Tickets, Credits and Consequences

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05Every year, more than 25,000 people are killed or seriously

0:00:05 > 0:00:08- injured on Britain's roads. - It's just heartbreaking.

0:00:08 > 0:00:13- In order to reduce road casualties...- See your tyres here?

0:00:13 > 0:00:14Hello, how are you?

0:00:14 > 0:00:16..the traffic cops in Bedfordshire are cracking down

0:00:16 > 0:00:19and giving tickets out for any traffic offence.

0:00:19 > 0:00:21You're wasting everybody's time, and your own.

0:00:21 > 0:00:24No matter how minor they may seem.

0:00:24 > 0:00:27If there is a collision, the dark windows could be

0:00:27 > 0:00:29a result of the fact he can't see who is coming either side.

0:00:29 > 0:00:34A lot of people that we stop, their only dealing with the police is

0:00:34 > 0:00:36when we stop them for the seatbelt, for the mobile phone.

0:00:36 > 0:00:39To them, it is quite minor, but they don't see the catastrophic

0:00:39 > 0:00:42incidents that we go to and what we have to deal with.

0:00:42 > 0:00:45Along the way up here, she was on the phone.

0:01:10 > 0:01:13In an effort to catch more motorists violating road traffic laws

0:01:13 > 0:01:15and make roads safer,

0:01:15 > 0:01:18the police in Bedfordshire have introduced an incentive scheme,

0:01:18 > 0:01:22where officers receive credit for the tickets they hand out.

0:01:22 > 0:01:28- And how much is this?- £60.- £60? And how much is that?- £60.- £120!- Yeah.

0:01:28 > 0:01:31It effectively works on when you give out a ticket,

0:01:31 > 0:01:34for example, a fixed penalty endorsible ticket, which

0:01:34 > 0:01:40carries three points, and a £60 fine, that will give you five credits.

0:01:40 > 0:01:41Is this your vehicle?

0:01:41 > 0:01:45'If you arrest a disqual driver or somebody that's drink-driving,

0:01:45 > 0:01:47'that's 20 credits, because it's an arrest.'

0:01:48 > 0:01:51But you will generally find that we don't go out there and think,

0:01:51 > 0:01:54right, today we are going to give out ten speeding tickets,

0:01:54 > 0:01:56just to get those amount of credits.

0:01:56 > 0:02:00They naturally fall into place within your working day, anyway.

0:02:00 > 0:02:03The idea is to get people to understand the message that

0:02:03 > 0:02:08breaking the law can cost lives. But it's not only about road safety.

0:02:08 > 0:02:11With a monthly target of 300 credits to hit,

0:02:11 > 0:02:14the clampdown is also about keeping officers on their toes.

0:02:14 > 0:02:17To some extent, our discretion has been taken away.

0:02:17 > 0:02:21We can't just let people off with a verbal warning any more.

0:02:23 > 0:02:26This morning, PC Andy Scales is on patrol with

0:02:26 > 0:02:30PC Chris Norton in Dunstable town centre.

0:02:30 > 0:02:34Being able to spot possible offences in a flash is what being

0:02:34 > 0:02:36a good traffic cop is all about.

0:02:38 > 0:02:42A motorist waiting at the lights ahead has caught Chris's attention.

0:02:42 > 0:02:45That BMW, he's on the phone.

0:02:45 > 0:02:48The M3 at the front, he's got a black number plate, as well.

0:02:50 > 0:02:51Hang on to your hats.

0:02:51 > 0:02:55The black number plate Chris has spotted isn't regulation

0:02:55 > 0:02:59and it is one of their specific targets, worth a few credits.

0:02:59 > 0:03:02Oh, yeah.

0:03:02 > 0:03:05But it looks like Chris was wrong about the mobile phone.

0:03:05 > 0:03:08He's still on it. Oh, no, he's not, he's rubbing his ear.

0:03:08 > 0:03:11And that's not an offence.

0:03:11 > 0:03:15Under pressure to issue tickets for every offence, Chris and Andy

0:03:15 > 0:03:19are going to have a word with the driver about his illegal plate.

0:03:19 > 0:03:21'I could see the number plate quite clearly

0:03:21 > 0:03:24'and that's when I ran it through on the BlackBerry.'

0:03:24 > 0:03:29A quick check on Chris's hand-held through to the police computer

0:03:29 > 0:03:32shows the man shares his name with a mythological hero.

0:03:32 > 0:03:35Hercules. Kick him in the heel!

0:03:35 > 0:03:37HE LAUGHS

0:03:38 > 0:03:40Not Achilles?

0:03:40 > 0:03:43- Doesn't matter. - THEY LAUGH

0:03:43 > 0:03:45Come on, get your gods right!

0:03:45 > 0:03:49- Yeah, OK, Achilles wasn't a god, though.- He was.- No, he wasn't.

0:03:49 > 0:03:53- He was the son of Zeus. - He wasn't a god, he was mortal.

0:03:53 > 0:03:57We're not laughing and joking at other people's expense,

0:03:57 > 0:04:02this guy had a reasonably unusual surname and it just led us

0:04:02 > 0:04:06naturally on to discussing Greek mythology.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09- He can lift up the world, though, can't he?- That was Atlas.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12Good man! Here's a thinker.

0:04:12 > 0:04:16- Jolly good.- Hello, how are you?

0:04:16 > 0:04:17Thanks for stopping.

0:04:17 > 0:04:20Do you mind just joining me at the side of the road,

0:04:20 > 0:04:24so I'm not leaning into your car, talking to you like this?

0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Is it your car, sir?- You know that, don't you, already?

0:04:27 > 0:04:29I've never met you before, so how would I guess that?

0:04:29 > 0:04:33- You ran a check on me already. - I did a check on your car, not you.

0:04:33 > 0:04:3720,000 fixed penalty notice tickets are given out for traffic

0:04:37 > 0:04:39offences in Bedfordshire each year.

0:04:39 > 0:04:42More than a few recipients don't like the way they think

0:04:42 > 0:04:43they are being targeted.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46He had something to get off his chest

0:04:46 > 0:04:48and I was the person he was going to sound off at.

0:04:48 > 0:04:52- Why did you stop me? - I'll show you. Here.

0:04:52 > 0:04:55You've got a black number plate on your car, front and back.

0:04:55 > 0:04:58- Didn't I see you pass me, going the opposite way?- Yeah.

0:04:58 > 0:05:01So, how could you see I've got a black number plate on my car...

0:05:01 > 0:05:02Because you're at the front of the queue.

0:05:02 > 0:05:05But there was a queue, so you couldn't have seen through

0:05:05 > 0:05:07- the thing that I had... - Front and back.

0:05:07 > 0:05:10- We saw the one on the front... - Go and check the one on the front.

0:05:10 > 0:05:14- Because you are lying. - If I'm mistaken...- Go and check.

0:05:14 > 0:05:15There's no point being rude.

0:05:15 > 0:05:18You told me that you were going to be civil and honest.

0:05:18 > 0:05:20- So, be civil and honest.- My mistake.

0:05:20 > 0:05:24So, you can't even tell me the truth about why you stopped me.

0:05:24 > 0:05:27- Because I saw where you guys came from.- OK.

0:05:27 > 0:05:29And there is no way you saw the back of my plates.

0:05:29 > 0:05:31So I ask you again, why did you stop me?

0:05:31 > 0:05:34Why did you spin your car around and come and follow me? Why?

0:05:34 > 0:05:36Because I saw you had a black number plate.

0:05:36 > 0:05:38You could not have seen I had a black number plate.

0:05:38 > 0:05:41- I saw a black number plate on your car.- Oh, you are so telling lies!

0:05:41 > 0:05:44- I'm not telling lies. - You absolutely are telling lies. - I'm not telling lies.

0:05:44 > 0:05:47As I say, you know what, I've got bigger fish to fry,

0:05:47 > 0:05:50so do what you've got to do, send me on my way. Thank you very much.

0:05:50 > 0:05:51Have you got the original plate

0:05:51 > 0:05:53- for the back of the car? - It's in the boot.

0:05:53 > 0:05:55With all the things that are going on in the world,

0:05:55 > 0:05:57you can't find yourself something to do?

0:05:57 > 0:05:59Really and truly? You've seen me sitting there

0:05:59 > 0:06:02and you think you've seen a black plate on the back of my car?

0:06:02 > 0:06:04When you were coming from the opposite direction?

0:06:04 > 0:06:08There's not enough going on in the world for you not to find something to do?

0:06:08 > 0:06:12Stevie Wonder couldn't have seen a black plate on the front, do you understand me?

0:06:12 > 0:06:14Why did you turn your car around and come for me?

0:06:14 > 0:06:17Because I saw a black number plate on the vehicle.

0:06:17 > 0:06:19I thought there was one on the front, but there is one on the back.

0:06:19 > 0:06:22If you're not listening to me, don't ask questions, then.

0:06:22 > 0:06:25Your job is to go and do something constructive.

0:06:25 > 0:06:28My job is to enforce the law, road traffic law.

0:06:28 > 0:06:31And when you think about the things in the world that are going on,

0:06:31 > 0:06:34that you could be enforcing, you are wasting everybody's time,

0:06:34 > 0:06:36and your own.

0:06:36 > 0:06:39Right now, as you speak, some shit is going down of some consequence.

0:06:39 > 0:06:41You could not see the back of my car.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44- And you know it.- How do you know what my eyes can see?

0:06:44 > 0:06:46How do you know what my eyes can see?

0:06:46 > 0:06:48Because your eyes are not any different than anybody else's.

0:06:48 > 0:06:51And as far as I'm concerned, human beings can't see around corners.

0:06:51 > 0:06:53No, but I can turn my head.

0:06:53 > 0:06:59'He got it wrong, in that he thought we were coming towards him.

0:06:59 > 0:07:01'We were at a 90-degree angle

0:07:01 > 0:07:03'and I thought I saw a black number plate on the front.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07'And as I turned round, I also saw the black number plate on the back.'

0:07:07 > 0:07:09And he's got a black number plate, as well.

0:07:09 > 0:07:10You would be more honest if you said to me,

0:07:10 > 0:07:12"I saw you in that car and I fancied...

0:07:12 > 0:07:17"What is that geezer doing in that car, does it belong to him, maybe? Let me go and check him out."

0:07:17 > 0:07:18You would be more honest if you said that.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21The rules from the DVLA are that you've got to have a white

0:07:21 > 0:07:24number plate to the front, yellow number plate to the back.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26Because you're wearing that sign

0:07:26 > 0:07:29and that makes you think you can do whatever you want.

0:07:29 > 0:07:31- That's what it is, isn't it?- No.

0:07:33 > 0:07:38I think typically, loads of people that wear that sign are small men.

0:07:38 > 0:07:41Oh, I was expecting him to say that, I've been bullied at school.

0:07:41 > 0:07:42Because that's the common one.

0:07:42 > 0:07:44OK, yeah, well, I'm only five foot eight.

0:07:44 > 0:07:47You suffer with loads of issues and that's why you put that thing on.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50- That's exactly why. - That's your opinion, thanks for it.

0:07:50 > 0:07:53I haven't got a problem with you as police, I think

0:07:53 > 0:07:56- you do a good service... - Thank you.- ..most of the time.

0:07:56 > 0:07:57Just not when I'm stopping you?

0:07:57 > 0:07:59No, when you've stopped me for nothing!

0:07:59 > 0:08:02You've stopped me because you saw me in the car. Did my face not fit?

0:08:02 > 0:08:05Is that what you're saying? Can you not be that honest?

0:08:05 > 0:08:08- I wouldn't even con...- It's not the first time it's happened to me.

0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Do you understand me?- I think you've got issues about that,

0:08:11 > 0:08:13because it's not anything to do with that, for me.

0:08:13 > 0:08:15What, is the next thing you'll be telling me

0:08:15 > 0:08:18- that I've got a chip on my shoulder? - No.- I was born and raised here.

0:08:18 > 0:08:19Listen to what he's got to say.

0:08:19 > 0:08:22You can go on your way, sir, there's your licence.

0:08:22 > 0:08:26There's a £60 fine for failure to display the correct index plate.

0:08:26 > 0:08:28Is there anything you wish to say, finally?

0:08:28 > 0:08:30You don't have to, but it may harm your defence

0:08:30 > 0:08:32if you fail to mention now something you later rely on in court.

0:08:32 > 0:08:34Anything you say may be given in evidence.

0:08:34 > 0:08:36- Am I going to court for a £60 fine?- If you choose to.

0:08:36 > 0:08:40If you fail to pay it within 28 days, it goes up to £90.

0:08:40 > 0:08:45Clamping down on motorists harder than ever is never going to be popular.

0:08:46 > 0:08:48He's got the correct one in the boot.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59This is the Marsh Farm estate in Luton.

0:08:59 > 0:09:01It's been perceived as a notorious trouble spot ever since

0:09:01 > 0:09:04riots took place here in the mid-1990s.

0:09:05 > 0:09:08Despite efforts to improve social conditions,

0:09:08 > 0:09:11the police often find themselves drawn here.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14Marsh Farm has historically had its problems.

0:09:14 > 0:09:17So it is a known area by a lot of the officers in Luton.

0:09:17 > 0:09:21That's not to say everyone in Marsh Farm causes us problems.

0:09:21 > 0:09:24We will go round there, because we do pick up a fair amount of

0:09:24 > 0:09:29vehicles without tax, insurance and drivers without driving licences.

0:09:29 > 0:09:34Sam and Shona have to get their monthly quota of credits, as well.

0:09:34 > 0:09:35That's worth a stop. That Mondeo.

0:09:35 > 0:09:40Not that they ever find it difficult to reach their target.

0:09:40 > 0:09:43The car and its occupants they have spotted this time

0:09:43 > 0:09:46ARE under suspicion because of the way they look.

0:09:46 > 0:09:50- Don't know what way they're going to go.- There it is. The grey one.- Yep.

0:09:50 > 0:09:53We had two males sitting in the front of the vehicle

0:09:53 > 0:09:56and something just didn't look right about either of them.

0:09:56 > 0:10:00And it seems the cops were right to be suspicious.

0:10:00 > 0:10:02They are making a run for it.

0:10:02 > 0:10:06It's the light blue Mondeo, it's gone for the overtake.

0:10:06 > 0:10:09The driver clearly clocked that we wanted to speak to him,

0:10:09 > 0:10:12so he turned into the car park area...

0:10:12 > 0:10:14We're going to have to decamp, Sam.

0:10:14 > 0:10:18- ..and decided to go for a run in the sun.- I'm getting out here.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21The passenger is nowhere to be seen, but if they are quick enough,

0:10:21 > 0:10:24there is still a chance of catching the driver.

0:10:24 > 0:10:26All I could see was the back of him, when we were running.

0:10:26 > 0:10:30This is a handicap race and the odds are not in Shona's favour.

0:10:30 > 0:10:34With my body armour on, it's like an extra stone in weight.

0:10:34 > 0:10:37And when you are running, your body armour bounces

0:10:37 > 0:10:41up and down and you can't get a really good run on,

0:10:41 > 0:10:45because you are constantly fighting the weight of the body armour.

0:10:45 > 0:10:49- Male, light blue jeans, yellow T-shirt.- Shona?

0:10:49 > 0:10:54- Need a unit on the pub road. Sam, go back to the car!- Sam's race is run.

0:10:54 > 0:10:57Any evidence of any offences that had been committed

0:10:57 > 0:11:00was going to be in that car, which was insecure and unattended.

0:11:01 > 0:11:04- We'll go back to the car. RADIO:- 'Proceed. Thank you.'

0:11:04 > 0:11:05'The driver knew the area.

0:11:05 > 0:11:08'The pathway goes, literally, straight back into Marsh Farm.'

0:11:08 > 0:11:12- RADIO:- 'He is running back into Marsh Farm somewhere.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15'He is going to be in the trees.'

0:11:16 > 0:11:19Luckily for Sam and Shona, help is close at hand.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22SIRENS BLARE

0:11:22 > 0:11:26Main description that has come out is light yellow T-shirt,

0:11:26 > 0:11:30blue jeans, trainers, with dark hair.

0:11:30 > 0:11:34It's quite handy we've got so much traffic here. Just, unfortunately,

0:11:34 > 0:11:35he has made off and left us.

0:11:35 > 0:11:39A search of the car shows the occupants were in such a hurry

0:11:39 > 0:11:41they have left behind the keys.

0:11:41 > 0:11:44Sam has found a mobile phone too.

0:11:44 > 0:11:46When I'd found the phone, I will obviously have a look to see

0:11:46 > 0:11:48if it's been used or has been used recently.

0:11:48 > 0:11:52- RADIO:- 'Just one hit on the mobile phone,

0:11:52 > 0:11:54'that is on 22 April this year

0:11:54 > 0:11:57'and that was for the vehicle.'

0:11:57 > 0:12:01Someone using this mobile phone has previously used it to call

0:12:01 > 0:12:04the police to report that the same car had been stolen.

0:12:04 > 0:12:06- PHONE RINGS - Now it is ringing.

0:12:08 > 0:12:10Hello?

0:12:11 > 0:12:12Hello?

0:12:14 > 0:12:17Hello?

0:12:17 > 0:12:19Hello. Who are you after?

0:12:21 > 0:12:22You're after Abe?

0:12:22 > 0:12:26Abe is not here at the moment. Who is that?

0:12:26 > 0:12:28Who is that? Who is ringing Abe's number,

0:12:28 > 0:12:30because I have picked up his phone?

0:12:32 > 0:12:36Steve. All right, then. Steve, where is Abe likely to be going?

0:12:36 > 0:12:38Is he coming to see you?

0:12:38 > 0:12:41I thought it was perhaps a person that had run off from the car and he

0:12:41 > 0:12:43had realised he had left his phone in the car, to see who would pick up

0:12:43 > 0:12:47the phone, if anybody, and what was going to happen.

0:12:47 > 0:12:54Oh, right. Is Abe meant to be coming to you? Right. OK. Cool.

0:12:54 > 0:12:57OK. Not to worry. I will give you a call back once we find him.

0:12:59 > 0:13:02Cheers for your help, Steve. Bye.

0:13:02 > 0:13:08- Shona has returned empty-handed. - Abe's friend Steve just phoned up.

0:13:08 > 0:13:11"Abe? Abe?" "No, it is not Abe."

0:13:11 > 0:13:14- I am his girlfriend.- I went, "Who is that then?"

0:13:14 > 0:13:17He went, "Steve. I am in Barton. Where is he?" He went, "Who is that?"

0:13:17 > 0:13:20I went, "Abe, where is he?" "It's the police, innit?"

0:13:20 > 0:13:22MIMICS DIAL TONE

0:13:22 > 0:13:26- So it is from Barton then?- Yeah, Abe.- That is not who is on the...

0:13:26 > 0:13:30- Abraham- BLEEP.- But that is who they said they Camphored it with.

0:13:30 > 0:13:34A "Camphor" is a vehicle seizure under section 165 of the

0:13:34 > 0:13:37Road Traffic Act, meaning the driver was disqualified or uninsured.

0:13:37 > 0:13:38A disqualified driver most probably.

0:13:38 > 0:13:42'The vehicle had been seized under Operation Camphor

0:13:42 > 0:13:44'a couple of weeks prior,'

0:13:44 > 0:13:48and the driver at the time happened to be a male by the name of Abe.

0:13:50 > 0:13:53The question now is, is the man who phoned up really Abe,

0:13:53 > 0:13:57and is there really someone else involved called Steve?

0:13:57 > 0:14:00Because at the end of the day the person ringing could be

0:14:00 > 0:14:02a completely innocent member of the public,

0:14:02 > 0:14:04an innocent friend of somebody

0:14:04 > 0:14:06who has got his car for the wrong reasons.

0:14:06 > 0:14:09That is one less uninsured vehicle on the road then, isn't it?

0:14:09 > 0:14:13The car is going to be recovered, but the owner will be able to

0:14:13 > 0:14:17get it back as long as he can prove he has valid insurance.

0:14:17 > 0:14:23And we had a nice day out in the sunshine. A nice little jog. Some...

0:14:23 > 0:14:26- woodland walking. - I've got clean trousers on, as well.

0:14:26 > 0:14:29You still have clean trousers on. I haven't.

0:14:30 > 0:14:34- I haven't got Abe, I have his phone. - Steve has called again.

0:14:34 > 0:14:38He says the car is his, he is legal to drive and he wants it back.

0:14:39 > 0:14:41You are in that car park there.

0:14:41 > 0:14:44There is a unit that will sit here until you arrive.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47Good running skills, huh? Good running skills.

0:14:47 > 0:14:48Shame we didn't go on from there.

0:14:48 > 0:14:50- RADIO:- 'Be there in a couple of minutes.'

0:14:50 > 0:14:52You're a star. Cheers, mate.

0:14:52 > 0:14:53Sam has arranged for them

0:14:53 > 0:14:57to meet Steve at the nearby Marsh Farm tower blocks.

0:14:57 > 0:15:00- He just had too much ground on us. - Yeah.- But I am happy to run.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02So yeah, let's go for it.

0:15:02 > 0:15:05I didn't know if you wanted to get in the car and go the other way.

0:15:07 > 0:15:10Next door to Marsh Farm is another development that was

0:15:10 > 0:15:13built on what was once farm land around Luton -

0:15:13 > 0:15:15the Lewsey Farm estate.

0:15:16 > 0:15:19Traffic cops on the estate have pulled over a driver who was

0:15:19 > 0:15:21not wearing his seatbelt and are going to ticket him.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24- Have you got your driving licence with you?- No.

0:15:24 > 0:15:27- Have you got any form of identification with you?- No.

0:15:27 > 0:15:32- Nothing at all?- No, I was just going somewhere.- Was it your car?- Yes.

0:15:32 > 0:15:35So you have nothing in your car that will say who you are?

0:15:35 > 0:15:37No, I don't keep nothing in the car.

0:15:37 > 0:15:40Giving people tickets is not always straightforward.

0:15:40 > 0:15:43Many do not care for the cop's clampdown.

0:15:43 > 0:15:47People see what you are doing is actually for the better

0:15:47 > 0:15:49and to try and improve people's own safety

0:15:49 > 0:15:52and at the end of the day, it could actually increase their life

0:15:52 > 0:15:55expectancy, should they be wearing a seatbelt.

0:15:55 > 0:15:58Other people just think you are doing it to generate revenue for

0:15:58 > 0:16:00the Government, or for yourselves,

0:16:00 > 0:16:03and they just don't like the police, full stop.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05- Yes, but I just came out of that road.- I know.

0:16:05 > 0:16:09And I stopped before you stopped me to get my stereo.

0:16:09 > 0:16:12I took the seat belt off before you saw me.

0:16:12 > 0:16:14- You came out of that road, didn't you?- Yes.

0:16:14 > 0:16:17I just pulled the seatbelt off so I could reach over.

0:16:17 > 0:16:22I couldn't so I stopped here, I was going to put the seatbelt on

0:16:22 > 0:16:23and get my stereo out.

0:16:23 > 0:16:27So I wasn't driving, you never saw me driving, you weren't behind me

0:16:27 > 0:16:30- or anything, were you?- OK. Let me explain to you what I have seen.

0:16:30 > 0:16:33You are travelling in a vehicle that's come across my path

0:16:33 > 0:16:34and you did not have your seatbelt on.

0:16:34 > 0:16:37After speeding, more tickets are given out in Bedfordshire

0:16:37 > 0:16:39for people not wearing their seat belt

0:16:39 > 0:16:41then any other ticketable offence.

0:16:41 > 0:16:44The reason why we are stopping people for failing to wear

0:16:44 > 0:16:47a seatbelt is not just to point things out to you, it is to make you

0:16:47 > 0:16:51aware of the hazards involved by not wearing your seatbelt.

0:16:51 > 0:16:54We obviously deal with RTCs, road traffic collisions, where people

0:16:54 > 0:16:56are seriously injured as a result of not wearing their seatbelt.

0:16:56 > 0:17:00People when get issued with a seatbelt ticket they think, "Why are the police stopping me?"

0:17:00 > 0:17:03But when you have actually been to an accident yourself and you've seen

0:17:03 > 0:17:06someone thrown from a vehicle and then crushed by their own vehicle

0:17:06 > 0:17:10through not wearing their seat belt, you can see the reasons as to why.

0:17:10 > 0:17:12I am going to contest it anyway.

0:17:12 > 0:17:15Because you haven't got any form of identification with you,

0:17:15 > 0:17:17I need to take a fingerprint from you, OK?

0:17:17 > 0:17:18Which will be your right index finger.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21It goes with the ticket and once the matter is dealt with,

0:17:21 > 0:17:23whether at court or by you paying the fine then...

0:17:23 > 0:17:26I am not giving you a fingerprint.

0:17:26 > 0:17:27I have given you all my details,

0:17:27 > 0:17:30- I am not going to give you a fingerprint.- Let me finish, OK?

0:17:30 > 0:17:32We can either take the fingerprint by your consent,

0:17:32 > 0:17:36or we take a photograph, so it is up to you which one you want to provide.

0:17:36 > 0:17:38The police are going to get proof of who the man is,

0:17:38 > 0:17:40whether he likes it or not.

0:17:40 > 0:17:44Powers introduced in 2006, mean they can take prints

0:17:44 > 0:17:48or a mug shot and do it by force if necessary.

0:17:53 > 0:17:56Sam and Shona have got an illegal car off the road,

0:17:56 > 0:17:59but what they really want is someone to arrest

0:17:59 > 0:18:01and they are hoping Steve is going to help them.

0:18:03 > 0:18:05He knows something because he would not be phoning all the time.

0:18:05 > 0:18:07Is that him?

0:18:09 > 0:18:11Was he the one in the passenger seat?

0:18:11 > 0:18:14No. Definitely not.

0:18:14 > 0:18:19- Hello, my man.- Sam is pretty sure he is not the man who ran off either.

0:18:19 > 0:18:22'There was not much time for him to recompose himself

0:18:22 > 0:18:26'and not be out of breath and not be hot and sweaty.'

0:18:26 > 0:18:29He was very cool, calm, he didn't give me

0:18:29 > 0:18:32an indication that he had been running.

0:18:32 > 0:18:33I left my bloody keys in the car.

0:18:33 > 0:18:36I left it parked off the road. As you can see, it has

0:18:36 > 0:18:39no tax or anything on it at the moment, so I left it down here.

0:18:39 > 0:18:41How long have you owned the car?

0:18:41 > 0:18:43Er...couple of months.

0:18:43 > 0:18:46I haven't sent the log book off for it, I've forgotten it.

0:18:46 > 0:18:49If you were to leave your car with keys in the ignition in Marsh Farm,

0:18:49 > 0:18:53I can guarantee you within several minutes that

0:18:53 > 0:18:55car is going to be gone and it will be stolen,

0:18:55 > 0:18:58so that did not ring true.

0:18:58 > 0:19:00- How do you know it's Abe's?- Abe?

0:19:00 > 0:19:02- I used to work with him years ago.- OK.

0:19:02 > 0:19:06- So what are you doing ringing him then?- Just to see what he was up to.

0:19:08 > 0:19:12- Have you seen him this morning?- No. - Describe him to me.

0:19:12 > 0:19:20- About yey tall, small, short dark hair.- Yeah.- Quite thin.

0:19:20 > 0:19:25See, we have just had that car make off from us

0:19:25 > 0:19:27and whoever was driving it run off from us.

0:19:27 > 0:19:30- OK.- So we have now seized that car.

0:19:30 > 0:19:36The fact that he had rung his mate ten minutes after the driver had

0:19:36 > 0:19:39run off and decamped from the vehicle made me

0:19:39 > 0:19:41think that he knew who the driver was.

0:19:41 > 0:19:44- Where do you live, sir?- Me?

0:19:44 > 0:19:48- I live in Luton.- Whereabouts? - I'm in-between houses at the minute.

0:19:48 > 0:19:52- I am waiting for a flat to be done up.- I am not happy with this chap.

0:19:52 > 0:19:55Can you take a seat in our car? Just going to take some details.

0:19:55 > 0:19:57Looking back now, he possibly could have been in the car,

0:19:57 > 0:20:01however, at the time, I didn't believe he was in the car.

0:20:01 > 0:20:03Where were you when you phoned us?

0:20:03 > 0:20:07- Just round the corner at a mate's house.- Yeah?- Yeah.

0:20:07 > 0:20:10- Something is not quite right, is it, Steve?- No, definitely not.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13How about, what I think has happened, is you know that Abe has gone out

0:20:13 > 0:20:16in that car and you know that Abe has not got a driver's licence?

0:20:16 > 0:20:18I didn't know he went out in the car.

0:20:18 > 0:20:22It seems bizarre that you don't know much about Abe but you are staying at Abe's dad's house.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25I am not staying there, I have just been there. Can I go now, please?

0:20:25 > 0:20:27- No.- Not at the minute, no. - Am I being arrested then?

0:20:27 > 0:20:30No, you are being detained at the minute till I can make some further enquiries.

0:20:30 > 0:20:32I tell you what it is, whether I don't know a lot or not,

0:20:32 > 0:20:33I can't really help you.

0:20:33 > 0:20:36I would help you if I could, that's why I have come out now.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38I think you've come out now because you have a guilty

0:20:38 > 0:20:42conscience and you would rather come to us or we come to you.

0:20:42 > 0:20:45How do you know that he was driving the car or anything then?

0:20:45 > 0:20:48Did you see him run off or something?

0:20:48 > 0:20:50- We have our ways and means.- Do you? - STEVE LAUGHS

0:20:50 > 0:20:53He was very woolly about where he was living

0:20:53 > 0:20:56and then said that he had, literally, just come from Abe's house.

0:20:56 > 0:20:59To try to add a bit of substance to his story

0:20:59 > 0:21:02and because it is just around the corner,

0:21:02 > 0:21:06Steve is inviting Sam and Shona to what he says is Abe's dad's place.

0:21:06 > 0:21:08We found that the house was unlocked

0:21:08 > 0:21:12and we believed that Abe was possibly in the property.

0:21:12 > 0:21:14Hello? Police. Is anyone in here?

0:21:14 > 0:21:17That's a nice little boy. Who does he belong to?

0:21:17 > 0:21:20- No idea.- So should we be arresting you for burglary then?

0:21:20 > 0:21:22Because you don't seem to know anything about this house.

0:21:22 > 0:21:24Obviously I know who the owner is,

0:21:24 > 0:21:27I know the son and I have just popped round to see if he was here.

0:21:27 > 0:21:31- How did you get in?- Through the back door.- With what?- The door was open.

0:21:31 > 0:21:35- Would that be Abe?- No, that ain't him. That ain't a photo of him.

0:21:35 > 0:21:38- Who is that then?- I don't know.

0:21:38 > 0:21:42I'm not sure but I tell you now, that is not Abe.

0:21:42 > 0:21:45- But Abe's dad lives here?- Yeah. - So it wouldn't be unsurprising to

0:21:45 > 0:21:48- find a picture of Abe lying around here somewhere.- Course not.

0:21:48 > 0:21:50There is still no sign of Abe at all

0:21:50 > 0:21:53and still nothing to arrest Steve for at all.

0:21:53 > 0:21:57'There was nothing in the house of Abe,

0:21:57 > 0:22:01'which we found quite astonishing. We were thinking,'

0:22:01 > 0:22:03"Are you Abe? Are you not?"

0:22:03 > 0:22:05It was one of those. Still, right at the end,

0:22:05 > 0:22:08we just couldn't really put our finger on it.

0:22:08 > 0:22:11Steve, next time you speak to Abe, the worst that is going to happen

0:22:11 > 0:22:14if it was him that has your car, we would've seized it anyway

0:22:14 > 0:22:16for having no insurance and no driving licence.

0:22:16 > 0:22:18Running off, he's just made a bit of the fool of himself,

0:22:18 > 0:22:21made it bigger than it needed to, annoyed you

0:22:21 > 0:22:23and got people involved that don't need to be.

0:22:23 > 0:22:26If he needs the car, if he wants to be man enough to come up and stand up

0:22:26 > 0:22:27to it and deal with it, like I say,

0:22:27 > 0:22:29it can be dealt with very quickly and safely.

0:22:29 > 0:22:31We are on duty until seven.

0:22:31 > 0:22:34My collar number is 850 and my colleague's number is 928.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37If he wants to go into Luton police station and be man enough to

0:22:37 > 0:22:40- deal with it, pop in there and deal with it really quickly.- No problem.

0:22:42 > 0:22:46Back on the Lewsey Farm Estate, the man with no ID still doesn't

0:22:46 > 0:22:50want his photograph of fingerprints taken.

0:22:50 > 0:22:53For the cops, it is a necessity so if the matter ever goes to court,

0:22:53 > 0:22:57there is no doubt about who the ticket was given to.

0:22:57 > 0:22:59Basically, it's to reduce the number of people that are not paying

0:22:59 > 0:23:01the tickets they are issued with.

0:23:01 > 0:23:03Why are you lot doing this? Why are you wasting my time?

0:23:03 > 0:23:07- We are not wasting your time. - You are wasting my time. - No, we're not. OK?

0:23:07 > 0:23:10- They are the options.- I have never done this before in a police car.

0:23:10 > 0:23:13- "Give me your- BLEEP- fingerprint or give me your- BLEEP- photo."

0:23:13 > 0:23:16Listen to me. I am not swearing at you so I would like you to show...

0:23:16 > 0:23:17- I am not swearing at you. - Yes, you are.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20Now, I would like you to show me the same courtesy, OK?

0:23:20 > 0:23:22Just let me out, man.

0:23:22 > 0:23:26- I am going to ask you, can we take a photograph from you?- No, you can't.

0:23:26 > 0:23:28Well, we have the power to do it by force,

0:23:28 > 0:23:30or we can take a fingerprint from you.

0:23:30 > 0:23:33You ain't forcing me, I tell you, just let me out, man.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35You've got everything you need.

0:23:35 > 0:23:37James isn't letting the man out,

0:23:37 > 0:23:41he's getting his camera out from the back of the car.

0:23:41 > 0:23:44But before he does, the driver is going to have a quick fag break.

0:23:44 > 0:23:48- Don't light that in the back of here.- Let me out, then.- James.

0:23:48 > 0:23:50I'm not going to go nowhere, am I?

0:23:50 > 0:23:53- Please.- He's lit up in the back of the car.- You what?

0:23:53 > 0:23:56He's lit up a cigarette in the back of the car.

0:23:56 > 0:23:59Just let me out, man. I'm not going nowhere, am I?

0:23:59 > 0:24:01- Pass me the cigarette. - I'm going to stand outside.

0:24:01 > 0:24:04- No, pass me the cigarette. - Listen, I'll give you ID, all right?

0:24:04 > 0:24:07I've got ID, you're not taking no photos of me, all right?

0:24:07 > 0:24:09That's criminal damage to the police car, mate.

0:24:09 > 0:24:10Let me out, I'm standing here.

0:24:10 > 0:24:13I'm not going go leave my car now and run off, am I? Flippin 'eck.

0:24:13 > 0:24:17- Just please.- It's criminal damage to the police car.- I'm asking you.

0:24:17 > 0:24:19- No, I'm telling you to put it out. - Don't take my photo.- Why not?

0:24:19 > 0:24:22Cos I just said to you I'm going to give you my ID.

0:24:22 > 0:24:24- OK, like I said to you...- Did I not just say I'll give you my ID?

0:24:24 > 0:24:26Where is it, then? Put the cigarette out, then.

0:24:26 > 0:24:28- Let me out.- Put the cigarette out.

0:24:31 > 0:24:34- All right, I'll let it out. I'll do it.- Put it out the window, then.

0:24:34 > 0:24:37There isn't an ashtray, that's why I'm telling you to put it out.

0:24:37 > 0:24:40You put it out and give it back to me, then.

0:24:40 > 0:24:42Right.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45- Did you just throw my cigarette away?- It's on the floor, yeah?- Why?

0:24:45 > 0:24:47Why are you acting like an idiot?

0:24:47 > 0:24:50Why are you not giving me any ID when you've got it in your pocket, then?

0:24:50 > 0:24:51Well, I don't have to.

0:24:51 > 0:24:53I've never had to do it. Why do I have to give it to you?

0:24:53 > 0:24:55- It's an offence to fail... - Do you know what,

0:24:55 > 0:24:58I'm going to remember everything you've done here and said.

0:24:58 > 0:25:01- OK.- Everything.- Can we just have your driver's licence?- Yeah.

0:25:01 > 0:25:03- I'm going to give you my f... driver's licence.- Thank you.

0:25:03 > 0:25:06But I'm going to remember everything you two done and said here.

0:25:06 > 0:25:08- OK, it's fine. - Here you are.- Thank you.

0:25:10 > 0:25:12'I knew he was anti-police from the start,'

0:25:12 > 0:25:14but just the sheer audacity of the bloke

0:25:14 > 0:25:17to light a cigarette in the back of the car

0:25:17 > 0:25:19I found quite astounding, really.

0:25:19 > 0:25:21That wasn't so difficult, was it?

0:25:21 > 0:25:23No, you're just making things...

0:25:23 > 0:25:25You're dying to take me to the police station

0:25:25 > 0:25:28so you can go and sit and have your cup of tea. Do you know what I mean?

0:25:28 > 0:25:32This is what happens - every time. You know what I mean?

0:25:32 > 0:25:35Anyone asks you for anything, yeah? You lot have to be difficult.

0:25:35 > 0:25:39This is what you lot are, you've always been like this.

0:25:39 > 0:25:41The next generation comes along, it's the same.

0:25:41 > 0:25:43You know. It's you lot, it's not us.

0:25:43 > 0:25:45"We're in uniform, we never do anything wrong,"

0:25:45 > 0:25:47you know what I mean?

0:25:47 > 0:25:50I've asked you for your driving licence, you've then said you haven't got it.

0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Yeah, but I didn't need to cos I'm going to give you all my details anyway!- OK.

0:25:53 > 0:25:56So, why isn't that good enough? Why isn't that good enough?

0:25:56 > 0:26:00When the police officer asks for a driving licence, OK,

0:26:00 > 0:26:02it is an offence not to produce it.

0:26:02 > 0:26:04Do you understand that?

0:26:04 > 0:26:07- No, I don't understand it. - No. OK.- Let me out.

0:26:07 > 0:26:10The man's going to have to pay a £60 fine,

0:26:10 > 0:26:15not wearing a seat belt isn't an endorsable offence for the moment.

0:26:15 > 0:26:18- There's your cigarette then. - You can keep it.

0:26:18 > 0:26:20- Do you want it, or not?- ... off.

0:26:20 > 0:26:22The smoker's decided it's time to quit.

0:26:22 > 0:26:24Just get in the car and drive off.

0:26:24 > 0:26:26There's a line that every police officer has

0:26:26 > 0:26:30where they expect to be treated courteously in return

0:26:30 > 0:26:32by the person that they're dealing with.

0:26:32 > 0:26:34Myself or Ian hadn't sworn at him,

0:26:34 > 0:26:37so there's no reason for him to start swearing at us.

0:26:42 > 0:26:46Government statistics show that using seat belts saves lives.

0:26:46 > 0:26:50Without them, it's estimated that around 300 more people

0:26:50 > 0:26:52would die on Britain's roads every year,

0:26:52 > 0:26:56yet 5% of all drivers still don't brother.

0:26:56 > 0:26:59That Saab went through a red light.

0:26:59 > 0:27:01Sam and Shona are spreading the word

0:27:01 > 0:27:03to those who aren't heeding the message,

0:27:03 > 0:27:06like the driver coming towards them who's easier to pick out than most.

0:27:06 > 0:27:09'As he came past I could clearly see'

0:27:09 > 0:27:12he wasn't wearing his seat belt, because he's got such a white top on.

0:27:12 > 0:27:14Nice white shirt gave it away.

0:27:16 > 0:27:18'He did put his seat belt on

0:27:18 > 0:27:20'when he realised he was going to get stopped.'

0:27:20 > 0:27:22Lots of people do try it,

0:27:22 > 0:27:24but I've got a longer memory than a goldfish

0:27:24 > 0:27:26and I can remember that they weren't wearing their seat belt.

0:27:28 > 0:27:32That's it. Block the road. Great place to stop(!)

0:27:32 > 0:27:34- Well done, that man. - He's all yours, mate.

0:27:34 > 0:27:37It's Sam's turn to pick up the five credits on offer for this one.

0:27:37 > 0:27:40- Any idea why I stopped you, fella? - No, no idea.- No?

0:27:40 > 0:27:42You weren't wearing your seat belt when you came past us

0:27:42 > 0:27:46- on Cardiff Road. Is the vehicle all registered to you?- Yes, it's my car.

0:27:46 > 0:27:49- Cool, cool. Any ID?- ID. No. - You know what I was trying to say.

0:27:49 > 0:27:51- Have you got any with you? - No, I haven't.

0:27:51 > 0:27:53What's your name, my friend?

0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Andrew Clark.- Andrew? - Andrew Clark.- Andrew.

0:27:55 > 0:27:57Going to deal with this by way of a fixed penalty notice.

0:27:57 > 0:28:00- It's no points on your licence and a £60 fine.- What for? Seat belt.

0:28:00 > 0:28:02You don't have to say anything but it may harm your defence

0:28:02 > 0:28:06if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court.

0:28:06 > 0:28:09Anything you do say may be given in evidence, do you understand?

0:28:09 > 0:28:12- What, are you arresting me for not...- No, no, no!

0:28:12 > 0:28:14You were when you stopped it. You were when we stopped you.

0:28:14 > 0:28:17You can go to court with it, it's not problem at all.

0:28:17 > 0:28:19No, you can wipe your ticket up, I'm not taking it.

0:28:19 > 0:28:21He needs three points and a £60 fine as well.

0:28:21 > 0:28:23You'll end up getting yourself arrested for a seat belt.

0:28:23 > 0:28:25Why am I going to get myself arrested?

0:28:25 > 0:28:28- Cos you're writing out a ticket and I'm refusing to take it?- Yeah.

0:28:28 > 0:28:29There's more bad news for Andrew.

0:28:29 > 0:28:31While Sam was speaking to him,

0:28:31 > 0:28:33I went round and had a look at the vehicle

0:28:33 > 0:28:36and noted two of his tyres had quite a few cuts in the tyre wall,

0:28:36 > 0:28:38which is extremely dangerous.

0:28:38 > 0:28:40What colour's your T-shirt?

0:28:40 > 0:28:43- Why you being like that?- I'm not. - You know what colour my T-shirt is.

0:28:43 > 0:28:47OK, your T-shirt's white and what colour's a seat belt?

0:28:47 > 0:28:50- I don't know, you tell me. - Your seatbelt's black.

0:28:50 > 0:28:53So what do you think I'm going to see across your T-shirt

0:28:53 > 0:28:55- as you're driving past me? - I don't know, maybe...

0:28:55 > 0:28:59Maybe the seat belt across your T-shirt, which I didn't see.

0:28:59 > 0:29:02He quite liked Sam, and I think it helped,

0:29:02 > 0:29:06the fact we were females, and we calmed the situation down.

0:29:06 > 0:29:08Sam knows exactly how to keep people sweet

0:29:08 > 0:29:11by using some well-known customer care tips.

0:29:11 > 0:29:13Like always be polite,

0:29:13 > 0:29:16and take the time to deal with the customer's problems.

0:29:16 > 0:29:19- OK, that's fine.- Jail time doesn't bother me, do you know that?

0:29:19 > 0:29:21No, it's fine. Doesn't bother me, to be fair.

0:29:21 > 0:29:23I'll do my 14 days, I don't pay the fine, is that right?

0:29:23 > 0:29:26- Well, you can do 28 days and not pay the fine, if you want?- I don't mind.

0:29:26 > 0:29:29- You've got twice as long. - I can do that standing on my head.

0:29:29 > 0:29:32Always encourage a good relationship with the customer.

0:29:32 > 0:29:35- What is that aftershave you're wearing?- It is really nice, innit?

0:29:35 > 0:29:39- It's Boss, it's a new one. - Is it? Millennium?- No, Midnight.

0:29:39 > 0:29:44- That is very nice.- What's your perfume, Sam?- Surrender.

0:29:44 > 0:29:45And mine's Poison.

0:29:45 > 0:29:48Between the two of us, you've got no chance, have you?

0:29:48 > 0:29:51I can smell your one, but I can't smell hers.

0:29:51 > 0:29:52See, I haven't got that close.

0:29:52 > 0:29:56And always give the customer more than they might expect.

0:29:56 > 0:29:58What's she writing out now, another ticket?

0:29:58 > 0:30:01Yeah, we need to speak to you about your tyres as well.

0:30:01 > 0:30:03I just got 'em done, I just came out the tyre place.

0:30:03 > 0:30:06Couldn't have done. And I'll show you how I know.

0:30:06 > 0:30:08Listen, Andrew, let me finish first.

0:30:08 > 0:30:12- What, you going to give me points for that as well?- Let me finish!

0:30:12 > 0:30:15- Let this lady finish and then I'll speak to you.- You've got two women.

0:30:15 > 0:30:17Come back down to the level you were on a minute ago.

0:30:17 > 0:30:19You're not going to give me points for that.

0:30:19 > 0:30:20Let's take it to the level

0:30:20 > 0:30:22and then I'll explain to you what's going to happen.

0:30:22 > 0:30:23One at a time.

0:30:23 > 0:30:26After taking my ticket, he certainly didn't want the tyre ticket.

0:30:26 > 0:30:29Come round here a second. This is an advisory.

0:30:29 > 0:30:31See your tyres here?

0:30:31 > 0:30:34That is through prolonged use of going up and down kerbs, yeah?

0:30:34 > 0:30:36You need to get them changed,

0:30:36 > 0:30:39because, effectively, it's affecting the side of the tyre wall

0:30:39 > 0:30:42and it could have a blow-out easier than what you normally would.

0:30:42 > 0:30:44Round here is my main concern.

0:30:44 > 0:30:48OK, you've got a chunk taken out there, a nice big chunk there.

0:30:48 > 0:30:50Fortunately it's the safety of your vehicle

0:30:50 > 0:30:51that I'm more concerned about.

0:30:51 > 0:30:54The fact you've got a kiddie at some point in that car

0:30:54 > 0:30:56means that you should be above reproach

0:30:56 > 0:30:59when it comes to safety of your vehicle.

0:30:59 > 0:31:01Tickets for defective tyres may be worth credits,

0:31:01 > 0:31:05but tyre safety isn't something Shona takes lightly.

0:31:05 > 0:31:09'At the end of the day, he's not wearing his seat belt,'

0:31:09 > 0:31:12he's travelling in a 30mph zone, built-up area,

0:31:12 > 0:31:16and if that tyre were to blow because of the cut in the tyre wall,

0:31:16 > 0:31:19he wouldn't be able to control that vehicle, he'd have a crash.

0:31:19 > 0:31:22Are you serious? Are you going to give me another ticket,

0:31:22 > 0:31:23another fine for that?

0:31:23 > 0:31:27- How many points have you got on your licence now?- I'm not taking that ticket, then. I'm not taking that.

0:31:27 > 0:31:30- But that's no points on your licence. - I'm not taking that ticket.

0:31:30 > 0:31:32Do you think I've got money to throw away?

0:31:32 > 0:31:34Arrest me, I'm not taking that ticket, man.

0:31:34 > 0:31:37It's more down to safety than it is just us being pedantic

0:31:37 > 0:31:39and giving them a ticket for the sake of giving them a ticket.

0:31:39 > 0:31:42My colleague's already spoken to you and now I deal with you.

0:31:42 > 0:31:46I understand what you're saying and you don't want to accept the ticket, that's fine.

0:31:46 > 0:31:49I'll just send you to court for your details. But I still need you to fill out the ticket

0:31:49 > 0:31:52and then you fill out the back bit that you want to go to court.

0:31:52 > 0:31:54Don't pay the fine, don't produce your licence

0:31:54 > 0:31:56and there'll just be a summons to court.

0:31:56 > 0:31:58I enjoy situations like that where I can try and defuse them

0:31:58 > 0:32:01just by talking to people so I can try and calm them down.

0:32:01 > 0:32:04You're not going to arrest me if I don't turn my licence in?

0:32:04 > 0:32:06- Oh, what a shame.- Do you really want to be arrested by us?

0:32:06 > 0:32:10- Yeah, by yous two, yeah. I wouldn't mind.- There's your ticket.

0:32:10 > 0:32:12- So you wouldn't mind if we stopped you again?- No.- Good man.

0:32:12 > 0:32:14- That's what we like.- Smiley man.

0:32:14 > 0:32:17If you were two blokes, that would be a different story.

0:32:17 > 0:32:19- But we're not. It's just us. - We're not here to give you grief.

0:32:19 > 0:32:22We'd probably be brawling in that bush or something.

0:32:22 > 0:32:23He did say, "If you were men,

0:32:23 > 0:32:25"this would have turned out completely different."

0:32:25 > 0:32:28And I honestly believe that that would have been the case.

0:32:28 > 0:32:32- How much is this now?- 120 quid. - Did you pass Maths?

0:32:32 > 0:32:35120 quid. What could I do with 120 quid?

0:32:35 > 0:32:38That's a very open answer there... Question.

0:32:38 > 0:32:41Sam and Shona have succeeded with the ultimate customer care tip -

0:32:41 > 0:32:44always give memorable service.

0:32:44 > 0:32:47We have to do our job at the end of the day,

0:32:47 > 0:32:50and that's just part and parcel of it, unfortunately, for him.

0:32:50 > 0:32:53It's good for two women, because, what can I say?

0:32:53 > 0:32:57If it had been two blokes it would have been a different story.

0:32:57 > 0:32:59'I have been called heartless before.'

0:32:59 > 0:33:01I don't get credits for discretion

0:33:01 > 0:33:05and sometimes a lot of people out and about that we stop,

0:33:05 > 0:33:07they're only dealing with the police

0:33:07 > 0:33:10when we've stopped them for the seat belt, for the mobile phone,

0:33:10 > 0:33:12or for something to them that's quite minor.

0:33:12 > 0:33:16But they don't see the catastrophic incidents that we go to

0:33:16 > 0:33:17and what we have to deal with.

0:33:18 > 0:33:22Reports are coming in of just such a catastrophic incident,

0:33:22 > 0:33:26ten miles north of Bedford on the busy A6.

0:33:28 > 0:33:30Rescue workers are at the scene.

0:33:30 > 0:33:33Now traffic cops PC Matt Bill and PC Mark West

0:33:33 > 0:33:34are being called in as well.

0:33:36 > 0:33:38Go ahead.

0:33:38 > 0:33:41RADIO: 'Can you take a three-vehicle RTC, please...'

0:33:45 > 0:33:46Yes, yes, over.

0:33:46 > 0:33:47'The information we had'

0:33:47 > 0:33:49was that there was three vehicles involved

0:33:49 > 0:33:53and it was believed to be serious injury to one of the occupants.

0:33:53 > 0:33:56An air ambulance is on its way from Essex.

0:33:56 > 0:33:59'When the paramedics are at the scene and they've called the air ambulance,

0:33:59 > 0:34:02'then that means that they're concerned enough

0:34:02 > 0:34:05'that it's usually pretty serious and it's one that we need to get to

0:34:05 > 0:34:07'and deal with ourselves.

0:34:07 > 0:34:10'Secure it and gain any evidence.'

0:34:10 > 0:34:11Matt's an old hand,

0:34:11 > 0:34:14but going to this kind of job never gets any easier.

0:34:14 > 0:34:16There is a sort of trepidation

0:34:16 > 0:34:19as to what you're actually going to see when you turn up,

0:34:19 > 0:34:22but other than that you tend to switch into work mode

0:34:22 > 0:34:24and not think about it.

0:34:24 > 0:34:27The first thing you've got to do is get there.

0:34:36 > 0:34:39The crash is on a 60mph stretch of the A6 at a T-junction.

0:34:41 > 0:34:43It's a notorious accident black spot.

0:34:43 > 0:34:46There have been 20 accidents here in the last two years.

0:34:49 > 0:34:50Three cars have been smashed,

0:34:50 > 0:34:54but the only serious injury is to a female passenger

0:34:54 > 0:34:57who's trapped in the blue Honda Civic and fighting for her life.

0:34:58 > 0:35:00Right, we've got...

0:35:00 > 0:35:04We've got this lady, who's with this car. She's OK.

0:35:04 > 0:35:07We've got... I'm not sure who's in the back in this Audi.

0:35:07 > 0:35:09There's no-one in it.

0:35:09 > 0:35:10The driver's got a cut on his head,

0:35:10 > 0:35:13but the female passenger they're quite concerned about.

0:35:13 > 0:35:15- Is the driver still in it? - No, the driver's out.

0:35:15 > 0:35:17It's the female passenger who's trapped.

0:35:17 > 0:35:21They've got the air ambulance en route and the consultant

0:35:21 > 0:35:22and his test as well.

0:35:22 > 0:35:24What are they concerned about?

0:35:24 > 0:35:25- Head injury?- Yeah.

0:35:25 > 0:35:28She was still in the car and there was lots of people around her

0:35:28 > 0:35:34dealing with her, so it was difficult to actually see any level of injury.

0:35:34 > 0:35:37It was a case of relying on information we were getting

0:35:37 > 0:35:39from the paramedic service.

0:35:39 > 0:35:41Certainly there was a serious head injury.

0:35:41 > 0:35:43But I think that the main concern

0:35:43 > 0:35:46was that they thought she may have fractured her neck.

0:35:46 > 0:35:51And any sort of swelling on that could cause paralysis or death.

0:35:51 > 0:35:54With the prognosis looking bleak,

0:35:54 > 0:35:57a full-scale investigation into exactly what happened is going

0:35:57 > 0:36:00to take place, just as it would for a serious crime.

0:36:00 > 0:36:04The first step is to get the accounts of any witnesses.

0:36:04 > 0:36:08As we approached here, right,

0:36:08 > 0:36:10she just drove straight across,

0:36:10 > 0:36:12turning into that garage.

0:36:12 > 0:36:15The old boy coming the other way did not stand a chance.

0:36:15 > 0:36:19He went like that, she went that way, he went that way,

0:36:19 > 0:36:20he spun right round.

0:36:20 > 0:36:23The man knows the when, the where and the why.

0:36:23 > 0:36:28I was convinced that, all the way up here, she was on the phone.

0:36:28 > 0:36:31Only at that roundabout did I actually see her on the phone.

0:36:31 > 0:36:34One of the lads over there with a yellow high-vis on,

0:36:34 > 0:36:37said she was definitely on the phone when it happened.

0:36:37 > 0:36:41- And he clearly knows who.- Yes, that middle aged woman standing there.

0:36:41 > 0:36:43- She wants locking up.- The taller one?- The shorter one.

0:36:45 > 0:36:48The male driver of the blue Honda had no chance of avoiding

0:36:48 > 0:36:51the crash, but has escaped with only cuts and bruises.

0:36:51 > 0:36:54Can you remember what happened, mate?

0:36:54 > 0:36:58There was a queue of traffic this way... Well, I don't know.

0:36:58 > 0:37:00- A lot of cars coming up the hill. - Yeah..

0:37:00 > 0:37:04One at the front just went. Just didn't stop, just went.

0:37:04 > 0:37:06- Turned into the garage.- OK.

0:37:06 > 0:37:08You're saying the other car has

0:37:08 > 0:37:10pulled across your path into the garage.

0:37:10 > 0:37:12I was on the A6, came towards...

0:37:12 > 0:37:15Remarkably, the woman suspected of being on her phone,

0:37:15 > 0:37:19who turned into the young man's path, has escaped unscathed.

0:37:19 > 0:37:21A collision like that, I think

0:37:21 > 0:37:23you've got to try and remain impartial.

0:37:23 > 0:37:25It's easy to let your own judgement come in.

0:37:25 > 0:37:28You've got to try and make sure you get all the facts from people

0:37:28 > 0:37:30as they're telling you

0:37:30 > 0:37:32and then you can take a step back

0:37:32 > 0:37:35and actually have a look at it when you've got all the information

0:37:35 > 0:37:38and sort of piece it together from there.

0:37:38 > 0:37:40The information needed is why

0:37:40 > 0:37:43exactly did the woman not see the oncoming car.

0:37:43 > 0:37:45I don't remember any more, really. Except for the big bang.

0:37:45 > 0:37:47Right, OK.

0:37:50 > 0:37:52I don't certainly remember seeing a car.

0:37:55 > 0:38:02- Whether I turned or not... I suppose I must have done.- OK.

0:38:02 > 0:38:04But I certainly...

0:38:04 > 0:38:06All I remember is the airbag.

0:38:06 > 0:38:10She spoke as though, basically, it was just a normal accident.

0:38:10 > 0:38:14She'd pulled across the path of this vehicle, she'd misjudged its speed.

0:38:14 > 0:38:16There was no mention of any phone

0:38:16 > 0:38:18or anything like that at all at the time.

0:38:18 > 0:38:21But someone else also witnessed her using her phone.

0:38:21 > 0:38:23I was coming down there,

0:38:23 > 0:38:25we'd been following them for about three or four miles

0:38:25 > 0:38:30and then that woman, she was on the phone, she's gone to turn into the

0:38:30 > 0:38:33garage, obviously not concentrating,

0:38:33 > 0:38:36turned straight in front of them. Spun them right round.

0:38:36 > 0:38:39With the suspicion growing that being on her mobile phone was the

0:38:39 > 0:38:43cause of the crash, it will be down to the traffic cops to prove it.

0:38:43 > 0:38:44It's just so dangerous.

0:38:44 > 0:38:47Like, if someone's not wearing their seat belt,

0:38:47 > 0:38:49that's their life that they're putting at risk, but when you're

0:38:49 > 0:38:53using a mobile phone, you're putting other road users lives at risk.

0:38:53 > 0:38:56I think it's been said that it's something like being just over

0:38:56 > 0:38:59the drink drive limit when you're on your phone.

0:38:59 > 0:39:02The air ambulance has arrived at last,

0:39:02 > 0:39:05but the emergency crews are still struggling to get

0:39:05 > 0:39:08the casualty out from the wreckage of her car.

0:39:08 > 0:39:11'She was conscious and breathing at the time,

0:39:11 > 0:39:12'and obviously in a lot of plain.

0:39:12 > 0:39:14'So, the last thing they want to do is drag her out

0:39:14 > 0:39:16'and actually make anything worse,'

0:39:16 > 0:39:19particularly with that sort of neck injury.

0:39:19 > 0:39:22The force of the impact suddenly stopping,

0:39:22 > 0:39:24so she'll whip her head back and forth.

0:39:24 > 0:39:27The front A-pillar was bent down and that's where she's got

0:39:27 > 0:39:30the head injury from, is actually the pillar itself.

0:39:30 > 0:39:35While they worked to free her trapped legs, the driver,

0:39:35 > 0:39:38her boyfriend, is going to be taken to hospital by ambulance.

0:39:39 > 0:39:40So the intrusion has all come in and

0:39:40 > 0:39:42basically dropped the engine on her foot,

0:39:42 > 0:39:46giving her a foot injury, pushed it right back into the footwell.

0:39:46 > 0:39:49- MAN:- Well, I'm good friends with the driver...

0:39:49 > 0:39:52Looking on anxiously, a friend of the injured couple has heard

0:39:52 > 0:39:55the speculation about the cause of the crash.

0:39:55 > 0:39:58It's just unbelievable. I don't know whether it is the case that

0:39:58 > 0:40:00the woman was on her phone or not...

0:40:02 > 0:40:04If she was, she needs to put her phone down

0:40:04 > 0:40:06and take a look at what she's done. It's disgusting.

0:40:09 > 0:40:12The mobile phone belonging to the woman has been seized.

0:40:12 > 0:40:15It will have to be analysed by experts before any real

0:40:15 > 0:40:17evidential data can be had from it.

0:40:17 > 0:40:20Just to update you, she's going to be airlifted to Addenbrooke's.

0:40:20 > 0:40:23- Addenbrooke's?- Yes, they said she is stable at the moment,

0:40:23 > 0:40:25but it is potentially nasty. They're going to airlift her.

0:40:25 > 0:40:29Addenbrooke's is a head injury specialist hospital.

0:40:29 > 0:40:33They obviously identified that that's where they wanted to send her

0:40:33 > 0:40:35and the quickest way to get her there, by far,

0:40:35 > 0:40:37would be the air ambulance.

0:40:37 > 0:40:39Ready? Brace. Lift.

0:40:39 > 0:40:41WOMAN SHOUTS AND GROANS

0:40:41 > 0:40:44It's already been an hour since the smash and although now stable,

0:40:44 > 0:40:46the casualty's head injuries are still being

0:40:46 > 0:40:49classified as life-threatening.

0:40:49 > 0:40:50For Inspector Matt Thompson,

0:40:50 > 0:40:54it's incidents like this that vindicate the hard line

0:40:54 > 0:40:57his officers take against drivers who ignore traffic laws.

0:40:57 > 0:41:00If someone gets a mobile phone ticket and they get frustrated,

0:41:00 > 0:41:03we're told we should be out catching burglars and robbers

0:41:03 > 0:41:05and rapists, and people get frustrated with the ticket.

0:41:05 > 0:41:08But we do take robbery, burglary and sexual offences

0:41:08 > 0:41:10very seriously but when you come to something

0:41:10 > 0:41:13like this, you realise, use a mobile phone,

0:41:13 > 0:41:16that girl could be dead. That girl could have a serious injury,

0:41:16 > 0:41:18and you think, "Where does it go from that?"

0:41:18 > 0:41:21So, for us, it doesn't get more serious.

0:41:21 > 0:41:22And if they'll use their mobile phone,

0:41:22 > 0:41:24or speeding or not wearing seat belts,

0:41:24 > 0:41:28we give tickets out, because this is the consequence of it.

0:41:28 > 0:41:31Addenbrooke's is in neighbouring Cambridgeshire.

0:41:31 > 0:41:35But, thanks to the helicopter, it's only minutes away,

0:41:35 > 0:41:39though it's still going to be a race against time for the injured woman.

0:41:42 > 0:41:44Back in Luton, Sam and Shona are

0:41:44 > 0:41:47still on their mission to give tickets out.

0:41:47 > 0:41:49We're like little Duracell batteries.

0:41:49 > 0:41:52Once we're out there, we don't stop.

0:41:52 > 0:41:53You do make your own luck

0:41:53 > 0:41:57and you go purposely to places where you know you can find something.

0:41:57 > 0:41:59There we go!

0:42:01 > 0:42:03'Both of our eyes were drawn to'

0:42:03 > 0:42:06an Astro that had very dark tinted windows.

0:42:06 > 0:42:11Dark tinted windows are just the thing for people who are modest.

0:42:11 > 0:42:15But installing them illegally can have expensive consequences.

0:42:15 > 0:42:18- £60. Well, it's a £30 ticket, isn't it?- Yes.

0:42:18 > 0:42:22You can only let 70 % of light through your windows.

0:42:22 > 0:42:26Anything below that, then you're illegal.

0:42:26 > 0:42:28It's the front windows that matter

0:42:28 > 0:42:32and Shona's got a special device for measuring how tinted they are,

0:42:32 > 0:42:34called a Tintman.

0:42:34 > 0:42:38- Right, is the car registered to you?- Yeah.- Yeah?

0:42:38 > 0:42:42He didn't understand why we'd stopped him.

0:42:42 > 0:42:45Take a seat with my colleague in the back of the car.

0:42:45 > 0:42:49- How are you?- I'm fine.- And are you with this chap here?- Yeah.

0:42:49 > 0:42:52What's in the back here, then?

0:42:53 > 0:42:55Hello? There's a child!

0:42:55 > 0:42:59To Sam and Shona, the back of their car is their office.

0:42:59 > 0:43:02It brings a whole new meaning to hot-desking.

0:43:02 > 0:43:04Is it your vehicle?

0:43:04 > 0:43:07- No, it's my mum's car.- Excellent. Have you got insurance to drive it?

0:43:07 > 0:43:09Well, my mum has. I'm learning to drive, innit?

0:43:09 > 0:43:11Where's your L-plates?

0:43:11 > 0:43:12I didn't know I had to have them.

0:43:12 > 0:43:16I thought if it was insured and had a person in the passenger seat and she's over...

0:43:16 > 0:43:19What is it? 20 something. And she's had a licence for three years.

0:43:19 > 0:43:20Oh, deary me.

0:43:20 > 0:43:23This isn't going to go well, I feel.

0:43:23 > 0:43:25So what? Because I haven't got L-plates on?

0:43:25 > 0:43:27You need to speak to my colleague.

0:43:27 > 0:43:29Just because I haven't got L-plates on?

0:43:29 > 0:43:32- What's your name, my friend?- Huh? - What's your name?- Adam Smiley.

0:43:32 > 0:43:35Mr Smiley was the driver.

0:43:35 > 0:43:38And he wasn't particularly smiley at all.

0:43:38 > 0:43:39Shall I do this?

0:43:39 > 0:43:41If you don't mind.

0:43:41 > 0:43:44So it's three points, isn't it, either side of the window?

0:43:44 > 0:43:47Right, the tints on your windows, front windows, are illegal.

0:43:47 > 0:43:49People put them in because they think it looks cool with

0:43:49 > 0:43:52the shape and style of their car when, really,

0:43:52 > 0:43:55it actually looks quite ridiculous sometimes.

0:43:55 > 0:43:59The tint machine measures how much light can pass through the window.

0:43:59 > 0:44:02Any reading below 70 is a failure.

0:44:02 > 0:44:049.9. This one's 10.2.

0:44:06 > 0:44:11Inside, they've got to let 70 % natural light in.

0:44:11 > 0:44:13And that's quite clearly way below.

0:44:13 > 0:44:16'They can't necessarily see out if the weather's bad.'

0:44:16 > 0:44:20We can't see in, so we don't know who is driving that car.

0:44:20 > 0:44:23People have them tinted for very different reasons, but it raises

0:44:23 > 0:44:25our suspicion, because we can't see who is driving that vehicle.

0:44:25 > 0:44:28So we want to know that the person driving is meant to be in the

0:44:28 > 0:44:31vehicle and advise them accordingly with regards to their tints.

0:44:31 > 0:44:35That's not fair, though, because I didn't know that I'm supposed to have L-plates.

0:44:35 > 0:44:37If I knew I was supposed to have L-plates, I'd have them.

0:44:37 > 0:44:40Right. Ignorance isn't an excuse.

0:44:40 > 0:44:42OK? It's written in the...

0:44:42 > 0:44:44I don't think it's fair I'll get points on my licence

0:44:44 > 0:44:47when I haven't even passed my licence yet.

0:44:47 > 0:44:50- I'll have to pay more on my insurance because of my mum. It's my mum's- BLEEP- fault!

0:44:50 > 0:44:51- Adam!- But seriously...- Adam!

0:44:51 > 0:44:54I'm sorry to be rude, Officer, but it's not my fault.

0:44:54 > 0:44:56My mum's the one that wanted me to drive.

0:44:56 > 0:45:00I didn't want to drive. I didn't know I was supposed to have L-plates or I'd have had them!

0:45:00 > 0:45:02He was pushing his luck an awful lot,

0:45:02 > 0:45:06blaming his mum for all sorts of things.

0:45:06 > 0:45:08You're the driver of that vehicle, aren't you?

0:45:08 > 0:45:10- No! I'm- BLEEP- learner driver of that vehicle!

0:45:10 > 0:45:13- That's the same thing.- I'm not the driver, I'm the learner driver!

0:45:13 > 0:45:15I haven't even got a licence yet!

0:45:15 > 0:45:17How can you give me points before I've got a licence?

0:45:17 > 0:45:19The point of me driving now is so I learn to drive

0:45:19 > 0:45:21so I can get my licence!

0:45:21 > 0:45:23I'm getting three points on my shit cos of her!

0:45:23 > 0:45:24My mum, you should give her points, not me!

0:45:24 > 0:45:27She's told me to drive, she's responsible, not me.

0:45:27 > 0:45:29He had no respect for his mum whatsoever, which really shocked me.

0:45:29 > 0:45:31It's her car, yeah? She told me to drive,

0:45:31 > 0:45:33she's the one that's got a licence, not me.

0:45:33 > 0:45:36Why am I responsible for her? You could give her points!

0:45:36 > 0:45:38You know, I think we need the air con on in here with

0:45:38 > 0:45:41the amount of hot air coming out of this gentleman.

0:45:41 > 0:45:42'I think certain women would be

0:45:42 > 0:45:45quite intimidated by coming across somebody like him.'

0:45:45 > 0:45:48But by us shouting and screaming back,

0:45:48 > 0:45:50we're just lowering ourselves to his level

0:45:50 > 0:45:53and antagonising a situation that really doesn't need to be there.

0:45:53 > 0:45:55Adam, you were driving the car, mate.

0:45:55 > 0:45:56But the car doesn't belong to me!

0:45:56 > 0:45:59So how can you give me a ticket for shit on the car that ain't mine!

0:45:59 > 0:46:02Yes. Adam, can you just pipe down for a second

0:46:02 > 0:46:04because I'm trying to talk.

0:46:04 > 0:46:06Can you just confirm who the RO is, please?

0:46:06 > 0:46:09The RO is the registered owner.

0:46:12 > 0:46:14- RADIO:- 'Did you say the RO?'

0:46:14 > 0:46:15Yes, yes.

0:46:17 > 0:46:19'Adam Smiley.'

0:46:19 > 0:46:20Adam, the car's yours.

0:46:20 > 0:46:24The computer has confirmed it's not his mum's, as he says, after all.

0:46:24 > 0:46:28Oh, and no insurance in 2007. Six points.

0:46:28 > 0:46:32So you, Adam, as a provisional licence holder, only have...

0:46:32 > 0:46:35You have nine points on your provisional licence.

0:46:35 > 0:46:38Exactly! Because of officers like you making it impossible for young

0:46:38 > 0:46:41drivers to drive. So I might as well drive illegally.

0:46:41 > 0:46:43Might as well continue to drive illegally.

0:46:43 > 0:46:45He'd got nine points on his provisional licence.

0:46:45 > 0:46:48So trying to tell me he was trying to drive legally

0:46:48 > 0:46:49somewhat made me laugh.

0:46:49 > 0:46:51If I was white, you'd let me go then, innit?

0:46:51 > 0:46:53When you're black, makes your whole life harder.

0:46:53 > 0:46:56Sorry, there's a gentleman that's accusing me of...

0:46:56 > 0:46:58- Got a couple of- BLEEP - racist- BLEEP- coppers on you.

0:46:58 > 0:46:59- Adam...- What?- I'm on the telephone trying to sort this out.

0:46:59 > 0:47:02- Can you just...? - Just tell them I'm- BLEEP- black

0:47:02 > 0:47:04and they'll take my whole licence away, innit?

0:47:04 > 0:47:06No officer discretion, like there used to be.

0:47:06 > 0:47:08I've explained to you the situation.

0:47:08 > 0:47:11You've done nothing but shout and be abusive to us,

0:47:11 > 0:47:15- and you expect us to deal with that and listen to it? - I don't care what you do.

0:47:15 > 0:47:18- You might as well take my licence, take everything.- Bye-bye.

0:47:18 > 0:47:21It doesn't make a difference to me. I don't care.

0:47:21 > 0:47:24- I need to ask your ethnicity. Out of that list, could you... - Put- BLEEP- down, man.

0:47:24 > 0:47:27- If you would like to... - I don't care.

0:47:27 > 0:47:31- You can write down whatever you like.- I'll put down that you haven't defined your ethnicity,

0:47:31 > 0:47:33and that's fine by me. I can do that.

0:47:33 > 0:47:36'At the end of the day, we stopped him for how dark his tints were.

0:47:36 > 0:47:39'They're meant to let 70% natural light in.

0:47:39 > 0:47:42'His were letting between 9 and 10. I couldn't see what colour he was.'

0:47:42 > 0:47:46I had no idea what ethnicity he was, or where he was from,

0:47:46 > 0:47:49so I find it a bit insulting that he's suggesting I'm racist,

0:47:49 > 0:47:52when I can't see who's driving that car.

0:47:52 > 0:47:55- Adam?- Why don't you have a heart and just let me go, man?

0:47:55 > 0:47:57You've already got me, you've already charged me money.

0:47:57 > 0:48:00What else do you want from me?

0:48:00 > 0:48:03The heartless cops are giving Adam a £30 ticket for his illegal window tints

0:48:03 > 0:48:08and a £60 ticket and three points for failing to display any L-plates.

0:48:08 > 0:48:11Obviously, if you had a heart, you wouldn't have done me like this.

0:48:11 > 0:48:15- I'm not going to help you tear it off, am I?- I'll do it. - It's your job, innit?

0:48:15 > 0:48:18I'll tear it off, because I know that you won't drive round like this.

0:48:18 > 0:48:22The tints are simply a film applied to the inside of the window.

0:48:22 > 0:48:25Sam's making sure he doesn't carry on breaking the law.

0:48:25 > 0:48:29You saw by his reaction - he peeled off the entire side of the tint the other side.

0:48:29 > 0:48:32He won't drive round with half-tinted windows. He'd look silly.

0:48:32 > 0:48:35They've given me a £90 fine and three points on my licence,

0:48:35 > 0:48:37before I've even got a licence.

0:48:37 > 0:48:41I'm trying to be in a driver's seat to learn how to drive,

0:48:41 > 0:48:45so that I'm legitimate, and they've stopped me from doing that once again.

0:48:45 > 0:48:49They've taken my money. They've taken the money I haven't even got. I've got to feed my son.

0:48:49 > 0:48:51I've got two sons, and I'm on benefits.

0:48:51 > 0:48:55I've got to pay for them to eat, and now I can't even do that, because they're going to take my money.

0:48:55 > 0:48:59I just don't think he realises that us traffic officers don't actually have hearts.

0:48:59 > 0:49:02- No, we don't have hearts. - Do you care? No.

0:49:05 > 0:49:07At the scene of the accident on the A6,

0:49:07 > 0:49:10the road is still closed as investigations continue.

0:49:10 > 0:49:14Following the witnesses' damning allegations,

0:49:14 > 0:49:17the carnage caused by a phone call is clear to see.

0:49:19 > 0:49:22With fears her life may still be in danger,

0:49:22 > 0:49:26a specialist family liaison officer, PC Craig Baker, has been called in.

0:49:26 > 0:49:31I spoke to the ambulance guy and he said it's purely head injuries, blunt trauma.

0:49:31 > 0:49:35The badly injured girl, Lorna Foley, is just 20 years old.

0:49:35 > 0:49:40It doesn't matter how much training you have, you've got feelings

0:49:40 > 0:49:44and to get told someone could effectively die is disheartening.

0:49:44 > 0:49:47A number of witnesses gave information that the driver

0:49:47 > 0:49:50was on the mobile phone. We seized the mobile phone.

0:49:50 > 0:49:53We've got to be careful what we tell people, and it was

0:49:53 > 0:49:57decided that we wouldn't tell him about the mobile phone at that stage, until we knew,

0:49:57 > 0:49:59because at that stage, it is only a possibility.

0:49:59 > 0:50:04Craig's immediate task is to inform Lorna's brother and sister of her accident and get them

0:50:04 > 0:50:07to her hospital bedside as quickly as possible.

0:50:07 > 0:50:11I think the most difficult time is when you initially tell the family.

0:50:11 > 0:50:13You get so many different reactions,

0:50:13 > 0:50:17and you cannot predict what reaction you'll get.

0:50:18 > 0:50:21Further back down the A6, approaching Bedford,

0:50:21 > 0:50:25traffic cops PC Mark Atkins and Sgt Chris Smith have

0:50:25 > 0:50:29come across someone else with a smoking problem...with their car.

0:50:29 > 0:50:32Blue smoke, innit? Plumes of blue smoke everywhere.

0:50:32 > 0:50:35We came to the top of the A6, we saw the Golf pulling

0:50:35 > 0:50:38into the lay-by on the nearside, so we pulled in behind him.

0:50:38 > 0:50:41And where there's smoke, there's fire.

0:50:41 > 0:50:43Ooh, he's got a dodgy plate as well.

0:50:44 > 0:50:48The numberplate isn't legal because its characters are a German style.

0:50:48 > 0:50:51It doesn't meet British standards.

0:50:51 > 0:50:53It's a different font to what our ANPR cameras

0:50:53 > 0:50:57are used to recognising, so sometimes they can misread them.

0:50:57 > 0:50:59The cause of all the smoke is under the bonnet.

0:50:59 > 0:51:04It wasn't on fire, but I think if he'd had gone much further it would have been.

0:51:04 > 0:51:09It had dumped oil on the exhaust and he'd blown the engine, basically.

0:51:10 > 0:51:12But at least his kids are happy.

0:51:12 > 0:51:15They can watch cartoons on the telly now,

0:51:15 > 0:51:17which would have been illegal if he was driving.

0:51:17 > 0:51:19It's all under the Road Traffic Act.

0:51:19 > 0:51:22You cannot have a TV screen that is visible to the driver

0:51:22 > 0:51:26that's likely to take the attention away from the road in front of them,

0:51:26 > 0:51:29so it can be anything from due care to dangerous driving.

0:51:29 > 0:51:32Obviously, with your dodgy numberplate and your TV

0:51:32 > 0:51:37- in the car as well... Huh?- They just turned it on.

0:51:37 > 0:51:40- I told them to put it on.- Yeah, whatever.- I did.- OK!

0:51:40 > 0:51:44- My little girl's in the back. They're watching Alice In Wonderland.- OK.

0:51:44 > 0:51:47- And you're not? - No, I just turned it on.

0:51:47 > 0:51:51- Because obviously you've just stopped.- Yeah, I just stopped and said, "Put the telly on."

0:51:51 > 0:51:55I couldn't see if it was on or not when we were driving along

0:51:55 > 0:51:59because of all the smoke, so I just have to

0:51:59 > 0:52:02take his word for it, that he wouldn't lie to a policeman.

0:52:02 > 0:52:04Just check how he has done the suspension.

0:52:04 > 0:52:07- There's no give on it at all, is there?- No.

0:52:11 > 0:52:15I'm just a bit concerned about how low the car is.

0:52:15 > 0:52:19- Do you find steering a problem? - There's nothing wrong with the steering.- Huh?

0:52:19 > 0:52:22- There's nothing wrong with the steering.- No?- No.

0:52:22 > 0:52:26- It's just because... - It's rock solid.

0:52:26 > 0:52:31- It's got anti-roll bars on it.- Yeah? - There's nothing wrong with it.

0:52:35 > 0:52:38Apart from the engine, there's nothing wrong with the car,

0:52:38 > 0:52:41he's insisting, as it has recently passed its MOT.

0:52:41 > 0:52:43But there is with his numberplate.

0:52:43 > 0:52:47- German plates, aren't they? - You can't have them on the road in England, can you?

0:52:47 > 0:52:49And it's not for the first time.

0:52:49 > 0:52:53- We've had this chat before, haven't we?- My numberplate was blatant.

0:52:53 > 0:52:57- You can read it.- It doesn't matter. It has to comply with the Vehicle Excise Act,

0:52:57 > 0:53:00which means it has to have British Standard markings on it.

0:53:00 > 0:53:03Where on that plate is the British Standard mark?

0:53:03 > 0:53:06He didn't particularly want to look at Mark because Mark had stopped him

0:53:06 > 0:53:08about two or three months before

0:53:08 > 0:53:12and done him for exactly the same thing.

0:53:12 > 0:53:14They're making sure it won't happen again.

0:53:14 > 0:53:17What I'm going to do, because we have spoken to you before,

0:53:17 > 0:53:20- I'm going to give you another 60 quid ticket. All right?- Yeah.

0:53:20 > 0:53:23All right? Cool. I thought you'd have learned...

0:53:23 > 0:53:25But there's another problem.

0:53:25 > 0:53:28- Does your insurance company know about these tints?- Yes.- Straight up?

0:53:28 > 0:53:30They wouldn't insure you with them,

0:53:30 > 0:53:33because that is more than a 30% tint, isn't it?

0:53:33 > 0:53:37On our Vectra, that is the most tint you can have on the front.

0:53:37 > 0:53:38That's the most.

0:53:38 > 0:53:42Anything you see like this, they ain't going to insure you.

0:53:42 > 0:53:45So, straight up, before we get the measuring device,

0:53:45 > 0:53:49you're going to tell me you're going to get rid of that tint, aren't you?

0:53:49 > 0:53:51- What, you going to do that as well? - No, no, no.

0:53:51 > 0:53:55- Because you're going to tell me you'll get rid of it.- Yeah, I'll get rid of it.- Good. Good answer.

0:53:55 > 0:53:58At the end of the day, if you have a bash in this,

0:53:58 > 0:54:02they ain't going to pay out, because that is illegal. Yeah? Cool.

0:54:02 > 0:54:03I'll just do your ticket.

0:54:03 > 0:54:07Mark is showing that sometimes a bit of discretion is still

0:54:07 > 0:54:11- the order of the day.- Quite a lot of discretion there, to be honest.

0:54:11 > 0:54:13He could have gone to court for those offences, put together,

0:54:13 > 0:54:17when you think of the numberplate, the tints,

0:54:17 > 0:54:19the smoke billowing out the back,

0:54:19 > 0:54:24but that's not to even mention the DVD player he had in the car.

0:54:24 > 0:54:26The numberplates must be a recent addition,

0:54:26 > 0:54:30as anything non-standard is an automatic MOT failure.

0:54:30 > 0:54:33They now are included in the test.

0:54:33 > 0:54:36Unless it's got a legal plate on it, it will fail.

0:54:36 > 0:54:40Oddly, while numberplates are checked in order for a vehicle to

0:54:40 > 0:54:43pass the MOT and meet road safety standards,

0:54:43 > 0:54:46tinted windows aren't included in the test.

0:54:46 > 0:54:49He knows what he's done. He knows the game.

0:54:49 > 0:54:52I've pointed this all out to him before.

0:54:52 > 0:54:54I was quite reasonable with him last time,

0:54:54 > 0:54:56gave him the benefit of the doubt.

0:54:56 > 0:54:58He had other defects on the car the last time,

0:54:58 > 0:55:01but on this occasion... Your patience wears a bit thin

0:55:01 > 0:55:04because you try and help these people,

0:55:04 > 0:55:09because people may not necessarily know the law around the numberplate,

0:55:09 > 0:55:14so you try and educate them a little bit, but he's just taking the mickey now, isn't he?

0:55:14 > 0:55:17At the hospital in Cambridge, X-rays have brought good news.

0:55:17 > 0:55:21Lorna, the young girl seriously injured in the crash on the A6,

0:55:21 > 0:55:23is off the critical list

0:55:23 > 0:55:27but she has bashed her head and broken a vertebra in her back.

0:55:28 > 0:55:31- Where is that? - It's in the lower part of your back,

0:55:31 > 0:55:34so your back is divided into individual bones - vertebrae -

0:55:34 > 0:55:37so just where the lower arch is in the back,

0:55:37 > 0:55:39it's towards the bottom of that.

0:55:39 > 0:55:42- OK?- OK. - And it's just...

0:55:42 > 0:55:44LOUD BEEPING

0:55:44 > 0:55:48..rather than being square, one corner's come in a bit. OK?

0:55:48 > 0:55:50Once you're out of hospital,

0:55:50 > 0:55:53one of my colleagues will be in touch with you.

0:55:53 > 0:55:56On roads policing, we target people using a mobile phone.

0:55:56 > 0:55:59And to be fair, so we should.

0:55:59 > 0:56:04People don't get it, but using a mobile phone kills.

0:56:04 > 0:56:07Seven months after the accident Lorna,

0:56:07 > 0:56:11a full-time floristry student, and her boyfriend James

0:56:11 > 0:56:14are still coming to terms with what happened.

0:56:14 > 0:56:17I think, because everything was going really well, as well, before,

0:56:17 > 0:56:21I had just got Student of the Year at college.

0:56:21 > 0:56:25It put all of our plans and our future on hold,

0:56:25 > 0:56:29to now deal with something that she's put in front of us

0:56:29 > 0:56:31that we didn't ask for.

0:56:31 > 0:56:33Lorna is lucky to be alive

0:56:33 > 0:56:36but it's going to be a long time before she fully recovers from

0:56:36 > 0:56:40the damage to her spine and a brain injury that's affected her memory,

0:56:40 > 0:56:43all because of a minor traffic offence.

0:56:44 > 0:56:47You're driving around at 60mph plus,

0:56:47 > 0:56:51not in control of something that's in excess of two tonnes,

0:56:51 > 0:56:54you should be punished.

0:56:54 > 0:56:56I think it's people...

0:56:56 > 0:56:59they don't understand why.

0:56:59 > 0:57:03I think they know that you shouldn't do it

0:57:03 > 0:57:07but they don't know WHY you shouldn't do it, really.

0:57:07 > 0:57:08I think that's what it is.

0:57:08 > 0:57:12Further investigation at the scene of the horrific crash

0:57:12 > 0:57:14revealed that there might have been another factor

0:57:14 > 0:57:18why the woman turned into the oncoming traffic -

0:57:18 > 0:57:22her front windows were illegally, excessively tinted,

0:57:22 > 0:57:26and further examination of her phone uncovered evidence that

0:57:26 > 0:57:29pointed to her being on it at the time of the crash.

0:57:29 > 0:57:32On the phone, it had a certain number of calls

0:57:32 > 0:57:35and we had all those listed from the handset itself,

0:57:35 > 0:57:39yet when we then got the subscriber records,

0:57:39 > 0:57:42it showed that there was an extra call

0:57:42 > 0:57:44that wasn't shown on the handset.

0:57:44 > 0:57:46There's only two ways that that can happen.

0:57:46 > 0:57:50One is that she's deleted it from the handset. Why would she do that?

0:57:50 > 0:57:55That specific call that was made at or around the time of the collision.

0:57:55 > 0:57:58The only other way that would be is if, mid-call,

0:57:58 > 0:57:59the phone was turned off.

0:58:03 > 0:58:0660-year-old Gillian Green pleaded guilty in court

0:58:06 > 0:58:08to dangerous driving

0:58:08 > 0:58:11and was sentenced to a nine-month suspended prison sentence

0:58:11 > 0:58:14and banned from driving for a year-and-a-half.

0:58:38 > 0:58:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd