0:00:02 > 0:00:04Get ready for the runners.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07- Come out, come out, wherever you are. - We need a dog really.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Tonight, it's hide and seek...
0:00:08 > 0:00:12There's three lads out of this car, they've done a runner.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16- ..as identities are checked... - When we ask your name, you give your name.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20what's on your licence and your passport, not some Micky Duff details.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- ..motives are questioned... - It might have been a bit of vanity.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26It's nothing to do with avoiding anything.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27..evidence uncovered...
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Here, Sarge! Here it is. Got it.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32They're going for it.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37..and criminals on the highways are stopped in their tracks...
0:00:37 > 0:00:40On the floor! on the floor!
0:00:40 > 0:00:44These people aren't going to get away from the motorway police.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47They're on our patch and we will stop them.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18It's coming up to midnight and PC Adam Toal and PC Paul Owen are on patrol
0:01:18 > 0:01:21on a quiet B road just north of Bromsgrove.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24When you're out on patrol, you're always scanning,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26you're always looking
0:01:26 > 0:01:29for vehicles with somebody in it that doesn't sit right.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Oh, yep.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Look at that.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Seeing a van with no lights, the cops turn to catch up.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Tango 43, for a check, please.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But they start to think there may be more of a problem
0:01:49 > 0:01:51than just a forgetful driver.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55He's all over the road, mate, he is.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58You start thinking, well, if they haven't got their lights on,
0:01:58 > 0:01:59maybe there's something else...
0:01:59 > 0:02:03They've had a drink, or they're high on drugs or stolen the vehicle.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Go for it now, mate.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Despite the flashing police lights,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11it's clear the driver has no intention of stopping.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12PG.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14PG-zero-five-ADB.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17As they follow the van into a pub car park,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20the cops prepare for the two men to bail out.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Get ready for the runners.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28But instead of dumping the van and running for freedom,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31the driver heads to the far end of the car park
0:02:31 > 0:02:33and then doubles back,
0:02:33 > 0:02:34making a break for it...
0:02:34 > 0:02:37'Normally, if you get a vehicle failing to stop,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40'they'll jump out the vehicle, leave it and make off on foot.'
0:02:40 > 0:02:42On this occasion, they didn't do that.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44They've done a U-turn and come straight back.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49..leaving the cops struggling to turn their car round to catch up.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Mike Alpha. Mike Alpha from Oscar Tango 43.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54We've got a vehicle failing to stop.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58'43, yeah, with a vehicle failing to stop. Where are you?'
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Where are we? They've gone back on the main road, mate.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03'I just catch some headlights...'
0:03:04 > 0:03:06..going the one way...
0:03:06 > 0:03:10which I thought were possibly brake lights from this van,
0:03:10 > 0:03:11so we've gone that way.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Stand by. We're at Leckey Hills.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Has he gone this way?
0:03:15 > 0:03:16Yeah, this way.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18And it's the B4096, Rose Hill
0:03:18 > 0:03:22and we're heading in the general direction of Leckey.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Where's he gone, mate?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26He's nipped off, mate, somewhere.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30It's a current loss at the moment. It's around this area somewhere.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33I think he's gone back that way, you know.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36While PC Toal makes a U-turn,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39PC Owen gets on the radio for more help.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41The registration I passed you,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44it was going in the opposite direction with no lights on.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46It was a white van. Two white male occupants onboard.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Turned onto a pub car park, doubled back
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and has disappeared out of view. Received, over.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55You get frustrated because you think, potentially we've lost that vehicle,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57we've lost the criminals in it,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00we don't really know why they failed to stop.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04I reckon that's just been nicked you know, mate.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06The front seat passenger looked pissed.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Valuable minutes have been lost, but a drunk driver in a stolen van is worth searching for.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14It's in this area somewhere that is, mate.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Now, what's that there, mate?
0:04:23 > 0:04:26And half a mile up the road, PC Toal spots something.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28- See it?- Yeah.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32- That's it, innit?- Yeah.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37'They've obviously made good their escape but...'
0:04:37 > 0:04:39they always leave telling signs behind.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41It's insecure as well, mate.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Mike Alpha Oscar Tango...
0:04:47 > 0:04:48Four three. Over.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56Mike Alpha, can we get a dog handler down here at all?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59They've obviously done one. Looks like it's possible stolen.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02The passenger's door's open,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06but strangely the driver has taken the trouble to lock his door.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I'll just check the chassis over, mate.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15With the driver and passenger nowhere in sight, PC Toal checks
0:05:15 > 0:05:19the van's details to trace where the owner lives.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Yeah, that's all received. It obviously is a genuine vehicle.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27I don't know if you're able to get someone to pop to the address,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I don't think it's a million miles from here.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Can we organise recovery of the vehicle as it's insecure, please?
0:05:33 > 0:05:36It's just a works van, loads of tools in the back.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40There's no reports on the vehicle, it's not suggested that it's stolen.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Erm, there's a good chance that it may be the genuine keeper
0:05:44 > 0:05:46who's had a drink, abandoned it
0:05:46 > 0:05:49and will probably report it stolen sometime tonight,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53which is an attempt, obviously, to get off with a drink-drive aspect.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Whoever was driving it may not have run very far...
0:05:58 > 0:06:02..and there are plenty of places to hide.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03- Need a dog really, don't we?- Yeah.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Cos I don't want to walk over there and tread it all down.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08We know we're only seconds behind them.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12When they've abandoned that vehicle and they've made off on foot,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15there's not enough time for them to get too far away.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- I didn't see this floodlight on when we come down.- No.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26That's where they've gone, over there.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Finding them in the dark will be a tall order,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30unless they can get help to pick up the trail.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34We're waiting for confirmation that we've got a dog available.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35If we haven't then...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Well, they've got away.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39I don't like losing people.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Especially drunks.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Ditching a van in a quiet cul-de-sac is one thing.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48But when it comes to the motorway,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51an abandoned vehicle can have serious consequences.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Over on the M6, motorway cops Chris Clarke and Kevin Shail
0:06:56 > 0:06:59have been called to the scene of an accident in the fast lane.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Had a report that a car's broken down in lane three.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05That's been hit by another vehicle,
0:07:05 > 0:07:11so it's probably an unlit section of motorway where we're going between 50 and 60.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Three people have crossed the opposing carriageway
0:07:13 > 0:07:16and are now walking away.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19So obviously potential dangers to people on there,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22whether or not anybody's injured as well...
0:07:22 > 0:07:25So we've got to get up there fairly quickly.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27An accident in the unlit section of the motorway
0:07:27 > 0:07:31is the cop's worse nightmare and for good reason.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34If you've got a car in the middle of the road
0:07:34 > 0:07:37or even on the hard shoulder and it's unlit,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40it only takes somebody who's not paying proper attention...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43So it's a very dangerous situation.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47'When you're on your way there, information is sketchy at best
0:07:47 > 0:07:51'and you've got to be prepared to deal with the worst.'
0:07:51 > 0:07:54You want to get there quickly because you want to protect the scene
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and prevent other people getting hurt or even killed.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00As they arrive, the Highways Agency are already on scene.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Well, apparently, what we're trying to piece together is that
0:08:04 > 0:08:07he's gone into the central reservation.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Luckily no one's been injured,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12although several motorists have become involved in the incident
0:08:12 > 0:08:15after being overtaken by a fast-moving car.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20About...I would say about a mile and a half after he'd passed,
0:08:20 > 0:08:27he was the other way round, facing south, basically. Yeah.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31It seems the driver of the car, a Citroen Saxo, caused the accident.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Basically, what's happened, the Saxo's overtaken this lady
0:08:35 > 0:08:38at speed and as it's been doing so, it's lost control
0:08:38 > 0:08:42and has crashed through the central barrier.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Various trucks have avoided the wreckage.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48This lady's braked, and in doing so, has lost control, skidded
0:08:48 > 0:08:50and ended up in the middle of the carriageway.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Having crashed their car,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54the lads inside have decided not to hang around.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57It looks... Have you been told? We passed it on...
0:08:57 > 0:09:00There's three lads out of this car, they've done a runner
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- across the carriageway. - Which way have they gone?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- They went northbound.- North? - Across and northbound.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Our lot's got them on camera, apparently.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12There was two or three chaps in the car.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15They got out before I'd even...
0:09:15 > 0:09:17even thought about anything.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21And, basically, went on the southbound heading north, walking.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24So they wasn't even going to stay around anyway.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27The woman has her own theories about why the men ran away.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32No insurance. No licence. They shouldn't be on the road.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34At the end of the day, they're putting lives at risk.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37By crossing six lanes of unlit motorway,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39the driver of the Saxo and his passengers
0:09:39 > 0:09:42have taken an enormous risk to get away from the cops.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45They could have run off for a number of reasons.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49It might be they just don't want to speak to us. They could have been drinking, on drugs, not insured.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52They might have even nicked the motor, we don't know.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57The cops are hoping that a search of the Saxo will reveal further clues.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00They need to find the runaway driver and his passengers
0:10:00 > 0:10:04before their desperate dash along the motorway puts them in even more danger.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Four miles north of Bromsgrove,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10PCs Toal and Owen are also trying to catch a runaway driver.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12That's where they've gone.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17Just 15 minutes have passed since they found the white van that failed to stop.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20They think the driver and his passenger may be hiding close by,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23but they need a dog team to help search for them.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I don't know if Mike Alpha have spoken to you
0:10:26 > 0:10:30to see if you've got a dog handler available on the border
0:10:30 > 0:10:34at Bromsgrove, the bottom end of Leckey Road.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37'Yeah, we just had a dog unit...'
0:10:37 > 0:10:38A dog unit is available,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42but the bad news is it's 30 miles away in Worcester.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46It's been about 15 minutes now so I'd say probably cancel.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It's frustrating. We couldn't get a dog
0:10:49 > 0:10:53and the helicopter wasn't available at that time,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56so you've got to do the best you can with the resources you've got
0:10:56 > 0:10:59and, on this occasion, there was only two of us.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Damn it.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Yeah. Gutted, mate. Their need to get away is far greater
0:11:04 > 0:11:08than ours of catching them, sometimes.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10I think that would have turned nasty, to be fair.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- I'm not much of a runner any more, either.- That makes two of us, mate.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- Shall we go to the address?- Yeah.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20The registered keeper of the van lives nearby.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23The cops plan to pay him a visit.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25We'll knock the door.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29One of the scenarios could be
0:11:29 > 0:11:32that the registered keeper is in the address
0:11:32 > 0:11:33and by us talking to him
0:11:33 > 0:11:36we point out that his van's not on his drive...
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and then we've got a stolen vehicle.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Another scenario could be...
0:11:42 > 0:11:47..the person who owns the vehicle has just run off and is not in the address.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Someone's coming down, mate.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Myself and Paul have both got a glimpse of the driver
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and the passenger and they were youngish lads.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They were in their late teens, early 20s.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Similar sort of age to myself.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Hello, sir, sorry to disturb you. Have you got a white van?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- Erm, yeah.- Where's that at the moment?
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Not far from here.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Well, it should be.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20Right.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24And when we've gone and knocked on the door of the registered keeper,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28that person's not in their teens or mid-20s,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32so my thought is then that actually maybe this person wasn't the driver
0:12:32 > 0:12:33and it's somebody else.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Who drives that?
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Well, various people drive it.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41That van's just failed to stop for us and two occupants in it have run off.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46I need to know exactly who's driving it, where it's been stopping,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50and if I don't get that, I'm going to have it recovered and I won't release it.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- I'll make a quick phone call, then. - No, no, no. I need to know who's got it now.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- But I don't know where it is, so how do I know?- Well, you've just said...
0:12:57 > 0:12:59it should be down the road.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02INAUDIBLE
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Does he work for you or something?
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- He does bits and pieces for me, yeah.- Right.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11He ain't for this far though, has he?
0:13:11 > 0:13:16How far is this up the road from where it's dumped?
0:13:16 > 0:13:20- I think we're about three miles away from it now. - He ain't got here that quick. No.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Having ruled out the owner as their suspect,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27the cops' attention turns to his workmate who regularly uses the van.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31I'll tell you now, right, I don't think that van's been stolen.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Your man's been drink-driving tonight, bud, I think.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- He doesn't drink-drive. He doesn't drink.- OK.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The owner isn't convinced by the cops' theory.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43But PC Toal is determined to prove it.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I tell you what I'm going to do, then.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48If he doesn't come forward, I will recover the vehicle tonight
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and preserve it for scenes of crime to SOCO it,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53which could take up to a week.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56I might have to do that, if he doesn't admit to it.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00My only bargaining tool at this time is that vehicle.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03I can see how keen he is to get that van back
0:14:03 > 0:14:07and I've got to use that van to get to the bottom of my investigation.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10I know he's been driving that tonight. So does my colleague.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11And he's failed to stop.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15- Well, he might not have. Someone else...- With the keys?
0:14:15 > 0:14:17And he's locked and secured it?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20'His vehicle off the road for a couple of days, he's going to lose money.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:23So I think he was quite keen to get to the bottom of it.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26'Which is always good, really, if you've got somebody on side,'
0:14:26 > 0:14:28you know, instead of an enemy,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30'it's much easier.'
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Now the cops are making yet another late-night house-call.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38The important thing is I want you to get your vehicle back tonight.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40But I want to know who's driving it,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44The household seems asleep, but the cops are about to give them a wake up call.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46There's no signs of forced entry.
0:14:48 > 0:14:49How are you doing, mate?
0:14:49 > 0:14:52What happened was, they came round to me...
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I think they were quite shocked.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I think he thought his vehicle was still on the drive.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03It was there earlier. It was... It was there about...
0:15:04 > 0:15:06It must've been there.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Have you got the van keys?
0:15:09 > 0:15:11'He's gone to check for his keys as well.'
0:15:11 > 0:15:15And I think the penny's dropped then that the keys aren't there,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17so the next port of call is, "Have you got anybody else
0:15:17 > 0:15:21"that's living with you that could have access to those keys?"
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Have you got any kids?
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- Two boys, one's in bed.- Where's the other one?- Out with his friends.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- In the van? - There we go then.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32That's the person I want to speak to.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34All right, I'm just popping in.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37If it was the couple's son who took the van,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39PC Toal will need their help to track him down.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44They're very reluctant to help potentially, you know,
0:15:44 > 0:15:45have their son in trouble.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Right now, if he admits the fact that he was driving it
0:15:48 > 0:15:51and he's failed to stop for us, it's a very minor offence.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53But I think you need to have a strong word with him
0:15:53 > 0:15:55when he comes back in, mate.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01'At the moment, we strongly believe that the son is drunk.'
0:16:01 > 0:16:03That's why he's failed to stop.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05And he's also TWOC'd the vehicle,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07which is 'taken without the owner's consent'.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11So he's going to be in trouble, he's going to be arrested.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Obviously not now, he's nowhere to be seen
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and he's not answering his phone.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18PC Toal has persuaded the worried parents to call
0:16:18 > 0:16:20as soon as their son reappears.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23But until they speak to him, the cops won't know for sure
0:16:23 > 0:16:25whether they've got their man,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27or why he was so desperate to get away.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Back on the M6, the men who crashed their car
0:16:33 > 0:16:35and then ran off have still not been found.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40But a second witness has come forward with more information for PC Shail.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Where's your...? - This is my car here.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- It's your car. Come and I'll have a word with you up here.- Yeah.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48And we can get you on your way shortly.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51So you pulled over onto the hard shoulder, the car was...
0:16:51 > 0:16:54At this point, it had crashed, come to rest in the middle of the road.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Then I went over to the lads to see if they were OK,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59see if they needed any ambulance.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02And the first thing they threw at me is, "Can you give us
0:17:02 > 0:17:04"a lift to Manchester?"
0:17:04 > 0:17:06And being really aggressive.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Little bit staggered by the fact that they'd
0:17:08 > 0:17:11actually said, you know, "We'll leave our car here.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13"Can we have a lift to Manchester?"
0:17:13 > 0:17:16My answer was, "No, you're going to have to stay here.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20"You could be in trouble if you don't."
0:17:20 > 0:17:23They didn't give a monkey's about anybody else.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26They're just after their own interests. Selfish, heartless.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29There could have been somebody injured there, they wouldn't care.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34The search for the men has been continuing and, nearby, another cop,
0:17:34 > 0:17:39PC Richard Elliott, has spotted two men walking along the hard shoulder.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41As we came south, we just,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43a couple of miles from the scene of the incident,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45we pick them up in the headlights,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49both walking north on the southbound hard shoulder.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Yeah, we've been updated that the other patrol,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53they come across these two guys.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55They've spoken to them.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58One person has admitted being the driver and owner of the car.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01The lad who I first spoke to gave me his name
0:18:01 > 0:18:04and it was the same as the registered keeper.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07There had to be a reason, in our minds, for him leaving that scene.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12So, obviously, one of the things was potentially that he was
0:18:12 > 0:18:13a drink driver.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18As the abandoned car is towed away, PC Shail gets more news.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It seems the driver has failed a breath test.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Well, that explains why they've done a runner.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28But still, unbelievable that they're prepared to cross six lanes
0:18:28 > 0:18:32of pitch black motorway to make good their escape.
0:18:32 > 0:18:38It's insane enough just to walk up the hard shoulder, but...
0:18:38 > 0:18:40It's just astounding,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43just beyond belief that people could be so idiotic.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Further south, on the M6, 20 miles north of Coventry,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57motorway cops Dave Gaunt and Kevin Whitehouse are also
0:18:57 > 0:19:01searching for someone who doesn't want to be found.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07Got some information that there's a 04 plate Bentley,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10possibly heading southbound on the M6,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12the driver, we believe, is a disqualified driver.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16So we'll try and make some ground and see if we can pick it up
0:19:16 > 0:19:19before it goes off our area.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Unless he's clogging it.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Can't be that far ahead of us.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27The cops will need to push their BMW to the max
0:19:27 > 0:19:31if they're to catch the powerful Bentley.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Fortunately, this kind of luxury car is pretty unusual.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It's one of those cars that you don't get too many of,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40like Ford Fiestas. They're easy to spot.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44It's rare for the motorway cops to pursue a disqualified driver
0:19:44 > 0:19:47who's got such an exclusive set of wheels.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51But you don't expect them to have disqualified drivers
0:19:51 > 0:19:52and that sort of thing.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56You expect them to be insured and everything because of the type of car it is.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Is that it? Oscar Tango 96 to 71.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03We'll go in front and give him a follow me,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05see if he'll come into Corley with us, over.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09We've got another vehicle ahead at junction 3,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11another vehicle behind us.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16So we'll try and take him into Corley and see if he'll stop for us.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19The cops have enough cars to ensure they can stop the Bentley
0:20:19 > 0:20:21by force, if needs be.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25But they're hoping a simple message to pull into Corley Services
0:20:25 > 0:20:26will do the trick.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31We've got a message board on the back of the car where we can put messages up, saying,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34"Follow me," which is what we wanted him to do.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Oscar Tango 96 to 71, we've put the "follow me" on now, received.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44But the Bentley driver seems to have other ideas.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46He's dropped well back now.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51He tried to hide behind some articulated lorry that was there,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54as if to say, "I'll slope into the background and hope it's not me."
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Yeah. Is he still behind the truck, is he?
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The driver seems to be ignoring the flashing sign asking him
0:20:59 > 0:21:02to follow the cops.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04He's indicating to come past me now.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05- Is he?- Yeah.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08You know what you're doing, but when they don't comply,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11you're now thinking, "What are we going to do if there's...
0:21:11 > 0:21:16"If he's indicating to come past us, is he going to floor it and go for it?"
0:21:16 > 0:21:17Look behind.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19ALERT SOUNDS
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- AUTOMATED VOICE:- PNC Report.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- Deal with this, yeah?- Yeah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Finally, he gets the message.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Mike Alpha 96, vehicle's off at Corley, over.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Hello, sir. Do you want to switch the engine off for me a minute?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42The cops are expecting to find the disqualified driver,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45a young white male, behind the wheel of the Bentley.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Is it your car?
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- That's not a problem. - I think he can talk for himself, mate, all right?
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- No problem, mate, it's my car. - Eh? Is it your car?- Yeah, yeah.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56OK. Just pop out of the car a minute and have a chat?
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Just come and sit in the back of our car, mate.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03And take your cigarette out.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06The owner of the Bentley is inside the £80,000 car,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08but not behind the wheel.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- He's in the passenger seat. - As soon as we stopped the vehicle,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16we knew that the person who was disqualified was not the person that was driving it.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20So obviously we spoke to the driver anyway to make sure
0:22:20 > 0:22:22he was street legal, basically.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- Hello, mate. All right? - All right, yeah.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Right. Whose vehicle is it?
0:22:28 > 0:22:30It's my mate's, in the passenger.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34- Do you have driving documents with you at all?- No, I haven't. I ain't got none on me.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Have you got a driving licence? - Yeah.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38OK. What's your full name?
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Asaiah Rainford.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40Spell that for me.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- A- S.- A- S.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43- A-I.- A-I...
0:22:48 > 0:22:50The driver has given one name to the cops,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53but his passenger says he's called something else.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Someone's not telling the truth.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59The owner of the car has given the sergeant a card,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02a bank card in the name of Leon Hunter.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05And that's what he says his name is.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07But he's given Asaiah Rainford to the officer.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11But now the driver's having second thoughts about the details he's given.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17You need my finger name, actually, my real name. Leon Hunter.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Why do I need your real name?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Cos I thought that's the best thing to do.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27- Right, so what's the other name you use?- Asaiah Rainford.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- No, what's the other one? - Leon Hunter.- Leon Hunter? - Yeah, yeah.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33So why did you give me Asaiah Rainsford?
0:23:33 > 0:23:36That's my name that I use, I always tell everyone that's my name.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- Why? - That's just my name that I use.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- So have you got a driving licence? - I have got a driving licence.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- What name's the driving licence in? - Leon Hunter.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48- When we ask your name, you're supposed to give us it. - I know, that's...
0:23:48 > 0:23:51What's on your licence, all right? Not some Micky Duff details.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56Obviously, when people lie to you about their identity,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58you know that they've done it for a reason,
0:23:58 > 0:24:03either because they're wanted or they're committing offences that,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06obviously, if they give you a false name, that you might be
0:24:06 > 0:24:09gullible enough to sort of just accept it
0:24:09 > 0:24:10and move on and leave them to it.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14And he has another surprise for the cops.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- You got a full licence?- Not full.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- You haven't got a full licence? - No.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- What sort of licence have you got, then?- It's provisional.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23RADIO: '...Come across a male...'
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Does he know you've got a provisional licence?- Yeah.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28What's he let you drive for?
0:24:28 > 0:24:32Cos he's been driving for longer than me. So it's allowed, innit?
0:24:32 > 0:24:37- No. Not on the motorway it's not. - Oh.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39He can't supervise you on the motorway.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41And you haven't got any L plates either.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Are you insured to drive that? - Yeah, yeah.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49What insurance are you driving that on?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- Kwik Fit I think it is.- Kwik Fit. Is it sunny in here?
0:24:52 > 0:24:56No, man, I'm putting them on because I don't want the camera in my face, in my eyes.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Are you driving on his insurance?
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- Yeah, yeah.- OK. Has he told you if you're insured?
0:25:04 > 0:25:06No, he didn't say.
0:25:06 > 0:25:11- Did you bother to ask? - No.- No?- I should have really.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14'That annoys me because you could be driving'
0:25:14 > 0:25:17down the motorway with your family and you've got idiots like this.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18'If you get in a car
0:25:18 > 0:25:21'and you've got no licence and you've got no insurance,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24'and you're quite happy to drive off down roads'
0:25:24 > 0:25:27that are dangerous, you're putting other people's lives at risk.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And we can skirt around it as much as we like,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34but I'm sorry but there is some element of stupidness there.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36The price the owner may be paying for his stupidity
0:25:36 > 0:25:39is the loss of his car -
0:25:39 > 0:25:41at least until he can prove it's insured.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Just as truckers use the road network
0:25:45 > 0:25:47to transport goods up and down the country,
0:25:47 > 0:25:51criminals use the motorways to move drugs and cash.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54But that means the officers in the Central Motorway Police Group
0:25:54 > 0:25:57are in prime position to catch them.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00PCs Jess Rojek and Alan Colman have just left their base in Perry Barr,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03when they're called to help in stopping a car
0:26:03 > 0:26:05that's suspected to be carrying drugs.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Have they got it?
0:26:06 > 0:26:10- No, still behind him.- We're just doing a follow at the minute?- Yeah.
0:26:10 > 0:26:16We have another patrol, it's coming southbound by junction 16,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18up that neck of the woods. Quite a way up.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20They're behind a vehicle
0:26:20 > 0:26:23that's got some sort of drugs intelligence on it.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25So we're making our way towards them
0:26:25 > 0:26:28because we need as many cars as we can.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Just in case it's a fail to stop if it has got drugs on it.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I think their intention is to stop them in possibly Doxey.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37A few miles ahead,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40another patrol is preparing to stop the driver of the car.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- RADIO:- 'Now, now, now.'
0:26:43 > 0:26:46They're just putting the stop on by the sounds of it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48- There you go, Doxey. - 'You all right?'
0:26:52 > 0:26:542-2 at Doxey.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57PCs Colman and Rojek arrive at Doxey.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59to find that the men in the car have been arrested.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02A large amount of cash has been found on the driver,
0:27:02 > 0:27:04increasing the cops' suspicions
0:27:04 > 0:27:06about what they might have been up to.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09There's a smell of cannabis coming from the car,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11one of them's got a sizable quantity of cash,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14so they're going to go for the purpose of drug search.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- We can do the car search. Shall we do that?- Yeah. - Is that all right, yeah?
0:27:17 > 0:27:22Going to give the vehicle a comprehensive search
0:27:22 > 0:27:25under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28It stinks in here.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:27:34 > 0:27:36RINGING CONTINUES
0:27:36 > 0:27:38That phone's going as well, all the time.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39With the men otherwise engaged,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42they're in no position to pick up their mobile phone...
0:27:42 > 0:27:44MOBILE RINGS
0:27:44 > 0:27:46- ..or finish dinner. - Half-eaten burger.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50But apart from a few burger wrappers, the car seems clean.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53While the sergeant checks the engine,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55PC Colman turns his attention to the boot.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56It's here. Sarge.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- Here it is.- Got it?- Yeah.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03The find is impressive.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Looks like cannabis to me. Cannabis resin. Oh there's loads of it.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11But on closer inspection, the packages seem to contain class A drugs.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14I'm not going to dip my finger in it or anything.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Obviously it's a white... some sort of powder.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Didn't hide it very well, did they?
0:28:20 > 0:28:25It's unusual to find so many packages so poorly concealed.
0:28:25 > 0:28:33Ten different packages of class A powder. That's ten kilograms worth.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35That's a lot of money.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38The cops suspect the packets contain heroin or cocaine
0:28:38 > 0:28:41with a street value of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43That's definitely a powder in there.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46We're used to dealing, on a day-to-day basis,
0:28:46 > 0:28:48with little bits of drugs here and there,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50but to find drugs on that scale, you know,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53we're starting to get people nearer the top,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55the top end of it, which is really good.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57So we've spoilt their night anyway.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:29:00 > 0:29:05Meanwhile, someone is still keen to contact the men who are in the car.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08MOBILE RINGS REPEATEDLY
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Phoned now six times.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- I think he wants some of his stuff back.- BLEEP- not happy?- No.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Because I would think one of the first avenues of investigation
0:29:27 > 0:29:29- is to find out who he is.- Yeah.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32The phones will be seized, and the calls traced.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37We can get evidence off this stuff - where they've been, what they've been doing, who they've called.
0:29:37 > 0:29:43Obviously want to know where their drugs are. We've got 'em.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47This operation will continue long into the night.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Back at Corley Services, PC Whitehouse has been checking up
0:29:53 > 0:29:55on the driver of the £80,000 Bentley.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59OK. The computer records show that you're a non-licence holder.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02- Yeah.- I don't know what licence you have or haven't got
0:30:02 > 0:30:06and the database shows that there's no insurance on the vehicle.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08What? How do...? It had to have been insured,
0:30:08 > 0:30:10that's how he got it out the last time.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15With no insurance, the cops have decided to seize the Bentley.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19What's more surprising is that this is the second time the owner
0:30:19 > 0:30:21has had his motor taken off him.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Before they take the car, PC Whitehouse notices another problem.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27Seen these stick-on plates?
0:30:27 > 0:30:29It's got a wrong registration number on it.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's SBU on the tax disc.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34The owner may have put these plates on to conceal
0:30:34 > 0:30:36the real identity of the car from police cameras.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40Something the cops are finding is an increasingly common problem.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Are you going to take these plates off now then?
0:30:42 > 0:30:43Yeah, if you want.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46'It does go through your thought process
0:30:46 > 0:30:49'that potentially they put false number plates on
0:30:49 > 0:30:53'to try and evade being caught for various things.'
0:30:55 > 0:30:58It's your rubbish, stick it in the boot.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00It could have been done in error.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03But it didn't stop him getting caught anyway, did it? So.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05There you go. Top job.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14I like to treat people the way I'd expect to be treated myself.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17'Because of the look of the driver, I made a bit of a joke, you know,
0:31:17 > 0:31:19'about his dress sense.'
0:31:19 > 0:31:21I think, to some extent, he went along with it.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25If you did them up properly, that wouldn't happen, would it?
0:31:25 > 0:31:27POLICE CHUCKLE
0:31:27 > 0:31:29What you hating for?
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- Hating?- Yeah.- What's that mean? - You're hating on me.
0:31:32 > 0:31:37Hating on you? It's just cos you've got style, mate, and I haven't.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41The arrival of the tow truck brings one more surprise for the cops.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45It turns out the tow truck driver knows this car very well indeed.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50- We just released that.- Yeah. - I'm sure we've just released that. - Yeah, you probably have.- Last week.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53The farce continues.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55He'd seized it last week for no insurance.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59The following week, you're still seizing it for no insurance.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02The Bentley's owner will have to pay up another £150
0:32:02 > 0:32:05if he wants to get his luxury car back again.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08It's a good tool to have because it does hurt people.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Especially when they're driving all over the country
0:32:10 > 0:32:13'in the middle of the night and you seize the car
0:32:13 > 0:32:15'in the middle of the country. They want to go home'
0:32:15 > 0:32:19and they go, "Well, how am I going to get there?" You go, "Not my problem."
0:32:19 > 0:32:23'I'm not having the guilt trip. It's your fault you're not insured but you drove.'
0:32:23 > 0:32:25You got caught. End of story.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30This time the owner's called a taxi to take him
0:32:30 > 0:32:33and his uninsured driver the 25 miles back home.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Nine miles south of Birmingham,
0:32:36 > 0:32:39there's been a development in the search for the youngster
0:32:39 > 0:32:43who PCs Toal and Owen chased in the Transit van. He's called the cops to fess up.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49So we're going to go to the address now -
0:32:49 > 0:32:52and we're looking to arrest him for failing to stop...
0:32:53 > 0:32:56..and theft of the motor vehicle -
0:32:56 > 0:33:00where he's going to be interviewed and we'll see what he's got to say.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02I would suggest that his mum has advised him
0:33:02 > 0:33:06that if he doesn't he might be finding new digs next week.
0:33:06 > 0:33:07The powers of a mum and dad
0:33:07 > 0:33:12sometimes have got a better hold than the police have, really.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14You know, I'm still scared of my father now,
0:33:14 > 0:33:18so I fear him more than I do the police, let's put it that way.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Hello, mate, thanks for calling us back.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26You all right, mate? Thanks for turning back up.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Is there anything you want to say to me before I speak to you?
0:33:29 > 0:33:31- Nothing at all. - Except for being a dick.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Well I admire your honesty, OK?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Three hours after they first spotted him,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42PCs Toal and Owen have finally got their man...
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Make sure your seatbelt's on for us.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47..who's proving to be a model prisoner.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Did you think I was going to be like all hostile?
0:33:50 > 0:33:54Mate, I didn't know what to expect with you, to be fair, Bret.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I mean you seem like a decent lad.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I am. It's just the odd occasion.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02He's even spilling the beans
0:34:02 > 0:34:04about how he and his friend hid from the cops.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09Was it you two that was stand... that was parked right in front of the back of the van?
0:34:09 > 0:34:13- Yeah.- Wow, yeah.- Yeah. - Thought it was.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17- You watching us, then?- Yeah, we were about 100 yards from you. - Was you? Whereabouts?
0:34:17 > 0:34:22By a bush. We were waiting for you to go so we could take the van back,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26- but it didn't work out.- It wasn't... - It didn't pan out as part of...
0:34:26 > 0:34:30His chat inside the car has identified another issue PC Toal is keen to explore.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33'Even though it was three hours after the incident,'
0:34:33 > 0:34:38I can smell something on his breath, you know, the smell of liquor.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41So naturally I want to get him breathalysed.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44All you have to do mate, lean forward for me,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46blow into that tube until I say stop.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going, lovely. That's great.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53It'll come up with four levels, zero, pass, warn or fail.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55All right?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01BEEPING OK, it's come up as a pass of 25.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- Is that all right?- It's OK.- OK.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08- You said you had a drink, how much did you have to drink? - About three pints.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10The odds are that he was probably over before.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14'That's probably one of the reasons why he's failed to stop in the first place.'
0:35:14 > 0:35:18At least I can admit that I've done wrong.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23It takes a bigger person to admit when they're wrong, Bret.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Than someone who's just going to, you know, bluff their way through it.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34OK, mate, do you want to come out?
0:35:34 > 0:35:38'If somebody runs off, they tend to either keep running or lie low.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42'Hoping that we don't get a dog or a helicopter. Hoping that we go away.'
0:35:42 > 0:35:44But sometimes we don't.
0:35:44 > 0:35:49It's unusual that he'd own up to it and admit to the fact that we were there, we were watching you
0:35:49 > 0:35:52and I was tempted to come down and speak to you.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56For someone to actually own up to that and admit to that, that's quite rare.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01Early morning.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04As the daytime traffic starts to build to the rush hour peak,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06the motorway cops are up and about.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11PCs Richard Elliott and Stuart Bullard are at Keele Services,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13lying in wait for a gang in a van
0:36:13 > 0:36:17that's being followed down the motorway by an unmarked police car.
0:36:17 > 0:36:24We're sat at the service area, just waiting for a Transit Connect van travelling southbound
0:36:24 > 0:36:29which we've had information is carrying a quantity of class A drugs
0:36:29 > 0:36:32from the Stockport area down to Bristol.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36The gangs time their trip down the motorway to perfection.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39They believe they can slip through the Midlands unnoticed
0:36:39 > 0:36:41just at the time the cops change shifts.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43It's no secret as to what time our shifts change,
0:36:43 > 0:36:47so if they run at those sort of times,
0:36:47 > 0:36:52they may feel that it's easier for them to get through certain areas.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54But their plan's backfired.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58Because PCs Bullard and Elliott are staying on duty for this operation.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01And they're being joined by more officers from the day shift.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06PCs Steve Millward and Mark Calladine are racing to meet up with them.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08We're travelling north and want to get there
0:37:08 > 0:37:12'as quickly as we can so we've got enough officers there to deal with the situation.'
0:37:12 > 0:37:17They're needed in force to ensure they can stop the van without any unforeseen problems.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19We don't want just one car to pull up behind it
0:37:19 > 0:37:21just in case it decides to go for it.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27So the motorway patrols are further south.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30You know, we can put a proper stop on the vehicle,
0:37:30 > 0:37:32get it stopped nice and safe,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35so we can get hold of whoever's inside
0:37:35 > 0:37:37and have a good look round the car.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Meanwhile, at Keele Services, PCs Elliott and Bullard
0:37:40 > 0:37:46are preparing to meet the van they've been told is now just seconds away from them.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48Here we go.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51- That's it.- As the van flies past, they race to catch it.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02Now they're on its tail, Elliott and Bullard need backup from the day-shift cops -
0:38:02 > 0:38:06PCs Calladine and Millward - who are just half a mile behind them.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10- Where is he? - I can't see him, mate.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13It's just ahead of us, so, um...
0:38:13 > 0:38:18The plan is for the unmarked cars ahead to move into position
0:38:18 > 0:38:23to box in the van while Calladine and Millward use their vehicle as a safety car to hold back the traffic.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Oscar Tango one, one, we are approaching behind.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29If you need us as a safety, we can do that.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Yeah, we're stuffed at the minute, mate. Vehicles out in three.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Can't get past him with the plain car.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39They don't want to move.
0:38:39 > 0:38:44Plain car might have to do a nearside on it, if it comes to it.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46There's an unmarked police car behind the van
0:38:46 > 0:38:50and PC Elliott is eager for it to take decisive action.
0:38:50 > 0:38:55I'm looking ahead and thinking, "Right, there's a gap coming up.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59"If you can't get down one side of him, go the other side."
0:38:59 > 0:39:05I know it's undertaking somebody, but, you know, we're the police, we've got to do it.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Do him down the nearside, Sheepy. Do him down the nearside, Sheepy.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Do him down the nearside! Come on!
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Everybody does things differently.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20I get frustrated if things don't go the way I want them to.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22It's a tense situation for the cops.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25With every second they delay their stop,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28the men in the hire van have more chance of spotting them and making off.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35All three lanes are taken up with 70mph traffic.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38It's going to get crowded coming up the bank now.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Unfortunately at that time of the day,
0:39:41 > 0:39:44traffic is starting to really pick up.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48You don't want to have to get other people involved in something
0:39:48 > 0:39:49if it starts to go wrong.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53With traffic conditions worsening, and the van hogging lane three,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57the cops will need to pick their moment carefully.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59For now it's a waiting game.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10Drug couriers are not the only drivers who try to avoid police attention.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15Fifty miles away on the M5, PC Adam Toal has teamed up with PC John Martin.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19They're responding to a report on a car with a personalised plate.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23We've just had some information passed to us
0:40:23 > 0:40:27regarding a vehicle that's travelling M5 northbound.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31The vehicle's displaying a registration plate that relates to another vehicle.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34So we're just going to stop the vehicle,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37ascertain the true identity of it and see who's driving it.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42If the driver's using the wrong plates or has deliberately failed to register them...
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- Call it?- Let's have a go.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48..he could be trying to avoid police detection for other offences.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51'There's a number of reasons.'
0:40:51 > 0:40:53One is that they don't want to be identified.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Secondly they don't want the vehicle to be identified.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58And thirdly, they're up to no good.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Hello sir. You all right? Is it your vehicle?
0:41:00 > 0:41:04- When did you buy the plates?- A little while ago.- A little while ago.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Have you got any documentation or anything like that?
0:41:08 > 0:41:10Will you do us a favour, as well?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Just take your tax out, because that's out of date.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17- I've ordered the new tax.- Yeah, but it should be displayed on it, mate.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19- Oh, OK.- OK?- Yeah.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22The driver's not making a good first impression on PC Toal.
0:41:22 > 0:41:27- Just grab yourself a seat in the rear for me, please.- Thank you. - 'Have we got a stolen car,'
0:41:27 > 0:41:30or is this person trying to evade, you know,
0:41:30 > 0:41:35being identified by the police for speeding tickets, et cetera?
0:41:35 > 0:41:38So we need to start doing a few inquiries at this point.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Have you got your driver's licence with you, have you?
0:41:41 > 0:41:43- Not on me, no.- Proof of insurance?
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Have you got any current MOT for it?
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Is it not there?
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Well you've got February 2010.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- You had the car long?- Not really.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56How long? How long?
0:41:56 > 0:41:58About eight months?
0:41:58 > 0:42:04- Right. And when did you change the plates over? - About a month after I got it.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06- So for seven months?- Yeah.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- Have you actually registered it with the DVLA?- No.- No?
0:42:09 > 0:42:11- No.- Right.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Not registering the plates after seven months is...
0:42:14 > 0:42:17it's almost like not paying your insurance for seven months.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21It's just a simple paper exercise to send it off to the DVLA.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- Do you not think that would have been wise to do?- Probably.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Basically you're running on false plates at the moment.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32- Right.- Which... It's not good.- No.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Being a police officer, we tend to think the worst and it's always...
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Well, it's usually because they're trying to do something naughty.
0:42:39 > 0:42:45- We could look at it a few ways today. Either you're failing to display the correct plates...- Yeah.
0:42:45 > 0:42:51- ..or are you attempting to evade... - Can I have the chassis number? - ..cameras?- No, definitely not.
0:42:51 > 0:42:56- ..Mercedes which it's provided for. - That's the theory behind it. Cos people do that, you see?- Right.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00That's obviously how we'll decide what we're going to do today...
0:43:00 > 0:43:02- Yes Tango 360.- Regarding that.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06- I take it you knew that that was what you should do.- I didn't get round to it, I think.
0:43:06 > 0:43:07- Didn't get round to it?- No.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10'They must think police officers in general'
0:43:10 > 0:43:16are stupid because the reasons that they give, or the excuses that they give,
0:43:16 > 0:43:20they're just...they're rubbish. It's laughable.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24- Can I go home and put the other plates back on?- Have you got the other plates with you?
0:43:24 > 0:43:26Yes, they're in... I can nip back and get them.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30- They're not in the boot or anything? - They might be.- Right.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32Well that's strange if they are in the boot,
0:43:32 > 0:43:35that you are keeping your old plates with the car.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39At that point we thought, "Well, that sounds like what the people do
0:43:39 > 0:43:44"that make off without paying on leaving petrol stations."
0:43:44 > 0:43:45'That's what they do.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47'They carry around an array of plates,
0:43:47 > 0:43:50'two maybe three different ones, but he didn't quite match,'
0:43:50 > 0:43:54you know, or fit the bill, so to speak, of what that kind of person would look like.
0:43:56 > 0:44:00- To me, that's a bit... - Well, I dumped them in there. - ..Mile away from the radio, but...
0:44:00 > 0:44:02The driver's excuses are weak,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06but hopefully his personalised plates are worth the trouble they're causing him.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09How much did you pay for the plate?
0:44:09 > 0:44:13- Oh, it was a couple of hundred. - Yeah, that's all received. OK, can I just have the chassis?
0:44:13 > 0:44:17A hundred quid. So what's the reference then to you, then?
0:44:17 > 0:44:19It's not, it's just a bit flash, innit?
0:44:19 > 0:44:21- It's got no reference at all to you? - No.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25Most private number plates have a meaning. Either an age,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28'something, their kids' initials. Anything like that.'
0:44:28 > 0:44:30I just couldn't see how it worked.
0:44:30 > 0:44:35- Were you born in '66, then? - No. World Cup.- Yeah.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38Which I just thought, "That's even... That's not suspicious.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42"Now it's starting to get down the lines of that's just quite strange."
0:44:42 > 0:44:45Cos the other thing is who's your insurance down to?
0:44:45 > 0:44:47Is that down to that registration number?
0:44:47 > 0:44:49No, it's down to the other one.
0:44:50 > 0:44:55With the wrong plates, no MOT and questions hanging over his insurance,
0:44:55 > 0:45:00it seems there may be several reasons why this driver would rather have avoided the cops' attention.
0:45:01 > 0:45:05Back on the M6, just south of Keele, the cops have finally found
0:45:05 > 0:45:10a clear patch of road to force the men in the hire van to stop.
0:45:10 > 0:45:11This is a good point here.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14There's an opening up in the nearside lane now.
0:45:14 > 0:45:19As the van changes lane, the cops seize their chance.
0:45:23 > 0:45:28Two on turn 94, after that blue container, mate.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31We're going to go for the stop now.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36This is going to be very tight on this vehicle here.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40While the plain car pulls ahead of the van,
0:45:40 > 0:45:44PCs Elliott and Bullard get ready to force the men to pull over.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52He's going for it.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Oscar Tango 21, vehicle failing to stop. Fail to stop, fail to stop.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07'He's in a van, he must have been aware that he was never going to
0:46:07 > 0:46:11'out-accelerate the patrol cars,'
0:46:11 > 0:46:14but it doesn't necessarily mean he won't give it a go.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17Oscar Tango 21, you receive? Vehicle failed to stop, over.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20While the van bobs and weaves to avoid the cops,
0:46:20 > 0:46:25200 yards behind, PCs Millward and Calladine are witnessing the chase as it unfolds.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29'We could see it in the distance, we could see the police car lights'
0:46:29 > 0:46:32and then you knew it wasn't going to stop. When you hear it on the radio,
0:46:32 > 0:46:35you know you've got to get up with them as quick as you can.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39Vehicle lane two, 90 miles per hour.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42We have one police vehicle ahead of it, ourselves to the rear.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45As the unmarked car pulls ahead of the van,
0:46:45 > 0:46:47PCs Millward and Calladine join the pursuit,
0:46:47 > 0:46:50leaving another patrol to hold back the traffic.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53SIRENS WAIL
0:46:53 > 0:46:54These people want to get away.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58They've got something in the car. They don't want to be stopped.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02We want to stop them, to contain them
0:47:02 > 0:47:05and to contain the evidence before they can get rid of it.
0:47:05 > 0:47:09With the cops closing in, the men in the van are running out of options.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- Oh, it's out. It's out.- Yeah.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20238 oblique 3, bag on the hard shoulder/verge.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23238 over 3.
0:47:23 > 0:47:28Something has been thrown out of the window. It may be drugs. The cops will check it out later.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31But, for now, their focus is on stopping the van.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34- Get alongside him, mate. - Get alongside now.
0:47:34 > 0:47:38Get in front of him, Sheepy. Two back on.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48There are two men in the van. PC Millward goes for the passenger.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52Get out. Get out. On the floor. On the floor.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54'He didn't want to come out of the van.'
0:47:54 > 0:47:57I wanted him out of the van.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00Arms behind you.
0:48:00 > 0:48:01On the floor, on the floor.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04You're thinking, running or fighting at that point.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06You don't know what they're going to do.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08- Get out. - On the floor. On the floor now.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13'He doesn't want to get caught, is probably very upset'
0:48:13 > 0:48:17and a little bloke like me coming up, he probably didn't like that.
0:48:17 > 0:48:22Ah, get off. I can't move. Move, get off.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25HORNS BEEP, SIREN WAILS
0:48:26 > 0:48:31The two men are cuffed and led away. But the passenger still has some fight left in him.
0:48:31 > 0:48:37- Don't worry about it.- Can I just...- Shush.- I won't shush.- Shush. - I won't shush.- Shush.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39It was first thing in the morning,
0:48:39 > 0:48:42he thought he was off to do a drugs deal.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44'The way that he was stopped by the police,'
0:48:44 > 0:48:47it was the end of his day. He knew he'd be in custody.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51Yeah. He's detained at the moment. We'll arrest him in a moment and do the honours in the car.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56It was a bit busy at the side of the road. The intention is to get him detained, handcuffed,
0:48:56 > 0:49:01preserve evidence and we'll have a speak with him now, now he's calmed down in the car a little bit.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04- I've done- BLEEP- wrong, you- BLEEP. - Who the- BLEEP- are you?
0:49:04 > 0:49:06- BLEEP- idiots. Absolute- BLEEP- knobs.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09He took a dislike to me. I don't know why.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11- Why me?- You're a- BLEEP- knob.
0:49:11 > 0:49:16- What are you pushing on my shoulder for? Do you think you're hard? - I'm putting your seatbelt on.
0:49:16 > 0:49:20But it happens. You get mouthed off at. You get sworn at.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23People try and bring you down. But we're better than them.
0:49:23 > 0:49:29- Hang on a minute, who's in charge? - Listen, you're under... He's putting your seatbelt on for your safety.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33- No, just listen to me.- What? - He's pushing his arms into his chest.- Right. Calm yourself down.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35- Calm- BLEEP- down?! - You're under arrest
0:49:35 > 0:49:39for possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42- Dickhead with the bald head, who the- BLEEP- does he think he is?
0:49:42 > 0:49:45- Calm down.- If he was on my street one-on-one, he wouldn't do a- BLEEP- thing
0:49:45 > 0:49:49- cos I'd snap his jaw. I'm fine with you.- Calm down. - You've been fine with me.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54I don't know what his problem is. He thinks we've got the problem, you see. That's the trouble.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58- He's an absolute, bald-headed, - BLEEP- knobhead. Eh, yeah?
0:49:58 > 0:50:02- You're laughing now because you agree with me, yeah...- No I don't, mate, he's a nice bloke.
0:50:02 > 0:50:07If this person's took a dislike to, for example, me,
0:50:07 > 0:50:11the other one, your partner, becomes the good cop.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14There's no point in getting het up. We'll leave as soon as we can
0:50:14 > 0:50:17- as it's not a good place. - I understand. I'm happy with that.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20On that day, it was Steve they took a dislike to and he was OK with me.
0:50:20 > 0:50:24Well can I ask you what's going on?
0:50:24 > 0:50:25What's going on?
0:50:25 > 0:50:30You're being arrested, as I've said, for suspicion of a controlled substance with intent to supply.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33There's been an item dumped from a bag further up the carriageway.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36So you're going to be questioned about that at the station. All right?
0:50:36 > 0:50:40To build their case, the motorway cops will need to find the package
0:50:40 > 0:50:43that the passenger threw from the van window.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47Back on the M5, and the charges are stacking up
0:50:47 > 0:50:50against the driver of the Mercedes with the personalised plates.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52PC Toal has been checking his details.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56Who's your insurance company with, Steve?
0:50:56 > 0:51:01- Um, it's with... Oh what are they called? Swift.- Swift?- Yeah.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04- It's obviously showing no insurance as well.- No insurance?
0:51:04 > 0:51:07Yeah. You've obviously... Your tax is out of date, it's a £60 fine
0:51:07 > 0:51:10for failing to display a valid tax disc.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Whether you bought it or not, it doesn't matter,
0:51:13 > 0:51:17- there's no excuse. My colleague's obviously explained the number plates to you.- Yeah.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21That's another £60 fine on top.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24I'm just going to go and check your vehicle over for the identity
0:51:24 > 0:51:27and we'll make inquiries with Swift insurance to see about your policy.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32The worst thing is if you're not insured, we'd have to take the car away from you,
0:51:32 > 0:51:37but that will also will be a £200 fine and six points on your licence straight away.
0:51:37 > 0:51:43- Don't need that, I've got nine as it is.- Right. What are they for? - Speeding.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48That to me, now, also it's strange...
0:51:48 > 0:51:49Well they're not all speeding.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52- They're not all? How many are for speeding?- I can promise you
0:51:52 > 0:51:57it wasn't because of that. It might have been a bit of vanity in trying to get the...
0:51:57 > 0:52:01- Right.- It's nothing to do with trying to avoid anything. I can promise you that.
0:52:02 > 0:52:07PC Martin doesn't think much of the man's vanity plate.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11There was potential that he was trying to impress people with it,
0:52:11 > 0:52:14but, thinking about it, if I was trying to impress someone,
0:52:14 > 0:52:16I don't think that would be the way I'd go about it.
0:52:16 > 0:52:21That registration plate is down as having speed camera offences.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24- You say you've got nine points already.- Yeah.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28- He's got six points.- Six points. You've got six so you're looking at losing your licence.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30- Yeah?- Because you're going to have totted up.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34There's potentially multiple speed camera offences there.
0:52:34 > 0:52:40At that point he was...he had become extremely worried because he was on his way to work in Birmingham,
0:52:40 > 0:52:43he's then got stopped, he's got false plates on,
0:52:43 > 0:52:47he's now found out that he's got speeding fines coming in the post
0:52:47 > 0:52:50when they get registered to him and now he's got no insurance.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53I think he was a worried man at that point.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57While PC Martin makes further checks with the insurance company,
0:52:57 > 0:52:59PC Toal tries to allay the man's fears.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02- Did you do it on the computer?- Yeah.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05- It could even be a typing error on your behalf.- Right.
0:53:05 > 0:53:10You might have put in like a wrong surname or a wrong, you know,
0:53:10 > 0:53:14address or even a wrong registration or make or model of the vehicle
0:53:14 > 0:53:17and it will void your policy.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20The driver may stand to lose his licence,
0:53:20 > 0:53:24but if he has no insurance, he'll be waving goodbye to his car right now.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27OK then, Heather, thanks very much for your help.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30All right then, cheers then. Bye, bye.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32Right, Swift have saved your bacon.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34You've done a typo on the internet.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38- You've put it down as Victor Alpha Yankee rather than Uniform Alpha Yankee.- Oh, right.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40So they've sent you an e-mail
0:53:40 > 0:53:46and then that's sorted, but they are going to insure you for the time, although it's down to your error.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51It will be fixed penalties for these,
0:53:51 > 0:53:56could send you to court cos basically, as I explained,
0:53:56 > 0:54:01we have people displaying fake plates, but you don't really seem like the kind of person...
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- I can promise you it's not, it's just a bit of vanity and I know I should have done it, so.- Right.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09The driver's lucky. Toal and Martin have decided to believe his story
0:54:09 > 0:54:12about the plates. And his insurance company have let him off the hook,
0:54:12 > 0:54:16but he could still lose his licence for those speeding offences.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20You'll probably get a letter in the post as well from Gloucestershire Police, mate,
0:54:20 > 0:54:23regarding the speed enforcement, as my colleague said.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25I hope it's only three.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29I think he was happy that his car wasn't taken, he didn't have a huge fine coming
0:54:29 > 0:54:32'but, obviously, bearing the amount of points that I think
0:54:32 > 0:54:36'he already had on his licence, I think with the speeding fines'
0:54:36 > 0:54:39that were coming to him, I don't think we needed to dump
0:54:39 > 0:54:42'any more chaos on his day.'
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Back on the M6, PC Richard Elliott is reviewing the police in-car video
0:54:48 > 0:54:50of the hire van suspected to be carrying drugs.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54'It seemed like it was the perfect scenario.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58'We had all three cars around it, it was slowing down
0:54:58 > 0:55:03'and then suddenly he just kind of just anchored on.'
0:55:03 > 0:55:05Just going for it.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Just trying to get the cars in place is a nightmare.
0:55:09 > 0:55:14Even when we did get it on, it was a bit tight on one of the other vehicles,
0:55:14 > 0:55:17'so it was down to us to do it.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21'The only thing I can do at that point is just get in hard to it.'
0:55:22 > 0:55:29He's shown his intention to be quite forceful in his attempts to escape from us.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31We don't know what else he's going to do.
0:55:31 > 0:55:36There's...you know, there's quite a lot at stake for somebody if they're transporting drugs.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39But there's a point to this video review of the chase.
0:55:39 > 0:55:43PC Elliott is looking for the moment when the passenger threw a package from the window.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46I think it's coming up. There it goes.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50Yeah, it doesn't come much better than that, does it?
0:55:50 > 0:55:53The video evidence is key to the cops' case.
0:55:53 > 0:55:57And it confirms the motorway marker post identified during the pursuit.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59'Those 100 metre sections are vital for us'
0:55:59 > 0:56:03cos it makes a very bland piece of road
0:56:03 > 0:56:06'individual and specific to a point.
0:56:06 > 0:56:07'And, sad as it is,'
0:56:07 > 0:56:09you get to know where a marker post...
0:56:09 > 0:56:14Somebody gives you a marker post number, you can identify that bit of motorway.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18A few miles back down the M6,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21PC Billy Cotton is searching for the package.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23He knows it must be close by.
0:56:23 > 0:56:24'You do get to know your patch'
0:56:24 > 0:56:27and you know the geographical little bits and pieces -
0:56:27 > 0:56:28the hills, the woods,
0:56:28 > 0:56:31'the marker posts. So we could pinpoint exactly'
0:56:31 > 0:56:33where the drugs had been thrown out
0:56:33 > 0:56:35'of the van.'
0:56:35 > 0:56:36Just as help arrives,
0:56:36 > 0:56:40PC Cotton finds a plastic bag that looks out of place.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43'There was no disguising this little bundle of drugs
0:56:43 > 0:56:46'which had been wrapped up very meticulously.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51'And it stood out from all of the McDonald's wrappers.'
0:56:52 > 0:56:55They've just literally chucked them out the window.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57I don't know whether they were stupid or what?
0:56:57 > 0:56:58But did they expect us to stop them
0:56:58 > 0:57:02and book them for speeding or perhaps give them a ticket for littering?!
0:57:02 > 0:57:05You going to evidence that for us then, mate?
0:57:05 > 0:57:08Yeah I'll... Queen's Property, do a statement.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10The actual drugs are contained within
0:57:10 > 0:57:14black sticky tape inside the carrier bag.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18So it didn't split open. They weren't quite good enough for us.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23In Stoke-on-Trent,
0:57:23 > 0:57:26the man arrested by PC Calladine is being taken into custody.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29And he's still having a go at PC Millward.
0:57:29 > 0:57:34- As soon as we get in there.- I've been arrested many a time. I've never met such an idiot like you.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37- I promise you, you're a idiot. - 'Once these chaps are caught,'
0:57:37 > 0:57:40it's a great feeling. It's a great buzz.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44'You know at least you've got a couple of people in custody. You've got the drugs.'
0:57:44 > 0:57:47Cracking job, really. That's what we've come into the job for -
0:57:47 > 0:57:50get these people off the road, get them off the streets.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54The man who threw the package from the van was convicted of
0:57:54 > 0:57:56conspiracy to supply class A drugs
0:57:56 > 0:57:59and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02The Bentley owner with no insurance was fined £650
0:58:02 > 0:58:05and given seven points on his licence.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07No charges were brought against the driver.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11The driver who ditched his car on the M6 passed a second breath test.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14He admitted leaving the scene of an accident,
0:58:14 > 0:58:17and was fined £250 and disqualified for six months.
0:58:17 > 0:58:22The man who failed to register his personal plates was fined £60.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26The white van man who handed himself in was fined £85,
0:58:26 > 0:58:30disqualified for six months and given an electronic tag.
0:58:30 > 0:58:33And the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against the men
0:58:33 > 0:58:37who were caught with a car boot containing ten kilos of class A drugs.
0:58:52 > 0:58:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:56 > 0:58:59E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk