0:00:02 > 0:00:03Get out on the floor, do it now!
0:00:03 > 0:00:06The Special Constabulary is the nation's volunteer police force.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09- Do you know the gent? - Watch your speed.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12It's made up of over 20,000 members of the public...
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Ah, he's gone down there.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16..who give their time to fight crime in their communities.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Get out the car. Get out of the car!
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Specials combine their day jobs...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Stage, please!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26- ..and home lives... - There's a good boy.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..with being serving police officers on the front line.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35Coming up, Gary joins a plainclothes operation to hunt down a burglar.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Hello, it's the police. Could you come to the door, please?
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..Susan deals with an unlikely shoplifter...
0:00:41 > 0:00:45I've never come across a shoplifter before who was a pensioner.
0:00:45 > 0:00:51..and tempers are frayed, as Harvey investigates an alleged assault.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- BLEEP.- Why don't you just shut up? - Cool.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Tonight, Acting Special Inspector Harvey Barker
0:01:10 > 0:01:15and Special Sergeant Andrew Lawrence are on patrol in Ely town centre,
0:01:15 > 0:01:20a typically quiet neighbourhood, except, that is, on a Friday night.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24This street is where the majority of the trouble is locally.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27You have the two clubs which open and close
0:01:27 > 0:01:30within short succession of each other and you've got
0:01:30 > 0:01:35a kebab shop and a taxi rank, which is pretty much a recipe for disaster.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39So, there's usually a fight between the kebab shop and the taxi rank.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42It can get quite explosive, but usually just
0:01:42 > 0:01:44a bit of presence and you can get rid of them.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Lots of talking. Little fighting, unless we have to.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52After working with each other for over two years,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56the officers have developed a very special bond.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Our back-up has just arrived...
0:01:58 > 0:02:04It's the Flying Squad. Seriously, lads, we haven't got anything.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06The banter is really important.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09If you didn't have that element of camaraderie and banter,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12everything would be twice as long and twice as boring.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14I love working with Andrew.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16He's a cracking bloke, he's just fantastic.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Great sense of humour.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20He's old and past it now,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22but apart from that, he's fantastic.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I'll need to empty my bag soon.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Yeah, sorry, Dad.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31- I suppose we could go down Jubilee Gardens.- You old romantic.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35You don't take me out for meals any more. You used to.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37You take me for granted.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42For his day job, Harvey is an IT support consultant.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44We have a joke in the office -
0:02:44 > 0:02:48if something doesn't get done right, no-one is going to die.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51When you're a Special, you don't know what's going to happen.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54He became a Special four years ago
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and has worked his way up to Acting Special Inspector.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59It's something I like doing.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01If there's someone there who needs us
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and there aren't a number of people to do it,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05someone has to go.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06If not me, who?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Back on the beat,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Harvey and Andrew have received a call about a disturbance nearby.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Echo November nine-one, we're in the area on foot, do you want us to go?
0:03:19 > 0:03:22We had a call to say a male had been assaulted in his house
0:03:22 > 0:03:23at the front door.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We were round the corner, on foot, so we legged it to the property.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31When they arrive, officers are already on the scene
0:03:31 > 0:03:36and speaking to the injured man.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40When we arrived at the house, there was a male covered in blood.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45The victim knew his assailant and named them.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49The injured man gives the officers the name of the person
0:03:49 > 0:03:51who allegedly assaulted him.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Ricky, we'll go off and do an area search.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57I put it up on the airwave and one of my colleagues said,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00"Oh, I know who that is and I know where he hangs out," and we were
0:04:00 > 0:04:02round the corner,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04so as soon as we knew roughly where he went,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06it was a quick process to get round the corner
0:04:06 > 0:04:08and close on that area as quickly as possible.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13If it's the person we think it is, they tend to
0:04:13 > 0:04:16congregate round here, at the back of the playing field.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19So we can get some officers down here and maybe contain it.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Have a look and see what's down here.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Just have a look.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28We saw three figures we immediately thought were male,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30so we shouted for them to stop...
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Police officers!
0:04:33 > 0:04:34..and they took off.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37There were three of them,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40so already, I'm thinking, "OK, we're outnumbered."
0:04:40 > 0:04:44I did call for back-up at that particular occasion.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46We closed with them,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50got hands on them as quickly as possible and tried to identify them.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52All right, guys, hands out of your pockets, please.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Where we can see them.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Harvey and Andrew apprehend three young men.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Let's just do this the simple way.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Back-up is on its way.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03But, for now, the Specials are alone
0:05:03 > 0:05:05and need to keep control of the situation.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Take your hands out of your pockets mate, you make me nervous.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Remaining calm and collected, Harvey and Andrew take their details.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19What's your name?
0:05:19 > 0:05:23One of them is the suspect named by the injured man at the house.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26There a communication between you and your partner
0:05:26 > 0:05:28and you think, "Yeah this is the guy we are after."
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Back-up arrives as one man is released.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- See you later, boys. - How come he gets to go?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37..and the Specials are quick to secure the other two suspects.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Just get the cuffs on quick, detain them, stop them from legging it
0:05:41 > 0:05:42or causing us any grief.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48One of the suspects was not chuffed.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50BLEEP
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Calm down and we'll get it sorted.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- How about you- BLEEP- off?
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Why don't you just shut up?
0:05:56 > 0:06:00He was not a happy bunny. He was swearing and being quite aggressive
0:06:00 > 0:06:02and that's quite often a distraction.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04In the back of your mind,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06if they're kicking off,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08it's because they've sometimes got something to hide
0:06:08 > 0:06:10or they're trying to throw you off the scent.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- Calm it down.- These handcuffs aren't going to be on forever.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14And then what you going to do?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Nothing, I'm not threatening,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I'm just saying, these handcuffs aren't going to be on forever.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Threatening or not, the suspects still have to be searched.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26- Stop- BLEEP- rubbing me. I'm not- BLEEP- gay.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30And being searched causes one of the suspects to verbally abuse
0:06:30 > 0:06:32the Specials even more.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36As a Special, Harvey knows he must carefully read the situation
0:06:36 > 0:06:38to make the correct judgement call.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41You try and calm them down.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46They'll peak at some point and it's trying to assess when the peak is.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Wait until they've peaked. And then they'll naturally calm down.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52You never let someone get the better of you,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55you never let someone draw you out.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Its just not the way it works.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Going to rub you up the way you rubbed me up?
0:06:59 > 0:07:00BLEEP
0:07:00 > 0:07:03You had a good old grope, didn't you?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Harvey knows the worst thing he could do is take the bait
0:07:09 > 0:07:11and lose his temper.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13I'm big enough and ugly enough to look after myself.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16They can throw all the abuse at me they like.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19But it doesn't bother me.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21You were definitely bullied at school, weren't you?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Did they beat you silly?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27When I was a kid, I'd never have backchatted a police officer.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32I'd have got a clip around the ear. We've really, really lost that.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36One of the suspects, who has been named by the injured
0:07:36 > 0:07:40man in the house, starts talking about what's been going on.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42He punched me first. See them people over there?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47There's about 20 people up there and every single one of them
0:07:47 > 0:07:48will say he punched me first.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52He rang me up...
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Sssshhhhhh.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Stop now, tell us about it later.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I'm the victim! I'm here with these silly things on.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Listen, listen. Wait.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The Specials try to calm the man and encourage him to wait
0:08:06 > 0:08:08until he's being interviewed at the police station
0:08:08 > 0:08:10to give his version of events.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13If they want to start blabbing and want me to take notes,
0:08:13 > 0:08:14that's not my priority.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17My priority is contain the situation,
0:08:17 > 0:08:22make sure they don't get away from me and cause anyone any harm.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27A car arrives to take the two suspects to custody...
0:08:29 > 0:08:33..where they're searched again and booked in.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Their clothes are also taken.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I take it you're going to want to seize his clothing
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- for evidential reasons?- Yes.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42I've seen the whole spectrum in custody.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I've seen people crying, people wet themselves
0:08:44 > 0:08:49and I have seen people pull a weapon or go for the sergeant.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54I've seen the panic alarm pushed. I've seen everything in custody.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56It never ceases to amaze me,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59really, everyone's different, every situation is different.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Thankfully, the suspect who was agitated
0:09:03 > 0:09:06and swearing has now calmed down.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08What's wrong with that?
0:09:08 > 0:09:10I was going to say you could start a trend.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13I don't know, are these supposed to be a small?
0:09:13 > 0:09:16I'm not sure they're really your size, in particular.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I think that they're your size.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20"No," he says!
0:09:22 > 0:09:25After taking statements from all sides, it was
0:09:25 > 0:09:29decided there was insufficient evidence and the case was dropped.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33You can't treat everyone as a criminal or as a scumbag.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37We meet people who are unpleasant, we arrest people all the time,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40but you have to treat everyone with respect.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Every second of Harvey and Andrew's shift has been volunteered free of charge.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48And tonight's incident proves the Specials aren't just
0:09:48 > 0:09:51an important part of our police force - they're essential.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53We're needed.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56There are a lot of people who I hear say,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58"Do we really need volunteers in this day and age?
0:09:58 > 0:10:02"Just get more regular officers on the streets.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04But at the same time, on a Friday night, sometimes
0:10:04 > 0:10:05when we go out, we'll double
0:10:05 > 0:10:08the number of officers on the street.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12And you wouldn't get that if you didn't have the Specials.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Someone has to do it. Why not us?
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Specials are unpaid volunteers who work alone or alongside
0:10:25 > 0:10:28the regular police to fight crime in their communities.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I don't want to see you walking on the main road again.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- Come on. - Recovery's obviously en route.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Specials are not police community support officers.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40They are fully-fledged members of the police force, who have
0:10:40 > 0:10:43the same powers in law as their paid colleagues,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45including the power of arrest.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48- Stop it!- Move over.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50No, no, no, no!
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Within many Special Constabularies, officers can rise through
0:10:53 > 0:10:58the ranks from Constable all the way up to Chief Specials Officer.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59Ouch, I found a thorn.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Let me remind you, you're under arrest, anything you say will be written down.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Specials usually work 16 hours a month or more as volunteers
0:11:06 > 0:11:09and undertake all kinds of duties, from policing community events
0:11:09 > 0:11:13to arresting hardened criminals.
0:11:22 > 0:11:258:30 on a cold winter's morning.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Special Inspector Gary Cowling is working with the Impact Team,
0:11:29 > 0:11:34a plainclothes unit who focus on tracking down known criminals.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39The Impact Team in Peterborough is based around following
0:11:39 > 0:11:41and monitoring people they know commit crime.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45They're constantly looking for people they know are wanted.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Gary is crewed up with regular officer PC Craig Trevor,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and today they are after a burglar who has stolen from commercial
0:11:52 > 0:11:55premises over the Christmas period.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Officers investigating the case have found DNA evidence -
0:11:59 > 0:12:03blood left on a bike at the scene of the burglary.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05DNA is great evidence, because of the way it's unique.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08It's impossible to say it's somebody else's.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12It's a good part of the start of any investigation.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15The Impact Team are a plainclothes unit.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18They have a list of the suspected burglars' known associates
0:12:18 > 0:12:20and their addresses.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Today's search is a process of elimination -
0:12:23 > 0:12:26visiting each address, looking for clues.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30We first went to see a person at a location where this male
0:12:30 > 0:12:32isn't allowed to go into.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35We did believe the male may have been there.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39When we got there, PC Trevor went to the front door,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43I went round the back to make sure he didn't escape over the back.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49The officers are hoping the suspect is staying
0:12:49 > 0:12:51with a friend at this house.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52They know someone is in,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56but they're not sure if it's the man they are after.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Because it's not his registered address, our powers of entry
0:13:02 > 0:13:03are very limited.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06The bedroom where he should be sleeping, the window is open
0:13:06 > 0:13:08so there's going to be someone in there.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11We'll just see what reaction we get
0:13:11 > 0:13:13when Craig knocks on the front door.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Gary waits for signs of movement while Craig investigates inside.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23In a situation like that,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26you are hoping the male will come that way. Everybody likes to get
0:13:26 > 0:13:30the arrest, everybody likes to deal with the person you're after..
0:13:30 > 0:13:32So an ideal situation for me would be the male coming out of
0:13:32 > 0:13:36a back window or a back door, I would have then got the arrest.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37I could have then dealt with it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40That back bedroom window's open
0:13:40 > 0:13:43but I've not seen any movement. Don't know what you've got at the front.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Over the radio, Craig confirms the suspect is not at the address...
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- Yes, yes we'll come round. - ..but someone who knows him is.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54We told the person that it would be better if he handed himself in.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57We explained it would be dealt with a lot more quickly
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and we made it clear we had a whole team working on finding
0:14:00 > 0:14:03this male and that we wouldn't stop until we had found him.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08We've got a few more locations where he might be,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10so we can carry on looking.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13One address down and no arrest.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20For his day job, Gary is the manager of his local supermarket.
0:14:20 > 0:14:26My day-to-day job is about customer service and leading staff.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28That's £2.38, please.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31He became a Special nine years ago, when his boss became
0:14:31 > 0:14:35a regular officer and persuaded him to volunteer.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39I saw at the time that it would give me better prospects at work.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I wanted to become higher up in the management chain and knew that
0:14:42 > 0:14:46joining as a Special would improve my people skills,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48my management skills and my leadership skills.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53When I signed up to join, I was still at that unsure stage whether I'd like it or not.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57As soon as I started the training, it had become a passion.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Juggling his day job, volunteering, and home life with fiancee Hayley
0:15:02 > 0:15:07is a real challenge for Gary and one which is about to get a lot harder.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Myself and Hayley are expecting a baby,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12which is due in four weeks' time.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It's the first child for both of us,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18however, it will have an impact on my Specialing duties.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It is nice to think that what he does will, long-term,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26make our community a safer place
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and obviously bringing a baby into that community
0:15:29 > 0:15:31is ideal for what we really want.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36It will be more difficult. I'll balance a job, the Specialing,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40a partner and a child, so I'll have an extra element to balance.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45I don't intend to give it up. I just hope I can balance it all properly.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53On the burglar's trail, Gary and Craig have a possible breakthrough.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56My colleague has spotted a car which is known to the Impact Team
0:15:56 > 0:16:00to transport people who do burgling during the day.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03The team are hoping to catch the suspect in the car,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07which is parked near the address of a known associate.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Parking around the corner means they can sit covertly
0:16:10 > 0:16:12and cover one exit route.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14They're waiting for back-up to cover the other.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18I've got it covered from one angle, but I think it's going to be
0:16:18 > 0:16:20driving out someone who's wanted in a minute.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24But it's too late, the car has gone.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26He's got to have done a U-turn.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28He's got to have gone out that way.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Gary and the team decide to knock at the associate's address.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:16:42 > 0:16:46There's no answer. Another address down, but no suspect.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49And this time he might have slipped through their fingers.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52But the team aren't giving up,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54and back on the road, their diligence pays off....
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Yeah, OK, I'll get him to spin the car around.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02..as they receive new information of the suspect's possible whereabouts.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05We'll be there in 30 seconds.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09After we got that information, we went to the address we'd been given.
0:17:09 > 0:17:15Myself and PC Trevor went to the front. Other officers covered rear access and exits to the house.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23We made sure the man wouldn't escape. Colleagues from the Impact Team
0:17:23 > 0:17:24were all positioned on roads nearby
0:17:24 > 0:17:29and some were near the back garden, so we could see if they'd escape through the back door.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33There's someone in there, cos I can hear a kid.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Police officers. Get your mum to open the door.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Hello, it's the police. Can you come to the door, please?
0:17:46 > 0:17:50It was concerning at this time that the door was not being answered.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55We knew he knew we were police.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58We knew this male was probably inside.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00We believed he would try to escape
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and that's why the delay was being caused.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Two people moving, I need you to come to the door, it's the police.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Can you come and open the door?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12It's not my house and the person that owns it is asleep.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14That's OK, but can you open the door, please?
0:18:14 > 0:18:18When the female said she couldn't open the door for what was
0:18:18 > 0:18:22pathetic excuses, it was obvious that the male was in there
0:18:22 > 0:18:24or someone who was wanted was in the address
0:18:24 > 0:18:28and she was making excuses, hoping we'd go away or give them enough time to escape.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32We just need to talk to you, you need to open the door.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Police, no issues with people who live here.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Then another officer witnessed males leave the back of the house,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41one of them being the male we were after.
0:18:45 > 0:18:52He then jumped over two or three fences, to get to him quickly.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02He was compliant and he was arrested.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05The Impact Team have arrested their man.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08An arrest like this shows how important Specials are to
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Cambridge Constabulary.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12I was an extra body, I could cover a different exit.
0:19:12 > 0:19:20Operations like this work better if they can get Specials on their team.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25Today's operation makes a change from Gary's usual weekend
0:19:25 > 0:19:28city-centre shifts.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30That job that day was an excellent job,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32one of the best I've ever been involved in
0:19:32 > 0:19:36We were looking for a high-profile criminal who causes Cambridge
0:19:36 > 0:19:42Constabulary a huge amount of problems, so it was a great shift, a great day,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45and it was really good that we got this man into custody in the end.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48The man was charged with burglary and theft
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and he was found to have breached a restraining order.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52He pleaded guilty in court
0:19:52 > 0:19:55and was given a six-month suspended sentence.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07Special Constable Susan Burberry is on the road with PC James Carradice.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11At 21, she's already been volunteering for two years...
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Yeah, you can do that.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17..but feels she still has a lot to learn.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22I see the regular officers who have a bit more experience,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25who do an absolute brilliant job and they know exactly what to do.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I've improved a lot since starting.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32But there's always more to learn from the people around me
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and the other officers.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Susan is a chemistry student.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44I'm mixing dry ice and acetone. And it's minus 78 degrees.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49She volunteers with the Specials during her break from university.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53At home, Susan is the eldest of four siblings
0:20:53 > 0:20:56and has a close relationship with her grandma, Freda.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00I've lived with my grandma since I was two years old.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04She's always been around and she was a primary school teacher.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09So, she's strict but makes things fun and, yeah, she's brilliant.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15She always says she enjoys her job,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19but how on Earth she enjoys it, I have no idea.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23When I was that age, I certainly wouldn't have wanted to do that,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27but we need people like Susan.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32This evening Susan and regular officer, PC James Carradice,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36have received a call about a shoplifter at a local supermarket.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39There are a lot of calls to shoplifting offences.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41There's no such thing as a typical shoplifter.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44You've got people of all ages, both genders, all races.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47They're all doing it for their own reasons. Sometimes they'll
0:21:47 > 0:21:50take a small amount of stuff, sometimes they'll take loads.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52The Specials arrive at the supermarket.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54They speak to security staff, who have detained
0:21:54 > 0:21:57the shoplifter in the room next door.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02- What's the value of the items in the green bag?- Er, £296.50.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05The woman paid for some groceries,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09but attempted to steal around £300-worth of whisky.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12I was very surprised at the amount she'd taken
0:22:12 > 0:22:14because she wasn't known to the police.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18The security guard also tells the officers the woman
0:22:18 > 0:22:20has admitted to her crime.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23She's admitted everything to you, has she? All right. Super.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Shoplifters are usually repeat offenders.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It's a compulsion - they tend to do it repeatedly
0:22:29 > 0:22:32and it's quite hard to get people to break the cycle of shoplifting.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37The officers don't know if this shoplifter has offended before.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Hello, how are you?
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- Fine, thank you.- You know why we're here, don't you?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46She is almost 70 years old.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50I've never come across a shoplifter before who was a pensioner.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55I was surprised, she was very small and, obviously, elderly.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59So security says you've admitted to them that you did take
0:22:59 > 0:23:02the items, that you did conceal them and you left the store with them?
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Yes. I feel embarrassed and shameful.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11I did feel sorry for her, in some ways, because she seemed
0:23:11 > 0:23:15very embarrassed that she'd done it, she seemed very sorry.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18She might have admitted it, but the officers try to find out
0:23:18 > 0:23:21if there's a motive for the crime.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23One of the questions that I'm going to have is why.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Is there something that caused you to do it?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29That's what I'm concerned about.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Why did it happen?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32I don't know.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34You don't know.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Because you paid for the other things,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39but decided not to pay for some of it.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Was that because you didn't have enough money to pay?
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I don't know.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49I wish I had paid, instead of getting myself into trouble.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55She told us she didn't know why she had stolen the goods.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Obviously, she wasn't giving us the whole picture
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and she wasn't giving us satisfactory answers.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Have you had any previous with the police, at all?
0:24:04 > 0:24:05No.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Nothing ever? How are you feeling right now?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- I'm fine.- Feeling fine. OK.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Let me do a few checks, I'll pop out with my colleague and have a chat,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15then we'll come in here and we'll see what going to happen next, OK?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- Give us a few minutes.- Right.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22James and Susan have discretion about how they deal with the case.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Their options include giving a caution or arresting the woman.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29It's not an easy decision.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33She surely can't not be arrested when she's taken that much.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35It might be, if she's got no history,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37we might be able to do something here.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Taking someone that age into custody, we'd have to justify that.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45If we can do something here, I'd rather do that than take her in.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48It could be that she'd be there for a good few hours.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I initially wanted to arrest her.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53It seemed unlikely that someone's first shoplifting offence
0:24:53 > 0:24:55would involve that much stock.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59With £300 of goods to consider, including a large
0:24:59 > 0:25:04quantity of whisky, James phones his shift sergeant to get advice.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10The main concern was because she was nearly 70 years old,
0:25:10 > 0:25:14we didn't want to take her into custody and put her in a cell
0:25:14 > 0:25:17and find that there were some serious medical complications.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Sarge is more than happy to do either an RJ or a caution.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Let's ask these guys what they want and we'll go from there.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27- Fair enough.- I don't think its proportionate to arrest her when she's so old.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31They need to weigh up their options.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33As a representative of the supermarket,
0:25:33 > 0:25:37the opinion of the security guard will play a factor.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39What do you guys want out of this?
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Taking into account her age and the way she's acted since you stopped her.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- Yeah, a caution.- Yeah? OK.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50After taking everything into consideration,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Susan and James come to a decision.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55I'm going to caution.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58This would be a form of a criminal record.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01You don't have to accept it, but if you don't, we have to go to
0:26:01 > 0:26:05the police station and do some more there, so I think this is a good option.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10It was a difficult decision not to arrest her,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14but I think it was definitely the best option,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16considering her age.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19You clearly know what you did was wrong today.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22I think it was one of those one-off crazy moments that won't
0:26:22 > 0:26:25happen again and I'm pleased that we've dealt with it in this way.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I'm very sorry what I did
0:26:29 > 0:26:33and I'm very embarrassed, anyway, for you to come to talk to me.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37It is what it is, isn't it?
0:26:37 > 0:26:41Arresting certainly is not the only option, even in situations
0:26:41 > 0:26:45when so much property has been taken.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- Thank you very much. - Thank you. Cheers.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I think pretty much every job does teach you something as a Special
0:26:50 > 0:26:53so you're always coming across new types of jobs,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55new experiences.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58The fact that I see people around me doing great jobs motivates me
0:26:58 > 0:27:00to be a better Special.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd