Booze and Twos Motorway Cops

'Tonight on Motorway Cops - Booze and Twos...'

-Lots and lots and lots of vodka.

-'..the search for gangs who transport illegal spirits

'and counterfeit cigarettes.'

Keys out! Keys!

'Targeting criminals in stolen cars.

'Drivers trying and failing to hide the truth.'

Don't lie to me when I ask you, "Have you had a drink?" "No, I haven't."

'And the search for their true identities.'

His alias names are Macaulay Anthony Conway

and Christopher Anthony Russell.

You stood by the fact that your name was Christopher Russell. Clearly it isn't.

Who in their right mind transports counterfeit goods in a stolen vehicle?

We seize on the mistakes that criminals make.

'Britain motorway network drives the economy.

'Every day, more than two million tonnes of freight is transported

'along 2,000 miles of roads.

'But it's not only legal businesses who rely on the motorways.

'They're crucial for criminals, too, who use them to transport illegal goods and stolen vehicles.

'On the M6 near Stafford, PCs Jason Roberts and Kevin Shail

'are on the lookout for a stolen van which is heading their way.'

-Southbound, Doxey slip.

-'They're in radio contact with two other patrol cars

'which are already following the van.'

The other car and the stolen vehicle are now probably just a couple of miles north of our location.

"Committed. Committed through 14."

And it is committed on the motorway.

'The van will be with them in just a few minutes.

'But stopping a stolen van is always tricky

'and this time there's an added problem for the cops.'

Roadworks are starting in a couple of hundred yards

and the roadworks continue down to the next junction,

so we won't be trying to stop the vehicle before the next junction.

That's it going through there.

So we've now got two police vehicles behind it.

One marked car, one unmarked. We're going to be joining them.

'The marked patrol car is just a few feet behind the van.

'So close, the cops hope they won't be seen by the driver.

'Inside is PC Richard Elliott, who's in charge of the stop.'

It's always difficult, with a stolen vehicle, knowing whether they are going to try to make off from you.

So if we can, we will always try to get other cars to come to us.

'With PCs Roberts and Shail in place, everything is ready.

'Well, almost everything.

'The roadworks have left the hard shoulder completely blocked off,

'preventing them pulling the van over.

'But delaying the stop means the driver has more chance of seeing the motorway cops behind him.'

If the driver's using his mirrors, it's quite possible he knows he's been spotted.

"Go."

The van is in lane two at the moment.

There's two police vehicles in front of us

and the van's immediately in front of the first police vehicle.

'The plan is to stop the van before the next junction,

'but that means the cops have to be ready to move as soon as the roadworks end.'

"32 to 92, can you just do us a bit of safety, then?"

"Dropping back."

'The unmarked car drops back to control the traffic following behind.

'But if the van driver decides to go for it,

'the cops could be in trouble.'

It's a bigger vehicle than we are,

so the potential is there for him to try and bully his way past.

'Finally, the hard shoulder is clear and the cops can make their move.'

-Just confirm you want us to the front.

-"Yeah."

Understood, thank you.

'As the traffic speeds up again, PC Elliott searches for an opening to get ahead of the van.'

"The green one. After the green one. The gap in front of that."

-OK.

-"OK, 11, move up."

'While the marked car stays at the back,

'Roberts and Shail go to the front to signal to the driver to stop.'

The vehicle's stopping, he's pulling over onto the hard shoulder.

"Vehicle's stopped."

Step out of the van for me, please, if you would.

I'll explain it all to you in a second. Come and have a seat in our car, mate.

'The driver is a man of few words

-'and just why is about to become clear.'

-Afternoon, young man.

-How are you, mate?

-All right.

-At this moment in time, the van's been reported stolen, so we'll make further enquiries.

-Stolen?

You're under arrest on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. We'll find out what's going on with that, OK?

-Whose van is it?

-It's hired.

-Right, OK.

-Have you got the key?

-Yeah.

Anything in the back?

'It looks like they've hit the jackpot.'

Lots and lots and lots of vodka.

It's a stolen van, it's not a big leap to think there might be other stolen articles in the back.

'PC Elliott suspects it may be the work of a criminal gang who prowl the motorways at night.'

It's not unheard of for us to come across incidents

where goods vehicles have been attacked on the motorway network or close to the motorway network

when the trailers have had their curtains slashed

and the goods stolen from the trailers,

usually while the driver's asleep in the cab at the front.

Yeah, this VW got stopped.

For your info, he's got 86 boxes of vodka

that's been resealed up containing 12 bottles.

Do you want to open one? Glen's Vodka.

-It just seems strange that it's taped up.

-Mm.

'But the condition of the packaging raises another possibility.

'This may not be stolen vodka, but something much more interesting.'

You might expect the odd box to have been looked at

but every single box seemed to have been sealed in an amateur way, if you like.

So I think that began to change our opinions as to what the vodka was.

'Although the vodka is labelled as a reputable brand,

'the cops think it might not be made by the genuine manufacturer.

'They suspect that it's counterfeit, or fake vodka.'

A normal distributor of alcohol

wouldn't have boxes that had been opened and resealed badly if it's genuine vodka.

'The van and the man will be taken away

'while the cops try to work out where the vodka has come from.

'On the M6 near Birmingham, the early evening rush hour is underway.

'Motorway cops Dave Glover and Gareth Westbury are parked up out of the traffic.

'They've received intelligence about another van which is on the move.

'This one is thought to be full of thousands of counterfeit cigarettes.'

'The van's just been spotted on the motorway

'and PCs Glover and Westbury are on their way to intercept it.

'But Birmingham's rush-hour traffic is taking its toll.

'More than one billion counterfeit cigarettes are seized every year in the UK.

'Millions more slip through the net, resulting in a massive loss of £200 million for the tax man.

'The cops are keen that at least this load won't be part of the statistics.

'As they head north, they tail an unmarked police car,

'also on the way to stop the van.

'But they're still more than two miles away from where it was last seen.'

It's just been sighted by an officer near to the Perry Barr location.

So we're making towards that location to give the officer some support cos he's single crew.

'As the traffic finally clears, they spot the van ahead

'just as it's being pulled over by yet more motorway cops.

'As the driver is cuffed, PC Glover checks the back of the van.'

As you can see, a van full of boxes.

'And it looks like they've struck gold. Boxes and boxes of gold.'

We suspected he was carrying counterfeit cigarettes.

As you can see, full of cigarettes.

-Times 200.

-Yeah, times 50 boxes. Half a million.

'More than half a million cigarettes is a great result for the cops

'but not for the driver of the van, who is known to the police.'

When was the last time you were arrested roughly?

I'm just trying to think. Erm...

-It's got to be two or three years ago.

-OK.

'PC Glover suspects he's in it up to his neck.'

It may well be that he's got links with some people that are making counterfeit cigarettes.

It may be that they've smuggled them into the country via other means

and he's got links with them and he's been to collect them.

It may be that he's supplying corner shops who don't want to pay the tax.

At this stage, we don't know what's involved in relation to this vehicle

or where they're going or where they're from.

'But what is clear is that this arrest will keep the cops busy all night long.

'20 miles further north at Cannock Police Station,

'the van driver arrested with what the cops believe is counterfeit vodka

'is being questioned by PC Shail.

'The van is also reported stolen but the man claims it's hired.'

When did you hire it?

What happened, my mate told me yesterday, "Will you do us a favour?

-"Will you drop a delivery off to London?"

-Right.

So I gave him my licence and everything and he got us the van

-and he said, "It's hired from

-BLEEP

-and I've got the hire agreement."

'But he hasn't got any documents to back up his story.'

It's normal for people without the proper paperwork for such things to just plead ignorance.

"I'm just a driver, I'm just doing it as a favour for a friend."

-Who's this friend?

-He's called Imran.

-Imran who?

-Er, Shivag, I think.

-So he's asked you to do the delivery and provided you with the van, has he?

-Yeah.

Have you got a contact number for Imran?

Imran...

I did, but he's usually on a private number.

So how can we get hold of Imran, then, to verify your story?

-Erm, you'll have ring

-BLEEP

-and ask them.

Cos he got the van from them.

'Until he comes up with a more convincing story, the cops are going to keep hold of him.'

Would you like to speak to a solicitor?

Er...no.

You don't. OK. I do have to remind you, you can speak to one on the telephone

and ask you if there's any reason why you don't want to speak to one at this time?

-You don't have to give me a reason, it's just something I have to ask.

-Cos it's...

-I mean, the van's not stolen.

-OK.

The delivery's come from a cash and carry, so...

'His latest story is that the vodka is from a cash and carry store.

'But that fails to impress PC Elliott.'

You wouldn't expect to see that amount of alcohol without some kind of receipt,

some kind of bill from a cash and carry.

So if nothing else, it'll be a customs-related incident.

We'll find out where the vodka's come from.

'And his first line of enquiry is the internet.'

Using one of the many police tools available to us, Google,

I was able to find out a bit more about Glen's Vodka

and the counterfeiting of it.

'Glen's Vodka is a genuine and popular brand,

'but one that is being used by the crooks to pass off their substandard and often dangerous liquor.'

When something's counterfeited, what you're getting is an inferior product.

They're not going to be subject to the same kind of control measures

that properly-produced alcohol will be,

so it will be produced as cheaply as possible

and that could be under conditions that are extremely unhygienic or whatever,

but the actually purity of the alcohol itself can be extremely bad for you.

The counterfeiters that are making this illegal alcohol,

they're not worried about what they put into it. They don't care about your health.

All they're interested in doing is making the product

as quickly and as cheaply as possible,

getting it out there and making a quick buck.

'This batch of fake vodka will be destroyed.

'It's a small proportion of more than seven million litres of alcohol seized last year.

'But not every seizure is so easy.'

There are thousands of white vans on the road. We picked on this particular one

because it had a stolen report on it.

Who in their right mind transports counterfeit goods in a stolen vehicle?

We seize on the mistakes that criminals make.

'As well as stolen goods, the motorways are also used

'to quickly move stolen cars from one part of the country to another.

'And the Midlands, the hub of the network, is often the best place to intercept them.'

-I've got the reg. Can you give us the make and colour?

-It's a Land Rover.

"Green Land Rover Range Rover."

'The stolen Range Rover is travelling south on the M6.

'PCs Roberts and Shail are on their way to intercept it.'

A high-powered vehicle had recently been stolen from a house.

Intelligence was good. It was definitely a stolen vehicle.

-We're making 11A.

-'The car was stolen up in Lancashire

'and officers from the Greater Manchester Police are following it.'

-"Officers from GMP are in a black Honda Civic."

-Understood. Thank you.

'The plan is for the motorway cops to help their Manchester colleagues stop the car.

-'But they're two miles from the nearest junction.'

-This is a race against time to get onto the motorway

and see if we can catch up with this vehicle and intercept it.

'PC Elliott has also joined the hunt.'

"32, we're just approaching 12."

We're 30 seconds from 11.

'Major roadworks on the southbound carriageway are causing traffic to slow.

'But this time the roadworks may help the cops by delaying the progress of the stolen car.'

-Three lanes static.

-Three lanes of static traffic.

-It hasn't hit 11A yet.

-'The question is now whether the target car has already passed by the junction.'

-Tango 11.

Can you just confirm, has it gone through 11A, please?

-"Not according to the system. Bear with me."

-Three lanes static.

Yeah, received. We'll remain static, then.

At the moment, we've got three lanes of static traffic. We know the car is just a short distance behind us now.

It's literally probably just a mile, if that.

We'll wait for it to come through the traffic, which has really played into our hands.

'But spotting the Range Rover amongst the HGVs is proving a problem.'

There were hundreds and hundreds of vehicles on the motorway, slow-moving traffic,

and it was a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

-"Approaching 11A."

-They'll be with us very shortly.

-What's that one over there?

-No.

There's a Range Rover. Can't see the colour.

That's a black Civic behind it, isn't it?

I couldn't see the reg of that Range Rover.

-Yeah, that's it, mate. That's it.

-We might be behind it, then.

-Yeah, we think we're behind it. Stand by.

-Stay there!

-Yes, yes, we are behind it. We're going to go for it.

'As the cops force their way into the traffic,

-'the order to strike comes in.'

-"Do it now, do it now."

-SIREN WAILS

-Stay there!

-Keys now! Keys!

-Get out of the car now!

-Hang on!

-What's going on?

-You're nicked for the theft of a car.

-I'm not going to try anything, don't worry.

-'The driver has been taken completely by surprise.'

-I'm not going to do anything, don't worry.

-Travelling on your own?

-Yes.

-No cars following you?

-No.

-Where you going to?

-Home.

-Where's home?

-Nuneaton.

-OK, you've been nicked for the theft of this motor.

-Yeah, I presume so.

-Where have you got it from?

-I just got it from...

-You bought it?

-No, I've been asked to drive it down here.

-OK. Mind over a minute, our kid.

'Once safely off the motorway,

'the cops can have a closer look at the £50,000 motor.'

The vehicle was stolen from a burglary, with keys, yesterday in the Manchester area.

So, all in all, a good result.

'The thieves have given the car just a rudimentary disguise.'

Basically, they've tried to alter the identity

by putting false number plates on from another vehicle, a similar vehicle,

and they've also covered up the visible chassis number of the vehicle.

However, being the masterminds they are,

they've left the original tax disc in with the original stolen number on.

It's already on false plates, it's clearly being taken somewhere for another purpose,

be that for breaking for spares or what, I don't know,

but because it's a bit of a quick disguise job on the number,

it may be that it's going to be broken for spares somewhere

as opposed to a complete new identity on it.

'And for PC Roberts, catching the driver is not the only satisfaction.'

That is a nice piece of work, when you can get these type of people off the road

and recover somebody's pride and joy in one piece without any damage being caused to it.

'While the cops arrange for the car to be returned to its owner, at Cannock Police Station,

'PCs Shail and Roberts are booking the driver in.

'They're discovering that he's no stranger to stolen cars.'

-As I tried explaining, I'm actually on bail at the moment.

-Yeah.

-What's the offence you're on bail for?

-Theft of a motor vehicle.

That's what it's for. But they've bailed me because...

-Not the same one?

-No, they're under the impression that...

Before they got all the evidence together, they were informed that I'd committed a burglary

and it's actually come to light that I was nowhere near the area

when it was supposed to have happened, so they had to bail me pending further enquiries.

'This time, there won't be any confusion about whether he's involved or not.

'He knows he's well and truly in the frame.'

-Are you seizing his clothing?

-Yes.

What are you seizing my clothes for? No other force has seized my clothes.

Go in this one here. Is that one being used?

-This is a joke. Why didn't the police stations...

-Different offence, mate.

-It's the same thing.

-It's not.

-They got me for the same thing.

-The stolen Range Rover?

-No, they've caught me with another Range Rover.

-Obviously you've got a problem.

I'm not going to argue, it's not an interview. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

-I've been in prison enough times.

-You should've learnt.

-Left.

-'He'll spend tonight in a cell until the Manchester cops decide how to deal with him.'

Okey doke.

There's a feeling of satisfaction when you get somebody like that off the streets.

I'm happy if, at the end of the day, I can lock up the bad guys, put them behind bars where they belong.

'13 miles further south in West Bromwich,

'PCs Dave Glover and Gareth Westbury are bringing the van driver

'caught with half a million counterfeit cigarettes into custody.

'The arrest has resulted in police and customs officers raiding a property in the city.'

A warrant has been executed at an address in Spar Hill

where that vehicle is believed to have come from.

We don't know, at this stage, what this chap's involvement is in this case.

Customs and Excise are sending a team over, one, to search the van and recover all the property,

and two, to come here and interview this chap in relation to his involvement in what we've got today.

-What's your name, please?

-BLEEP

-Been arrested before?

-Yes, mate.

After caution, he stated he was asked by a friend

to take the van and take it back.

'Another "asked by my friend" story which isn't going to help the cops much.

'But the cops are not concerned with getting information, they're more interested

'in stopping him passing information on to his mates before the operation is completed.'

I think my colleague spoke to the duty inspector

about rights being delayed, phone call and information.

As the officer's explained,

the inspector has authorised that your right in relation to have somebody informed you're here

and to have a phone call is being withheld at the moment.

'PC Glover has no time for the organised gangs who deprive the government of revenue.'

We have to pay tax. We're taxed to the hilt. Why shouldn't they?

Why should people get away with it?

-No sympathy at all.

-'While the man stews in the cells,

-'news of the raid is coming in.'

-Ta.

The update is that there was one person there

and there's been around about two million cigarettes recovered from that address.

So, overall, quite a good outcome.

'Further east, the rush hour is easing off.

'PCs Alan Colman and Kevin Whitehouse are leaving the motorway

'and heading back into Birmingham City Centre.

'But as they do so, they receive a call for help in locating a car.'

"Right down Summer Hill Road, it's in lane two. A Chrysler Neon."

We've had a report that a vehicle that made off from officers a few days ago, a Chrysler Neon,

is believed to be in the city centre. We don't know which way it's going to come at the moment.

'The car hasn't been stolen, so the reason why it failed to stop last time is a mystery.'

The first thing that comes into your mind is it will fail to stop again

so you have to prepare yourself that you may get into a pursuit

with that person.

And the other reason is, why has it failed to stop in the first place?

-Are they committing crime? Is it someone that's wanted?

-'But the cops do know where the owner lives

-'and think the driver could be heading there now.'

-Do you want to just go to nine?

-Yeah.

We decided to go up towards Tamworth way,

as the vehicle was registered to there and had connections to that area.

-That might be it. That's it.

-'They've guessed right.

'The car is up ahead. PC Colman reckons he's just born lucky.'

'I do have a knack of doing that.' That's him.

'I have a knack of being in the right place at the right time.'

Just a bit of luck, I think.

'As they catch up with the car, it's obvious something's very wrong.'

-Oh, he's all over the road here.

-We'll tail him for a bit.

'The car is weaving across the lanes. Drink may be an issue.

'And because the car failed to stop last time,

'there's a good chance it'll do so again.'

The car had a report on it for failing to stop.

So it's best to follow that vehicle for as long as you can

and get other resources into position

so if they manage to get away from you, you stand a good chance of catching them.

-Bit erratic, isn't he?

-He's all over the place.

'While the roads stay quiet, the cops will follow until backup arrives.'

Yeah, 22, he's 80 miles an hour. Little bit erratic in the lanes.

On the run up to junction nine. Stand by.

'But as the car approaches a junction,

'the driver shows little sign of slowing.'

Going through the red light.

'This is now getting increasingly dangerous.'

He's off at junction nine on the A446

towards The Belfry, over.

'The vehicle was weaving all over the road and it was getting very close to the kerb

'and I know the area quite well cos I live there.'

-He's bladdered, this bloke.

-'There's still no sign of any other patrols. As the car heads towards a town,

-'the cops are forced to make a decision.'

-We'll have to do him. We're getting to a built-up area.

-Yep.

-Yep.

'I wanted the vehicle stopped before we engaged in a pursuit through built-up areas.'

It's more dangerous to pursue a vehicle through built-up areas than it is through the countryside.

I took the choice that we should try and stop the vehicle.

60 miles an hour.

22, lights are on. He is braking. Stand by.

'Fortunately, the driver's seen sense.'

22, the vehicle's stopped. Stand by.

'Just as a patrol car arrives.'

Hiya.

When it was eventually stopped,

I was a little bit shocked at what appeared from the driver's seat.

-Oh, dear.

-Come and have a seat in the back of our car, please.

I assumed it was a male because, rightly or wrongly, most people we pursue,

most people I've pursued in my life as a police officer have been males.

-Hello.

-Hiya!

-God, what have I done?

-Your driving's all over the place.

-60?

-Yeah, but you're like this.

-I'm not.

-You are.

-60?

'Her behaviour is convincing the cops that she may have been drinking.'

Listen, I've been at work for 15 hours.

I'm sorry. No, no...

The thing is, you went through a red light, as well.

I've got three kids at home. I've been up since half past seven this morning.

All I want to do is get home. You... No, not you. No disrespect.

-I appreciate your job. This is me. I work in a casino.

-Mm-hm.

-If you can appreciate that.

-Yeah.

-I really, honestly...

At the end of the day, we want to make sure you get home safely.

-When you go onto the hard shoulder and swerve...

-Do you know what?

..particularly at this time in the morning, from the manner of your driving,

you've gone up the M42, exited at junction nine and gone through a red light.

-I'm just trying to think.

-When you've come off at junction nine, the big island.

-It means nothing to me.

-And then coming down here...

I put my hands up to that. I do.

Because I'm... No, I've really got no excuse.

I'm not going to even argue, because I can't. There's nothing I can say.

-Can you just give me a quick breath test?

-Yep.

-Have you had anything to drink at all?

-Er, no.

Yeah, earlier I did have a drink. Earlier.

-How long ago did you have your last drink?

-About 12 o'clock.

It was only because somebody bought me one as a tip.

Can you lean forward for me? Form a seal round the tube and blow till I tell you to stop, OK?

-OK.

-All right? Big deep breath.

OK?

-Harder.

-Keep blowing, keep blowing, keep blowing, keep blowing.

Stop. That's enough.

-It analyses your breath, OK?

-Do it.

-Yeah.

It's analysing it.

-MACHINE BEEPS

-You've blown 59.

-Right.

-Which is a fail.

-Which is...?

It's indicated you've got 59. The limit by breath is 35.

-OK?

-Oh, dear.

-I could smell alcohol on your breath when you got in the car.

-OK.

-All right?

-I have had a couple. I have.

-Yeah.

I have. I ain't going to lie. I have.

'She's one of the many drivers who claims they've just had a couple.'

Jesus Christ. I don't drink generally.

I ain't... Do you know what? I know you've heard it all before.

But I don't. I was somebody's birthday.

"Have a drink!" "Oh, all right, then. Go on, then!"

'But the consequences of just a couple of drinks could've been dire.'

Yeah, she's well drunk. That's why she's driving the way she is. She was all over the road.

Red light. Danger to other people on the road, driving like that.

'In the UK, 2,000 people are killed or seriously injured as a result of drink-driving.

'Although she's over the limit, the cops have to test her on a more accurate machine at the station.

'Five miles north of Birmingham, PCs Dave Gaunt and Kevin Faulkner

'have been called to a breakdown on the M6 near Walsall.

'They're using their blues and twos to get there, because this is no ordinary request for help.'

We received a call from the RAC

and they'd attended a breakdown

and the RAC man that was in attendance

contacted the police

basically saying that he thought the driver had been drinking.

'PC Gaunt is starting to think about what may happen when they arrive.'

The only issue we've got here is the fact that the vehicle's parked up

and you've got to ascertain how that vehicle's got to be there.

Because it's OK breathalysing him and then going down that route

and arresting him and everything like that,

but he turns up in court and says, "I wasn't driving it, my mate was driving it".

You've got to cover all the eventualities and say, "Where's your mate gone?"

Oscar Tango 97. AI, please.

'But as they arrive, there are no mates. Only the driver and the RAC patrolman who called them.'

What you doing?

-I just broke down.

-You just broke down? Come and take a seat in our car, will you?

It became apparent that he had been drinking.

You could smell it on his breath.

Take a seat in there.

Hello, mate. What's up with your car?

-Er, it's ran out of fuel.

-Oh, dear.

-Is that your car?

-Yes, it is.

-Sorry?

-Yes, it is.

-How's your car got here?

-Er, I drove it.

-You've drove it, have you?

-What's your name, please?

-Christopher Russell.

-Have you had a drink tonight?

-Yes.

-How much you had to drink, mate?

-Er, one and a quarter pints.

Whoever buys a quarter of a pint of something? It doesn't come in a quarter of a pint.

So you think perhaps he's not quite telling the truth.

Unless he's gone minesweeper and he's gone round everybody else's drinks and had a quarter of somebody else's.

How long ago was your last drink?

It was about 20 minutes ago.

Because I can smell alcohol on your breath, OK,

and you've told me you've driven that car there,

-I require you to provide me with a specimen of breath for the purpose of a roadside screening test.

-OK.

It's a bit like blowing a balloon up. You're not inflating anything, but that sort of strength of breath.

Lean forward. I'll hold the device.

Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.

Keep going. OK, thank you.

-What the device will now do is analyse your breath.

-OK.

-You see what that says there?

-Fail.

-Fail.

OK? So you've therefore failed the roadside breath test procedure.

I'm therefore arresting you on suspicion of driving having consumed excess alcohol.

'It's a surprisingly high result for someone who claims he's drunk just one and a quarter pints.

-'Whatever the amount, it's too much for Faulkner.'

-It wouldn't bother me if it was a nil drink-drive limit.

I've attended fatal accidents where drink is a factor.

What's left of vehicles and what's left of people is not very nice.

And we have to go and deal with that situation.

'And the RAC patrolman is in no doubt about how drunk the man is.'

When I called him up originally, he said, "I've ran out of fuel" and he was slurring his words.

I came down here, "What's that smell?" I said we were waiting for a truck.

-I said, "You've been drinking." He said, "It's mouthwash".

-'It turns out the cops arrived just in time.'

When I turned up... I blagged him and said, "What's your address? Where are we taking you?"

-I thought he was going to leg it.

-Really?

-Yeah. He'd called his mate to pick him up.

-Was there anybody else in the vehicle?

-No, he was on his own

-and he was in the driver's seat.

-OK.

And did he tell you he'd driven there?

Yeah, he said he was on his way to Walsall to see his girlfriend. Some emergency.

'But he won't be seeing his girlfriend tonight.'

I'm in the back of a police car at the moment.

I... Yeah, I've just failed a roadside breath test.

'And news about the driver's previous convictions is just coming in.'

OK, lovely. Thank you.

I just got a result back on the radio. They've done a check on him

to see if he's got a licence, et cetera.

And he's got previous for drink-driving.

'More than one in six convicted drink-drivers are caught drinking and driving again.

'But this man claims he's not one of the statistics.'

I don't know, because I've never been done before, so...

'The roadside test machine PCs Gaunt and Faulkner are using just shows a pass or fail.

'To find out exactly how much he really has had to drink,

'they need to test him again at the police station. Any delay has important consequences.'

'When somebody fails the breath test, it's a key factor for us

'to get them to the police station as quickly as we can.'

If they're very close to the drink-drive limit

and they're kept too long before they go on the machine,

there's a good chance that their result will diminish to a point where they're under the limit.

'While PCs Gaunt and Faulkner take their man in,

'PC Gareth Westbury has teamed up with PC Martin Smith.'

The latest adventure for the night, we've just had a call to say

there's about nine or ten, they're described as illegal immigrants, walking on the motorway.

'The Midlands motorway network runs right through the urban areas of Birmingham

'and here, jaywalkers can be a dangerous problem.'

Reports of pedestrians on the motorway we treat as a fairly urgent call

because when pedestrians go onto the motorway,

quite often they get ran over.

'More information is coming through.'

It's now one pedestrian walking between junction nine and ten.

'The cops' main concern is to avoid a serious or fatal injury.'

He's a danger to himself as well as others.

He could wander out into the main carriageway from the hard shoulder

and he doesn't stand a chance.

It has happened in the past and it will continue to happen where people get killed

because they're walking on the motorway.

Chances are he's walking on the motorway and trying to get home. He might have had a night out.

So we'll have to advise him about the error of his ways, I think.

-"He's probably another 150 yards."

-Where is he?

-Here he is. Got him.

-Get off the road, mate.

OK, stop here.

'At this time of night, PC Smith is expecting that, once again, drink may be an issue.'

-Hello, sir. You all right?

-'Especially as there's a report that he's been seen on CCTV

-'kicking traffic cones into the carriageway.'

-Come and sit with us.

'PC Smith can immediately tell he's had a drink or two.'

'I think it was quite obvious from the onset that the bloke had had a few too many

'and was just quite a bit drunk, really.' Come and sit with us.

Hello, mate.

What's been going on, then? How come you're on the motorway wandering about?

I'm not wandering about. I'm trying to get...

My brother-in-law's picking me up.

-Where from?

-Er...junction ten.

He's been on a night out somewhere, couldn't quite work out how to get home

and ended up trying to navigate there on the motorway.

'But the man has still not sussed out that he's in trouble

'and he's phoning his brother-in-law hoping for a lift home.'

If you can get back to junction ten...

-Do you want me to speak to him and tell him what's going on?

-Yeah, please.

-'PC Smith has other plans for him.'

-There's been an accusation made

and I can't talk about it but he's been arrested. We're going to Walsall Police Station.

Please tell me what I've done wrong.

-We'll explain again in a minute.

-He's really drunk,

-he's been found on the motorway.

-I'm not very drunk at all!

-OK?

He was quite, quite drunk.

So he probably maybe didn't remember but at the same time, if he did, being as he was drunk,

-he didn't want to get into trouble, so he was going to lie.

-What have I done?

You've been observed both on CCTV and by a member of the public kicking cones around the motorway

-and walking on the hard shoulder.

-I haven't kicked any cones!

-You've kicked a large number of cones and knocked the orange lights off.

-I would never do that

-because I know the cones are for traffic on the motorway.

-That's right.

-All I've done...

-You're not wrong, they are for that.

All I've done is got off here and walked towards junction ten.

I've done nothing else. I haven't kicked any cones, I have tried to disturb any traffic or anything.

I wouldn't be that stupid.

'Although Marlon believes he's done nothing wrong, the cops have to act on information from CCTV operators.

'They've no choice but to take him into custody to get to the bottom of what's actually happened.

'At Walsall Police Station, ten miles north of Birmingham City Centre,

'the pressure is on to give the man who claims to he has drunk just one and a quarter pints

'his second breath test.'

-Can I ask your surname, please?

-Russell.

-Russell.

-And your first name.

-Christopher.

-Have you ever been in custody before?

-Er, once.

-Once. How long ago?

Er, about 18 months ago.

'They want to get an accurate reading because as every minute ticks by,

-'his alcohol level is going down.'

-Middle names?

Christopher Anthony Stephen.

'But first they have to verify he is who he says he is.

'To make things worse, at this time of night,

'the custody suite is full of yet more drink-drivers waiting to be tested.'

Do you agree to provide...

DISTANT SHOUTING

'While they wait for the backlog to clear, the cops investigate the man's identity.'

He had two forms of identification on him.

He had an identification card in one name that we'd booked him in as

and he had a driving licence in another name.

It was a full driving licence. But the two photographs were the same person.

He'd boxed himself into a corner.

'He's given one chance to come clean.'

Christopher, this is your opportunity to give us the correct details.

-That is the correct details.

-We will be fingerprinting you as soon as this procedure is finished.

From the photographs shown there and there,

I'm more inclined to believe the pass than the driving licence.

I accept the driving licence photo to be good. But that looks more like you. That's a different name.

Why have you got those bank cards with you? It doesn't add up, does it?

'His explanation isn't fooling anyone.'

Somebody's lying and it's obviously him.

He's got the documentation with his picture on it,

so, you know, it's a case of, "Come on, mate, which one are you?"

'But the good news is the queue for the breath test machine is now clear

'and so the investigation into his identity is put on hold.

'But only until the cops check out his tale about having drunk just one and a quarter pints.'

Right, you might well be under, but if you don't blow, you're never going to know.

'It's been 40 minutes since he arrived at the station.

'The delay may have been just enough to put him under the limit.'

Keep it going, keep it going, keep it going. OK.

OK, do you want to step back for a minute? Get yourself psyched up, then.

-'The cops will select the lower reading from two attempts.'

-Harder, harder, harder.

Keep it going. That's it. OK.

36, 37.

'He's actually failed the test, but not by much.

'And it's police policy across the UK to allow some leeway before they decide to charge.'

So you're over the legal limit, but the legal limit's 35.

We don't prosecute till 40 and above.

'It's been a very close shave.

'There have been calls for the limit to be reduced by nearly 40 percent,

'bringing the UK into line with much of continental Europe.

'It's estimated that this could save up to 160 lives per year.'

We always give certain tolerances to allow for any discrepancy in the machinery.

If there's, say, a percentage that the machine can be out, the police like to give that.

Everything's always in the driver's favour, so if the legal limit's 35,

you always give the benefit of the doubt a little bit

cos the machine might just be a little bit out.

I'm just surprised I passed.

-'He's off the hook on one charge.'

-I'm just surprised.

'But he's yet to convince them of his true identity.'

'These days, everyone who's arrested has their fingerprints put on a police database,

'so it's easy to check out who they are.

'The results take just a few minutes and confirm their suspicions.'

His alias names are Macaulay Anthony Conway and Christopher Anthony Russell.

Yeah, his main name's Stephen Conway.

His driving licence is in an alias, obviously.

I would say it's not a forgery,

I think he's just applied for that in his Russell name, Christopher Russell.

-'They've found out that he has a chequered past.'

-He's got loads of form.

The last time he was convicted was October and he got...

14/9, driving licence disqualified, Birmingham Mags.

And he got suspended in prison.

He got a two-year ban in...2007.

'His attempt to continue driving whilst banned has backfired.'

He was disqualified until 2010.

I think what he'd actually done was he'd been disqualified under one name.

But he took a test in another name, this alias, and passed his driving test to get the full licence.

'Incredibly, he'd been disqualified under both his real and his fictitious names.

'Even so, PC Faulkner has made sure he won't be able to drive using his twin identities again.'

Now, I've notified the DVLA

with the two driver numbers and the two names. They will cross-reference those.

So any time he's now stopped in either of those names, it'll come back as disqualified.

Stephen. I'm not going to call you Christopher

cos I've checked the details on Livescan

and on Livescan you've come back as Stephen Anthony Conway. OK?

-You also stood by the fact that your name was Christopher Russell, which clearly it isn't.

-It is.

From the details you've given and the fingerprints we've taken, it isn't.

OK? So as well as a disqualified driver, I'm also arresting you

for obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty.

'It's taken some time, but the investigation has been worth the effort.'

If feels good that you've got an arrest,

you've proved somebody out to be a liar,

you haven't got them for the original offence that you were looking at

but you've got them for something as serious.

So it's a good feeling, yeah.

So I'll get you a blanket, get your head down and I'll come back and wake you up, OK?

'The man will have to explain who he really is to the magistrates in the morning.

'Two miles west, the man found walking on the M6

'is being taken into custody by PCs Gareth Westbury and Martin Smith.

'They need to find out if the reports they have from CCTV operators

'about him kicking traffic cones into the carriageway are true.'

-Excuse me, sir.

-Yes, Marlon?

Can you answer my question? What have I done? How am I very drunk?

I've explained a couple of times, more than a couple of times,

-what you're alleged to have done. I haven't seen you.

-But that's alleged.

You can't tell me where the evidence has come from? That's just alleged.

The allegation's been made, we've got to investigate it.

No matter how much I tell you, it doesn't matter, it won't sink in cos you've had a few beers.

-No, I haven't had a few beers.

-We'll go down, round and back.

I've had maybe two drinks from...

Er, what you call it? A cocktail bar.

Is it cos my skin's black or something?

-Huh?

-If you park up there...

-What's that, Marlon?

-Is it because my skin's black or something?

-No, it's not.

He was arrested because of what he'd done and that goes for anybody.

If you commit the offence, you can expect to get arrested.

What have you seen me do, then? I've done nothing wrong.

-It's not what we've seen you do, it's what somebody else has seen you do.

-What?

You haven't told me what they've seen me do!

I haven't done anything wrong. I ain't stupid!

Quite frankly, getting him out of the car

couldn't come a moment too soon. I've never known one person

say so much in such a short space of time to so few people.

I must have some degree of respect here! I've done nothing wrong. I am not a criminal.

I have never been a criminal. I've never been fingerprinted.

The whole time at the police station, this guy was particularly vocal.

He was quite agitated. He became quite verbally aggressive.

-Don't create a confrontation, OK?

-I'm not creating a confrontation.

If you tell me what I have done wrong...

In the end, I think the sergeant became quite fed up of his rantings

and he suggested that we just escort him to the nearest cell.

This is a joke, this is. Honest to God, this is a joke.

He was left there for the night to basically sober up.

How long am I going to be in a cell for?

Some officers from the morning shift will speak to you. Not me.

-In the morning shift?

-Yeah. They're on in an hour, Marlon.

-Go on, Marlon.

-Please.

-Marlon, come on.

-Marlon, we need you to go in there.

-I've done nothing wrong, man!

-Stand back from the door, please.

-You're loving this.

-We're not, actually.

We'll get to you as soon as we can, OK?

Awesome.

-LOUD KNOCKING

-'His protests are falling on deaf ears.

'But his antics have been caught on camera.'

Some of what had gone on had been captured on CCTV.

And it showed our friend in his suit having a bit of a wander through the street furniture.

He'd committed this offence called, er, causing danger to road users.

'And what may have been just mucking around has caused problems for the motorway traffic.'

As it turned out, we'd got a lorry driver who'd contacted the police

and said he'd seen this guy kicking out at cones

and that one had come onto the motorway and caused him to swerve his large goods vehicle.

'By 6am, traffic is already building up on the M6.

'Every hour, more than 7,000 cars, vans and lorries will pass by Birmingham City Centre.

'The motorway cops are nearing the end of their 12-hour shift.

'But before they can take a break, there's one last problem for PCs Alan Colman and Kevin Whitehouse.

'A broken-down car in the middle of the motorway.'

Where it is is quite a dangerous position to be in.

So we're making our way down there fairly quickly,

get behind and give him some cover, see what's happened.

'On this stretch of the motorway there's no central barrier,

'just an empty lane separating the traffic.'

There he is, there.

That's ridiculous, what are they doing?

'That lane is there to prevent other vehicles having head-on collisions,

'So it's a barrier between the two opposing sets of traffic.'

'And it's here, right between the fast-moving commuters, that the car has broken down.'

'It was just sat there, no lights on, no nothing. Which is a very, very dangerous place to be.'

We'll need a Range Rover, rapid.

-All right. What's up?

-No petrol.

-No petrol?

-Yeah.

-Will it not start at all?

-No.

'This is possibly the worst place in Britain to run out of petrol.'

You shouldn't come on the motorway with no petrol, you know? Hang on.

-Going to need a Range, he's got no petrol.

-He's run out of petrol?

-Run out of petrol.

Get back in the car!

This idiot has run out of petrol. Could you send us a Range Rover down?

'While they wait for the Range Rover to tow the car to safety,

'the cops have to use their car to act as a shield.'

In this situation here, he's managed to get into this lane, and although this lane is closed,

it's still not safe, you still get emergency vehicles coming down here at speed,

you can die on here. If a lorry hits you, you'll die. Simple as that.

In the car is the safest place for him. Wandering round the carriageway all in black,

he's just going to get wiped by one of these.

'And, as if on cue, the driver foolishly decides to brave the traffic.'

-Get in the car!

-Sit in the car!

Get in the car!

Has he got a brain or what?

Stupid. What's he going to be like being towed?

'Time to make another check.'

-Have you been towed before?

-What do you mean, towed?

-What do I mean, towed?

Towed! As in pulled with a rope?

-No, you haven't, have you? Sit in that seat over there.

-Absolute fool.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hang on!

-You're on a main road here. Yeah?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You need to be careful. You've got no protective clothing on.

Just sit in there.

He's that close to traffic... SIREN WAILS

He's put three, three, four people in danger here.

Five including himself. Plus, all these other motorists, he's put them all in danger through his stupidity.

So we're just about to go off.

I can't believe you've come out without enough petrol, mate.

You pass your test, it is reasonable to expect that you should know that your petrol gauge,

every car's got a petrol gauge,

that you should have some sort of indication on there.

-Is this your car, is it?

-Sorry?

-Is this your car?

-Yeah.

'It takes just a few minutes to tow him to safety.'

-Right, you need to phone someone...

-Yes.

-..to come out with some petrol.

-Could you just take...?

-No, no, no, no. You're in enough trouble as it is.

-Now, I've told him what to do. He's just asked if we can drop him off home.

-Oh, right.

He had the cheek to ask us to give him a lift back to his house, which, erm, that's not happening.

It says police on my shirt, not taxi.

-What sort of driving licence have you got?

-UK licence.

-And how long have you had that?

-Er, since 2006.

-Right, you know when you took your test?

-Test?

-BOTH: Driving test.

-Yeah.

What did it say about preparing for your journey, making sure your car was in a roadworthy condition?

And had oil, water, and most of all, petrol?

'But PC Colman has an even more important question for him.'

-Where have you been? Have you been at work or something?

-No, I've been with my friends.

-Right, have you been drinking last night?

-No.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

I'm sure I got a whiff of something.

'PC Colman's not convinced that he's getting the truth about his drinking.

'But before he can test him, more information is coming in about the man's licence.'

Confirm, you've got an exact match on his details, but he is a non-licence holder?

He's got three points, as well.

"There's no match on his details. No exact match. And a non-licence holder on the DL."

-You haven't got a driving licence.

-You look surprised and shocked.

-Did you understand what I said to you?

-Yeah, I understand.

-You don't have a driving licence.

So what are you doing driving this car again? You've already been caught once, haven't you? Yeah?

A fixed penalty notice, three points on the licence you don't have.

Your car will be recovered, we're seizing the car. It will cost you £150 recovery. OK?

'Now it's Colman's turn again.'

I require you to provide me with a specimen of breath for analysis.

Blow long and hard like you do on a balloon. Go on.

Harder! Keep going, keep going, keep going! Stop! Stop! Stop!

You have had a drink last night, you have.

-A little bit.

-Yeah, well don't lie to me when I ask you, saying, "No, I haven't had a drink."

-I was just...

-"Yes, I've got a licence."

You are literally on the margin. It's 35.

OK? So we won't be doing anything about that today, unfortunately.

'The driver is right on the limit. And as they can't prosecute him, he is free to go.

'But his car will be locked up in the police pound.'

There you go. What do you need from the car? Get it from this side, all right?

'He's travelling light. Just a half-finished can of pop.'

You're going in our car with that. Is that empty?

-Little bit.

-Either drink it or throw it away, all right?

-Not the can! You don't throw the can away!

-Is he having a laugh, is he?

You can't throw that away!

I want you to pick it up. I don't want you to throw it on the floor.

'With the empty can safely clutched in his hand, the cops have one last job to do.'

We're just going to drop you at the top of the road, mate, OK?

-Top of the road?

-Yeah, we ain't taking you home.

'The cops will take him just off the motorway, where he'll have to find his own way home.'

I think our actions may well have prevented an accident, or saved his life.

Because it was a matter of time before somebody ploughed straight into him.

'But he is not in the mood for thanking the motorway cops.'

-Bye.

-Bye.

It is illegal to driving without driving licence in this country,

but I have to do that, you know,

because I applied a few times for driving licence

but they don't give me driving licence.

'The man who ran out of petrol and who lied about having a licence

'was fined and given another four points on his non-existent licence.

'The man who was filmed on CCTV kicking traffic cones

'was fined £80 for being drunk and disorderly.

'The woman driver was found to be nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit,

'was fined £160 and banned from driving for 12 months.

'The driver who gave the police a false identity was sentenced to five months in prison,

'and given an additional four-year driving ban.

'The man stopped in the stolen Range Rover pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods

'and was given a 12 month suspended prison sentence.

'The van driver with £9,000 of counterfeit vodka was fined £250 for evading excise duty.

'The liquor was destroyed by Trading Standards officers.

'And the driver who claimed to know nothing about the half a million counterfeit cigarettes in his van,

'pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading excise duty.'

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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