0:00:02 > 0:00:04'Never before have so many on-the-spot fines
0:00:04 > 0:00:06'been issued in Britain.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09'We're going to be following the men and women who hand out
0:00:09 > 0:00:12'over £30 million worth of tickets every month...'
0:00:12 > 0:00:15- Oops.- Round here, they are an absolute blight.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- I'm up to 104, now.- Wow.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20- That is disgusting.- Just walk away. - HE GRUNTS
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 > 0:00:29- '..simply selfish...'- Look at the mess you've created in the street.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31- How is that our fault? - '..or just...'
0:00:31 > 0:00:32What is he doing?
0:00:32 > 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 > 0:00:41£100 fine.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- Pays £260.- Ouch.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'..and how this could affect you.'
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- I'll give him a punch. - Do you want to see me kick off?
0:00:48 > 0:00:52- 'The police are on it.' - What the...? Sir!
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'The parking wardens are on it...'
0:00:54 > 0:00:57- They should be thanking us for being here.- '..and I'm on it.'
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Careful! It's a 30mph limit here!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02'I'm Dom Littlewood and I'm on the spot.'
0:01:06 > 0:01:09'This time it's a case of stop-and-fine on our highways...'
0:01:09 > 0:01:12How do you feel about the fact you were stopped?
0:01:12 > 0:01:13INDISTINCT
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'And it's time to face the fines on the streets of London.'
0:01:17 > 0:01:19I am actually going to
0:01:19 > 0:01:22say something that you're really not going to be happy with.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30I'm in Gloucestershire in the back seat of an unmarked police car
0:01:30 > 0:01:34- in hot pursuit of a vehicle... - Oscar-Tango 5-6.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38..with traffic police PC Shelley Holloway and PC Olly Buxton.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42He's still holding something in his hand.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Just clearly not paying attention.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49'The unmarked car is the perfect cover to keep the motorway safer by
0:01:49 > 0:01:54'sniffing out misbehaving motorists and issuing on-the-spot fines.'
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Olly just spotted somebody in a vehicle there with his mobile
0:01:56 > 0:01:59phone in his hand. Not using it at this point.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01What Shelley's done, she's dropped into this inside lane now
0:02:01 > 0:02:04to allow this person to overtake
0:02:04 > 0:02:06just to see if he's suddenly using his phone.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11'If he is, it could be three penalty points on his licence
0:02:11 > 0:02:12'and a fine of £100.'
0:02:12 > 0:02:15I think he's got it in his left hand,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17holding it up in front of his face.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19That's probably a satnav thing, is it? Where he's using it?
0:02:19 > 0:02:21No, I think he's talking on loudspeaker perhaps.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25- He's just passed. - No, he's seen us now.- He's seen us.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27He knows that we're police. Well, I think it's worth a chat.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Cos I saw him holding it in his hand, so...
0:02:29 > 0:02:32He's put his seatbelt on as well now. See that?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Put his seatbelt... That's when he wobbled.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Not wearing a seatbelt. It just gets worse.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43That's an offence that could hit him with an on-the-spot fine of £100.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49How's it going? Can I see your phone, please?
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Who were you on the phone to? What were you holding your camera for?
0:02:52 > 0:02:55The driver claims he's been using his camera but Shelley is not
0:02:55 > 0:02:57taking his word for it.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Who were you on the phone to? You were holding it in your hand.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03There's a lot of activity on your phone, isn't there?
0:03:03 > 0:03:05And suddenly all the call history has just gone.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08All the call history is gone. That's messages.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10All the call history is gone.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13So where are they from the previous day?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It doesn't wash with me that you were using it,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18holding a camera in your hand. It doesn't wash with me.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Have you got points on your licence at the moment?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Can I have your driving licence? No identification on you?
0:03:23 > 0:03:25What's the situation here, Shelley?
0:03:25 > 0:03:29So, he's point-blank denied using his mobile phone.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32There's no call history for today, which is unusual.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Lots of text messages exchanged but nothing recent.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37There is activity on his phone and there's
0:03:37 > 0:03:41a voicemail icon up ready to notify him he's got a voicemail.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43He's saying he was holding his camera in his hand and didn't
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- realise but he has admitted not wearing his seatbelt.- Right.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48- So...- What do you feel about that?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52He's obviously someone who's quite switched on, isn't he?
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Yeah. We get it all the time.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56They think they're using excuses and, you know,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00I can't prove categorically he was using his phone.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03All we do know he was holding something in his hand and
0:04:03 > 0:04:07he has got a camera and a phone on the passenger seat.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Obviously you know why you've been stopped.- Yeah.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11The officers thought you were on the phone
0:04:11 > 0:04:13and you weren't wearing a seatbelt, I believe.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Yeah. No seatbelt, yeah.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- How do you feel about the fact you were stopped?- Erm...
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Be honest.- Erm...
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- Yeah.- But it's my own fault. I wasn't on the phone.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- But I wasn't wearing a seatbelt. So, you know.- OK.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34- Caught again. Second time. - Second time, no seatbelt?- Yeah.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- Why wouldn't you wear it? - I don't know.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I just jump in lorries in the morning and they haven't got any
0:04:39 > 0:04:40so you get lazy, don't you, I suppose.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44When you say you're cheesed off about being stopped, is that
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- with the officers or yourself? - With myself.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49I don't know if you're going to receive a fixed penalty notice,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51whether they do that at the moment. If you do...
0:04:51 > 0:04:55If they do, then I just have to pay it and be more cautious in future.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Yeah. Do you have any resentment about being pulled over?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- No, not really. No.- Will it change the way you drive?- Yeah.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03I'll put my seatbelt on for a bit so, yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06At what point did you realise that you were about to be pulled over?
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- When I seen all them yellow jackets. - Ah, right. Yeah.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- Then I put my seatbelt on quick. - So, what stacks up in this case?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17He could have been using his mobile phone.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21That would be a £100 fine plus three penalty points.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26And not wearing his seatbelt, that could be another £100 fine.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Shelley's decided to drop the phone charge.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33But what about the other offence he admitted to?
0:05:34 > 0:05:39- What we will deal him for is the seatbelt.- OK. So there it is.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43A £100 fine and all for not belting up.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Does it annoy you when you get someone like him who
0:05:49 > 0:05:55has got excuses that you have to take as being true
0:05:55 > 0:05:57and your instinct might not necessarily think it is?
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Is it frustrating?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03It's annoying that people aren't as honest as what they should be,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06but I think it will still stop him using it in the future.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15'One on-the-spot fine down and we're back on the motorway.'
0:06:15 > 0:06:17We've got a trailer in the middle lane.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I don't know if you notice there, the right wheel is clearly...
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I would say that's probably beyond unbalanced.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- That's actually the bearing on it because it's...- It's wobbling badly.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28It's wobbling badly, so I don't think it'll be very long
0:06:28 > 0:06:30before that will fly off.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32You know, he's travelling in excess of the speed limit.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35When you're towing a trailer, it's 60mph and he's doing 70.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40So we'll just do a following check and see before we stop him.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42'If his wheel falls off at 70mph, he'll have
0:06:42 > 0:06:45'a lot more to worry about than just a fine.'
0:06:45 > 0:06:49- There's a fair old wobble on that trailer, isn't there?- Yeah.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Don't brake on lane one. Use the hard shoulder, please.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54You do sometimes get that where people will actually just
0:06:54 > 0:06:58- stop in the lane.- Really?- I've had it in lane three.- On a motorway?
0:06:58 > 0:07:03- On a motorway. I'll go and have a word with him.- OK, no problem.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Maybe he didn't know the speed limit.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Nope, he's got it written on the back. No excuses there, then.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18So, it's this wheel here.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Have you got a tool or anything to remove the cap
0:07:20 > 0:07:23so I can check all your wheel nuts are present?
0:07:23 > 0:07:29'The offending wheel will be scrutinised once PC Holloway's found the right tools.'
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- Don't worry. I'll get the crowbar, then.- You've just been stopped.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- Were you aware you could only do 60? - Yes. Yeah.- OK.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I thought as much, cos you've got a sticker on your trailer there.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- And I do try and keep to it, but... - That's good.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46..on this occasion I was going faster. I don't normally speed.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50What will Shelley find?
0:07:50 > 0:07:55A car that is seriously unroadworthy can earn the driver a £5,000 fine.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58So, what are we dealing with here?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03A driver breaking the 60mph speed limit for a car towing
0:08:03 > 0:08:07a trailer, and that can be a £100 fine.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10And the trailer itself, which appears to be unroadworthy,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13that can be up to a £5,000 fine.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17But has Shelley been able to find anything conclusive?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Could be the brake on one side. You just don't know.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- Could be a lot of things. Just get it checked.- All right.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- I will do that. OK, thanks for your time.- Take care. Bye-bye.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Shelley hasn't found anything obviously wrong with the trailer,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32so he can continue on his way with no fine and just a warning.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Shelley, you could have potentially written out two tickets on that last stop.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47What made you decide to give the guy just an advisory note? A warning?
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Well, I think possibly the wheel vibration was due to the speed,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55so we've solved both of those by giving him some advice,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59and he was only 9mph over the speed limit allowed when you're towing a trailer.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05So for me, I used my discretion then and decided he'd benefit from
0:09:05 > 0:09:08education, and then it solved the wheel problem, too.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Kam Paul is a Civil Enforcement Officer
0:09:21 > 0:09:25with Havering District Council in the north-east London.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I don't think she just went to the pharmacy because there's
0:09:28 > 0:09:31no way it took an hour and a half, unless they're operating on you.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37She takes no-nonsense and, if anyone dishes it out,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39she's got the kit to prove it.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Right, you can't drop off here at this time.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45At what point do you turn this camera on?
0:09:45 > 0:09:49- Normally I would turn it on as soon as someone approaches me...- OK.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51..cos you want the conversation to be on film
0:09:51 > 0:09:55and that's mainly because you'd be amazed at how many people go back,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56complain to the council
0:09:56 > 0:10:00and just totally fabricate the whole statement.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01What sort of things have been made up?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03"She swore at me.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04"She told me to F off.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07"She threatened me. She gave me attitude.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09"She almost hit me." I've even had people say that.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- Is any of it true?- Of course not!
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Kam soon spots her first potential offender.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18If it doesn't say free parking or it doesn't have a bay,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- you're parked somewhere where you're not supposed to be.- Right.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- This is a loading bay...- Yeah.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28..which is designed for vans and HGVs only.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Let's look at this case -
0:10:30 > 0:10:32parking in a loading-only bay.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Designated for larger vehicles.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39This is an offence.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So, does this person get a grace time or is it instant ticket?
0:10:42 > 0:10:44- No, it's an instant. - Ouch.- Ouch, yeah.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Mind you, with a motor like that, I think he can probably afford it.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Parking here has just cost this driver £130.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I've got to say, nice car. My nephew's got the same one.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- We were admiring it, yeah.- You were admiring it a bit too much, I think.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Yeah, sorry.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05I'm just wondering, the reason I parked here...
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- Are all the rest of those loading bays getting tickets as well?- No.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Now, I am actually going to say something that you're really
0:11:13 > 0:11:16not going to be happy with. There's no time plate over there...
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Right.- ..so that is a free bay
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and that's why they're all parked with no ticket.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Come over here, sir.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26The way bays work, they've all got their own time plate
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and, especially with these, these are actually two loading bays.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Two completely separate loading bays.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Yeah, cos you've got a big yellow line in between, separating them.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- I'm learning something every day. - So am I. I didn't know that.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39So basically, the way it works is
0:11:39 > 0:11:42this bay has its own time plate,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45there's a yellow line to break-up the bay,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47and this is a separate loading bay
0:11:47 > 0:11:49but it's not being used right now, there's no time plate.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53So where's the lamppost that tells you the time for that?
0:11:53 > 0:11:56There isn't one. That's exactly what I'm trying to explain to you.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59If any bay, whether it's a loading bay or resident bay
0:11:59 > 0:12:02or a pay-and-display, if it doesn't have a time plate,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04it turns into a free bay,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07because if the bay does not instruct the driver,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09if it doesn't give the details to the driver
0:12:09 > 0:12:11as to what kind of bay it is,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- what days it's enforceable and what times...- Anyone can park there.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- ..then anyone can park there. - 'You learn something new every day.'
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It's a stark reminder to always check the signs when you park
0:12:21 > 0:12:23or you could end up with a fine.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24I'm going on to that site.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26- Where should I park? - Well...- Obviously not here.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Obviously not there.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29You could leave it there for the whole day but...
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- I'll move it.- ..technically, yeah,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34the best thing to do would be park it into that bay.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40I just saw you arguing your point there with the traffic warden.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- You don't seem very happy. - It doesn't make sense, though.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47I've moved my car five yards and that's...that's...
0:12:47 > 0:12:50a ticket-able offence and that's free.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Are you pretty aggrieved by what's happened?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Yes. To me, it seems silly but, at the end of the day,
0:12:55 > 0:12:56I'm not going to stand here
0:12:56 > 0:12:58- and argue cos I've got better things to do with my time.- Yeah.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- Obviously, appeal is something you can do.- Yeah.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02You did mention a point there -
0:13:02 > 0:13:04is it worth your time and money to do that? Are you going to?
0:13:04 > 0:13:07I probably will, depending on how much it is.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11It's £65 now. 130 if you don't pay it within a short period of time.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13So I'll appeal it. I'll just take pictures and send it off
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- telling them, to me, it doesn't make much sense.- Yeah.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I can see where you're coming from. I think we were both educated then.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21I didn't realise that was the difference.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24'If he'd parked a few metres further forward in the first place,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27'he could have saved himself a lot of money.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31'You certainly need a thick skin to be a traffic warden,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33'but even Kam has a softer side.'
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Oh! I don't want to give this car a ticket!
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- Because he's got a dog on the - back seat? Oh, God, he's so cute!
0:13:39 > 0:13:42I did see the dog after. I really feel bad now.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49They may have left the dog in a well-ventilated car in the shade,
0:13:49 > 0:13:54but I'm afraid the driver is still in the doghouse with a £130 fine.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Next, Kam has spotted a car parked in a pay-and-display car park
0:13:59 > 0:14:02where some drivers have been trying their luck.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Why do you think somebody's blatantly parked there?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06You're standing over there by the machine and they
0:14:06 > 0:14:09disappeared without even bothering to get a ticket.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Chances are, two options.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15They probably thought it's free because the machine's covered up.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17They probably haven't read it properly.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Or they've read it and thought, "Do you know what?
0:14:19 > 0:14:22"I'm only going round the corner to get at tea from Greggs.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23"I'll be back within ten minutes."
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Cos they all know we have to give them a ten-minutes grace,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28so some of them will just race against the clock and think,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31"As long as I'm back in ten minutes, I'm all right."
0:14:31 > 0:14:34'What's the case against this vehicle?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37'Parking in a permit holders only car park.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42'After a ten-minute observation period,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44'she could hand out a fixed penalty notice.'
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Once that issues a ticket, that's it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50There's no way you can go, "Oh, sorry, all right.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- "I'll give you a chance. I'll cancel it."- No.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Kam does what the law requires and waits.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Time's up and this motorist's wallet just got a whole lot lighter.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09To me, I mean, 11 minutes is enough time to get change from anywhere.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Ouch. It's a £130 on-the-spot fine.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15You've left the vehicle.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Whether you've got delayed now or not,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20you've left it initially with no ticket and no intention to pay.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Why should you not get a ticket?
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- Bearing in mind, these, you know... - Everyone else has paid.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- I can see your argument.- They've all paid good money for their permits.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Why should this driver not get a ticket and everybody else pay
0:15:33 > 0:15:34for their parking?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40'Now, you can appeal your ticket,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43'but you can't avoid it just by chucking it away.'
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Surely that means now, if they don't pay that,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- it's going to go up to 130 quid? - Yeah.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Kam issued this one to another car earlier.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Clearly, the driver isn't a fan of parking enforcement.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- I wonder if they've taken it out the actual envelope.- Nope.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00I guarantee you.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- It's in there.- Yeah, you're right.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07That's a driver who constantly parks here.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Every day, this person will get themselves a ticket,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11they will just chuck it and drive off.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- Well, they must be paying.- Nope.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17So basically one day they're going to get pulled over,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18someone's going to grab them
0:16:18 > 0:16:21and they're going to have a huge amount of tickets to pay for.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Is it a criminal offence?
0:16:23 > 0:16:28Yeah, because basically what we have to do when tickets aren't paid
0:16:28 > 0:16:31is wait for three of them to reach warrant stage
0:16:31 > 0:16:32and then they send bailiffs.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36'I can hardly keep up with her. She's like a whippet.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40'So far today, I've already seen Kam issue three tickets,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44'so I've got a burning question that most of us want answered.'
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- Are you financially rewarded for the amount of tickets you issue?- No.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Absolutely not. Under any circumstances.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54You could go out one day, issue zero tickets,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57you will be paid the exact same amount
0:16:57 > 0:17:00for the following day if you issued 100 tickets.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Are you target-driven?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Are you told to issue as many tickets as possible?
0:17:04 > 0:17:07That is the part of the job where people get confused.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09They're all under the impression that we're on commission and
0:17:09 > 0:17:12they're all under the impression that we're on targets,
0:17:12 > 0:17:13which is not true.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20In Pendle, Lancashire, there's been a report of
0:17:20 > 0:17:25a serious case of fly-tipping and the big guns are on the case.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27INDISTINCT
0:17:27 > 0:17:31David Alexander is head of the Environmental Crime Team.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Along with his colleague, Jeff Brown,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35they have been summoned to a fly-tipping offence.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45This builder's waste appeared overnight.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The culprit could be hit with a £400 fine,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51but the team need clues to track them down.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55That's interesting.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Take a photograph of the bag.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00David suspects the waste
0:18:00 > 0:18:02may have come from the house behind this wall.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08It's all a matter of connecting this rubbish to over there.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13And a key piece of evidence would seem to confirm his suspicions.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15There's a tape measure in there.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's broken. There's no...
0:18:19 > 0:18:20There's no tape in it.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24And, lo and behold, just over the...
0:18:24 > 0:18:28over the wall, in the fire, there's a bit of tape measure.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30So it proves that it's his rubbish.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34When you shift the bag...
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Shift the bag.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41That's been there a few days. It's all green under there.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43It's actually our land,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47and he's not got permission from the Parks Department or anybody
0:18:47 > 0:18:49to put his stuff on there.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51What have we got down here?
0:18:51 > 0:18:55But the illegal dumping doesn't end there.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57There's more builder's waste
0:18:57 > 0:19:00chucked next to this stream a few yards away in the local park.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03If this waste can be linked to the same offender,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06it's a bigger deal than they first thought.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Again, it's dumping.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's more than a couple of bags' worth, so it will be fly-tipping.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14A few bags of rubbish the wrong side of a garden wall
0:19:14 > 0:19:18could be dealt with by means of a fixed-penalty notice of £400,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21but this looks like a much bigger dump
0:19:21 > 0:19:23and could be classed as fly-tipping,
0:19:23 > 0:19:28potentially punishable in court with a fine of up to £50,000,
0:19:28 > 0:19:32and David could take this to court if the evidence is strong enough.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35If you want to pull the branches out...
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Right, that has got to match.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41David is now on the hunt for anything that will tie this
0:19:41 > 0:19:44load of rubbish to the waste left outside the house.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47He has noticed a few cut-off trees in the back garden.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49There you are.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Perfect match.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54He can't... He hasn't got an excuse now.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57That's been dumped down an embankment,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59obviously out of sight,
0:19:59 > 0:20:03so he's obviously no intention of clearing that out.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05The property owner suddenly appears.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- Are you having some work done here? - Yes.- So you've authorised...
0:20:09 > 0:20:11You're having the work done?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14The woman says she is having a patio made by a local builder.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17So, what is all this rubbish over here?
0:20:17 > 0:20:21What is the rubbish down the side of the banking?
0:20:21 > 0:20:24'She says the work is still going on
0:20:24 > 0:20:27but the waste by the stream is nothing to do with her.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32He has basically fly-tipped a load of your stuff onto the park.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36He has then also taken some of the stuff, he has just slung them
0:20:36 > 0:20:40down the embankment, and I'm not prepared to have that happen.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43He has fly-tipped, so I need to speak to him.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46She tries ringing him, but he's not picking up.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48She says it's not her problem.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51So, ultimately, madam, it is, because it's your waste.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54It's stuff from your property.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Now, if you say the builder's doing it, that's fine.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59We'll speak to the builder.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01The homeowner has a phone number for her builder,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03but she doesn't want to hand it over.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Well, it's your responsibility. I will need those details from you,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10otherwise you will be held responsible for your waste.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14This has been here quite a few days, because the grass
0:21:14 > 0:21:15has gone yellow underneath the bags.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20Eventually she sees sense and, after a call from Jeff, the builder
0:21:20 > 0:21:24comes back to confess and possibly face a pretty hefty fine.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27He threw it down. I didn't know. Sorry about that.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29He's here to face the music.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33But the builder claims the waste in the park is down to a workmate.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36He threw it, I didn't know about it.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39'But when faced with the evidence outside the house,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42'it doesn't take long for him to crumble.'
0:21:42 > 0:21:44- Yeah, I put that there. - You put that there? OK.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46And I meant to take it away.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Yeah, you meant to, but it's not been taken away,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51it's been here for a few days. That's the offence of fly-tipping.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52- Oh?- Yeah. Did you know that?
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- THAT most certainly is. - THAT is an offence of fly-tipping.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58You have got a responsibility, as a tradesman.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01You're accountable for it and you must pay the consequences for it.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- OK? Do you know what the penalty is for fly-tipping?- No.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07So, what's the offence here?
0:22:08 > 0:22:11A patio renovation that has turned into fly-tip...
0:22:11 > 0:22:15over the wall into a council park and into the bushes.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18This guy accepts the waste by the wall is his,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22but he's still blaming his mate for the dump in the bushes.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25What's the penalty to be?
0:22:25 > 0:22:28£50,000 and five years in prison is the maximum. Right?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So that's how serious fly-tipping is.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35However, it can be dealt with by way of a fixed-penalty notice,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38which comes in at £400.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42For this offence, it's a £400 fine,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44AND he will have to move the waste.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47They will also be chasing his colleague
0:22:47 > 0:22:49for the streamside rubbish.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I will be more careful with waste, but the problem is,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57when you go down to the recycling,
0:22:57 > 0:23:03they're charging you for everything, like, you know, the stone rubble...
0:23:03 > 0:23:07You go down with the van and they charge you £60, you know?
0:23:07 > 0:23:11People can't afford that. So that's why there's a lot of fly-tipping.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13It's their own fault.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17So, I feel a good day's work by Jeff.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21People don't deserve to have their green spaces ruined by builders.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31In Gloucestershire, PC Holloway and PC Buxton are on patrol.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35I'm going after this white van, it's got a light out.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37And it's driving like a loon.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39So, we are just going to run it through first of all,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- see who might own it. - Insurance is held.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Ford Transit white panel van.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Driving without fully working lights is an offence that could
0:23:47 > 0:23:50leave the driver with an on-the-spot fine.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Hiya.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56I just stopped you because your brake light is out.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- Oh, is it? I didn't realise. - Yeah, this one is out.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- Don't panic. Is it yours?- Yes. - Got your driving licence handy?
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- No, I don't.- Any ID? - Only my Gas Safe.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07This van is about to get the once-over.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Indicate.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12OK. That one.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14OK, flash.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But it seems the van has seen better days.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20So, you have got a side light out.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22That one is missing. Your headlights are out as well.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- So, it's only your main beam that works.- I didn't know that.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28That's with your main beam turned off, you've got no headlights.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I didn't know. It was all right last night. I travelled from Swindon.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33When I asked you to turn the headlights on,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- it was defaulted to the main beam. - I'll get that sorted.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40You've got three bulbs out here and your brake light, all right?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- I wasn't aware of that. - Well, you should be.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- You need to check it every day. - It was all right last night.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48I didn't check it this morning because I came to work in daylight.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50If we suddenly had a downpour and it got really dark and you
0:24:50 > 0:24:53turned your headlights on, that's all you'd have, that side light.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- I'll rectify that tonight. - Yeah. No problem.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58PC Holloway is not done yet.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00She carries on her checks inside the vehicle.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- Don't forget your hat. - I'll get it in a minute.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08The handbrake is on the very last notch.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10You have to yank it up.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I'll get the lights looked at and then I'll get that looked at.
0:25:13 > 0:25:19So, a long list of faults. Defective lights could attract a £50 fine.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23The police have powers to take faulty vehicles off the road.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26So, we stopped the van because it had no brake light,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28and on checking the vehicle over,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32none of the front headlights work apart from one side bulb.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36So we've got three defective lights. The handbrake is borderline.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It does stop the vehicle, but only if you yank it up,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41so that's not an offence yet.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44So we will be giving him a vehicle defect rectification notice,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47a VDRS, for him to get the lights fixed and checked
0:25:47 > 0:25:50and send it back to us to prove that he has done it.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54So, it's a vehicle defect rectification notice for this driver,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57which means he's got 14 days to get the work done
0:25:57 > 0:25:58or face court proceedings.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02If I can get you to sign the form here, I'll give you your copy.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Because I am reporting you for an offence
0:26:05 > 0:26:06which may or may not end up in court,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I've got to caution you and give you an opportunity to reply to that.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if
0:26:12 > 0:26:14you do not mention now something which you later rely on in court,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- There you go, then. That's yours. Any questions at all?- No.- OK.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- Are you going straight back now? - Straight away.- OK.- Swindon.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25I've got to drop them off and then I'll try and get my van fixed.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Obviously, if you have adverse weather and it's dark enough
0:26:28 > 0:26:30that you need your lights on,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I would advise you to pull over and wait for the weather to pass,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- because you're not visible like that at the moment.- OK.- OK?- OK.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38- No problem. Take care. - I will.- Thanks.- Thank you.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Olly and Shelley are on their way again,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and it's from one white van man to another. Or should that be two?
0:26:45 > 0:26:48These two are having a conversation, the Vauxhall...
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Tell him to pull over and the other one.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56It's not the time to have a conversation, on the roundabout,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58with him.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Careless and inconsiderate driving can lead to a fine of £5,000.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06- It's not the place to have a conversation, is it?- No, it's not.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09You were holding up all that traffic. Was it that important?
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Oh, yeah, that old story. Ridiculous.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17The first driver claims he was asking for directions.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Time to speak to the other driver.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Not the time or place to have a conversation, on the roundabout.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25He claims the other guy was asking to buy his truck from him.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Oh, that's funny. He told me a different story. I'm not having it.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30You don't do it.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33If you knew him, you pull over and speak to him on the phone.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Just drive on, because you can't hold up other traffic
0:27:36 > 0:27:38just to have a chitchat, can you? All right.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42No fine, but a serious ticking-off.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Cor, that's the way.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50You see nothing all day and then we're just trying to go home,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53two instances within the space of two of three minutes.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Right, let's go home.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59One thing is for sure,
0:27:59 > 0:28:03the men and women who hand out these fines don't have it easy.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07That's it for today. Join me next time for more Dom On The Spot.