Roger and Giles are parked up alongside the M5 and have received a tip-off that a car with drugs likely to be in it is heading their way. As it passes, they head off behind it and call in colleagues to carry out one of their top-notch tactical stops. The element of surprise is in front of the suspect vehicle as it’s the black ST, and they pull off a textbook stop on the viaduct over the Exminster marshes. Everyone repairs to Heavitree nick where Giles and Jim get started on the vehicle search – and finds a little stash of something white and powdery lurking in a wellington boot.
Off to Tiverton to meet a new dog handler, Lee Crampton, and his dog Sharp. Both are new to the Dog Unit, so Lee is taking every opportunity to give Sharp a chance to have a jolly good bark: this time at arrested youths making a fuss about being arrested. The action then transfers to Exeter, where Lee has to attempt to assist a phenomenally drunk couple. Sharp has no counselling skills, so he stays in the van while Lee tries to sort out what the heck’s going on, while waiting for an ambulance for the bloke – who is on antidepressants as well as copious booze, so is on the deck. Unfortunately, the partner is also thoroughly soused, and just will not stop interfering - as only an incredibly drunk person can. She won’t even let the paramedics get on with their job properly so Lee has no option other than to arrest her for being drunk and disorderly; an outcome which she meets with loudly expressed disapproval. Fortunately, despite everything, neither of them had consequences more unpleasant than a nasty hangover. Oh, and an £80 fine.
Mark and Taff are out and about near Okehampton, and have got behind a clapped out looking Peugeot that they’d spotted earlier in the day. The car has dinged Mark’s crim radar, so they pull it. The pug is actually 15 years old, and has a horribly corroded exhaust which renders it largely unfit for the road. Even with this, Mark is still sure there’s more than meets the eye; and his list of offences is getting longer – including the weeny bit of cannabis in a film pot, and the lock knife which is stashed in the door pocket. It’s actually a work knife – but it still shouldn’t have been inside the car where it was reachable, so Taff confiscates it.
Back with the TAG, out in Torquay to execute a drugs warrant. Things go slightly askew when they spot the owner of their target house out walking his dog in the street, so they have to quickly stall him. This doesn’t stop him from speaking VERY LOUDLY for no apparent reason, but the rest of the team quickly head to the house and raid it. There’s not a lot around – just a bit of weed and some grinders – but they do discover a rather top notch CCTV system rigged up to the TV and realise that there was no chance of any element of surprise, as well as the reason for the raised volume of the suspect’s voice when they stopped him on the street. At least they were able to give a cannabis warning, though…
We are now introduced to another new dog handler. Gareth Rees, and his dog Finn, are in Tiverton at that golden hour known as ‘Club Kicking Out Time’. Dogs aren’t known for their negotiating skills, so Finn is staying put for the time being while Gareth heads across to some gathered people to try and find out what the problem is. Not surprisingly, it’s a fight again, and much mouthiness ensues leading to an arrest for being drunk and disorderly. This itself largely goes without a hitch, but the arrestee’s friend is not in the least happy with this outcome and, being Polish – and drunk, has more bravado than language skills with to express himself. This leads, perhaps inevitably, to his own arrest. Whoops.
Out on the M5, still in the Tiverton area, Mike and Chris are on patrol and respond to a tip off from Jim that there’s a car heading their way with a link to drug dealing. As it’s from South Yorkshire, another bad accent opportunity is just too good to miss while they wait for the suspect car. As they follow it, they pass another unit – also being filmed that day – before pulling the car further up the motorway. Chris deals with the driver, while Mike counsels the passenger on his bad-taste sunglasses. And questions him. The driver is evasive when asked about anything dodgy in the vehicle but soon admits to a spot of cannabis. The passenger is also asked out of the car and advised that he will also be searched for illicit substances. He’s pretty cool about it, but the driver’s scared stiff – probably because he has no link to drugs and is completely innocent. Unlike his passenger – who admits to a wrap of Ketamine stuffed in his sock. Perfect for tranquillising any nearby horses – and dredging up lots of superbly dreadful puns from Mr Brown before they leave.
