0:00:02 > 0:00:05'Never before have so many on-the- spot fines being issued in Britain.
0:00:05 > 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...'
0:00:13 > 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.
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.
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 > 0:00:31- How is that our fault? - '..or just...'
0:00:31 > 0:00:32What is he doing?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34'..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 > 0:00:44- Pays £260. - Ouch.
0:00:44 > 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?
0:00:49 > 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 > 0:00:58Careful, it's a 30mph limit here.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01'I'm Dom Littlewood,
0:01:01 > 0:01:02'and I'm on the spot.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07'Today, we'll be meeting one man talking a load of old rubbish
0:01:07 > 0:01:10'with a £400 fine at stake.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- Do you know what? Everyone who's been through this- BLEEP- bin,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16get out now.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18'And drivers who abuse disabled parking spaces
0:01:18 > 0:01:21'face a fate worse than a fine.'
0:01:21 > 0:01:23If you're actually embarrassed by what you've done,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26would you mind just putting your hand up?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30'It's a tough job policing our roads.'
0:01:30 > 0:01:32You were doing 81, average speed.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Why have you got your phone between your lap?
0:01:34 > 0:01:38I don't believe you were not using your phone.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41'Today I'm out with Gloucestershire traffic cops
0:01:41 > 0:01:45'PC Shelley Holloway and PC Olly Buxton.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53'We're in an unmarked police car,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55'which means traffic offenders can't see us coming.'
0:01:55 > 0:01:58We're in Cheltenham town centre.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01What are you likely to experience here?
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Being unmarked is great, because obviously it's busier,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09you're more likely to find people committing offences...
0:02:11 > 0:02:15..from the simple things like not wearing their seatbelt...
0:02:15 > 0:02:17'Over 95% of front-seat passengers
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'in Great Britain do remember to buckle up,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23'so you'd have to be a bit of a numpty not to.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25'Speaking of which...'
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Hiya. You're not wearing your seatbelt.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Is it done up under your body?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Can I have a chat about that, if it's all right?
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Can you pull over and we'll have a chat?
0:02:33 > 0:02:36'This driver has made a conscious decision to ignore the law
0:02:36 > 0:02:38'and not wear his seatbelt.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41'So it looks like it could be Shelley's first on-the-spot
0:02:41 > 0:02:43'fine of the day.'
0:02:43 > 0:02:44It's a brand-new car,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47he's obviously got an alarm which will tell him he's not wearing his
0:02:47 > 0:02:50seatbelt, so what they do to get around that is fasten it
0:02:50 > 0:02:53and then sit on the seat so it stops the alarm going off.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's a very deliberate effort to avoid wearing a seatbelt.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57I can't see the logic in that.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01- No shortage of work for you, Shelley.- No shortage of work at all.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04'I've got a feeling this could end up costing this driver.'
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I could see you weren't wearing your seatbelt. Is this your vehicle?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15OK, so how long have you had this vehicle?
0:03:17 > 0:03:18OK.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19'But hang on, there may be something
0:03:19 > 0:03:22'much more serious going on in this car.'
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I can smell cannabis in here.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Do you...? You don't use cannabis, no?
0:03:27 > 0:03:28'Hold on a minute.'
0:03:28 > 0:03:30There's a crowbar in the passenger seat.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Don't pick it up. What's that there for?
0:03:34 > 0:03:36'If they find cannabis in this car,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38'they could be looking at something
0:03:38 > 0:03:40'even worse than an on-the-spot fine.'
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Have you got anything on you you shouldn't have?
0:03:48 > 0:03:50'So what are Shelley's options
0:03:50 > 0:03:52'if this driver does have cannabis on him?'
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Obviously with cannabis, if you've got a personal amount
0:03:55 > 0:03:57it can be dealt with by way of a street caution,
0:03:57 > 0:03:58we don't have to arrest.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01That's why I gave you the opportunity to tell me whether
0:04:01 > 0:04:03you've got anything on you, OK?
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Olly, cannabis in the car, as well, smell of.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12'All because he couldn't be bothered to wear his seatbelt.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14'What does his passenger have to say?'
0:04:14 > 0:04:16- You and your mate just got stopped.- Yeah.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Your mate had pretended to put his seatbelt on.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22- He clicked it into the little... - Silly, isn't he?- Why did he do that?
0:04:22 > 0:04:24I don't know. He must...
0:04:24 > 0:04:28He thought he put it on, but he put it over the back...
0:04:28 > 0:04:30He couldn't have thought he put it on!
0:04:30 > 0:04:34- He had to click it himself. - He's a naughty lad, I give him that.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37'I may have been born at night, but not last night.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41'I don't know about cannabis, but I think I can smell a fine coming.'
0:04:41 > 0:04:43What I need you to do is generate some saliva in your mouth
0:04:43 > 0:04:46by rubbing your tongue on the inside of your left cheek three times,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48then the inside of your right cheek
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and then across the bottom of your inside of your lip three times.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53And then stick your tongue out nice and long for me.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59As a result of Shelley being able to smell cannabis on the driver -
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and bear in mind this was a simple seatbelt stop -
0:05:01 > 0:05:04she's now done a drugs test, she's taken a swab from his mouth,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06and that's gone into some chemicals.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It takes eight minutes to get a result.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10And as a result of her smelling that cannabis,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12she's now also called in a dog unit.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15So there's a dog going to be coming now, as far as I know.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17He'll going over that car trying to spot any drugs that might be
0:05:17 > 0:05:18hidden away.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21'Eight minutes to wait to see if there's a fine coming.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27'If he has been drug-driving, he could be looking at an unlimited
0:05:27 > 0:05:29'fine and up to six months behind bars.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'But hang on,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36'it looks like there could be yet another offence to add to the list.'
0:05:36 > 0:05:39This rental agreement ends at two o'clock, though, today.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40So you might not be insured.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43'And if he wasn't in enough trouble already,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47'the rental car he's driving was supposed to be returned an hour ago,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50'so there may also be a fine for driving without insurance.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53'I think this one may end up being a no-brainer.'
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- As long as your credit card... - It's the insurance I need to...
0:05:58 > 0:06:01It's got to still be valid, because it's...
0:06:01 > 0:06:03'PC Holloway calls the hire-car
0:06:03 > 0:06:05'company to see if he is still insured.'
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Hello, I've just stopped a vehicle belonging to you, and the agreement
0:06:08 > 0:06:11ended at two o'clock today.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14So I'm just ringing to find out whether you'd honour the cover.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16No, I don't want an e-mail address, I'd like to speak to someone.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Am I talking to Avis?
0:06:19 > 0:06:20In Barcelona?!
0:06:20 > 0:06:22No, I rang the Bristol number on his agreement.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28'Let's hope that's a mistake. It's a long drive to Barcelona.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31'But this guy seems to be driving himself closer and closer
0:06:31 > 0:06:33'to an on-the-spot fine.'
0:06:33 > 0:06:35All this just from not wearing a seatbelt.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Not wearing a seatbelt, yeah. That's normally the way.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39One thing throws up a lot of others.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43If the hire company won't extend his insurance, what will happen then,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- do you know?- He's driving without insurance then,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48so the vehicle will be seized.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52And, yeah, he'll be having a ticket, six points.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54£200 fine.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57'OK, so let's review the mounting evidence.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59'This guy was caught not wearing his seatbelt.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03'There might be drugs in the car,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06'which means he could be found to be driving under the influence.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09'And on top of that, he might not be insured.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14'If it's all true, he could be looking at a shedload of fines,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16'a driving ban and even a prison sentence.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22'The canine reinforcements have arrived.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24'Will there be drugs in the car?'
0:07:28 > 0:07:32'As PC Holloway said, if this little guy finds anything,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35'then a small amount for personal possession could be dealt with using
0:07:35 > 0:07:38'a caution and an on-the-spot fine.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'Has the dog found something?
0:07:45 > 0:07:47'The search is over.'
0:07:47 > 0:07:49That's clear, then.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52'It's clean, not a sausage.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55'But what about the result for the drugs test?'
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Shelley carried out a drugs test on him. Do you know the results?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I believe the drug test was negative.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06'So, no on-the-spot fine for possession of cannabis,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09'but that isn't the end of the list. What about the insurance?'
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It's in his name, the agreement, so I just needed to check
0:08:14 > 0:08:16they were still happy for him to have had the car
0:08:16 > 0:08:17in his possession.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'Luckily for him, the car is still insured.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24'But for the offence which opened this whole can of worms,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28'not wearing his seatbelt, it's a £100 fine.'
0:08:31 > 0:08:34So, as a result of spotting somebody trying to pretend they were wearing
0:08:34 > 0:08:38a seatbelt, that turned into quite a little episode, didn't it?
0:08:38 > 0:08:40It sure did. It normally does with me.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44But, to be fair to both occupants of the car,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46they clearly didn't have anything to hide today
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and they were both very pleasant.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- If he'd worn his seatbelt, it wouldn't have even happened.- No.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53'Job done. On to the next.'
0:09:01 > 0:09:04'Let's be honest, no-one wants to look out of their window and be
0:09:04 > 0:09:07'greeted by a street full of dumped rubbish.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11'Fly-tipping is a real eyesore, and it costs council-tax payers
0:09:11 > 0:09:15'like you and I over £45 million a year for local councils
0:09:15 > 0:09:17'to clear it up.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21'Here in the Pendle district of Lancashire,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24'clearing up the mess is down to environmental crime officer
0:09:24 > 0:09:25'Lesley Brooks.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30'She's had a tip-off about some household waste that's been dumped
0:09:30 > 0:09:32'in a back alley in a residential area.'
0:09:35 > 0:09:40Just going to a street in Nelson, Elizabeth Street.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43One of the neighbours has phoned in to say
0:09:43 > 0:09:47the occupants of this property have just recently moved in and they have
0:09:47 > 0:09:51just cleared the contents of it out into this back alley.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56'If it's just a case of putting the wrong rubbish out on the wrong day,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59'then it might mean a fine of £75.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02'But if the waste dumped is bad enough,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05'the fine could be as much as £400.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07'Time to check out the scene of the crime.'
0:10:08 > 0:10:11This is what's supposed to have been thrown out onto the street,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I'm presuming, anyway.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16'So far, a few bits of everyday rubbish.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18'Not looking too bad at the moment.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22'But hold your horses.'
0:10:22 > 0:10:24I can't imagine that...
0:10:25 > 0:10:30It's just a right mess all the way down this back alley!
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Apparently it was cleared this morning,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36so this has only just appeared this afternoon.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39'What a horrible sight, right outside people's homes.'
0:10:40 > 0:10:45I've been given the information that someone has recently moved in here,
0:10:45 > 0:10:46so what they've done is just come to
0:10:46 > 0:10:49the back door with whatever rubbish they've got
0:10:49 > 0:10:50and slung it out.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54This hasn't even been bagged up. Furniture's been thrown out.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59I'll take photographs in case we're going to proceed with a prosecution.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03'It looks a right mess and also pretty unhygienic.'
0:11:05 > 0:11:06There's children here playing.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I presume these are the neighbours' children.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13I suppose the one saving grace is it's not food waste.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17But even so, you don't know what it's contaminated with.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18'And to make matters worse,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21'they've only gone and chucked away a Shakin' Stevens album!
0:11:21 > 0:11:25'Now, surely that's just criminal. We all love a bit of Shaky.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:29That's got needles and stuff in, so that can't be left.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34'Needles? This gets worse and worse!
0:11:34 > 0:11:37'Not only unsightly but dangerous, too.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40'So, who is responsible for this shocking mess?
0:11:40 > 0:11:42'Time for Lesley to turn detective.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46'It's often impossible to tell, but in this case paperwork
0:11:46 > 0:11:49'found amongst the rubbish confirms what Lesley already suspects.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54'First step, is anybody home?'
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Hiya. You all right? My name's Lesley Brooks,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09environmental crime officer from Pendle Borough Council.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Could you just come round the back of your house for me and speak to me
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- at the back of the property? - I've just moved in today.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Right, so...
0:12:17 > 0:12:19If you just open the back door and just come into the back...
0:12:19 > 0:12:21The landlord's got the keys.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I'm just paying the deposit this morning.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- Right.- We've just moved in. I'm her boyfriend.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Right, OK.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32You on about all the rubbish at the back? It's scavengers everywhere.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34'The new tenant's boyfriend is home
0:12:34 > 0:12:37'but doesn't seem to think the rubbish is theirs.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40'And if it's not theirs, who gets the on-the-spot fine?'
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Well, yeah, it's disgusting, isn't it?
0:12:44 > 0:12:46What it is, we've just paid the landlord,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48the landlord comes tonight at five o'clock.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52She's got to pay 600 quid and then she moves in.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I've just literally replastered, as you noticed.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I'm in there plastering at the moment.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00But, yeah, it's disgusting.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'But Lesley isn't going to let this go.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06'She has good evidence that the rubbish belongs to this house.'
0:13:06 > 0:13:09The stuff is obviously from the property.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14No. This... We've only... We've just decorated and moved in.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19- Right, OK. So, when did you decorate?- This morning.- Right.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Tell me again.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24There was no clothes in there. There was a big bag.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29Here. It's all open, it's all across here.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33- See all this paper? This was one bag. See this black bag?- Yeah...
0:13:36 > 0:13:39There was stuff coming out of it. That's from the house.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43That was in this bin. There was only one bag come out the house.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45'So this chap says the bag full of stripped-off
0:13:45 > 0:13:48'wallpaper is his and nothing else.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52'It's still dumped rubbish and still a fineable offence.'
0:13:52 > 0:13:55So where was all this, then, at the weekend?
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Here, when I got here. It was all out here.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01'But I thought Lesley said there wasn't anything here this morning.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03'Something's not adding up.'
0:14:03 > 0:14:05When I come round the corner,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08one of the neighbours' children has been sat in the middle of all this.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- Now, all right... - That's disgusting, that.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14..I would suggest that to avoid any further action
0:14:14 > 0:14:16in regard to yourself...
0:14:16 > 0:14:19You've already told me that that bag, that you done that,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- that you're going to clear that bit up.- Happily. Happily, love.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26'Time to lay it on the line, Lesley. Is it a fine or a warning?'
0:14:26 > 0:14:30I'm not happy that it hasn't come from you and it's been slung out.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34I know what you're saying about the paper, but there's too much here.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37You need to tidy this up, and if not,
0:14:37 > 0:14:39you'll get a letter from the council in regard to coming in
0:14:39 > 0:14:42for an interview, and then you get the opportunity to officially put
0:14:42 > 0:14:43your side of the story.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49- Everyone who's been through this- BLEEP- bin, get out now!
0:14:51 > 0:14:53'Well, that went well(!)'
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Whoever's gone through the bin wants to get out their houses now.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I'm not bothered. I am not digging through that.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I'll help. If someone gives me help, because this is my missus's house,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- I will help. It's- BLEEP- disgusting.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I am fuming. I thought you was coming to help me.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- Getting letters and that,- BLEEP... - If I get the brush out in a minute,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16love, sweep it all in a corner...
0:15:16 > 0:15:20If I get the couches over here and I take pictures myself,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23say someone else taking a picture with me as proof,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25is that going to be enough from my end?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28'This chap is adamant that this isn't his mess
0:15:28 > 0:15:30'but is going to have a go at clearing it up.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34'Will it be enough to avoid an on-the-spot fine, though?'
0:15:34 > 0:15:36I'll come back in an hour.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Done.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39All right, then. Thank you.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42'So, let's look at the situation.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47'We've got old furniture, electrical appliances, mattresses
0:15:47 > 0:15:51'and, to top it all, a box of needles which could be contaminated
0:15:51 > 0:15:53'in an area where there are kids playing.'
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I didn't really believe his story that he hadn't done it all, but...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02..well, we'll see.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05'Whether or not Lesley believes this guy's story,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08'she's got a few different options of how to deal with him.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11'She can issue him with a caution,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15'she could hand him an on-the-spot fine of up to £400,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17'or he could face a court summons.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20'I reckon the more you tidy now, fellas,
0:16:20 > 0:16:21'the easier she might be on you.'
0:16:25 > 0:16:28It's absolutely disgusting. I can't wait to go and get a bath.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33'So Lesley's given the boys their promised hour,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35'but will the back alley look any less abused?'
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I'm presuming he's not going to be round the back,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49but I'll have a look there first anyway, take photos.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- Wow. - SHE LAUGHS
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I didn't think he'd have made that good a job.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58'What a transformation.'
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Yeah, he's cleared it up.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05He's made quite a good job of clearing it up, to be honest!
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I'm surprised. If I just take photographs...
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It's like a different back street, almost.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16I'm very pleasantly surprised.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19He's still not allowed to put stuff on the back street like this,
0:17:19 > 0:17:25but he's made an effort in that it's all been cleared up.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32'It costs the local council-tax payers of Pendle nearly £150,000
0:17:32 > 0:17:34'a year to clear fly-tipped waste,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38'and any efforts to reduce those costs have to be a good thing.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42'So the boys' impressive tidying skills might just tip the balance in
0:17:42 > 0:17:45'their favour. What is Lesley's verdict going to be?'
0:17:47 > 0:17:49By rights, this shouldn't all be in the back alley now.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52It's down to the senior environmental crime officer
0:17:52 > 0:17:55if any further action was going to be taken,
0:17:55 > 0:17:59but I think it's unlikely. You've done a good job clearing it all up.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02'So it's a caution, even if he didn't think it was his fault.'
0:18:03 > 0:18:05This was definitely not us. I admit to one bag.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08'That's a good result. Don't spoil it, mate.'
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Cheers, thank you very much.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13I've just got to go for a bath.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15'So no fine this time,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18'but there's still work for Lesley and her team to do.'
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Tidied up, but it may well be a mess tomorrow morning if people do come
0:18:21 > 0:18:23along and sort through it.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26So I need to make arrangements to try and get it moved
0:18:26 > 0:18:28as quick as possible...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31or we'll be back to square one again.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36'In Pendle...
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'environmental crime officer Jon Yurek
0:18:39 > 0:18:43'has clocked on for a shift looking out for antisocial smokers.'
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I'm in Nelson town centre now, dealing with
0:18:49 > 0:18:51the offence of littering,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54so I've just got my eyes on everyone as I can,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57just making sure everyone puts their cigarette ends in the bins,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00and if they don't, I will go and do my job.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05'Jon can issue £75 fixed-penalty notices
0:19:05 > 0:19:08'to smokers who drop their fag butts in the street.'
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Here we go. One, two, three.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22'What about her?
0:19:23 > 0:19:25'OK, not this time.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29'But Jon needs to keep his wits about him because fag-butt droppers
0:19:29 > 0:19:30'come in all shapes and sizes.'
0:19:32 > 0:19:34You can't pick and choose who you want to stop.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36I can stop an old lady who's 96 years old,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39probably been doing it her whole life.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40That's how the game's played.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45'And it's not long before Jon spots his first potential offender.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50'It's a game of cat and mouse as Jon waits for his moment to pounce.'
0:19:50 > 0:19:53SPAGHETTI WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS
0:19:53 > 0:19:55'Just as soon as that fag hits that floor,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'he's off like a bee-stung stallion.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:01INDISTINCT MUTTERING
0:20:04 > 0:20:06All right, mate.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09From Pendle Borough Council. Environmental crime officer.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12You've just been stood out here with a cigarette and you just
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- threw it like a bowling ball. - Yeah.- OK.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16You left the cigarette there and came in here.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17That's a littering offence, mate.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19'Will Jon get his notebook out?'
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Unfortunately, because you've done it,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23I've got to take some details off you.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26'It looks like he's got this smoker bang to rights.'
0:20:26 > 0:20:28What happens now is the council will write to you.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30You may get issued with a fixed-penalty notice,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32you might get a caution.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33Thank you very much, sir.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36'It's now down to the council whether to issue a caution
0:20:36 > 0:20:37'or a fine.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40'But that dropped cigarette
0:20:40 > 0:20:44'could end up costing this lad a whopping £75.'
0:20:46 > 0:20:49'That could be Jon's first fag-butt fine of the day,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53'and it's not long before Jon spots the next potential offender.'
0:20:53 > 0:20:56SPAGHETTI WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- Hi, mate.- Hiya.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59From Pendle Borough Council.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02You had a cigarette just then, a little roll-up cigarette.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Just before you met this gentleman, you threw it across there.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07- That is littering.- 'Out comes the pad and pen.'
0:21:07 > 0:21:09I'm going to take some details off you.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12'But faced with the prospect of a £75 fine,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16'it seems this chap has completely forgotten his name and address.'
0:21:16 > 0:21:19What's your postcode? You don't know your own postcode?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24'Jon has seen it all before.'
0:21:24 > 0:21:27He was a bit slow in giving his details.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Sometimes what people do is they will think hard about themselves,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33they might have an alias, so I get them to repeat the question and I
0:21:33 > 0:21:37repeat the answer to them and then I ask them the question again.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40If they remember what they've said, the chances are they're not lying.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42'Temporary memory loss isn't fazing Jon.'
0:21:42 > 0:21:46What I will do with his details he's given me now is I will go back to
0:21:46 > 0:21:48my boss, we'll do a council-tax check,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51verify the information he's given me, and if it is correct,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54then I shall have the senior environmental crime officer
0:21:54 > 0:21:55write to him,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59explain to him what will happen next with regards to a fine or a caution.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01'So, armed with at least some details,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03'could this be an expensive cigarette?'
0:22:03 > 0:22:06The fine for littering is £75.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08But if you can't afford it,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11and you can provide financial circumstances like you are on
0:22:11 > 0:22:14benefits or something, you will be given a ten-week extension.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16'If it doesn't get paid,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19'then the man could receive a court summons and an even bigger fine
0:22:19 > 0:22:21'of up to £2,500.'
0:22:24 > 0:22:25'Two offenders down, and news of
0:22:25 > 0:22:29'Jon's anti-fag-butt patrol has filtered through the town.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Because I've been compromised, everyone's starting to look at me.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I've done two people now in quick vicinities,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39so I'm going to leave and I will come back.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41I'm going to go back to the van now.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44'A productive morning for Jon, and for the unlucky two,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48'they now face a wait to see if it's a caution or a fine
0:22:48 > 0:22:50'that arrives in the post.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54'And I wouldn't mind betting they think twice next time they light up.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07'There are 2.5 million blue badges in use in the UK,
0:23:07 > 0:23:11'allowing people with severe mobility issues to park for free
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'in parking-restricted areas.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15'But a shocking one in five are misused.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18'In Eastbourne in East Sussex,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21'council investigating officer Mark Jobling
0:23:21 > 0:23:23'wants to stamp out the illegal use of blue badges
0:23:23 > 0:23:25'once and for all.'
0:23:28 > 0:23:30'To show me what he means,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33'Mark and police colleague Lloyd take me to one of the town centre's
0:23:33 > 0:23:35'disabled bays.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38'But it's not long before Lloyd has spotted
0:23:38 > 0:23:41'a potential blue-badge offender.'
0:23:41 > 0:23:45She's a carer for a number of people.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47She's come to pick a lady up from
0:23:47 > 0:23:49the hearing centre around the corner.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52We popped round there, she's not there.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56'The carer says that she's heard the 90-year-old lady she is supposed
0:23:56 > 0:23:59'to be picking up is unwell and still at home.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01'But using the elderly lady's blue badge,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04'the carer has decided to park up and go to the bank.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:07So this is a sort of excuse you hear all the time, isn't it?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Yes.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13'There's a chance this driver could end up in court being handed
0:24:13 > 0:24:14'a £1,000 fine.'
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Often when you speak to carers,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20it's been a case of they've used the badge on a number of occasions,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24either through ignorance or lack of understanding.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26'So what is it going to be?
0:24:26 > 0:24:28'The evidence is pretty clear cut.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32'She's parking in a disabled bay using a blue badge that isn't hers.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37'But have her excuses convinced Mark?'
0:24:37 > 0:24:38You retain that badge.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41She has broken the rules.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44She shouldn't have been using that at all.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47She has. She's committed an offence by displaying the badge in order for
0:24:47 > 0:24:51- herself to park. - 'The driver is lucky.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55'Despite breaking the law, Mark has decided not to pursue a fine.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57'Instead, she'll be heading back to the classroom.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04'We've all heard of speed awareness courses,
0:25:04 > 0:25:08'but in East Sussex they do disability awareness courses.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10'And I'm joining in for the day.'
0:25:12 > 0:25:14From our point of view, we are trying to educate people,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16and we hope not to see these people again.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19And so far, out of all the resolutions we've done so far,
0:25:19 > 0:25:24which is up to about 100, we haven't had anybody return yet.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26That shows it's a success, doesn't it?
0:25:28 > 0:25:32'The purpose of this course is to show that parking illegally
0:25:32 > 0:25:35'in a disabled parking bay is not a victimless crime.'
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Everything takes stamina.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Just a simple task of
0:25:40 > 0:25:43just getting dressed or having a shower.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Having to move your body around is quite hard.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52I would say if you understood what having a disability meant,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55you wouldn't want to use my blue badge because it's closer.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59You'd appreciate your legs and your ability to be able-bodied.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01'Well, that certainly hammers things home.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05'But what I want to know is - has it sunk in with our offenders?'
0:26:05 > 0:26:09OK, that's the message from the people that it affects.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11And that's why we do what we do.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I just didn't think about it at the time.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17It was just quick in and out of the Post Office to get some money.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18And who did the badge belong to?
0:26:18 > 0:26:20- The wife.- Right, but she wasn't with you?
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Nope.- Does she know that you were using it when she wasn't there?
0:26:23 > 0:26:25No, because it was the first time.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27How do you feel about the fact that you're here now in this?
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Yeah, I admitted the offence.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31You think this classroom is good?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- Yes. Yeah.- Will you ever do it again?
0:26:33 > 0:26:34No.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36'And for some, it's having the blue badge
0:26:36 > 0:26:38'temporarily confiscated that has
0:26:38 > 0:26:40'really hit home.'
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Mark had to take the blue badge away...
0:26:43 > 0:26:48- Yes.- ..for a few days and I couldn't take my wife out.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50You'd robbed her of that privilege.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Yeah. So that's what made me feel bad.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59Yeah. It affected the genuine person that could use it.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01I learnt my lesson.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02Yeah.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- Don't do it again.- If you're embarrassed about what you've done,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10would you mind putting your hand up so we can get an idea of...
0:27:10 > 0:27:12- Yeah.- You've had your wake-up call, haven't you?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14You've been let off with a bit of a warning and, as you said,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17no-one's going to do it again, so I think obviously the class has been
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- quite good in what it's teaching people, hasn't it?- Yes.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25I was very impressed by everybody's reaction in there.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27They all said they'd never, ever do it again.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29They all seemed to have a reason why they did it.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It was nearly always the same one,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33the fact that the badge was a legitimate badge
0:27:33 > 0:27:36belonging to a friend, family member or whoever,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38but they thought they could use it themselves
0:27:38 > 0:27:40and they knew it was wrong. But I think this is a great thing.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42The whole course took what? In total, 15 minutes.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Everyone said it's the last time they'd be seen in there.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47As Mark said, no-one's ever been back twice.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51This whole lesson here is having a very, very good impact.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Bye, cheers. Last one.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55That's all for today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Join me next time when I'll be out with the men
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and women who issue Britain's on-the-spot fines.