0:00:02 > 0:00:03Thieves will steal our cars,
0:00:03 > 0:00:09our valuables, just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the police and other agencies are using new tactics
0:00:15 > 0:00:19and technology where the bad guys actually get caught in the act.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Brilliant footage. Police officers love CCTV.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Local councils, shops and businesses are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29As soon as he walked into the picture I knew who he was.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30And the general public, too,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33can help unsuspecting crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34We definitely needed proof.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37You're not going to get away with it, you might as well just pack up.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It made him swallow his pride. It was brilliant.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43So, anyone who's up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46They might just get caught red handed.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Today, watch out for doorstep crooks like this man
0:00:55 > 0:00:58conning his way into an elderly woman's home.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05And it turns out he's really distracting the owner
0:01:05 > 0:01:08so his fellow burglars can creep in.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14Also today, a gang that cruelly and illegally chase deer for sport.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Sad, sick, sadistic.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18One man goes on a mission to stop the cruelty,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and the hunters become the hunted.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24And with severe storms on the way,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26these people are rushing to protect their houses,
0:01:26 > 0:01:30but they're doing it by stealing their neighbour's sandbags.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34It takes a flood to show the depths some people will sink to.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50An October morning near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53A man rings an elderly woman's doorbell.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57- Hiya.- Hello.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Have you spoken to the bosses this morning?
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- No.- No. We're going to be taking up some of the drains outside.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07He claims to be from a water company about to start working in her road.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09He pretends he's being helpful,
0:02:09 > 0:02:14but really the only people he wants to help
0:02:14 > 0:02:17are his two accomplices now coming through the front door
0:02:17 > 0:02:19that he's left ajar,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23because he's not from the water board, he's a distraction burglar.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27This type of offence, it angers me through and through.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29It's the most hideous crime.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32He and his cronies are here to steal from an elderly pensioner.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43The bustling market town of Aylesbury.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47This 78-year-old woman lives in a village nearby.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51It's a close-knit community where everyone knows each other.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53She lives on her own. She's very independent.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54Loves having her little walk to the shop
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and will talk to everyone on the way there. Very, very friendly person.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03We're not showing the lady's face to further protect her from fraudsters.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06When these persons unfortunately have come to the front door, again
0:03:06 > 0:03:08she's been her usual friendly self.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11It was evident that she had trouble with her memory
0:03:11 > 0:03:15and unfortunately got confused quite easily.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18This lady has been conned out of money before,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22and PC Hollie Cromarty from Thames Valley Police knows from experience
0:03:22 > 0:03:26that that means there's a high chance she'll be targeted again.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Unfortunately, sometimes once they identify someone that is
0:03:29 > 0:03:34vulnerable, they will try and target again and again and again.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Sadly, we all need to be careful about strangers who
0:03:37 > 0:03:38appear on our doorsteps,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42especially the increasing numbers of elderly people living alone.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Doorstep conmen can be very approachable,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and have convincing stories.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50And remember, the conmen can be conwomen.
0:03:51 > 0:03:5580-year-old Audrey from Reading knows this only too well.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59She's lived by herself since the 1970s.
0:03:59 > 0:04:05It's quite a nice community cos I've got superb neighbours.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I have a very good life, really.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11One day when Audrey had just finished running her weekly
0:04:11 > 0:04:13sewing club, the doorbell rang.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I could see a strange face through the glass,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20but she was only a young girl.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24So I went out and she was obviously upset.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27She wanted this phone call to her sister.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32So I told her she'd have to be quick because I was due to go out.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Audrey has to go upstairs for a moment,
0:04:34 > 0:04:38leaving the girl she's helping downstairs on her own.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42She'd made her call and came out into the living room,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and I thought she was going to say thank you
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and leave it at that, you know.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50But she doesn't say thank you and leaves.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Audrey goes to get her handbag and she can't find it anywhere.
0:04:54 > 0:05:00And of course then you spend time searching in all the obvious places.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Her handbag has been stolen, along with her purse, mobile phone
0:05:04 > 0:05:06and bus pass.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10The girl had smuggled it away inside her own larger bag.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I couldn't believe it. I was just...
0:05:14 > 0:05:16I was so upset and just speechless
0:05:16 > 0:05:19when I thought that's the only person that could do it.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Back in the Aylesbury area, as we've seen,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28there's another elderly woman who PC Hollie Cromarty is looking to
0:05:28 > 0:05:31protect from doorstep criminals and conmen.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32This woman has been conned before,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36and police suspect there's a good chance she'll be targeted again.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39But it's impossible to know when.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44So, Hollie and her colleagues decide to install a video recording system
0:05:44 > 0:05:47with several cameras that can be left for long periods.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50They only switch on and record when they sense movement.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53These cameras are made
0:05:53 > 0:05:58so that they can be disguised as an every day household item.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01You wouldn't be aware that they were around you.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05The lady's property has been turned into a hi tech trap for criminals.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08A neighbour agrees to notify Hollie straightaway
0:06:08 > 0:06:12if anyone behaving suspiciously pays a visit.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17It is a case of we just then have to wait until we do get that phone call.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23And sure enough, after several months, this man comes to the door.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27The cameras are rolling and we can hear the conman's convincing patter.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Have you spoken to the bosses this morning?
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- No.- No. We're going to be taking up some of the drains outside.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- Oh, I see.- There's going to be a lot of work going on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39He's very charming,
0:06:39 > 0:06:44he's very polite and he was giving a very convincing story.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48He's explained to her that there's maintenance work being
0:06:48 > 0:06:52carried out in the road, and asks has anyone been in to check.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57He talks his way into her house. He constantly fiddles with his phone.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Maybe he's signalling to his accomplices.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Then he pretends to close the door but leaves it ajar.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07While the woman is led into the back garden, supposedly to look for
0:07:07 > 0:07:12a drain cover, two further crooks creep in through the front door.
0:07:12 > 0:07:13This was news to us.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16We didn't know that we were dealing with three persons,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and she had no knowledge that these other persons had entered her house.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25With a trio of burglars indoors, the spy cameras are working overtime.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28One offender in particular is putting a pair of gloves on.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31He's thinking, "If I've got gloves on no-one's going to catch me."
0:07:31 > 0:07:34The woman is kept distracted in the kitchen as the two other
0:07:34 > 0:07:38burglars rifle through her belongings upstairs.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42A moment later they slip out of the house with an envelope full of cash.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46After a tip-off from the neighbour,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Hollie collects the footage that the cameras have recorded.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Eureka. We see the deception.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56Personally, as much as I hate the crime that was committed,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00I couldn't have been more happy that we'd obtained this evidence.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02The motion cameras have done their job well.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Now it's time for some good old-fashioned police work.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10So it was just getting together hundreds and hundreds of names of
0:08:10 > 0:08:13people that potentially could've been responsible,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and then trying to marry them up with the footage
0:08:16 > 0:08:20that we had, and we were successful.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Gotcha. One by one the men are arrested.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28He stated that it wasn't him, he'd been elsewhere.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It was at that point I showed him the CCTV.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33It was evident from his facial expression
0:08:33 > 0:08:35that he knew he'd been caught.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40With such overwhelming evidence,
0:08:40 > 0:08:44the trio had little choice in court but to plead guilty to burglary.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49Martin Sweeney is sentenced to two years and eight months in prison,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Michael Keeley is given two years and nine months,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56and Benjamin Crowley is sentenced to two years and four months.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58I was over the moon.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Probably one of the best moments of my career, I have to say,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03and certainly my colleagues as well.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Spurred on by their success,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Thames Valley Police will continue their covert camera campaign,
0:09:09 > 0:09:14and Hollie has a message for any would-be doorstep con merchants.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16We will catch you and we will identify you
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and we will put you in front of the courts and you will go to prison.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21And over in Reading,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25the burglar who stole Audrey's handbag was also arrested
0:09:25 > 0:09:30and sentenced to two years and one month for a number of crimes.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Thankfully, Audrey's strength of character remains
0:09:33 > 0:09:35undiminished by what has happened.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39I've been brought up by parents to trust each other...
0:09:42 > 0:09:43..and I wasn't going to change that.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Not to please somebody like her. No way.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Those fraudsters gave pretty plausible stories
0:09:53 > 0:09:55to their elderly victims.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Ones that were easy to believe and easy to fall for.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01So how can we stop ourselves, our relatives
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and our neighbours becoming victims of distraction theft?
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Distraction burglars can talk the hind legs off a donkey.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11If they haven't got an appointment, they don't get over the threshold.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12Keep the chain on your door.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16If somebody does come, keep the chain on and ask for ID.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Don't be embarrassed or shy about doing that.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20If they are a legitimate tradesperson,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22they'll be glad that you've actually done that.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25If you have got a neighbour that you think could be vulnerable to
0:10:25 > 0:10:27this type of crime, educate them.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Make sure that they've taken on some of the steps,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34like extra security, checking the ID or even giving you a call
0:10:34 > 0:10:36if someone turns up to the door so you can come round
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and check them out for yourself.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43Now, love thy neighbour.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47I would like to think that we'd pull together in times of trouble,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50but next these two neighbours are only interested in
0:10:50 > 0:10:52helping themselves.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Winter time at the seaside,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and with extreme storms about to batter the UK,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06the owners of this beach-side hotel in Great Yarmouth have been
0:11:06 > 0:11:09preparing for floods by building a sandbag barrier.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14They're out collecting more supplies. Meanwhile it looks like
0:11:14 > 0:11:18these helpful neighbours have popped over to lend a hand in the crisis.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23But hang on. The defensive wall of sandbags isn't getting any higher.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28That's because these neighbours aren't actually helping to
0:11:28 > 0:11:31build it, they're transferring it to their own place up the road.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Unfortunately for them, one of the bags bursts,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39emptying sand over the driveway.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43And when the owners return, they're puzzled by the mess.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46They check their CCTV
0:11:46 > 0:11:49and they see the cause of their shifting sands.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Better still, they can trace where the ransackers ran to
0:11:52 > 0:11:57as the trail of sand leads all the way to the culprits' front door.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00The police are called and give them a talking-to.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Thankfully, the hotel isn't flooded,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05but it's fair to say the owner's relationship with
0:12:05 > 0:12:09some of their unneighbourly neighbours is just a little stormy.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19Coming up, a building site burglar is caught on camera, but who is he?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It tests the skills of a super-recogniser,
0:12:22 > 0:12:23a police memory expert,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26and he's sure he's seen that face before.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Right here. This is his identity, to me.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37But first, these are wild fallow deer,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39a rare sight in the British countryside.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43When they come under threat from illegal deer coursers,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46a rural police officer masterminds a special operation
0:12:46 > 0:12:48to stop the cruelty.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Northamptonshire.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03A rural idyll in the heart of England with a wealth of wildlife.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08But in the dead of night this peaceful landscape is
0:13:08 > 0:13:10turned into a place of terror for the animals.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15It's against the law and it's cruel and it's barbaric.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Sad, sick, sadistic.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22This crime has never been caught on police camera before.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25The footage shows the illegal blood sport of deer coursing
0:13:25 > 0:13:29filmed by thermal imaging camera on a police helicopter.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Deer coursing is a cruel way of hunting, using dogs to maim
0:13:35 > 0:13:36and kill.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38A deer that's been mauled by dogs would have a very,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41very high chance of a lingering death.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44But a local rural police officer, Paul Mitchinson,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47kick starts an operation to catch those responsible.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50It's absolutely exhausted. They're having their fun.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53They're probably shouting at it and tooting the horn.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57And he turned several square miles of farmland into a large trap
0:13:57 > 0:13:59to catch the hunters red handed.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The activities of the coursers were brought to the
0:14:07 > 0:14:09attention of the police by Richard Clark.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13He's worked as a gamekeeper on this farm in North Hants
0:14:13 > 0:14:14for more than 30 years.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21One morning he and a colleague come across a badly-injured fallow deer.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25It was actually this spot here that we discovered the deer.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29It was sitting there with its jaw hanging, both of its shoulders
0:14:29 > 0:14:34had been mutilated, and it was in a pretty sorrowful state, really.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36The animal is a victim of deer coursing,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40and Richard has the unpleasant task of putting an end to its suffering.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44But this is not the only sign of coursing he's come across.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48These fields seem to be getting more popular with illegal hunters.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52The more activity we've got, and certainly finding the injured deer,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55there came a point where something had to be done.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01Local PC Paul Mitchinson is already aware there's a problem.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02As well as the cruelty involved,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06farmers have complained of expensive damage to their land.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08The farmers have to earn a living,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and if you drive a vehicle across the crops it ruins the crops.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14And we're not just talking about a few pounds,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18it can soon add up to be hundreds, even thousands.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21But it's because of the cruelty to animals that deer coursing
0:15:21 > 0:15:25was outlawed in 2004, but it's not an easy crime to prove.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I've stopped quite a few deer poachers in the past,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30but all they've had is a vehicle with six dogs in.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34You've not actually got the evidence that they've been coursing the deer.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37They've got no dead animals inside the vehicle, so in essence all
0:15:37 > 0:15:41you've got is four people, six dogs, who are possibly lost.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42It's clear.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45The only way to stop the coursers is to catch them in the act.
0:15:45 > 0:15:51But it's not possible to patrol large areas of the countryside 24/7.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54So, Paul, with the help of some technical colleagues,
0:15:54 > 0:15:55becomes an inventor.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59We've devised a covert vehicle sensor, which we dig into the ground.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02The sensor's quite a simple piece of equipment.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04It's got a battery inside of it from a motorbike,
0:16:04 > 0:16:09it's got a SIM card, and once something, a vehicle,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11goes anywhere near the sensor,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14it sends a message straight to a mobile phone immediately.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17From the sensors Paul is able to work out the courser's
0:16:17 > 0:16:19pattern of behaviour.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23They often appear on a clear night when the sky is at its brightest.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Paul also discovers they drive in from miles away.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Over 80 miles to get to us all in the name of sport.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36I don't think this is a sport. I think this is barbaric and inhumane.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Paul now has all the information he needs
0:16:38 > 0:16:41to set up a major sting operation.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45He chooses a cold bright winter's night.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48There's a lot riding on his decision.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Officers from different departments and areas are now involved -
0:16:51 > 0:16:54some on the ground, some in the air.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58We had the helicopter on stand by, we had the traffic department,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00the firearms department and a dog handler with us.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02There was probably in excess of 20 officers
0:17:02 > 0:17:03at three o'clock in the morning.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05It's a nerve-racking wait.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08But then Paul gets the text signal he's hoping for
0:17:08 > 0:17:10from one of his hidden sensors.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12We struck lucky.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16The police helicopter scrambles, and for the first time begins to
0:17:16 > 0:17:19record evidence of illegal deer coursing.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23A large off-road vehicle heads down a track next to a field.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26The occupants are unaware there's a helicopter above
0:17:26 > 0:17:30because it can't be heard over their own engine.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32The driver has his headlights turned off,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35but that small white shape hanging out of the window is
0:17:35 > 0:17:39a powerful lamp used to spot and dazzle the deer.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43They veer off the track, flattening crops as they go.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46They've seen their prey and drive straight at them.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52RADIO: The vehicle is chasing quite a large herd of deer.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55The herd takes flight.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58They're going to try and catch up with the deer in the vehicle,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01and they're going to try and corral two or three of them off.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03The hunters split the deer up at a fence line.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06They've corralled a small group off, and all they're doing here is
0:18:06 > 0:18:10just tiring the deer out, cos the dog will tire quicker than the deer will.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13They release two dogs.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The dogs are partitioning two off.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18One off that way and one off this way.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20The dog is only a few metres from the deer.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29But happily, this particular deer gets the better of the dog.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31That's quite a steep hill and the dog's getting tired.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33The deer has gone over a fence and into a woodland.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35The dog's lost it and this deer's got away.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43I'd like to be able to say they call off the hunt, but sadly they don't.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45The hunters simply collect up their dogs
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and go in search of their next prey.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50RADIO: The vehicle's now on the move again.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53And it's not long before they spot some more unfortunate animals.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55They've found a small group,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59they've splintered four off and then from them four they'll splinter
0:18:59 > 0:19:02a couple off, and now they've gone for the deer that they want.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08As they skid on mud, the hunters throw the dogs out.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09RADIO: Dogs released.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11For some reason, the deer has stopped,
0:19:11 > 0:19:15drained and perhaps blinded by the glare of the spotlight.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17The first dog nearly captures the deer,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19but the deer is too fast for it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21A full grown deer, fallow deer,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and the dogs aren't much smaller. They're bred to be big dogs.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28But the deer is used to the uneven terrain and it almost escapes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30The deer's run through some rough ground, they've lost
0:19:30 > 0:19:32a bit of ground on it.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35But the hunters were never going to make this a fair contest.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37They race past the deer.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40It's absolutely exhausted.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43They're having their fun, they're leaning out the window,
0:19:43 > 0:19:44they're shining a light at it.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47They're probably shouting at it and tooting the horn.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49One more dog is released.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51So you've got a fresh dog with new legs
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and this is going to catch the deer at the fence.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57There's a fence that runs all the way along there.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00The deer is absolutely exhausted.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02The dog's now got hold of it by the back leg.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06The hunters have already broken the law on two counts,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09deer coursing and damage to property.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11And this gang commit one further crime,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17They've decided to release the deer, which is just there,
0:20:17 > 0:20:18and then they release the dog back on it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22They could have held the dog back off and let the deer run off,
0:20:22 > 0:20:23but they decided not to.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Eventually, the injured deer escapes them.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28And we assume it dies later,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31the same as we have seen with the other deer.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Now, Paul and his team are very keen to arrest this callous bunch.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39As far as we are concerned, it looks like the hunters are now the hunted.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43The helicopter tracks the coursers.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Now, they're the ones in the spotlight.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48We've got the evidence. They didn't know that at this stage.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51All they know is that there's a helicopter above them,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54and they're just driving at a normal speed as if nothing's happened.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Paul rushes over, so his vehicle's behind the hunters.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02Now, it's the hunters who are corralled into a farmyard.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03The police close in.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05They now know the game's over.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08The problem we have is we don't know if they've got firearms,
0:21:08 > 0:21:09but we know they've got dogs.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11That's why we make this dynamic.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15A dynamic arrest means shouting clear orders to the offenders,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17and aggressive barking from a police dog.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The adrenaline's pumping. The police dogs challenge,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23and we shout for all the occupants to get out and get on the floor.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Which they do.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28One of the dogs comes out, goes to challenge the police dog, and decides
0:21:28 > 0:21:32better of it, and then, all four are arrested and taken into custody.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It's a good night's work.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Sadly, it's likely the deer is critically injured,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41but many others may have been saved from a terrifying ordeal
0:21:41 > 0:21:44at the hands of these callous coursers.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46It was just like a big release for us.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49And a big "Yes, we've done it, we've caught them!"
0:21:53 > 0:21:57In court, all four illegal hunters plead guilty.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01They are given prison sentences of between 11 and 18 weeks each,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04suspended for 18 months.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Between them,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09they have to pay almost £3,000 in compensation to the farmer.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14The operation Paul set up has paid off.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18There have been no more incidents of deer coursing in the area.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21We've seen from all the farmers involved,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25they were so grateful that we'd done something about it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28The message needs to get across to these people that carry out
0:22:28 > 0:22:31these activities that it's not going to be tolerated.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33If it happens again, we'll capture it again.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Catching sight of criminals on camera isn't always enough,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45because they need to be identified, too.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47And the police have some exceptional officers,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50with a unique memory for faces.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52They call them the super-recognisers.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01London has the greatest number of crimes in the UK
0:23:01 > 0:23:05and, because of that, the highest amount of security cameras.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08But not every criminal is bothered about the cameras.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13Like this man, who's attempting to burgle a building site in Soho.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16I presume he's been appearing on lots of CCTV
0:23:16 > 0:23:19and not had any problems with it before.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23He may be unfazed by cameras, but the man hasn't counted on
0:23:23 > 0:23:26the Metropolitan police's other secret weapons.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30The team of officers known as the super-recognisers.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37People like Idris, with an uncanny ability to remember a face.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39My memory stretches back a long time,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43so it might be people I haven't seen for three, four, five years.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44I still remember them.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49So when this man's CCTV picture gets circulated around the force,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52there's a chance that Idris might have clocked him before.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Eric runs a team of builders and decorators
0:24:01 > 0:24:04and specialises in renovating office buildings.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07During a recent job in central London,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09he had to leave the site for a few minutes.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11While Eric's away,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15a man on a bike stops by to say hello to the workers.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18He was very friendly and very affable with the guys,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21telling them what a nice day it was, and all the rest.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24He tells the builders that he works here.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Then he gets a phone out and begins to report on the workmen's progress.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31He's telling whoever's on the end of the phone what a lovely job
0:24:31 > 0:24:33the guys were doing and how well it all looks.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37He says he's come to fetch some stuff he left in the office.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Then he makes his way upstairs.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42He quite cheekily asks us to keep an eye on his bike,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44to make sure nobody nicks it, which seems a little bit ironic.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48That bike puzzles Eric when he returns to the site himself.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Once I saw the bike, I didn't recognise it.
0:24:51 > 0:24:56And I was instantly suspicious that something wasn't quite right.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Eric intercepts the man coming back downstairs.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02He was very pleasant, all smiles, gave me a big hello.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04He insisted he worked for the company.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06I said, "Look, I tell you what, mate, let me take your picture."
0:25:06 > 0:25:09And I thought, if he's not going to let me take his picture,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13then he's actually, de facto, admitting to being a wrong 'un.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Still, the man doesn't flinch.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Never batted an eyelid.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19He was very, very convincing.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24But when Eric asks to look at the man's backpack, he refuses.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Eric now has to make a quick decision.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29I was starting to get a little bit edgy
0:25:29 > 0:25:33because, in about 30 seconds' time, he's going to be gone, on his way.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35And I decided, well, what the hell?
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I've got to go for it.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40As the man attempts to run off, Eric pounces.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Just off-camera, he unzips the man's backpack
0:25:43 > 0:25:45and pulls out two stolen laptops.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51At which point, he just turned round, swore at me and then ran off.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55Eric reports the incident to the Metropolitan Police.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58And the images of the would-be thief are posted
0:25:58 > 0:26:02on their "wanted" website for unsolved crimes.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Everyone in the Met can view the unnamed faces,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09but the super-recognisers' exceptional powers of recognition
0:26:09 > 0:26:13have a high strike rate, identifying criminals this way.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Idris currently works in a custody suite
0:26:17 > 0:26:22at Charing Cross police station. He is a super-recogniser.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Prisoners will stick in your head from year to year to year and then,
0:26:25 > 0:26:30once you see them on a still, your memory tends to click in to them.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32When Idris spots someone familiar on the website,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36it triggers a process in him that can even allow him
0:26:36 > 0:26:39to narrow down the exact cell they were held in.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Each one of the cells, to me, mentally, has a personality,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46so it's registered, so from there, I whittle it down to
0:26:46 > 0:26:49whether it was winter, summer, a couple of years ago,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53and then you move from there, and I would go through my work roster
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and eventually, I would get that person's name.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00So when the building site burglar's face appears on his computer,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Idris activates his powers.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Right here. This is his identity, to me.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08What I see here is, he's always bald-headed,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11but with a protruding forehead.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16And this quarter of his face is always memorised in my head.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19And I know he's got a scar on here.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22So he's up to his old tricks again.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26The man has been locked away before, not just in the cells,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28but in Idris' memory bank.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31The main thing I vaguely remember is, he's quite cheeky
0:27:31 > 0:27:35and he'll ask you for stuff that he knows you can't get, but he'll try.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41The man is arrested and pleads guilty in court.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46He is given a two-year suspended jail sentence
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and placed under supervision for 18 months.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53He's just one of over 200 suspects
0:27:53 > 0:27:56that were identified by Idris last year.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Though, with a head full of faces,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01it can be hard for a super-recogniser to switch off.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Some things do get under our skin.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07During my off days, bang, you're watching TV,
0:28:07 > 0:28:08"That's who it is!"
0:28:08 > 0:28:10And my wife does look at me funny,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14and, you know, I've done it in custody where a burglar has come in,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18and I've been studying this guy for ten burglaries, then he came in,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and I was so happy and everybody was looking at me weird.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23It's just one of these things!
0:28:28 > 0:28:30That's it for today. Join us next time,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34when police and the public will be catching more criminals red handed.