Episode 1 Neighbourhood Blues

The friendly, caring bobby

pounding the beat has always been the hallmark of British policing...

-Fantastic.

-Pleasure's been all mine, my friend.

..and has even been immortalised on film by the fictional

Dixon of Dock Green.

Good evening, all.

POLICE SIRENS

Today's neighbourhood police teams continue that tradition.

But also tackle the root causes of crime head on...

SMASHING

..by targeting known hotspots...

Unlucky.

..stamping down on antisocial behaviour...

I'm arresting you for a public order offence.

..and waging war on illegal drugs.

I can smell cannabis already.

In this new series of Neighbourhood Blues,

we follow the policemen and women of Somerset, as they continue

their quest to make our streets a safer place.

Coming up...

A woman suspected of stealing hits out...

-BLEEP!

-..and bares her teeth.

BLEEP!

PC Russ Millier faces off with a motorist with no respect.

-The mood I'm in...

-Why? What are you going to do?

-I didn't say anything, did I?

-Just as well.

-What you mean, "just as well"?

-Just as well.

And a massive crackdown in Weston-super-Mare...

-RADIO:

-Strike, strike.

..flushes out illegal drugs.

We've got it, in the toilet.

-Yeah, loads.

-Sweet.

Crime figures are falling and have been for the last 20 years.

But despite this, people's fear of crime

and violence is on the increase.

There is a belief, too, that the police are failing to act

tough enough on offenders, which is fuelling those fears.

So, in Somerset, the police are doing something about it,

with a series of raids targeting serious criminals,

to help reassure the public.

Today, in Weston-super-Mare, the neighbourhood team is being

briefed by an intelligence officer, whose identity needs to be hidden.

They are about to take part in Operation Amalgamate,

a huge ongoing police crackdown on serious criminals in the area.

Amalgamate's been brought together due to the increase in drugs

and violent offences in Weston-super-Mare.

Including the drugs offences, there's been an increase in burglary

and theft-from offences, as well.

Drug dealing is never a stand-alone issue

and tends to go hand-in-hand with burglary and antisocial behaviour.

The intelligence today is as good as we're going to get.

It's all red hot.

It is as current as yesterday about where these guys are dealing from.

Their focus today is on the increasing number

of out-of-towners who are coming into the area to deal drugs.

They are a mixture of black and white London males

and Birmingham males.

A lot of our intel has come from the community today. They've had enough.

They really have.

Five teams of officers are going out to raid six properties.

And they are prepared for anything.

Neighbourhood sergeant Colin Batchelor,

is leading one of the teams whose target is a block of flats.

We need to get out behind these lot, so get on the van.

Shaky, come on!

-You get in and get behind us.

-Yeah, right.

Let's get in, let's go.

Operations like this give out the message that

the police are determined to make the town safe

and drug dealing will not be tolerated.

Adrenaline is high.

No-one knows what they are going to be faced with.

The lead officer radios with last-minute instructions.

-RADIO:

-Amalgamate units, move to your holding areas.

Let me know as soon as you're there.

Everyone waits for the command to strike.

Stand by.

All ten units from Don's end, strike, strike.

Colin's team are taking things cautiously,

in case they are spotted by any suspects in the third-floor flat.

Luckily, the rear communal door is unlocked.

Now, they don't hold back.

BANGING

-Police!

-Police!

They are through the front door in seconds, quickly finding

a suspect who, as a precaution, is red dotted with a Taser.

There's also another lad in the room.

Gentlemen, morning. Sorry you've had a bit of an early wake-up call.

You've probably gathered we've got a warrant for the address,

under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

What's your name, fella?

No comment on your name? Well, it's going to be a long day, isn't it?

-We've got a warrant here to search the premises.

-Search them, then.

-OK?

-Search them.

-That's why we've come in. Do you understand?

-I understand, so do it.

-Fine, OK.

-If you understand it, that's great.

-Yeah, go on, do what you do, yeah.

All right, there should be... Where is the tenant, the occupier?

-Don't know.

-You tell me.

-He's not here, obviously.

-You tell me where he is, innit?

-That's fine, thank you very much.

Both guys don't appear to be local,

so they could be the out-of-towners they are looking for.

There's also drug paraphernalia lying around.

While the investigation at the flat continues, and with over 50 officers

involved in today's operation, more teams are striking their targets.

Boss, we are in position, about a minute away.

Strike, strike...

The red enforcer goes into action.

-WOMAN YELLS

-Come on, Dave, get us in.

All right, Dave, come away.

The raid on this house didn't result in any arrests.

But, having found the remains of possible Class A drugs,

Colin and HIS team are more hopeful.

Tell you what, I think the day is going to get better.

Right, we'll take some photographs.

Get these two searched.

The flat's getting a thorough search, too.

Alice, do you want to take a picture of that, that I've just found

-on the floor?

-And that one, as well.

A mobile phone is a good find,

as it could hold the numbers of drugs contacts.

This was underneath those.

And a set of scales could have been used

to weigh out illegal substances.

All of the Operation Amalgamate raids

across Weston have been executed.

And plenty of drugs paraphernalia is turning up.

Amalgamate is not just about the raids

on suspected drug dealers, though.

It's also about reassuring residents in the area,

which the local police cadets have volunteered to help with.

Our job is to engage with members of the public.

If anybody comes up to you and asks what you're doing,

you're dealing with Operation Amalgamate, drug crime.

While the cadets head out to leaflet homes,

at the flat, there's been a spectacular discovery.

There's actually ten supplies in the toilet.

We've got it. It's in the toilet. Yeah, loads.

It's a huge haul of drugs, all bundled up in cellophane

and found floating in the lavatory.

Luckily, the team got in quick enough to seize the drugs.

On the approach we've seen one of the subjects from the address

at the window. He's been made aware we're coming.

We've gone bursting up the stairs. Unfortunately for him,

he tried to flush this down the toilet.

Probably due to the size of it, it hasn't flushed.

Getting a large quantity of crack and heroin off Weston's streets

has left Russ feeling flushed with success.

Yeah, I'm really pleased with what we've got so far.

No more drugs were found in the flat, or on the two lads, who,

it turned out, WERE out-of-towners, from the Midlands.

They were both arrested on suspicion of possession

of Class A drugs, with intent to supply...

-You all right there?

-..and are currently on bail.

People shouldn't be living here

concerned about drug-dealing neighbours.

A secondary message, as opposed to just locking up the dealers, the

community needs to know why we're doing it, what we're doing it for

and that we are doing our best to protect them all.

Colin wastes no time in relaying that message,

while the cadets leaflet homes with information.

It's good that you've come up and had a word,

because then you can hear it from the horse's mouth.

It's nice to know you're on top of it.

We're trying. Absolutely. Absolutely.

We need to show that we are here and that we won't stand for it.

And that's part of today, through Weston,

but it isn't just a one-off, it's an ongoing operation.

There's a couple of streets off, even the surrounding areas,

so Grasmere, Osborne...

Colin suddenly gets a call to return to the flat.

Just redeploying the cadets etc, mate. I'm just around the corner.

It's his lucky day. The owner of the flat has now turned up.

Yes, yes. OK.

So, we have executed a warrant here today,

in your property. We were a little bit concerned

-because we didn't know where you were.

-Yeah.

Am I going to get arrested?

Um, I can't say at this stage.

I can't say yes or no.

But Colin was able to give him an answer fairly quickly.

It was very much nicey, nicey, come on inside. Oh, dear,

there's some drugs in here. I'm sorry, you're under arrest.

With almost 100 wraps of cocaine

and heroin - carrying a street value of up to £1,000 - found in the

toilet, the man was arrested for possession with intention to supply.

Ten weeks later, the other two suspects originally

found in the flat, and who are still on bail,

were stopped in a nearby street by a plain-clothes intelligence

officer. One of them was found to have cocaine in his possession.

So the flat was searched again. This time, the flat owner WAS at home.

The same gentleman was inside, with more drugs.

As a result of that he was arrested, charged with the drugs offences,

and, subsequently, is spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure.

This time, an even bigger haul of heroin and crack cocaine was found,

worth almost £7,000.

Approximately 350 wraps of controlled substances.

For us, here, it was what I would term as very substantial.

And so did the courts, as they sentenced him

to 28 months in prison, which might well be extended when

the investigation into the drugs found in his toilet is completed.

Since Operation Amalgamate was launched, there have been

a total of 33 arrests, with almost half of them

being out-of-towners from big cities around the UK.

Almost £1 million-worth of drugs,

and £750,000 in cash has been seized.

With this success, the operation is set to continue.

Being a victim of crime can be extremely traumatic.

And returning home to discover you've had

a break-in can be one of the most distressing experiences imaginable.

But what if an intruder enters your house while you're still at home?

In Bridgwater, neighbourhood officer Tex Freeman has just

started his shift and is responding to an emergency 999 call.

We've got a lady who's phoned up. She's pregnant,

children in the building, in her flat,

and some male, who she doesn't know,

has walked in and she thinks that he is under the influence of drugs.

The expectant mother is too scared to tackle him

and if the guy IS on drugs, she, and her children, could be

at risk, so there's no time to waste.

SIREN WAILS With their years of experience,

both officers have learned to expect the unexpected,

unlike the shocked woman that's called them.

Surprisingly, the intruder is still here and taking a nap.

You all right?

Do you know why we are here?

It's all right, darling.

Any idea why we're here?

You come over here, darling.

It's not your flat.

What you doing here, buddy?

-I tried telling him to go and everything. It's so weird.

-You all right?

He's obviously confused and he's clearly NOT a dangerous intruder.

Did the girls' breakfast, we were all sat down for breakfast

and this random guy just decides to walk in!

-And that's when the police come in.

-Yeah.

He just walked into the kitchen.

-Whereabouts do you live, buddy?

-Um...

-Not here.

-Just...

In this block somewhere?

Do you realise you've walked into someone else's flat?

It's beginning to dawn on the lad that he actually

lives in the flat downstairs.

But he's still a bit confused.

What have you been up to? Where have you been before you came here?

-You don't know?

-No.

-Have you taken anything?

-No, um...

OK.

All right. We've got ambulance people here, anyway,

so if you're happy for them to check you over?

Yeah?

If the guy has had some kind of seizure,

it could have temporarily affected his memory and his behaviour.

Considering I'm pregnant, as well, if he turned like... God!

-I was shaking. I had to rush back from work just to see...

-Were you here or...?

No, I had to leave work, just to see if everything was all right.

Thankfully, the lad hasn't harmed anyone.

But, incredibly, he's run himself a bath

and has slipped into some of the woman's clothes.

He went to the wardrobe, got one of my jumpers out

and just randomly took it.

And then, just sat on the sofa and started chilling out.

Sounds as if he was settling in nicely.

It's not your top.

OFFICER LAUGHS

While the bewildered visitor is taken back

to his flat for a check-up,

Tex gives HIM a check-up on the police computer.

Yes, can I have Code One Person, BNC, please?

Back in his own flat downstairs, he is still baffled by what he's done.

Any headaches?

Blurred vision?

Nausea?

Are you aware of what's happened? Can you remember anything?

That's the first time that's ever happened.

The first time ever.

Fortunately, the lad doesn't need any hospital attention

and has never been in trouble with the police before,

so Tex is confident his behaviour was a one-off.

There's going to be no further action, from our point of view, OK?

Is there anything else from us you need at all? No?

OK, we will speak to her and reassure her upstairs,

because obviously...

with kids, she was a bit...

No problem on that, mate.

We'll go and speak to her.

Take care, mate.

-Hello. Is it all right if we come in a minute?

-Hiya! Yeah, yeah. Come in.

Hiya. He sends his million apologies. He can't remember.

If you're happy with that, he's, you know...

-Yeah.

-There's nothing, no offence...

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Obviously, it's startling and...

-Just rushed back from work to see what it was!

-Yeah.

They say it's no use locking the stable door after the horse

has bolted, but Tex doesn't subscribe to that, for a moment.

-I mean, the only thing I'd say is, after today...

-Keep the door locked!

Yeah. Keep the door locked.

But if you're happy with that. No worries, buddy. No worries.

-Thanks!

-Take care.

-Say goodbye!

Still to come on Neighbourhood Blues...

SHE SCREAMS

Dom gets injured in the line of duty.

Well, she sunk her teeth into my arm, unfortunately.

I need to get that checked out, ASAP.

And Weston-super-Mare...

I love bikes!

..goes motocross mad.

I'd like to be out there, giving it a go, to be quite honest!

Although it's the neighbourhood police that are primarily

responsible for tackling crime in an area,

when it comes to shoplifting, effective policing relies heavily on

partnerships with CCTV operators and the shop's own security services.

Last year, shoplifting cost UK retailers more than £600 million.

And, inevitably, it's honest customers that are hit in the pocket

when stores have to pass on their losses by putting up their prices.

In Bridgewater, a considerable 12% of all crime is down

to shoplifting, as Inspector Andy Pritchard knows only too well.

Bridgewater has a large shopping area

and shoplifting is a local issue and a local concern,

especially at the moment, with times of financial hardship,

so it does feature in the priorities for the local policing team.

As well as retailers,

the police work closely with the council's CCTV team.

Although the high street is quiet today,

their cameras are always on the lookout.

And they've been alerted to a man with a satchel who's just

left a pharmacy store.

He is quickly followed by another man in jeans and a jumper -

the store detective - who believes he has stolen

several bottles of perfume.

SIREN WAILS

A description of the suspect goes out to neighbourhood officers.

Dom Bryant is in direct contact with CCTV

and the high-street shops through their own radio network.

Yeah, I'm on the radio, I'm going to get him to guide me in.

-RADIO:

-Brilliant, standing by.

-SIREN WAILS

The police take a strong line on shoplifting

and some members of the public take a strong view.

I think shoplifters should be birched, personally.

Shop retailers put their prices up, which affects

everybody else. It makes everything else a bit more expensive.

I can't really understand what goes through their minds, really,

to even do something like that.

It happens a lot. I've seen it happen myself.

The store detective has monitored a male at Boots the chemist.

He's selected some fragrances, placed them in his bag

and has left the store making no attempt to pay.

The store detective is still following the suspect and is

encouraging the man to hand over the bottles of perfume he's taken.

But he's convinced there are more.

The suspect is determined to get away.

But CCTV still has him in their sights

and have passed his movements on to Dom, over the dedicated radio link.

He's monitored him going through the back streets, behind the shops.

And we're going to go and track him down.

The suspect could find somewhere to hide now,

as he goes out of range of the cameras.

SIREN WAILS Dom puts his foot down.

344, for an update.

Two more neighbourhood officers listening in join the hunt

and rush to the area where the man was last seen by the CCTV cameras.

All of a sudden, the CCTV cameras pick the suspects back up again.

And calmly, he's been detained.

A quick-witted PCSO has saved the day.

But as he doesn't have the power to arrest the man...

..he can only detain him until a police officer arrives.

-Billy's with him.

-All right.

It just shows, whilst he is on foot, he was there,

he knew where the chap was going and had him detained.

The neighbourhood officers arrive within minutes and soon find

another bottle of perfume that he hadn't handed over earlier.

Dom's over the moon with new recruit, Billy,

because he's HIS rookie!

My man there I'm training, apprehended him. Billy, brilliant.

On foot patrol in town centre, that's what it's all about.

Apprehended the male, one in custody, no problem at all.

Items have been recovered.

The arrest is testimony to the teamwork involved in policing

the town centre.

I had CCTV called up on the airwaves. I encountered him,

sort of, running up the street and I said, wait with me,

while the officers who were en route got there.

Job done.

It's imperative we got there sooner rather than later,

for Billy's safety.

The guy is off to Bridgwater custody suite.

Right, matey. Mind your head.

All right, we'll get those bracelets off in a minute.

The man is beginning to regret what he's done.

-White, British?

-Yes.

Not thinking, just... Me being me, I think.

I've just took 'em, ain't I? Got something for my missus,

something for her daughter.

Got caught by the security guard.

What an idiot!

My missus is going to go mad!

As well as facing his other half, the shoplifter also had to

face court, where he pleaded guilty to the theft of the perfume.

He was given a nine-month conditional discharge

and made to pay £205, in costs and charges.

For Dom, the arrest was a triumph for good communication

and good old-fashioned coppering.

Police driving around in police cars would have missed that.

It just shows how important foot patrol and local knowledge is.

It's everything in the town.

No sooner has Dom got a prisoner locked up,

than he's back out on patrol.

Yeah, any problems, you give me a shout.

Although the shoplifting arrest went smoothly, not ALL arrests do

and Dom likes to keep on his toes, should a suspect turn nasty.

I've been doing sport and fitness all my life,

I'm not saying I'm better or bigger

or faster than anybody, but let me tell you something now...

..there's no substitute for fitness and inner core strength.

Inner power.

Once again, CCTV is keeping an eye out for trouble in the town centre.

And a drunk has been spotted causing a disturbance.

OK, I'll have another lap round and take a look at him.

You all right, fella?

What you up to?

Can you put your can away, please, mate?

There's no drinking in this area.

CCTV has been watching and is concerned about your behaviour.

Who has?

The drinker says he's been robbed by a woman.

Dom needs to get him to calm down

and tries to make sense of what he's saying.

Suddenly, the man spots the woman he says robbed him,

standing outside an Italian restaurant across the road.

And he heads straight for her.

-Yeah, you did it!

-Really, really?!

-Whoa, whoa, you stay here with me.

I'm all right, I'm all right.

The woman ALSO appears to have been drinking.

Dom's colleague takes her to one side to get HER version of events.

A member of staff from the restaurant tells Dom that

he believes the woman, and another man, have had a meal

and have left without paying their bill.

And the guy she was with is now taking the opportunity to scarper.

It's all happening at once...

-< MAN:

-Excuse me?

This gentleman is springing about like a jack-in-the-box.

Trying to keep him calm. On the point of being arrested,

two made off from Prezzo without paying for their dinner.

Get over here, mate.

The confusion continues.

She may have left there without paying.

SHE BLOWS A RASPBERRY

Yeah! Yeah, exactly! They've been in there.

They've been in there together. They're robbers, man!

The restaurant manager comes over

and confirms that the woman has indeed left without paying.

SHOUTING OVER ONE ANOTHER

< They're robbers. They're robbers.

But he's giving her a second chance to pay up.

Dom now questions the guy about the alleged robbery.

My pocket was like that. She hugged me and dipped in my pocket, man.

I'm not having that!

Within minutes, the woman's back out of the restaurant

and it's becoming apparent she and her accuser are acquaintances.

What's it all about, like?

-What's it all about?

-Why did you leave me?

And why are you with...?

-I could have anything now.

-He just bought me a meal in there.

No! Oh, what? Oh, what?!

-No. You left me!

-I didn't leave you!

Dom's colleague has found out

that she's still refusing to pay the bill, which is a whopping...

-£119.05. So you either go in and pay it now or you're getting nicked.

-Pay the bill! Pay the bill!

No! I was with somebody...

She claims that the guy she was with was going to pay,

but he's legged it, leaving her to face the music.

Right, then, I am arresting you on suspicion of bilking.

-You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence...

-Uh, uh, of what, sorry?

Bilking, is a term used

when someone deliberately runs off without paying.

And with her second chance gone, the woman is now off to the nick.

-No!

-Will you get in the van?

-Yeah, I'm going to get in your

-BLEEP

-van!

-Can I have your bumbag, please?

-No!

Her bag needs to be confiscated, in case she's got anything in it

she could harm herself with.

-Yes!

-I want

-BLEEP!

-Don't!

-Come and sit here.

-Don't touch me! Have it!

-SCREAMS:

-BLEEP

-have it!

-Thank you very much.

Thank you, yeah!

Obviously, there is some history between the female arrested

and this young man.

So, yeah, she's been arrested for...stuffing her face

and not paying for it.

Now, the man's friend has been arrested,

he's given up his robbery claim.

We're going to have to deal with this one.

She seems a bit more lively, unfortunately.

This could be a noisy ride. The woman's kicking off.

Yeah? And what? And what? And what?

It's human rights to be told what you're being charged with!

It's my basic human rights and you're not telling me!

Karen, you're not being charged with anything at...

-You're not

-BLEEP

-telling me!

-CONTINUOUS BLEEPED SWEARING

You wait!

And you wonder why people hate you?!

BANGING ON WINDOWS

This is just a lot of hot air. She's not going to hurt the van.

She'll hurt herself, more like. It's only slapping it with her hand.

You wait! Wait! Wait!

The woman may be full of hot air, but that's not all,

judging by the restaurant receipt.

She was talking about having Champagne earlier, as well.

Yeah, 60 quid.

A £60 bottle of champagne?

Well, she's gone into the restaurant,

eaten a £120 meal and thinks she's got a right to leave without paying?

She thinks that's not a problem.

What actually have I been charged with?

ALARM WAILS

They've now arrived at Bridgwater police station.

And the noisy passenger seems to have calmed down.

So, calmed down?

SHE GIGGLES

Do you want a hand from there or not? Right.

SHE MUTTERS INCOHERENTLY

Oh!

Can I ask you what I've been arrested for? I don't know.

You left the restaurant without paying for the meal.

Excuse me. Excuse me, sir.

The gentleman I was with said he was going to pay,

so how could you possibly arrest me?

After her fine dining, it's time for a brisk walk.

No! I'm going to... No! Don't even touch me, right?!

Don't touch me!

Get away from me!

Don't!

Yeah? Really? BLEEP!

Dealing with aggressive suspects is never easy

and this one is a real handful.

Get off me!

It's taking two strong men to subdue the hostile woman.

I'm also arresting...

SHE SCREAMS

..relied on in court, anything you do say may be given in evidence.

-LAUGHING:

-Right.

Suddenly, things turn really serious.

Get off me! Get off me!

She sunk her teeth into Dom's colleague's arm,

biting off more than she can chew this time.

Assaulting a police officer

while carrying out his or her duty is a serious offence,

leading to a possible prison sentence.

-No! No!

-Are you going to listen to me, Karen?

-No, I ain't!

Why am I going to go in here?!

BLEEP! BLEEP!

Yeah?! Yeah?! Yeah?!

Yeah, come on! Come on!

The woman is off to the cells, where she can cool off.

Tricky customers like her are all in a day's work

for the custody sergeant.

Unfortunately, we see many people like the young woman

that has just been brought in.

Weekly, sometimes daily, from somewhere,

"quite regularly."

SHE SHOUTS

Turn around, turn around, turn around.

Because the woman's behaviour is so unpredictable,

she is put in a cell where she can be monitored on CCTV.

But she still needs to be searched and it takes the strength

of several officers to restrain her.

No, don't you take that jewellery off me! No!

-No! No! No!

-Calm down.

Eventually, she runs out of steam.

I tried to talk to you at the desk, but you wouldn't listen to me,

would you?

And now, she can be searched properly.

Well done. Up a bit, up a bit.

Nothing of significance is found and she is left to rest,

but Dom's NOT taking any chances.

SHE SHOUTS

OK, but we'll just keep an eye on her, just so we know a bit more.

Last year, there were an alarming 113 assaults on police officers

in Avon and Somerset.

And during the struggle in the cell, Dom added to that number.

Well, she sunk her teeth into my arm, unfortunately.

So, I need to get that checked out ASAP, for obvious reasons.

I'm disappointed in myself, really, for letting it happen.

Obviously, it's a serious invasion of my privacy.

Being punched and kicked is one thing, but when someone has actually

sunk her teeth into you and drawn blood,

that is something else. That is a real invasion of privacy.

I don't like it, personally.

Yeah? Yeah?!

The woman pleaded guilty to invading Dom's privacy,

with her teeth, and also for biting Dom's partner and was sentenced

to five months in prison for ABH - actual bodily harm.

She also pleaded guilty to making off without payment

from the restaurant, for which she got seven days in prison

and had to pay £119 in compensation to cover the unpaid bill.

WOMAN SHOUTS

Her dinner date who ran off carried on running

and it was three months before police caught up with him.

Fortunately for him, he was not charged,

because the woman took the rap.

As a dedicated fitness and motorbike fan...

See, no sting, no pain.

..Dom makes sure his hand is still functioning.

As long as I can twist that throttle on my days off,

as long as I can get to circuit training...

You are worth your weight in gold, Dom.

..do my hill sprints, tyre flips, squat thrusts and burpees, I'll be happy.

If anything impairs that, that is when my Yin and Yang do not add up.

Bzzz!!

Policing a neighbourhood relies on a good relationship

between its inhabitants and the police.

People who trust and accept the authority of the police

are far more likely to obey the law.

But, unfortunately, there are always some chancers that show no respect

for either the police or the law.

WHISTLING

Today, neighbourhood officer Russ Millier is patrolling his patch

in Weston-super-Mare, always on the lookout for criminals.

And he has just spotted a known banned driver get into a car.

He's got in it.

Oh-ho. Game on.

-I don't think he's got a licence.

-Really?

Russ double-checks with the PNC -

the Police National Computer.

Confirm, it's expired, substantive, yeah?

If someone is banned from driving,

their licence is automatically cancelled.

He is pulling over to stop.

Time for a chat with the driver.

-Is your licence still in doubt?

-No.

It's currently expired with the DVLA.

-And the photographs.

-To do what?

Right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

OK.

If the driver doesn't have a licence in place,

his insurance is not valid, which is also a crime.

So, Russ has invited the man into the back of his car,

while he double-checks with the DVLA.

What he is saying is, he is coming off of a ban.

He has come off the ban, the ban has finished

and he has, apparently, applied for a new licence.

Right, there is nothing in the pipeline, whatsoever?

Cheers, then. Bye-bye.

That is direct from the DVLA.

Nothing whatsoever in the pipeline to even issue a licence,

let alone know that you are coming off the ban.

But you have got no licence.

You haven't. You have got no licence with the DVLA.

Because you were banned...

Yes, and you lost your licence.

You don't just automatically get a licence reissued.

You have to apply for a licence.

They're saying you haven't. They have received nothing whatsoever

from you to say, "I want a new licence back."

Russ is getting very tired of this conversation.

Arguing about whether they received it or not is irrelevant.

The point is, you've got no licence,

because they have not issued you a licence. You are driving a vehicle

on a road with no licence.

The man has no respect for the law.

With no licence and, consequently, no insurance,

his car is now going to be seized.

Where's my wallet?

Tough luck, cos it is coming with us. The car is coming with us

and he will be reported again for driving with no licence.

I want the paperwork.

Got to sit in the car if you want a form.

He has tried it on and it hasn't worked.

So, his vehicle will be seized and he will go on his way,

without his car.

Hearing his car is about to be seized has put a serious dent

in the driver's already stony relationship with Russ.

You'd probably call 101.

Out of order? I'll tell you what is out of order -

-you driving...

-I'm making a complaint.

-You crack on.

Cos you know what? This is authorised by an inspector.

I have just spoken to him. Don't drive around with no licence,

simple as that.

I am perfectly within my rights to put in a complaint.

Yeah, and I said...

-Don't! Cos I ain't worried about it!

-..crack on.

-The mood I am in...

-Well, what are you going to do?

-I didn't say anything, did I?

-Just as well.

-What do you mean, "Just as well"?!

-Just as well.

Who do you think you are talking to? Talk to me with respect, same as I

-talk to you with respect.

-Tell you what, you have been dealt with

with the utmost respect, ever since I have been with you.

If you want to get chopsy, because your vehicle is seized,

that is your issue. Don't expect me to pamper up to you cos you have

had your vehicle seized and you are angry.

-Pamper up!

-That is exactly what you're asking me to do.

The debate continues.

You show me respect and I'll show you respect back.

-I've treated you with nothing but respect.

-No, you haven't.

Yeah, so you could get your dad to collect it, if you wanted to.

He'd just have to show insurance for him to drive it, which he's got.

Insurance, MOT. Or your sister.

Yep, as long as she's got a driving licence.

Yeah, thank you for that. See you again.

The driver of the car clearly has an issue.

He thinks he is being picked on. It is not the case.

You know, unfortunately, if you're going to go around committing crime

and drive with no licence, you'll get pulled over.

It turns out that the car is owned by the man's dad,

who has just found out that it is getting taken away.

But he is driving around with no licence.

Right, the DVLA have no record whatsoever.

Listen, I am not going to have this argument with you,

because I have just had it... The issue is, whether he sent it

or not is irrelevant. It is whether the DVLA have issued

the licence. The DVLA can turn round and say,

"We're not giving it back." It is their right to do that.

OK, see you later. Bye.

A very angry dad.

He may as well just be driving around with nothing whatsoever,

cos with no driving licence, his insurance is not valid.

So, if he hits someone, hits another car...

God forbid, he hits a child or a member of the public...

he is looking at a lot more than a ban.

And someone is looking at loss of life.

The car was collected from the recovery agent the following day

by a woman who was legally insured to drive the car.

And the illegal driver is still being investigated.

There is no doubt biker Dom from Bridgwater

would love what is going on in Weston-super-Mare today.

It is hosting one of Europe's biggest action-sports events,

the Pro Nationals Motocross Festival.

-ANNOUNCER:

-The first action of the day is going to be

the monster truck.

Around 10,000 spectators are expected to turn up and, as usual,

with a big event like this,

the neighbourhood team are out and about.

Susan Venn-Adams is one of the PCSOs on duty today

-and, like Dom, she is a bike nut.

-I love bikes. I am terrible.

I am a sucker for a motorbike.

Yeah, I would like to be out there giving it a go, to be quite honest.

Joining the neighbourhood team are the local volunteer police cadets.

POP MUSIC PLAYS

I hope you like loud music!

They are the face of Avon and Somerset. They are our future.

They are what we are all about. It gives them a good experience

of neighbourhood policing. Something like this is really, really good

for them to gain experience and to be able to connect with the public,

like we do on an everyday basis.

I really like being part of the police cadets,

because I think it is really good experience for my future life and

I get to interact with the public and see really cool events, as well.

There are nine cadet units across the constabulary

and any 14-to-17-year-old can sign up.

Neighbourhood officers give up their spare time

to instruct these teenagers, some of whom are sharing a skill

they have learnt from cadet leader Ray Bradley.

Behind me, you can see that we do fingerprinting. We can simulate

the scene of a burglary, where they have fingerprinted a window,

and we take the fingerprints from the window.

But it is not all CSI for the cadets.

Often, they shadow officers on foot patrol and sometimes

get the chance to see the neighbourhood team in action.

Basically, we have been alerted by security that there is two

smoking cannabis at the moment.

We're going to go down with the officers.

With a lot of visitors in town,

it is difficult to keep an eye on everyone and, on this occasion,

it was a case of mistaken identity.

Thank you very much. Sorry to have wasted your time,

but thank you very much for letting us search.

Enjoy the rest of your day. Sorry!

'We experience being out in the public. We learn police skills.'

So, it is working alongside them and learning what they do.

-Morning!

-Morning!

Today was a huge success.

The neighbourhood team

engaged with spectators, the cadets learned police procedure

and, as expected, the motocross festival kept everyone entertained.

The neighbourhood police employ all sorts of methods and tactics

to tackle crime, but it is their ability to work in partnership

with other organisations and hand-in-hand with the public

that helps them achieve the best results.

Until next time... Evening, all.