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 > 0:01:08The team that keeps the buses running...
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Madam, watch the road, please, for your safety, yeah?
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Thank you very much.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..and Oxford Street from above.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Oxford Street attracts a lot of visitors with money to spend
0:01:22 > 0:01:27in its shops, restaurants, flagship stores and fashion chains.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29It's a very safe place to shop
0:01:29 > 0:01:32and the job of keeping it that way falls to the Oxford Street
0:01:32 > 0:01:37police team, Orb, and in particular their plain-clothes squad.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41At the moment, their priority is the small number of thieves trying
0:01:41 > 0:01:44to take advantage of the street's attractions.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47There's upward of 200,000 people passing through Oxford Street
0:01:47 > 0:01:51every day and the pickings can be from a £10 wallet
0:01:51 > 0:01:54to, you know, there's people walking around carrying £50,000
0:01:54 > 0:01:57in envelopes in bags, so when there's that kind of money
0:01:57 > 0:02:00sloshing around on Oxford Street, you're always going to get that
0:02:00 > 0:02:03kind of criminal coming down and trying to get it.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07On the street, thieves can use cunning distractions
0:02:07 > 0:02:11and work with accomplices to get whatever they can and when police
0:02:11 > 0:02:15get a call about pickpockets loose on the street, they respond quickly.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And today is one of those occasions.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Paul Penrose of the plain-clothes team is in a desperate hurry to
0:02:22 > 0:02:27get onto the street, where he's had word a crime has just been committed.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Yeah, OK. Right. I'm coming, I'm coming.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Paul has had a phone call from a store detective on Oxford Street
0:02:36 > 0:02:38who believes he's just witnessed a robbery.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41The store detective is following four suspected
0:02:41 > 0:02:45pickpockets as they prowl the street, and he's called Paul in to come
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and find him and take over the surveillance.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52- But Paul can't find him. - Where are you?
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Over the phone, the store detective is trying to give Paul
0:02:55 > 0:02:56the suspects' positions,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00but they're constantly moving and Paul is trying to catch up.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02He said he was at Jessops, opposite the Plaza -
0:03:02 > 0:03:05that's why I sprinted down here.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08He keeps saying they're doubling back and they're not.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11He's saying they're heading down this way, doubling back to there and he says...
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Finally, Paul makes contact with the security guard.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- Sorry. Right. Where are we? Who are we looking at?- Them four. Them four.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- Yeah. Right.- He's already dipped.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25He's trying to dip the Chinese, he went like that.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28- Did you see him actually touch... - The one in the blue, yeah.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Right. So I can nick her?
0:03:29 > 0:03:32The store detective says he's just witnessed a gang of four
0:03:32 > 0:03:36trying to take a man's wallet. Paul calls for assistance.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Right, get up here, we've got four.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41He's witnessed them trying to do one dip,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44so I've got enough to nick the girl, apparently.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47We're outside, I've got four.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Paul's over the road from the gang, who are highlighted here.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I'm going to have to go in and start pulling them in,
0:03:56 > 0:03:57because they're on the move again.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59He crosses the road to tail them.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07And with the gang just yards in front of him, they strike again.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Our camera's view is obscured by other passers-by,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15but Paul believes he's just seen the gang trying to take
0:04:15 > 0:04:18a purse from a bag using a common distraction technique
0:04:18 > 0:04:21known in the trade as a shoulder roll.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23If I was to bump into someone,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25someone's very much aware that I've bumped into them.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28If, however, there's two or three people all around me, I'm not sure
0:04:28 > 0:04:31who's bumped into me and while someone's bumping into
0:04:31 > 0:04:34my right shoulder, my left pocket is being picked.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38So my attention is drawn to my right shoulder, to the person there.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41The actual thief is probably behind me, putting their hand in the bag.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Right, hang on. Yeah, I'm doing it, I'm doing it.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49This shopper notices and the attempt fails, but Paul's seen enough.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Even on his own, he decides it's time to move in.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We'll see how he gets on later.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Guys, guys, guys, guys, guys! Listen to me.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58I'm in charge here.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Beauty and cosmetic products are big business in Britain,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11worth £17 billion a year
0:05:11 > 0:05:16and nowhere is more important for sales than Oxford Street.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It's the first thing you see entering one of the street's department
0:05:19 > 0:05:21stores, and competition is fierce.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Launching a new brand into the market can be tough.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30But today, at Debenhams, one make-up company is trying to do just that.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35And being a French brand, it plans to enter the market with a splash
0:05:35 > 0:05:37by using a little je ne sais quoi.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40They're taking over one of the store's front windows to do
0:05:40 > 0:05:45live body painting with models. Making sure the launch goes to plan
0:05:45 > 0:05:48is the job of visual supervisor Emily Gaffney.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51There's going to be live painting, live movement, live dancing.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Very different to anything we've normally done before.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56We're going to have quite a crowd.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00After months of planning, it's Emily's job to make sure the window
0:06:00 > 0:06:03is ready for the body painting event.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04It's just turned eight.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We've got till ten till the models are due into the windows,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10but we don't like to have any of our team in the windows past half nine
0:06:10 > 0:06:11when the store opens.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Perfection is Emily's watchword,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17but she's already been thrown a curveball this morning.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21The window interior has been painted black to showcase
0:06:21 > 0:06:24the performance, but the introduction of white electric fans
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and cables is threatening to ruin the effect.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- Have you got any black extension leads?- No, we haven't.- No.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33We might be able to get some black tape.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I know it's small, but something like a white extension cable
0:06:35 > 0:06:36just throws the whole look off.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41The models might not be due in the window for another two hours,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44but what the team have planned is a little more complicated than
0:06:44 > 0:06:45eyeliner and lipstick.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48They've had to get started early.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49It's a good day.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I like my face today.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54But back at the window,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Emily's black performance space is again under threat.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Messy workmen have left dusty footprints all over the floor.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- Hello.- Are you OK? - Yeah, I'm trying to clean the floor.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Emily and the team get busy taping up the white cables
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and clearing the floor.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17But ladders have left deep scratches in it, which also need covering.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I'm going to go get some paint and just touch up all these dents.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24She heads to the back office for some paint.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26There's a reason she's taking such pains.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Shop windows are a store's most valuable advertising space and on
0:07:30 > 0:07:35Oxford Street, shops have only a few seconds to catch a passer-by's eye.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37The strength of a window display can be
0:07:37 > 0:07:41the difference between the success and failure of the product.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Emily heads back to the window, but she's running over time
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and by now the shop is open.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I've just had to walk past a stream of customers with a pot full of paint.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It's not got too busy yet, so it's fine.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57The visual merchandising team aren't the ones supposed to be drawing
0:07:57 > 0:07:59attention to themselves.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02They're arriving in about 20 minutes, so we're just going to
0:08:02 > 0:08:05finish these last pictures off, have a final sweep and then vacate.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Finally, half an hour late, the window is ready
0:08:08 > 0:08:12and Emily can head upstairs to check on the models' preparations.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14As well as the live body painting,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18there'll be a dance performance in store and the models are warming up.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It's all very dramatic. They're going to dance in super-high heels.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30On y va. Let's go.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33The time for rehearsals has come to an end.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36OK, let's go.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38It's now the main event.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Later, strike a pose - the models get painted
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and the French take over.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46For me, it's really amazing.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Every year, over 30 million visitors come to Oxford Street
0:08:59 > 0:09:02to enjoy its shops and other attractions.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05A good chunk of those come by bus.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09The street is a key artery for the bus service, as one of the major
0:09:09 > 0:09:12routes connecting the east and west of the city centre.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14But on such a busy street,
0:09:14 > 0:09:19even the most trivial disturbance can greatly disrupt the bus service.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23It's so important to keep interruptions to a minimum
0:09:23 > 0:09:26that Transport for London has invested in a team of people
0:09:26 > 0:09:31set up to do just that. One of them is Pierre Briscoe.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37I'm just checking my tools, making sure I'm prepared for the day.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Making sure all's in place, so if it comes to emergency shouts,
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I know where everything is.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Pierre's one of the network traffic control teams, known as NTC.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50His job today is to deal with any incidents, big or small, that
0:09:50 > 0:09:53occur on Oxford Street, which might disrupt the buses.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58We do everything from a broken bus shelter, we suspend taxi ranks,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01we do everything to keep the buses moving throughout London.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Let's do it, let's go.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06There's no time to relax, to be honest, because once that
0:10:06 > 0:10:11phone goes, you've got to be prepared to meet that shout.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Incidents are phoned in to Pierre from Transport for London's control
0:10:14 > 0:10:17centre and he's only been on the road a few minutes
0:10:17 > 0:10:19when he gets a call from them.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I've just had a shout to have a look at taxis.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24They seem to be over-ranking.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27You've got more than 300 buses an hour going up and down
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Oxford Street, so we need to keep that as clear as possible.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Once there, the problem becomes apparent.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36By parking at a bus stop, the taxis are causing the buses to back up.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40On the left we have two taxis in actual bus cage.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44This taxi's swung round, which is not right.
0:10:44 > 0:10:50Causing buses to not park or drive in at that point.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52It's Pierre's job to move the taxis on.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55I'm just making sure you guys try
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and contain to the ranks rather than bus stops, you know what I mean?
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Watch yourself on the right, careful. No worries, buddy.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Move on.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08As soon as I park up, I can see them both pulling out.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10As soon as you go, they turn up. When you turn up, they go.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14It's just a pain in the neck, so we just have to keep moving them on.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18But with so many taxis on the street, it's a thankless task.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21It's just like cat and mouse, you know?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23So, that's all you can do, but our job, at the end of the day,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25is to keep the road flowing.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And it's not just taxis.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Unlicensed pedicabs also cause problems for the same reason.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35They're a pain in the neck as well, to be honest.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- Do you have a designated spot to park at all?- No.- You don't? - That's the problem.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41We'll try and keep an eye on you as to where you're parked,
0:11:41 > 0:11:42so the flow of traffic can flow through.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45The taxis and pedicabs are moved on for now,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- but other incidents come thick and fast for Pierre.- This way.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- Right, thank you.- There's a problem at a key junction.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57I'm on Oxford Street at the minute, junction at Hayward Place.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00The traffic lights are out - could you pass on to LSTCC?
0:12:00 > 0:12:02All right, speak to you soon.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05A bit further along, there's a broken-down bus.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08We've got the tow man. He's picking up the bus to take it away.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13- And another cab is causing him problems.- We've got a taxi on fire.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Pretty bad state, but it's off the road anyway.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Proper gutted out, you know? It was horrible.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I hope, in the process, no-one got injured.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23But one of Pierre's biggest concerns is pedestrians
0:12:23 > 0:12:25not watching where they're going.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28You've got to be very careful with tourists crossing the roads,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30cos they tend to be using their mobile phone
0:12:30 > 0:12:32or looking at a map to see where they're going,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35so you always have to think for them, cos they'll just step out
0:12:35 > 0:12:41in front of any vehicle and cause a major injury, which happens a lot.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43For their safety and that of his buses,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45it's vital they watch the road.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46This lady crossing the road here,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48she's not even looking, where she's going.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Madam, watch the road, please. Can you watch the road, please?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Please, watch the road, just in case. For your safety, yeah?
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- Thank you very much.- Later, Pierre gets the call he's been dreading.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Just had an incident on Oxford Street itself.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Apparently, a female has been hit by a bus. It's potentially serious.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Earlier, we saw Oxford Street undercover officer Paul Penrose
0:13:19 > 0:13:21tailing a gang of pickpockets.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Paul believes he's seen the gang try and take
0:13:24 > 0:13:28a purse from a shopper's bag using a common distraction technique.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31While someone's bumping into my right shoulder,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34my left pocket is being picked.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Having seen enough, he moves in.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41But there are four suspects and only one police officer.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45- Paul will have to single-handedly hold them.- Guys, all stay here.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Guys, come here, please. Police. - Yes, no problem.- Police.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- Please, please, come here. You just stand behind him.- Yes, yes.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Right, all four of you now.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01OK, gentlemen, stand there just while I talk to you, OK?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03You stand behind him.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Do not move anywhere, all right? You understand?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11He's what?
0:14:11 > 0:14:12I don't care whether he's nine years.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16I'm cuffing two people up because there's me and there's four of you.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So if you're big enough to go out stealing,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22you're big enough to wear those nice bracelets, do you understand?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24With the suspect gang detained,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Paul calls the shoppers back to check nothing has been taken.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32The shoppers seem confused, so Paul checks with the store detective.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37Which one did you see do it? He just tried to get that girl there, yeah?
0:14:37 > 0:14:40- Listen, I saw the girl turn around, all right?- No...- Listen to me.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- Don't be a liar, please.- Guys, guys, guys, guys, guys! Listen to me.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47You shout, if you raise your voice, all right,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50you will go straight into a police car, all right?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Probably via the floor. I'm in charge here.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56This man... I have seen you coming down,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58one of you just tried to steal out of that girl's bag, which was you.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- No!- That's why she turned round and grabbed at her bag.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04And one gang member is insulting the store detective,
0:15:04 > 0:15:05who is British-Asian.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Right, you are under arrest now. Racially aggravated words.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Paul needs to keep control.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Shut up! Let me work out what is going on.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Let's assume that I am used to people like you telling
0:15:20 > 0:15:24lies to me. Let's assume I have seen with my own eyes what you did.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Let's assume that this man, who I trust
0:15:26 > 0:15:29because I've dealt with before, has seen what you've done.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31With this situation turning ugly,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Paul's glad to see more officers arrive.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34Bobs, Bobs!
0:15:35 > 0:15:38And with the plain-clothes team present,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40they take a look for stolen goods.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45The store detective witnessed an attempted robbery earlier,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48but one of the gang is still being abusive to him.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Mate, no, no, no. Final time - do not use that language again.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Do you understand? I'm telling you now, if you call him that again...
0:15:58 > 0:16:00OK.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04There is no stolen property but a records check reveals this man
0:16:04 > 0:16:07has a previous conviction for shoplifting.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11With the gang in custody, it is job done for the store detective.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13But the suspects are in for bad news.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16You are going to be arrested for attempted theft.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence
0:16:18 > 0:16:20if you do not mention, when questioned,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22something which you later rely on in court.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And the rest of the gang are suspects for both the robbery
0:16:25 > 0:16:28the store detective witnessed and the attempt Paul saw.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32The allegation is the witness has seen you all crowd round
0:16:32 > 0:16:36the man while this gentleman has tried to take his bag, OK?
0:16:36 > 0:16:40When I have seen you down here, I've seen you try and take the bag.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Because you have all tried to distract the man,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46you are all going to be arrested on suspicion of attempted theft
0:16:46 > 0:16:49as well, because you were all involved in the theft.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Police transport has arrived.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55This vehicle will take two of the suspects to the station.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Paul hopes that this man will think about what he is saying.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Just tell the truth and will be dealt with easier, all right?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05The quicker we get there, the better, all right?
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- Thank you.- No worries.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Processing the prisoners could take a while...
0:17:10 > 0:17:12DOOR SLAMS
0:17:14 > 0:17:17..which is time Paul was hoping to spend elsewhere.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31But in the back, these two are looking at porridge.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34The attempted theft has a potential 12-week sentence
0:17:34 > 0:17:36if they are convicted.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41This arrest was tricky but Paul is pleased with the result.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44This is the kind of thing that we are looking for everyday.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Really, really pleased we've got them.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48We are in the process of booking them in.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50From there, justice hopefully will be served.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53But as far as a result for the team goes, this is a really,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55really good one. It is kind of unique.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Normally we will catch the odd ones and twos,
0:17:58 > 0:17:59but this was a gang of four.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02I haven't seen that myself on the street.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I have seen people working in pairs.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06The only way I can describe it, they were roaming like a pack.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10The offence that I saw, they had gone into the female's bag,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13they'd caught her doing it, but they just regrouped
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and just carried on the street like nothing was happening.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19They were just hunting as a pack.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22They just carried on, went after the next victim.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26The gang were interviewed, charged and bailed.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29But that's not the end of the story.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Not long after this,
0:18:30 > 0:18:35more evidence came to light relating to the gang, including this.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38It is a photograph taken by a member of the public from a bus
0:18:38 > 0:18:42who spotted the gang acting suspiciously.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44She took this photograph just as the suspect pulled
0:18:44 > 0:18:48something from the rucksack of the shopper in front of him.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Paul thinks it's key evidence.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55This is down on Piccadilly about 30 minutes before we encountered them.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58They are coming up on the two victims,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00who are all looking at the bus because the witness is
0:19:00 > 0:19:03hammering on the bus window to get their attention.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Once again, you can see how the four have come close,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09so as he makes an attempt, if they turn around they are just
0:19:09 > 0:19:11aware of a lot of people around them.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13They won't know who has done it.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17And I believe from this picture that he has got a phone in his hand,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20where he has already taken it from the bag.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Later, on the back of the new evidence,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Paul goes to arrest the gang again.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Open up!
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Staff at Debenhams are getting ready for live body painting
0:19:39 > 0:19:42in their front window to announce the launch
0:19:42 > 0:19:44of a new line of French cosmetics.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Emily has prepared an all-black window for maximum effect.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Now it is time for the models and make-up artists to step up.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Body painting in the window is ½n Oxford Street first.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Emily is confident she has done enough to get one up
0:20:01 > 0:20:03on the neighbouring stores.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05In respect of the other stores on the high street,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07I think we are doing quite well at the moment.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10In order to make sure we get as many customers as possible
0:20:10 > 0:20:13coming into our store as opposed to others, the window is the first
0:20:13 > 0:20:17point where we can sort of use as a platform to sell our products.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21But it looks like Emily's attention to detail might have been overkill.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Can't actually see the floor, but at least we have aimed for perfection.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28The models and artists have only been in the window for a few minutes
0:20:28 > 0:20:32and already a curious crowd has gathered.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Amazing, is what I first thought. Colourful. Good grief!
0:20:37 > 0:20:39- He is a bit of a showman, your model.- He is a bit.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I think he's enjoying himself.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45It's really good, very unusual.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Especially your guy there, he's brilliant.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Even the staff are impressed.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Better than I think our imaginations could even dream.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58The live body painting is causing quite a stir.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00It's strange...
0:21:00 > 0:21:01but funny sometimes.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06I have no time to look at the street like that.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Yes, it's strange.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13But the store is hoping to get more publicity than just passers-by.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16They are hoping for a big media hit as well.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17To add to the interest,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21PR manager Cassandra Robinson has arranged for fashion photographer
0:21:21 > 0:21:26Rankin to come along to lend a little extra stardust to proceedings.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30It's Rankin's campaign photos that hang in the window.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- It's great, I love it. - It looks really cool, right?
0:21:33 > 0:21:34No, it looks fantastic.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39I told them the body painting would go down brilliantly in the UK.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43The hubbub on the street shows no sign of coming down.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45A bit chaotic but actually this is exactly what we want.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We want all of this hype, we want all this excitement.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50This is perfect. It is absolutely perfect.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Emily and her team have put their all into the window display
0:21:53 > 0:21:57but there's something else planned for inside the store that
0:21:57 > 0:22:00perhaps only the French could have dreamt up.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Let me please introduce the most exuberant live body art show
0:22:04 > 0:22:06from Make Up For Ever UK.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Dany Sanz is the founder of the make-up company.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24Oxford Street is a very iconic place,
0:22:24 > 0:22:29so to do body painting and a show like that for me is really amazing.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33The show has gone down well inside.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Outside, there has been a crowd all morning.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39It is now time for Cassandra to make sure everyone's hard work
0:22:39 > 0:22:43is converted into column inches and picture spreads.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46We've now got to get all the images back from our photo call,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48get them into a press release and get them out to every single
0:22:48 > 0:22:52news agency that ever existed in the world to try and get some coverage.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- Splash the news everywhere.- Exactly.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56I think the team put a lot of effort in.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57We've had overnights all week.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00A lot of painting, a lot of black paint - I'm still covered.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03But, yeah, it was really good to see the windows
0:23:03 > 0:23:06finally finished and all the models going.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07All our hard work.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11It was a spectacle Oxford Street is unlikely to forget in a hurry
0:23:11 > 0:23:15and an escalation of the lengths the shops will go to
0:23:15 > 0:23:16to outdo their rivals.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19All that remains to be seen is how much of the fuss
0:23:19 > 0:23:21will translate into sales.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Oxford Street attracts all sorts of visitors.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Some come from overseas, some from other parts of the UK
0:23:37 > 0:23:40and some from even more surprising directions.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Starting his journey to the street this morning is Jason Hawkes.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50But he is beginning 23 miles away.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55I've got a job up in town, so we are heading down to Redhill Aerodrome.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Jason is a professional aerial photographer.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Today he has been commissioned by a marketing company to get
0:24:01 > 0:24:06photographs of iconic Oxford Street shopping scenes from a helicopter.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08It is his job to get the best-looking,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10most impactful images he can.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11Oxford Street's great,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14a really interesting place to fly and there are so many people,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17especially when you come over the top of Oxford Circus
0:24:17 > 0:24:20and you see on the people pouring down into the Oxford Circus
0:24:20 > 0:24:21tube and things like that.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24But this kind of photography isn't cheap.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Hire of the helicopter alone is £1,300 an hour.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31It means the pressure is on Jason to get the shots the client wants.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34I think you are going to be flying in TVHD,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37which we are going to get out of the hanger and we will prep for you.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38Cool.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39Jason checks his equipment.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44When you are thousands of feet up, you need to be prepared.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46We have a range of lenses, which I guess the longest
0:24:46 > 0:24:49is about a 400mm lens.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52So you can sit, you know, right at the edge here
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and you can crop right in just to see the tops of people's head
0:24:55 > 0:24:58or you can just take a really wide 20mm lens
0:24:58 > 0:25:00and see the whole of the landscape.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02And with his kit working well,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04things are looking good for the shoot.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06The weather is looking pretty good and if you look right
0:25:06 > 0:25:09over to the horizon, you can see it is really nice and clear.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Jason's is not the only machine planning a trip
0:25:12 > 0:25:15over the capital today and with Miles the pilot arriving,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17it is time to get going.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Weather's good, air traffic is good, no restrictions.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22- We are good to go. - Cool.- All ready?
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Jason wears a harness to keep himself
0:25:24 > 0:25:27and his equipment firmly inside the helicopter.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Once he's up in the sky,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32he will be opening the door to get his shots.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34- Yeah, that looks good.- Yeah.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39ROTORS WHIR
0:25:43 > 0:25:48The A355 helicopter has a cruising speed of 140mph,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50a ceiling of 11,000 feet
0:25:50 > 0:25:53and a range of 437 miles.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Today, however, Jason and Miles are planning
0:25:58 > 0:26:00on just over an hour's flying time.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10And countryside soon becomes city as London's famous landmarks
0:26:10 > 0:26:11hove into view.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Something exciting is going on in the Queen's back garden
0:26:17 > 0:26:20and Jason can't resist a few snaps.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28But he is not there just to admire the view.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32After ten minutes, they near their destination.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39They sweep past the city's famous financial district
0:26:39 > 0:26:43and on to the major shopping districts of the West End.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51The main shot I'm looking for, the kind of hero shot,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54is a graphic top shot looking straight down.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57So we are at Oxford Circus right now,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00so I am going to whack open this door and I'm going to lean out
0:27:00 > 0:27:04a little bit and I'm going to get some shots looking straight down.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Oxford Circus is where two of London's great retail avenues meet -
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Regent Street and Oxford Street.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14It is also the key point for Jason's shoot today.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Time for Jason to earn his keep.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28We are going to head up Oxford Street again
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and I'm going to get some shots looking down
0:27:30 > 0:27:32off the top of Selfridge's.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Miles is going to put it sideways and we're going to fly
0:27:36 > 0:27:39sideways quite slowly the whole way back down again.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46It is amazing how busy it always is.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48When you look straight down, there's just hundreds of buses
0:27:48 > 0:27:51always lined up and that always looks really dramatic.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56And there's so much development going round here.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59It's incredible how many buildings they tear down
0:27:59 > 0:28:01and then put straight up again.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08And with that, Jason's job is done for the day.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10He has been in the air and hour and a half
0:28:10 > 0:28:15and taken hundreds of pictures, but now it is time to head for home.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25It is lovely to see a city like this from above.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28It looks beautiful and it is great to see how the images of what
0:28:28 > 0:28:31it really looks like from up there. We got loads of nice shots today.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Really good job - a job well done, I think.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36All in all, not a bad day at the office.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37All right, cool, cheers.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Take care. Cheers.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51Pierre Briscoe of Transport For London's network traffic control team
0:28:51 > 0:28:53is out on patrol,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57doing his daily job of trying to minimise disruption to buses.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59So far, he has had a busy day.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01It is burnt out, to say the least.
0:29:01 > 0:29:02This lady crossing the road here,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04she's not even looking where she is going.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Madam, watch the road, please!
0:29:06 > 0:29:09People don't pay attention a lot of the time of their surroundings.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Worst case scenario, you could get someone killed.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15And towards the end of the afternoon,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17he gets the call he was hoping to avoid.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20- It's a route 73.- OK, sir.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- Top man. Cheers, thanks. - You're welcome. On my way.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27- SIREN WAILS - OK, we just had an incident on Oxford Street itself.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Apparently a female has been hit by a bus. Potentially serious.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34It's exactly what Pierre was worried about -
0:29:34 > 0:29:37pedestrians crossing without paying attention to traffic.
0:29:37 > 0:29:43Over a recent five-year period, there were 287 collisions involving
0:29:43 > 0:29:46pedestrians and vehicles on Oxford Street.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48It has knock-on effects.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50The driver may need to be breathalysed to find out who
0:29:50 > 0:29:53is at fault and the police will be called as well.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57The pedestrian's wellbeing is paramount, but with the buses
0:29:57 > 0:30:02hitting the rush-hour peak, Pierre has got to minimise any disruption.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Let's see what the state of play is.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10- I've come to find out what is going on.- The bus clipped a lady.- OK.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- She's absolutely fine. - Oh, right, OK.- It's just slightly...
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- Nowhere life-changing, nothing like that?- No, nothing like that.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19So far, buses have been getting past all right.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20Thank you very much for your help.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23The injured woman is being treated by an ambulance crew.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26She's OK, but pretty shaken up.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28There's just a slight bump.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31I just walked to the edge of the kerb
0:30:31 > 0:30:34and looked left and nothing was coming,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38didn't look right and one step out and
0:30:38 > 0:30:41the bus hit my side of the head
0:30:41 > 0:30:43and knocked me back on to the pavement.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47Normally I look and I didn't this time, so...
0:30:47 > 0:30:52But normally I'm pretty good on roads, but not today.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56But I'm glad it's just a minor injury.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Look right, left and right again. Always!
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Just takes a split second, someone walking out on the road.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05I've seen it at least four times already today,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08people on the mobile phones not paying attention.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10It just takes one second
0:31:10 > 0:31:14and this is a typical example of what could happen at any given time,
0:31:14 > 0:31:18and it has a major impact on traffic going up and down Oxford Street.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23The police and Pierre contain the incident and keep the buses moving.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26With statements taken, Pierre can get on his way again.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Reopened the road again.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31It's such a satisfaction because it's like a release in your vein,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33a major artery has been released.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35You can feel the blood flowing through again, you know?
0:31:35 > 0:31:37So, yeah, it's a major relief.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39But it can only last for two seconds.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42It could happen again at any given time.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46With the busses back moving again, Pierre's shift comes to an end.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49I've had a hard day, but it was good.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53But he knows tomorrow could be even more action-packed.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Earlier, we saw Paul Penrose
0:32:05 > 0:32:08of the Oxford Street plain-clothes police team
0:32:08 > 0:32:11catch four suspected pickpockets dipping into bags.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15The gang were charged and bailed,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19but since then a new offence has come to light.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Now, this member of public has actually taken a picture of
0:32:23 > 0:32:28the actual offence happening, which you can see quite clearly here
0:32:28 > 0:32:30that he has got a phone in his hand
0:32:30 > 0:32:33where he has already taken it from the bag.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Paul wants to charge the gang with the new offence
0:32:37 > 0:32:40but to do that, he has got to find them again.
0:32:41 > 0:32:42So, this morning,
0:32:42 > 0:32:46with the help of a uniform team from the Territorial Support Group,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49he is on his way into the London suburbs to the address
0:32:49 > 0:32:52the gang gave him when he arrested them before.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55We are just going to go in, hopefully pick them up,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57bring them back to the station and get them
0:32:57 > 0:32:59charged with the secondary offences now.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03Anywhere here, mate.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07But Paul is very aware that the suspects may have
0:33:07 > 0:33:09lied about their address.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Whether they will be there or not, he is about to find out.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16We're just coming up to the address. As you can see, there's TSG.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19The Territorial Support Group moves swiftly to the door.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22A woman inside the house lets them in.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23We have got 16 officers here
0:33:23 > 0:33:25but we don't know how many people are in the building,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28so we will generally come in as a group
0:33:28 > 0:33:30to make sure that the place is safe.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34- No-one up there?- No.- Thank you.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36OK, I'm just going to check the back garden.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41A search turns up no sign of the suspects.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45It certainly doesn't look like six people live here. For sure.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48But Paul and the TSG don't give up easily.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52These people are a bit of a burden, with all the thefts
0:33:52 > 0:33:55that they're committing up town, and it would have been nice to get them.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Paul has evidence linking the suspects
0:33:58 > 0:34:00to a second address at a London hotel.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Now, I know they were living there
0:34:02 > 0:34:04because I saw a hotel receipt that he showed us.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07He was trying to use it as a bail address.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11The team head to the second address - a hotel above a betting shop.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23OK, so we are going up into the hotel to the room in question now.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28They head in in force, hoping for better luck.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31Open up!
0:34:40 > 0:34:44There is no answer from inside. Rather than kick the door down...
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Could you just open the door to 107, please? That would be great.
0:34:47 > 0:34:48Thank you.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50..they call the manager.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Hello. Police.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56No, I think they have left for the day.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59It is a disappointment. The officers search the room,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03but it is soon apparent these aren't the suspects' belongings.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07The team show photos of the suspects to the manager.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09This one, this one, the lady.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- Do they live here? - They left, I think, two weeks ago.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18- Thank you, mate. - All right, thanks a lot, meat.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21They were here, but it is now clear they are long gone.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25And there is a reason the manager remembers the suspects so well.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29About two weeks ago, they fight me, they punch me.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Oh, right, really? You've reported it, have you?
0:35:31 > 0:35:33Yeah, we phoned the police, they come,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36and after that, two days after,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39- they left here.- Right, OK.- OK? - No problem. Thanks a lot, mate.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41Good. Take care. Bye-bye.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45For Paul, it is disappointing, but all is far from lost.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48It may well be that they have fled the country, which is good news
0:35:48 > 0:35:51in some respects to the taxpayer, obviously, that they are gone.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54When they come back and if they come back, we will be able to
0:35:54 > 0:35:57pick them up straight away as soon as they come into the country again.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59So they are not going to get away with it -
0:35:59 > 0:36:02we are going to win this battle.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06The gang are already bailed to appear in court on the earlier charges,
0:36:06 > 0:36:10but Paul thinks the likelihood is they will stay out of the country.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14But if the suspects do choose to come back and try their luck,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16they can be sure Paul and his team will be ready
0:36:16 > 0:36:19and waiting to give them alternative accommodation.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Above ground, Oxford Street is a vibrant throng of shoppers
0:36:32 > 0:36:35and day-trippers enjoying its sights and sounds.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42But below ground, there is another world altogether.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Underneath its length run miles of Victorian brick sewers.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48And today the job of keeping them
0:36:48 > 0:36:53running smoothly falls to Thames Water flushers Gary and Tim.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58It's so big down there, there literally is a London under London.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00This morning, they are on their way
0:37:00 > 0:37:02to carry out important maintenance work.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05But they have not always worked the sewers.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10I've been here for eight years now. Before that, I was a gravedigger.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14In the sewer, you find more in the way of old coins
0:37:14 > 0:37:16and gold and stuff like that.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20When you do gravedigging, all you find is old sets
0:37:20 > 0:37:21of false teeth and stuff.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Being surrounded by death all the time,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26it kind of plays on your mind a little bit.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31But with Oxford Street looming, there is no time to ponder the afterlife.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Right, here we are. It is time to get suited and booted
0:37:34 > 0:37:37for a day's work of the London sewers.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43The sewers are over 150 years old and with a rising population
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and increasing demands from local businesses, keeping them
0:37:46 > 0:37:49running takes more and more work every year.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53It is dangerous because of the gas levels.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56You don't ever quite know what you're going to find down there.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Today, Gary and Tim will inspect a sewer
0:37:59 > 0:38:01called the King's Scholars' Passage.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04They are worried about a build-up of fat.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06I am just lowering the gas detector down now,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09just to monitor the atmosphere, make sure we're safe to go in.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10And it is not too bad.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Smells like washing powder and wee.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16And they have got to keep their wits about them.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Above ground, it is starting to rain and when it does,
0:38:19 > 0:38:23it can increase the water flow in the sewer to dangerous levels.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25It's a little drizzle, nothing major,
0:38:25 > 0:38:26but what we are going to do...
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Phil's our top man, he is going to monitor the flow.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31If it starts raining any more,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34we will have to exit the manhole as soon as possible.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Far right, I'm coming down.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48Once inside, they work their way along the ancient brick sewer.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52They are a little way in when a call comes through from up top.
0:38:54 > 0:38:55Go ahead, Phil.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58It's a bit of a shower. It is getting a little bit heavy
0:38:58 > 0:39:01- but it will pass over.- That's where the flow is that at the moment.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03We have got two bricks here.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05If it starts rising, we will have to make our way out
0:39:05 > 0:39:07because there will be more rain coming down.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09They push on.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Today's main job is to inspect a tumbling bay.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Underground waterfalls would erode the brickwork,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18so when a sewer needs to dip beneath an obstruction -
0:39:18 > 0:39:21in this case the ticket hall at Bond Street station -
0:39:21 > 0:39:25the gradient is reduced with a series of steps.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27They need to calm the flow of water going through
0:39:27 > 0:39:30so that they can get in and inspect.
0:39:30 > 0:39:35This means diverting the flow out of the main sewer and into a side sewer.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38The boards behind me is what we are going to be using
0:39:38 > 0:39:40and we're going to put them in this chase,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42stop the flow going down to the tumbling bay,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45which is where the noise is coming from.
0:39:45 > 0:39:46That'll quieten down.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48We are here. We will take these boards out,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52which will push the flow around the corner and down into the mid level.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54First they need to unblock the side sewer,
0:39:54 > 0:39:56but lifting the boards isn't easy.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Where it's sat in the water, the wood swells,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02so it's kind of a bit of a hard job at the moment.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06It's not going over the lip.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08We've got it as high as we can this way.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10The boards won't come out.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Keen to get finished before the rain fills the tunnels,
0:40:13 > 0:40:15they eventually wedge the last one up
0:40:15 > 0:40:18and the sewage begins to flow underneath.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Now they can block off the main tunnel.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24We need to clean the chasers out so the boards can seal properly.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26Just fat, that is.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Not solid fat - as you can see it's a soft mixture of fat.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Luckily, the boards go easily into the freshly-cleaned chases.
0:40:41 > 0:40:42There is a bit of seepage
0:40:42 > 0:40:46but that will soon clog up with toilet paper, a bit of silt.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52With the majority of the flow now diverting into the side sewer,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55they can get down to the tumbling bay.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58With the rain adding more and more water into the sewer,
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Gary has had to be attached to a safety line.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06As you can see, you have fat that's built up all around the walls,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08which will be de-fatting.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12There is a bit of rag on the rails, which we will be de-ragging.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15The sewer's not been checked for a year
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and in that time, fat has built up.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21The level of the fat shows how high the water can get in the bay.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Fat is the biggest problem they face in the sewers
0:41:24 > 0:41:28and a build-up can cause blockages and disruptions.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Gary decides to take the agricultural route.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34I've got a crowbar because as I walked down the tumbling bay,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37the fat is at a height that I could just sit there and scrape it.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41Oh, that's nice. That's coming off in a bit, look.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Get this last little bit out, mate.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49The tumbling bay is de-fatted and de-ragged to Gary's satisfaction.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53A quick visual check confirms the rest of the bay is in order
0:41:53 > 0:41:56and it's job done for the flushers.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Some places were solid, some bits were a bit soft,
0:41:58 > 0:42:00which is quite good.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Lucky enough we did do it because there is a connection
0:42:02 > 0:42:05on your right-hand side and the fat was inside.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Well, it came off in one big bit, which was lucky.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10You often think that you're walking through tunnels
0:42:10 > 0:42:12just full of poo and it's not like that.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Some of them you come down, as you can see they're quite clean.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Some of them are like this one - deafening.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22But a lot of them are really quiet and peaceful as well.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Time to remove their diversion,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28a much easier job than putting it in there in the first place.
0:42:28 > 0:42:29Full flow, back to normal now.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Everything is done now. The tumbling bay is running free -
0:42:36 > 0:42:37no fat, no rag.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Happy day for us, good job done on Oxford Street.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42I think I can hear the kettle whistling,
0:42:42 > 0:42:44so it is definitely time for a cup of tea.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46All right, coming up.
0:42:47 > 0:42:52And above ground, the weather has improved and they can breathe easy.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Ten out of ten. Everything was done to what we had to do.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59- We have done the annual check. Sorted.- Yeah.- Are you happy?
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- Sorted, yeah, I'm sorted. - Do you know what I want?- What?
0:43:02 > 0:43:03- A cup of tea.- Yeah, I need a wee.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06That's the worst thing about working on them waterfalls, isn't it?
0:43:06 > 0:43:07Oh, yeah.