Traffic Cops (2016)

The return of the programme offering an insight into the work of officers patrolling the roads of Derbyshire. PC Chris Ryan follows a car that triggered an alert on the police's ANPR system as it was linked to a spate of catalytic converter thefts, while Sgt Steve Hughes is working with HMRC to track down and stop a vehicle that is suspected of carrying illicit cash.

PC Karl Jackson is called to an accident in which two people have died, and his priority is to cordon off the area, collect early witness statements and begin the sad task of trying to identify the victims so their relatives can be informed. PC Paul Barker attends an incident in which a car has spun and crashed and finds an empty can of beer on the floor of the car involved.

Dave McAllister is one of a team of officers on the M1 pursuing a stolen HGV, but only after its tyres are punctured with a stinger does the lorry come to a halt. A call comes into Derbyshire police HQ about a stolen motorhome. and Its owner has a live tracker on the vehicle and is giving constant updates to the control room of its position.

A member of the public reports a car veering erratically across the M1 and Karl Jackson and Matt Cooling are sent to investigate. They catch the vehicle up and box it in at traffic lights on a slip road, where the driver, smelling of alcohol, is dragged out and refuses a breathalyser test. Jason Potts is called to a rush-hour crash on the A50, while Alex Boniface takes the lead in the pursuit of a stolen Audi.

On patrol in Derbyshire, the traffic cops tackle a variety of criminals, ranging from drunk or drugged drivers to violent county lines drug dealers and organised crime gangs.

PC Craig Dawes attends a fatal collision involving a motorcycle and car, where he and Sgt Matt Edwards secure the site for crash investigators, who try to piece together what happened. Sgt Scott Riley spots and follows a biker he thinks looks suspicious, with a computer check indicating the bike is not licensed or insured.

As part of Project Edward - a week-long nationwide crackdown on illegal drivers - Derbyshire's traffic cops set up check-sites across the county. PC Andy Swift and PC Stu Smith pull over a car at one stop and the driver eventually pulls out a knife, forcing the officers to draw their Tasers and restrain the man. PC Jason Potts and Sgt Scott Riley go to investigate when a van crashes at night near a check-site, finding the vehicle on its roof in the bushes, but with no sign of the driver.

Around 11,000 automatic number plate recognition cameras continually monitor vehicles on Britain's roads. With ANPR readers installed in their patrol cars, it is a valuable tool for Derbyshire's traffic cops, helping them track down dangerous offenders and illegal cars, vans and lorries. Karl Jackson is alerted to a possible disqualified driver when a passing car triggers his ANPR system, but the vehicle fails to stop and a pursuit begins.

PC Andy Swift is on the lookout for a high-value car stolen from a dealership after being taken for a test drive, while he also searches for builder's van taken from a driveway while the owner popped briefly inside to collect his tools and equipment. PC Dave Shaw is patrolling on a night shift when he follows a car suspected of being used in house burglary.

PC Tom Strachan gives pursuit when a car is spotted by police cameras being driven with no insurance, but when records flag up the suspect has a history of violence, an armed response team is called in too. The suspect throws a knife out of the car and then waves a baseball bat out of his window, banging it on the roof and making offensive hand gestures at the police behind him

Even though it's only just after 10am, a woman is suspected of drink-driving and traffic cop Matt Copestake is called to investigate. Traffic cop Andy Swift is on the trail of a driver who has allegedly failed to stop after a collision.