0:00:02 > 0:00:05Britain's next generation of emergency service recruits,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07chosen from a pool of thousands,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09rookies like Sarah,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12a police special proud to put on the uniform...
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Going out and helping people
0:00:14 > 0:00:17and doing things that are just proactive for the community...
0:00:17 > 0:00:19just a great thing to do.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22..and single mum Maya who ditched her day job
0:00:22 > 0:00:24to retrain as a paramedic.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27It's a brilliant feeling when you get to help someone
0:00:27 > 0:00:30because it's one that you don't get very often in life.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32From cutting hair to fighting fires,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35new recruit Helen is now one of the crew.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38It's the only way I'll get experience, by getting in there
0:00:38 > 0:00:40and trying to get hands-on.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42They've survived months of intensive training...
0:00:42 > 0:00:44- Come on! Let's move!- Get back!
0:00:44 > 0:00:45I've made contact.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47..they've been tested to their limits...
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Spray! Spray!- Burning. Pain.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Stop panicking. Don't worry.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55..all to realise their ultimate ambitions.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58You really have got to be prepared for absolutely anything.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Join them for their First Time on the Front Line.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07In today's programme, a Friday-night fight...
0:01:07 > 0:01:11He's resisting arrest and attempting to bite one of the police officers.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..Sarah races to help colleagues deal with a drunk...
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Absolutely horrendous.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18..a warehouse in flames...
0:01:18 > 0:01:20That's still smouldering.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23..a rookie under pressure...
0:01:26 > 0:01:29..and Maya's toughest call yet...
0:01:32 > 0:01:34..a tragic case for the new paramedic.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37It's really shocking. I can't believe it.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43In Cheshire, Sarah Johnson is two months into her career
0:01:43 > 0:01:45as a police special.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47She's joined high-speed responses...
0:01:47 > 0:01:49I'm glad I'm not driving.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52..and restrained violent suspects...
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Get off me!
0:01:55 > 0:01:58..but there are more arrests still to come.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10Sarah's journey to becoming a special started in summer 2013,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13at the age of 46.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16I've always wanted to do something in the police force,
0:02:16 > 0:02:17probably ever since I was at school,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and the time just seemed right.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23To qualify as a special, Sarah had to take a tough 20-day
0:02:23 > 0:02:26training course where she mastered police kit...
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Down! Down! Down!
0:02:28 > 0:02:30..and self-defence.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33- Go!- Get back!
0:02:33 > 0:02:34- Go!- Get back!
0:02:34 > 0:02:37She even volunteered to put pepper spray in her eyes
0:02:37 > 0:02:40to experience the pain felt by suspects.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Eight weeks on, the mum of three is now on active duty
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and preparing for a night shift.
0:02:50 > 0:02:56- I'm off to the police and Peter's in charge.- I'm in charge!
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Rookie Sarah is still getting used to her new role.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05She gets quite excited about putting her uniform on.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07It's quite funny cos she always says
0:03:07 > 0:03:09all the, like, warnings and stuff,
0:03:09 > 0:03:10like, "If you have anything to say..."
0:03:10 > 0:03:14and stuff like that and puts the handcuffs on
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and she always goes like this, "Get back!"
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Sarah's set for a busy night in Chester city centre.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30It is quite exciting when you first start the shift
0:03:30 > 0:03:34cos you're all in uniform and you take one look at yourself
0:03:34 > 0:03:38and you kind of think, "Wow, I'm a police officer."
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It's just totally different,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42home life and then coming into this, really.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45It's like a double life you're leading.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Her partner for the evening is PC Jenny Black.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50OK. Yeah.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53They're in a police van,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57ready to support officers should there be any trouble.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00And as this is Friday night, there soon is.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04We're going to City Road where somebody's apparently kicking off.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07It sounds like a serious incident.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10He's resisting arrest
0:04:10 > 0:04:12and he's attempting to bite one of the police officers.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18They're down there on the pavement by City Spice.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26The man's extremely drunk and highly aggressive.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Bring your left foot forward.- BLEEP.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Stop swearing.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- Sit up, please.- BLEEP.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- Stand back.- Stand back.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Stand back.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- Peter, help us out, please.- My shoe! - Yeah, I'll get your shoe.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48As Sarah preps the van,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51one of the man's friends films the arrest.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53- BLEEP.- Stop swearing.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56This isn't the first hostile drunk she's had to deal with,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00but the state of this one still comes as a shock.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01Absolutely horrendous.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04I'll put my hand on your head so you don't bang it.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Drunk as they come!
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Seriously, I don't think he knows what day it is, bless him.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- In you get.- In you go, dude. Come on.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15His friends have also been drinking.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Sarah tries to help them keep out of trouble.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21- BLEEP.- Excuse me. Excuse me.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24SHE SLURS HER SPEECH
0:05:24 > 0:05:27All right, we don't need the language.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32With the man now under control, it's off to the nick.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- Are we all in?- Yep.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44He'll be put in a cell to sleep off the effects of the alcohol...
0:05:46 > 0:05:49..and dealt with when he sobers up.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52I think more than anything he's drunk, he wanted to lick
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and bite people, I think, but he doesn't know what he's doing.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01It's been an eventful start to Sarah's shift
0:06:01 > 0:06:05and it's a long way from being over yet.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Every year, West Midlands Fire Service responds
0:06:12 > 0:06:14to around 14,000 emergencies.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Hello. It's the fire service.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20That's 40 999 calls a day.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Cut it.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25It selects only the best recruits...
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Ready, steady, slide.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30..and Helen Wyer thinks she has what it takes.
0:06:35 > 0:06:4026-year-old Helen used to be a hairdresser,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43but then she decided to make a fresh start.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I needed something to wake up to
0:06:45 > 0:06:47and actually have a career, a future,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50something a lot more challenging and worthwhile
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and rewarding at the end of it.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Before being allowed on duty,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Helen must pass an intensive training course.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00The next eight weeks for us are going to be such hard work.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I might be crying, pulling my hair out in a couple of weeks,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06but it will definitely be worthwhile.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10She's already learned how to extract casualties from enclosed spaces...
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Come on. Just dig in.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14..from crashed cars...
0:07:14 > 0:07:16and from deep water...
0:07:16 > 0:07:18That's it. A little bit further. Brilliant.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Today, Helen and her fellow recruits are back on dry land,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26facing fire and toxic smoke for the first time.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35The venue for this daunting session is the fire house training centre.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38In here, we have real fire. There's much more pressure on them here
0:07:38 > 0:07:40because there's real fire involved.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44The rookies have little idea what lies in store.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46I'm not sure if there will be fire
0:07:46 > 0:07:48or whether it will just be hot at the minute.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50I haven't ever done anything like this before,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52so it is quite scary.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Make your way over to the far side of the room.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The instructors are going to expose the trainees
0:07:57 > 0:08:01to intense fire in an enclosed space to see if they can cope.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04It's a dangerous exercise.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Their breathing apparatus must be thoroughly checked.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09There's much more danger here
0:08:09 > 0:08:14because they're dealing with real fire, real heat.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Come on! This way. Move it along.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19No time for nerves. Helen goes in.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Soon these rookies will be fighting fires for real.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41There are over 40,000 house fires in Britain every year.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50The recruits are learning first-hand how quickly fires can spread.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01It can take just five minutes for a small fire
0:09:01 > 0:09:02to engulf an entire home.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21The heat from a domestic fire can exceed 600 degrees Celsius.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25The rookies have learnt their lesson.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35As soon as they get outside, Helen and her colleagues
0:09:35 > 0:09:38must lower their body temperature immediately.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51- Is everybody OK?- Yes.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54It's just so full of smoke
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and so dark and then, obviously, you're crawling along
0:09:57 > 0:10:00and suddenly there's a fire there as well.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Obviously, unbearably hot, so you start to lose
0:10:03 > 0:10:05your orientation as well.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Ultimately, if these people here are safe
0:10:08 > 0:10:10and they're staying low, they're able to do their job
0:10:10 > 0:10:13when they most need to and that's rescue people.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15There could be somebody trapped up there, really,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18so you've got to keep going.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22The next time Helen faces fire, it won't be a training exercise.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32New paramedic Maya Black has already helped saved lives.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36She's treated a driver suffering excruciating stomach pain...
0:10:36 > 0:10:38That scar there, what's that from?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41..and rushed a seriously ill woman to hospital...
0:10:42 > 0:10:45You're doing really, really well.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Next, the toughest challenge of Maya's fledgling career.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Single mum Maya used to work as a carer for vulnerable people.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03Then, in 2011, she decided to take a degree in paramedic science
0:11:03 > 0:11:04at university.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Two years of hard study later, she graduated.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Maya Rebecca Black...
0:11:10 > 0:11:1511-year-old Tyreece was thrilled with his mum's achievement.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16It made me feel proud
0:11:16 > 0:11:18cos she's worked hard to do it.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22She's saving people and stuff like that and helping.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27It's been such a long and difficult journey to get here
0:11:27 > 0:11:29and I didn't ever think I would get here.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31It's absolutely fantastic.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Two months on, Maya is stationed at one of the busiest
0:11:41 > 0:11:43ambulance hubs in the West Midlands.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46That's empty, so we need two O2.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50She's enjoying the unpredictability of her new job.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Every shift is completely different. Every job is completely different.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56It scares me on one hand. On the other hand,
0:11:56 > 0:12:01it makes the job exciting. It sort of inspires you to want to work harder.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06Today, Maya's paired with experienced colleague Mel Fox.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Their first 999 is of the highest priority.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12A red one.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Life-threatening calls are classified as red.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Up there. Up there.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23In such cases, crews endeavour to arrive within eight minutes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:26Left here.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Ambulance control will send rapid response paramedics too.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32There are several crews there,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36so it does look like it's quite a serious incident that we're going to.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40As they race to the scene, more detail comes through...
0:12:40 > 0:12:41shocking detail.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Ah!
0:12:43 > 0:12:44He's hanging.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48A passer-by has reported seeing a man hanging from a tree in woodland.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57There's a large police presence at the scene.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Maya needs to get information as quickly as possible.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Thank you. Thank you.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24This is a first for Maya.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26She doesn't know what to expect.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Never saw one before so...
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- So, at the moment, nobody knows who he is or...?- No, no.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56No amount of training can prepare a rookie for a call like this.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59This is the very real part of the job
0:13:59 > 0:14:03and the contrast between each job that you go to
0:14:03 > 0:14:05is so sort of diverse...
0:14:05 > 0:14:07It's really sad.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It's really shocking. I can't believe it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Maya must compose herself.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18There's still an important job to do.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24Ultimately, as much as we're presuming that he is deceased,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27once he comes up, that's got to be confirmed.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30When that moment comes,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Mel thinks her junior partner should take the lead.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37It probably seems a bit gory for you to have a look at him,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40but I think it will do you the world of good, to be honest,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43because you will be going to this again.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45- I know.- You know.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I think it's good experience for Maya.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51The books can't teach you this. This is reality.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And I think the reason it's good for Maya to see this is because
0:14:55 > 0:14:58she's got a lot of experienced staff around her at the moment...
0:15:00 > 0:15:02..which can help her deal with that situation.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05The body is hanging over a steep embankment.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Yeah, take that slack back a bit, mate.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11It's going to be a complicated recovery operation.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Let me know when you're ready then. - Yeah, we're ready.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It takes 30 minutes to retrieve the body.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Yeah, OK.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Maya confirms there are no signs of life.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33That's all done. OK.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40- Thanks very much for your help. - Cheers.- Thanks a lot.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42- See you again. Thank you. - Thanks, bye.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44It's been a distressing case for Maya,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48but she can't afford to lose focus so early in her shift.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52At the moment, it still feels quite surreal
0:15:52 > 0:15:53and I do feel really shocked by it.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Literally, need to take it on the chin,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59have a chat with your colleagues about it and, you know,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03move on to a certain degree, because I don't know what job
0:16:03 > 0:16:06I'll get next and I need to focus on the next patient,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10not sit dwelling on what I've just seen.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13It's for me to deal with later on when I get home.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20It's the last day of training
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and the rookie firefighters are showing off their new skills.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27INAUDIBLE SHOUTING
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Helen passed the course with flying colours.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It's a proud moment for her and her loved ones.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44I'm shaking. Go and see the family.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Ah, well done, well done.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- Are you going to get a photo? - I'll have to sort this mop out.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53She can't wait to start.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I feel like I've actually got the job now.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59It's given me that sense of belonging,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02making you feel that you're part of this community now.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I'm quite eager to get involved and get out there.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13One month later and Helen is out there, attending a major incident.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18A previous shift has put out a huge blaze in a warehouse.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Now Helen's crew must ensure it doesn't catch fire again.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27It's a bit of a different start to our shift than normal.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31It's quite good, it's exciting. It's all part of it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32You don't know what's around the corner,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35you don't know what's going to happen, so, long night ahead.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The warehouse is stacked with highly flammable goods which could
0:17:39 > 0:17:42suddenly reignite due to residual heat.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50As the warehouse is in the middle of a residential area,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53the surrounding homes could be at risk.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55The crew has to work fast.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03They must remove every single piece of potentially combustible material.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Sometimes it's not so glamorous as people think.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09There's a lot of dirty, hard, sweaty work that needs to get done.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Suddenly red-hot embers are discovered.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15They need to be swept out of the building immediately.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26The whole building could go up in flames again at any moment.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34It's physically demanding for the five foot two rookie.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Your lungs are just full of rubbish basically.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Yeah, pretty exhausted, but it's good teamwork.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Keep going, keep going, work, work, work.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Helen's found a burning duvet at the back of the warehouse.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It could easily have set fire to the rubbish around it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Impressive work by the new recruit.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56That's still smouldering.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59There's bits that we're finding that are still lit,
0:18:59 > 0:19:03so, obviously, there's a reason behind doing it all now I'm seeing.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Once the warehouse is emptied, the walls and ceiling must be cooled.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Anyone who don't need to be in there then, let's get out.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Have a quick spray.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Helen's given the task of soaking the warehouse interior.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Just go to the front and give it a damn good...
0:19:17 > 0:19:18Everywhere, get in there.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Next, she must check for any remaining hot spots
0:19:29 > 0:19:31with a thermal imaging camera.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39It looks like Helen's dampening down has done the trick.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The only hot spot left by a warm glove.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50- OK. Right. Happy?- Yeah. - Hels, on your head be it.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Yeah, happy? Super.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57The operation can wind down. Helen's work is done.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Feeling pretty tired, to be honest.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02It's quite late, been here for quite a few hours.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Yeah, it's been really good. I've enjoyed it.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Her biggest call-out to date is a long way from her former
0:20:08 > 0:20:11life in the hairdressing salon.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I probably do look quite dirty.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15I haven't seen myself, so I haven't got a clue.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Hopefully it shows hard work.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21It's the only way I'll get experience, by getting in there
0:20:21 > 0:20:22and trying to get hands-on.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25It's gaining respect from people as well, if you actually
0:20:25 > 0:20:27show that you're willing to work hard.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34West Midlands Ambulance Service gets around a million calls a year
0:20:34 > 0:20:36and another has just come in.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Responding, rookie paramedic Maya and Sarah Bessant,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42her latest partner.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45A woman has fallen and injured her leg badly
0:20:45 > 0:20:47whilst running for a train.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51It's an emergency but it's also rush hour.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Traffic is really horrendous at the moment.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58It's going into Birmingham city centre at rush hour,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01so she's injured herself in the worst possible place, really.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04The winter temperature is dropping.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06They need to get to the patient fast.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11It's only slightly over freezing, so it's really cold out there.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15There's the car.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Just eight minutes after receiving the call,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- they arrive...- Hello.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25..to find their patient, Christine, in agony.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27That painful? Can you move?
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Her pain level indicates Christine might have broken a bone.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32Ah, bless you.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Because it's so cold, the paramedics need to transfer her to the
0:21:39 > 0:21:41ambulance for a thorough assessment.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48They must move her carefully to avoid causing further injury.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- Ah!- I've got you, I've got you.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Can you manage?
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Even gentle movement causes excruciating pain.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03We just want to get your pain relief under control.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Let's just see if we can try and relax you a bit more, is that OK?
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Nice deep breaths, that's it.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Maya hopes gas and air will help.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16That's it, and again.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Even though it might cause discomfort,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20the paramedics need to examine the injury.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Do you mind if we have a little check of it?
0:22:22 > 0:22:23No, I don't mind.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Christine's left leg is badly swollen.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's doubled in size in just 20 minutes,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34leading the paramedics to one conclusion.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Yeah.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Maya wants to see if the gas and air is working.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46A broken hip can be agonising.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55She decides to give Christine morphine.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Administering it through a cannula means it'll hit
0:22:58 > 0:23:00the bloodstream instantly.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02You'll feel a small scratch, OK?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05You should feel some liquid going up your arm now, OK?
0:23:07 > 0:23:11- Has that helped the pain at all? - Yes.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12With the morphine taking effect,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15the paramedics can take Christine to hospital.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21- You OK?- Yeah. - I'm ready, yeah.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Sarah wants to make the journey as smooth as possible.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26There's a couple of speed bumps coming up now.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Maya's pain relief seems to be working.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41As soon as they reach hospital, Christine is rushed into A&E,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44where an X-ray will reveal the extent of the fracture.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Maya significantly reduced her patient's pain level.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Ready, steady, slide.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55It was a job well done.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59My confidence has definitely grown with each shift.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02I only left university a few months ago,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06so even though I am a graduate paramedic and I'm qualified,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08my journey is only just beginning now.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15In Chester, it's just after midnight
0:24:15 > 0:24:20and Sarah's answering a 999 with colleague PC Ben Jones.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Their destination - a local hotel.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28A female's been assaulted,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30so we're basically right in the town centre,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32so we're actually going to go straight to that.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37One in ten emergency calls to the police involve domestic assaults.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40For the Cheshire force, that's 4,000 incidents a year.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46When they arrive, the hotel manager meets them.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48There's a male and a female there now?
0:24:48 > 0:24:49They're both still in the premises
0:24:49 > 0:24:52but we've got her in one place and he's in another.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Do you want to come with me then I'll take you to him?
0:24:54 > 0:24:57OK, do you want to speak to her and get details?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59As Sarah heads off to find the woman,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Ben questions the male suspect.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06- Are you known to the police at all? - No.- Never had any dealings with us?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- No.- OK.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10At the moment, we've only got one word against another,
0:25:10 > 0:25:15but, obviously, it's quite important to get the facts.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Establishing the truth in domestic cases can be difficult,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22even for veteran officers. Sarah's only a rookie.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25She goes to interview the alleged victim
0:25:25 > 0:25:27while the suspect waits outside.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33The woman tells Sarah that she was struck by her partner
0:25:33 > 0:25:37and marks on her face support her story.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39I've spoken to the lady who has been assaulted
0:25:39 > 0:25:45and she does want the partner dealt with by the police,
0:25:45 > 0:25:49so she's very upset, understandably.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Sarah's heard and seen enough.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57She decides the male suspect should be taken into custody.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01I'm going to arrest you on suspicion of assault.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04It's Sarah's first arrest for assault.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence
0:26:06 > 0:26:09if you do not mention when questioned something which
0:26:09 > 0:26:10you later rely on in court.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Anything you do say will be given in evidence.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14- Do you understand that?- I do.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Sarah's caution was word perfect.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Time to take the suspect to the station.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30As the arresting officer, it's down to Sarah to hand the suspect
0:26:30 > 0:26:32over to the custody sergeant.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38She must explain why she felt the arrest was justified.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I've arrested this man on suspicion of assault.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45His partner has alleged that he's assaulted her
0:26:45 > 0:26:47and she's got some injuries to her face.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53Sarah goes to talk the suspect through the custody procedures.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Two months into the job, she's doing everything seasoned,
0:26:56 > 0:27:01full-time officers do, just as the Cheshire Police
0:27:01 > 0:27:05and Crime Commissioner predicted at her swearing-in ceremony.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08You're fully fledged police officers in the sense that
0:27:08 > 0:27:10you've got full police powers.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13When people see you, they see a police officer.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16They think that you've been doing this for 20 years
0:27:16 > 0:27:18because I look like I've been doing it for 20 years and
0:27:18 > 0:27:20they just expect you to know what to say,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24so you basically go in and take control of the situation,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26look like you've been doing it all your life.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29You've got to remember your training, got to remember the law,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32you know, and you've got to be compassionate and human.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42The intoxicated man Sarah helped detain pleaded guilty to drunk
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and disorderly and was given a conditional discharge
0:27:45 > 0:27:46for six months.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Maya's patient, Christine, had broken her hip.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54After undergoing surgery and having a metal plate fitted,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56she hopes to return to work soon.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00And the man Sarah arrested at the hotel
0:28:00 > 0:28:03was later charged with assault by beating.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04He faces a day in court.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Next time...
0:28:09 > 0:28:13- a rush-hour crash... - That's a bus.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15..and Sam's biggest test yet...
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Drop all the seats in here, lie her flat, put her on a board
0:28:18 > 0:28:19and take her out that way.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22..sickness at sea...
0:28:24 > 0:28:26..and rescue on the river.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Laura rushes to help as a pleasure boat sinks...
0:28:35 > 0:28:38..and cracking down on dangerous drivers.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Laurence and his colleagues are on the case.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- Do you know why you're being stopped?- No.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46You've just gone through a red traffic light.