Episode 4 Police 24/7

SIREN WAILS This time on Police 24/7...

-What's happening?

-In Swansea city centre,

a homeless person causes concern for the constables on the street...

We can't leave you alone, cos you're vulnerable, And'.

Oh, I'm vulnerable, am I? Yeah, that's why I get smashed, innit?!

CHILDREN SQUEAL

..the neighbourhood team are on playtime patrol in Mumbles...

You've got it on backwards, son. Put it on the other way.

..and investigating officer Dale Davis

is on the case of a nasty assault.

This has happened in a nightclub in Swansea,

which, as Tom Jones will tell you, "It's not unusual".

This is a week in the life of the largest police force in Wales.

Seven days of action with the cops on the street

and the criminals that they try to beat.

This is Police 24/7.

VOICES ON RADIO

-Technically, you're still in your 30s, aren't you?

-Ha!

-There's no "technically" about it, I AM still in my 30s.

-OK.

-Technically.

-There is no "technically".

You just put that word in and there's no need for it.

-I am still in my 30s.

-You're closer to 40 than you're anything else.

Yeah, but I'm still IN my 30s!

Swansea city centre, and neighbourhood police officers

Kath Thomas and Kerry Roberts are out on patrol.

How long have you two worked together?

Three long years.

-We've had our ups and downs.

-Yeah. We share a common bond, don't we?

-Yes.

-Give me a fist bump.

THEY LAUGH

Responsible for keeping the city centre safe,

if there's trouble, they are often the first on the scene.

-MAN ON RADIO:

-'A male heading towards the corner of Eli Jenkins.

'I don't know if you can possibly catch up with him and have a word.

-'His language was abysmal...'

-Abysmal?

-'He's running towards the corner of...'

-I can see him.

'..Union Street and Oxford Street.'

It's that guy, innit?

The man has been reported for being abusive to a shopkeeper.

-We just had a complaint.

-I was in...

-Go on, tell me your story.

I was in the shop and I stuck up for myself. What's wrong with that?

He was telling me, like, you know, "Can you leave?"

I said, "You've got a problem, haven't you?"

-What's your name?

-Am I not allowed to say that?

If that's what you said, there's no problem with that.

-That's all I said.

-Have you been in trouble with us before, Jeff?

-I was in trouble 1998.

-1998?

-Yeah.

-A long time ago, then.

-Yeah, yeah.

-What's your date of birth, flower?

-17th of the first '74.

PC Thomas checks his details

and it appears the detained man hasn't been telling the truth.

Thank you. And when was the last time he was on, please?

You've been in trouble since 1998, haven't you?

-Maybe so, yeah.

-Yeah!

-But nothing major.

-No, no, but you have been in trouble since 1998.

-Yeah.

And, as more information comes over the radio,

Officer Thomas discovers the man is

actually wanted for something far more serious than verbal abuse.

Yeah, thank you. Can you pass me the occurrence numbers for those two?

Right, you are wanted for two assaults.

-Two assaults?

-Two assaults, OK?

-So I'm going to arrest you for both now.

-What are they?

-Tell me.

-You do not have to say anything,

but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned

-something you rely on in court.

-Listen.

-Listen.

Anything you say may be given in evidence.

-Yo!

-All right?

-Aye, good.

-VOICES ON RADIOS

Good man. Thanks, Kev.

Jeffrey Pullen will now be taken into police custody, where he will

be detained for further questioning regarding the assaults.

In there for me. Speak to the sergeant.

-Do you understand the reason you've been arrested?

-Not really, no.

-There's an allegation...

-Self-defence!

-..on the 10th of July

-that you assaulted somebody on the street.

-That is total rubbish.

OK. And on the 15th of July, there's an allegation

-you assaulted...

-AUDIO DIPPED

-No, self-defence that was.

-OK.

-He chucked a chair at me.

Jeff, wait now, we'll speak in interview, OK?

-So what do you think'll happen?

-Well, you've got to be interviewed

and, from there, we'll decide what going to happen.

I can't give you any advice before that or any decision before it, OK?

Thank you very much. Jeffrey, we'll see you later.

-See you later.

-All right, babe.

-I've got my money on me, mind.

The gent's going to search you now. He'll take everything off you.

You'll get it back when you leave the police station, OK?

-Best of luck.

-Thanks.

Pullen had no further action taken against him for one of the assaults.

However, he appeared before the Magistrates' Court for the other,

where he pleaded guilty and was fined £160.

Swansea Custody Unit is one of the busiest in South Wales.

You guys attacked me, yeah?

You guys attacked me!

-Calm down!

-SHOUTING CONTINUES

Serving a huge area from Gower to Neath, it's open 24/7.

And with 28 cells to monitor,

it's always a busy time for the custody officers.

Why are you venting all your frustration to me and my staff?

Because your staff locked me up.

-This is where you have charged me.

-Listen, listen, listen. Calm...

-Are you going to calm down?

-I am calm.

-I am calm.

-Lower your voice, then.

-I'm angry!

-Lower your voice.

Sergeant Derwin Thomas has just clocked on for his 12-hour shift.

Some are quite jovial when they get arrested,

others are quite, er, vocal

and others are quite downright rude and violent and all the rest of it.

But that's the nature of the job, isn't it?

They're the bad guys. We're the good guys.

As Sergeant Thomas sorts out his detainee,

his colleague, Sergeant John Richards,

also has his first suspect of the shift.

-Oh, good morning, sir.

-All right, my friend?

Um, can you just go over this for me, please?

Yes, we were called to Rockwell, door staff at the scene.

The gentleman and his friend go into a cubicle, he was searched.

After search, a small bag of white powder was found in his pocket

and he's told us it's cocaine,

so he's been arrested for possession of class A.

-Understand that?

-Yes, sir.

I'm authorising your detention in order for the officers

to secure evidence in relation to that allegation.

-Have you been drinking?

-Yes, sir.

-I understand you're a soldier?

-Yes, sir.

-Where are you based?

Brecon, sir.

-How long have you been in the army, Delyn?

-Three years, sir.

Never been arrested before?

-Er, second time, sir.

-When was the first time?

-I was arrested for assault, sir.

-How long ago was that?

-Um, a couple of months.

-Ago?

-Er, yes, sir.

You understand that we're going to have to tell your barrack commander?

Yes, sir. Is this necessary, sir?

-Yes, it's the law, my friend.

-OK, sir.

Any... Any military personnel - navy, marines, army, air force -

we've gotta notify... We've gotta notify their agencies.

-Yes, sir.

-Right. There we are, take him down.

-Cheers now.

-This way?

Yeah, this way.

'I don't think they'll be happy with him being in possession of cocaine.

'Not a serving soldier anyway, no. This could affect his whole career.'

And you can see the attitude of the soldiers when they come in.

They're all drilled, "Sir. No, sir. Three bags full, sir. Yes, sir."

Hello, Sergeant Richards from Swansea Police Station, South Wales.

We've got army personnel that's been arrested.

He was arrested for possession of a controlled drug, cocaine.

Ten years in this department, 20 years in the police.

I do enjoy working in here, but...

the problem is, you don't see people at their best.

It blights our perception of the world, unfortunately.

Reserve Fusilier Dylan Phillips was later released from police custody.

He was given a caution for possession of a class A drug.

It will remain on his police record for life.

South Wales Police cover over 800 square miles,

from the hustle and bustle of the city centres

to one of the most popular seaside destinations.

Mumbles.

Gosh, do you know? I didn't realise how far across Port Talbot was.

I thought it was more, like, over there.

PC Andy Phillips is the new neighbourhood beat manager

and he's been working with PCSO Joelle Borthwick for just a month.

This morning, they're off to visit a local nursery.

They get to take their fingerprints, which they can keep on a key ring.

They love that, that's their favourite.

And they get to play with handcuffs and shields and uniform.

When I was young, I was too afraid to even look a policeman in the eye.

In fact, I'd cross the street just in case they discovered, you know,

I hadn't tidied my bedroom or I had been naughty

or something silly like that.

Hello. Hello.

-SHE GASPS

-What have you got on?

Are you a policeman?

Oh!

Wow, you look amazing!

I love it.

-Come in.

-Come in!

What do police officers do, then, boys and girls?

Anybody know what police officers do?

-Go on, Breanna.

-Catch bad guys.

Catch bad guys. What happens to the bad guys?

-Where do they go?

-Jail.

-They do, they go to jail.

BUZZ OF CONVERSATION

We are using these ink strips to fingerprint the children,

so they can have a little keepsake.

They love it and...

try and get as dirty as possible, but we are on hand.

SQUEALING AND CHATTER

HE LAUGHS

Often, when we deal with people,

it's at a crisis point in their lives.

So it's nice to deal with people who are, you know, innocent youngsters

who are just generally happy and just pleased to see you.

Who would like to see the police car?

-ALL: Me!

-Yeah?

LAUGHTER AND SQUEALING

Who wants to have a look? Do you want to get in?

-I'm getting in.

-Who wants to get in?

-Me too.

SIREN WAILS

LITTLE GIRL SQUEALS

Oh, my gosh!

You've got it on backwards, son, put it on the other way.

There we are.

It's lovely to see the kids enjoying it and...

-HORN BEEPS

-..like I was saying earlier,

breaking down some of the barriers,

so that we're not this mysterious figure to them

and they can come and interact with us and say hello.

SIREN WAILS

Neighbourhood officers have to know their communities,

whether they're on patrol in the countryside or the city.

In Swansea, officers Kath Thomas and Kerry Roberts

are back on their morning beat.

You know we're going to tell you this is not a skate park, don't you?

-Next time.

-Sorry, boys.

-You'll have to do it somewhere else.

Sorry. It wasn't even much skating.

He's a skater. And a very good one. Far better than you.

BOYS CHATTER, KATH LAUGHS

-Looks can be deceiving.

-Just cos he's old!

LAUGHTER

For PC Thomas, this job is a family affair.

My sister joined the police and my father made me apply,

helped practise an interview and then I got in.

And that was it, really.

And I didn't enjoy my first year, so I thought I'd leave.

I think I was just really naive and I didn't have a clue,

but then I came to town to work and I loved it.

-What do you like about working in town?

-Do you know? It's just busy

and there's loads going on and you build up rapports with people.

I don't know, it's just stuff's happening all the time,

which is what you want, otherwise your day drags.

-A couple of the boys there.

-Yeah.

Working in the city centre means the officers often deal

with vulnerable teenagers and the problems that their lives can bring.

-Wait.

-She had me done for assault and robbery, right...

-BOY:

-And me.

-..when I didn't do it.

-And me.

-She assaulted and robbed me.

She's wearing my clothes!

-KERRY:

-You've been with her all the time.

You didn't need to shout at her then.

The girl at the centre of this disagreement is Rebecca,

who PC Thomas knows well.

-What happened? Last time we spoke, you were good friends.

-Long story.

So we're going to come and get the clothes back tomorrow, are we?

There we are, sorted. In the meantime, stay away from her, yeah?

AUDIO DIPS

The row blows over,

but Officer Thomas is still worried about Rebecca.

She can't do much about her situation.

But she can help her get a meal from a food bank at a local mosque.

What did you tell me to put on last time?

You can't even remember, cos you were so off your head.

-More biscuits?

-Yeah.

So no pasta, biscuits, sweets, extra.

Tell them what you can't cook, if you're having trouble cooking, OK?

All right. Are you OK to walk through town?

Do you want me to ask CCTV to watch you to make sure you're safe?

ON RADIO: 'Yes, thank you. Very much appreciated.'

What is your kind of worry with her?

She's vulnerable and open to all sorts of exploitation.

Because of her need and her addiction to any sort of drugs.

And I don't think Swansea's any different to any other city.

I'd imagine that every city's got the same problem.

In the evening, Swansea's Wind Street is

the popular place for party people.

But not all nights out end up with just a hangover.

Terrible, isn't it?

Police Constable Dale Davis is on the case of a city centre assault.

He works in the Hub, the department responsible

for investigating suspected criminals held in police custody.

This has happened in a nightclub in Swansea,

which, as Tom Jones will tell you, "It's not unusual".

Not on a weekend.

-HE WINCES

-There you go, and that is

Courtney, who's, er... victim number one.

The man they suspect has committed the assault

is already in police custody.

Now, Officer Davis has just 24 hours to investigate what has happened

before a decision is made to charge or release him.

The clock is ticking.

This is going to be the victim, we're now looking at him.

You can see that the person he's assaulted has absolutely...

nothing to do with anything

and couldn't be misconstrued as being anything to do with anything.

It's a completely nasty, unprovoked attack.

So I'm going to try and get a statement off the third victim...

-Victim.

-..and also, while I'm there,

I'm going to try and get some brief statements

from the people who were friends of him.

Dealing with criminals, suspects and witnesses

is part of the policing job.

PC Davis joined the force 11 years ago.

I've had loads of jobs, from being a motorbike shop owner,

working in the local education authority,

working for the local prison, um...

and I think joining when I did was fantastic,

cos I had enough life experience

to marry my life and the police together,

as opposed to letting the police swamp my life, which is easy to do,

I think, if you're a bit younger.

This morning, PC Davis is calling on the victim,

who was the third person to be assaulted.

He is also an eyewitness

to the first punch thrown on the CCTV footage.

Morning.

Meanwhile, the suspect, Oliver Torkington,

remains in police custody

as the evidence in the case continues to be gathered.

'It's nice to come out and take statements off people,'

who are the genuinely nice people who are looking out for each other.

And then, you've got idiots like that who just shouldn't be there,

shouldn't be in circulation.

You do build a mental picture of people.

Of course you do, I'm human, it's as simple as that.

I've got all his previous convictions, previous history,

talked to all the people who dealt with him last night,

talked to police officers who arrested him.

Sometimes, I talk to police officers who have dealt with him in the past.

But when you sit down, be prepared for anything, basically.

When you sit down and sit in front of them, you've got a job to do.

I doesn't matter what I think of him or whatever.

I'm here to, um, to find out the truth of what's gone on.

Unfortunately, I think I know what's gone on, and I've got CCTV.

All good fun.

Won't be long, just stay down here now until we get the laptop out.

-It's only CCTV.

-Cheers.

Back on the streets are officers Thomas and Roberts.

There's no denying it.

You know, quiet shifts are few and far between.

-Do you agree?

-I think the violent crime on Wind Street has reduced.

-Yes.

-When we first started doing that,

-it was fighting all the time, wasn't it?

-Yes.

But I think people have now realised on Wind Street that the CCTV

-is very good...

-Yeah.

-..that things are chased up and not forgotten,

um, and there's enough police there to police it properly, you know?

It's not long into their shift when they get their first call.

-ON RADIO:

-'A white male, aged approximately 50 years of age,

'lying on the pavement outside the premises. Possibly homeless male.

'Staff have managed... well, tried to speak to him,

'but he doesn't appear to be responding.'

A man, who's believed to be homeless,

-has been found unconscious on the pavement.

-Andy, all right?

Could you sit up for me, buddy?

-Is it Dean?

-Have you been drinking or have you taken something else?

SLURRED SPEECH

-Andy, you'll have to get up, kiddo.

-Could you sit up for us, then?

What's happening?

Have you taken something else?

-I'm OK, yeah.

-We can't leave you alone, cos you're vulnerable, And'.

Oh, I'm vulnerable, am I? That's why I get smashed, innit!

I get punched. I can take it, though.

-I don't give you

-BLEEP!

-Don't put your finger in my face.

-I'm sorry.

-I don't give you

-BLEEP!

-Don't give me

-BLEEP!

-No-one's giving you

-BLEEP!

But I'm all right. I'm OK.

Andrew is just 42 years old

and is well-known to the officers

as one of the city's regular homeless inhabitants.

Because of the state you're in, we're going to have to get, um...

get the ambulance to check you out before we let you go, all right?

We know Andrew, he's been around for a few years.

His dad used to drink on the street with him,

but he passed away recently.

He was a bit of a character, his dad was.

What was his father's name? I've forgotten.

-Arch...

-Cookie Man?

-Keith Cook?

-Archie.

Archie.

Yeah, he was around for years as well.

He's in a bit of a mess today. You don't often see him this bad.

Homelessness is a problem in Swansea, like many big urban areas.

The city has one of the highest percentages of its population

sleeping rough in Wales.

-Who found me?

-We did.

-Oh, not you!

-KATH LAUGHS

It had to be you, didn't it?! You... It was you who found me?

See? I'm always here to look after you, Andrew.

You were lying there with your coleslaw and chips.

The paramedics want Andrew to go to hospital for further checks,

but he refuses, and the officers have no other choice

than to let him return to the streets.

Come on, I'll show you where you are.

'A lot of resources. We've probably been here for about 25 minutes.'

Yeah, this is what we do.

Take it easy now, right?

Walk on the pavement.

Back at Swansea Central Station,

PC Dale Davis has gathered his evidence and is ready to interview

the man detained for the nightclub assault - Oliver Torkington.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Aye-aye.

-Aye-aye. How are you, fella?

-Sound.

What we've got to do is get you up there, go through your rights again,

make sure you're happy enough and we're happy enough

for you to get an interview and we'll crack on.

You want to do that? Let's have a word with the sergeant.

He will determine whether you're fit for interview or not.

Right, come up and have a word with the sergeant there, then.

-Everything all right?

-Are you all right?

-Yeah.

Do you understand why you're at the police station?

-Do you remember last night much?

-No.

-You've been arrested on suspicion of assault, OK?

-OK.

But I think, as the investigation has developed,

there are a couple of other assaults...

Yeah, there's three assaults in all.

Three people got hit yesterday,

so that's what we're investigating and that's why you're here.

So that's why you're detained in the police station and, obviously,

-we need to question you regarding the allegations, OK?

-Yes.

Eyewitness statements taken, CCTV footage gathered.

It's time for the suspected man to answer Officer Davis' questions.

You are here, cos you've been arrested on suspicion

of assault times three.

It happened in the early hours of this morning in Swansea.

When it comes to assaulting these boys,

er, it's a hard question, but do you deny it?

No comment. I'm not in a position to say.

-I don't believe I did, but...

-Right.

I mean, that's the more honest answer, isn't it?

"I'm not any position to say, I don't remember."

No, I just don't believe I did and, if I have,

it would've been in self-defence,

-cos I'm not going to attack two random people for no reason.

-Right.

'Started off as a definite no comment in the interview.'

That didn't last.

Saw CCTV, kept waving between "no comment" and "can't remember".

What he's saying is, "Well, if I did do it,

"I must have felt under threat and they were coming to me."

Hopefully, he'll think next time before he goes out.

I think before he goes out isn't his problem.

It's when he's out he needs to do some thinking,

but he's only drinking,

so it's not working out for the boy, I don't think.

Later, at court, Torkington pleaded guilty to all three assaults.

He received a suspended sentence

and was ordered to undertake a course in anger management.

In Mumbles, PC Andy Phillips is

getting to know his team and his patch.

With PCSO Vicky Cassidy, he's off to visit a day centre

for pensioners to give them a chance to have a cuppa with a copper.

Do they work in twos or...?

'It's a good opportunity for us'

to come down and link in with them, so that they have access to us.

Um, can ask questions and report to us any problems.

I had a man knocking at the door...

-Right.

-..and when I... This was before I was in a chair.

-Yeah?

-And I went to the door and he was collecting money.

-A bit worried.

-A bit worried.

-A bit suspicious.

I'd much rather come up and make sure everyone was all right

than, you know, people take your money or all sorts, isn't it?

-And they'll try all sorts.

-Vulnerable people, especially.

Especially so, yes.

Anybody who comes to my house will have a very short shrift.

-I'm living... My daughter sees them off.

-I can't open the door to them.

Brilliant.

I've been with my wife for 12 years and married for about four or five.

-Can I have a picture? I'm holding a policeman's hand.

-Yes, you can.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Picture's being taken.

Oh, they're great. They're really good for our morale.

They do treat you as people. You know, responsible.

Most people haven't got time for old people these days.

No, I really mean that. I'm not being unkind.

But there are lots of non-caring people about.

-Bye.

-Very nice to meet you all.

-Bye.

-Thank you for having us, thank you.

-Bye.

I enjoy talking to the police anyway.

Always been very friendly with the police.

Not afraid to dial 999.

'These are people who, if it weren't for this meeting,'

would spend pretty much all day, every day sat in their houses

with very little external contact.

-So it's about reaching those hard-to-reach groups...

-Yeah.

..and stopping them becoming victims of crime, because...

-They are so vulnerable.

-Yes. When something happens to us,

we might be more resilient and able to weather it

than someone who's in their 80s, 90s, lives alone.

And so, the impact of that crime can be a lot more for them

-than it might be on someone like ourselves.

-Yeah.

Doesn't matter what you want, I'm afraid.

Don't pull my arm.

SLURRED SPEECH

In the custody suite, the team have their hands full.

MAN SHOUTS, LANGUAGE BLEEPED

Sometimes, having a sense of humour helps the situation

for Sergeants Thomas and Richards.

'We laugh all the time.'

-All the time.

-Around each other?

-Yeah. And we do a lot together.

We go mountaineering and we go cycling together

and running together and stuff.

It's like a bit of a bromance, really, innit? It's not, though.

This custody unit processes 7,500 people every year

and each suspect brings a different challenge.

She's been out with friends and she's decided to get so drunk

that she thought it was all right to dance in the middle of the road

at night-time in black in the middle of the street,

so she had enough chances,

took her to the train station, tried to get her to go back

where she's living and it wasn't happening.

Up we go. We're going to go and see the Custody Sergeant now.

-You need to walk down there. See the...?

-Hello, Baldy.

-Go and follow them.

-Baldy.

-Oh...

-Don't fall over. Go on, that way.

It's time for the dancing detainee

-to be booked in by Sergeant John Richards.

-Yeah?

The officer's explained to me the circumstances to, er,

why you were arrested, right? And he's advised me that he feels

it's necessary to arrest you, because, er,

in your current condition, you're a danger to yourself.

-I'm a gob-

-BLEEP,

-that's what it is.

No, that's not why you've been arrested.

-Yeah, it's because I'm a gobby

-BLEEP.

-What are you in Swansea for?

-Getting pissed.

You've achieved that, well done. So you can stay here tonight,

sober up and we'll let you out in the morning, OK?

-All right? Yeah?

-Can I take her to the toilet?

-Yes, please do.

-This way, love.

-Good, I'm going to pee myself.

Don't do that.

-That lump there.

-'You're not their best friend,'

but you're here to look after them,

so that's the way it is, unfortunately.

SHE SOBS

It's a different type of stress in here.

It can be really busy and a pressure cooker,

but the good thing about working in here is, once you walk out the door,

that's it, it's finished.