0:00:02 > 0:00:04With unprecedented access, Neighbourhood Blues follows
0:00:04 > 0:00:08the police in Somerset as they take on the crimes that annoy us all...
0:00:08 > 0:00:10- Don't manhandle me.- Come over here.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14..targeting antisocial behaviour, drug abuse and criminal damage.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Beat officers and PCSOs tackle the problems that,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21if left unchecked, could blight the lives of millions.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Armed with the latest cutting-edge kit,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26they have the power to strike hard when needed.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Police, stay where you are!
0:00:28 > 0:00:32- But, just like the days of Dixon Of Dock Green...- Evening all.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35..it's all about partnering with local people...
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Brilliant.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..working together to sweep crime off our streets.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Police, search warrant!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Coming up,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59neighbourhood teams hunt down a man preying on pub goers...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- Michael, just calm down.- All right.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04..officers come face-to-face with a vicious dog...
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Hold the dog back.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Get hold of the dog, get hold of the dog.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12..and when 7,000 people descend on Weston,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15the town-centre team have to keep a lid on trouble.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18- Get back,- BLEEP,- get back, get back.
0:01:26 > 0:01:32Police in Somerset have to patrol a huge patch, almost 2,000 square miles
0:01:32 > 0:01:37covering everything from sprawling farms to urban estates.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Police, police!
0:01:42 > 0:01:46A large amount of crime in any area is committed by a small
0:01:46 > 0:01:48number of criminals.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Neighbourhood teams are always on the lookout to catch repeat offenders.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Weston-super-Mare is a party town.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00It's packed with people concentrating on having a good time,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03rather than paying attention to their possessions.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07There's recently been a spate of bag thefts from pubs and clubs
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and the neighbourhood teams are on high alert.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13There's a report that a male responsible for the theft
0:02:13 > 0:02:19of a handbag yesterday, I believe, is being followed by street wardens.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Street wardens are civilians who help the town-centre officers
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and one has caught sight of the thief.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27RADIO CHATTER
0:02:31 > 0:02:32All right, Dan?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Yesterday, a man was spotted stealing a handbag from a pub.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40He was chased through town but, despite the CCTV,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42he managed to escape.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Now he has been spotted again and Wayne Hughes is determined
0:02:46 > 0:02:47he won't get away this time.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50He's run off and now we've got the street wardens together with
0:02:50 > 0:02:53members of security staff looking for this male in
0:02:53 > 0:02:55the town centre at Weston.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Dan, who is one of the street wardens in the town,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00can identify that person.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Dan has seen the thief near a town-centre pub.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Now the police, CCTV and street wardens are all on the man's heels.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12- RADIO BLEEPS - Yeah, go ahead.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Yeah, that's received. En route, en route.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The CCTV has tracked the man running through town
0:03:29 > 0:03:32before bolting into the Charles Dickens pub.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43RADIO CHATTER
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Just one look and Dan is sure this is their man.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51But he isn't coming quietly.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54You can't just run and grab me and say I fit a description.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Yes, you do. You've been nicked on description, end of.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59That's fair enough...
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Put him in the back of the car, yeah?
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Have you had a van come in?
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- Mate, what's your name?- I live in Weston too.- What's your name?!
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- My name's Michael.- You been arrested on suspicion of theft.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I've just come in here to drink and you've jumped on me.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Whoa, whoa, whoa, Michael, Michael, Michael.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18- Just calm down. Michael, calm, calm.- You're the one grabbing me.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Calm down.
0:04:20 > 0:04:21I will do.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I know, but I haven't done anything wrong.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27RADIO CHATTER
0:04:31 > 0:04:36Wayne and fellow officer Chris Weekes take the struggling man outside.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Wayne's in no mood to mess around.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Listen to me, listen to me, I'm carrying a Taser today.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- If you play up, then I will use the Taser.- What for?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- All right, I'm just... - What are you going to Taser me for?
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Listen, listen. I'm just warning you.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I'm not playing up, mate. I'm not giving anyone any grief.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54Let's keep it like that, then, shall we?
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I'm not resisting arrest or anything.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00I've not done anything wrong.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The man is still pleading innocence as he's put into the van.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Keep them on there. Lovely.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Chris does a quick search on the national police computer and
0:05:14 > 0:05:19the man's claim of being mistakenly identified as a bag thief fall apart.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Received. First one was 19th of May, the second one was the 4th of June,
0:05:22 > 0:05:23is that right?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28He is wanted on two warrants in Westminster as well.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Theft of handbag, which is obviously exactly the same as what he's
0:05:32 > 0:05:34been arrested on suspicion of now.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Through this door here, all right?
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Faced with the mounting evidence he is a thief,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44the man's forced to change his tune.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47He made a couple of admissions to us about the bag theft yesterday,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49that he is responsible.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51He will be interviewed, put his side of the story across.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54At the end of the day, the fact that he's now admitted it to us
0:05:54 > 0:05:56in custody makes our job a hell of a lot easier.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58A good job well done.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02In court, the man put his hands up to a bit more than the bag thefts.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05As well as admitting to taking two handbags,
0:06:05 > 0:06:10he also pleaded guilty to two cases of fraud and a further two thefts.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13He was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for a year
0:06:13 > 0:06:20and a half, handed £2,220 in fines and ordered to undertake drug rehab.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Thanks to the coordination between the street wardens
0:06:22 > 0:06:26and the police, the pubs in Weston are a little bit safer.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Elsewhere in Weston-super-Mare, the police have a different
0:06:37 > 0:06:41challenge on their hands. Corona Sunsets is a beachfront
0:06:41 > 0:06:45dance music festival that has brought an extra 7,000 people into the town.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Go ahead.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49It's Inspector Sharon Bennett's job to lead the operation
0:06:49 > 0:06:51to keep everyone safe...
0:06:51 > 0:06:54That would be great, yeah, get their names on log, thank you.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56..and that starts by reminding revellers that
0:06:56 > 0:06:58the police are keeping a watchful eye.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02I've walked up the promenade and there's quite a few groups of them
0:07:02 > 0:07:05heading towards the entrance. A lot of them drinking.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Very happy but I just wanted to get a couple of mine
0:07:07 > 0:07:10and the horses visibly going up and down here because we've still
0:07:10 > 0:07:13got a lot of families out with kids and these are all drinking and
0:07:13 > 0:07:16in high spirits, just want to make sure we get that message out there.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19One of the festival team spots a group of teenagers who
0:07:19 > 0:07:23she thinks are selling potentially deadly nitrous oxide.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Guy has walked past me as I saw it, so I think they're nicking him now.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- They doing that now, are they? - Yeah, just by the toilets there.- OK.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Sorry, I grabbed him.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Nitrous oxide is more commonly known as hippy crack or laughing gas.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41It used to be used in hospitals as an anaesthetic but it's now more
0:07:41 > 0:07:44commonly taken recreationally, inhaled from balloons.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Owning and taking the drug isn't currently illegal
0:07:47 > 0:07:49but selling it to under-18s is.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51- He's not selling it.- Isn't he?
0:07:51 > 0:07:53There's three of them doing it, I've checked his bag,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55he's got a very small amount on him.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57They're just going to finish it before they go in.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00I've advised them of the health implications of it but...
0:08:01 > 0:08:03They know they can't take it in, which is
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- why they're just finishing it off now.- They're not selling it?
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Our hands are tied, really.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11While they have no powers to stop them,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14officers have a duty to keep these teenagers safe.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17So they are kept under a watchful eye until they're inside the venue.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19If they're under the influence of it,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22it's up to the event organisers if they let them in, isn't it?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24All right, OK, yeah, thank you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28With so many police on the beachfront, some of the regular
0:08:28 > 0:08:32street drinkers seem to think they can get away with drinking in town.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38Officers Jon Phippen and Gemma Harper are out to put them right.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41- Can we have the rest of it then, yeah?- One more swig.- No.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Drink in the pub. Do you want to give us the can?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Basically the whole of the town is a non-drinking zone,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50so people can only drink in licensed premises.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- Whey! Ooh!- You all right?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Do you want to get rid of your drinking glass, mate?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It's so intimidating to other people who want to just come in
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and use the space and it's not fair on them.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03You know, the street drinkers are fully aware
0:09:03 > 0:09:05that they can't drink in town.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The two or three now that we've taken alcohol off have all had
0:09:08 > 0:09:09a bit to say for themselves.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11It's - what? - seven o'clock.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14So it potentially could be a long night for us.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17- Hello.- Hello, mate, you all right?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20As well as clamping down on street drinking,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Jon is checking in on a few regulars.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25My worry for you tonight, there's a lot of drinkers in town.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34The neighbourhood team has a duty of care to all those on the streets.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Got an increase in vulnerable people sleeping rough in the town.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42On nights like tonight when there's a lot of extra people in the town,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44we like to just make sure that they're OK
0:09:44 > 0:09:46and they're not getting caused any problems.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Back on the seafront, Sharon's on patrol checking the local
0:09:51 > 0:09:54bars are prepared for the influx of festivalgoers.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Have a wander into town, speak to some licensed premises,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00go and speak to the door staff, get a feel for what it's like in town.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Find out if any of them have got any preplanned events on.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Hopefully they've got some extra staff on, that sort of thing.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11All right, ladies? Where are you from, then?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Bridgwater. - Well, you haven't come far, then.
0:10:14 > 0:10:15- No, not too far. - You out all night?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17We're going back to Bridgwater tonight.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Oh, are you?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Sorry? Yeah.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Am I real? Of course I am.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Have you?
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- Oh, well, anyway, have a good night. - Thank you very much.- See you later.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38That was quite a nice group.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41It's always worth just touching base, just chatting to them
0:10:41 > 0:10:43because then you find out if they're here all night
0:10:43 > 0:10:45and, actually, they're a responsible group.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I also just managed to find out they're leaving town later,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50which is also nice to build into the picture.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52For me, it's about providing that visible reassurance to
0:10:52 > 0:10:54the public, the young families here,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56people who are not here for the festival
0:10:56 > 0:10:59and just giving that reassurance that we are here to police it,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02giving that bit of confidence that we're here to deal with any issues.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05The biggest test for the team will happen in five hours when
0:11:05 > 0:11:10the dance music festival kicks out and a host of people flood into town.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13The next challenges we'll probably face over the next few hours
0:11:13 > 0:11:16is just being able to identify those troublemakers
0:11:16 > 0:11:17who are inside the event.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It's about making sure those people who are evicted
0:11:19 > 0:11:21don't then enter our night-time economy
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and making sure they're given an order to leave the area.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29But, as we'll see later, some people don't want to do as they're told.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- Get back,- BLEEP,- get back, get back.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Got allegations and allegations, haven't we?
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Let us do our job.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42Still to come on Neighbourhood Blues,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46police clamp down on casual drug takers...
0:11:46 > 0:11:49The mix of coke and alcohol normally leads to violence.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52..and a suspect makes an unexpected confession.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55We've got information, OK, that there's cannabis plants.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Regardless of your patch,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08the life of a neighbourhood officer is never dull.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12And, sometimes, the countryside throws up potential crimes
0:12:12 > 0:12:13unheard of in town.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19Sergeant Andy Whysall is Somerset's lead officer on wildlife crime.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24Today he's preparing for an unusual raid involving peregrine falcons.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29The information we've got on the gentleman is that he is
0:12:29 > 0:12:33allegedly working in cahoots with another gentleman in West Mercia,
0:12:33 > 0:12:40where they are taking wild birds and passing them off as domestic bred.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43We've no intention of smashing the door down or anything
0:12:43 > 0:12:46like that, it's not one of these sort of jobs where
0:12:46 > 0:12:48they can flush the evidence away.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The neighbourhood team are working alongside
0:12:51 > 0:12:53specialised animal officials who want to see
0:12:53 > 0:12:58if the birds are properly registered and, also, check on their wellbeing.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01- Excellent.- OK, then.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08The fastest animal in the sky,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12the peregrine falcon is highly prized by falconers.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15As a result, the birds can change hands for high prices
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and are a target for unscrupulous dealers.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23But trading in wild birds can be a serious crime and offenders
0:13:23 > 0:13:29can expect a fine of up to £5,000 and six months in jail per offence.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33We've got an address to search the house and the grounds under
0:13:33 > 0:13:36the Illegal Trade In Endangered Species,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38which is a European regulation.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The team need to know if the birds are legal or not.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45It turns out that searching the house and grounds may not take too long.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Far from being a sprawling farm, the address is a small terraced house.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And it looks like nobody's home.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59This seems like an unlikely location for keeping
0:13:59 > 0:14:01magnificent birds of prey.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05And a peek through the window reveals very little.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Oh, sorry, pooch.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Nothing in the back?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13But before they put it down to bad intelligence,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15the team need to check the back garden.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18No easy task in a row of terraced houses.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21If we need to get in the back door, we need to go over the wall?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- NEIGHBOUR:- Yeah. - Mummy, mum!- OK.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- We'll do that then. Thank you.- OK.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32But when they do get to look in the back yard, they're in for a surprise.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Yeah, it is. A chest marking. - Yeah, yeah.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Basically, it was just two birds in the back garden.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41One in an aviary and one on a bow perch.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45With confirmation that there are falcons on the property,
0:14:45 > 0:14:46they phone up the owner.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48James, it's Sergeant Andy Whysall...
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'Yeah, I'm on my way home now, what do you want?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- 'I don't know what you want.' - Where are you, mate?
0:14:54 > 0:14:56'I'm at work, I'm coming home now, what do you want?'
0:14:56 > 0:14:58You're coming home? That's brilliant.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I'll explain to you when you get home.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02'Yes, regarding what, though?'
0:15:02 > 0:15:05We've got some information I need to talk to you about.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07'About what?'
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I'd rather do it face-to-face in person if that's OK.
0:15:10 > 0:15:11What I didn't want to tell him
0:15:11 > 0:15:14over the phone was the fact we had a warrant to go in his house
0:15:14 > 0:15:16because if he then turned round and says,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18"Well, up yours, I'm not coming back,"
0:15:18 > 0:15:21I would have been in the situation where he now knows I've got
0:15:21 > 0:15:25a warrant, so it would have forced my hand for us to actually,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29potentially, you know, have broken the door down to get into the house
0:15:29 > 0:15:31to do what we had to do.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34This is an unusual job for the neighbourhood team but police
0:15:34 > 0:15:36take rural crime very seriously.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41It's not obvious police work, it is very important. People tend to feel
0:15:41 > 0:15:44very passionately about animals and wildlife
0:15:44 > 0:15:47and I think it's important to show that we do work
0:15:47 > 0:15:51in conjunction with other agencies to uphold the law and deal with
0:15:51 > 0:15:54people that do break the law in relation to wildlife and animals.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The birds' owner returns to let the team into his property.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- Andy Whysall, how are you? - Yes, I'm all right.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Warrant, have you?- Yeah, basically, we've got a warrant.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Worldwide, wildlife crime is estimated to be worth
0:16:09 > 0:16:11over £12 billion a year,
0:16:11 > 0:16:16making it the fourth most lucrative illegal trade after drugs,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18counterfeit goods and human trafficking.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21The price of peregrines has gone up dramatically in the last year,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23two years.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26We're looking at prices between 5,000 and there's even talk of going
0:16:26 > 0:16:28up to 10,000.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32So there's an incentive for people, if you're taking three chicks,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34three eggs from the wild,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37you launder them into the captive-bred market,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40mark up price - £15,000 minimum.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42With a claim that something is not right,
0:16:42 > 0:16:47the team need to thoroughly check the man's birds and their documentation.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Situation inside is that the birds that he's got,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53he's got all the relevant paperwork for.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And the rings on the paperwork match up to the birds,
0:16:55 > 0:17:00so we haven't got any offences in relation to the birds he's got.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Every bird legitimately born in captivity needs to be ringed
0:17:03 > 0:17:06and registered but to sell or breed a bird,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09the owner needs a certificate called an article 10.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12He has got some article 10s for birds that are
0:17:12 > 0:17:14no longer at the address.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Some of which are dead,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19some of which he says are out with other people breeding.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23If the bird's dead, he should have returned the article 10,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25so we're taking those bits of paperwork.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Seizing the redundant certificates means that
0:17:27 > 0:17:31the documents can't be used to trade birds in the future.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Something the man denies ever having done.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39As a lover of wild birds, he's happy to introduce his falcons.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Rosie. You can see, you know...
0:17:43 > 0:17:45This is a...
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Oh, sorry.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50This is a falcon, she's five now, she is.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53I want to breed so I can fly my own falcons.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Maybe sell one or two or gift them to friends
0:17:56 > 0:17:58or people I know but definitely to fly around,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00you can't beat flying your own.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03I've seen ridiculous money but you're talking...
0:18:03 > 0:18:06A female peregrine, I saw one for sale for 7,500.
0:18:06 > 0:18:12Seven and a half grand for one bird. People will pay it.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15What do they say? A fool and his money are easily parted.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Although the man is not an illegal bird dealer,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21he can understand why people take the risk.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27If you get caught once out of 20 years, then you've made £200,000
0:18:27 > 0:18:31and go six months in prison. Does it really matter?
0:18:31 > 0:18:35I know some people say it would and it wouldn't but, you know,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38when you're talking that sort of money for birds...
0:18:39 > 0:18:43The team are happy that all the birds in the house are legal and healthy
0:18:43 > 0:18:46and they've also taken the stray paperwork.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Satisfied no animals are being exploited,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51they head back to the station.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Keeping crowded town centres safe on a night out is always
0:19:01 > 0:19:03a challenge for officers.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06After too much alcohol, people can be unpredictable
0:19:06 > 0:19:09and things can unravel fast.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14It's 11:30pm in Weston-super-Mare.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16The dance music festival has closed
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and almost 5,000 people have spilled into the already busy town centre.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Sharon's operation to keep them all safe now swings into action.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32We're just helping to manage the entry to some of the clubs
0:19:32 > 0:19:34because we've got large queues gathering,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36so just trying to help the door staff,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38get people in nice and quickly,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40so in the clubs we find there are less problems.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Large queues are a potential flashpoint.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44People can get upset, angry, tired.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47In exceptional circumstances, officers like Jon Phippen
0:19:47 > 0:19:51take on additional duties to prevent antisocial behaviour.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Normally I wouldn't get involved in ID checks but,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58because of the length of the queue,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01trying to save the doormen some time and get some people off the street.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Police keep up a high-profile presence,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08and the tactics to control the flow of cars seems to be working,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12stopping the narrow streets becoming clogged up with taxis
0:20:12 > 0:20:14and vulnerable drunken revellers.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Back at the nightclub, door staff alert Jon to a man
0:20:18 > 0:20:20who has been caught trying to enter a club
0:20:20 > 0:20:23with a bag of suspicious white powder.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27You obviously know they've found what is probably coke, I'd imagine.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I'm going to give you two bits of paper, mate, all right?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33The first is going to be a date to see me at the police station.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35The man is arrested for the possession of cocaine
0:20:35 > 0:20:37and street bailed.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40This way, police keep more officers in town,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43but while the man's not going to the nick, he can't hang around.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Second piece is going to be a piece of paper
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- kicking you out of town for the night.- Yeah.- All right?
0:20:48 > 0:20:51And the reason being, the mix of coke and alcohol
0:20:51 > 0:20:52normally leads to violence.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54To ensure the man does what he's told
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and doesn't try to sneak back into town,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Jon takes him somewhere the CCTV can get a good look at his face.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Just so they can get you on CCTV.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09But getting a clear shot is proving difficult...
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Get out of the way. I won't tell you again. And you.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14Ohh!
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Come and walk with me, out the way of these idiots.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19..as he's getting the man to agree a date to come back to the station.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22What are you working next Friday evening? Are you about?
0:21:25 > 0:21:27It's all right. We'll sort out a date that's convenient.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Why? Where are you next Friday?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32OK. What about Saturday?
0:21:35 > 0:21:36Are you back Sunday?
0:21:40 > 0:21:433892, can I have another jurisdiction unit
0:21:43 > 0:21:45into Regent Street, please?
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Trying to deal with something,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49but we're getting some interference from the locals.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Jon wants to be flexible,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53but there's only so much leeway he can give him.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56What about the 27th? On a Monday.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03The thing is, what we need to do is find a date,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05cos the option is, if we don't find a date,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I'm going to have to take you down the Bridgewater nick tonight,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10where you're going to have to stay the night.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14The threat of a night inside opens a slot in the man's diary.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17What about the 25th? Are you about in the daytime?
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- Yeah, I'll be about. - Right. So, 25th, yeah?
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I've seized the drugs and he's going to come back and answer bail to me,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27where he'll be dealt with for the small amount of possession.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31If we can, we're trying to street bail them, not arrest them tonight.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34The important thing is keeping enough officers on the street
0:22:34 > 0:22:36and create a visible presence in our fluorescents
0:22:36 > 0:22:39so people know that we're here to keep them safe.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41If we have to arrest someone, take them to custody, we will.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43If we don't have to,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45we use other means to try and keep that presence on the street.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Events like this are a challenge for the police.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Sharon has been planning for this night for weeks.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55And that preparation isn't undertaken just by her.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59There's been a special meeting to ensure there's a coordinated plan.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Last year, we saw numbers just under 5,000.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03We'll have an enhanced presence in the town centre,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06cos we just don't know how many of those people are going to come in.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08They could also, of course,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11be quite under the influence of drink or drugs as well.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14The police get together with local representatives,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17including the ambulance service and taxi firms,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20to work out a plan to keep everyone safe.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22It looks like there probably will be an agreement
0:23:22 > 0:23:26where we can drive up and down the seafront
0:23:26 > 0:23:30to specifically make these people priority...
0:23:30 > 0:23:31if they're in trouble of any sort.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34The objectives we have are the same.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37They're working with us and I think we're making some fantastic gains.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39So far, that strategy is working well,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42with lots of boisterous people in town,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44but few real disturbances.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46At the moment, they seem to be in good spirits.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50But as the clubs fill up and people start getting refused entry,
0:23:50 > 0:23:51moods can change very quickly.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56It turns out that this is the calm before the storm.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Jon is urgently called to the pier, where it's threatening to kick off.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09The man in the green jacket has been arrested
0:24:09 > 0:24:11for assaulting someone outside a takeaway.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15His friend's saying he was only defending one of the girls.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16She hasn't made a complaint...
0:24:16 > 0:24:21Officers need to assess the situation quickly or risk an escalation.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25Somebody has assaulted me, grabbed me...
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Somebody has grabbed me,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31he's tried to push them away from me,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and now he's been arrested.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35One male's been arrested for some kind of assault
0:24:35 > 0:24:37that's taken place in the kebab shop.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41His friends haven't taken very kindly to it
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and are now alleging that, actually, one of them's been assaulted
0:24:44 > 0:24:46and their friend's come to their aid.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49So, my colleagues are trying to get to the bottom of it,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51see what's going on.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Sharon listens carefully
0:24:55 > 0:24:57to the friends of the man who has been arrested,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00one of whom now claims that she was assaulted first.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04It's a complex situation that needs to be handled delicately
0:25:04 > 0:25:05and with tact and diplomacy.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:25:08 > 0:25:10BLEEPED SPEECH
0:25:10 > 0:25:14But the arrested man is getting increasingly agitated.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:25:18 > 0:25:20She's been assaulted.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22With so many people involved,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26the police are reluctant to restrain the man, and try to reason with him.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29- Why has he not been arrested? - BLEEPED SPEECH
0:25:31 > 0:25:33BLEEPED SPEECH
0:25:33 > 0:25:36But taking his jacket off and throwing it on the ground
0:25:36 > 0:25:38is a clear sign that things with this man
0:25:38 > 0:25:41may be going beyond the point of reasoning.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- BLEEPED SPEECH - He'll be dealt with.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Why's that man- BLEEP? - He'll be dealt with.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- Why's he not been arrested?- He'll be dealt with. Just bear with us.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- One thing at a time.- One thing at a time? It's ridiculous.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58A lot of the time, neighbourhood officers want to slow things down,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00take a calm and methodical approach.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03But sometimes, you don't get a choice.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Don't I get dragged?
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Dragged! Dragged! Go on!
0:26:07 > 0:26:10BLEEPED SPEECH
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Ah! Ahh!
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Get back. Get back, get back.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18The man punches a PC in the chest.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20The female officer on the right immediately responds
0:26:20 > 0:26:25by delivering a dose of CS spray to his face.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29Ordinarily, this would be enough to incapacitate most people.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31But it requires five officers to restrain him
0:26:31 > 0:26:33as he continues to fight.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38- Get back, get back.- Jon's taken some of the spray in his own face.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40But he needs to remain composed and calm
0:26:40 > 0:26:42or this could be a flashpoint.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Hang on, he's kicking off, isn't he? So, he needs to be calmed down.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47He's kicked off, which is why he's been sprayed.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49So, let's stay calm. Don't make it worse.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Don't make it worse. We'll deal with the other thing for you.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- Get off his legs.- We've got allegations and allegations.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Let us do our job.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Officers are forced to restrain him with both wrist and leg straps.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06But despite the CS spray, the restraints and five officers,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08the man continues to fight.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Jon tries to defuse the situation.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Just get to the front of his head and tell him to calm down.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16Ah!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18BLEEPED SPEECH
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Jon's plan works.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27The man's friend calms him down enough for them to take stock.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30The male who's been arrested has decided to put up a struggle.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34He's been CSed and then, obviously, we've restrained him on the ground.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37A lot of that has transferred onto myself and my colleagues.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40I've got a face full of it, which, with the rain, is not helping.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44He's still struggling, but we're just waiting for another van now
0:27:44 > 0:27:46so we can transport him away.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47Ah!
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Other officers grab the girl's alleged assailant
0:27:51 > 0:27:54and he's taken away in a separate van
0:27:54 > 0:27:56to be interviewed back at the station.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06When he's gone, the man officers sprayed
0:28:06 > 0:28:09is loaded up for a trip to the station, too.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15- Mind your head, bud.- There you go. - Duck down a bit. Duck.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18This incident has involved some serious manpower,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21but Sharon planned for just such an eventuality.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23We have a mix of officers on duty.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26We have officers from across the force, from Bristol and other areas,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30so we can provide a visible presence to show people that we're still here
0:28:30 > 0:28:33and that we'll still deal with any disorder that breaks out.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37It's a successful tactic, and the rest of the evening is peaceful.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41When the man with the cocaine came back to the station,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44he was given an official drugs caution
0:28:44 > 0:28:47that will stay on his record for the next five years.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51There was no evidence that the man had assaulted the woman,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55so after interview, he was released without charge.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02The aggressive man who was CS sprayed was subsequently charged
0:29:02 > 0:29:05with assaulting the police and resisting arrest.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08He awaits his day in court.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18When police are given information from the public
0:29:18 > 0:29:20about their own neighbourhoods...
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Yeah. What threats did he make?
0:29:22 > 0:29:25..it's vital that they act on it.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29There's just one or two bad apples that will insist on dealing drugs,
0:29:29 > 0:29:30committing antisocial behaviour.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34It's important that we tackle those people, deal with them robustly,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37give them the right message that they can't do that on these estates.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42However good the intelligence, raids are always a leap into the unknown.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Officers are acutely aware
0:29:44 > 0:29:47that anything could be waiting for them on the other side of the door.
0:29:47 > 0:29:48Hello.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Police are met by violence, weapons, or even animals,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58so they need to be prepared for anything.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03The police are always refining how they get through doors,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05from hydraulic rams
0:30:05 > 0:30:08capable of exerting several tonnes of pressure...
0:30:10 > 0:30:13..to good old-fashioned Enforcers.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16They don't always smash their way in.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Today, officers are responding to locals' complaints about a flat
0:30:20 > 0:30:23and Marc Stephens has to quickly deal with the door.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27Fast entry allows us to take the occupants by surprise,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31so then they don't have any chance to try and dispose of any evidence.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32Receiving, go ahead.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35It's an opportunity for Marc to try out a new piece of kit -
0:30:35 > 0:30:37the lock snapper.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40We're going to use our snapper kit.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42You roll off part of the lock
0:30:42 > 0:30:46and then snap off the barrel inside and push it through.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49That leaves the lock in pieces, but the door intact.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54At the address, the team gets into position,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57ready to rush in when the lock snaps off.
0:31:03 > 0:31:04But there's a problem.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17The snapper kit can't get to the lock
0:31:17 > 0:31:21but, prepared for any eventuality, they've always got a backup plan.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32The door is in, but there's a nasty surprise, as a dog attacks.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35There's no option... DOG BARKS
0:31:35 > 0:31:36..but to Taser it.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Call the dog back. Call the dog back.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41DOG BARKS
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Tasers are always a last resort for police.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- Go.- Police.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- DOG BARKS - Taser!
0:31:51 > 0:31:52But using the stun gun here
0:31:52 > 0:31:56means both the police and the dog escape permanent damage.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Grab hold of the dog. The Taser's switched off.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02There was nothing illegal found on this raid,
0:32:02 > 0:32:06but police are pleased to have dealt with neighbourhood complaints
0:32:06 > 0:32:08and sent a strong message to the wider community.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Word gets round quickly when we're out and about
0:32:11 > 0:32:12and we're taking action.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14If the van drives down a road
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and we jump out and we smash someone's door in,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I'm sure there's another ten houses across the estate
0:32:19 > 0:32:21that are flushing their drugs away.
0:32:21 > 0:32:22Word does get round, you know,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and social media's a good thing for that as well.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28They're letting each other know the police are out and about, taking action.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37In recent years,
0:32:37 > 0:32:41cannabis has had its classification changed from class C up to class B.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45But to be clear, it's always been illegal.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50Nationwide, 67% of the drug crime police deal with is due to cannabis.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54You can be jailed for up to five years for possession
0:32:54 > 0:32:56or up to 14 if you are found to be cultivating it.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02In Bridgwater, Tex Freeman and PCSO Dan Wheller
0:33:02 > 0:33:04are on their way to investigate a house.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Local housing officers are worried
0:33:06 > 0:33:09about somebody growing plants at one of their properties.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15Right, we've had some information come from a housing authority.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17They've done a check on an address.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19When they've gone in there,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22they've found that the occupant has been growing cannabis
0:33:22 > 0:33:24and he's currently...
0:33:24 > 0:33:26He came in yesterday, he's got six plants,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28or six pots growing cannabis in his house.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29They've talked to him about it.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Apparently, he said it's for his own personal use.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Acting on that information, hopefully, we're going to visit
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and see whether he has got the cannabis,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39and if he has, deal with it.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41As the plants were found yesterday,
0:33:41 > 0:33:45there's a chance the man may have already got rid of any evidence.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48When they get to the property, Tex goes to the front door
0:33:48 > 0:33:52and Dan goes round the back in case the resident makes a run for it.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Hiya, buddy.- Hello.- Is it all right to come in, speak to you?
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- Is it all right to come and speak to you?- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- OK.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05What it is, we've got information that there's cannabis plants...
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Yeah, yeah, yeah. This happened yesterday.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11Surprisingly, the guy seems happy to admit having cannabis plants.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15- Have you still got the cannabis? - Yeah.- Yes, OK.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- What that means, cos you're... - I'm going to put in the bin...
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Right, well, I now have to deal with it, OK?
0:34:21 > 0:34:24So, I now have to come in and take the cannabis
0:34:24 > 0:34:27and then question you at the police station.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Yeah, OK. But I am staying, finish my cooking.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33The man seems more worried about spoiling his dinner
0:34:33 > 0:34:35than being arrested.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38He may well be a gourmet chef, but upstairs in his bedroom,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41he's been growing a different type of herb - cannabis.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45Can go...to shake my cook in the...
0:34:47 > 0:34:51- Yeah, it's best if you turn that off for the minute.- Yes.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53- Yeah, can you just go with him, Dan? - Yeah.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55It's best to turn the cooking off.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59While the man takes care of his cooking, Tex checks him out.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Yeah, can I have a code one person PNC, please?
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Yeah, he's come back as no trace,
0:35:05 > 0:35:07so that means that he isn't known to be in trouble
0:35:07 > 0:35:10on the Police National Computer database.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12The man is clearly not from this country,
0:35:12 > 0:35:14and while his English is good,
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Tex is worried that some of the technicalities of his arrest
0:35:17 > 0:35:19might be being lost in translation.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24What we need to do, OK, is at some point ask you some questions
0:35:24 > 0:35:26regarding the cannabis plants.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28OK? Um...
0:35:28 > 0:35:29Would you be...?
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Would you be able to do that now
0:35:31 > 0:35:34or would you say you need an interpreter?
0:35:34 > 0:35:35I can try.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38There are many ways police can deal with non-English speakers,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42from specialist phone services to calling in translators.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Tex falls back on to that old favourite -
0:35:45 > 0:35:47speaking loudly and slowly.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50You've got no previous for cannabis,
0:35:50 > 0:35:56OK, so we should be able, OK, to hopefully give you a caution.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Looks like the man's cooking will get cold,
0:35:59 > 0:36:00as he's coming down the station.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03What were you having for tea tonight, Carlos?
0:36:03 > 0:36:07- Sorry?- What was your tea going to be tonight?- Er...
0:36:07 > 0:36:13- Easy food.- Easy food, yeah?- Sausage and...some cheese, potatoes.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21My first time I'm ever in trouble.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24I ring my friend. My friend tell me, "No problem, no worry.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28"The next Sunday, everything go in the rubbish."
0:36:28 > 0:36:30The man's friend may have told him that he'd be fine
0:36:30 > 0:36:32if he threw out the evidence,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35but it doesn't sound like he's legally trained.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Why this guy tell me no problem?
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- Yeah, tell you it was OK. - Yeah. He's my friend.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Yeah. He told you wrong.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47All right, Carlos. Come with me, young man.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50Back at the station, the cook faces the music
0:36:50 > 0:36:52while Dan deals with the exhibits.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55There's seven cannabis plants that have been seized,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59and we're going to be exhibiting them.
0:36:59 > 0:37:04Three off for testing, to confirm that they are cannabis.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08The man accepted an official caution for the production of cannabis.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10It's a good outcome for the neighbourhood team.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14They responded to the concerns of local housing officers quickly
0:37:14 > 0:37:15and it got them results.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27Ever since motorcars became a familiar sight on Britain's roads,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30police have been concerned about their safety.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32So, today as a beat team, we're over in Keynsham.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34We're looking at child seat safety today,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38so we're going to be pulling in vehicles with child seats,
0:37:38 > 0:37:40giving some words of advice on to the fitting.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43A study by road safety officers
0:37:43 > 0:37:45found that over 66% of child seat passengers
0:37:45 > 0:37:48were being put at risk of injury or death
0:37:48 > 0:37:50because of poorly fitted seats.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55The neighbourhood team in Keynsham has teamed up with child seat experts
0:37:55 > 0:37:57to try and make the roads a safer place.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59So, the police will stop vehicles
0:37:59 > 0:38:01on the main road that are carrying children,
0:38:01 > 0:38:03bring them in, we'll check the car seats
0:38:03 > 0:38:05and make sure they're fitted correctly,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09and also that the children are fitted into the seats correctly.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10Morning.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- Good morning.- Morning. - We're doing car seat checks today.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18This isn't just a problem when people fit their own seats.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Shockingly, almost half of those installed by retailers
0:38:21 > 0:38:23were also done incorrectly.
0:38:23 > 0:38:24We often get people who'll come in,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27"I've only got a couple of minutes, why have you stopped me?"
0:38:27 > 0:38:30By the time we've finished talking to them and explained to them
0:38:30 > 0:38:31and done adjustments for them,
0:38:31 > 0:38:35they're very pleased with what we've said to them and go off quite happy
0:38:35 > 0:38:39and, obviously, secure that their children are safe in the car.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43- This one for the five-year-old, yes? - Yes.- OK.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46So, that's great. Side and head protection on that.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Keep them on that till they don't need a seat at all.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Don't be tempted to move them off that onto a booster cushion.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Keep them with that back on it. It is much safer for them.
0:38:54 > 0:38:55Very helpful, actually.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58What they went through was very constructive
0:38:58 > 0:39:01and it's helped me to know that when the children are in the car,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03that they're secure and safe.
0:39:04 > 0:39:09Over the course of the day, the team hope to stop around 150 cars,
0:39:09 > 0:39:11a valuable way to get their message out there.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13The harness is really, really loose.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16You've got a bit of twist on the seat belt itself.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20I'm just going to undo it and redo it for you, is that all right?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Didn't think there's a lot of coverage in the media about it.
0:39:23 > 0:39:24I've got three young children,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27so it's something I'm quite interested in.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Certainly, most people we're speaking to so far
0:39:30 > 0:39:33are very grateful of any sort of advice we can give.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34Just take it a bit tighter.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38It means she hasn't got any space to be able to get her arms out.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40- Is that OK?- Yeah. - All right, brilliant, thank you.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- It's just good to get extra information.- Yeah.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45- Every bit of information helps. - Yeah.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Yeah, we've seen some examples of badly fitted seats,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55minor problems and some major problems,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57but we've been able to help all those people
0:39:57 > 0:39:59and sort them out for them and send them on their way
0:39:59 > 0:40:01with a nice, safe, securely fitted child seat.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14While the majority of the neighbourhood police work
0:40:14 > 0:40:18happens in towns, Somerset isn't an urban county.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20It's actually one of the most rural.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25And the issues that the neighbourhood teams in the countryside have
0:40:25 > 0:40:29are very different to those in the town centres.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32We've been called to a traffic hazard
0:40:32 > 0:40:35where some cattle have gone onto the road
0:40:35 > 0:40:37near the motorway junction.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41PCSO Dan Wheller needs to get the cows out of the road
0:40:41 > 0:40:43before they cause a crash.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45But while he's taking the job seriously,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47he's kept his sense of humour.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Hopefully, they've moo-ved on.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53Get it? Moo-ved on.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56An adult cow weighs around 90 stone
0:40:56 > 0:41:00and hitting one with a car could be fatal to cow and motorist.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06Luckily, a passer-by has shooed the animals away from the traffic.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08No, you're all right.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12OK.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16OK.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18There was about another four in here.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21I just need to try and get them into some secure land
0:41:21 > 0:41:24and see if we can locate the farmer.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28There was two young cows and two heifers
0:41:28 > 0:41:31just coming out of the field,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35quickly followed by another couple of large cows,
0:41:35 > 0:41:37who I didn't want to meet, and neither did the dog,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39so we went home and reported it to the police.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Come on.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Hey. That's it.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46They're safely away from the motorway here,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49but with limited visibility on this road,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52the cows could be even more of a problem to motorists.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54As a PCSO, Dan is more used
0:41:54 > 0:41:58to herding drunken revellers at the end of a night out,
0:41:58 > 0:42:00but it turns out he's a natural.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04This way.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11Right, so that's secured them for a minute.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13It's not adequate.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18- OK, thank you very much.- You're welcome.- Thanks for your time.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23Our duty of coming out here to keep the roads safe and clear
0:42:23 > 0:42:25are no different than going to accidents
0:42:25 > 0:42:26or trying to prevent accidents.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28It is a good use of our time.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32You know, if I wasn't coming to this, it would be a response car
0:42:32 > 0:42:36that we need to keep available for the 999 shouts.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Now Dan is going to have a word with the farmer about that loose gate.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Instead of quick fix and sticking them in a field,
0:42:42 > 0:42:43I'm looking at a long-term solution,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46otherwise we're going to be called out here over and over again.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52We've seen today that neighbourhood police teams
0:42:52 > 0:42:54are always willing to go that extra mile
0:42:54 > 0:42:57when it comes to keeping communities safe.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59See you next time for more Neighbourhood Blues.