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Crimewatch Roadshow Season 22 Episode 2
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FunTranscript
00:00Borda and welcome to Crimewatch Live. We are coming to you from our studio in the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
00:08This morning, a brave shop worker fights off an armed robber.
00:13Within seconds, Brandish is a six-inch kitchen knife.
00:17One of the other members of staff, he's come out and clearly could have been hurt himself.
00:24But can you help find the man wielding the knife?
00:27Welcome to Crimewatch Live.
00:30He's been jamming the switchboard both here and at the Instagram room.
00:35Just to remind you, this was the abduction and reno-drop campaign and the handgun debate.
00:42Hello and welcome to Crimewatch Live.
00:44People rang and giving the same as fantastic as this is.
00:48Thanks for joining us this morning and thanks for your calls yesterday, particularly on the theft of those really expensive handbags.
01:02We have passed all that information over to the police.
01:05Yeah, thanks so much for that.
01:06We'll be hearing more incredible stories from the front line of policing, including how a man pretending to be a paramedic in order to sexually abuse women was finally put behind bars.
01:17He came across as very smug and I got the feeling that he felt that nobody would believe the victims and what they'd said and I honestly think he believed he'd get away with it.
01:29Well, he didn't.
01:32And South Wales Police are also with us asking for information about missing Charlene Hobbs, a 36-year-old mum whose disappearance they are treating as murder.
01:42And we'll be talking about the power of a good bedtime story.
01:46We're meeting with charity, keeping kids connected to their parents who are behind bars.
01:50Being able to do just something very simple as a story for your kids, it's about turning that negative into a positive.
02:00So, let's get on to the first one, shall we?
02:04As always, our team and officers from today's programme are backstage, ready to take your calls.
02:09All the ways you can get in touch can be found by following the QR code.
02:13You just scan the code with your phone's camera and it will direct you to our homepage.
02:17Otherwise, the number to call is 08000 468999 or you can text us on 63399, start with the word crime, leave a space, then write your message.
02:28And if you'd prefer, you can email us. The address is cwl at bbc.co.uk.
02:35Now, our first appeal today is from Lincolnshire, where two shop workers have been left terrified in the small market town of Long Sutton.
02:44Long Sutton is a quiet market town in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire.
03:09It has a good selection of shops and crime is considered low.
03:14I've been working here at Gedney News Agents for 20 years and it's a lovely place to work.
03:19It was just a normal morning.
03:22But on Saturday the 29th of March, this was about to change.
03:27Police emergency.
03:29Hiya, I just had a robbery at Gedney's News Agents Long Sutton.
03:33The call came in to Lincolnshire Police just after 5.30.
03:39He's went over the till, took money out of the till, he's threatening with a knife.
03:43This is a very rare crime for Long Sutton.
03:45We don't get many robberies, certainly don't get any armed robberies in the area.
03:53Officers are aware. We've got it on as an urgent, so officers are travelling OK.
03:57I got to the store. One of my colleagues from response was obtaining statements from the staff that were there.
04:06My initial thoughts were to see what CCTV is available.
04:10Police started to build a timeline of events.
04:14The store opens at 5.30 in the morning.
04:16The staff were waiting at the back of the store for the papers to be delivered.
04:24Whilst they were out the back, the mails walked into the store.
04:37He walks around.
04:41It's clear from the CCTV he's wearing, like, a black hooded top.
04:44He's got the hood up with a face mask on.
04:53After checking the coast is clear, the mail attempts to open the till
04:57before being interrupted by a staff member who walks over to serve him.
05:04Ask the member of staff for a packet of cigarettes.
05:08And then, within seconds, brandishes the six-inch kitchen knife.
05:14He says to the member of staff, open the till and you won't get hurt.
05:22He takes it upon himself to open the till
05:24and start removing the cash.
05:32One of the other members of staff working that day,
05:34he's seen what's going on via the CCTV cameras in the back of the store.
05:41He's come out, tackled the mail.
05:46He's very brave to go out and tackle this person with a knife,
05:49not knowing what their intention was,
05:51and clearly could have been hurt himself.
05:54Luckily, no-one is hurt,
05:56and the robber begins to back off,
05:58but continues to lash out.
06:01Finally, he decides to go.
06:08This was a terrifying moment for both shop workers,
06:11and it could have turned out very differently.
06:12I was in complete shock.
06:17I didn't know what to do.
06:20I'm really grateful my colleague was there.
06:23This was an awful thing to go through.
06:28The mail took approximately £80 in cash and a packet of cigarettes,
06:32but in the scuffle, he dropped approximately about £15.
06:36I've then gone on, done a CCTV trawl.
06:40There was a private address that had some CCTV
06:42of him coming up their driveway
06:45and then making his way back down their driveway,
06:50which led to the park that was behind the properties.
06:54Police were unable to track him any further,
06:57but there are some clues in the CCTV.
07:00The suspect was wearing a black hooded top with a face mask
07:04and sort of like grey-blue trousers.
07:09They were darker at the bottom than they were at the top.
07:13He had a six-inch kitchen knife in his left hand,
07:17which didn't have a glove on,
07:19and in his right hand, wearing a black glove
07:21that he used to open the till and get the money from the till.
07:28We're very keen to catch this individual,
07:30clearly very dangerous,
07:31and we'd like to catch him before he goes on and does this again.
07:34He may have committed these offences anywhere in the country.
07:38Somebody will know who he is.
07:44It's outrageous behaviour that somebody has gone into this store
07:47with a knife, threatening the staff.
07:50Nobody should have to go to work and face that.
07:52To know this armed thief is still out there in the area is worrying.
07:58We're back at work, but we're afraid he may come back,
08:01so we hope he is caught soon.
08:04We're doing everything we can to try and find this individual.
08:07We need to keep it in this safe,
08:08so if anybody has got any information they can give us,
08:10then it would be greatly appreciated.
08:11Well, DC, Matt Wharton from Lincolnshire Police is here with me now.
08:18Thank you for coming in.
08:20First of all, can we just talk about how brave the shop worker was?
08:22Because as you rightly said,
08:24you don't expect to go into work and have that happen, do you?
08:27No, not at all, yeah.
08:28He was extremely brave in the circumstances,
08:30and you can see from the footage that he's at the back of the store,
08:33sees what's going on on the CCTV,
08:36then runs out and tackles the male who's got this knife.
08:39Yeah, unfortunately, the shop workers were OK,
08:42but clearly terrified from the incident.
08:44Oh, yeah, frightening incident, but, yeah, luckily nobody was hurt.
08:47Yeah, so someone threatening, somebody with a knife,
08:49I mean, clearly needs to be caught,
08:51so should we go through the details of this?
08:53Take us back to the beginning of what happened.
08:55Yeah, so the shop opened at 5.30 on the morning.
08:59They'd only been open about 10 minutes when this male walks in.
09:03He walks round the store before going to the counter
09:06and asking for a packet of cigarettes.
09:08As you can see, he tries there to open the till himself,
09:12asks for the cigarettes,
09:13and then on being past a packet of cigarettes,
09:16then brandishes his knife and then opens the till himself.
09:18Yeah, and you've obviously got the CCTV and then this shot as well.
09:23I mean, how would you describe the suspect?
09:25Because it's well-covered, which in itself was suspicious
09:27because it wasn't a bad weather day,
09:29but how would you describe the suspect?
09:31Yeah, he was quite wrapped up well for,
09:33considering it wasn't that cold.
09:35But from the details we've got,
09:37he's a white male aged in his 40s,
09:40wearing, he's got like a black hooded top underneath his jacket,
09:42again with the hood up, this face mask,
09:44and then these sort of distinctive two-tone grey trousers
09:48where they're sort of darker at the bottom than they are at the top.
09:50Yeah, like a tie-dye.
09:51You don't see many of them about, do you?
09:53Yeah, and we can see him as well walking outside
09:56because he's got a bit of a distinct walk.
09:58Yeah, it's as if he's got sort of a limp as he's walking along,
10:02and it's whether anybody sort of recognises his walk from the CCTV.
10:07Yeah, so a few bits to go on there.
10:09And shall we talk about where this shop is as well?
10:11Because that might jog people's memories, might be.
10:13So, yeah, the shop's down in Longsutton,
10:15which is in South Lincolnshire, near to the border with Norfolk,
10:19and you can see on here we've got the news agents
10:21and then the footage that shows the driveway he goes up is just here
10:25and then obviously he runs and we lose him in the park area
10:27at the back of the store.
10:29So it sounds like the suspect clearly knows the area
10:32given he's able to get himself to the park and knows where to go.
10:36I certainly think he's done his homework on his escape route from the store.
10:40Yeah, yeah.
10:41So who do you want to hear from, what do you want to hear?
10:44Anybody who recognises the male, certainly his distinctive trousers,
10:47then we'd be very grateful to anybody who can put some names forward for us.
10:51Yeah, we want to find this man, don't we?
10:55Matt, thank you so much.
10:56Well, if you recognise him, get in touch.
10:59All the ways to do that are on the screen below.
11:03So you want that brave shop worker from the news agents
11:06might want to hear from some guests we're talking to later
11:08who are now volunteering with their local police force.
11:11Now, though, I'm joined by D.I. Graham Williams
11:15from South Wales Police's Major Crime Unit.
11:18Graham, welcome to the programme.
11:19You've got a really important urgent appeal you want to bring us right now.
11:23Tell us more.
11:24Yeah, that's right.
11:25So it's in relation to Charlene Hobbs,
11:27a 36-year-old vulnerable female from Cardiff,
11:29very well known in the Riverside, Adamstown and Splott areas.
11:34So Charlene went missing on the 24th of July, 2024.
11:37She was then missing for a period of months
11:40before the investigation was adopted by my team in October 2024.
11:45And despite our best efforts,
11:47we haven't been able to establish any proof of life for her since that point.
11:51So of March this year,
11:52it was designated as a no-body murder investigation.
11:55However, we are very much keeping an open mind
11:57regarding what may have happened to Charlene.
12:00What can you tell us about the last known sighting of her?
12:03So the last known sighting of Charlene was on the 24th of July, 2024.
12:09That was at seven minutes past six in the morning.
12:12And that was on the Broadway in Cardiff.
12:15Through our inquiries,
12:17we identified a photograph of Charlene taken in a flat on the Broadway.
12:21And that's been the last proof of life
12:23that we've been able to establish for her.
12:24And obviously this has caused a massive amount of worry and pain for her family.
12:29They're understandably worried sick.
12:31And they have told us, Charlene, if you are able to,
12:34please contact someone to let us know that you are OK.
12:38We all miss you and love you.
12:41Love, Mum and Dad.
12:42Very, very powerful words there.
12:45Graham, there is some CCTV that you want to show us here today.
12:49Can you just talk us through what we're seeing?
12:50Because this may jog someone's memory if they're watching at home.
12:53Yeah, so this is from the 23rd of July, 2024.
12:56So this is the day before Charlene's disappearance.
12:58And this is from the Morrison's Daily on Moira Place.
13:01She entered the store around 28 minutes past four in the afternoon.
13:06So again, we don't think there's anything outstanding within that CCTV footage,
13:09but we feel it could jog people's memories
13:11just in terms of her movements and Charlene's appearance.
13:14Yeah, let's hope so.
13:15Now, this has been a huge investigation,
13:17huge inquiry for you and your team so far.
13:19Just give us an idea of the scale of what's happened so far.
13:22Yeah, a very large and complex investigation for us.
13:24Over 400 people spoken to, over 600 premises visited,
13:28over 1,000 hours of CCTV gathered and viewed.
13:33Searches across South Wales with multiple resources,
13:37including search officers, drones, divers, sonar.
13:41And part of our search inquiries,
13:43we have a particular interest within the Confilia-Macken areas
13:46due to some information within the investigation.
13:49So any information relating to those areas,
13:51the end of July, beginning of August last year,
13:53would be really helpful to us.
13:54Yeah, we need that information.
13:55Now, as part of this large-scale investigation,
13:57a vehicle has come to your attention
13:59that you'd like to know a bit more about.
14:01We can see an image on the screen here.
14:02Just talk us through this.
14:04Yes, this is a red Nissan, Micah,
14:05really significant in the investigation for us.
14:07We know it was being used at the time of Charlene's disappearance.
14:11So any information regarding that,
14:13particularly in the Confili-Macken areas, would be helpful.
14:15We know that it was red initially.
14:17A couple of months later, it was painted black
14:19and that it was then found burnt out on the 29th of October
14:23in St Helen's Close in Abergavenny.
14:25OK, now, arrests have been made as part of this investigation.
14:29Are you able to say any more about that at this stage?
14:31Yeah, so initially two persons, a male and female, were arrested.
14:34They've both been released, no further action.
14:35We do currently have a 46-year-old male on bail
14:39with inquiries ongoing.
14:41That being said, we are very much keeping an open mind.
14:43So, again, any information could be useful to us.
14:45Could be useful and could be absolutely crucial.
14:47So, today, who do you want to hear from?
14:50We want to hear from any friends or associates of Charlene
14:53that may have any information regarding her disappearance,
14:56information from residents of Riverside-Adams-Town-Splot
14:58who may know something
15:00or may have seen some suspicious activity at that time,
15:03particularly the residents of Cofilliam-Macken,
15:06if they saw anything suspicious around the end of July,
15:09beginning of August, particularly around that red micro.
15:11And just that appeal on behalf of Charlene's family, really.
15:14She has a much-loved daughter, sister and mother.
15:18So, just that appeal for them.
15:20So sad.
15:20There is a Crimestoppers reward available as well of £20,000,
15:25which is available until at least the 24th of October.
15:27So, if people don't feel comfortable reporting to us,
15:30they can report anonymously to Crimestoppers.
15:32Yeah, that's really important.
15:33And there is actually a portal, isn't there,
15:35where people can get information direct to you,
15:39and that could be absolutely crucial as part of this investigation.
15:42Graeme, thank you for joining us today.
15:44So, if you do know anything about Charlene,
15:48please do get in touch.
15:49You've heard how much this clearly means to her family.
15:52The police need answers, and so do they.
15:54And we have got a QR code.
15:56It's on your screen now.
15:57If you scan that with your phone,
15:59we've got details of how you can get that information
16:01direct to Graeme and his team.
16:03Anything that you think could be relevant to the investigation,
16:05you can get to them.
16:06Do try that now.
16:09Now, our next film looks at how a sinister rapist
16:13who used a range of disguises to win the trust of women
16:16he went on to assault was put behind bars.
16:19Now, this film contains some upsetting descriptions.
16:26Online, he was giving off good trusting vibes.
16:33He would chat to the victims for a few days to a few months.
16:41But we now know from all the evidence
16:43that as soon as he met the victim,
16:45he had other ideas.
16:56In September 2023,
17:00Norfolk police received an alarming call.
17:03We received a report from a female stating that a male
17:09who was betraying himself to be a paramedic
17:13via a dating website app had sexually assaulted her.
17:19She believed that he was a caring individual.
17:23She felt that she could trust him,
17:24and she built a relationship online with him.
17:27Once she'd met him,
17:32his demeanour and his mannerisms had changed
17:35compared to how kind of caring he appeared online.
17:39He became quite forceful,
17:41and he sexually assaulted her.
17:46The caller said the attacker was a man called Jamie Kodolsky.
17:51We've got somebody who is a risk to the general public
17:54and a risk to females.
17:56So we took this complaint very seriously.
18:00As police began their enquiries into Jamie Kodolsky,
18:03they found a strikingly similar allegation
18:07had been made nine months earlier.
18:10In January 2023,
18:13we received a report from a female online
18:16reporting that she'd been sexually assaulted
18:18by a male who she believed to be working as a paramedic.
18:24When he met the victim,
18:27he was in a green medical-style uniform,
18:30and he justified that by saying
18:33he'd just finished a night shift.
18:37His demeanour was quite different
18:39from what he'd portrayed
18:41whilst he was messaging her online.
18:45He'd become quite forceful
18:47and quite demanding in his nature,
18:49and when they returned to his home address,
18:53that's when the assault happened.
18:58She was able to tell us his first name,
19:02Jamie.
19:05This earlier victim was so traumatised
19:08by her alleged assault
19:09that she didn't want the police to pursue the matter.
19:12But the new allegation
19:14meant the police could now arrest Kodolsky
19:17and bring him in for questioning.
19:19He admitted to meeting up
19:21with both of the females.
19:22He never denied having any sexual contact with them,
19:26but compared to the allegations
19:27that had been made,
19:29things weren't matching up.
19:31He was released under strict bail conditions
19:34while detectives continued their investigation.
19:37Then, some weeks later,
19:39another alleged victim came forward,
19:41this time an ex-partner of Kodolsky's.
19:45In January 2024,
19:47we then received a third report from a female
19:50who was stating that she'd met a male online
19:55and had begun a relationship with him.
19:59And throughout that relationship,
20:03she reports being raped multiple times.
20:07Also, having a series of sexual assaults
20:11committed against her,
20:12as well as a non-fatal strangulation
20:14and false imprisonment.
20:16She claimed she had been abused in 2022.
20:21Then, whilst he was on bail,
20:24a fourth woman came forward
20:25claiming she had been attacked by Kodolsky
20:28in January 2024.
20:31The female had said she'd met a male online
20:34who was portraying himself to be a paramedic
20:36and the victim had stated that this male had raped her.
20:41Police arrested Jamie Kodolsky again
20:48and in April 2024,
20:51he was charged with offences against all four women
20:54and remanded in custody to await trial.
20:58I'm going to have to place you under arrest
20:59on suspicion of...
21:01..suspicion of sexual assault,
21:05suspicion of rape and suspicion of sexual assault.
21:07Jamie appeared quite put out, to be honest,
21:11and acted like it was quite an inconvenience for him.
21:15He didn't seem particularly worried at that point.
21:19You're not taking my phone.
21:19I've literally gotten that within the last few days,
21:21so I want that back as soon as possible.
21:23He was concentrating on his device,
21:26being seized by police,
21:27and seemed quite concerned about that.
21:29There'll be nothing we can get on that.
21:31OK.
21:31But that was an essential piece of evidence,
21:34potentially, for the investigation
21:35and what content that might have on it.
21:41When questioned about the fresh allegations made against him,
21:48Kodolsky claimed the encounters were consensual.
21:51But his digital records showed something else.
21:55From his phone,
21:56we could see that he'd been communicating with the females,
22:00that he'd been using the same messaging pattern to talk to them.
22:04We also had some forensic evidence in connection to one of the victims,
22:11which subsequently proved that Jamie wasn't being honest in his account.
22:17Things had gone further than he had stated.
22:23And he wasn't being honest about being a paramedic either.
22:26Checks revealed that he had previously been at the East of England Ambulance Service.
22:36But this was as a call handler.
22:39He had never been a paramedic.
22:46He had gone to extraordinary lengths to present himself as a key worker.
22:50They found he had manipulated a green uniform he was given as a first aider
23:11to make it look like a paramedic's uniform.
23:14We also found medical ID cards that were either from previous employment
23:19or they were cards that he'd, in fact, tampered with
23:22and was using to portray himself in a more senior role that he wasn't entitled to be in.
23:30And he was using them as a method to gain trust from his victims
23:34and gain access to them to abuse them.
23:37In November 2024, Kudulski stood trial, charged with 15 counts of sexual offences
23:44relating to all four alleged victims.
23:48He came across as very smug.
23:51And I got the feeling that he felt that nobody would believe the victims
23:57and what they'd said.
23:58And I honestly think he believed he'd get away with it.
24:00In November 2024, Kudulski was convicted of three counts of rape
24:07and six counts of sexual assault,
24:09but cleared of the attacks alleged to have taken place when he was on bail.
24:14He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
24:20His crimes have had a lasting impact on his victims.
24:24Seeing ambulances and paramedics fills me with dread
24:30because, although I have since learned Jamie is not a paramedic,
24:34I still have such a negative connotation around them.
24:42I feel shame just thinking about it.
24:45I no longer have friends
24:46and my relationship with my family will never be the same.
24:50I can't hug them or bear to be touched
24:53and they don't know why.
24:57I blame myself for what happened to me
25:00and I still do today.
25:02I stopped doing anything that made me feel good
25:04because I believed I didn't deserve it.
25:10I think it was really, really brave of them
25:12and to have the courage to stand up
25:14and tell him exactly how he's affected their lives
25:17and how he's made them feel.
25:20But because he was travelling throughout the UK,
25:23at different times,
25:24it's not beyond the realms of possibility
25:26that he may have committed offences
25:29against other females.
25:31And if that is the case,
25:32I would urge them to come forward
25:33so we can get justice done for them.
25:38Gosh, what a relief he was caught.
25:40Yeah, very much so.
25:41Good result there.
25:43Now, AI was something barely anyone knew much about
25:46just a few years ago,
25:47but now its benefits and applications
25:49are literally everywhere.
25:50But there is growing concern around how it can be used
25:54to exploit and groom young children.
25:57Yeah, it's really terrifying.
25:58I know us as parents, Rav, are really worried about this.
26:00Well, to talk about it,
26:01we are joined by Ian Drennan,
26:03who's Executive Director of We Protect Global Alliance.
26:08It's an organisation focused on combating the threat
26:11of child sexual abuse and exploitation online.
26:15Ian, a big job you have.
26:16Tell us a bit more about your organisation.
26:18So we were launched in 2020
26:21as an independent organisation
26:22and recognising that child sexual abuse
26:25and exploitation online is a global problem.
26:28It needs a global solution.
26:29So we brought together over 330 governments,
26:33private sector companies,
26:34civil society, intergovernmental organisations
26:37to develop solutions to this crime.
26:40We produce research,
26:43we drive collaboration,
26:44and we try and put together policy solutions
26:47to end this terrible crime.
26:49Yeah, really, really important job there.
26:51So today, you're speaking about generative AI.
26:55Can you just explain what that is
26:56and why there's so many concerns around it?
26:59So just as you said,
27:00there are so many opportunities
27:01that come through from AI.
27:03But like any new form of technology,
27:06we're seeing perpetrators exploiting it
27:09for their own ends.
27:11So firstly, you've got AI-generated
27:13child sexual abuse materials.
27:15So that's where you're creating
27:17kind of photorealistic images
27:19that are entirely synthetic.
27:21Then you've got so-called deep fakes
27:23where you're taking perhaps
27:24an innocent picture of a child
27:26and then you're using that
27:27to create explicit images of them.
27:30And then finally, you're seeing perpetrators
27:33using AI to supercharge,
27:36to enhance pre-existing techniques
27:38like grooming,
27:40where they're looking to meet children online
27:42and get them into risky situations.
27:46Gosh, it's incredible, isn't it?
27:47What can be created by it.
27:49So what are you guys doing about it
27:51and how much of a problem is this?
27:53I mean, this is a significant
27:55and growing threat.
27:57So one of our members,
27:58the Internet Watch Foundation,
27:59they find that compared
28:01from 2023 to 2024,
28:03there had been a 380% increase
28:06in AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
28:11What we're seeing is
28:13this is now complicating
28:15the law enforcement response.
28:16So you've got a lot of photorealistic,
28:19indistinguishable to the naked eye
28:22child sexual abuse material
28:23that's coming along.
28:24Police are having to work out
28:26whether that's a real victim
28:27who needs protection.
28:28So it's really making the response,
28:31which was already difficult,
28:32even more challenging.
28:33Even more challenging, as you say.
28:35Well, you've launched a new initiative.
28:36It's called Protect Us.
28:38We're going to take a look at a clip now.
28:39I didn't understand what was happening.
28:47I started to panic.
28:57And I realised that
28:59that I wasn't real.
29:01It's a powerful clip there, Ian.
29:05We can say that they are real actors
29:07that you've used there.
29:08But can you just explain
29:08what was going on there?
29:10Yeah.
29:10So this is a series of films
29:12that we put together
29:13with the incredible support
29:15from Baroness Joanna Shields.
29:17And they're available on our website,
29:18weprotect.org,
29:19on our YouTube channel.
29:20And what they do is bring to life
29:22these cases of AI-enhanced abuse.
29:26So the one you just saw there,
29:28it was financially motivated
29:30sexual extortion.
29:31So the boy believes
29:33that he's engaging
29:34with a young girl of his own age.
29:37Actually, it's someone
29:38sitting in something
29:39like a call centre,
29:41completely financially motivated.
29:42And tragically,
29:43we've seen these cases
29:44have ended up
29:45with people taking their own lives,
29:47sometimes within mere hours
29:49of being contacted.
29:50Yeah.
29:51The impact it can have is terrifying.
29:53And I know, I mean,
29:54me personally, as a parent,
29:55I'm terrified by this.
29:56Rav is a dad as well.
29:58And there'll be parents,
29:59carers, grandparents,
30:00all worried about this.
30:02What can we do
30:02to try and keep our kids safe?
30:04No, I mean, absolutely.
30:05I've got a nine-year-old
30:06and an 11-year-old daughter myself.
30:09And I think,
30:11I mean, the first thing
30:12we need to recognise
30:13is that unlike, you know,
30:15me or you growing up,
30:17children are kind of immersed
30:19in this digital world.
30:21They're experiencing
30:21the digital world,
30:22physical world.
30:23It's like there are no boundaries.
30:25It's like a seamless whole.
30:26So I think what we need to do
30:28is to understand
30:29what risks and challenges
30:30are out there
30:31and then engage with children
30:34on their digital lives.
30:36So I think these criminals,
30:38these offenders,
30:39the currency they're trading in
30:40is blame and shame.
30:42And so if children feel
30:44that they can speak
30:44to trusted adults,
30:46parents, caregivers
30:47about their experiences online,
30:49if something that they're
30:50not comfortable with,
30:51something that's not going well,
30:53if they feel they can talk to us,
30:55then a lot of that harm
30:57is reduced.
30:58And there are many,
30:59many resources out there.
31:00So Internet Watch Foundation,
31:02you can report harmful activity.
31:05The NSPCC has a brilliant
31:07helpline for children.
31:09And you can find more resources
31:11on our website.
31:12But I think help is out there
31:14is what I would want
31:14to leave you with.
31:15Good to know.
31:15So important to say, Ian.
31:17We're going to add your website
31:18onto our homepage too
31:20so people can find out more.
31:21Now, from kids navigating
31:23difficulties in the online world
31:25to a charity that's helping
31:27kids stay connected
31:28to their families
31:29in the real world.
31:33My name's Kizzy
31:35and I'm the deputy CEO
31:36of Storybook Dads.
31:38Storybook Dads helps prisoners
31:40to read bedtime stories
31:41for their children.
31:42And it's advertised
31:43on the prison wings
31:44and the prisoner will
31:46apply to take part.
31:48Sometimes they'll feel
31:49really nervous or embarrassed
31:50and not want to read
31:51in front of somebody
31:51or they might have
31:53a low literacy level.
31:55So we will go and see them
31:57and encourage them
31:58to come and take part,
31:59talk to them about their children
32:00so they soon feel comfortable
32:02enough to sit and record with us.
32:07It shows the children
32:09that they're loved and missed
32:09during the period of separation.
32:11It makes them feel happy at home.
32:14Might help with bedtimes,
32:15feeling less worried,
32:17not struggling at school.
32:18It also helps dads
32:20and mums in prison
32:21feel worthwhile as parents.
32:25I've met a few children
32:27on prison visits
32:28that have used our service
32:29and you can see, you know,
32:31that they recognise Daddy
32:32because they might have seen him
32:34on a DVD
32:34or they might have heard
32:35his voice on an audio.
32:36It's incredibly impactful
32:39and emotional
32:40to be part of that.
32:42We, on average,
32:45produce 4,000 stories a year
32:46across 103 prisons.
32:49Initially, the stories
32:50were edited by staff
32:51and then we created
32:53a team of prisoners
32:54that could learn
32:55to do the editing
32:55and then that became
32:57their job Monday to Friday
32:59and the feedback
33:00from those guys
33:01is that they felt like
33:02they were part of
33:02something really positive
33:03and one of those was Neil.
33:04I'm Neil.
33:09I was convicted for fraud
33:10and I was in prison
33:12from February 2023
33:14to August 2024.
33:21I've got two children.
33:22One was five at the time.
33:24One was 14 months.
33:25For my eldest,
33:27suddenly, you know,
33:28Daddy wasn't there
33:29when he came home from school.
33:31So, the effect
33:33that that had on him
33:34was big for me as well.
33:37You know,
33:37used to being with them
33:38day in, day out,
33:40doing bedtimes every night,
33:41reading stories.
33:42For that to be gone
33:44was a huge impact
33:46on all of our lives, really.
33:51A big shock to the system,
33:53you know,
33:53from a quiet being at home
33:55to a crazy atmosphere
33:57where it's really loud
33:58and, you know,
33:59you're kind of on edge
34:00all the time.
34:01And just trying to get a grasp
34:03of how you're going to
34:04kind of get through
34:05this next period of time.
34:09When you're away like that,
34:11it's the little things
34:12that kind of count.
34:14I've been in prison
34:15for roughly three weeks
34:17and I put in an application
34:20to do a story for the kids.
34:23So, let's get on
34:25to the first one, shall we?
34:26I really, really like this book.
34:28It's a really good one.
34:29I was excited
34:30when I spoke to them
34:31on the phone to tell them,
34:33you know,
34:33I've done this for you
34:34and it's going to be on its way.
34:36They're excited
34:36because they were getting
34:37a DVD through the post
34:39that they'd always be asking
34:40for the next one.
34:41And I'd ask them
34:41what book they wanted,
34:43so I'd try and do the story
34:44that they wanted.
34:46Redfin, yes miss?
34:48Tiddler, Tiddler, Tiddler's late.
34:53No, he's late.
34:54I found it quite emotional
34:56when I've done birthday stories
34:59and Christmas stories
35:02and things like that
35:02because you know,
35:03you know,
35:03you're sending that off
35:04and you're not going to be there
35:06on that day.
35:07I hope you enjoyed that one, mate.
35:09It's a really good one
35:10and I'll do another one
35:11for you again soon.
35:12You feel like you have failed
35:14as a dad,
35:16as a person,
35:17so being able to do
35:19just something very simple
35:22as a story for your kids,
35:24it's about turning that negative
35:25into a positive.
35:27I will obviously see you
35:28very, very soon
35:29and love you lots.
35:31See you soon.
35:32Bye.
35:36Working now on the outside
35:38for Storybook Dad's
35:39massively proud of what I do.
35:41I know what it's like
35:43to be on that other side
35:44of the camera
35:45in that situation
35:46that they're in,
35:47so I know how much
35:49of a difference
35:49that's going to make
35:50to the kid
35:50that's going to receive it
35:51and for me,
35:52I feel like I'm
35:53kind of where I'm meant to be.
35:57Since Storybook Dad
36:00started in 2003,
36:02we've trained over 800 prisoners
36:03to become editors.
36:05We've sent over 88,000 stories
36:08to prisoners' children.
36:11Research shows that prisoners
36:13who maintain contact
36:14with their families
36:15are up to six times
36:16less likely to re-offend.
36:19We've also trained
36:20about 10 other countries
36:22to copy our model.
36:24For me personally,
36:25I think it's probably
36:26the best thing
36:27I've ever done.
36:29I get to work
36:30with prisoners
36:30knowing that I'm helping them
36:31do something really valuable
36:32for their children.
36:35Around 300,000 kids
36:37every year
36:38are affected
36:38by a close family member
36:40being in prison
36:41and they're the kind of
36:42indirect victims,
36:44I suppose,
36:45of crime.
36:46My kids,
36:47when they talk about
36:48that 18-month period
36:50of time
36:50where I wasn't around,
36:52it's always about
36:52Storybook Dad's.
36:53Without Storybook Dad's,
36:57I don't know quite
36:58what that 18 months
37:00would have been like.
37:05Wow, what amazing work
37:06they're doing.
37:08Well, volunteer officers
37:09have been around
37:10for 200 years
37:11but the head count
37:12of special constables
37:13has had a dramatic
37:15nosedive.
37:15It's actually at its lowest
37:16now for 50 years.
37:18So, to tell us
37:19why they think
37:20it's so great
37:21and encourage
37:21more of us to sign up,
37:23we have with us
37:24Kelly Drew
37:24and Darren Roberts.
37:26Thanks for coming in.
37:27You're all suited
37:27and booted.
37:29Now, this is a side hustle
37:30for you, isn't it,
37:31as special constables?
37:32Kelly, tell me a bit
37:33about your life,
37:33how you got into it
37:34and what your day job is.
37:36So, it was actually
37:37at a university
37:38open day
37:38with my son.
37:40I actually got
37:40chatting to a special
37:41and he inspired me
37:43to join.
37:43I wanted to join
37:44when I was in my 20s
37:45into the regular police force
37:47but I just sort of fell
37:48into a different career.
37:49Yeah, because it's
37:49very different to your
37:50day job
37:51which is a big one
37:52as well.
37:52Yeah, it is.
37:53So, my day job,
37:55I work for a major
37:57cinema chain
37:57as an operations director
37:59and as a special constable
38:01I'm a response officer
38:02in a district policing team
38:04for Hampshire
38:05and Isle of Wight constabulary
38:06so very different.
38:07Yeah, it's fascinating.
38:08And Darren,
38:09what got you in?
38:10Well, mum was in there
38:11all now even down
38:11in the British Army
38:12so I always had
38:13that bigger sense of purpose
38:14and I wanted to get involved
38:17in protecting people
38:19and make my son proud.
38:20During the day
38:21I work in an adventure
38:23clothing brand
38:24and I also did 12 years
38:25in Army Reserves
38:26Infantry Reconnaissance
38:27so I was quite keen
38:28to transfer those skills
38:30across
38:30and be part of
38:31a close-knit team again
38:32and like Kelly
38:33I'm in Frontline
38:35Response Policing
38:35I work with an amazing
38:37regular team
38:38of 12 officers
38:40who are brilliant
38:41at their job
38:41and super supportive
38:42of what we do.
38:43Yeah, and you're clearly
38:44enjoy it.
38:45I can see from the smiles
38:46on your faces.
38:47Kelly, what's the training
38:48like to be a special constable?
38:50So the training
38:50is about eight
38:51or nine months long.
38:52Most of the training
38:53takes place
38:54at evenings and weekends
38:55so it can fit around
38:56what we're doing.
38:58For the training
38:59you learn a lot
39:00about police powers,
39:01legislation
39:02and also report writing
39:03as well as
39:04more practical elements
39:05such as
39:06how to use the radio,
39:07how to keep yourself safe
39:09and first aid
39:10and I've been really lucky
39:11to have some amazing
39:11tutors and sergeants
39:13support my training
39:14along the way as well.
39:15Yeah, training sounds
39:16so interesting
39:16and so once you've done
39:17the training
39:18you get the uniform
39:19you're out there
39:20what is a typical shift
39:21like Darren?
39:22Well I typically go to
39:23five to six
39:25incidents a shift
39:26with my supportive tutor
39:27but the shift
39:29as a whole
39:30there's about
39:3040 incidents
39:32per shift
39:32so it's very busy
39:34and you can go to
39:35anything from
39:35shoplifting
39:36to knife crime
39:37to missing persons
39:38to domestic violence
39:40so it gets
39:42very very busy
39:42for us.
39:43Yeah and can you
39:44just explain
39:45for people who
39:45don't know
39:46what the difference
39:47is between
39:47a special constable
39:48and you know
39:49other roles
39:50in the police?
39:51Yes it's a great question.
39:53The special constables
39:53have a warrant card
39:54and they have
39:55full policing powers
39:56just like regular officers
39:58but we're volunteers
39:59and we work
40:00alongside our
40:01talented control room
40:02operators
40:03police constables
40:04police staff
40:05and police community
40:06support officers
40:07in every single
40:09front line situation.
40:10Yeah and in terms
40:11of getting more people
40:12into this then Kelly
40:13what would you say?
40:14Most forces
40:15will be looking
40:16to recruit
40:17special constables
40:18at the moment
40:18so you can look up
40:19and get some information
40:20but we take lots of people
40:22from different walks of life
40:24whether you're a parent
40:25a professional
40:26a student
40:27or a retiree
40:28it's very flexible
40:29and it can fit around
40:30your family and home life
40:31so if you've got that time
40:32and you think you can help someone
40:33I would encourage you
40:34to have a little look at it.
40:36That's really interesting
40:36it sounds like
40:37kind of anyone
40:38can have a go
40:38you have to be fit though
40:39because that's what
40:40I have to worry about
40:40to be honest.
40:41It keeps me fit.
40:42Does it?
40:43Excellent.
40:43Okay well thank you so much
40:45for coming in
40:45to tell us about it
40:46and if you'd like
40:48more information about it
40:49about signing up yourself
40:50head to the website below
40:52where you can access
40:53all the information
40:54that you need.
40:56I think you made a great cop Steph.
40:58Now it's time
40:59for the first of this series
41:00Wanted Faces.
41:02Police in Lancashire
41:07are urgently looking
41:08for this man
41:09this is Christopher Spellman
41:10he's a registered
41:11sex offender
41:13who's failed to check in
41:14with the police
41:14as instructed to do so
41:16the 65 year old
41:17has long scruffy hair
41:18and links all across
41:19the south coast
41:20the last positive sighting
41:22of him was in Dorset
41:23but he may now be in
41:24Devon, Cornwall,
41:25Wiltshire, Hampshire
41:26or Kent
41:27and police want to emphasise
41:28that he could be living
41:29off grid
41:30possibly in a tent
41:31or wooded area
41:32or close to a beach
41:34and they say
41:34he's previously
41:35had cash in hand jobs
41:36such as selling fish
41:38to passers by
41:39so you may see him
41:40doing that kind of work.
41:42What about Rubinder Singh
41:44though sometimes
41:44he uses the first name
41:46Gurpinder
41:46police in South Yorkshire
41:48want to speak to him
41:49about an allegation
41:50of rape
41:50he's 31
41:51with a beard
41:52and dark hair
41:53and has been
41:54known to have
41:55links to Barnsley
41:56in South Yorkshire
41:57although police believe
41:58he has now
41:58left that area.
42:00And last for this
42:01morning anyway
42:02we've got this man
42:02this is Kyle Campbell
42:03but he also uses
42:05the surname manners
42:06though it is questionable
42:06that he has any of those
42:08the 25 year old
42:09is wanted by
42:10South Yorkshire police
42:11after he failed
42:12to appear in court
42:13after being charged
42:14with GBH
42:14with intent
42:15he has a northern accent
42:17and links to Doncaster
42:18and recent intelligence
42:19suggests
42:20he may now be
42:21in the new Rossington area
42:23of the city.
42:24So if you see
42:25any of these men
42:26out and about
42:27please contact the police
42:28or us
42:29on 08000 468 999.
42:34Thank you for watching today
42:35and remember
42:36you can catch us on iPlayer
42:37for up to 30 days
42:38after broadcast
42:40details of organisations
42:41that can provide support
42:42with some of the issues
42:43raised in the programme today
42:45are available at
42:46bbc.co.uk
42:48slash action line
42:50and Steph
42:50you're actually back
42:51with us on Monday
42:52now aren't you?
42:53Yes, I'll be back
42:53next Monday
42:54but you have
42:55Jennifer Rioch
42:56with you
42:56for the rest of the week
42:58so do stay watching
42:59especially tomorrow
43:00as we've got
43:01the counter-terrorism police
43:03as they race
43:03against the clock
43:04to arrest a man
43:06they suspect
43:06is planning
43:07a violent attack.
43:10He seemed to be
43:11the person
43:12who was most likely
43:13to be involved
43:15with this group
43:16and potentially
43:16looking to conduct
43:17this attack.
43:18This is a dramatic case
43:22that's for sure
43:22we'll see you tomorrow
43:23at the same time
43:24at 10.45am
43:25bye for now
43:26Bye bye
43:27I'll be back to you tomorrow
43:34I'll be back to you tomorrow
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