Episode 4 Neighbourhood Blues

Neighbourhood policing's come a long way since Dixon Of Dock Green.

Good evening, all.

From inner-city estates to suburbia, this new

generation of community police officers are on the front line.

Their aim is to develop a stronger bond with the community,

crack down on the crimes taking place on your doorstep

and formulate fast action plans to take down the criminals.

-I said no.

-I said yes.

In this new series of Neighbourhood Blues,

we go to the Humberside Police region

and get exclusive access to 12 teams of neighbourhood

police officers as they tackle the problems blighting local people.

-No, I don't care.

-Hey, hey, hey.

And rise to the challenge of making the streets a safer place.

Coming up...

The team take the drug dealers to task.

Police.

Stay where you are. Put that down, mate.

A man wanted for assault is not going down without a fight.

-I said no.

-I said yes.

And there's a clamp-down on drivers looking to illegally top-up

their tanks with industrial-use red diesel.

Looks a bit red, so I'm going to have to do some tests on it.

Neighbourhood police teams play an integral part in the wider

role played by the police force

and they're always there to support larger nationwide operations,

looking to curtail lawbreakers in whatever guise they might strike.

All across Humberside, neighbourhood police teams host public

drop-in surgeries so local people can meet the neighbourhood bobby.

Inspector Steve Lamb has no doubt that these surgeries

play a crucial role.

Police surgeries I see as being vitally important in us

providing current and up-to-date information to our communities.

Whilst we have a number of methods of communicating with people - we can

communicate directly on the street, we communicate via social media,

we can send important crime prevention measures

out on social media -

there's nothing more personal than meeting people on a one-to-one

basis and allowing them to vent their frustrations.

There's nothing better for me

than allowing members of the public a specific time

they can turn up at a specified location, and they will be able

to speak to their local bobby or PCSO,

about anything that's bothering them.

One of the major things on the public's mind is the ongoing

concern about drug use and abuse in the community and it's a problem

the neighbourhood team are always fast to react to

and with good reason.

I think drug abuse amongst young people is on the increase

and I think that's for several reasons,

one of which is the way in which drugs are portrayed in the media

and in film, as something that is non-threatening

and possibly glamorous.

I think it probably it needs to be addressed through education

and through possibly acting more on what is in certain areas

being ignored at the moment.

Up to half of all crime that occurs in the UK is linked

in one way or another to drugs.

At the top end of the scale are the organised criminal gangs that

both produce and supply drugs to the street for profits

that run to millions.

At the bottom of the scale are the low-level users and addicts who use

crimes such as theft and burglary to find a way to fund their fix.

The neighbourhood teams in Humberside are determined to

tackle the drugs trade wherever it might take up home and are

spearheading an initiative to get their message to users

and suppliers that drugs will not be tolerated.

Tonight, the Riverside team are gearing up to execute

a warrant against a property used by a suspected drug abuser,

following complaints from residents about the house in question.

And they are taking no chances against man or dog,

who may be at the address.

This is a dog shield.

It's basically one of our normal riot shields

but it's kitted out to try and prevent dogs from getting at us.

It just has a bit of an electrical charge on it.

Gareth Walker details the minefield of risks

the police are potentially facing at the target location.

Initially as we pull up, there is an entry that needs to be

forced to the address.

Because of the type of drugs that it is,

the magistrates have given us

a warrant with a power of entry to the address.

There's some intelligence in relation to this address.

There's quite a lot of weapons on it,

swords and things like that inside the address, which,

if you've got people smashing your front door down,

who you don't know who they are, they may well arm themselves with

any equipment that they've got in there to protect themselves.

Trained to identify and deal with dangerous dogs, Gareth needs no

extra lessons on the injuries such animals are capable of inflicting.

The way that I'll deal with a dog today is,

I've obviously got some PSU, which is

basically some riot pads that get put on for protection for limbs

and then I've got one of the graspers to control dangerous dogs.

It's a way that we can control it, really,

and get the dog where we need it to be.

Silently getting into position to force entry,

the police check the door's locked

then find the optimum position for the battering ram.

Police!

Stay where you are. Put that down, mate.

The two of you, stay there. Put your hands where we can see them, love.

Police immediately detain two occupants safely.

Fortunately, the task goes off without difficulty -

perhaps because one person is just wearing a towel

and the other is naked.

The quivering dog in the cage isn't exactly the threatening guard dog

police intelligence had told them to expect.

-He's not very happy, I don't think, but he's in a cage, so...

-Hello!

You're brave in there, aren't you?

Hello! Aren't you gorgeous?

D'you want to get yourselves dressed?

-There's my clothes on the stairs.

-Get Jenny to come in.

We'll get her dressed in front of Jenny.

-Oh, my God!

-BLEEP!

-Oh, bloody hell.

Jenny, just make sure she doesn't touch anything.

The police have caught a couple who were truly

-unawares as they were sharing a bathtub.

-Where's your towels?

Er, I don't know. That one were just in here.

Find out later if the search for drugs turns up anything suspicious.

The role of the neighbourhood police teams is largely to listen

and respond to residents' concerns about crime, but sometimes

they also take on the important role of rounding up criminals

wanted for causing crimes in the community.

People who are wanted for questioning by police,

who are obliged to attend a police station

if they have broken the conditions of their bail,

often play a game of hide-and-seek.

Neighbourhood teams regularly put aside whole days to work

through their wanted list.

Today's plan is we've got a number of people who are wanted,

proving a bit hard to get, so we're going to visit several addresses.

Most of them have got various addresses,

things like parents, sisters, girlfriends, that sort of thing.

And we'll just try the addresses one by one.

They're wanted for numerous offences from theft,

breach of court bail or fail to appear at Crown Court.

Arrest warrants with the last known addresses to hand

see the police undertake house-to-house searches.

An early start often produces results,

as the surprise factor can catch people unawares.

Be advised somebody's in here but we're not getting any answer as yet.

But sometimes, nobody's home.

Initially we thought there was possibly somebody in

and as I put my fingers through the letter box,

I felt what I thought was a person's hand and then I looked again

and it was a dog, so it was probably a dog's nose.

In this case, they fled out of the back door.

Often the subjects of an arrest warrant will have moved on

but neighbours and even family may well have crucial clues

when the trail appears to have gone cold.

As you go to your right here, there's four shops.

-All right.

-I haven't breached it.

The neighbourhood team carry out dozens of these

kinds of arrests each week and even if some slip through the net,

most are usually rounded up without too much aggravation.

I've just got to say, you do not have to say anything

but it may harm your defence if you do not mention

when questioned something later you rely on in court.

But as the team are about to find out today,

the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones

and coming quietly isn't always the preferred way.

Over on the south side of Hull, David Mackinder

and Terry Mitchell are looking for a man wanted for causing affray.

They are scouting the streets around the man's home for any sign of him.

A tip-off tells the police the suspect has been seen out

walking with a large German Shepherd type dog

and it's not long before Dave spots the man.

Was it a hi-vis jacket?

He's got the large dog with him

and he looks like he could also be brandishing a weapon.

Stopping the van to make the arrest,

they not only have the dog

but also a large wooden stick to contend with.

Put it down now, otherwise I'll lock you up for affray.

-I said no.

-Put it down now. Put it down...

-But the man continues to resist arrest.

-..now!

-INDISTINCT

-Ali, let go!

When the leaping dog has a go at Dave's arm,

it's time to get the cuffs on.

Get your dog off, and put the stick down.

-You're under arrest, on suspicion of affray.

-No!

-Yes. Yes, yes.

-No.

But that is easier said than done.

I said no!

No!

-I said no!

-I said yes, Ali.

-No.

-I will spray you, Ali!

Relax yourself now.

Sandwiched between two officers,

the man remains determined to resist arrest.

Dave warns he is prepared to use the debilitating PAVA spray

to get the cuffs fastened.

Extra hands are needed and a quick request for backup is radioed in.

We need another patrol.

He's got a large stick and a dog.

If you don't let go of your dog, if you don't comply, I will spray you.

Let go of your dog.

Warnings over, the restraining spray is finally used.

Let's try again, Ali. Let go.

The PAVA's unexpected punch takes effect immediately.

Let go.

-Right, your dog's gone.

-Oh!

Has my eyes gone?

Yeah, your eyes will go, as well, Ali. You wouldn't do as I said.

PAVA is an incapacitant spray now used by police forces

instead of pepper spray or CS gas.

Yes, I sprayed you, right. I gave you numerous...attempts.

Wrestling with the pain, the man finds new impetus to fight the cuffs

but it's a losing battle.

Relax your arm.

OWNER CALLS HIS DOG OFFICER WHISTLES DOG

Right, what you need to do, is open your eyes, if you can.

-I can't open it.

-You've got to try.

The agony from the PAVA dissipates on contact with air.

For this to happen, the eyes have to be opened,

but the man insists on keeping his firmly shut.

Can you see where you're going? You need to put your foot up.

I can see nothing! I didn't see nothing.

OK, you need to put your foot up, Ali.

Finally, locked up in the van,

the man's still refusing to see the light, and open his eyes.

Scratches and bites off that dog.

As the errant canine is recaptured

and about to find his way to the pound,

the man makes his way to jail.

He's been totally uncooperative from the start, really.

And, ultimately,

after numerous requests for him to comply,

I've sprayed him with my PAVA spray.

We'll try and get him booked in,

but if his demeanour is anything like it has been on the street,

we might struggle, to be honest.

But we'll take it as it comes.

Find out later the serious nature of the man's crime.

He started hitting her with whatever was in his hand.

Live music is welcome on the streets of Humberside,

but finding a suitable volume level

is an art form in its own right.

PCSO John Hammerton steps in to a dispute over decibels.

..and keep it quite low, that is very loud.

We're trying to work on those offices.

We can't hear ourselves think, or the telephone, for your voice.

Everybody has to live, sir.

Don't be so selfish.

It's not easy to be so selfish.

Everybody has to live.

There is no need for you to make that noise here.

No need... I have need.

The council's approach to busking

is they actively encourage busking in Hull city centre.

However, that is too loud.

Some people they are so selfish, they think only after themselves.

John encourages the man to use his voice and not his backup tracks.

I couldn't even hear your singing when I approached!

That's why you're busking, aren't you? It's your voice...

you want people to listen to.

Is he really dealing with a potential Pavarotti?

I think it's very good.

Better than some other buskers we have.

The only issue is some of the businesses don't like how loud it is.

But I've told him to turn it down.

And I think that's appropriate.

Can we have your votes please, citizens of Humberside?

SINGS FROM ITALIAN OPERA

It's never dull in Hull.

While serenading passers-by is encouraged...

begging isn't.

You know the score, don't come back.

Homelessness, and seeing people begging on the streets is...

I feel really sorry for them.

And I feel it's a real shame

that we have that situation in England these days,

but also there are some people that even if things are put in place,

they don't take advantage of them.

For whatever reason. Erm...

I think a lot of people are very, very bigoted

towards people who are homeless, and we should do more to help,

and there should be more things available for them.

When the Vagrancy Act made begging illegal in 1824,

it branded culprits as rogues and vagabonds.

PCSO Karen Smith spots a familiar face blatantly begging,

and decides to put her foot down.

-Right...

-I'm just waiting for...

-No, listen to me.

He usually buys a mag off me, that's why he give me it.

Listen, I know all about it.

I've been called to you specifically for begging.

-When?

-Just now, that's why I am here.

-You're winding me up.

-No, listen to me.

I'm telling you how it is.

-Well, I'm telling you I haven't took their money.

-You have.

I'm not having the argument, I'm telling you.

That camera's caught you taking money off people.

I am asking you to leave.

I haven't got... All I've got on me is a quid I came out with.

Which is in change.

Though not all beggars are homeless, many are.

And it's often the police who are first to put them in touch

with local support services.

-Are you all right, fella.

-Yeah.

So, you're working with Keith, are you?

Have you signed up to it? Reducing the strength?

-I speak to him all the time.

-Good.

-See him all the time.

That's really good, if you can engage with him.

I have to ask you to get off the floor, though, that's all.

-You'll have to sit on a bench. All right?

-All right.

It's just...

Obviously, you look like a vagrant sat there.

Karen's moved on a dozen beggars today already.

And it is not long before another familiar face catches her eye.

-James.

-Best seat in the house.

I know you have, hon.

-But you're classed as begging when you're sat there.

-I'm listening.

I know, but people are giving you money.

You might not have asked her for it, but the fact is,

you have to get up off the floor and go sit on a bench.

When you're sat there, you're classed as vagrant.

Although the man's not actively soliciting money,

some people find it impossible to ignore him,

and they're determined to hand over all their loose change.

-You're better off buying the dog some treats.

-I know, but...

You are. If you ever want to buy anything, buy the dog some food.

That's what I always say.

Buy it some biscuits...

It's all right, darl. I'll get it.

I haven't time to, at the moment.

It's all right, sweetheart. Thank you.

-You get it.

-Cheers, darling.

-OK.

-Really.

-Buy the dog some food next time.

-I will next time.

-All right.

Over on the other side of the city square,

Tina Burn picks up the begging patrol and explains why,

although Hull has a number of hostels for the homeless,

demand often outstrips supply.

We've got quite a few hostels,

but we're getting other councils

from the other end of the country

recommending that people come to Hull

because we've all these hostels.

But they're full.

We still have people on the streets because the hostels are full.

So we've got to find somewhere and help them in some form

to stop them being out in the cold.

As night falls and the temperature drops,

many of those who spent the day on the street

look to find a bed for the night.

Living on the street is challenging enough,

without also having to go hungry.

-Right, who wants to have some hotpot.

-Yes, please.

At the Roper Street centre

classic winter warmers are menu favourites.

We've got potatoes and mince, sort of, hotpot.

So it's full of goodness.

Swinging by for a chat with regulars and new visitors alike,

Tina Burn helps out with a spot of waitressing.

-Is there any bread?

-Not tonight, no, I'm afraid.

We need the bread for the morning.

We just make up a menu for it.

We try and stick to the menu, if we can.

Obviously, we're a little bit adaptable.

Don't waste anything.

Try and be very creative with what we're cooking.

It's not exactly the MasterChef invention test,

but the results are enjoyed with equal gusto.

Always hungry, yeah.

And they're always... They empty their plates,

and are always very grateful for the food, as well.

Which is nice.

They show appreciation.

Thank you very much. Cheers.

Washing up in hand, Tina catches up with hostel worker Tim,

who confirms it's a full house tonight.

Are we full tonight?

Yeah, we're chocka.

All beds full.

We're a winter shelter, with the most vulnerable people

comin' through our doors.

What we have to provide is

an atmosphere that promotes,

you know, working together, being pleasant,

being reasonable...

This hostel life, isn't a lifestyle choice.

Nor should it be.

They've got to know there's more to life than this.

There has to be a point - and that is to get them into their own house,

in their own street,

where they can start to really make a difference.

And it starts here, and sort of branches out.

A good meal, a roof over one's head,

helpful staff,

and a positive relationship with the police

combine to provide a strong base on which to build real change.

Any problems just give us a ring. You know where we are.

-Be careful out there.

-Will do. Take care.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Been really positive since it opened.

It's all going well.

Later, we discover how, for some homeless men and women,

the grassroots work done on the streets of Humberside

is really paying off,

as people find a springboard to a more hopeful future.

Executing a search warrant for drugs...

Police officers surprise two people in the bath...

Two of you, stay there.

Put your hands where we can see them, love.

..and found a captive dog, who seems more frightened than frightening.

You're not happy, are you?

-LOW GROWL

-Bless ya.

Come here, love. Have to put you in cuffs

whilst we're wandering about, all right?

These people the police have found,

are not the registered tenants of the house.

They have just enough time to cover up their modesty

before they get questioned about why they are in the house,

and the whole place gets searched.

Waiting for the sniffer dog,

officers take a preliminary look around

immediately discovering suspicious items.

That's enough to get them in for me. We can get them both in, can't we?

Just searching the higher parts, until the dog comes in.

Found a bag of white powder which potentially looks like M-Cat

or some sort of amphetamine.

Erm, coupled with that,

we've got...

..scales in a box with cash in, as well.

And empty sachets, so, for me,

it's enough probably to get them for

possession with intent to supply, at this time.

But I'll discuss it with the rest of the team.

It's time to read the bath-time buddies their rights.

We just found some drugs in there, all right?

INDISTINCT RESPONSE

Well, at this time, you are both under arrest

-for possession with intent to supply

-BLEEP...

which is Class B, we believe.

So you don't have to say anything but it may harm your defence

if you do not mention when questioned

something which you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

We'll do it as prompt and effectively as we can...

POLICE RADIO NOISE DOG CLATTERS ON HARD FLOOR

The sniffer dog arrives.

Before he can even get going, his handler's spotted more evidence.

INDISTINCT EXCHANGE

Anything else in here you can think of, mate?

No, I've been everywhere but nothing.

The police fear they may be

confronted by someone wielding a weapon.

Doesn't look very nice.

But whilst there are a number of Oriental blades on display,

they do appear to be purely ornamental..

if very menacing.

We found quite a large quantity of white powder.

Looks like amphet or M-Cat at this time.

The two occupants in there at this time are both in custody

for possession with intent to supply.

What we'll do now is get them to Clough Road,

sort out the package, finish with the search in there

and see what else we'll find.

Just glad the dog was caged - it's massive.

LOW GROWL

As the suspects are taken to the police station

it turns out the house has more secrets to reveal.

And evidence to be bagged up.

Got some little bags... Some little funky motif on.

Probably used for some sort of deals.

They like little characters.

Some sort of white residue.

White residue with a set of scales.

More white powder.

-That's the same bags, isn't it?

-Yep.

It could be M-Cat

by the looks of it.

The hunt for drugs continues in the kitchen,

where Gareth finds something other than frozen peas in the freezer.

Generally people keep amphetamine as a paste substance in the freezer.

So were guessing that's what that is at this stage.

But, obviously, it will require testing for fingerprints,

and testing of what the actual substance is.

And it's now time to help the nervous-looking dog,

who had been quivering in the cage.

Hello...!

We moved him in here, just so that the drugs dog

can go and carry on its search in the living room.

So it can progress the search, really.

It's one dog out, and another in,

as the search extends throughout the house.

Returning to the bathroom,

the dog's attention is caught by the woman's abandoned handbag.

The handbag doesn't turn up trumps for the team.

But the dog switches his attention to a nearby rucksack.

And this time his nose is on the money.

Figuratively, at least.

Adding more scales to the haul of evidence,

the dog's done good.

However, no charges have been brought

against those involved in the incident.

You are under arrest on suspicion of assault and affray.

Arresting a man for affray,

police find themselves embroiled in a major tussle.

PAVA spray's been needed to get the handcuffs finally on.

Immediately debilitating,

PAVA is not actually harmful,

but you do have to open your eyes to stop the pain.

Are you able to open your eyes, at all?

I can't open them, at all.

You've got to try, because the air going into your eyes

will help to ease the burning you're feeling.

Do you have an address?

The man doesn't respond.

Ali, where are you living?

Ali, I'm not prepared to take these handcuffs off

until you comply with us.

I can't finish the search until I take the handcuffs off

and we can't book you in until you answer these questions.

Are you going to answer them?

When pressed further, there is still no answer.

The danger is, if you don't talk to us, cooperate with us...

I am falling.

You're not falling.

If you don't cooperate with us,

we'll be forced to take your fingerprints.

Returning to examine the original arrest warrant,

police identify the silent suspect.

Yeah, his nose is bust.

He's been PAVA'd, been struggling...

He's been fine until he got here.

A medical once-over confirms there's no cause for alarm from the PAVA,

but questions about his general health hit the same brick wall.

Ali, do you have any medical issues that we need to be aware of?

Because I don't know who you are,

I don't know what risk is going to be involved.

A strip search was authorised to make sure you have nothing on you

that is going to harm us or yourself.

Come this way, Ali.

Matters now need to be resolved,

and potential hazards identified.

Will you answer the questions?

If you don't, you'll just have to sit here

until the time when you're prepared to.

Do you want to try again?

Yep. Put your socks on, then.

In the wake of the strip search,

cooperation is promised and the man's powers of speech return.

-Have you remembered your birthday yet?

-Something August.

Go and wash your face and come back and you can get fingerprinted.

Rinse your eyes with some of that.

Can you see, or do you need me to guide you?

Come this way.

Keep walking. Stop there.

Turn around,

and if you sit down quite low there's a bench there.

OK? We'll come and see you, shortly.

With the wanted man locked up,

Dave decides to take a closer look

at his arrest file,

and is startled at what he discovers.

This is the original arrest package for this male

that we've arrested a while ago.

It appears as though there's been some kind of an assault.

While he was wanted for a violent assault,

the police reread the evidence to ascertain who owned the dog.

He started hitting her with whatever was in his hand.

He's then taken the dog.

The man pleaded not guilty to assault and theft.

But at court he was given a 12-week suspended sentence,

and a victim surcharge of £80.

The man was not charged with taking the dog.

It's good news when the team score a result,

but they know there's always another problem just around the corner.

Today, Bridlington police are carrying out impromptu inspections

on cars and vans, ensuring there are no surprises

lurking under the bonnet.

We've got Customs and Excise here to just have a look at your fuel,

-and, hopefully, we'll have you on your way before too long, OK?

-Yeah.

Thank you.

For most busy drivers, the brief sidetrack

is an acceptable price to pay for a quick once-over

by an observant eye and confirmation

that their vehicles are roadworthy.

Enjoy your breakfast.

LAUGHTER

Take care. Ta-ra, folks.

What are the insurance doing with you?

But there's unexpected chassis problems,

for a van that has just passed its MOT.

He's got a big hole in his rear chassis.

Five centimetres by five centimetres.

The problem is it's very near that load-bearing member down there.

I appreciate what you're saying.

You've just had the van MOT'd 24 January.

And we've just had to bang - it's been a nightmare.

Two, three weeks, is that?

The van should not have passed an MOT in that condition.

Low or no tread tyres are more easily spotted and dealt with.

What we are going to do, is fill out a traffic offence report

for using that tyre with the cords exposed. All right?

But I'm not going to get three points?

That's not my decision to make.

Car maintenance isn't the only thing coming under scrutiny today,

as neighbourhood officer Richard Bastiman explains.

Today we've stopped may be around about 30 vehicles.

Some of the vehicles have been taken off the road

because of mechanical defects.

But a lot of it is about proving to people

that we're here to assist, as well.

With fuel prices rising,

vehicle owners are finding increasingly ingenious ways

to keep their vehicles on the road

and costs down.

Using cheap diesel, known as red diesel,

which is reserved for tractors, cranes and other off-road vehicles,

is one scam.

Its lower-price leads to lower tax levies,

which can make a real saving in drivers' pockets at the pump.

But thanks to an ingenious coloured dye,

red diesel can be spotted easily.

Samples only take a minute,

and with Customs and Excise on site,

the results are equally swift.

Will you let Keith know,

-that that transit van is OK.

-Yeah.

But not everyone's happy for their vehicle to be checked out.

-Can I have your names and numbers?

-Same again?

Yeah. Write it down for me.

They've just followed me from outside my house

and brought me down here.

What's all that about?

The police have been stopping all diesel-engined vehicles,

but this man wrongly believes

he has been picked out for scrutiny.

He decides to make his displeasure known.

Protests don't stop the tank dip,

and the preliminary results

immediately raise suspicions.

Looks a bit red, so I'll have to do some tests on it. OK?

INDISTINCT SPEECH FROM CAR

I'm going to. Don't worry, you'll be hearing from my solicitor, love!

The red diesel test takes just a matter of seconds

to be carried out, and deliver a result.

It's not good news. As the results come back red,

with a fine to be paid before the van can be released,

the driver's none too pleased.

Get that camera away from me!

-Do you think I'm

-BLEEP

-with you?!

'Ey!

Get it away from me!

Details of the likely fine appear to have lit the touch paper,

but can the man rein it in

when he phones someone for financial help?

A woman arrives and wants to know why the man's in trouble.

We did follow him all the way up from the roundabout.

The man remains convinced that he has been targeted,

but the police confirm that all diesel vans have been tested.

-OFFICER:

-He's not the only one.

They haven't even been dipping 'em as they've been fetching them in now.

They are if they're diesel.

That last one just came in...

It was a fake plate, didn't even get dipped.

-It drove straight back out.

-If it's diesel, it will have been.

The woman pays the fine and gets the man back behind the wheel.

But, he'll have to keep driving

in order to drain the tank of the diesel within 24 hours,

or he'll be fined again.

He stated that the reason the red fuel was in there was because

he believed he lent it to a friend

and the friend has obviously put it in without him knowing.

-So, how...

-BLEEP?

-She...

-She paid.

-She's paid all the money to you?

-BLEEP.

For some, cheap diesel comes at a very high price.

Round about £550 today

and...

-BLEEP

-she's come down and paid it all for him, as well.

So he's been allowed, then, to drive the vehicle away.

Not very happy. But that's down to him,

he shouldn't drive a vehicle with red diesel in it.

Neighbourhood officers regularly perform vehicle patrols

around their patch,

paying particular attention to known trouble hotspots,

that can be a magnet for people looking to break or bend the law.

Tonight, John Hamilton and Rich Whelan,

are cruising through a shopping mall car park

that has been known to attract hot-rodding boy racers

looking to show off.

We're going down to the back of St Stephen's shopping centre

to the car park of the Tesco superstore.

That's where we tend to get, on a night-time,

all the car enthusiasts, the boy racers,

meeting up with their vehicles -

wheel-spinning, tearing around car park, generally causing annoyance.

So, that's what we're going to go and try and deter tonight.

Not all the lads who come to the car park

are looking to demonstrate their lack of driving skills.

You can see they're starting to form up there now.

Many just want to display their pimped-up motors.

These guys here, these are the proper sort of enthusiasts.

Literally, they just talk about their cars,

look at all the modifications to the cars,

all the latest sound equipment they've got - things like that.

They're not generally the problem, it's the hangers on,

the little tatty Vauxhall Corsas and things like that,

that hang on around them.

They're the ones that tend to cause the problems.

All the cars seem firmly stationary tonight,

with no fast moves being pulled.

But, as John and Rich continue their drive-by,

a call comes through over the radio.

Not about a boy racer,

but an unruly cinemagoer.

Got a call from the security at the St Stephen's shopping centre.

The cinema on the top floor have got a male inside

who has been drinking and being abusive to staff.

He's been asked to leave by security, but he's refusing.

So we'll go down there now and see if we can assist security.

Get him out of the building.

They can either be happy drunks, or nasty drunks. Erm...

I think it's very much... You gauge it when you get there.

Just see what kind of attitude they have.

The team deal with drunken people on a daily basis,

but never know how they're to be dealt with

until they can assess them face-to-face.

On arriving at the scene, they find the man to be fairly composed,

but the police need to take his details anyway.

Obviously, it was the heat of the moment, I didn't...

I can't remember, saying that.

Said some choice words.

Don't remember that, at all.

OK.

Erm... I'm willing to leave now.

-Have you got his details?

-No.

-Just take your name, then you can leave.

-Yeah, yeah.

A member of the cinema staff thinks the man should apologise

for all the disruption he has caused.

But, any apology is hesitantly forthcoming.

But at the end of the day...

-I'm out.

-The man is on his way,

leaving the police to reflect on the incident.

He's been in the cinema watching a film with his girlfriend,

members of the public have come out and complained to the staff there

saying he's been shouting at the screen, so to speak.

Basically, the manager has gone in and told him to leave -

with that he's become a little bit abusive.

He's gone outside with security and since we've been called,

been perfectly polite with us.

But just when they think the matter is done and dusted,

another call comes in over the radio for Rich.

It could be in relation to the male that's just been ejected.

Because he is still outside on the ramp.

This chap wanders up, starts initially saying,

"Have you got any fags?"

-And then starts getting a little aggressive.

-Right.

I don't know what his problem is,

but he seems to have unfortunately taken something to heart.

-He has just been ejected from the cinema.

-Has he?

-It's why we're here.

-Oh, sorry.

-Oh, no, it's fine. It's not a problem.

That's some of the reason we're waiting around,

to see he didn't cause any more issues.

Well, he just seems to have a little bit of annoyance about something.

-Anyway, sorry. Thank you.

-No, you're welcome. No problem, at all.

With the information to hand, Rich sets about

trying to find the drunken man

before he can insult anyone else.

What we've done now, because of his continuing to cause a nuisance,

we've called a patrol in, and they'll issue him

what they call a Section 27 dispersal notice,

which will basically ban him from a specified area

for a period of up to 48 hours.

So we'll just go and meet the patrol outside now

and identify the male to them, so they can issue him with a notice.

They track the man down.

He's been refused a taxi home,

but he's not going anywhere without getting a ticket.

You just cancelled my taxi?

We haven't cancelled it, he's just decided not to take you.

Another driver will take you, however...

Hang on with your call, mate.

The patrol here is going to issue you with a ticket,

then you can be on your way.

Ticket for what?

-Just to ban you from the area, that's all.

-For what?

Because you're drunk.

The patrol team arrives on the scene

and when the man has been given a Section 27 dispersal notice,

they will escort him from the premises to ensure that he leaves.

We're going to give you a notice to ban you from the area.

Yeah, yeah, fair enough.

It gives that last opportunity to get out of the area

and stay out of the area, sober up,

without having to arrest him.

With the man taken away the cinemagoers of St Stephens

can continue to watch their movie

without any further unscheduled intervals

caused by the man's drunken antics.

In Hull city centre, the neighbourhood team play

an active role in helping the city's homeless population

try to turn the tide and get their lives back on track.

Centres like the Jubilee Drop-In

play a central role in helping homeless people

tackle their problems.

And one way that's central to getting people off the streets

is by getting them to sell The Big Issue.

Ian Fawcett coordinates the selling of The Big Issue in the North.

Cheers, Matt.

He reveals the scale of the operation

he runs from the Jubilee Centre.

The importance of The Big Issue really,

is so the vendor's feel empowered.

Because they're earning their

own money, rather than begging or...

..just out on the streets.

Also, it gives some people motivation,

because they're out and working,

and it's a change of scenery, really.

Every individual is three pay cheques away from being homeless.

I think that's true.

I think in this economic climate,

I think it's really difficult for a lot of people to survive.

So people that have been made redundant

and end up in debt, can very quickly become homeless.

Here we have one of our Big Issue sellers.

A lot of people perceive it to be begging,

however they have stringent rules and conditions

they have to adhere to and one is being stood up,

actively selling - they have to have their ID badge on display

and have magazines on display, as well.

The gent over there selling now has been doing it a long time.

He is here every morning selling. Rain, snow, or sunshine, he's here

selling.

Morning, you all right?

So, you're helping them help themselves.

Yeah.

Putting back into the community, aren't you?

All right, then. We'll leave you to your selling. Good luck.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you. Goodbye.

The neighbourhood team know first-hand that selling

The Big Issue cuts the number of beggars on the streets

and has the support of the public.

Some of the sellers are familiar faces who act as an encouragement

to others to stop begging and sell The Big Issue.

This is another example of how the neighbourhood police,

work alongside other partnerships and good causes

to make communities safer and happier places.