0:00:02 > 0:00:04Neighbourhood policing has come a long way since
0:00:04 > 0:00:06the days of Dixon of Dock Green.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Good evening, all.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11The new generation of community police officers have
0:00:11 > 0:00:13the power to strike hard...
0:00:13 > 0:00:15- Police! Search warrant! - You're under arrest.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18..and tackle crime head-on.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21- Danny!- Calm down!- By engaging with people on the street...
0:00:21 > 0:00:22- Me and you always get on.- Yeah.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..the teams can indentify and crack down
0:00:24 > 0:00:26on the crimes that are crippling our communities.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29They are clearly violent individuals.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30In this series of Neighbourhood Blues...
0:00:30 > 0:00:34- Happy birthday.- ..we're given unprecedented access
0:00:34 > 0:00:35to Somerset's neighbourhood teams...
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I'm asking you not to street drink and go somewhere else!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42..as they battle to clear up crime...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- Hold still! - You're under arrest for assault.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48..and sweep the criminals clean from our streets.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50PRISONER SHOUTS ANGRILY
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Hit me again and you'll get arrested.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Coming up...
0:01:09 > 0:01:11the neighbourhood team tackle the growing menace
0:01:11 > 0:01:14of legal highs on the streets of Somerset.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17- Have you just taken something? - I haven't done nowt!
0:01:17 > 0:01:20- OVER RADIO:- 'Blue denim shorts.'
0:01:20 > 0:01:23And an abusive drunk meets his match.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25BLEEP, BLEEP.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- Oi, come here.- Oi, don't swear!
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Don't you swear at him, otherwise you'll get locked up.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31How dare you swear at him, you rude man!
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Knife crime is a blight on our communities.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41One in ten hospital admissions for assault in the UK are linked
0:01:41 > 0:01:46to bladed weapons, and the injuries inflicted are often horrific,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48and all too frequently, fatal.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52It's late afternoon on the west coast.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55PC Wayne Hughes and Sergeant Mark Jenkinson are responding
0:01:55 > 0:01:57to an urgent 999 call.
0:01:57 > 0:02:014-4-7-1, going to that as well.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06There's a report of a stabbing involving one male,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10so we're just going to make our way and see what's happened.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- OVER RADIO: - 'Saffron House, please, erm...
0:02:13 > 0:02:15'Caller's been threatened by a male in a wheelchair.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:17The sarge lights up the blues.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21In situations like this, every second counts.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23There are two major issues facing an officer
0:02:23 > 0:02:25when they respond to a knife attack.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28One, to ensure the safety of the victim,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and two, to find and arrest the attacker.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Wayne and Mark are going to escort the paramedic to the scene.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Police have just arrived behind me, I'm just talking to them. Over.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Details of the incident are sketchy.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46with a potential knifeman still very much at large,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49the paramedic is taking no chances and is looking
0:02:49 > 0:02:52to the police to offer protection whilst she attends to the victim.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59They're in here, are they?
0:02:59 > 0:03:00With the help of a passer-by,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03the officers quickly find the victim laying across the road.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Before Wayne can call in the paramedic,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10he has to be certain that it's safe.
0:03:10 > 0:03:11Hello, mate.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Just do us a favour... Where's the stab wounds?
0:03:17 > 0:03:18- In your belly, is it? - On his arms.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24OK, have you got those? Who's done this to you?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Oh, just... I don't know.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Can you do me a favour? Just tell me what's going on.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- An hour-and-a-half ago? - Nearly two hours now.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35- OK, have you got any weapons on you?- No.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- What about you, sir? Are you a witness at all?- No.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40SIREN WAILS
0:03:40 > 0:03:43With the scene safe, the man can be examined.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47There's a paramedic with us now, can she check you over? Yeah?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51He has two significant wounds - a slash to his arm,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54and more worryingly, a stab wound to the lower abdomen.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57With no telling how deep it is, there's a real risk
0:03:57 > 0:03:59that he could be bleeding internally.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03He's also remaining tight-lipped about who attacked him.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06He's saying he was stabbed by an unknown male,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09he's not prepared to give a name.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12He's not going to tell me what it's all over.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Amazingly, the victim managed to call his mate directly
0:04:15 > 0:04:17after the attack.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20It's been a traumatic experience for both of them.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26It's not that bad, though.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31That little cut, there's some fat coming out
0:04:31 > 0:04:34from his belly, so it looks worse than it actually is, yeah?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I'm scared.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39The paramedic has seen the victim,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42but he'll need further treatment in hospital.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Before he is taken away, Wayne makes another attempt to discover
0:04:46 > 0:04:48the identity of the attacker.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Yeah, you need to go to hospital.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Very briefly, are you prepared to tell me who has done this to you?
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Sorry?
0:04:56 > 0:04:57No?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59OK. What's it over?
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- WOMAN:- You have to shut the door, you're keeping us.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03OK.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05The victim is staying resolutely silent
0:05:05 > 0:05:08as to the identity of his attacker.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11At the moment we've got one man who's gone to Weston General,
0:05:11 > 0:05:17with at least one stab wound to the lower abdomen,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19which is quite deep, apparently,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23and he's got a slash wound to the left forearm.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26He was seen by a paramedic here at the scene.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31This gentleman we're with at the moment is potentially a witness
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and a friend of the victim of the stabbing.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36We're just trying to find out what he knows
0:05:36 > 0:05:38about what's gone on this evening.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40The team know that if they're going to get to the bottom
0:05:40 > 0:05:44of what's happened, then they'll have to turn detective.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49First to be interviewed is a man who may have seen what happened.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Where did you first see him?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- Here.- Just here?- Yeah.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Did you hear his conversation on the mobile phone?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03I assumed that he had phoned a friend,
0:06:03 > 0:06:08and then that guy on the bicycle came and got him.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Unfortunately, the man didn't see the attack.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14It's possible that it took place elsewhere.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18No blood, no nothing, I just thought he was drunk.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Wayne isn't having any luck with the victim's mate, either.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- And you don't know? - No. I wish I did know.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26If I'd known, I'd tell you.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29I'm terrified for him.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- He's in good hands, all right? - Yeah.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- Is he a friend of yours then? - Yeah, he's my best mate.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35Is he?
0:06:35 > 0:06:36It's a confusing case.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39The team have no suspect or motive.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43They don't even know where the attack took place.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45So, what do you reckon it is, then?
0:06:48 > 0:06:50- No.- Do you know what I mean? - No, I know.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52But if you see the wound, there's hardly any...
0:06:52 > 0:06:55blood on the outside of the wound.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58But they're saying now that it's possibly
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- a six-inch serrated edge knife. - Yeah, I heard that.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- So the chances are...- It's deeper than it is...- Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11The investigation isn't going to be a simple one, so they're
0:07:11 > 0:07:15taking the victim's mate back to the station for further questioning.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Still in shock, he's struggling to come to terms with what's happened.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24I'm just upset, the fact that my best mate's been stabbed.
0:07:26 > 0:07:32And...I don't know what to do.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Did he phone you or did he text you?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- He phoned me. - Have you got any texts from him?
0:07:39 > 0:07:42- No.- In relation to this?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45He just phoned me and asked me to ring him back,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47so I rang him back like, "What's up?"
0:07:47 > 0:07:49And he's like, "I've been stabbed."
0:07:49 > 0:07:53As they arrive at the station, this fella believes
0:07:53 > 0:07:56that his friend wouldn't be happy if he knew he was helping the police.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59He's going to hate me for this, but I don't care.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01He's not going to hate you, is he?
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Because all you're doing at the moment is helping us...
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- help him, hopefully.- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:08:08 > 0:08:10It just upsets me, the fact that...
0:08:10 > 0:08:14It's not right that somebody goes along in the cold light of day
0:08:14 > 0:08:16and stabs somebody, is it?
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- No.- Whether it's...- I don't like violence, I hate it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24We're still trying to piece together what it's all about.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29I have been told that it involves a debt of some description,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and that's as much as I know at the moment.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Because of the serious nature of the incident,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37the case was passed over to CID.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40As yet, the victim has refused to name his attacker,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42but the file remains open.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51In Britain, we have strict controls on the use of drugs
0:08:51 > 0:08:54and harsh penalties for those who abuse them.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56A type of drug known as "legal highs", however,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00has become a source of concern for the police.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02They look like illegal drugs,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04they have similar effects to illegal drugs,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and are just as dangerous to use as illegal drugs -
0:09:08 > 0:09:12but because they are marketed as not for human consumption,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14shops can legally sell them.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22In Taunton, PCSO Daryl Waddell is patrolling
0:09:22 > 0:09:24one of the town's parks.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28He's spotted a lad passed out on a bench.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30- Up. It's the police. GROANING:- BLEEP.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35- Up you get. - Can you- BLEEP- off? Seriously.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Hit me again, you get arrested, all right? Up you get, now.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Get up. Who do you think you are?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45This youth has taken a legal high.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47YOUTH MUTTERS INCOHERENTLY
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Do you want to get arrested for assault? All right?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Sorry, officer, I didn't realise who it was.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Every day I'm on shift I have to come down and see you...
0:09:55 > 0:09:58He's using this bottle as a bong -
0:09:58 > 0:10:01it's a device used to inhale drug fumes.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03How long have you been conked out for, then?
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Only, like, a maximum of, say, five minutes.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09It's been longer than five minutes.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11I've had a call about you about 15 minutes ago.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13This lad is just 17.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Only a maximum of 25 minutes.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17What's it called, Exodus?
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- I think so. - And what's that? A legal high, is it?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23POLICE RADIO CHATTER
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Ensuring that he's OK, Daryl can only send the boy on his way.
0:10:28 > 0:10:33I know the male through previous experience as a legal high user,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38making his own home-made bongs and, erm, getting off his face.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Legal highs are becoming a serious problem across the UK.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46You do feel sorry for them, there are people that genuinely
0:10:46 > 0:10:50want to come off them but they can't, because they are addicted to it.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54They say it's worse than legal drugs and...it's not really on.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59In Britain, there are almost 250 shops
0:10:59 > 0:11:01selling the psychoactive drugs.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Two have opened in Taunton.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Due to the way the law is written, these substances can be
0:11:08 > 0:11:12legally bought on our high streets - sold as plant food or incense.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Officers Stuart Baird and Lisa Rigby
0:11:16 > 0:11:19are checking an unoccupied house that has become
0:11:19 > 0:11:22a popular haunt for the town's street drinkers and drug users.
0:11:25 > 0:11:26Living like rats, basically.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32We were talking about legal highs, weren't we?
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Here we go. This is, er...Ching.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39That's a legal high.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43In the past, the government has banned some legal highs.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44The best known is mephedrone,
0:11:44 > 0:11:49otherwise known as "MCAT" or "meow meow."
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Unfortunately, as soon as one drug is banned,
0:11:52 > 0:11:57the manufacturers head back to the labs and create another one.
0:11:57 > 0:11:58What is it, down that way?
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Down there, by the Poundland and the Debenhams.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Right, OK. This is a classic case of a legal high user.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09A man has been spotted staggering through the town's traffic.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Basically, all the problems that you associate with
0:12:12 > 0:12:17the illegal drugs are now occurring
0:12:17 > 0:12:20with the legal ones.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21- Hello, mate.- Hello.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25What are you up to, Nick? We've had a call about you being in the road.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27ADVERT PLAYS ON RADIO
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Turn that down a second, will you?
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Can you take that balaclava off for a minute and talk to us?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Nick is well-known to the police as a prolific drug user.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38Just stay out of the road.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40No-one is saying you can't cross the road,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43but you've got to cross it just as you normally would, yeah?
0:12:43 > 0:12:44- Yes.- OK? All right?
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- Don't be loitering in the road. - No, I won't.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51'He's always been...sketchy, if you want to call it,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53'but I think he is deteriorating.'
0:12:53 > 0:12:59He has told me himself that he is addicted to legal highs,
0:12:59 > 0:13:03and basically he can't get through the day without it.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09Whatever it is that he's taking is really affecting his mental health.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14Despite being a regular user of legal highs, Nick is all too aware
0:13:14 > 0:13:17of the dangers that come with using these powerful drugs.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22They may be legal, but they are as dangerous,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26if not...more dangerous, than any drug I know.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29I've been addicted to heroin for a lot of years,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31I don't take heroin any more but I've substituted
0:13:31 > 0:13:34it for the legal highs, and I'm telling you now,
0:13:34 > 0:13:39I have never had such a craving for anything
0:13:39 > 0:13:42like I have these legal highs.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Hi Peter, it's Jim Breakwell, I'm the town centre beat...
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Jim Breakwell is one of the officers spearheading the
0:13:48 > 0:13:51neighbourhood team's response to the escalating problem.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55It's actually a bigger problem than controlled substances
0:13:55 > 0:13:57such as heroin at the moment for us.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00As a town centre bobby, Jim is very familiar with Nick.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03He's reviewing a recent encounter that one of his colleagues
0:14:03 > 0:14:05has captured on a body-mounted camera.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10What's going on, Nick? What's with the language? You all right?
0:14:10 > 0:14:11Typical!
0:14:11 > 0:14:14I'm asking if you're all right, Nick?
0:14:14 > 0:14:16VERY QUICKLY: And I'm telling you no! I want to report a...
0:14:19 > 0:14:21I can't even remember!
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Have you just taken some legal? You've just taken something?
0:14:25 > 0:14:26I haven't done nowt!
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I haven't said you've done anything, I said have you
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- just taken something?- You said have I taken summat!
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Well, yeah, because obviously you seem very...
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- I'm exercising my right to the Fifth Amendment.- OK.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Normally you can have a conversation with him
0:14:38 > 0:14:40and he makes sense,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42but here he clearly is making no sense whatsoever,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44he doesn't have any idea what's going on.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Shall we go and have a sit down somewhere quiet out of the sun?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- You need to sit down. - You're mental, mate.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54I'd say he's got a heightened heart rate, he's hyperventilating,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58so he's breathing much faster, but in five minutes' time,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02when he's finished, he won't remember the effects.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- Purely...- BLEEP. I didn't mean it.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07..he's after the hit and the high, but he doesn't remember
0:15:07 > 0:15:10the downsides of taking them. All he remembers is the good things.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13They are very nasty and very, very dangerous.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- What have you taken, Nick? - I truly... Do you know what I mean?
0:15:16 > 0:15:18- Do you know what he's taken? - No, I don't.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20I normally know how somebody is going to react
0:15:20 > 0:15:25if they have taken alcohol, if they have taken heroin or cannabis.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28At this point now, dealing with Nick as he is,
0:15:28 > 0:15:29I wouldn't know how he is going to react.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I wouldn't know if he was going to flee, whether he was likely
0:15:32 > 0:15:35to fight, you just don't know what he is going to do,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37and that is because he doesn't know what he is going to do.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Very, very dangerous things.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41All right, take care. See you later.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45I could stop taking it,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I don't want to because I'm in love with the feeling.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50I wish that I wasn't in love with the feeling.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54But that's what makes me an addict, you know?
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Later, the neighbourhood team take to the streets of Taunton
0:15:59 > 0:16:03in their battle to stay on top of this growing danger.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Policing a large city means that officers are faced with
0:16:12 > 0:16:14a continuous stream of challenges.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18We've just been informed that there's two males
0:16:18 > 0:16:21down at the bus station now that is causing problems
0:16:21 > 0:16:23with the restaurants and cafes.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26CCTV operators have been monitoring the two lads,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28and as Brian and Julie arrive,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31it isn't too difficult to spot one of them.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- DISPATCHER:- 'Yeah, you have two males.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37'One is wearing blue denim shorts.'
0:16:37 > 0:16:41The chap on the bench matches the description on the radio
0:16:41 > 0:16:43and his mate isn't far away.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47BLEEP, BLEEP!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Oi, oi, don't swear at him otherwise you'll get locked up.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53How dare you swear at him, you rude man!
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- SLURRING:- Go on, then. - Do you have any ID on you?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- Yeah, I have. - Let me see your ID, please.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59There's my ID.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02You've been urinating and causing a few problems, haven't you?
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Don't put your back to me.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I'm sorry for that. Basically, I'm just sticking up for my friend.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09You don't need to stick up for him
0:17:09 > 0:17:10if you've been causing problems.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12This pair of day-trippers are pushing
0:17:12 > 0:17:16- Brian's patience to the limit. - Why didn't you use a toilet?
0:17:16 > 0:17:17Cos I was desperate.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19How are you getting home now when we let you go?
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'm willing to get a train home.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Incredibly, this troublemaker is trying to suggest
0:17:24 > 0:17:26that he's a model citizen.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28You're trying to intimidate me when I've done nothing wrong.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- He's not intimidating you. - Well, you both are!
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- What, me?- We're doing our jobs. - Yeah, both of you!
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- You're trying to intimidate me when I've done- BLEEP.
0:17:37 > 0:17:38Can you stop swearing?
0:17:38 > 0:17:41One more swear and I will get an officer here to get you arrested.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You've already said you've been urinating,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45so you have done something wrong, haven't you?
0:17:45 > 0:17:46What? I'm sorry for urinating...
0:17:46 > 0:17:48You're just not sorry, it's an offence.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Julie has clearly had enough, but Brian's giving this pair
0:17:52 > 0:17:55one last chance to make themselves scarce.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56You're not going to be nicked for it,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59but you've got to leave this area,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01because you've upset people by urinating in the street, etc.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05So what you want to do is go straight along there,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09get yourself on a train... Listen, I'm going to save you
0:18:09 > 0:18:11a hundred quid here by not giving you a fine.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- I won't shake your hand cos you've just been weeing, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Right, off you go! - She loves us. Come 'ere!
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Despite his fair treatments by the officers...
0:18:22 > 0:18:24BLEEP.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29..this foul-mouthed lout has a final word for Brian and Julie.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Oh, by the way, you're a- BLEEP.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Brian's been doing this job long enough to know that this pair
0:18:37 > 0:18:39probably haven't learnt their lesson.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42They're playfighting now, they've basically been on the booze
0:18:42 > 0:18:45all day, they've drank too much, very intoxicated.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I said to them that rather me give them the fine,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51if they make their way to the train station
0:18:51 > 0:18:54and get themselves home, we'll call it a day as that at the moment.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56But I wouldn't be surprised if they come to light,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59because they're not really taking much notice of what I said
0:18:59 > 0:19:03due to how much alcohol they've drank.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06To make sure they leave as they have promised,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09CCTV operators are closely monitoring the two lads.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15And as Brian predicted, they're still causing trouble.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19'..In the vicinity, because the cocky one in the khaki top
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'has actually just stopped a group of three lads.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27'He's collared the smallest one of the three...'
0:19:27 > 0:19:29..just join me at the bus station,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31these two are just causing so many problems
0:19:31 > 0:19:34with members of the public, they just need some firm hands
0:19:34 > 0:19:37and some strong words of advice from an officer, I think.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Brian's already given the lad the benefit of the doubt.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42This time, he's taking a harder line
0:19:42 > 0:19:44and has called for a police unit to join him.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46You've been grabbing people as they've been
0:19:46 > 0:19:49walking down the street, which is not acceptable.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I've just seen you grab hold of that young kid.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- He's my friend. - He's not your friend.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- He's my friend as well.- The young kid has nothing to do with you.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58- That's unacceptable, I think, mate. - You're wrong.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- I think I'm right.- I don't know what you're on about, mate.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Yeah, outside the train station.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08With two police officers on scene, Brian brings them up to speed.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10They're grabbing hold of young kids,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12we had a bloke come up who said he'd been slapped in the face
0:20:12 > 0:20:15but didn't want to pursue it, so he's assaulted someone, also.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18And now we get here, he's grabbed hold of a young kid that was
0:20:18 > 0:20:21there with a group of other young kiddies
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and started marching him up here forcefully. So we get out the car,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I thought I'd had enough of them, really.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29- Where's the kids gone?- They've just cleared off, unfortunately.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32It doesn't take them long to decide what to do.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34You're to leave Bath for a period of so many hours,
0:20:34 > 0:20:36should you not do that, you'll be arrested
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- for breaching that notice. - Yeah, that's good.- OK?
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The police have the power to order troublemakers to leave
0:20:43 > 0:20:45an area for up to 48 hours,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48and that's exactly what the mouthy lad in the green top
0:20:48 > 0:20:49has been issued with.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Finally, he and his mate are on their way.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Yes, they've definitely gone - at last!
0:20:55 > 0:20:57The one in the green shirt's been given a section 27,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59a direction to leave,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01so he's got to get on the next train to Bristol.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04If he returns within the period, he then gets arrested.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11In Taunton, the neighbourhood team are facing up to
0:21:11 > 0:21:15a menacing new threat that is gripping the UK.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Legal highs - powerful drugs that are
0:21:18 > 0:21:21being sold on the nation's high streets.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Had a flat, a girlfriend,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27I was earning money honestly, I was proud of myself.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Someone needs to ban them,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32because they're highly addictive and it's ruining my life,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35it's ruining society...
0:21:35 > 0:21:38But I can't stop taking them.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Whilst on a recent patrol...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42About half past two in the afternoon when this happened.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44..Jim Breakwell stumbled across a scene that
0:21:44 > 0:21:48graphically illustrates the problem that the whole community is facing.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52The incident was captured on his colleague's body-mounted camera.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57So here we are, on approach into the male toilets at Castle Green.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00We received a call that two people had been injecting.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08And you see, they're both clearly still...completely out of it
0:22:08 > 0:22:10under the effects of legal highs they've taken.
0:22:12 > 0:22:19Two of our well-known legal high users, and they're both out of it.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23OFFICER RAPS ON STALL DOOR
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Jim has been trying to help the man on the left
0:22:25 > 0:22:27find a place in a rehabilitation centre.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30- What are you doing? - I've been smoking.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- What you smoking?- Legal.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38He's been using class A drugs for 20 years.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42And he often says to me whenever I see him in town
0:22:42 > 0:22:44that legal highs are the most dangerous thing
0:22:44 > 0:22:45out there at the moment.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Just watching this footage reminds me
0:23:01 > 0:23:03how dangerous these substances are.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05They don't know what they are doing
0:23:05 > 0:23:08when they are under the influence, they can't possibly,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10and that is going to cause problems for them
0:23:10 > 0:23:13and also residents of Taunton.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Unfortunately, under current legislation, the police have
0:23:16 > 0:23:20few powers to control the sale and use of these substances.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Despite this, the Taunton neighbourhood team
0:23:22 > 0:23:24are determined not to let these drugs
0:23:24 > 0:23:26increase their hold on the town.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30What we have to do is use our powers and use our persuasive means
0:23:30 > 0:23:33to talk to people that are taking these substances,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37educate, work with other organisations.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Jim believes in tackling a problem from the roots up.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43As part of his daily beat, he pays regular visits to the
0:23:43 > 0:23:45two shops that are selling legal highs.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Generally we've got a good rapport with the staff
0:23:47 > 0:23:50and I can go in there and spend time talking to them.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Morally, we think it's wrong,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56but they must think that it's OK in order to work in the shop,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59so I think we're always going to disagree with that.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03The owners of both shops were offered the chance to respond
0:24:03 > 0:24:06to the allegations made in this programme.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Both declined to comment.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Using legal highs, like any drug use,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24can lead to a slippery slope of poverty.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28The charity Taunton Association for the Homeless sees addicts
0:24:28 > 0:24:31every day, and they are concerned about the grip that
0:24:31 > 0:24:34legal highs are beginning to take on the town.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I think when you look at the negative impact that the legal high shops
0:24:37 > 0:24:40are having on the area, you can see why
0:24:40 > 0:24:42people are asking for these shops to be shut down.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Jim is joining Richard and Sue from nearby Lindley House,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48a shelter funded by the charity.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52They are visiting some of the town's rough sleepers.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54I'm going to go into this place where a lot of people
0:24:54 > 0:24:57used to sleep overnight. Morning.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Becca and her boyfriend recently moved to Taunton after
0:25:01 > 0:25:05they had successfully stopped using illegal drugs.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07I know, it's a massive problem.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09The availability of the new substances
0:25:09 > 0:25:11proved too tempting for the couple.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15It was like a once a week kind of thing, and then once a day,
0:25:15 > 0:25:19and then four times a day, and then...that's all we do.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23It makes you rush for ten seconds, then nothing afterwards.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Once you do it once, it's never the same as the first time,
0:25:26 > 0:25:27so you are always doing it,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29continuously, to try and get the same buzz.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32It's really addictive,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35more addictive than anything else I've took in my life.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Stories like Becca's are far from unusual.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41People up and down the country
0:25:41 > 0:25:44are having their lives ripped apart by these drugs,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and it isn't just the users who want to see the shops
0:25:47 > 0:25:49that sell them shut down.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Today, Nick Smith is staging a protest outside a shop
0:25:53 > 0:25:54that sells legal highs.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58..stop you dishing out your leaflets.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Nick feels so passionately about this issue
0:26:00 > 0:26:03because his six-year-old daughter, Millie-Mae, pricked herself
0:26:03 > 0:26:07with a used syringe discarded in a public toilet.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10It's been a traumatic experience for the whole family.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Nick's daughter has undergone months of tests,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16to see whether the syringe incident had left her with hepatitis C -
0:26:16 > 0:26:18a life-changing illness.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20And to get hepatitis C at the age of six
0:26:20 > 0:26:21because you went to the toilet
0:26:21 > 0:26:25and a careless drug user just thrown his needles away...
0:26:27 > 0:26:29..what can you do, you know?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31She could've gone...
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I don't want to think about it, you know?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Because how would you...
0:26:36 > 0:26:38you know?
0:26:38 > 0:26:41My six-year-old daughter fine and happy,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43and because of these people...
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Nick and his family had an agonising wait
0:26:47 > 0:26:50before they found out that Millie-Mae didn't have hepatitis C.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54The amount of people using Taunton's public toilets to take drugs
0:26:54 > 0:26:57has increased since the legal high shops appeared.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00And Nick believes that the needle that pricked his daughter
0:27:00 > 0:27:03had been used to inject the new drugs.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05As a result of his experiences,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08he's formed the South West Action Group -
0:27:08 > 0:27:13an organisation dedicated to taking the dangerous drugs off the street.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Before this happened, I knew nothing about legal highs.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Um, people who I've spoken to since this happened
0:27:18 > 0:27:20know nothing about legal highs, you know?
0:27:20 > 0:27:25So if we can raise awareness, yeah, that's got to be a positive thing.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28And overall, if we can eventually get the Government
0:27:28 > 0:27:30to make the right legislation
0:27:30 > 0:27:34to make them illegal, to ban them, that's got to be a right thing.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38It's a horrific scenario for any parent,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40but Nick is determined to use this experience
0:27:40 > 0:27:42to make a real difference.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43We can't sit back and do nothing
0:27:43 > 0:27:45and expect the police to do everything
0:27:45 > 0:27:47and expect someone else to do everything.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51We have to work as a community, get off our butts, yeah,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56and go out there in a community, you know, and become a community again.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Today we've seen that
0:28:03 > 0:28:05not all neighbourhood issues are simple ones.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Legal highs may be a problem for a long time to come,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12but the police will continue to work alongside the community
0:28:12 > 0:28:14in their relentless mission
0:28:14 > 0:28:17to banish these dangerous drugs from our high streets.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19See you next time.