0:00:02 > 0:00:03Get on the floor, do it now!
0:00:03 > 0:00:07The Special Constabulary is the nation's volunteer police force.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09- Do you know the gent? - Watch your speed.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13It's made up of over 20,000 members of the public...
0:00:13 > 0:00:14He's gone down there.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17..who give their time to fight crime in their communities.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Out! Get out of 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.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Coming up...
0:00:32 > 0:00:35A routine stop-and-search gets heated for Kirsti.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38- Yes, you- BLEEP- did!
0:00:38 > 0:00:43Steve leads the specials as they help police a demonstration.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46A lot of people start to get carried along by the crowd
0:00:46 > 0:00:49and they start to see red mist.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Nazi scum! Off our streets!
0:00:52 > 0:00:56And Tony comes to the rescue of an elderly lady.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00She's on the bed. Keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04They need medical attention and if that means the police service
0:01:04 > 0:01:06have to enter the property, then so be it.
0:01:19 > 0:01:216pm.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Special Sergeant Kirsti Bruce is attending an operation briefing,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29aimed at tackling a surge of burglaries in the Cambridge area.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33This is the last 14 days, serious crime across Cambridge city.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35We're getting a real spike of offending.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The purpose of the operation was to provide
0:01:38 > 0:01:42high visibility patrols in burglary hotspots,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45so that the public knew we were doing something about it
0:01:45 > 0:01:48and criminals knew that we were around.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53One of our criminals in that area has also come out of jail today,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56so we need to be keeping an eye out for him.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00And that's it, really, guys, so let's get out there and let's do it.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09In her day job, Kirsti is a nanny, looking after two children.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14I like working with children, I like the things that they come out with.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16You know what your day is going to be -
0:02:16 > 0:02:18it's going to be taking them to school and picking them up -
0:02:18 > 0:02:21but you don't know what they're going to say.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- They just manage to make you smile. - Hello!
0:02:24 > 0:02:29- Move your face back a little bit. He's got a big beak.- Hello!- Hello!
0:02:29 > 0:02:34Both jobs require a lot of patience, a lot of listening,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38a good sense of humour, and telling people what to do.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Tonight, Kirsti is on patrol
0:02:41 > 0:02:44with regular police sergeant Jamie Stenton.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47While patrolling a known crime hotspot,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Sergeant Stenton spots the convicted burglar mentioned in the briefing.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55He was released from prison earlier today and is with his girlfriend.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- What, we haven't done nothing! - Keep it down!
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- No!- Keep it down!- We're allowed to party.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03All we wanted to do was have a chat with them
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and possibly search them. It was just...
0:03:07 > 0:03:12a very straightforward situation to start with.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14- What's he done? He's just come out of- BLEEP- prison!
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- No, I will not- BLEEP- speak to no-one.- Speak to my colleague.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20What do you mean, "speak to your colleague"?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- I'm not even wanted anymore. - The man is being compliant,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26but his girlfriend is angry about being stopped by police.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31When someone's being aggressive, the best way is to not rise to it
0:03:31 > 0:03:36and to try and bring them down, calm them down to your level,
0:03:36 > 0:03:41so you can talk about the situation and resolve it as best as possible.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- Do you want to search me?- You don't have to take your coat off.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- Search my coat. There you go. - I will...- Search that there.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Search it. I don't want you feeling me up.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54She was shouting at us, not being particularly abusive,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57but just very loud.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Do you want to check my shoes? There you go. There's one.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Keep your shoes on, you're going to get wet. There's a puddle...
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Hurry up, then, because I'm getting rained on.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07- What did we do to get stopped? Walk down the- BLEEP- road?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Sometimes people can be really compliant
0:04:10 > 0:04:13when you stop them and explain that you're going to search them.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Other times people seem to think that...
0:04:16 > 0:04:20they have to be DOING something wrong.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Why are you stopping me? You can't stop and search anyone for nothing.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27We have to have grounds as to why we want to do it.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32For those two, they were in a well-known burglary hotspot,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35he's a burglar that's just been released from prison.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37I think that gives anyone grounds to stop and search him.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- Because of the area... - Pick my lighter up, please.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- Oi! Hang on a minute!- I said, "Pick my lighter up, please!"
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- Don't tell me what to do!- I didn't say it in a horrible way!
0:04:47 > 0:04:50The woman is becoming increasingly agitated.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53As a special, it is always important to keep your guard up,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57to not relax, because the minute you relax is the minute something
0:04:57 > 0:05:00will happen. You need to constantly watch,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02just look for the little signs
0:05:02 > 0:05:05that can indicate to you that this situation
0:05:05 > 0:05:08could potentially get out of control.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12You will not be dictating to us what we will be doing.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14What I said was, "Can you pick my lighter up, please?"
0:05:14 > 0:05:18I'm not taking orders from you.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Why should I take orders from you when I've done nothing wrong?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25'It does frustrate me when people speak to us and they're rude,'
0:05:25 > 0:05:29they're loud, they're aggressive. I just think there's no need for it.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33I would never dream of speaking to a police officer in that way.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36'We're just doing a job and...'
0:05:36 > 0:05:38when they need us, they'll call us
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and they'll want us to respond quickly and be nice to them,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44so why can't we have that respect back?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Have you got a date of birth?- See ya!
0:05:47 > 0:05:50What's your excuse for arresting me?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- ...Or you will be arrested. - I didn't swear AT you,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55I swore in a sentence! I said...
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Having been searched, the woman is free to go
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and her boyfriend tries to pull her away from the officers.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I want to know why you stopped me. You can't just stop me for nothing.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We'd stopped them we'd searched them, we'd had a chat.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10They were free to go and they started walking away
0:06:10 > 0:06:12but then she came back for a little bit more.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- What's he done? - He's well-known for burglary...
0:06:15 > 0:06:17He's just come out of prison today, yeah?
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And I've come from court the other day. I don't want you floating...
0:06:20 > 0:06:23She was given more than enough warnings,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27and then some, and she still didn't take it.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28She wasn't going to leave.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Yeah? What about it? You can't say that about my brother...
0:06:32 > 0:06:36You're going to stop swearing or you're going to get nicked.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- No!- Last chance.- You're telling me about my brother,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41saying that I'm getting stopped about my brother.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45And I will. I hope this camera's reporting... What's your number?
0:06:45 > 0:06:47- Don't you put your hands on me! Do you understand?- Get off my arm!
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- Get off my arm!- Don't you put your hands on me!
0:06:50 > 0:06:52When she went to grab Jamie,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56that's then going from a verbal to a physical situation,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59which there was just no need for.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- You're under arrest under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. - Why am I arrested?
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Why am I arrested when I only looked at your number?
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- Why? Why am I arrested?- Section 5 of the Public Order Act.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- You had plenty of warnings. - 'Arresting her was the only option.'
0:07:17 > 0:07:19There really was nothing else we could do.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22We were pushed into a corner and that was the only option left.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25The officers put the woman in handcuffs,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28for her own safety, and theirs.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Sergeant Stenton insists she face the patrol car
0:07:31 > 0:07:33for fear of being spat at.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- GET THE- BLEEP- OFF...
0:07:36 > 0:07:39SCREAMING
0:07:39 > 0:07:42MY COAT IS IN MY HAIR!
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- You told us to put it on your head! - Move my- BLEEP- coat!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48You! I said, "Can I turn round?"
0:07:48 > 0:07:50And you go, "No, because you're going to spit at me."
0:07:50 > 0:07:55- Did I- BLEEP- spit at you? YES, YOU DID, YES, YOU- BLEEP- DID!
0:07:55 > 0:08:00- Yes, you did! Yes, you- BLEEP- did! - OK, on the floor.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05INAUDIBLE AND SCREAMING
0:08:05 > 0:08:07I DON'T CARE!
0:08:07 > 0:08:11We tried our best to calm her down, but it just wasn't working.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14The woman is extremely distressed and out of control.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18All the officers can do now is wait for the custody van.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21GET OFF OF ME!
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- Are you really surprised you've been arrested?- I DON'T CARE!
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Being a special is quite similar to being a nanny.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31It's about boundaries, not letting people take too much
0:08:31 > 0:08:33and pushing their luck. It's quite similar
0:08:33 > 0:08:37to working with the public as it is working with children.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- SHUT UP!- If you just calm down...- Why should I calm down?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Because we can't stand you up when you're behaving like this.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48- I'VE DONE NOTHING!- When the van turned up, I was relieved.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- Get the- BLEEP- off me.- Roll her towards me.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54I want to get up myself.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58The woman went to court and pleaded guilty to a public order offence.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02She was fined £50 and ordered to pay an extra £85
0:09:02 > 0:09:05for breaching an existing court order.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08I think the whole situation was a complete waste of police time.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13My training as a special has really helped me deal with
0:09:13 > 0:09:16aggressive behaviour, people that are rude.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I am now used to being shouted at an awful lot.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24So this is just part and parcel of the job and it just doesn't phase me.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Specials are unpaid volunteers who work alone
0:09:33 > 0:09:38or alongside the regular police to fight crime in their communities.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42- Have we got all of them? - I don't want to see you walking on the main road again.- Come on.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43Recovery is obviously en route.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Specials are NOT police community support officers.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49They are fully fledged members of the police force
0:09:49 > 0:09:51who have the same powers in law as their paid colleagues,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54including the power of arrest.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57- Stop it!- Move over!
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- No, no, no, no! - Move out of the way.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Within many special constabularies, officers can rise
0:10:02 > 0:10:07through the ranks from constable all the way to chief specials officer.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Specials work 16 hours a month or more as volunteers
0:10:15 > 0:10:17and undertake all kinds of duties...
0:10:17 > 0:10:19CROWING
0:10:19 > 0:10:22..from policing community events to arresting hardened criminals.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Cambridge city centre.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Today, the specials are taking part in a massive operation
0:10:37 > 0:10:42to police a demonstration by the English Defence League.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Around 80 EDL members are expected to take part
0:10:44 > 0:10:49in the demonstration against plans to build a mosque in the area.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53But hundreds more are expected to hold a counter-demonstration,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56organised by Unite Against Fascism, a pressure group
0:10:56 > 0:11:00who have already arrived in the city centre in their hundreds.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05What a sick joke these people are!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07WHISTLING AND APPLAUSE
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Past demonstrations have seen major clashes
0:11:09 > 0:11:13between the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15And in charge of policing the operation
0:11:15 > 0:11:18is Superintendent Vicki Skeels.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20When you get crowds of people together
0:11:20 > 0:11:23who feel very passionately about something,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25sometimes they get swept away by the heat of the moment
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and commit some criminal act, so the specials
0:11:28 > 0:11:30will be operating alongside the regulars today,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33giving us some support so that all the range of contingencies,
0:11:33 > 0:11:38all the "what ifs?" can be dealt with by Cambridgeshire constabulary.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Kirsti Bruce is taking part in today's operation.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Responsible for her and the rest of the 25-strong unit of volunteers
0:11:46 > 0:11:50is Special Chief Inspector Steve McCallion.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54My brief was to ensure that people were able to demonstrate peacefully
0:11:54 > 0:11:58and that there would be no problems, but also that the people of Cambridge
0:11:58 > 0:12:04were able to go about their normal business without being disturbed by the demonstration.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09We've been told that there's about 1,500 to 2,000 going to be here.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12We've had it where we've come along, where we've had disorder
0:12:12 > 0:12:15and we've dealt with that, and I'm sure that my team
0:12:15 > 0:12:18will deal with anything that's thrown at them.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Around 40 English Defence League members have turned up,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24fewer than the police were expecting.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29CHANTING
0:12:29 > 0:12:34To avoid violent clashes, the EDL members are put in a cordoned area,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37well away from the counter demonstrators.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40We're trained in cordons, so we know how to put on cordons,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43basically how to deal with crowds, so that we can look after people
0:12:43 > 0:12:47and make sure they don't get injured.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50You can have just a couple of people walking past,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and the next thing you know, it's all just lost control
0:12:53 > 0:12:57and it can turn into a very serious public order situation at that point.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03For his day job, Steve runs a chemical etching factory,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06making metal parts and components for everything,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09from space satellites to cars and cameras.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13- Five more.- Five more and that's all done, is it?- Yeah.- Lovely job.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- OK...- Steve works at the factory with his wife, Angela.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19She was also a special, but is now retired.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I think he enjoys it. I think he loves it, really.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Going out and doing different things.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The variety and the community, things like that. I'm proud of him.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30He does an amazing job, as all specials do.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32After 17 years volunteering,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Steve has risen through the ranks to special chief inspector.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Tends to be a lot of meetings unfortunately, however...
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I do try and get back out on the front line
0:13:42 > 0:13:46because that's the bit that I really enjoy and that's the best part.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48CHANTING
0:13:48 > 0:13:522:30. The EDL demonstration is over,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55but now police face the hardest task of all.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59The mile-and-a-half walk back to the train station.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03MARCHERS: EDL! EDL! EDL!
0:14:03 > 0:14:07So far, the police have maintained control, monitoring the situation,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10but the next 30 minutes are critical.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13MARCHERS: We're the famous EDL!
0:14:13 > 0:14:18The police must contain the EDL protestors and protect them.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23PROTESTORS: Nazi scum off our streets! Nazi scum off our streets!
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I believe that everyone has the right to protest,
0:14:26 > 0:14:31no matter what their beliefs are. Whether I agree with them or not,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I would always defend anyone's right to free speech.
0:14:34 > 0:14:41And as a police officer, I believe that's what I'm there for.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43The biggest problem with managing protests
0:14:43 > 0:14:45when there's extreme views involved,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49is that you have to keep control of everyone.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Because there's people that are trying to break free from the group,
0:14:52 > 0:14:57and they can circumnavigate us and come round where we don't want them
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and cause aggressive situations.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02The Unite Against Fascism march is still going strong.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07THEY CHANT Nazi scum, off our streets!
0:15:07 > 0:15:11So far, the police operation has gone exactly as planned,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14but Steve knows things can change in a heartbeat.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18The dynamics of a crowd can change very, very quickly.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20It can happen in seconds, literally.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23All you need is one little flare point, just a couple of people,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26and all of a sudden, it all just goes wrong.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31An EDL protestor has broken away from the group.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34He's immediately surrounded by police...
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- Come over here a minute. - I'm not doing nothing wrong!
0:15:37 > 0:15:40..and escorted away from rival protestors.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43THEY CHANT Nazi scum, off our streets!
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Steve moves in to help the other officers...
0:15:47 > 0:15:50..but it's not long before they're surrounded
0:15:50 > 0:15:53by angry Unite Against Fascism supporters.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Nazi scum, off our streets!
0:15:56 > 0:15:59One of the EDL guys was being marched away out of the area
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and as he did that, the crowd started to become upset.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Nazi scum, off our streets!
0:16:05 > 0:16:08This scenario could be a flash point for violence.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Nazi scum, off our streets!
0:16:16 > 0:16:19A lot of people start to get carried along by the crowd
0:16:19 > 0:16:21and they start to see red mist.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24THEY SHOUT AND CHANT
0:16:24 > 0:16:27A missile is thrown by a demonstrator
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and officers immediately try to apprehend him.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38He caught hold of him and then I went to assist him,
0:16:38 > 0:16:39and we got him over to a fence.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Where at that point, because there's so many people around,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I was trying to marshal them away from us.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Not just for my safety or the other officers' safety,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51but for the person we're trying to arrest's safety,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53because in a crowd situation like that,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57people can get pushed and shoved and people will get injured
0:16:57 > 0:16:58if you're not careful.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01DEMONSTRATORS SHOUT
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Steve helps keep order around the arrested man
0:17:04 > 0:17:07and prevents the situation from escalating.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10The reason why the member of the public needed arresting
0:17:10 > 0:17:13was purely and simply because you can't throw things at other people.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15You can't throw things at police. It's reckless to do that,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18to throw things in a public area where you might hit someone,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20because it causes injury.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The man was taken into custody and released with a caution.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31As the crowds disappear and the clean-up operation begins,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Steve and all the specials who volunteered today can rest easy,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38knowing that their contribution has been invaluable.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43We had a good team that worked well and if they hadn't been there,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47that situation could have been a lot more serious than it was.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48I think the day was a success.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Out of the best part of 500 people that were there, there was
0:17:51 > 0:17:53only four arrests.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54We were able to keep a lid on the situation,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and to ensure that no disorder happened.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03SIREN BLARES
0:18:06 > 0:18:10It's 1:30am and Special Sergeant Tony Bolton has been on shift
0:18:10 > 0:18:12with colleague PC Leigh Norman since 6pm.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19It's been a long, tiring night which shows no sign of letting up.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23A call has just come in from a lorry driver, who claims that thieves have
0:18:23 > 0:18:27been stealing fuel from his lorry, parked at the side of the road.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31We need to go and talk to this particular lorry driver.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33We're fairly sure that he's on the eastbound.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36We are also on the understanding there was possibly
0:18:36 > 0:18:39another two lorries that had actually had fuel stolen.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Tony's no stranger to this kind of incident.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46He's been volunteering as a special for 11 years,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49giving something back to his community.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52I enjoy being a special, because I enjoy helping people.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55I think that's one of the main roles of the police service.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I think if you undertake any form of voluntary organisation
0:18:58 > 0:19:01and the special constabulary is one of them,
0:19:01 > 0:19:03if you're committed to it then, yes,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05I think you can change people's lives.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08In his day job, Tony works as a podiatrist.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11The next available appointment I would have would be Tuesday.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13And when he's not providing a service
0:19:13 > 0:19:15to his patients or the community,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17he finds time for his family -
0:19:17 > 0:19:20his daughter, Kayleigh, and wife, Veronica.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22I'm very proud of him.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27I think people who volunteer for their community have to be applauded
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and he gives a lot of his time to do that.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36The A14 in Cambridgeshire is a busy stretch of road
0:19:36 > 0:19:40used by lorries carrying goods from the port of Felixstowe.
0:19:40 > 0:19:41There are numerous lay-bys
0:19:41 > 0:19:44where lorry drivers park up for the night,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and this is what fuel thieves take advantage of.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50We're not 100% sure how many
0:19:50 > 0:19:52have actually had fuel stolen at the moment,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54but it's between one and three.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Good evening. Where's your tank, sir?
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Right, here's the evidence of actually what they've done.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05How much is gone?
0:20:05 > 0:20:08250...
0:20:08 > 0:20:14HE TRIES TO EXPLAIN IN POLISH
0:20:14 > 0:20:17OK, somewhere around about 250 litres.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21The thieves have stolen from not one but three lorries,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24making off with over £800 worth of diesel.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26They've broken the lock on this.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29The thieves tend to operate at night, under cover of darkness.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31If you don't catch them in the act,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34it can be very hard to track them down.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Did you see them, sir?
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Did you witness?
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Yeah...sleeping?
0:20:39 > 0:20:40You were sleeping?
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Unfortunately, the lorry drivers don't speak much English,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46but that's not a problem with Tony around.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Diesel, you...
0:20:49 > 0:20:50Yeah.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Sleep. So, you...
0:20:53 > 0:20:55No, no, no, no see.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58The lorry drivers were Polish and Lithuanian nationals
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and it's fair to say they didn't have any English at all.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I'm sleeping...my phone, telephone,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07- beep-beep-beep-beep!- Yeah.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Open door...oh, diesel.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13With some pidgin English and some sign language,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15all I needed to establish from these lorry drivers is...
0:21:15 > 0:21:17did they see anything?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Everybody sleeping, saw nothing.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- ALL:- No.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23The force have arrested people
0:21:23 > 0:21:26in connection with fuel thefts in this area.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29But with no description of the suspects,
0:21:29 > 0:21:30all Tony can do now
0:21:30 > 0:21:32is gather as much evidence as he can from the scene.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35It's very unlikely there's going to be any evidential value on that
0:21:35 > 0:21:38because pretty much everybody that deals with diesel
0:21:38 > 0:21:40is going to wear some form of gloves,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and the other thing is, it's absolutely swimming in diesel.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Right, let's go.
0:21:43 > 0:21:49It's now 2am and Tony and Leigh are close to the end of their shift.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52But just as they get back on the road, another call comes in.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's suddenly turning into a very late night.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57A call's just come in.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00It's a request for assistance from ambulance.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04There's a lady... It's believed that she's fallen behind
0:22:04 > 0:22:08the door so she's actually blocking what sounds like her own front door.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10If you have somebody
0:22:10 > 0:22:14with some form of medical emergency within a property,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16they need medical attention,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19and if that means the police service have to enter the property,
0:22:19 > 0:22:20then so be it.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Tony and Leigh arrive at the house,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27where they find the ambulance crew waiting outside.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Do we know what's wrong with her?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32I think she's had a fall and she's just lying across her bed awkwardly.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Can we just let her know what we're doing?
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Cos this is going to be loud, yeah?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40The lady is in her bedroom, not behind the door as first thought.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43But she can't get to the door and may be injured,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47so the ambulance crew need to get to her as quickly as possible.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Hello, the police are here now, they're going to open your door,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53but it's going to be a bit noisy.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58OK? Yeah, that's fine. OK, we've got confirmation.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Leigh has been trained to use a hardened steel battering ram
0:23:01 > 0:23:05called an enforcer to gain access to properties.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07It's only used in case of emergency
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and where there's no other means of accessing the property.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12- Do you want me just to brace the bottom?- No, it'll be all right.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16You reckon it'll just go? OK, let's get clear.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20Usually, just one hit is enough to get the door open.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Hello, it's the police.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32She's on the bed, keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36'It always gives you a sense of satisfaction no matter who you help,
0:23:36 > 0:23:37'but there is a special place'
0:23:37 > 0:23:41when that particular person's vulnerable.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44The old lady was in her bedroom, she was in her bed.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45The paramedics were right behind me
0:23:45 > 0:23:47and obviously, what was critically important
0:23:47 > 0:23:50was that the paramedics got to her as quickly as possible.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55A neighbour arrives after hearing the door being forced open.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Sorry for the noise, sir. We just needed to get in.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Obviously the paramedics needed to get in, so we've just got in.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- So, what, did she call for help, or..?- I don't know, sir.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06It's all to do with ambulance, at the end of the day.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09The ambulance service were here. They couldn't affect entry.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10None of the keys in the key lock worked,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12so we had to get in. So we've just got in.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14'Initially, I thought it was a concerned neighbour.'
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Somebody who admitted to knowing the particular old lady,
0:24:18 > 0:24:19and it was quite nice
0:24:19 > 0:24:22to have somebody showing some interest like this.
0:24:22 > 0:24:23The neighbour isn't happy
0:24:23 > 0:24:26that the police have smashed the lady's door in.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31I'm worried that you've bust a door, and...
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Why have you bust the door?
0:24:34 > 0:24:36We couldn't get in, sir.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38But as time went on, it just became more and more apparent
0:24:38 > 0:24:42that he just kept asking the same questions over and over again
0:24:42 > 0:24:44and he seemed to be getting more and more upset that we'd
0:24:44 > 0:24:47actually had to take her door in, completely oblivious to the fact that
0:24:47 > 0:24:49she had a medical emergency,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53and the only way to meet her needs was to get the paramedics to her.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57We're not making it a big issue, sir, at all.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- No, you were. Like, "I've told you about four- BLEEP- times.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Sir, in no way did I swear at you at all, sir.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Tony's had enough, and tells the man to go home.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08We dealt with him quite robustly and eventually asked him,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10or told him, in no uncertain terms, to leave.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15And with the neighbour gone, the paramedics assess the patient
0:25:15 > 0:25:18and decide that she'll have to go to hospital.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21But the police clearly can't leave the property unattended
0:25:21 > 0:25:22with the door unsecured.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25We're now trying to make arrangements to get the door...
0:25:25 > 0:25:28well, not repaired, it's probably not repairable, but at least boarded up.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30And it's however long it takes a tradesman to get here,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33potentially, to get the door sorted.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35It's now quarter to three in the morning
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and well past the end of Tony and Leigh's shift.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42And like all specials, Tony's not being paid to be here tonight.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45The moment you put the uniform on and you go out,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48you're on patrol, on duty, and you're a police officer,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51you just have to go with whatever happens.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52What's always at the back of my mind is,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55"What if that was MY grandmother? What if that was MY mother?"
0:25:55 > 0:25:57How would you feel if you just left
0:25:57 > 0:26:00and it was your mother's or your grandmother's property?
0:26:00 > 0:26:04The elderly lady is taken by the paramedics to the nearest hospital.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07But not before she's made sure that her house isn't going to be
0:26:07 > 0:26:09left open to the elements.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13She was understandably quite concerned about her door,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15so just before she left I just wanted to reassure her
0:26:15 > 0:26:18that we weren't going to leave until her front door was secure.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I had a conversation with her and she thanked me, so it's fine.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24The locksmith arrives, the door is secured,
0:26:24 > 0:26:29and Tony and Leigh can finally kiss goodbye to their shift.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32There we go, we can safely leave the property.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Only an hour late off so far.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Now we've obviously got to go and take the key to the lady,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40cos obviously she needs to be able to get back into her house.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42And then once we've done that...phew!
0:26:42 > 0:26:46You often hear about high speed car chases, armed criminals
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and all those various things you see in the media,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52but when it actually comes down to it,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55nobody was armed, there was no high speed chase.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58It was just a vulnerable person that needed our assistance that night
0:26:58 > 0:26:59and we were in a position to give it.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd