0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's the most famous shopping street in the world,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07in the heart of Britain's capital city.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12A mile and a half long with 30 million visitors each year.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14With some of the world's most famous shops... CHEERING
0:00:14 > 0:00:17- ..biggest stars... - Kate Moss! - CHEERING
0:00:17 > 0:00:19..and busiest stations.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Sorry, guys, stand back for me!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24What does it take to keep it running 24 hours a day...
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Busiest street in the world so it needs constant attention.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..seven days a week?
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Oi! Clear off!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33You're going to be arrested on suspicion of attempted theft.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Are you ready, London?
0:00:35 > 0:00:38A street that never sleeps.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41This sort of thing wouldn't happen anywhere else.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Oxford Street.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Coming up, dodgy vehicles,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52drunks and rooftop intruders.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Police! Just come down here!
0:00:54 > 0:00:57An Oxford Street policeman has a shift to remember.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58Nutcases.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And the secret world of bicycle couriers.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Yes, we're cutting it tight.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05We need to pull out the hat for these people.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14With over 30 million visitors a year from hundreds of countries spending
0:01:14 > 0:01:19billions of pounds, there's never a dull moment on Oxford Street.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23The street's police team, known as ORB, know their shifts can
0:01:23 > 0:01:26take in anything and everything, from bomb scares...
0:01:26 > 0:01:28It's empty.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29It could have been a bomb.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33..to concerned tourists reporting dead bodies.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Just repeat that.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Excuse me, it's the police. Excuse me! Hello?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43He's moving. He's fine and well. He was just asleep.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48The special demands of the street means it's vital uniformed officers
0:01:48 > 0:01:51have good people skills and an approachable character.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56And aiming to fit that bill is PC Barry Nicholls.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59He's been a policeman for a year and a half
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and comes from a long line of family members in public service.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I've got two older brothers in the police service actually at the
0:02:06 > 0:02:10moment, and my father was London Ambulance for most of his career.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Definitely proud of the service. It's a privilege.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Today, his ten-hour shift will see him
0:02:17 > 0:02:20put all his people skills to the test.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24The first problems he has to deal with are alcohol-related.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28At Oxford Circus, halfway down the street, a homeless man is drinking
0:02:28 > 0:02:32on the pavement outside clothes shop Benetton, a strict no-no.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Barry needs him gone.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38You can either drink that up...
0:02:38 > 0:02:40or we can pour it away,
0:02:40 > 0:02:45but you need to do it now and then we can move you on, mate.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47He's drinking in a controlled drinking zone.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51It's an issue on this area at the moment and we're trying to
0:02:51 > 0:02:53clamp down on it a bit.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59We do have the power just to take it and pour it away,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01but obviously that's a bit brutal.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06And just on the back of that, if I see you drinking again today,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08I will be confiscating it.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10All right, mate.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14With a touch of patience, Barry has got what he wanted all along -
0:03:14 > 0:03:17to move the man away from Oxford Street.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19What you could see there was a very ill man.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22The last place he needs to be is a custody suite.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29Further down the street there's another man who's had one too many.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31You all right there, sir?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Hello, mate! You OK?
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Um...
0:03:37 > 0:03:41The man, just out of the army, has been sick and is in a bad way.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45- You can't hardly string a sentence together.- Yup. I agree.
0:03:45 > 0:03:51And... And all I'm worried about, yeah, all I'm simply just here for,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54if you like, is that I suppose I'm a little bit concerned,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57in a way, how you're going to get home safely.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Yeah?- Yup.- So what is the plan?
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Get on to the next, um...
0:04:04 > 0:04:06..er, bus without hurting anyone.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09All right. You're coming round a bit now, I can see that. All right?
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- Thank you, Sergeant. - I'll leave you to it, mate, yeah?
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Satisfied the man is no danger to himself or others,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Barry leaves him and continues his shift.
0:04:20 > 0:04:21As the rain starts to fall,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25he teams up with fellow officer Daniel Sinclair.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28This being Oxford Street, they have to keep an eye out
0:04:28 > 0:04:30for anything which might cause a problem.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35And with his eyes on the road, Barry spots something potentially serious.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- What are you doing, Barry? - I just want to...
0:04:42 > 0:04:44You all right, mate? How did you get the damage on your car?
0:04:46 > 0:04:47When was this?
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Yeah, could you just pull over after the lights, mate? Cheers.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56The side of the car has been smashed and has jagged edges.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Barry is worried it could hurt a pedestrian.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Just wanted to stop and see what was going on, really.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12When did this happen?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Barry thinks that's a long time to be driving a potentially
0:05:18 > 0:05:21dangerous vehicle around.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27If it hit someone, it would cause significant damage to a person.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Personally, I don't think that the vehicle's safe to be...
0:05:31 > 0:05:33To be driving down the road, really.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Barry wants the car off the road and nowhere near Oxford Street,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40but he's not sure he has sufficient legal grounds.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44So he plans on getting a second opinion from an expert.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I've just pulled over a car that's all smashed in on the nearside
0:05:47 > 0:05:49front end.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Is there any traffic unit that can assist?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Help is on its way.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Traffic officers have the power to prohibit
0:05:56 > 0:05:58a vehicle from using the roads.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02In my opinion it's not roadworthy, but at the end of the day
0:06:02 > 0:06:05what we're doing now is getting a traffic unit down
0:06:05 > 0:06:07and they will have the final say on it.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The owner is insisting the police have previously checked
0:06:10 > 0:06:12and OK'd the car.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Could Barry be wrong for stopping him?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Well, it's a very subjective thing, really. But in my...
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- I'm not arguing with you, I'm... - No, no, that's fine, that's fine.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25I just pointing out the fact...
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I'm just saying that in my opinion,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31if you hit a pedestrian even at 5mph...
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- OK.- ..with that, you're going to do some serious damage.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Whereas if that wasn't like that... - Yeah.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- ..things would be a lot different. - All right.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43If the traffic officers agree with the driver,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45then Barry will have wasted everyone's time.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47It's a nervous wait.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50- Is this hers?- No.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Later, we'll see if Barry's suspicions are correct.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Oxford Street isn't just a shopper's paradise.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09The area is one of London's creative and business hubs.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Hundreds of officers, advertising agencies, fashion magazines
0:07:12 > 0:07:14and film-makers are densely packed
0:07:14 > 0:07:17into the roads to the north and south.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22In this fast paced world, the post is much too slow.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25If a company wants to move a document or hard drive across town
0:07:25 > 0:07:28in half an hour, there's only one option.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33The fastest way through the traffic and crowds is by bicycle.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36119, yeah. Got some more, Rog.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38This is the control room of
0:07:38 > 0:07:41one of the largest courier companies in London,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43and Martin is one of their controllers.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Every day of the week we get busy. From nine till six o'clock,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51it is absolute chaos. Controlled chaos, I will say.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Friday, and we've got more work than we can possibly handle.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Deliveries are made by van,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00motorcycle or one of their 35 bike messengers.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Drop the one you're doing, collect this one
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I'm sending you now. Sending you details of Deutsche Bank, yeah?
0:08:07 > 0:08:08Deutsche Bank.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Bicycle couriers are a key cog in the silent infrastructure that
0:08:12 > 0:08:15keeps the capital's business world working.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17We've got a lot of riders on Oxford Street all day long.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19It links up the entirety of the West End -
0:08:19 > 0:08:22it goes from one side to the other. If not the busiest street in London,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25it's one of the best ones to get around as well.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29It's Martin's job to match each of the day's hundreds of packages
0:08:29 > 0:08:32to one of his three dozen riders.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35One of those is Johnny.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37All right, Johnny? Morning, morning, morning!
0:08:37 > 0:08:38Roger-Roger.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Top of Oxford Street as per usual.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42We should have a nice busy day for you.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44It's not long before Martin gets a booking,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48and he radios Johnny through the first pick-up of the day.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50208, 208, Johnny.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Get yourself to Broadwick Street, Broadwick Street.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55We're going to get you going from there, Roger.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57And Johnny is on his bike.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Riders are self-employed and he is paid per job.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01If he wants to make a living,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05he's got to meet strict targets that he sets himself.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09If you do 25 a day, you can expect to be earning over 350 a week.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11If you can see halfway through the day that you're going to
0:09:11 > 0:09:15struggle to get 20 jobs, then your stress levels increase
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and you're wondering where the work's going to come from.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Originally from Manchester, Johnny trained
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and worked as a lab technician before his love of bikes
0:09:25 > 0:09:29and the outdoors lured him into the world of bike couriering.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33But before he's got the first delivery under his belt today,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Johnny's plan is changed.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37'208, 208, Johnny.'
0:09:37 > 0:09:42Just come back to Picton Place, Picton Place.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44A new booking has come through
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and the pick-up address is on Johnny's route. He gets going.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Cycle couriers can ride up to 80 miles in a day,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54the distance from Manchester to Coventry.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Yes, thanks a lot, cheers.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Packages should be picked up and delivered within
0:10:00 > 0:10:04an hour of booking, so Johnny is back on his way to that first job.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Once again, he's redirected.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Sometimes you never know quite what the controller is doing.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14I still haven't picked up the one in Soho, so I need to get on with it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Johnny must trust that Martin is doing the right thing,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21as it is his job to make sure all the riders are working efficiently.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25If he's seen an opportunity for a rider to do two jobs at once,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28he can and will re-route them.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31OK, so, actually this is quite good. I've got something in Picton Place.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32And it's going to Broadwick Street,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36where I've actually got a pick-up which I haven't done yet.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Later, as the Friday afternoon jobs mount up,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42the pressure to hit deadlines and targets increases.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44One within half an hour would be fine,
0:10:44 > 0:10:45but a struggle with both of them.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Get yourself moving, all right?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Earlier on, we saw ORB police officer Barry Nicholls
0:10:58 > 0:11:00stop this vehicle.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03It's been involved in an accident some weeks ago
0:11:03 > 0:11:05and Barry suspects it's a danger to the public
0:11:05 > 0:11:07with these sharp edges.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Barry's not sure if the car can be prohibited,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14and he's waiting for traffic officers to arrive and check the vehicle.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17If he's wrong, he'll have delayed the driver for nothing
0:11:17 > 0:11:20on one of the city's busiest streets.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Finally, it's the traffic officers.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27They'll now have to decide if the car is roadworthy.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38If you'd have hit any pedestrian with that,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40they'd be instantly shredded.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42That is absolutely dangerous.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Barry was right - this car has dangerous faults.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53"Dangerous body parts at his front and near-side quarter wing
0:11:53 > 0:11:54"and head lamp cluster.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59"Has both plastic and metal sharp edges,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03"likely to cause more injury than necessary."
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Not impressed at all.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09The traffic team are clear about what happens now.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11The vehicle has to be taken off the road.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It cannot be put back on the road until it is repaired
0:12:14 > 0:12:19and then the driver will be reported for certain driving offences.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22The traffic officers give the driver the bad news.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25He'll have to pay for a recovery vehicle
0:12:25 > 0:12:29and get his car taken to a mechanic for fixing and that's not all.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32He could get a £100 fine and three points,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34or if they think it's serious enough,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39he'll be called before the court to answer for the offence.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43This is a dangerous vehicle off the road.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46As you can see, Oxford Street is just over there.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Loads of people walking around.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50We've just made that area that little bit safer.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56The dangerous car is finally leaving the street in the only safe way -
0:12:56 > 0:12:57up on the bed of a tow truck,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00so there's no risk to people at street level.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Barry's firm but fair approach has paid dividends.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11But he's not always so gentle when it comes to people breaking the law.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Last year, when police were chasing a drug dealer,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Barry saw him hiding in this West End store...
0:13:20 > 0:13:21..and pounced.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32The suspect has been found, lost sight of, found again,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36lost sight of and eventually disappears altogether.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I've seen him and myself and a special constable ran at him
0:13:40 > 0:13:44and obviously tackled him into the display cabinet,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46which was unfortunately unavoidable.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51He's been searched and he's had several wraps of heroin
0:13:51 > 0:13:53that he's stuffed into his mouth.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59It's earned him the nickname "Barry the Bulldozer".
0:13:59 > 0:14:03But whether helping individuals in trouble or bringing down criminals,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Barry is happy to do whatever has to be done.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Back out on Oxford Street,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Barry's shift continues.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16And it's not long before a call comes in that could be serious.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Barry gets moving.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Later, we find out who's responsible.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37To stay on top when it comes to tourists,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Oxford Street spares no expense.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Which is why it's invested in a team of these.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45They're welcome ambassadors,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48whose job it is to help visitors get where they want to go.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52We need to know actually everything people ask you.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56These stylish street assistants are out and about every day,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00giving information on anything and everything...
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- Hello, how can I help? - Hi! What exactly do you do?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05..in dozens of languages.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08HE SPEAKS PORTUGUESE
0:15:08 > 0:15:11HE SPEAKS ITALIAN
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Hello!
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Being a good ambassador is about embracing the theatre of the job
0:15:17 > 0:15:19and that means getting into character.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20HE CHORTLES
0:15:20 > 0:15:22And a big part of that is the uniform,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25the epitome of a city gent.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28As a welcome ambassador, appearance is everything.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31We wear a three-piece suit and a bowler hat.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36It's one of those traditionally English articles of clothing.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41It just helps to put that little bit of a sheen on the whole operation.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43And if he's to play the part successfully,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Ambassador Tony's uniform needs to look its best.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48After all, he's going to be the image of the street
0:15:48 > 0:15:52for hundreds of thousands of visitors to take home.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55But truth be told, Tony's bowler's in a bad way.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58My hat's looking a little bit worn at the moment.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01They start off quite rigid, the felt is quite hard,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04but after a while,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06they tend to soften
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and they need to be replaced.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Tony's come to a local milliner
0:16:11 > 0:16:14to get himself measured up for a new bowler
0:16:14 > 0:16:16that will fit on his considerable head.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19I've got somewhere between a large and an extra-large,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22so I need to get either an extra-large
0:16:22 > 0:16:23that needs to be padded out,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27or I need to get a large that needs to be slightly stretched.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Milliner Georgina has been making hats for over a decade.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Let's just check your head size.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Yeah, it's definitely an extra-large.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41It's full of brains, that's why.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Yeah, that's what I constantly say, all the time.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Georgina tests it out with a display model from the shop.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50So how does that feel?
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- I think it's good.- Yeah?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- I think it might have a little bit of room.- A bit a wobble sideways.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00OK, well, I'll do an order for that
0:17:00 > 0:17:04- and I'll send an e-mail over to the office for you.- Thank you!
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Although she'll adjust Tony's new hat for him,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Georgina won't be making it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13For that, she'll have to go from Oxford Street to Oxfordshire,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16where Christys' Hats is based.
0:17:16 > 0:17:17It's over 200 years old
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and along with keeping the Metropolitan Police in helmets,
0:17:21 > 0:17:25they're the only company making bowlers in the traditional way.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Steve Clarke is the boss.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29What we have here are some of the wonderful old machines.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33These machines are 50, 80, 100 years old.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Did the job beautifully then and realistically,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38there are no better machines for making hats like this even now.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Now you have the basic shape of the crown,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45so that shape will be remembered, if you like, by the hood.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Today, the factory's concentrating on making other styles of hats
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and putting the finishing touches to Tony's bowler.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55It will have been made with the traditional methods,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57but with one key difference.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01What happens to it is it gets soaked in a mixture of shellac
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and denatured alcohol
0:18:03 > 0:18:05and that then gets drawn over a block,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09so the hood is drawn over a block in order to give it its shape,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12then it's baked so that it stiffens beautifully in an oven,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14nice and gently and what you end up with
0:18:14 > 0:18:18is that wonderful stiff finish that everybody recognises in a bowler.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21The team select a bowler in Tony's size.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Currently, we're just finishing off the bowler, putting a lining in.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27The sweatband's already in.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30And there you go.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33What you have here is a finished bowler hat.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38A week later, Tony's back with Georgina to try on his new hat.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40He'll be wearing it every day from now on,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43so making sure it fits comfortably is important.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47First of all, Georgina makes a key adjustment.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So what we do is we just take off the standard black band
0:18:50 > 0:18:53and we replace it with the band in the colour
0:18:53 > 0:18:55that matches the Oxford Street branding,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58so that the welcome people are instantly visible.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Tony takes advantage of the wait to work on a new look.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03Yeah, that's more like it.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Then the moment of truth.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Want to just pop that on?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Do you think maybe you need a little bit under there?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Maybe a little bit under the sides,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17but it sits quite nicely at the front and back.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Georgina adds some padding under the leather sweatband.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- How does that feel now? Is that OK? - Yeah, it feels good.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25- Looking good, Tony.- Yeah.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29I feel more aerodynamic.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Yeah, it's great. You get a new hat and you feel reinvigorated.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38It feels good, it's nice and tight. Not too tight,
0:19:38 > 0:19:42just nice and comfortable. You know it's not going to get blown off.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44It feels good, I feel good,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46it gives you a new lease of life.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Now all he's got to do is see how it fares
0:19:49 > 0:19:52on Europe's busiest shopping street.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- This way?- That turning there, that's Argyle Street.- I love your hat.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Down there, second turning on the left, second turning on the right.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- Do you like my hat?- Very attractive.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- It's pretty cool.- I think they look like they belong here -
0:20:05 > 0:20:07brings a bit of the olden days back to London. It looks nice.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- Hey, man, how's it going? - Just north of Oxford Street,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Johnny is back in the saddle and dodging pedestrians and taxis
0:20:25 > 0:20:27as he tries to hit his target
0:20:27 > 0:20:30of making a minimum of 20 deliveries a day.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34- HORN HONKS - It's a red light.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Since their heyday in the '80s and '90s, when there were thousands,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45the number of cycle couriers in London has declined
0:20:45 > 0:20:47to only a few hundred.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49High-speed internet has replaced much of their work,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53but for some clients with something physical needing urgent delivery,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55they're still the only option.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Cycling at speed through London is a dangerous job.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Nine cycle couriers are known to have died on the roads
0:21:03 > 0:21:05in the last 30 years.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09You hear on a weekly basis that somebody's walked out
0:21:09 > 0:21:13in front of a courier, a black taxi has opened up a door
0:21:13 > 0:21:18on a bike rider, so it can be a bit of a jungle.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Martin can't spend long worrying,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24as his own workload increases with a flurry of orders.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Negative, sir, negative. I haven't got a signature.
0:21:28 > 0:21:312-1-1 is just asking how we're getting on.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33We're getting quite busy this afternoon now.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Friday afternoon is always frantic as businesses move packages
0:21:37 > 0:21:40before the weekend and with so much to do,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44Martin's instructions to Johnny are getting more and more complicated.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Going to have to spin you around, mate, will have to spin you around.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51If I knew the job was there, I would have sent it down to you earlier.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I'm going to go that way and he's sent me to pick up that way
0:21:54 > 0:21:56with a job going further that way.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I've still got one over there, so doing a bit of a loop.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Obviously, he's not a happy bunny,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06but that's Johnny being spun around and doing this one.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Johnny has three parcels in his bag waiting for delivery,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14but with the clock ticking, he's being made to wait for pick-up
0:22:14 > 0:22:18by the current client because their parcel isn't ready.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21It gets frustrating sometimes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22Once you've got a load of stuff on board,
0:22:22 > 0:22:26you want to just carry on moving, keep going.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30But while Johnny's going nowhere, for Martin, the jobs are piling up.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33A very urgent one coming, going down to Companies House,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36so Bravo 2-0-8, 2-0-8.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38This goes a little bit out of your way,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40but obviously it's for a top-end client
0:22:40 > 0:22:41and it's going to Companies House,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44so I'm going to need someone on this who knows what they're doing.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Customers for whom an hour door to door is simply too slow
0:22:48 > 0:22:50can pay extra for priority delivery,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53bumping their package to the top of the queue.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Johnny's got to get to the pick-up location and take the parcel
0:22:56 > 0:23:01to its destination, Companies House, within half an hour,
0:23:01 > 0:23:02but that's two miles away
0:23:02 > 0:23:07and he's still stuck waiting just off Oxford Street in Kingly Street.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Yeah, 2-0-8, Kingly Street, Kingly Street.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I've just had a tap on the shoulder. That one's cancelled.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Roger, yeah. I was just waiting for him to bring it,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but they haven't brought it, so yep, I'll carry on, Roger.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22That means Johnny can get on with
0:23:22 > 0:23:24his priority Companies House delivery.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28From where Johnny was, he'll be able to pick up in 5, 10 minutes,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31drop time of that is about 15. Yes, we're cutting it tight,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33but this is why they pay extra for the service.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Proving once more that the quickest way around the city is pedal power,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Johnny makes it to the pick-up point just in time.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- Thanks a lot, see you later. - But when he gets there,
0:23:44 > 0:23:48it turns out there's not just one priority package for him to deliver.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I've got two priorities in fairly different locations.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53One within half an hour would be fine,
0:23:53 > 0:23:58but a struggle with both of them, but I'll do my best.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00A premium-rate client, a high-end client is paying the money
0:24:00 > 0:24:04for this job and he was the only person available to do the job.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06We need to pull it out the hat for these people.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Johnny has to put his skills to the test again,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13but weaves through Oxford Street traffic in time
0:24:13 > 0:24:16to drop off the first priority within the time limit.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24He's then got to sprint to Companies House for the second.
0:24:24 > 0:24:29Yeah, the traffic's pretty bad, so at this stage, I'm late.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Despite arriving a few minutes after the promised half-hour slot,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34the documents are delivered safely
0:24:34 > 0:24:36and Johnny can take it a bit easier,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39delivering his last few non-priority packages.
0:24:41 > 0:24:46And the good news is it looks like he's surpassed his 20-job target.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47Thanks very much for that, yeah?
0:24:47 > 0:24:49And thanks for sorting out those premiums as well.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- Done me a right favour there, Rog. - I kept on getting jobs.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57Done over 25. Didn't feel like hard work today, it felt like fun.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00It's been a manic Friday for Martin and his riders,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02delivering over 800 parcels.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05He and Johnny are part of a force that goes unnoticed
0:25:05 > 0:25:08by most of the street's visitors, but one that's crucial
0:25:08 > 0:25:12to keeping Oxford Street and the area around it working.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Anything and everything can happen on Oxford Street
0:25:22 > 0:25:25and nearing the end of his shift,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28PC Barry Nicholls is responding to an emergency.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Let's go, mate.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Just off the street, a pregnant lady has called to say
0:25:34 > 0:25:37there are men on the roof of her flat.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Barry is burning shoe rubber to get there.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Barry arrives and with other officers,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45goes up to the woman's flat.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48She doesn't want to be filmed...
0:25:49 > 0:25:52..but lets the officers out onto her balcony.
0:25:53 > 0:25:54Where are they?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Yeah, I can hear someone.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00They see several men on the roof.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- It's the police.- Guys, just come down here for a second, yeah?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- MAN ON ROOF:- What is it? - It's the police.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07Nutcases.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- Yeah, we live here. - You live there?- Yeah.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16It's not a break-in. The men are squatters in the building next door.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18The problem is there's a lady here, she's heavily pregnant
0:26:18 > 0:26:20and she's very upset by what you've done.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- You've scared her a little bit. - Oh, sorry, but...
0:26:22 > 0:26:25It's no good saying sorry now. Just don't come back this way.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Firstly, you could fall off and break your neck and secondly,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30there's a woman crying in here.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31Anyone else up there?
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- Yeah, there are people...- Can you get them down as well, please?
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Since squatting in residential properties was banned in 2012,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43squatters have been concentrating on empty commercial properties
0:26:43 > 0:26:47and in an area like this, anything vacant is tasty pickings for them.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49The men ran across the woman's roof
0:26:49 > 0:26:52to access the property they're squatting in.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Barry's not impressed.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58The occupants of this address here are coming out of what they claim
0:26:58 > 0:27:02to be their accommodation and climbing up onto the roof.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05It's blatant to see they've been shimmying along here as well
0:27:05 > 0:27:07and for their own safety,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10it's really incredibly dangerous, a long drop.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14If he was to fall off there, I doubt he'd survive, really.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18But Barry's main concern is with the woman inside the flat.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Very distressing, she's got strangers outside her window.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23She doesn't expect that, she's pregnant.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26No-one wants that
0:27:26 > 0:27:28and yeah, I for one can fully understand
0:27:28 > 0:27:30why she'd be distressed about it.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32- The main thing is you.- Yeah.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Don't worry about them. As you can see,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- all of us are here for you.- Yeah!
0:27:37 > 0:27:40So hopefully that'll be the end of them hopping onto your balcony.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45My colleague here has spoken to them,
0:27:45 > 0:27:47he's given them some words of advice.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49If it happens again, call us again, we'll come out again
0:27:49 > 0:27:51and we'll deal with it as we see fit.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Thankfully, it's not an attempted break-in,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58so Barry is happy that he's done all he can.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00And with the nightlife in full swing,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04he thinks he's needed back on Oxford Street.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06We've let them know the effects
0:28:06 > 0:28:09their behaviour is having on the lady.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Hopefully, that should be the end of it and if they come back across,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15then we'll come back out and we'll take firmer action.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19It's been an interesting day for Barry -
0:28:19 > 0:28:22everything from drunks to deathtraps.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Now he can head off duty,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26but tomorrow could bring even stranger fare.