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 > 0:00:10- Do you know the gent? - Watch your speed.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12It's made up of over 20,000 members of the public...
0:00:12 > 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 > 0:00:20- Out, out! Get out of the car! - All right!- Get out of the car!
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Specials combine their day jobs...
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Stage, please.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25..and home lives...
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Here's a good boy.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30..with being serving police officers on the front line.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34Coming up, Chris is hot on the trail of a burglar
0:00:34 > 0:00:36as he stakes out a stolen car.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40You've got to keep your eyes on the ball all the time, ready to pounce.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Alex arrests a drunk man keen to show off his moves.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'In custody he started to make us very nervous'
0:00:47 > 0:00:49cos I don't want to be clobbered round the face.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Don't mess around, OK, because we need to get this done.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And Louisa helps the victims of a incident involving a camper van
0:00:57 > 0:00:59and a car.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01When I get a call I'm always wondering,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04is this one going to be more serious than the last one?
0:01:04 > 0:01:06What are we going to find when we get there?
0:01:20 > 0:01:24As a special constable, Chris Hallat is usually on regular patrol
0:01:24 > 0:01:28reacting to 999 calls and assisting members of the public,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30but this shift is different.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Tonight's operation is Op Tigger.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Chris has been seconded to the impact team, a unit which focuses
0:01:37 > 0:01:42on prolific criminals tackling crime such as car theft and burglary.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47We've had a burglary overnight. During that there's a front door
0:01:47 > 0:01:50left unlocked. Handbag was taken, as well as a car.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53If we see any of these vehicles out and about,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55we give the early heads-up to each other.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58If we see them parked up then we can obviously get round and sit on them.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00I was excited to go out with the impact team.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03I hadn't worked with any of the officers on the impact team before,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06but it's something I've always wanted to do and try.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07Keen to impress,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Chris must familiarise himself with a unit who pride themselves
0:02:10 > 0:02:13on intelligence-based policing,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15and remember operation details
0:02:15 > 0:02:18such as names of suspects, number plates and shoe prints.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24That is what we're looking for in the last couple of burglaries.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26That sort of footwear.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29If we see anyone out and about we don't know with them on,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32then just give them a quick stop-search, see what's going on.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Tonight the unit are searching for a stolen car which they believe
0:02:35 > 0:02:38is being used to commit burglaries on their patch.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Chris has been paired up with regular officer PC Paul Dowling.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50An hour into the shift, and there's good news about the stolen car.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54My colleagues have just found it stationary and unattended.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56We'll go and have a look, see where it is,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58see if it's going to be linked to any of our nominals.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Then we'll probably get it recovered.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03The car is their only link to the suspects,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05who they believe are using it to commit burglaries.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Tell me when you can see it. Right, you can see it...
0:03:10 > 0:03:13And although it will soon be recovered, the impact team
0:03:13 > 0:03:16won't waste an opportunity to catch the suspects
0:03:16 > 0:03:18if they come back to the car.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21So basically what we need to do is recover that vehicle but
0:03:21 > 0:03:25we're going to sit up for a little while, see if anyone goes to it.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27And if anyone goes to it then they'll be arrested.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Hopefully it'll be one of our lads.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32It's very close to a lot of the home addresses of the people
0:03:32 > 0:03:35we monitor so there's potential that it could be involved with them.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It's just a waiting game, really.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44There's another unmarked car in the area,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46as well as a plain-clothes officer on foot.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49All eyes are on the stolen car.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52I've never been involved in a stake-out before.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55'You've got to keep your eyes on the ball all the time.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59'I was feeling tense, excited.'
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Yeah, adrenaline was going, ready to pounce, I suppose.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The slow pace of tonight's operation
0:04:07 > 0:04:10is in contrast to Chris's usual duties as a Special.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The shifts I would do is basically what we call reactive,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17'so if someone dials 999,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21'need a police officer quickly, then you would react to that.'
0:04:21 > 0:04:26My normal duties as a Special would be foot patrols, arresting people,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29helping with events and operations that go on.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33'I normally tend to follow a particular shift'
0:04:33 > 0:04:35and normally try to stick to the weekends.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39When he's not volunteering, Chris can be found doing his day job
0:04:39 > 0:04:43as site manager at a police training station...
0:04:43 > 0:04:45catching up with his family
0:04:45 > 0:04:47or getting into shape at the gym.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Like all Specials, managing his time is a challenge,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54but Chris wouldn't have it any other way.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56You only live once, you're only young once.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00I'd rather further my skill set and move forward in life
0:05:00 > 0:05:03rather than get drunk and waste my money down the pub.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Back with the impact team,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11and the officers are still watching the stolen car parked yards away.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17At last, after waiting for an hour and a half,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19someone is approaching the car.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Pricey, who's just gone to that vehicle?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23So as not to arouse suspicion,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26our camera must stay away from the window.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28He's in the boot, he's in the boot.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33There was a young lad,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35'walked up to the vehicle,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39walked around the vehicle, opened the boot and pulled out a jerry can.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- He's running off.- He's just took something out the boot.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44Papa 2-9 to PC Price.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47They're walking past that tree up there towards them, look.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Someone has just gone up to that car, done a whole circle of it,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56gone in the boot and then legged it towards you.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59We updated the other officers down the other end of the street
0:05:59 > 0:06:02that we'd just seen this and those officers followed that offender
0:06:02 > 0:06:03to a petrol station.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Now there's two ways this could go.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09They could either go and fill up with fuel and take that car
0:06:09 > 0:06:13or come back and burn that car out to get rid of any forensics.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16We've had intelligence from last night it was used in Leicestershire
0:06:16 > 0:06:20to try and take car keys through a letter box.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24The suspect with the jerry can is being following covertly
0:06:24 > 0:06:26by an officer on foot.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Where are they going now?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32It's definitely them, then, isn't it?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36The officer on foot has confirmed the suspect is a convicted burglar
0:06:36 > 0:06:38who has broken his curfew.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42We'd heard over the radio that there was actually two offenders
0:06:42 > 0:06:43coming back to the vehicle.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46'I thought, brilliant, we're going to catch someone here.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:50We're going to catch the people that have stolen this vehicle.
0:06:50 > 0:06:51Yeah, if you can keep your eye out,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54there'll probably be potential for that car to move very shortly.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02The next thing we heard over the radio
0:07:02 > 0:07:05was one of the other officers shout for some assistance.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Do you hear that? Right, we're en route.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19The officer on foot stopped the suspects
0:07:19 > 0:07:21just yards away from the car.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- Getting nicked?- Keep your hands up, mate.- What have I done?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- Tell me what I've done. - I'll tell you in a minute.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- No, cos I'm getting- BLEEP - nicked for nothing.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Listen, mate, wind your neck in a bit. Don't be swearing, all right?
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Well tell me what I've done.
0:07:34 > 0:07:40These two lads were extremely angry about being arrested.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42They were denying everything.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44The two suspects were arrested.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47One was charged with burglary and theft
0:07:47 > 0:07:50and attempted burglary with intent to steal.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 12-month referral order,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56a supervision order, and a curfew.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03The other was released with no further action
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and the stolen car was returned to its owner.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10For Chris, his first night with the impact team
0:08:10 > 0:08:12couldn't have gone any better.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Policing is about keeping people safe in their own homes.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Stopping antisocial behaviour, targeting prolific offenders.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22And I came away feeling very satisfied
0:08:22 > 0:08:24with what we'd achieved that night.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Specials are unpaid volunteers who work alone or alongside
0:08:34 > 0:08:37the regular police to fight crime in their communities.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- Have you got a hold of them? - Don't want to see you walking on the main road again.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Specials are not police community support officers.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49They're fully fledged members of the police force who have
0:08:49 > 0:08:52the same powers in law as their paid colleagues,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54including the power of arrest.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- Stop it!- Move over.- No, no, no, no! - Move out the way.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Within many special constabularies, officers can rise through the ranks
0:09:04 > 0:09:07from Constable all the way to Chief Specials Officer.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Ouch, I found a thorn.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Let me remind you, you're under arrest and anything you say will be written down.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Specials work 16 hours a month or more as volunteers
0:09:16 > 0:09:18and undertake all kinds of duties,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20from policing community events
0:09:20 > 0:09:22to arresting hardened criminals.
0:09:28 > 0:09:3322-year-old Special Constable Alex Willat has been volunteering
0:09:33 > 0:09:36in the Special Constabulary for over three years.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40You're going to have to be flexible, and your friends and family
0:09:40 > 0:09:43have to understand that as well.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46You don't come off at 10pm every time. You could be on till two in the morning.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49It's when the job finishes is when the job's done.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52For many volunteers, being a Special is an insight
0:09:52 > 0:09:55into a whole new world of police work.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Can I take a date of birth, if that's OK?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01But for Alex, it's something he's already familiar with.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05My day job, I'm a dispatcher for the control room.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I answer and dispatch officers to jobs.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13So that's anything from 999 calls to incidents whereby PCSOs can attend,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16so there's a wide range of jobs there.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20So the child said Mummy's sick upstairs?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22OK, we're on our way.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26I think the two go very hand in hand. You know what it's like from both ends.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Are you going to do CPR for me?
0:10:30 > 0:10:33When it comes to a choice between a shift behind a desk
0:10:33 > 0:10:37or one out on the beat, there's no competition.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I do enjoy my day job, don't get me wrong,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42but I think being on the streets, that's where the fun is.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Tonight, Alex is teamed up
0:10:44 > 0:10:47with fellow Special Constable Ashley Hicks.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50The pair are out on patrol in Peterborough when they receive
0:10:50 > 0:10:54a call about a drunk man causing a disturbance at a house.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56'The call to control room came through as a male
0:10:56 > 0:10:59'banging on the back door of the property,'
0:10:59 > 0:11:03and we were told that he could have been quite violent and quite drunk.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06From what the dispatch told me, he'd been round three times before,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09harassing her, so we were sent to deal with it.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11All right, it's the police.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13The woman who made the complaint knows the man.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16He's now left the area, and although he hasn't hurt her,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19he has tried to get into her house several times
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and is extremely drunk.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24When we're there, you've got two mindsets.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Your first one's with the victim and your second is where is this guy?
0:11:28 > 0:11:32'He's potentially violent and quite nasty and he's trying to get to her.'
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Your priority with anything like that is to find out where the danger is, where the problem is,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39and get to that first cos that's the potential to go wrong.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43If he's out there on the street and he isn't going to go anywhere back to home
0:11:43 > 0:11:47then he'll come in for breach of the peace because I'm concerned
0:11:47 > 0:11:50that he's going to come back and cause more harassment to yourself,
0:11:50 > 0:11:51then we'll do that if necessary.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Once we got back out in the car the control room shouted us up
0:11:54 > 0:11:58and said there'd been another call about two miles down the street.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01'A drunk male matching the description from our job'
0:12:01 > 0:12:04was now knocking on someone else's door causing problems,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07so we've gone to that address.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13When they arrive at the area where the suspect is reported to be,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15they come face to face with him on his bike.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21- You're not going anywhere, mate, at the moment. I just need to have a chat with you.- Sure.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Come here. You're not going anywhere for the minute. We'll have a chat with you for the minute.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I tried to take him over to one side to try and talk to him.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- Get in front of the car. Actually, get in front of the car.- What's wrong?- Get in front of the car.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36As I took hold of him, I felt his arm tense up.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41And I think you get that from training - you know when you're going to have a problem.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- What have I done?- You've been at three addresses tonight
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- whereby you're alleged to have gone to places in the last three hours. - Oh, please...
0:12:48 > 0:12:52He has started to struggle once on the car, and he's incredibly strong and took me by surprise.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55The suspect is resisting arrest
0:12:55 > 0:12:58and Alex calls for back-up to help take him into custody.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00PP Papa Tango 8-9, van on the hurry, up.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Alex puts the man on the floor to gain control
0:13:07 > 0:13:11but he's still resisting and tries to grab Alex's radio.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Get off my radio.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16He's not been cuffed still and he's managed to get his arms in front of him again,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19so he's clearly not wanting to be arrested.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22The next level up of appropriate force
0:13:22 > 0:13:25is to deploy what we call PAVA, which is almost like a pepper spray.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27What's your problem?
0:13:29 > 0:13:30PAVA deployed.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36Alex sprays PAVA to gain control of the suspect but it's powerful stuff.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39People describe it as having a hot burning needle in your eye.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43From experience of having it in training and having the backlash,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45that's true plus more.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50People may think it's really violent and it looks bad
0:13:50 > 0:13:52but I don't know this guy from anyone else.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I don't know what he's capable of,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57and when he's in that state he is incredibly strong
0:13:57 > 0:13:59and he's not willing to reason with you.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Under the circumstances it was appropriate to do what we did.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Yep, we've got one cuff on.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Yep, male's cuffed.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14The custody van arrives to take the man back to the station.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17MAN CURSES INAUDIBLY
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- You're under arrest for breach of the peace.- Yeah? What have I done?
0:14:20 > 0:14:24You don't have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned...
0:14:24 > 0:14:29- The reason for your arrest is- BLEEP, - all right?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- You are- BLEEP.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33And we're going to put leg restraints on you.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35We had to use leg restraints.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39He was still kicking out with his legs. It's designed to stop them from kicking out, really.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41We can control them a lot better going into custody with them on.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Like all Specials Alex has been trained how to handle prisoners,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51but that doesn't mean it's always an easy job.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Careful guys, careful.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57SUSPECT CURSES
0:14:57 > 0:15:01My main priority is getting him in that van and in safely
0:15:01 > 0:15:03without anyone getting hurt, really.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06What he says and what his views are are irrelevant to me, I'm not bothered.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- Bend your knees.- BLEEP!
0:15:12 > 0:15:16- Yeah, go on, you- BLEEP.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18When they reach the station,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21the officers will face the challenge of putting the man into a cell.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26MAN SHOUTS AND CURSES
0:15:29 > 0:15:32He's going to need a welcome party.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37We have what we call a welcome party which comes to the doors in custody,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40which is another group of officers that help us
0:15:40 > 0:15:44cos they're likely to kick off there as they are everywhere else.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47I think the amount of officers he sees, he's going to say,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50"Well, game's up." Isn't it, really? You're not going to win.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Just careful.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56But any plans to cause trouble seem to disappear
0:15:56 > 0:15:59when he sees the officer booking him in.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02He took a liking to the custody sergeant, that was quite clear,
0:16:02 > 0:16:03which I think helped.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Do you understand why you've been arrested?- I don't know, no.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10- You don't understand why you've been arrested?- You're beautiful, though. - Thank you very much.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Can you take that off me, please?
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- Are you going to behave yourself if we take those off?- Of course.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22- Honestly?- Of course. - Cos there's lots of officers here.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Because you're a beautiful woman. Please.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- OK. If you're happy to take them off, I'm happy.- All right, lift your arms up a bit.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31That's it, good man.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37SHOUTS UNINTELLIGIBLY
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Sir, keep calm for me, put your hands on the desk, all right?
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Alex is doing all he can to keep him under control.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- Are you employed? Do you have a job at the moment?- Employed? Yeah.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But the man is keen to impress the sergeant with his moves.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52We need to get this done, all right?
0:16:54 > 0:16:57The other officers are not impressed.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00'In custody, he started to make us very nervous'
0:17:00 > 0:17:03cos I don't want to be clobbered round the face.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Don't mess around, OK. We need to get this done.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09'So he kept doing this move and kept going around like that,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13'and we're trying talk to him, trying to keep him calm and get his details booked in
0:17:13 > 0:17:17'so he can be dealt with safely in custody, but at the same time,'
0:17:17 > 0:17:20he's not far off being restrained again
0:17:20 > 0:17:22in the fear that he's going to lamp him one.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25How much have you had to drink in the last 24 hours?
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- I've had about....- How much do you think you've had?
0:17:32 > 0:17:33Four cans.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38The man appears intoxicated, and as a Special who often works late night shifts,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Alex is all too familiar with the effects of alcohol.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45When I started, it used to shock me what I used to see, cos I've been out
0:17:45 > 0:17:50I go out with my mates, have some drinks, have a laugh, but people can be incredibly violent
0:17:50 > 0:17:53when they're drunk and they can do some incredibly dangerous things.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- I'm not a drinker, really.- Do you mind if we take a specimen of breath
0:17:56 > 0:17:59just to see how much alcohol's in your system at the moment?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01- Then we can get an idea of where we are.- Do that.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Keep going, keep going. That's it.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07The breathalyser shows the man is three and a half times
0:18:07 > 0:18:11over the drink-drive limit, so the sergeant decides
0:18:11 > 0:18:13he's too drunk to answer her questions at the moment.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17I think the best thing to do is pop you in your cell with a drink
0:18:17 > 0:18:21and let you have a bit of sleep and see if we can sleep some of this alcohol off.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Right, follow me.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30He's taken to the cells to sleep it off.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32He was put behind bars for the night, which is what he deserved.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36The victim's had a good night's sleep cos she knew where he was.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37Mind yourself.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40As a Special, Alex has done his bit tonight
0:18:40 > 0:18:42to keep control of the situation.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Specials, they are an integral part of policing and I'd like to think we are relied upon.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48We are police officers just like the regulars
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and we go to jobs and deal with them.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56Sometimes we are the thin blue line. We are the last ones out there.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00After a good night's sleep, the man was no longer considered
0:19:00 > 0:19:03to be breaching the peace, and was released without charge.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07We'll have a chat in a little bit. All right?
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Despite massive increases in traffic, Great Britain
0:19:18 > 0:19:21has one of the best road safety records in the world,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26with around 3,500 fewer deaths per year than in the 1980s.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Louisa Bellis has been a Special for a year and a half.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Is he named on the policy?
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Laying down the highway law might not appeal to everyone,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39but Louisa's role in the Roads Policing Unit
0:19:39 > 0:19:41couldn't suit her more.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I really don't know where it's come from.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I just really enjoy anything traffic-related,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49anything car-related.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53I've given out more tickets than some of the full-time officers
0:19:53 > 0:19:55'have given out in their full careers.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'So being an RPU Special is'
0:19:58 > 0:20:02exactly what I've wanted since before I started training.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05There are signs that actually you're in a 30 zone now.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08The reason I've stopped you today is because of your speed.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13Tonight Louisa is out on patrol with regular officer PC Stuart Hilton.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16And your speed has been monitored at 42 miles an hour.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20A call has come over the radio of a road traffic collision
0:20:20 > 0:20:22on a dark country road.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26There is a mobile home that has been involved in an RTC
0:20:26 > 0:20:31just on the border between Cambs and Herts, so there's apparently a woman
0:20:31 > 0:20:35with chest pains, so we're going to have to go and make sure that
0:20:35 > 0:20:37everything's safe and she's OK.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41For me personally, when I get a call, I'm always wondering,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44is this going to be more serious than the last one?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47What are we going to find when we get there?
0:20:47 > 0:20:51There's always that element that somebody may have died.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56I've been quite fortunate that I've not been on a fatal job yet,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and, yeah, I do get a little bit nervous
0:21:01 > 0:21:04and wondering what we're going to find when we get there.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Louisa's role as a traffic cop is a world away from her life
0:21:09 > 0:21:12as a PhD qualified scientist.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15'For my day job, I'm the chemical content curator'
0:21:15 > 0:21:19for a drug discovery database which is hosted on the internet
0:21:19 > 0:21:23and in layman's terms, what that means is I'm a glorified librarian
0:21:23 > 0:21:27who looks after 1.6 million drug molecules.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31'I became a Special
0:21:31 > 0:21:34'because I've always wanted to work in the police in some way.'
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Being a Special allows me to get the best of both worlds.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42I get to be a scientist by day and I get to be a police officer at night.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45'It's something completely different and I do feel as though'
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I use the different side of my brain.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49I use the more reactive side of my brain
0:21:49 > 0:21:55rather than the very processed, librarian, geeky side of my brain.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59'I think Specials are just very important'
0:21:59 > 0:22:03because they are people who aren't doing it because they have to,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07because it's their job, they're doing it because they want to and they to be there.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Back on the road, Louisa and Stuart have been updated
0:22:13 > 0:22:15on the road traffic collision on a country lane.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21The information that came over the radio was that a car had been
0:22:21 > 0:22:25seen to drive into a hedge and possibly a mobile home
0:22:25 > 0:22:28had been involved in the collision, but that was all we knew.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32When they arrive, they are met by the owner of the mobile home
0:22:32 > 0:22:33which was involved in the accident.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Hello.- Hello.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Through there's the gap in the hedge where she's gone through.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Where is she? Is she in the car?
0:22:39 > 0:22:43No, she was but she got chest pains
0:22:43 > 0:22:48and she wanted to get out so she could breathe a bit better, so I helped out of her car.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51She's all right, she's walking, but she's got a bit of pain in her chest.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Stuart immediately goes to speak to the other driver,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57while Louisa contacts the Ambulance Service,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59who are already on their way.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Can I just confirm that an ambulance is en route?
0:23:01 > 0:23:05The informant said that he has called for one.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10In this situation, the priority is the health of the driver
0:23:10 > 0:23:12who had been involved in the RTC.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17First thing is to get you to the ambulance to make sure you're all right.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Do you suffer any existing illnesses, any heart issues?
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- Not heart, no.- Cos the gent said you had a poor chest.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29I've got a bad back. Yeah, I've got asthma.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34- The seatbelt... - Yeah, the first shock hits you.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36And have you got your inhaler with you?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Yeah, in my bag somewhere.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41I don't know what to do.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- No?- I've never had an accident... - Which way were you going?
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I was going this way and he reversed out,
0:23:46 > 0:23:51and so I swerved to avoid him and I seemed to lose control.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55The driver says she swerved to avoid the camper van as it reversed
0:23:55 > 0:23:59out of the field. She lost control and went through the hedge.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05The owner of the camper van gave a different version of events.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08He told me what had happened.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12'In his terms, he'd stopped his vehicle,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16got out to move the gate, to open the gate so he could drive through
0:24:16 > 0:24:18to where he worked and then close the gate behind him.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22That's when it all must have happened but I was oblivious to it.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I came in, did a big sweeping circle and the car had appeared
0:24:24 > 0:24:29in the field. I hadn't seen her come through the hedge. I really... Yeah, not too sure what happened there.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32She's saying that there's something reversing out of here
0:24:32 > 0:24:36which has caused her to swerve out of the way and end up in a heap.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39But I pulled in, come that way, pulled into here,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41stopped, jumped out, opened the gate.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- You weren't reversing, then?- No.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46She's obviously thought you were reversing and has thought,
0:24:46 > 0:24:51"Oh, he's coming into my lane," and so she swerved around you and gone off into there.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Louisa and Stuart's job as police officers
0:24:55 > 0:24:58is to try and get to the bottom of what happened, and to assess
0:24:58 > 0:25:00whether an offence has been committed.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02'It's about perceptions.'
0:25:02 > 0:25:05It's about what people believe may have happened, may not have happened,
0:25:05 > 0:25:09so it's important for you to get each version
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and then use your own judgement.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15The woman has been assessed by the paramedics
0:25:15 > 0:25:17and has no serious injuries.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21She gives Louisa a statement and is sticking to her side of the story.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- I'd just come off the dual carriageway...- OK.- ..coming along.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Caravan thing was reversing out...
0:25:31 > 0:25:34- Yup.- So put my brakes on but I knew I wouldn't stop in time
0:25:34 > 0:25:38and I lost control. It's the only way I can describe it.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43I knew I was going into the hedge and I couldn't do a thing about it.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Despite the differing accounts,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Stuart and Louisa are happy that no offence has been committed.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51'There will be no further action with this incident
0:25:51 > 0:25:55'with regards to the police. We've let them swap insurance details.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58'It's up to the insurance companies now.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:02From what I saw, it was a complete accident on both parts
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and there is no need for us to be involved any further.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09A tow truck arrives to pick up the car, which was declared a write-off.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Fortunately, the woman is well enough to be taken home by a friend.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18The end of the day, everyone was safe and well, everyone's still healthy,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23and they all got to go home. Yes, the car was written off
0:26:23 > 0:26:27but cars can be replaced, and overall it was a job well done.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Keep coming, that'll do you.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35'Being a Special in this situation,
0:26:35 > 0:26:40'it's not that I'm... amazing or fantastic.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42'The fact that I'm there'
0:26:42 > 0:26:45when Stuart would be normally be single crewed at that time
0:26:45 > 0:26:48'meant that we could do the job a lot faster
0:26:48 > 0:26:51'we could get everyone on their way quicker.'
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I think the Specials are an integral part of the police force
0:26:54 > 0:26:57and I think they can only do good things,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59and if people want to join then they should join.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd