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,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17- biggest stars...- Kate Moss!
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 > 0:00:27It's the busiest street in the world so it needs constant attention.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- ..seven days a week?- Oi! 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 > 0:00:43Oxford Street.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Coming up - distraction thieves on Oxford Street.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53The police track them down.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55If you're big enough to go out stealing,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59you're big enough to wear those nice bracelets, do you understand?
0:00:59 > 0:01:03It's ooh-la-la at Debenhams as a French make-up line launches.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Yes, it's strange!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08And Oxford Street from above.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Oxford Street attracts a lot of visitors with money to spend
0:01:15 > 0:01:20in its shops, restaurants, flagship stores and fashion chains.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22It's a very safe place to shop
0:01:22 > 0:01:25and the job of keeping it that way falls to the Oxford Street
0:01:25 > 0:01:31police team, Orb, and in particular their plain-clothes squad.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34At the moment, their priority is the small number of thieves trying
0:01:34 > 0:01:37to take advantage of the street's attractions.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40There's upward of 200,000 people passing through Oxford Street
0:01:40 > 0:01:44every day and the pickings can be from a £10 wallet
0:01:44 > 0:01:47to, you know, there's people walking around carrying £50,000
0:01:47 > 0:01:51in envelopes in bags, so when there's that kind of money
0:01:51 > 0:01:54sloshing around on Oxford Street, you're always going to get that
0:01:54 > 0:01:56kind of criminal coming down and trying to get it.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00On the street, thieves can use cunning distractions
0:02:00 > 0:02:04and work with accomplices to get whatever they can and when police
0:02:04 > 0:02:09get a call about pickpockets loose on the street, they respond quickly.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And today is one of those occasions.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Paul Penrose of the plain-clothes team is in a desperate hurry to
0:02:15 > 0:02:20get onto the street, where he's had word a crime has just been committed.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Yeah, OK. Right. I'm coming, I'm coming.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Paul has had a phone call from a store detective on Oxford Street
0:02:29 > 0:02:32who believes he's just witnessed a robbery.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35The store detective is following four suspected pickpockets
0:02:35 > 0:02:39as they prowl the street, and he's called Paul in to come
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and find him and take over the surveillance.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45- But Paul can't find him. - Where are you?
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Over the phone, the store detective is trying to give Paul
0:02:48 > 0:02:49the suspects' positions,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53but they're constantly moving and Paul is trying to catch up.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56He said he was at Jessops, opposite the Plaza -
0:02:56 > 0:02:58that's why I sprinted down here.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01He keeps saying they're doubling back and they're not.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04He's saying they're heading down this way, doubling back to there and he says...
0:03:06 > 0:03:11Finally, Paul makes contact with the security guard.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- Sorry. Right. Where are we? Who are we looking at?- Them four. Them four.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Yeah. Right.- He's already dipped.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18He's trying to dip the Chinese, he went like that.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- Did you see him actually touch... - The one in the blue, yeah.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Right. So I can nick her?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26The store detective says he's just witnessed a gang of four
0:03:26 > 0:03:29trying to take a man's wallet. Paul calls for assistance.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Right, get up here, we've got four.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34He's witnessed them trying to do one dip,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37so I've got enough to nick the girl, apparently.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41We're outside, I've got four.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Paul's over the road from the gang, who are highlighted here.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49I'm going to have to go in and start pulling them in,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51because they're on the move again.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53He crosses the road to tail them.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00And with the gang just yards in front of him, they strike again.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Our camera's view is obscured by other passers-by,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08but Paul believes he's just seen the gang trying to take
0:04:08 > 0:04:12a purse from a bag using a common distraction technique
0:04:12 > 0:04:15known in the trade as a shoulder roll.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16If I was to bump into someone,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18someone's very much aware that I've bumped into them.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21If, however, there's two or three people all around me, I'm not sure
0:04:21 > 0:04:24who's bumped into me and while someone's bumping into
0:04:24 > 0:04:28my right shoulder, my left pocket is being picked.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31So my attention is drawn to my right shoulder, to the person there.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35The actual thief is probably behind me, putting their hand in the bag.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Right, hang on. Yeah, I'm doing it, I'm doing it.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42This shopper notices and the attempt fails, but Paul's seen enough.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Even on his own, he decides it's time to move in.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48We'll see how he gets on later.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Guys, guys, guys, guys, guys! Listen to me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51I'm in charge here.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Beauty and cosmetic products are big business in Britain,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05worth £17 billion a year
0:05:05 > 0:05:09and nowhere is more important for sales than Oxford Street.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10It's the first thing you see
0:05:10 > 0:05:13entering one of the street's department stores,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15and competition is fierce.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Launching a new brand into the market can be tough.
0:05:18 > 0:05:24But today, at Debenhams, one make-up company is trying to do just that.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28And being a French brand, it plans to enter the market with a splash
0:05:28 > 0:05:30by using a little je ne sais quoi.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33They're taking over one of the store's front windows to do
0:05:33 > 0:05:38live body painting with models. Making sure the launch goes to plan
0:05:38 > 0:05:42is the job of visual supervisor Emily Gaffney.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45There's going to be live painting, live movement, live dancing.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Very different to anything we've normally done before.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50We're going to have quite a crowd.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54After months of planning, it's Emily's job to make sure the window
0:05:54 > 0:05:56is ready for the body painting event.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57It's just turned eight.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00We've got till ten till the models are due into the windows,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03but we don't like to have any of our team in the windows past half nine
0:06:03 > 0:06:04when the store opens.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Perfection is Emily's watchword,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11but she's already been thrown a curveball this morning.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14The window interior has been painted black to showcase
0:06:14 > 0:06:17the performance, but the introduction of white electric fans
0:06:17 > 0:06:20and cables is threatening to ruin the effect.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Have you got any black extension leads?- No, we haven't.- No.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26We might be able to get some black tape.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I know it's small, but something like a white extension cable
0:06:28 > 0:06:30just throws the whole look off.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34The models might not be due in the window for another two hours,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37but what the team have planned is a little more complicated than
0:06:37 > 0:06:39eyeliner and lipstick.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41They've had to get started early.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43It's a good day.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I like my face today.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48But, back at the window,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Emily's black performance space is again under threat.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Messy workmen have left dusty footprints all over the floor.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- Hello.- Are you OK? - Yeah, I'm trying to clean the floor.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Emily and the team get busy taping up the white cables
0:07:04 > 0:07:06and clearing the floor.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10But ladders have left deep scratches in it, which also need covering.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15I'm going to go get some paint and just touch up all these dents.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17She heads to the back office for some paint.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20There's a reason she's taking such pains.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Shop windows are a store's most valuable advertising space and on
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Oxford Street, shops have only a few seconds to catch a passer-by's eye.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31The strength of a window display can be
0:07:31 > 0:07:34the difference between the success and failure of the product.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Emily heads back to the window, but she's running over time
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and by now the shop is open.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I've just had to walk past a stream of customers with a pot full of paint.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46It's not got too busy yet, so it's fine.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50The visual merchandising team aren't the ones supposed to be drawing
0:07:50 > 0:07:52attention to themselves.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55They're arriving in about 20 minutes, so we're just going to
0:07:55 > 0:07:59finish these last pictures off, have a final sweep and then vacate.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Finally, half an hour late, the window is ready
0:08:01 > 0:08:06and Emily can head upstairs to check on the models' preparations.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08As well as the live body painting,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12there'll be a dance performance in store and the models are warming up.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21It's all very dramatic. They're going to dance in super-high heels.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23On y va. Let's go.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27The time for rehearsals has come to an end.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29OK, let's go.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It's now the main event.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Later, strike a pose - the models get painted
0:08:35 > 0:08:38and the French take over.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40For me, it's really amazing.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Earlier, we saw Oxford Street undercover officer Paul Penrose
0:08:51 > 0:08:53tailing a gang of pickpockets.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Paul believes he's seen the gang try and take
0:08:57 > 0:09:01a purse from a shopper's bag using a common distraction technique.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03While someone's bumping into my right shoulder,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06my left pocket is being picked.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Having seen enough, he moves in.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13But there are four suspects and only one police officer.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18- Paul will have to single-handedly hold them.- Guys, all stay here.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- Guys, come here, please. Police. - Yes, no problem.- Police.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- Please, please, come here. You just stand behind him.- Yes, yes.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Right, all four of you now.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33OK, gentlemen, stand there just while I talk to you, OK?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35You stand behind him.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Do not move anywhere, all right? You understand?
0:09:41 > 0:09:43He's what?
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I don't care whether he's nine years.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I'm cuffing two people up because there's me and there's four of you.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51So if you're big enough to go out stealing,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54you're big enough to wear those nice bracelets, do you understand?
0:09:54 > 0:09:56With the suspect gang detained,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Paul calls the shoppers back to check nothing has been taken.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04The shoppers seem confused, so Paul checks with the store detective.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Which one did you see do it? He just tried to get that girl there, yeah?
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- Listen, I saw the girl turn around, all right?- No...- Listen to me.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- Don't be a liar, please.- Guys, guys, guys, guys, guys! Listen to me.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19You shout, if you raise your voice, all right,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22you will go straight into a police car, all right?
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Probably via the floor. I'm in charge here.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28This man... I have seen you coming down,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31one of you just tried to steal out of that girl's bag, which was you.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- No!- That's why she turned round and grabbed at her bag.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And one gang member is insulting the store detective,
0:10:36 > 0:10:37who is British-Asian.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Right, you are under arrest now. Racially aggravated words.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Paul needs to keep control.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Shut up! Let me work out what is going on.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Let's assume that I am used to people like you telling
0:10:52 > 0:10:56lies to me. Let's assume I have seen with my own eyes what you did.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Let's assume that this man, who I trust
0:10:58 > 0:11:01because I've dealt with before, has seen what you've done.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03With this situation turning ugly,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Paul's glad to see more officers arrive.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Bobs, Bobs!
0:11:08 > 0:11:10And with the plain-clothes team present,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12they take a look for stolen goods.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17The store detective witnessed an attempted robbery earlier,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20but one of the gang is still being abusive to him.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Mate, no, no, no. Final time - do not use that language again.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Do you understand? I'm telling you now, if you call him that again...
0:11:30 > 0:11:32OK.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36There is no stolen property but a records check reveals this man
0:11:36 > 0:11:39has a previous conviction for shoplifting.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43With the gang in custody, it is job done for the store detective.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45But the suspects are in for bad news.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48You are going to be arrested for attempted theft.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence
0:11:50 > 0:11:52if you do not mention, when questioned,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54something which you later rely on in court.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57And the rest of the gang are suspects for both the robbery
0:11:57 > 0:12:01the store detective witnessed and the attempt Paul saw.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05The allegation is the witness has seen you all crowd round
0:12:05 > 0:12:08the man while this gentleman has tried to take his bag, OK?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12When I have seen you down here, I've seen you try and take the bag.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Because you have all tried to distract the man,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18you are all going to be arrested on suspicion of attempted theft
0:12:18 > 0:12:22as well, because you were all involved in the theft.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Police transport has arrived.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27This vehicle will take two of the suspects to the station.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Paul hopes that this man will think about what he is saying.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Just tell the truth and it'll be dealt with easier, all right?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The quicker we get there, the better, all right?
0:12:37 > 0:12:39- Thank you.- No worries.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Processing the prisoners could take a while...
0:12:42 > 0:12:44DOOR SLAMS
0:12:46 > 0:12:49..which is time Paul was hoping to spend elsewhere.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03But, in the back, these two are looking at porridge.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07The attempted theft has a potential 12-week sentence
0:13:07 > 0:13:08if they are convicted.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13This arrest was tricky but Paul is pleased with the result.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16This is the kind of thing that we are looking for everyday.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Really, really pleased we've got them.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20We are in the process of booking them in.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23From there, justice hopefully will be served.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25But, as far as a result for the team goes, this is a really,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28really good one. It is kind of unique.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Normally we will catch the odd ones and twos,
0:13:30 > 0:13:31but this was a gang of four.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I haven't seen that myself on the street.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36I have seen people working in pairs.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The only way I can describe it, they were roaming like a pack.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42The offence that I saw, they had gone into the female's bag,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45they'd caught her doing it, but they just regrouped
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and just carried on the street like nothing was happening.
0:13:48 > 0:13:49They were just hunting as a pack.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52They just carried on, went after the next victim.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57The gang were interviewed, charged and bailed.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00But that's not the end of the story.
0:14:00 > 0:14:01Not long after this,
0:14:01 > 0:14:06more evidence came to light relating to the gang, including this.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09It's a photograph taken by a member of the public from a bus
0:14:09 > 0:14:13who spotted the gang acting suspiciously.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15She took this photograph just as the suspect pulled
0:14:15 > 0:14:19something from the rucksack of the shopper in front of him.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Paul thinks it's key evidence.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26This is down on Piccadilly about 30 minutes before we encountered them.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29They're coming up on the two victims,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31who are all looking at the bus because the witness is
0:14:31 > 0:14:34hammering on the bus window to get their attention.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Once again, you can see how the four have come close,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40so as he makes an attempt, if they turn around they are just
0:14:40 > 0:14:42aware of a lot of people around them.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44They won't know who has done it.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48And I believe from this picture that he has got a phone in his hand,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51where he has already taken it from the bag.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Later, on the back of the new evidence,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Paul goes to arrest the gang again.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58Open up!
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Staff at Debenhams are getting ready for live body painting
0:15:10 > 0:15:13in their front window to announce the launch
0:15:13 > 0:15:15of a new line of French cosmetics.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Emily has prepared an all-black window for maximum effect.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Now it is time for the models and make-up artists to step up.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Body painting in the window is an Oxford Street first.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Emily is confident she has done enough to get one up
0:15:32 > 0:15:34on the neighbouring stores.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36In respect of the other stores on the high street,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38I think we are doing quite well at the moment.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40In order to make sure we get as many customers as possible
0:15:40 > 0:15:43coming into our store as opposed to others, the window is the first
0:15:43 > 0:15:48point where we can sort of use as a platform to sell our products.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52But it looks like Emily's attention to detail might have been overkill.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Can't actually see the floor, but at least we have aimed for perfection.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The models and artists have only been in the window for a few minutes
0:15:59 > 0:16:03and already a curious crowd has gathered.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Amazing, is what I first thought. Colourful. Good grief!
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- He is a bit of a showman, your model.- He is a bit.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12I think he's enjoying himself.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It's really good, very unusual.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Especially your guy there, he's brilliant.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Even the staff are impressed.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Better than I think our imaginations could even dream.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29The live body painting is causing quite a stir.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31It's strange...
0:16:31 > 0:16:32but funny sometimes.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37I have no time to look at the street like that.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Yes, it's strange.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44But the store is hoping to get more publicity than just passers-by.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47They are hoping for a big media hit as well.
0:16:47 > 0:16:48To add to the interest,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52PR manager Cassandra Robinson has arranged for fashion photographer
0:16:52 > 0:16:57Rankin to come along to lend a little extra stardust to proceedings.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01It's Rankin's campaign photos that hang in the window.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- It's great, I love it. - It looks really cool, right?
0:17:04 > 0:17:05No, it looks fantastic.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09I told them the body painting would go down brilliantly in the UK.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14The hubbub on the street shows no sign of coming down.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16A bit chaotic but actually this is exactly what we want.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18We want all of this hype, we want all this excitement.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21This is perfect. It is absolutely perfect.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Emily and her team have put their all into the window display
0:17:24 > 0:17:28but there's something else planned for inside the store that
0:17:28 > 0:17:31perhaps only the French could have dreamt up.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Let me please introduce the most exuberant live body art show
0:17:35 > 0:17:37from Make Up For Ever UK.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Dany Sanz is the founder of the make-up company.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Oxford Street is a very iconic place,
0:17:54 > 0:18:00so to do body painting and a show like that for me is really amazing.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04The show has gone down well inside.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Outside, there has been a crowd all morning.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10It is now time for Cassandra to make sure everyone's hard work
0:18:10 > 0:18:14is converted into column inches and picture spreads.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16We've now got to get all the images back from our photo call,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19get them into a press release and get them out to every single
0:18:19 > 0:18:23news agency that ever existed in the world to try and get some coverage.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24- Splash the news everywhere.- Exactly.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27I think the team put a lot of effort in.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28We've had overnights all week.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31A lot of painting, a lot of black paint - I'm still covered.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34But, yeah, it was really good to see the windows
0:18:34 > 0:18:35finally finished.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39It was a spectacle Oxford Street is unlikely to forget in a hurry
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and an escalation of the lengths the shops will go to
0:18:43 > 0:18:44to outdo their rivals.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47All that remains to be seen is how much of the fuss
0:18:47 > 0:18:49will translate into sales.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Oxford Street attracts all sorts of visitors.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Some come from overseas, some from other parts of the UK,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and some from even more surprising directions.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Starting his journey to the street this morning is Jason Hawkes.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18But he's beginning 23 miles away.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23I've got a job up in town, so we are heading down to Redhill Aerodrome.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Jason's a professional aerial photographer.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Today, he's been commissioned by a marketing company to get
0:19:29 > 0:19:34photographs of iconic Oxford Street shopping scenes from a helicopter.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36It's his job to get the best-looking,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38most impactful images he can.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Oxford Street's great,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42a really interesting place to fly and there are so many people,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45especially when you come over the top of Oxford Circus
0:19:45 > 0:19:48and you see on the people pouring down into the Oxford Circus Tube
0:19:48 > 0:19:49and things like that.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52But this kind of photography isn't cheap.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Hire of the helicopter alone is £1,300 an hour.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59It means the pressure's on Jason to get the shots the client wants.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I think you're going to be flying in TVHD,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05which we're going to get out of the hanger and we will prep for you.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06Cool.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Jason checks his equipment.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12When you're thousands of feet up, you need to be prepared.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15We have a range of lenses, which I guess the longest
0:20:15 > 0:20:17is about a 400mm lens.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20So you can sit, you know, right at the edge here
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and you can crop right in just to see the tops of people's head
0:20:23 > 0:20:26or you can just take a really wide 20mm lens
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and see the whole of the landscape.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30And with his kit working well,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32things are looking good for the shoot.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34The weather is looking pretty good and if you look right
0:20:34 > 0:20:37over to the horizon, you can see it is really nice and clear.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Jason's is not the only machine planning a trip
0:20:40 > 0:20:43over the capital today and with Miles the pilot arriving,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45it is time to get going.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Weather's good, air traffic is good, no restrictions.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- We are good to go. - Cool.- All ready?
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Jason wears a harness to keep himself
0:20:53 > 0:20:56and his equipment firmly inside the helicopter.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57Once he's up in the sky,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00he'll be opening the door to get his shots.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- Yeah, that looks good.- Yeah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07ROTORS WHIR
0:21:11 > 0:21:16The A355 helicopter has a cruising speed of 140mph,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18a ceiling of 11,000 feet
0:21:18 > 0:21:21and a range of 437 miles.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Today, however, Jason and Miles are planning
0:21:26 > 0:21:28on just over an hour's flying time.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And countryside soon becomes city as London's famous landmarks
0:21:38 > 0:21:39hove into view.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Something exciting is going on in the Queen's back garden
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and Jason can't resist a few snaps.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57But he's not there just to admire the view.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00After ten minutes, they near their destination.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08They sweep past the city's famous financial district
0:22:08 > 0:22:11and on to the major shopping districts of the West End.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19The main shot I'm looking for, the kind of hero shot,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22is a graphic top shot looking straight down.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24So we're at Oxford Circus right now,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27so I'm going to whack open this door and I'm going to lean out
0:22:27 > 0:22:31a little bit and I'm going to get some shots looking straight down.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Oxford Circus is where two of London's great retail avenues meet -
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Regent Street and Oxford Street.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42It's also the key point for Jason's shoot today.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Time for Jason to earn his keep.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55We are going to head up Oxford Street again
0:22:55 > 0:22:57and I'm going to get some shots looking down
0:22:57 > 0:22:59off the top of Selfridge's.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Miles is going to put it sideways and we're going to fly
0:23:03 > 0:23:06sideways quite slowly the whole way back down again.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13It is amazing how busy it always is.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16When you look straight down, there's just hundreds of buses
0:23:16 > 0:23:19always lined up and that always looks really dramatic.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24And there's so much development going round here.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26It's incredible how many buildings they tear down
0:23:26 > 0:23:28and then put straight up again.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35And, with that, Jason's job is done for the day.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38He's been in the air and hour and a half
0:23:38 > 0:23:42and taken hundreds of pictures, but now it is time to head for home.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53It is lovely to see a city like this from above.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55It looks beautiful and it is great to see how the images of what
0:23:55 > 0:23:59it really looks like from up there. We got loads of nice shots today.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Really good job - a job well done, I think.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03All in all, not a bad day at the office.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05All right, cool, cheers.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Take care. Cheers.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Earlier, we saw Paul Penrose
0:24:16 > 0:24:19of the Oxford Street plain-clothes police team
0:24:19 > 0:24:22catch four suspected pickpockets dipping into bags.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26The gang were charged and bailed,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30but since then a new offence has come to light.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Now, this member of public has actually taken a picture of
0:24:34 > 0:24:39the actual offence happening, which you can see quite clearly here
0:24:39 > 0:24:41that he has got a phone in his hand
0:24:41 > 0:24:44where he has already taken it from the bag.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Paul wants to charge the gang with the new offence
0:24:49 > 0:24:51but, to do that, he has got to find them again.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53So, this morning,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57with the help of a uniform team from the Territorial Support Group,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01he is on his way into the London suburbs to the address
0:25:01 > 0:25:04the gang gave him when he arrested them before.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06We are just going to go in, hopefully pick them up,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08bring them back to the station and get them
0:25:08 > 0:25:10charged with the secondary offences now.
0:25:13 > 0:25:14Anywhere here, mate.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18But Paul is very aware that the suspects may have
0:25:18 > 0:25:20lied about their address.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Whether they will be there or not, he is about to find out.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28The Territorial Support Group moves swiftly to the door.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30A woman inside the house lets them in.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31We have got 16 officers here
0:25:31 > 0:25:33but we don't know how many people are in the building,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36so we will generally come in as a group
0:25:36 > 0:25:39to make sure that the place is safe.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43- No-one up there?- No.- Thank you.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45OK, I'm just going to check the back garden.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49A search turns up no sign of the suspects.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53It certainly doesn't look like six people live here. For sure.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57But Paul and the TSG don't give up easily.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00These people are a bit of a burden, with all the thefts
0:26:00 > 0:26:04that they're committing up town, and it would have been nice to get them.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Paul has evidence linking the suspects
0:26:06 > 0:26:09to a second address at a London hotel.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Now, I know they were living there
0:26:10 > 0:26:13because I saw a hotel receipt that he showed us.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15He was trying to use it as a bail address.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20The team head to the second address - a hotel above a betting shop.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32OK, so we are going up into the hotel to the room in question now.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36They head in in force, hoping for better luck.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Open up!
0:26:49 > 0:26:52There is no answer from inside. Rather than kick the door down...
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Could you just open the door to 107, please? That would be great.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Thank you.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59..they call the manager.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00Hello. Police.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04No, I think they have left for the day.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07It is a disappointment. The officers search the room,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11but it is soon apparent these aren't the suspects' belongings.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15The team show photos of the suspects to the manager.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18This one, this one, the lady.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24- Do they live here? - They left, I think, two weeks ago.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- Thank you, mate. - All right, thanks a lot, meat.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30They were here, but it is now clear they are long gone.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34And there is a reason the manager remembers the suspects so well.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37About two weeks ago, they fight me, they punch me.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Oh, right, really? You've reported it, have you?
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Yeah, we phoned the police, they come,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44and after that, two days after,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47- they left here.- Right, OK.- OK? - No problem. Thanks a lot, mate.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Good. Take care. Bye-bye.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53For Paul, it is disappointing, but all is far from lost.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57It may well be that they have fled the country, which is good news
0:27:57 > 0:28:00in some respects to the taxpayer, obviously, that they are gone.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03When they come back and if they come back, we will be able to
0:28:03 > 0:28:06pick them up straight away as soon as they come into the country again.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08So they are not going to get away with it -
0:28:08 > 0:28:10we are going to win this battle.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13The gang are already bailed to appear in court
0:28:13 > 0:28:16on the earlier charges, but Paul thinks the likelihood
0:28:16 > 0:28:19is they will stay out of the country.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22But if the suspects do choose to come back and try their luck,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25they can be sure Paul and his team will be ready
0:28:25 > 0:28:28and waiting to give them alternative accommodation.