Deals on Wheels Traffic Cops


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North Yorkshire, the largest county in England and Wales.

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Its 6,000 miles of roads are some of the most dangerous in the UK.

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He's hit the central reservation, at which point

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he's flipped on the brow and he has ended up here.

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Three of winter's toughest months,

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our cameras had full access to every aspect of this force, 24/7.

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Good afternoon, North Yorkshire Police.

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This is an access all areas guide to policing North Yorkshire's roads.

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As well as having some of the highest accident rates in Britain,

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recently there has been a rise in drug-driving across this county.

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What have you taken, mate? What have you had?

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Drugs and drug-driving have become a major challenge

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for North Yorkshire's traffic cops.

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They have to keep drugs off the street,

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catch those who pose a risk behind the wheel...

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I've got no sympathy for anybody that takes drugs

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and then drives a motor vehicle on the road.

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..and deal with the aftermath of the tragedy left behind

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by drivers too drugged to drive.

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I am investigating more deaths on the road in a single year

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than detectives may do in their entire careers.

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Drink-driving has become socially unacceptable.

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Drugs, however, is a different kettle of fish.

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Britain's 250,000-mile road network

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transports more than 100 billion tonnes of goods each year.

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But it's also exploited by the growing drug trade.

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Last year, police made nearly 200,000 drug seizures

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in England and Wales.

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In North Yorkshire, seizures were at a ten-year high.

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Targeting the supply of drugs into the county is a complex operation,

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coordinated from the Force Control Room in York.

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-Police emergency.

-Good afternoon, Force Control Room. How can I help?

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This area is North Yorkshire.

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And we've got the A1 that travels all the way through it.

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We've also got the A19 and the A64, which are quite major roads.

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We get a lot of drugs crime in the York area.

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We also seem to be getting quite a few drugs nominals

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picking up in the Skipton area.

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It's Wednesday, 2pm, and intelligence has come in

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about a suspect returning to North Yorkshire from Leeds.

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The information is immediately passed to Mick Roffe and Paul Stamp

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of North Yorkshire's Road Crime Team.

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-RADIO:

-'0267, 0267, we're just getting on to them now.'

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We have just got some information that a vehicle, a blue Astra,

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has just travelled into West Yorkshire's area.

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Generally people go from this area, Harrogate,

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to buy drugs in West Yorkshire and then come back.

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The drugs that are mentioned are quite large quantities, so we are

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going to try and sneaky beaky... plain car and try to catch him.

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For every user, there's umpteen crimes that that user commits

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to fund an ongoing drug habit.

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The police expect the target Astra to return to Harrogate on the A61.

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We're just down a side street, trying to blend in as best we can.

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The idea is for him to come past and not know he's being followed by us.

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It just gives us a bit more time to set the trap, if you like.

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The Astra has been tracked entering North Yorkshire

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by roadside automatic numberplate recognition cameras.

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ANPR cameras are designed to pick up on VRMs of vehicles,

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so your number plate.

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No matter what time of the day you come through,

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it will read your plate patch

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and it'll feed that directly into our system straight away.

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There's usually no delay on it.

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So I know I can say to officers,

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"This vehicle has just been through this camera."

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Although police have over 8,000 ANPR cameras across the country,

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they don't cover every road.

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Now it's down to Mick and Paul

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to spot the Astra among the passing traffic.

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Nearly one hour later, the Astra still hasn't shown.

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-RADIO:

-'I don't know if you're monitored...'

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The operation might have to be called off.

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Just all units on this channel, then -

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we'll stand this one down at 4:30 if this vehicle's not returned.

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Just as they're about to call it a day...

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..the trap is sprung.

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Contact, contact, contact on the subject vehicle.

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Descends the Hill, A61 towards Harrogate.

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Please acknowledge.

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RADIO CHATTER

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Yeah, that's it.

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Mick and Paul direct nearby units in to support.

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From 91, committed, committed, committed

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as we negotiate that junction on the A61 still towards Harrogate.

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On approach to Harewood Bridge.

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What we're trying to do is remain out of sight all the time.

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We don't want him for a second...

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to think that police are coming up on him.

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We're just trying to set that trap now, really.

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-RADIO:

-'Astra just crossed the bridge.'

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91, yes, yes, speed is now 45. Still one vehicle cover.

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On approach to a nearside junction.

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The Astra takes a right turn,

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but oncoming traffic means the police can't follow.

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Right, right, right at this junction.

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Towards Kirkby Overblow and we are blocked by traffic.

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-Oscar, Romeo units, are you in that area?

-Oh, never.

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That'll do, that'll do.

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The Astra has turned directly into another support unit.

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91, I can see you have stopped him. We'll just come in and back you up.

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Good work.

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Just put your phone down, mate. Put your phone down.

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Hello, mate.

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At this moment in time, lads, you're detained for a search

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under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

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Give me that one up, pal.

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A quick search turns up a large quantity of a Class C drug -

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diazepam - in the boot and Class B cannabis in the car.

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The passenger is the suspect Mick and Paul have been looking for.

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Just stand here. I'll give you a pat-down, mate.

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Is there owt else on you you shouldn't have?

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-Keep your hands out your pockets.

-I'm just seeing...

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Keep your hands out your pockets.

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Listen, listen, you are also under arrest on suspicion of possession

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of a Class B drug as well, mate, all right? This time.

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Cheers, mate.

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'We've been wanting to get hold of this guy for some time.'

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Owt else on you? Any phones or owt? Owt sharp?

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You know through experience that, if you do catch them red-handed,

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they are going to really struggle to be able to get out of it at court.

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The two suspects are taken to custody.

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Sit back there.

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But this investigation doesn't end here.

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At Harrogate police station, Tim Wilson of the Road Crime Team

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searches the Astra for further evidence.

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Ominously, Tim finds a potential weapon.

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Obviously, if they are found with this,

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they can be arrested for an offensive weapon.

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To negate this, what they do is they carry a baseball around

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and a baseball mitt. So if they're stopped, they just say,

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"Well, I'm into my baseball

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"and that's why I have it in the boot, ready to go."

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The large bag of diazepam is most likely

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what the suspects were picking up in Leeds.

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It is a rare find.

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Fewer than 150 diazepam seizures are made each year in England and Wales.

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They've got about 2,500 tablets there in total of diazepam.

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It's a Class C drug.

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It sort of relaxes people, calms them down, takes away a bit of pain.

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The only way you can really get it is by prescription through a doctor.

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It is a controlled drug.

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So it could be that they've been stolen from a chemist in a burglary

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or something like that and then it's sold on on the black market.

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The police already have enough to charge the men

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but they need to find their hideout.

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One of the suspects is insisting he is of no fixed abode.

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But the police have intelligence suggesting

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he's living on a caravan site near Harrogate.

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Tim and fellow Road Crime Team officer James Duffy

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run the numberplates of the cars on site

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through the Police National Computer.

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You can run vehicles through it, you can run people through it.

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Every vehicle is on there

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and it will tell you who the insured person is,

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who the registered keeper is and where they're from.

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One of the cars is registered to the passenger in the car.

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They've found the caravan they're looking for.

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This caravan comes back to him,

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so we're just getting 18 authority off the inspector.

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We're going to go in and search,

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so it looks like we've found where he's living.

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Let's just hope there's something that he's got to hide from us inside

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and make it a really good result.

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Clearance to enter the caravan comes through.

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And James does the honours.

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He's a lot skinnier than me and slinkier than me.

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I'm not the fattest lad in t'world,

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but he's definitely skinnier than me to fit through that gap.

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-How am I going to do this?

-Side on, mate. Side on.

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Good lad.

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Entry is gained.

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The caravan is littered with incriminating evidence.

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Ey up.

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There is about £200 worth of cannabis there

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if you separated it out and put it into individual deals.

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It's really strong stuff as well.

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It's really, really strong.

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So there are just some individual separate Ziploc bags.

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I've just picked that Ziploc right out

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and it's a set of digital measuring scales.

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People use all sorts of ways of hiding stuff

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to make it look like they're not up to no good.

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Everywhere you look, there's a bit more.

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Although the officers are sure the evidence secured this evening

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amounts to the suspect being more than just a drug user,

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the Crown Prosecution Service will decide

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if there is a case to charge him with drug dealing.

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The drug scene has definitely changed since I've joined.

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An ever-increasing trend that we're finding now

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is that people using drugs

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because their availability is maybe a bit more than it used to be.

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I think it would be misleading

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if we said that we'd ever get rid of drugs

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cos there's always going to be a problem, whatever it is.

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We just try to tackle it the best we can.

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Ten miles south, near Selby, traffic cop Julian Pearson is in the middle

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of dealing with an incident involving Britain's most popular drug, alcohol.

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Taking this drug is legal,

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but being behind the wheel of a car under its influence is not.

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There's an offence in the UK of being drunk in charge of a car.

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OK, if you are sat in the driving seat, keys in the ignition,

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which they are, that is an offence. That's a crime.

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Just as Julian runs his checks on the driver, a call comes in.

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Hello.

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The incident is 25 miles away.

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At this time of night,

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Julian is the nearest Senior Investigating Officer.

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It's up to force control to juggle their available resources.

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It's a cliche, but it is a very thin blue line,

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especially in a county as large as North Yorkshire.

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We cover a vast area.

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You've only got a certain amount of officers

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and you can get jobs coming in and coming in.

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It's that difficulty of deciding

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who you're going to send where and when.

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Yeah, ten-four. I'm with a car in a car park in Selby, near Sainsbury's.

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Can you get a beat unit to come down?

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Part of my role as a sergeant on traffic is to attend

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serious, fatal and potential road traffic collisions.

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So I had to find somebody to take over in Selby to attend the scene.

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Hello.

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I need to go to a fatal in Scarborough,

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that's why I've got to bugger off.

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-Sat with the keys, is he?

-The keys are in the ignition, yeah.

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As Julian makes the 25-mile journey east

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to the scene of the accident, he has a lot to take in.

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There's a lot of planning and a lot of thinking involved en route.

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There's a lot of information coming over the radio,

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which I'm listening to.

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There are a lot of decisions being made,

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which I have to be responsible for.

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There's only so much you can do until you physically get there

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because what you are told over the radio isn't always

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what you're presented with when you arrive.

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Hi, Dave. Are you all right?

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-Single vehicle...

-Yes?

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Stink of diesel, isn't there?

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Is he dead?

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Julian is now the senior officer on the scene.

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His first priority is what has happened to the people involved.

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The medical teams have pronounced the driver dead on arrival.

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Three passengers have survived.

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Who's gone to get a statement off him?

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I needed to be absolutely, absolutely,

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100% sure that he was the driver.

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We've dealt with a job in York many years ago, where they moved

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the deceased into the driving seat to make it look like

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the dead person was the driver when actually it wasn't the case.

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When you actually looked in the car and the way the car was situated,

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there was no way that he could have been put in that position

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in the timeframe,

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so I was absolutely satisfied that he was the driver.

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The priority is to ascertain who the driver is

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so we can let his family know what's happened

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and then obviously look at gathering the evidence.

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The three passengers have already been taken to York District Hospital.

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They've all gone down to YDH.

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I need somebody from York to meet them down at YDH

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to obtain details and get some condition updates.

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What we need from them is identification of the driver,

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obviously he's deceased.

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RADIO CHATTER

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With nothing more to be done for the victims,

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Julian's priority becomes preserving evidence at the scene.

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Jobs like this, as you can see, are a logistical nightmare

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because you've got a main arterial route through the county.

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To make this scene safe for everybody working here,

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you've got to make sure all the road closures are put in place.

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And, until that's done, we can't work safely.

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Julian works with Force Control to manage the road closure.

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We rely heavily on the control rooms, who have the mapping systems.

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So they look and they are normally very good in looking

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at which roads need to be closed, where we can send diversions.

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Your low bridges, your narrow roads,

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your weight limits for lorries, coaches, all those types of things.

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The A64 is the main road from York to Scarborough.

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Closing it will cause long diversions.

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Not a decision we take lightly.

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At the same time, we need to be able to manage a scene.

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We're not going to just let anybody walk through that crime scene

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until we've got all the evidence that we need from it

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and we're able to then free that road.

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We're mindful about the effect it can have.

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People just need to understand that if we are closing a road,

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we're doing it for a reason.

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Julian gathers information from the first officers on the scene

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to build a picture of what has happened here.

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The initial account I got off the taxi driver

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who was driving the two firefighters was that he was tanking...

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..up the carriageway.

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Overtaken them on the hill and he's hit the central reservation,

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at which point he's flipped on the brow and he's ended up here.

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The marks on the road and crash barrier

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back up the witness statement.

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-You can see the disturbance starting here.

-Yeah, yeah.

-See the gauge?

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I think we measured it six... six or seven posts from here.

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That's going to be about right, Dave.

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-If you shine the dragon back up.

-Yeah...

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-See that...

-That's when he started to lift off.

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..rolling wheel, can't you?

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It's just, it's speed, isn't it?

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Julian has done all he can.

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The police now need the Collision Investigation Team to arrive

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for a full forensic examination of the scene.

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15 miles south-east on the A59,

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close partners James Duffy and Tim Wilson

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from the Road Crime Team are entering York.

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They've been assigned to an anti-drugs operation in the city.

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You know, we are best of friends

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and I've been on holiday with Jim, you know,

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when we've got time off, me and my missus and him and his missus,

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we'll go for meals, so you do get a bond

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because you spend more time with people you work with sometimes

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than you do at home with your family, so...

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You know, in this job, you really do have to trust each other

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because your mate could make the difference

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between you getting home that night or not.

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We're just heading to the York area.

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There's been a lot of complaints in the community

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in relation to drug users

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attending the area and purchasing drugs.

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For all its upmarket tourist charm,

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York is not immune to drug-related crime.

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Like any city, York's got its drug problems

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and we do come across a lot of drugs

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in the day-to-day process of what we do.

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I'd say a good...probably more than 50% of our work is drugs-related.

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A specialist police surveillance unit is watching a house

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in a well-to-do area suspected of drug dealing.

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The surveillance team will report any cars leaving the premises.

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James and Tim will stop them to search for drugs bought at the house.

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We're going to head there, identify any vehicles that may be

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coming away from the area that may have purchased drugs

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and obviously stop and carry out any searches on those vehicles.

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As the police approach the area, the first report comes in.

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Received.

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They need to move fast to intercept the car,

0:19:140:19:16

or it will disappear into the city.

0:19:160:19:18

It's half seven at night in York on a Friday night,

0:19:210:19:24

it's busy, they're quite narrow streets in the area it's happening,

0:19:240:19:28

so it won't be easy but we'll do as best to try and locate this vehicle.

0:19:280:19:32

James and Tim head for a crossroads

0:19:340:19:36

where they anticipate the Volkswagen will pass.

0:19:360:19:40

RADIO CHATTER

0:19:400:19:42

There it is.

0:19:430:19:44

RADIO CHATTER

0:19:470:19:50

All right, Andy.

0:19:500:19:51

X-ray, Sierra, Whisky, we've got contact, contact, contact.

0:19:510:19:56

It's crucial they don't stop the car too close to the house

0:19:560:19:59

in case the driver realises the police are watching it

0:19:590:20:02

and warns the suspected dealer.

0:20:020:20:04

We're just going to try and make a bit of ground on it

0:20:060:20:08

and get it stopped.

0:20:080:20:09

Obviously without spooking it too much.

0:20:090:20:12

We don't want to stop someone going away from an address

0:20:120:20:15

and then they put a call in because it might tip someone off

0:20:150:20:18

and it might just be long enough for them to start flushing drugs away

0:20:180:20:21

or disposing of evidence.

0:20:210:20:23

Stampy, we're at Crichton Avenue at the moment. Two for cover.

0:20:230:20:27

'Received.'

0:20:280:20:29

Without warning, the car pulls over.

0:20:290:20:32

James and Tim have no choice to make their move.

0:20:320:20:35

Ey up, pal, are you all right?

0:20:380:20:39

Just grab a seat back in the car, mate.

0:20:390:20:41

Vehicle stopped, Crichton Avenue.

0:20:410:20:43

Is it your vehicle?

0:20:430:20:45

Do us a favour, mate, just put... All right.

0:20:460:20:49

Just put your keys on top, mate.

0:20:510:20:53

Have you got some ID on you, mate?

0:20:530:20:55

What's your name?

0:20:550:20:57

Tim gives the driver the impression they're stopping him

0:20:570:20:59

for a routine insurance check.

0:20:590:21:02

How are you insured on the vehicle?

0:21:020:21:04

All right, you got it with you?

0:21:060:21:07

All right, no worries, mate.

0:21:080:21:10

Have you got any other vehicles that are on that policy?

0:21:100:21:13

'As soon as we approached the car,

0:21:130:21:14

'we could see that there was quite a lot of cash on the front seat.

0:21:140:21:17

'All in £10 and £20 notes.'

0:21:170:21:20

And it's a real unusual way to carry your cash,

0:21:200:21:22

so straight away we start thinking,

0:21:220:21:24

"Has this car been involved in dropping off drugs?"

0:21:240:21:27

Jim runs a check on the driver for previous convictions.

0:21:270:21:30

Hub, can you run me a PNC person check with this vehicle, please?

0:21:300:21:34

That's received, mate, thank you.

0:21:400:21:42

'As soon as you start hearing things,

0:21:420:21:44

'it puts you on edge that little bit more, I think,

0:21:440:21:47

'because you know what they're capable of.'

0:21:470:21:49

It lets you know that you're dealing with a proper mister

0:21:490:21:51

and perhaps not someone that's just occasionally using a bit of cocaine.

0:21:510:21:55

Yeah, no problem, mate.

0:21:550:21:57

The officers use their earpieces to communicate

0:21:570:21:59

without the driver hearing.

0:21:590:22:01

Tim, if you are receiving, he is well known.

0:22:010:22:04

He's currently on bail for all sorts of stuff.

0:22:040:22:06

If you get told somebody's violent, then you risk assess that

0:22:060:22:09

and you don't know what he's capable of.

0:22:090:22:12

So somebody could be nice to you and change like that.

0:22:120:22:15

Once you get that information, you then build a picture of who

0:22:150:22:18

that person is, what they're about and what they're into

0:22:180:22:20

and then you make an assessment on how you're going to deal with that.

0:22:200:22:24

To prove that drugs are being dealt from the house,

0:22:240:22:26

James and Tim would need to find drugs

0:22:260:22:29

bought from the premises in the car.

0:22:290:22:31

But is this driver a buyer or a supplier?

0:22:310:22:35

It might be that we conduct a search

0:22:350:22:37

but it's looking how he fits into the picture in that area.

0:22:370:22:40

It could be that he's somebody that supplies drugs or it could be

0:22:400:22:43

that he's somebody that purchases but with that amount of cash,

0:22:430:22:46

I'd have thought he's the other side of it.

0:22:460:22:48

Normally, we'd search a car like that straight away.

0:22:480:22:51

Drugs intelligence held, large quantity of cash

0:22:510:22:53

but we then have to tread really carefully

0:22:530:22:55

because, if we start looking at turning this lad over,

0:22:550:22:58

it could blow out the rest of the operation.

0:22:580:23:01

James makes a call to the surveillance unit watching the house.

0:23:010:23:05

He's got probably 500 to 800 quid in cash on him

0:23:050:23:09

straight away in his hand.

0:23:090:23:11

I've got more than enough grounds here to turn him over,

0:23:110:23:14

it's just whether it affects what you're doing.

0:23:140:23:17

That's received, mate, I'll discuss it with Tim.

0:23:210:23:24

The decision comes down to me and Tim.

0:23:240:23:27

We're the ones that are on the ground,

0:23:270:23:29

we're the ones that got him stopped

0:23:290:23:30

and ultimately we make the decision whether we search him or not.

0:23:300:23:33

While Tim keeps up the cover of checking the driver's insurance...

0:23:330:23:36

No worries, mate, just check you through

0:23:360:23:38

and then we can do the rest in a minute.

0:23:380:23:41

..James updates him on the situation.

0:23:410:23:44

-I have spoken to

-BLEEP.

0:23:440:23:47

He thinks it's properly more likely that this lad's delivered some gear.

0:23:470:23:51

It would probably be preferable that we wait for another one

0:23:510:23:54

that comes along that we think's a user that's purchased

0:23:540:23:57

and he's going to have something that can lead on to a warrant.

0:23:570:23:59

I'll really be guided by you.

0:23:590:24:01

The pressure is on to make a snap call.

0:24:010:24:04

The whole operation rests on what James and Tim do now.

0:24:040:24:08

There's a tactical decision to be made there.

0:24:080:24:10

And it goes against the grain of what we do day in, day out

0:24:100:24:13

because that car would be searched every time we stopped it

0:24:130:24:17

but if we were to arrest him, would we really get a conviction?

0:24:170:24:21

I'm not so sure.

0:24:210:24:22

He's saying he's got Tradewise insurance, mate,

0:24:230:24:26

that's how he's covered on it

0:24:260:24:28

but if you're happy with insurance, then I am.

0:24:280:24:30

Yeah, received, mate, are you happy to let it run?

0:24:320:24:35

OK, mate, we'll go with that.

0:24:350:24:37

My mate's happy, mate. Have a good day.

0:24:380:24:41

They can't be sure they'll find the drugs they need to make the bust,

0:24:430:24:48

so, for the good of the operation, they let this one go.

0:24:480:24:52

Yeah, it's a bit of tactics, really.

0:24:520:24:54

Ultimately we're looking for people that have purchased.

0:24:540:24:56

If we start turning over cars and searching them tonight,

0:24:560:25:00

word soon gets round, even in a big place like York

0:25:000:25:03

and then that could blow the operation.

0:25:030:25:06

A difficult call but I think the right call, really.

0:25:060:25:10

Let him run.

0:25:100:25:11

The stakeout at the drug house continues,

0:25:120:25:15

and James and Tim now have to wait for another suspected buyer

0:25:150:25:18

to leave the premises.

0:25:180:25:20

30 miles east, Julian Pearson is dealing with

0:25:280:25:31

the aftermath of a fatal crash on the A64.

0:25:310:25:34

The driver involved has died

0:25:350:25:37

and three survivors have been rushed to hospital.

0:25:370:25:41

Senior Collision Investigator Dave Foster has arrived

0:25:410:25:44

to take over the forensic examination.

0:25:440:25:47

Each of the 43 police districts in England and Wales has

0:25:470:25:51

a collision investigation unit, who attend every fatal crash in the UK.

0:25:510:25:55

Dave has been dealing with the aftermath

0:25:560:25:58

of these tragic events for 15 years.

0:25:580:26:01

Each one of those brings with it a whole...

0:26:020:26:07

..sequence of events and family upset and anguish and pain,

0:26:090:26:14

and ultimately, at the end of that,

0:26:140:26:17

people want to know, essentially, "How did this happen?"

0:26:170:26:20

It's one of those things. It's a job that needs doing.

0:26:230:26:26

I love the science and the physics of what goes on, so...

0:26:260:26:31

..it was right up my alley.

0:26:320:26:34

If a job CAN be right up your alley

0:26:340:26:35

where you're dealing with death and destruction!

0:26:350:26:38

Dave marks out the path of the car before and after impact.

0:26:400:26:44

Gradually, a picture begins to emerge.

0:26:440:26:47

Everything will be recorded in...

0:26:490:26:51

..photographic form.

0:26:520:26:54

What we've found so far

0:26:550:26:56

is the vehicle's left the tarmac road surface

0:26:560:26:59

and hit the central barrier further down the hill.

0:26:590:27:04

It's then hit a separate part of the crash barrier...

0:27:040:27:08

..which has then caused it...

0:27:090:27:11

it would appear, certainly at this stage, to roll over onto its roof.

0:27:110:27:15

It was quite apparent that...

0:27:150:27:18

excess speed or high speed was going to play a part.

0:27:180:27:21

The distance that was covered by the vehicle

0:27:210:27:23

once it had already lost control

0:27:230:27:26

to where it had come to a stop was significant.

0:27:260:27:29

It was round about 250 metres or so.

0:27:290:27:32

And as it's been on its roof, travelling up the hill,

0:27:320:27:35

it's rotated, as well, so...

0:27:350:27:37

In doing so, all these scratches and gouges on the road surface...

0:27:400:27:44

So we can then track its path up to where it's come to rest,

0:27:440:27:47

which is just in front of the sign.

0:27:470:27:49

That indicates that the vehicle was travelling at high speed

0:27:490:27:53

and an order of magnitude that's approaching 100mph.

0:27:530:27:57

Dave has done all he can at the scene.

0:27:580:28:01

His investigation will continue

0:28:010:28:03

when the car has been brought back to base.

0:28:030:28:06

But as the car is lifted onto the recovery truck,

0:28:060:28:09

something falls onto the road.

0:28:090:28:11

It could be key to understanding what has happened tonight.

0:28:120:28:15

I'm going to say it's a Class A drug of some description.

0:28:170:28:20

Could be cocaine or speed.

0:28:230:28:26

The search for the cause of this tragic incident

0:28:270:28:30

has now taken on a new dimension - drugs.

0:28:300:28:33

12 miles away, in York,

0:28:400:28:41

drugs are already the focus of James and Tim's night.

0:28:410:28:44

They're still working to bust a suspected drug house

0:28:460:28:49

near York city centre being watched by a police surveillance unit.

0:28:490:28:52

To secure a conviction,

0:28:540:28:55

they need to stop somebody leaving the house who has purchased drugs.

0:28:550:28:59

MESSAGE OVER RADIO

0:28:590:29:01

Word comes in that a car is just leaving.

0:29:010:29:03

Received, thank you.

0:29:070:29:09

James and Tim are lying in wait in an unmarked car.

0:29:100:29:13

'If you're sat waiting for a car to come past,

0:29:130:29:16

'you'll often say, "The adrenaline's going now."

0:29:160:29:19

'It's a fantastic feeling.'

0:29:190:29:20

And I suppose it's why we do what we do.

0:29:200:29:23

They easily get onto the Audi's tail.

0:29:240:29:28

Stampy, offside indication towards the city.

0:29:280:29:31

We're going to stop the vehicle, speak to the occupants

0:29:410:29:44

and establish why they've been in the area.

0:29:440:29:46

And, obviously, if grounds exist, then we'll conduct a search on them.

0:29:460:29:50

The officers can't stop the car too soon

0:29:500:29:52

in case the surveillance operation on the drugs house is exposed.

0:29:520:29:56

They call in another patrol car to provide backup.

0:29:570:30:00

We're nearside lane to Stampy. Lord Mayor's Walk.

0:30:020:30:05

If you could come towards and support me, just in case he goes...

0:30:050:30:08

The Audi is driving erratically.

0:30:150:30:17

He's done a bit of weaving,

0:30:170:30:18

as if he was going to go on t'nearside lane

0:30:180:30:20

and then he's gone offside.

0:30:200:30:22

He's changing all over t'place here.

0:30:220:30:25

And it runs a red light.

0:30:290:30:30

It's the opportunity they've been waiting for.

0:30:320:30:34

We're on Monkgate, mate. He's gone through a red,

0:30:340:30:37

so we've got a good reason to stop him.

0:30:370:30:39

At first, the Audi ignores the cops' signal to stop.

0:30:400:30:44

SIREN STARTS

0:30:440:30:45

Stay towards, mate. He's not stopping at t'minute.

0:30:470:30:51

'It's always a tense moment when they fail to stop.'

0:30:510:30:54

He's pulling up now, Heworth Green.

0:30:580:31:00

'And then, when they pull over, your thoughts turn to...

0:31:020:31:05

' "What's he tried to hide?" '

0:31:050:31:07

Because nobody takes that long to stop.

0:31:070:31:09

-What's all that about, pal?

-What, mate?

0:31:090:31:12

Just turn your engine off. Pass me your keys.

0:31:120:31:14

It's off?

0:31:140:31:16

Get your hands here. Give me your hands.

0:31:160:31:19

You've been all over t'place.

0:31:190:31:20

You've just gone straight through a red light.

0:31:200:31:22

You're not, you're all over t'joint.

0:31:250:31:27

-I'm all over t'joint?

-Yeah.

0:31:270:31:29

You're detained at this time, mate.

0:31:290:31:31

You're detained under Section 23, Misuse of Drugs Act,

0:31:320:31:35

cos I believe you might have summat in the vehicle you shouldn't

0:31:350:31:38

and you look like you've had summat.

0:31:380:31:39

'You can see that he's quite sweaty, you can tell by his eyes

0:31:390:31:43

'and the way his pupils are real paranoid, shying away.'

0:31:430:31:47

He's obviously taken some sort of gear.

0:31:470:31:49

Just open t'doors for us, pal.

0:31:490:31:51

What have you taken, mate? What have you had?

0:31:510:31:53

-I haven't had anything.

-The other one, please.

0:31:530:31:55

Backup arrives, letting Tim search the car

0:31:550:31:57

and update the team watching the drug house.

0:31:570:32:00

It's just for your info. We've got this vehicle stopped.

0:32:010:32:04

Lad's all over t'place. He's obviously had summat.

0:32:040:32:06

It's took a while. We thought he were going,

0:32:060:32:08

so it might be he's necked it, but definitely on summat.

0:32:080:32:12

There's evidence of previous drug use in the car.

0:32:130:32:16

He's got a methadone bottle in the thing, but it's empty.

0:32:160:32:20

-Whose is the methadone bottle? Is that yours?

-Yeah.

0:32:200:32:22

Methadone suggests that he's a user of Class A drugs,

0:32:220:32:26

because the methadone is prescribed to them

0:32:260:32:29

and used to try and take them away from their drug use.

0:32:290:32:33

He looks really under the influence. However, he's real...

0:32:330:32:39

His actions are real fast, suggesting he's perhaps had

0:32:390:32:43

something that speeds up his reactions and such,

0:32:430:32:46

which is usually going to be a Class A, something like cocaine.

0:32:460:32:50

At the Force Control Room,

0:32:500:32:52

news comes through that the police have raided the drugs house.

0:32:520:32:56

Superb. I love it when a plan comes together.

0:33:080:33:11

But James and Tim still haven't found any drugs on the driver

0:33:110:33:15

to connect him to the bust at the house,

0:33:150:33:18

so they take him in for further searching.

0:33:180:33:21

Sit in there. Just be mindful...

0:33:210:33:23

Tim sits in the back

0:33:240:33:25

to make sure the driver doesn't dispose of any evidence.

0:33:250:33:29

-Are you working at the minute?

-No, I don't work.

0:33:290:33:31

-Where's the car from?

-It's mine.

0:33:310:33:33

It's yours? How have you managed that?

0:33:330:33:35

-Oh, and inheritance money?

-Yeah.

0:33:370:33:39

All right, mate. Sorry to hear that.

0:33:390:33:41

We've got a genuine interest in the people we're dealing with.

0:33:430:33:47

They're not just people we lock up.

0:33:470:33:49

He struck me as a very troubled man.

0:33:490:33:52

He was unemployed, his mum had obviously died.

0:33:530:33:57

He's clearly unhappy with his life.

0:33:580:34:01

He was very downbeaten. It was sad to see.

0:34:010:34:04

-Is she going to be worried?

-Yeah.

0:34:060:34:08

You been arrested before?

0:34:090:34:12

I'm not trying to catch you out or owt,

0:34:120:34:14

I'm just being the person talking to you, seeing how things are.

0:34:140:34:17

We all go through difficulties, don't we?

0:34:170:34:20

'Some people, you know, they use recreational drugs.'

0:34:200:34:23

And that's a choice they make.

0:34:230:34:25

But there's some people that have gone down that route that,

0:34:250:34:27

you know, has been because of a reason,

0:34:270:34:30

because of bereavement or, you know, because of some reason

0:34:300:34:35

that's caused them to feel so down and so low in life

0:34:350:34:39

that they use drugs.

0:34:390:34:41

Growing up, you know, I lived on a council estate.

0:34:410:34:45

I've seen people that have sort of gone one way,

0:34:450:34:48

because of my background, gone one way and gone down that hill,

0:34:480:34:51

but there's a story behind everything.

0:34:510:34:53

At the station, the surveillance unit that raided the drug house

0:34:560:35:00

have recovered a large haul.

0:35:000:35:02

As you can see, there's a large quantity of white powder there,

0:35:020:35:06

a large quantity there and then, obviously,

0:35:060:35:08

a couple of small quantities of what looks like cocaine.

0:35:080:35:11

A really good result and a really decent quantity

0:35:110:35:14

of drugs taken off the streets.

0:35:140:35:15

Cocaine is the most commonly seized Class A drug in Britain.

0:35:150:35:19

Over three tonnes are impounded each year.

0:35:190:35:22

But a strip search of the driver still finds nothing

0:35:230:35:26

to connect him to the drugs found at the house.

0:35:260:35:28

A deeper search of the car is the last chance for the police.

0:35:300:35:34

'You can't beat a drugs dog.'

0:35:360:35:38

When you're looking for tiny little wraps of drugs, it's impossible.

0:35:380:35:42

There's that many places they could be hidden,

0:35:420:35:44

and you can't rip everyone's car apart,

0:35:440:35:46

whereas you can stick a dog in and, if it's in there, they'll find it.

0:35:460:35:50

They're just absolutely incredible.

0:35:500:35:52

A sniffer dog's sense of smell

0:35:530:35:55

is around 40 times more sensitive than a human's.

0:35:550:35:58

Sure enough, the dog comes up with a bag of cocaine.

0:36:010:36:04

Good lad!

0:36:040:36:06

A Class A drug, obviously, that's been found.

0:36:060:36:08

It looks like it's been well secreted within the seat lining.

0:36:080:36:13

So it's a good find by the dog.

0:36:130:36:15

Come on, then!

0:36:150:36:17

'You can do t'best you can, but you can't beat a dog.'

0:36:170:36:20

It's not a large haul but potentially very important

0:36:220:36:25

in proving the drugs found at the house were being sold.

0:36:250:36:29

If they say that's for their own use,

0:36:290:36:32

we've got somebody potentially coming away from that area

0:36:320:36:34

with what looks like a deal on them

0:36:340:36:36

for them potentially being dealt with.

0:36:360:36:38

Now, forensically we might be able to link that then

0:36:380:36:41

back to the people that we suspect are dealing.

0:36:410:36:43

So it's definitely a good result and it's one that we're pleased with.

0:36:430:36:47

The cocaine found tonight is just one of 500 drug seizures

0:36:470:36:51

British police make every 24 hours.

0:36:510:36:54

Most of these seizures lead to possession or supply charges.

0:36:540:36:59

But some are connected to cases far more tragic.

0:36:590:37:02

In Thirsk, the car involved in the fatal accident on the A64

0:37:070:37:12

has been recovered for examination.

0:37:120:37:14

Cocaine found at the scene means that the death could be drug-related.

0:37:160:37:20

But before the car can be searched for any more drugs,

0:37:220:37:25

Senior Collision Investigator Dave Foster needs to determine

0:37:250:37:28

if mechanical faults played any part.

0:37:280:37:31

Just about every panel on the car has suffered some sort of damage.

0:37:340:37:39

This is indicative... the damage itself,

0:37:390:37:41

taken together with the data from the scene,

0:37:410:37:44

is indicative of a high-speed collision.

0:37:440:37:46

What we're looking at there

0:37:490:37:50

is almost like a process of elimination.

0:37:500:37:53

We're going to examine the condition of the tyres,

0:37:530:37:56

operability of the brakes, the steering,

0:37:560:37:58

was there anything wrong with the suspension?

0:37:580:38:00

Where that's all going towards

0:38:000:38:02

is to put a report together for the coroner

0:38:020:38:05

so that he can then determine what the cause of death was.

0:38:050:38:09

And he has four questions to answer -

0:38:090:38:11

who the deceased was, how,

0:38:110:38:13

why and when he came about his death.

0:38:130:38:15

The examination of the car rules out any technical fault

0:38:150:38:18

with the vehicle.

0:38:180:38:19

Generally, most vehicles - or most crashes - occur

0:38:190:38:23

because of something that the driver either has or hasn't done

0:38:230:38:25

rather than something that's gone wrong with the vehicle.

0:38:250:38:28

The vast majority is driver error.

0:38:280:38:30

Even for a collision investigator with 15 years' experience,

0:38:320:38:36

there's no escaping the tragedy inherent in the job.

0:38:360:38:40

The mechanical side of the crash is, you know, fairly easy.

0:38:400:38:45

But when you see all of the clothing and...

0:38:450:38:48

..the everyday occurrence of people living their lives

0:38:500:38:56

and it's here in this, um...

0:38:560:38:58

..desperate condition following this crash, then, yeah, you, er...

0:39:000:39:04

..of course you think about the occupants of the vehicle, you know,

0:39:060:39:09

what they must have been going through as this collision ensued.

0:39:090:39:14

We were in touch with the family for quite a while

0:39:140:39:17

after that particular accident.

0:39:170:39:20

You know, you're losing someone that you love.

0:39:200:39:22

The circumstances were easily explained,

0:39:220:39:25

but the loss to the family, it was raw.

0:39:250:39:28

To complete his work,

0:39:300:39:32

Dave needs to determine the speed of the collision

0:39:320:39:35

and whether the road condition played a part.

0:39:350:39:38

This is a laser scanner. Essentially, what it does

0:39:380:39:41

is it fires out a laser 122,000 times a second,

0:39:410:39:45

and the light returns and it measures that return

0:39:450:39:48

and creates millions of points

0:39:480:39:50

and we have what is called a points cloud.

0:39:500:39:54

The laser scanner lets Dave construct a 3-D image of the crash scene.

0:39:540:39:59

So what we're looking at here is the A64 at Whitwell Hill

0:39:590:40:02

and tracking the tyre marks left by the Mercedes as it left the road

0:40:020:40:07

before it struck the barrier in this area here.

0:40:070:40:10

And then, ahead of that, the car collided with the concrete end ramp.

0:40:100:40:14

That ripped the floor out from the vehicle and caused the damage

0:40:140:40:19

and the serious injuries, probably the fatal injuries, to the driver.

0:40:190:40:23

And from this point onwards,

0:40:240:40:26

the car effectively flipped onto its roof

0:40:260:40:29

and continued for quite some distance further

0:40:290:40:32

before coming to a stop out of sight and over the hill crest.

0:40:320:40:37

The reconstruction confirms

0:40:390:40:41

Dave's estimations of the speed of the crash.

0:40:410:40:44

He was driving at high speed. Very high speed.

0:40:440:40:47

In the region of 90 to 100mph.

0:40:470:40:50

And there's nothing to suggest there were any external factors

0:40:500:40:53

to cause the collision.

0:40:530:40:56

The road surface was in a good condition,

0:40:560:40:58

the vehicle itself was fine, good mechanical order.

0:40:580:41:03

And as we start to eliminate all these other factors,

0:41:030:41:06

we're left with the driver as being the cause of the accident,

0:41:060:41:11

for want of a better term.

0:41:110:41:12

I've only ever come across a non-driver event

0:41:120:41:18

on two or three occasions in 15 years of detailed analysis.

0:41:180:41:22

And it only takes a momentary lapse

0:41:220:41:25

for something catastrophic to happen.

0:41:250:41:27

With all other reasons for the crash ruled out,

0:41:270:41:30

the next line of inquiry will be the driver's condition

0:41:300:41:34

and whether the drugs found at the scene played a part.

0:41:340:41:37

60 miles north-east, near Scarborough,

0:41:420:41:45

traffic cops Mark Gonella and Paul Moon are on traffic patrol.

0:41:450:41:49

Paul needs to return to base to collect a vital piece of police kit.

0:41:500:41:54

Can we go to Eastfield, mate, please?

0:41:540:41:56

I need to pick my cuffs up. Haven't got any cuffs.

0:41:570:42:00

I've got a spare set in me bag, but they're the FlexiCuffs.

0:42:020:42:05

-Have you still got a pair of them?

-Yeah.

-Cor!

0:42:050:42:08

It shows my age, that, doesn't it?

0:42:080:42:10

Paul and I have worked together since 2000,

0:42:100:42:14

since I transferred to this force.

0:42:140:42:17

I've spent more time with Paul than I have with my own children.

0:42:170:42:20

So I've got to say that I know him very well!

0:42:200:42:25

'You bounce off each other.'

0:42:250:42:27

Are they edged in a material?

0:42:270:42:29

Yeah, fluffy ones, yeah!

0:42:290:42:31

-In toy shops.

-No, if you need to talk about it...!

-Special toy shops!

0:42:310:42:35

Uncle Paul, do you need to talk about it?

0:42:350:42:37

We're like chalk and cheese. Totally opposites.

0:42:370:42:40

When I go to a job, I'm double crew with Mark.

0:42:400:42:42

I think we've got a really, really good working partnership.

0:42:420:42:46

You know what? I always say this to people, which makes me chuckle.

0:42:460:42:50

They always say, "Huh, these are uncomfortable!"

0:42:500:42:52

And I go, "They're not designed for comfort.

0:42:520:42:55

"If they were designed for comfort, they'd have fluffy bits on them."

0:42:550:42:58

THEY CHUCKLE

0:42:580:42:59

But before they can return for the cuffs,

0:43:000:43:02

a nearby unit calls for assistance with a dangerous driver.

0:43:020:43:06

Two colleagues travelling along the A64,

0:43:250:43:28

they've got a prisoner on board

0:43:280:43:30

and there's a car in front of them which is all over the road.

0:43:300:43:33

They think the driver is affected by drink or drugs.

0:43:330:43:36

Because they've got one on board, they don't want to try and stop it.

0:43:360:43:40

Paul and Mark soon find the car and take over the pursuit.

0:43:400:43:44

It's clear the driver is not in control.

0:43:510:43:54

It is pretty poor, isn't it?

0:43:550:43:57

-Just watch there, look.

-Yeah.

0:43:570:43:59

Look at that. That's a bit of lane change, isn't it?

0:44:040:44:08

The police hit their lights and pull the car over.

0:44:080:44:11

Onto the metal.

0:44:110:44:12

Hello there. How are you guys?

0:44:160:44:19

There are two women in the front and a man in the back.

0:44:190:44:22

Any idea why we're stopping you?

0:44:220:44:24

Why are you driving the way you're driving? You're all over the road!

0:44:260:44:28

When you were just driving down this road,

0:44:280:44:30

you were all over the place. Why was that?

0:44:300:44:33

Haven't you?

0:44:350:44:36

-You don't drink?

-No.

-On any medication or anything like that?

0:44:360:44:39

No medication? No, OK.

0:44:390:44:41

-Do you have your driving licence with you, please?

-No.

-You don't.

0:44:410:44:44

'I couldn't smell any alcohol or that at all.

0:44:440:44:46

'But at that point I did notice that she was missing her two front teeth,

0:44:460:44:50

'and that's very common in people that smoke heroin.'

0:44:500:44:54

It takes the enamel off the front teeth,

0:44:540:44:57

and both the front teeth were fallen out.

0:44:570:44:59

Will you just jump out a minute?

0:44:590:45:00

I just want to breathalyse you, then we can crack on our way.

0:45:000:45:04

'As she got out, she walked to the back of the car,

0:45:040:45:06

'she had to put her hand on the rear quarter

0:45:060:45:08

'to steady herself from falling over.'

0:45:080:45:10

So that was a good giveaway that she was affected by something.

0:45:100:45:13

So, take a nice, deep breath

0:45:130:45:15

and blow nice and gentle into this until I tell you to stop.

0:45:150:45:17

OK? Nice, deep breath. Nice and gentle.

0:45:170:45:19

Blow. That's it, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.

0:45:190:45:23

That's it. Thank you.

0:45:230:45:24

-That's zero.

-Why were you all over the road, then?

0:45:260:45:28

-I mean, it was quite worrying.

-I am tired.

0:45:280:45:31

-It's just we set off really late.

-And where are you going now?

0:45:310:45:33

-To Scarborough.

-To do what, though?

-Um, my son, see my son's friend.

0:45:330:45:40

-Are you on any methadone or anything like that?

-No.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

0:45:400:45:43

-Mm-hm.

-But you know what I'm talking about?

-Yeah.

0:45:430:45:46

'She knew what methadone was.'

0:45:460:45:48

It's given by a doctor, normally to help someone come off of heroin.

0:45:480:45:53

A lot of people, if you asked them,

0:45:530:45:54

wouldn't even know what sort of drug that was.

0:45:540:45:57

-You're not on it at the moment?

-No.

0:45:570:45:58

-No.

-OK. Have you taken anything else?

-No.

0:45:580:46:02

She was very lethargic. She wasn't answering the questions fully.

0:46:020:46:08

'There's all these things that are starting to build and build'

0:46:080:46:11

to make us think she's a drug-driver.

0:46:110:46:15

Do you use...drugs?

0:46:150:46:18

-Be honest with me, because we'll do...

-No.

-Right.

0:46:180:46:21

-But you have used drugs before?

-Not now, no.

-OK.

-All right.

0:46:210:46:24

Right, when was the last time you took drugs?

0:46:240:46:27

Be honest with me.

0:46:270:46:29

Oh, a while back. About, oh, a month ago, two months ago.

0:46:290:46:33

Now, because of the manner of driving, we've followed you

0:46:330:46:36

and we've seen you weaving across the road, OK?

0:46:360:46:39

We've both got concerns that you may be affected

0:46:390:46:42

by something other than alcohol.

0:46:420:46:45

Unlike drink-driving, which can be breath-tested,

0:46:450:46:49

checking for the influence of drugs is more difficult.

0:46:490:46:51

What we're going to do is what's called a Fit test, OK?

0:46:510:46:54

A Field Impairment Test.

0:46:540:46:56

So look just straight ahead.

0:46:560:46:57

I'm just going to put this card to the side of your face.

0:46:570:46:59

I'm just going to measure the size of your pupils. Look straight ahead.

0:46:590:47:03

A Fit test, called a Field Impairment Test,

0:47:030:47:06

it's like the American cops, where they

0:47:060:47:08

get somebody to walk in a straight line,

0:47:080:47:10

touch their nose with their fingers, that kind of thing.

0:47:100:47:12

Yeah, and the other side. Just keep looking straight ahead.

0:47:120:47:16

OK, thank you.

0:47:170:47:18

'And it just shows if somebody's got balance or co-ordination

0:47:180:47:21

'or can follow instructions.'

0:47:210:47:23

When I tell you, tilt your head back slightly, close your eyes

0:47:230:47:27

and then, when you think 30 seconds has passed,

0:47:270:47:31

bring your head forward, open your eyes and say, "Stop."

0:47:310:47:34

OK, so... OK, begin.

0:47:340:47:36

If someone is using drugs,

0:47:380:47:40

the time perception test can indicate what that drug is.

0:47:400:47:45

If they're on speed, they'll be finished within 20 seconds,

0:47:450:47:49

whilst if they're on cannabis or something like that,

0:47:490:47:51

they'll count up to, I don't know, 40 seconds.

0:47:510:47:55

-So, how long was that?

-I would say it was 27, maybe, I don't know.

0:47:550:47:59

OK. No problems.

0:47:590:48:00

The Fit test can't prove the driver is on drugs,

0:48:000:48:03

but it will tell Mark and Paul

0:48:030:48:04

if they need to take her in for a blood test.

0:48:040:48:07

When I tell you,

0:48:070:48:08

you must raise your right foot six to eight inches

0:48:080:48:11

or 15 to 20 centimetres off the ground,

0:48:110:48:14

keeping your leg straight and your toes pointing forward

0:48:140:48:18

whilst counting aloud in the following manner -

0:48:180:48:21

1,001, 1,002 and so on - until I tell you to stop. OK?

0:48:210:48:25

-Right.

-1,001...

0:48:250:48:27

-I can't do it.

-Why not?

0:48:270:48:29

I was falling. 1,001, 1,002...

0:48:300:48:33

Yeah.

0:48:330:48:35

..1,003, 1,004, 1,005...

0:48:350:48:38

1,006... Oh, I'm going downwards, aren't I?

0:48:380:48:42

-Oh, dear! You want me to go down, don't you?

-No.

0:48:420:48:45

-Unfortunately for you, my dear, you've failed it miserably.

-Really?

0:48:450:48:48

Yeah. OK? I'm now arresting you on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle

0:48:480:48:53

-whilst unfit through drink or drugs, OK?

-OK.

0:48:530:48:55

-Do you understand what's happening?

-You need to come with me, my dear.

0:48:550:48:58

Just jump in there, my dear.

0:48:580:49:00

I'll give you a hand to get in so you don't fall over.

0:49:000:49:02

Mark and Paul have no choice but to take her in for a blood test.

0:49:020:49:05

The man and woman left in the car are the driver's mother and son.

0:49:070:49:11

Well, we need to take her to the police station, all right?

0:49:110:49:14

And we need to get some blood samples from her.

0:49:140:49:17

So what we're going to do is we'll get your car with you in it

0:49:170:49:21

up to the police station. The decision is yours what you do there.

0:49:210:49:25

I think I would most probably stay with Grandma. And someone will

0:49:250:49:28

let you know what's happening with your daughter as soon as we can.

0:49:280:49:31

All right?

0:49:310:49:33

The elderly mother in the front, she's confused, she's upset,

0:49:330:49:36

she's worried about what's happening.

0:49:360:49:38

And you've got to try and help her, you've got to try and appease her.

0:49:380:49:42

For her, she's saying that her daughter does nothing wrong.

0:49:420:49:46

She can't understand what's going on.

0:49:460:49:49

So we've got a job to do, but you've got to try and make it as...

0:49:490:49:52

..as easy as possible for other people that are involved with it.

0:49:530:49:57

The van takes the driver back to the station...

0:49:580:50:01

Unfortunately, my dear, you've got me as company.

0:50:030:50:05

..while Paul and Mark drive the mother and son to nearby Scarborough.

0:50:050:50:09

Do you want to follow me?

0:50:160:50:19

Come this way.

0:50:190:50:20

Later, in police custody,

0:50:230:50:25

the driver admits to be using methadone.

0:50:250:50:28

-How much are you taking of that a day?

-40.

-40ml, yeah?

0:50:280:50:32

And is that supervised, or do you get it yourself

0:50:330:50:36

and you're allowed to take it with you?

0:50:360:50:37

-Um, it was unsupervised, but, um...

-When did you last have it?

0:50:370:50:42

Um, yesterday.

0:50:420:50:44

A doctor has arrived to carry out a blood test.

0:50:440:50:46

-Do you want to come with me, please?

-Yes.

-Just follow me.

0:50:460:50:51

But there's another problem.

0:50:510:50:53

She did another kind of Field Impairment Test

0:50:530:50:56

in there for the doctor, and she failed that, as well,

0:50:560:50:59

and therefore he consented to taking blood off her.

0:50:590:51:02

He tried to take her blood, but unfortunately, because all the veins

0:51:020:51:05

have collapsed due to a long period of drug abuse,

0:51:050:51:08

he couldn't get blood. So our only option now is to take urine.

0:51:080:51:12

The urine sample shows the driver

0:51:120:51:15

is under the influence of heroin and cocaine.

0:51:150:51:18

She is on illegal drugs,

0:51:180:51:21

and yet she was quite willing to put her mum's life

0:51:210:51:26

and her son's life in danger.

0:51:260:51:27

'There's no excuse for it. She's only got herself to blame.'

0:51:280:51:32

I've got no sympathy for anybody that takes drugs

0:51:320:51:35

and drives a motor vehicle on the road.

0:51:350:51:37

They're just putting everybody's lives at risk.

0:51:370:51:39

You see the consequences of their actions.

0:51:390:51:41

You've got to deal with the families, tell them that loved ones

0:51:410:51:44

have been killed, and you see the grieving that the families

0:51:440:51:46

go through because they've lost their loved one.

0:51:460:51:48

And I tell you what, it's just horrendous and I hate it.

0:51:480:51:52

Everybody thinks, "Oh, it won't happen to me, won't happen to me,"

0:51:520:51:55

until it does happen, and then it just tears lives apart.

0:51:550:51:58

It's estimated that drug-driving

0:52:030:52:05

is responsible for 200 deaths each year on Britain's roads.

0:52:050:52:09

40 miles away, in Thirsk,

0:52:110:52:13

the investigation into whether drugs played a role

0:52:130:52:16

in the fatal accident on the A64 is approaching its conclusion.

0:52:160:52:20

A forensic reconstruction has ruled out

0:52:230:52:25

anything other than driver error for the collision.

0:52:250:52:29

A bag of cocaine found at the crash scene means North Yorkshire's

0:52:290:52:32

dedicated search team, led by Mike Pickersgill,

0:52:320:52:36

have been called in to go over the car for more evidence.

0:52:360:52:40

The accident investigation team

0:52:400:52:41

believe there may have been drugs in the vehicle.

0:52:410:52:44

I've got a team here of licensed, search-trained officers,

0:52:440:52:47

and they will search this vehicle systematically

0:52:470:52:50

and take as long as it takes to see if there are drugs in the vehicle.

0:52:500:52:54

Our role is to recover evidence,

0:52:540:52:56

and it's what could have caused the factor for the driver to have driven

0:52:560:53:00

the way he did, which has resulted in a nasty, serious accident.

0:53:000:53:03

Mike's team are a specialist unit North Yorkshire's police

0:53:050:53:08

can call on to conduct fine-detail searches of potential crime scenes.

0:53:080:53:13

We search a lot of vehicles. This is our bread and butter.

0:53:130:53:16

These search officers like nothing more than

0:53:160:53:19

getting right into the nuts and bolts of the vehicle

0:53:190:53:22

and going down to the sort of very, very concealed areas,

0:53:220:53:27

because people will secrete items in places you wouldn't expect.

0:53:270:53:31

But these guys will find it if it's there.

0:53:310:53:34

The damage to the car has jammed the boot shut.

0:53:340:53:37

The problem we've got here is,

0:53:370:53:39

due to the severe impact of the vehicle during the crash,

0:53:390:53:43

we're now in difficulty getting into the boot.

0:53:430:53:45

It's just not looking in the boot,

0:53:450:53:47

there's panels in there, there's voids within the boot area.

0:53:470:53:50

So, again, if there's drugs in there,

0:53:500:53:52

they could well be hidden within that boot area.

0:53:520:53:55

Fire-brigade officers are called to prise open the boot.

0:53:560:54:00

Nothing is found.

0:54:020:54:03

But the search isn't complete

0:54:030:54:05

until every last square inch is combed through.

0:54:050:54:08

Licensed, search-trained officers

0:54:080:54:10

will search down to a Sim Card level.

0:54:100:54:12

You're looking at something the size of your fingernail.

0:54:120:54:15

We don't leave any stone unturned and don't get complacent,

0:54:150:54:19

because you will find something at the moment

0:54:190:54:21

when you think you've nearly finished the search.

0:54:210:54:23

So if there is anything there, genuinely we will find it.

0:54:230:54:27

At last, the team finds what it was brought in to unearth.

0:54:280:54:32

This officer's found a quantity of controlled drugs

0:54:380:54:41

within a sunglasses case, which was the purpose of this search.

0:54:410:54:46

There's six to eight small bags of white powder

0:54:460:54:49

which looks to me like cocaine.

0:54:490:54:52

We believe this road traffic accident

0:54:520:54:53

has possibly got an influence with drugs to it,

0:54:530:54:56

and there's the evidence to suggest the search was justified

0:54:560:55:00

in what we're looking for.

0:55:000:55:01

That's come from under the rear seat within the sunglasses case.

0:55:010:55:06

So a good find.

0:55:060:55:08

All the police investigations into the crash are now finished.

0:55:100:55:14

Their conclusions support what the coroner's report has now found,

0:55:150:55:20

that the dead driver was under the influence of drugs.

0:55:200:55:23

For Julian Pearson, the senior officer at the scene of the crash,

0:55:270:55:31

it's another example of a key problem on Britain's roads.

0:55:310:55:36

I think drug-driving is actually worse now than drink-driving.

0:55:360:55:40

Drink-driving has become socially unacceptable.

0:55:400:55:42

Drugs, however, is a different kettle of fish.

0:55:420:55:45

People don't talk about drugs, do they?

0:55:450:55:47

Businessmen, ladies, whatever,

0:55:470:55:50

doing a few lines of coke at a party...

0:55:500:55:53

and these people still think

0:55:530:55:55

it's acceptable to get in a car and drive.

0:55:550:55:57

You can drive down the road at 100mph, as this chap's done

0:55:570:56:01

and killed himself and seriously injured his occupants.

0:56:010:56:06

I think the public don't realise how important it is.

0:56:080:56:12

At an inquest into the death of the driver

0:56:220:56:24

who crashed on the A64 near Malton,

0:56:240:56:27

the coroner passed a verdict of accidental death.

0:56:270:56:29

Police confirmed the driver

0:56:290:56:31

was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash.

0:56:310:56:35

No action was taken against the driver

0:56:360:56:38

who Julian Pearson suspected of being drunk in charge.

0:56:380:56:41

A test confirmed the erratic female driver

0:56:430:56:45

who failed the roadside drug impairment test

0:56:450:56:48

was driving under the influence of cocaine and heroin.

0:56:480:56:51

At court, she pleaded guilty

0:56:520:56:54

to driving whilst being unfit through drugs.

0:56:540:56:57

She was banned from driving for one year and fined £230.

0:56:570:57:01

The Audi driver who visited the suspected dealer's house in York

0:57:030:57:06

pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine

0:57:060:57:09

and received a six-month conditional discharge.

0:57:090:57:12

A blood test confirmed a variety of Class A and Class B drugs

0:57:130:57:17

in the driver's system at the time of his arrest.

0:57:170:57:20

And the two men caught with nearly 2,000 diazepam tablets

0:57:220:57:25

pleaded guilty to possession and received a total of £800 in fines.

0:57:250:57:30

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