thank you.

0:25:58 > 0:26:01- So, I'll just check the rest of your vehicle.- Yeah, yeah.

0:26:01 > 0:26:02If it's just that lighting offence,

0:26:02 > 0:26:04- then we can choose how we deal with it, if that's all right.- OK.

0:26:04 > 0:26:07- Is it your car? - 'PC Holloway isn't done yet.

0:26:07 > 0:26:09'She's giving the car of the once-over.'

0:26:09 > 0:26:11The front tyre here is below the legal limit for tread.

0:26:11 > 0:26:12Right, OK. Lovely.

0:26:12 > 0:26:14'Hang on...'

0:26:14 > 0:26:18Parts of it are dead on the limit at 1.6 and parts of it are 1.5.

0:26:18 > 0:26:19Right, OK.

0:26:19 > 0:26:22So it's not the end of the world on a nice, warm day

0:26:22 > 0:26:23like it has been today...

0:26:23 > 0:26:25- No, but on wet weather, I understand.- Yeah.- I do.

0:26:25 > 0:26:29- And that is the only tyre that's below the legal limit.- Right, OK.

0:26:29 > 0:26:31So, what do we do about that, then?

0:26:31 > 0:26:33'The driver's smiling, but she might stop

0:26:33 > 0:26:37'if she's hit with a £100 fine and points on her licence.'

0:26:37 > 0:26:41Did you have any idea that these faults were there with the vehicle?

0:26:41 > 0:26:43No, I didn't know that.

0:26:43 > 0:26:45I didn't know that cos my first MOT is June.

0:26:45 > 0:26:47OK, so, the MOT's about to run out some time, yeah?

0:26:47 > 0:26:48In a few weeks, yeah.

0:26:48 > 0:26:50If you end up getting a penalty

0:26:50 > 0:26:53and/or a fine or points or anything else today, how will you feel?

0:26:53 > 0:26:56Gutted cos I've never had points on my licence.

0:26:56 > 0:27:00Not only was this driver travelling around with defective brake lights,

0:27:00 > 0:27:03her front tyre was on the way out, too.

0:27:03 > 0:27:06But how will the cops choose to deal with the offences?

0:27:06 > 0:27:09A £100 fine and some penalty points?

0:27:09 > 0:27:11Over to Olly for the verdict.

0:27:11 > 0:27:13We're going to give you something

0:27:13 > 0:27:15called a Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme ticket.

0:27:15 > 0:27:17- Right, OK.- OK, so it doesn't cost you anything.

0:27:17 > 0:27:20All it means you have to do is go and get those things fixed.

0:27:20 > 0:27:21'So, no fine or points,

0:27:21 > 0:27:26'but the driver has 14 days to get the problems fixed and prove it.

0:27:26 > 0:27:27'Lucky girl.'

0:27:27 > 0:27:29I live right at the back of a garage, so that's fine.

0:27:29 > 0:27:30Fine, so it should be easy.

0:27:30 > 0:27:32I'm not going to travel all the way home, am I, now,

0:27:32 > 0:27:34- on Sunday with that? - No. I would suggest common sense.

0:27:34 > 0:27:37I wouldn't travel now. Now I now, I would get it done in the morning.

0:27:37 > 0:27:39- Get it sorted out. That's right. - Yeah.

0:27:39 > 0:27:42I think, you know, you've got to look at these things, haven't you?

0:27:42 > 0:27:45And say, well, OK, you know, if you didn't know those lights were out,

0:27:45 > 0:27:47- your safety's at risk anyhow, isn't it?- Yeah, definitely.

0:27:47 > 0:27:49My little girl travels in that car with me, so...

0:27:49 > 0:27:51Yeah, you'd want it right, wouldn't you?

0:27:51 > 0:27:52Yeah, of course I would. Yeah, definitely.

0:27:58 > 0:27:59That's it for today.

0:27:59 > 0:28:01Join me next time when I'll be on the front line

0:28:01 > 0:28:05with the professionals who are issuing more on-the-spot fines.