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FunTranscript
00:01It's been jamming the switchboard both here and at the instance of the American 20th hour.
00:06Just to remind you, this was the abduction and reno drop campaign and the handgun debate.
00:13Hello and welcome to Crimewatch 12. People rang and giving the same, those fantastic
00:18business leaders.
00:27Borda and welcome to Crimewatch Live. We are coming to you from our headquarters right in
00:32the centre of the Welsh capital and we have a packed programme for you today.
00:37We certainly do. This morning a shop worker was left terrified after being threatened at
00:42knife point by this man. Detectives know his name. It's Nathan O'Brien but not his current
00:47whereabouts so can you help find him? We'll be on the road with Essex police to hear how they
00:52caught a crime group who nicked £1.5 million worth of cars. About £1.5 million worth of
00:59stolen vehicles were taken over a space of a couple of months. We had to get on top of this
01:03before it got completely out of hand. Some cracking detective work there isn't there?
01:10It certainly was. And we'll be hearing from a charity who foster the pets of people escaping
01:16domestic abuse situations. That is until they can all be reunited.
01:20As always our team are ready to take your calls and all the ways to get in touch can be
01:25found by
01:26following the QR code on the screen. Otherwise the number to call is 08000 468 999 or you can text
01:33us
01:33on 63399. Start with the word crime, leave a space and then write your message. Or you can email us.
01:40There's the address. It's cwl at bbc.co.uk.
01:45First today we're in Tottenham, London where two sisters are pleading for answers after their beloved
01:51brother was shot in what police believe to be a case of mistaken identity. Just to warn you,
01:57this film contains some upsetting scenes.
02:04Mahat was the funniest person ever. He was a softie and he was a proper mommy's boy. Like proper mommy's
02:13boy.
02:23He always made sure no matter what, mom comes first. No matter what.
02:29He used to love to sing. He used to love to dance. Like he used to love attention.
02:36He was a good dad. A good dad. I think him having that child really changed him.
02:42And it gave him that drive, like, you know, that kick. And I think it was the best thing
02:47that actually ever happened to him, to be fair.
02:50When he was younger, it was always me protecting him. So I guess that's why I think I took it
02:55a bit
02:55more harder because I always felt like I'm supposed to look after you. Yeah. Yeah.
03:09On the evening of the 20th of March, 2025, 27-year-old Mahat Abdi Mohamed was spending
03:17the evening at a friend's house in Tottenham, North London.
03:22Mahat had finished work. He was in Ramadan at the time. And by plan, he traveled to meet
03:28an old school friend. They'd broken their fast and they were actually stood just outside
03:32the property. I would describe it like the front garden area, like a bit of a courtyard.
03:38And we can see on CCTV just before quarter to nine in the evening, the silver Mitsubishi Outlander.
03:44That car itself was stolen. The silver Mitsubishi was traveling along Parkview Road.
03:51It's turned into Northumberland Grove.
03:57And from there, it's turned left into Waverly Road.
04:03And just where the footage stops is where we see at least three people get out of that car.
04:11You can see them moving towards Mahat and his friends. Shots are fired.
04:21Mahat was shot in the head. And despite attempts to save his life, he died shortly after he arrived
04:28at hospital.
04:33A piece of me generally just died that day.
04:37I literally just shut down.
04:40I felt like my soul just left my body.
04:43Then I'm like, no, it can't be. It can't be.
04:45I'll try to call him. I'll try to call him. He's not picking up.
04:48And it was just so public.
04:53Everyone in the area was talking about what's happened and everything.
04:55And there's been a shooting.
04:57There's been a shooting and two people have been shot.
05:01My mum is panicking.
05:03There's police officers at the door.
05:04And they just said, is this the mother of Mahatabji Muhammad?
05:07Who's just been identified.
05:09And there's been an incident.
05:17I just think it doesn't make sense because what does a shooting got to do with my brother?
05:25My cousin goes to the hospital.
05:27And then I'm just asking him over and over again, tell me what's going on.
05:31Tell me.
05:32The doctor just come out and he just says, sorry, we tried our best.
05:40In that moment, the scream, the scream that came out of me, I literally feel like if I would ever
05:51say ever in my life I was heartbroken, it was in that moment.
05:59As police investigations began, it became increasingly likely that Mahatabji was the victim of a vicious pre-planned attack aimed
06:08at the wrong man.
06:11I do believe that there was a gang dispute going on in the local area.
06:15Mahat was not involved or affiliated with any gang that we can identify at all.
06:20And I truly believe that this is a case of mistaken identity.
06:26Despite an extensive investigation, one year on, the case remains unsolved.
06:34We have gathered over 6,600 hours of CCTV.
06:39All of the CCTV that we have is quite a considerable distance away.
06:44I would suggest that the people responsible were aware of CCTV cameras and certainly avoiding having their facial images captured.
06:55CCTV enabled police to identify a second car, a stolen blue Jaguar used to take the suspects to and from
07:04the Mitsubishi.
07:04They've gone to the location where the silver Mitsubishi has been parked up, got into that car, they've committed the
07:12shooting, they've parked the silver Mitsubishi in exactly the same location, they've then got back into the stolen Jaguar and
07:19they've then made off from the scene.
07:22Ultimately, by using two stolen cars, both on cloned number plates, it's much harder to track.
07:29Both have been recovered burnt out and both unfortunately haven't been able to take our investigation any further.
07:39Crucially, police have so far been unable to track down the gun used.
07:46I want to recover that firearm.
07:48When a gun is outstanding, you have to consider the risk to the public.
07:52Can it be used again?
07:53Has it been used in other shootings?
07:55These are all the initial things that you think about in relation to gun crime.
08:01But while the investigation continues, Mahad's family struggle with the devastating reality of that night.
08:10It's like learning how to walk again, feel again.
08:14Some days where you feel like, no, surely he's still here somewhere and that keeps you going.
08:18And then there's days where you think about it and you just, you can't get yourself up.
08:25No matter what you want to do to make it better, you can't fix this.
08:30Because I can't change it.
08:31I can't bring it back.
08:33I can't.
08:34I'm not in control.
08:35There's nothing I can do.
08:36So no matter how much I want to make it better, I can't.
08:45No mother should ever have to bury the child.
08:48And especially an innocent one.
08:50That's the thing.
08:51He was innocent.
08:52He didn't do anything.
08:55He didn't do anything.
09:11This really is a heartbreaking case.
09:14I'm joined now by DCI Rebecca Woodsford from The Met, who we heard from in the film there.
09:19Thank you so much for being with us here in the studio this morning.
09:22Let's just start with you reminding us where you've got to so far when it comes to the investigation.
09:28So this has been a painstaking investigation covering hours and hours of CCTV and forensics.
09:34But what we know is Mahad was shot almost a year ago on the 20th of March at about 8
09:39.45 in the evening at Waverley Road.
09:42And it was there that he was breaking his fast with his friend.
09:45And we know that two stolen vehicles were used in order to carry out this shooting and they've both been
09:54recovered.
09:55We can see some of the CCTV here.
09:57It's actually quite difficult to see the people in the car, but we can make out the vehicles in question,
10:03can't we?
10:03That's exactly correct. The vehicles have got tinted windows and obviously from the local authority CCTV that we have, we
10:09can't get any clear identification inside the vehicle.
10:13The vehicles were actually burnt out a little time after, weren't they?
10:17Yes, that's correct. We've actually recovered both of the cars involved. The first was a silver Mitsubishi Outlander. The second
10:23was a blue Jaguar. Both of those cars were on clone number plates and both were stolen.
10:28And we've got a couple of images of those responsible for setting fire to these cars, haven't we?
10:34That's correct. We've been able to release this footage to Crimewatch and this is the footage of a person or
10:39persons that is responsible for burning out those vehicles.
10:43Now, we heard from Mahat's sisters in the film. They spoke so powerfully, clearly incredibly emotional as to what's happened.
10:51What's even more tragic about this is that you truly believe this was a case of mistaken identity.
10:57Yes, and I've told Mahat's family this, who were absolutely devastated by his loss. But yes, I do believe this
11:04is a case of mistaken identity.
11:06I think this is a pre-planned gang-related shooting and unfortunately, Mahat was killed when they believed it was
11:13somebody else.
11:14And it's just a devastating loss, not just to Mahat's family, but actually the whole community of Tottenham.
11:19Of course. Let's talk about the weapon that was used.
11:23So we were able to analyse the fragments of bullet that were recovered from the scene using our specialist experts
11:31at the firearms lab.
11:32So we were able to identify that the gun used in this has been used in another shooting before Mahat's
11:38murder.
11:39We know that it was a self-loading pistol and that the ammunition was nine millimetres.
11:43But what we are able to do is, if we were able to recover that gun, because of the forensic
11:48work we've done, we will be able to link it not just to Mahat's shooting, but the other shooting that
11:53it was involved in.
11:54Which is so important, isn't it?
11:55It's so important. And I do believe the community have this information.
11:59They can help us solve this murder and recover that outstanding firearm.
12:03There could be someone watching that has that key piece of information or has been reluctant to come forward that
12:09could just completely transform this.
12:11They really could.
12:12I really believe that the answer to this investigation lies within that local community, in particular around Tottenham.
12:19I do believe that somebody has information that can help us solve this case.
12:23And it may feel to them that it's really small or it's insignificant and it's not the breaking news that
12:28we want.
12:29But actually, we do have a lot of evidence.
12:31And what we're asking is for any information, no matter how small, that could be the key, the puzzle piece
12:37that we need to take this matter through and get justice for Mahat and his family.
12:41Which is vital. And of course, you will support any witnesses that come forward, won't you?
12:46Absolutely. And there are so many ways that you can talk to the police.
12:49And there's so many ways that we can protect people.
12:51And that's something that we would happily discuss with people before they agree to talk to us or give evidence.
12:56And if anybody need any more of an incentive to come forward, there is actually a Crimestoppers reward in connection
13:03to this case, isn't there?
13:04There is. And we've been so fortunate that the independent charity Crimestoppers has agreed to support our investigation with a
13:10£20,000 reward leading to us solving this case.
13:15And actually, if people don't want to talk to the police, and I understand in certain communities they don't,
13:19they can go anonymously to Crimestoppers and give that information, along with contacting Crimewatch as well, of course.
13:25Of course. And when you just listen to Mahat's sisters in the film, you know, he was a beloved son,
13:33a beloved brother to his sisters, father.
13:36It brings it home even more so how much the answers are needed for this case, how important it is
13:43to the families.
13:43It really does. And I know they were really passionate about they wanted to give Mahat a voice and it's
13:49what they wanted to do.
13:50And I think what they've just delivered there is just you couldn't ask anything more from anybody.
13:55Yeah. Rebecca, thank you for coming in and telling us more about this case.
13:59If you can help, you know what to do. Please do get in touch with us.
14:02All the ways that you can do that are on the screen now.
14:05Ralph.
14:06Thanks, Michelle.
14:08Now we have an appeal from Cleveland Police who want to locate a man involved in a robbery in Middlesbrough.
14:14The incident happened on the 31st of May 2025 at a hair salon on Newport Road in North Middlesbrough.
14:21The whole thing was captured on CCTV, which we can take a look at now.
14:25A man walks in asking to book an appointment before producing a knife that he's got in his hand there
14:32and threatening the staff member.
14:35He demands cash. She goes to the till. We can see that there.
14:39She's terrified going to the till and takes out £330 from the till, which she then hands over in cash
14:45to the assailant.
14:45And you can see in his hand, he's still got the knife in his hand.
14:48He'd actually threatened to slash her if she hadn't got the money.
14:51And she's absolutely terrified.
14:53He then leaves the building, we can see there, and just watch the poor staff member put her hands to
15:00her head there.
15:01Absolutely terrifying experience.
15:03Very, very shaken up, understandably, from the whole thing.
15:06Now, police know who this man is.
15:08He's 23-year-old Nathan O'Brien.
15:11He's described as being of medium build, about 5'8", tall, short, dark brown hair, rounded face with blue eyes,
15:18and has a Southern Irish accent.
15:20He was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a dark Union Jack t-shirt at the time of the assault.
15:25Police have also shared some CCTV of Nathan O'Brien.
15:29Behaving erratically immediately after the incident, now he was seen inside a supermarket,
15:35where he approaches customers and just kind of wanders around.
15:40There we go.
15:40But it's all caught on camera.
15:42He was also seen inside another shop, where he turned his t-shirt inside out,
15:47and then he was caught running across.
15:50As we can see here, a really busy exchange there.
15:54Very, very dangerous situation to put many people in danger there by running across.
15:59So have a good look.
16:00Do you know where Nathan O'Brien is right now?
16:03He was last seen in Manchester Piccadilly Station.
16:05That was on the 2nd of June, where he was stopped by British Transport Police.
16:10And he actually gave them the name of Dylan Jones at the time.
16:13But he also uses the aliases Jimmy Byrne and Tom O'Donoghue.
16:18Current intelligence indicates he may have got on a boat to Ireland, as he has links in Wicklow.
16:23So if you know his whereabouts, do get in touch.
16:26All the usual ways to contact us are on the screen below.
16:31We're off to Essex now, where the chase is on to find a group nicking high-value keyless cars
16:36to the tune of £1.5 million.
16:45About £1.5 million worth of stolen vehicles were taken over a space of a couple of months.
16:52We had to get on top of this before it got completely out of hand.
17:02January 2024.
17:04And Essex police started seeing an increase in car thefts.
17:09There was multiple days we were coming in.
17:12Various cars had been stolen overnight.
17:14Specifically Benfleet, Rochford.
17:15But then we were noticing it just outside of our area as well.
17:19In Basildon and Southend.
17:21These thefts were taking place in a variety of locations.
17:24Either taken from people's driveways, some were taken from the roads outside.
17:27Some instances where they were taken from car parks.
17:33So they all happened in the dead of night.
17:36The cars that were being stolen were fairly new cars.
17:39All keyless.
17:41No CCTV.
17:42No witnesses.
17:44Same memo.
17:47My victims were all kind of saying the same thing.
17:50They'd wake up in the morning, look outside and notice their car had been taken.
17:55In total there's around 50 car thefts over a space of a couple of months.
18:02Police were certain it was the work of the same gang.
18:06Known as relay theft, criminals use specialist devices that trick a car into thinking the key fob is next to
18:13it and unlocks the vehicle.
18:16They essentially replicate the frequency of that key and then are able to start and take the car.
18:24This can take like a matter of seconds.
18:28This is the main way that we're seeing cars sort of stolen nowadays.
18:32Police started house to house inquiries, spoke to victims and checked through CCTV.
18:38Most people were asleep and just didn't see anything.
18:41There was a couple of cases where we did have CCTV.
18:44It was just literally so the vehicle driving away at speed and often followed by another vehicle.
18:49These inquiries weren't able to help us too much because we weren't able to see the finer details such as
18:55number plates.
18:57Whilst police were investigating, another car was stolen from a retail park in Basildon.
19:02The theft had the same MO.
19:06That vehicle was then sighted by police officers and pursued.
19:10So during the course of that pursuit it's gone the wrong way down the A13.
19:13It lost officers because it was just too dangerous to continue.
19:16The vehicle was then found at the motor services at the junction with the M25.
19:21Officers have flooded the area and have been alerted to a male acting suspiciously.
19:39The suspect was 22-year-old Alfred King.
19:43He was taken in for questioning.
19:46However, unable to link him to the car, he was released.
19:50It was really frustrating.
19:51However, it did allow us the opportunity to know who he was.
19:57And have his DNA on file.
20:00And then help us build the bigger picture moving forward.
20:04Then, in April, an incident at a petrol station in Southend gave police a breakthrough.
20:10An off-duty officer reported that they were at a petrol station and they'd just filled up,
20:15gone in to pay, come out and their key wasn't working.
20:18There was no one else around other than one car with two people in it that they thought was suspicious.
20:24They'd driven away once she'd noticed them, which instantly she thought was suspicious.
20:30And luckily able to record the details and send it through to our team.
20:35The owner of that vehicle was 25-year-old Harrison King,
20:39the brother of Alfred King, who'd been arrested two months earlier.
20:43It was interesting with the King brothers that they weren't known to police.
20:47They had no previous convictions.
20:52We looked into their mobile phone data,
20:54so we can look at who the Kings were in contact with.
20:59And more interestingly, overnight, who they're speaking to.
21:04And we can look at ANPR data to work out where they've been.
21:08These inquiries have sort of shown us that when there was a stolen car,
21:11half the time that Alfie King or Harrison King
21:15were in the vicinity of that offence location at the time.
21:18They also got two other names from the phone analysis,
21:2237-year-old Tommy Potten and 19-year-old Harrison Lynch.
21:27With those further names, mobile data analysis showed that on each of the occasions,
21:34at least one of the suspects' phones were in this location at the time.
21:38Leading us to believe they were all working together to steal cars.
21:43One of the messages they found gave police more damning evidence.
21:48One of the suspects is asking for a specific key to a specific car.
21:53And then we've seen that a couple of days after this message has been sent,
21:57that said vehicle is then being stolen.
22:02CCTV inquiries shows us that a red Alfa Romeo,
22:05which we believe the suspects were in, does approach the stolen car.
22:09And then a couple of days later, that red vehicle is then found by police
22:14with Tommy Potten's DNA in.
22:17With enough evidence on the suspects, it was time to bring them in.
22:22The King brothers lived together and we were able to go in and get them.
22:36Police arrested the King brothers.
22:40They then turned their attention to Tommy Potten.
22:43We were able to work out where he was going to be and make the arrest.
22:48Give me hands, give me hands, give me hands.
22:52All right, mate.
22:53You're under arrest for conspiracy to steal motor vehicles, OK?
22:57Harrison Lynch wasn't at his home address, but he later handed himself in.
23:03When we completed the searches, we were able to find the relevant phones
23:06that we'd been chasing.
23:08All of the messages and content supported the evidence.
23:16All four suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit a theft of a motor vehicle.
23:23On the 16th of October, 2025, Harrison King was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
23:30Harrison Lynch was given 38 months.
23:33Tommy Potten, 52 months.
23:37And Alfred King was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years.
23:44About £1.5 million worth of stolen vehicles that were taken.
23:48You had family cars, pick-up trucks and other sort of high-value vehicles.
23:54A lot of people, it's not just a car, is it?
23:57It's people's livelihoods, people's pride and joy.
24:03This does send a clear message that this is a fourth priority for Essex Police
24:06and that we will do everything we can to prevent vehicles from being stolen
24:10and bring offenders to justice.
24:17Amazing work by the team.
24:18Yeah, a massive amount as well.
24:201.5 million.
24:21Yeah, a lot of money.
24:22Great work by the police there.
24:24Now, there are more than 36 million pets living in the UK
24:28and they're often the heart of a family home.
24:31But what if that home is not a happy place
24:34and is instead a space of domestic abuse?
24:37Yeah, we're now with Sam Billingham,
24:39who's lived and experienced domestic abuse,
24:42and Mary Wakeham, who's the founder of Refuge for Pets.
24:45Thank you to both of you for coming in and joining us today.
24:49Let's talk a bit about Refuge for Pets.
24:51It's a charity that was set up in 2017,
24:53doing some incredible work, Mary.
24:55Yeah, that's right.
24:56So we started in 2017 and we foster animals for victims of domestic abuse.
25:01So for many victims of domestic abuse,
25:03their animals will be everything to them.
25:05You know, they provide comfort, companionship and love,
25:08everything that the perpetrator denies.
25:10And for many victim survivors,
25:13their animals are a really big barrier for them leaving.
25:16Because if somebody needs to go into emergency accommodation or refuge,
25:20more often than not, they're not able to take their animals with them.
25:22So that's where we come in.
25:24We foster animals for them.
25:25Which is such a lovely thing to offer.
25:28But how does it actually work then,
25:30the fostering service that you can provide?
25:32Yeah.
25:32So we get referrals from victim survivors and professionals,
25:37and we bring animals into foster care.
25:40So animals will be with us for usually between six to nine months.
25:44They go into foster homes with our one...
25:46Is it just dogs?
25:47Hamsters to horses.
25:48Hamsters to horses.
25:50All ranchers to horses.
25:52Yeah, it is mostly dogs and cats.
25:54But animals go into wonderful foster homes.
25:56And then when their families have got accommodation,
25:59safe accommodation,
25:59we get to reunite them with our animals, which is great.
26:03And Sam, you've been working alongside Mary, haven't you?
26:07As we mentioned in the introduction,
26:09you've experienced domestic abuse yourself.
26:12How is the animal abuse linked to domestic abuse, would you say?
26:16Yeah.
26:17So I'm a survivor of coercive control and domestic abuse.
26:20And it was only when I actually met Mary
26:22that I realised that there was a link between animal and human abuse.
26:25It's something that we don't really talk about.
26:28When I was existing in that controlling situation,
26:31I was heavily pregnant.
26:33I was very, very tired, so I went to bed.
26:35And the perpetrator followed me into the bedroom.
26:38And as a punishment for going to bed without him
26:42and without his permission,
26:43he'd actually killed our pet bird as a punishment and consequence
26:48for something that I'd done without his permission.
26:50And I think it's really important when we talk about domestic abuse
26:53that we talk about coercive control in the same way
26:56that we talk about physical violence.
26:58Because a coercive control is there right at the beginning.
27:01And as Mary said, they also control family pets and pets as well.
27:05So all the things that Mary said that the perpetrators don't have,
27:08we have in our animals and in companionship with our animals.
27:12I also work alongside another charity who work with animals as well.
27:17And we're having this conversation next week in Parliament
27:19about Purple Paw Project,
27:21which talks about the bond between humans and animals,
27:25which is something that perpetrators just take away from us.
27:30Coercive control is all about power and control.
27:32And that's what a perpetrator does.
27:34They control absolutely everything.
27:36So my existence was controlled from what I wore to what I ate to when I went to bed.
27:41But it becomes your norm.
27:43So I never had a conversation with anyone about it
27:46because I thought, this is what happens in relationships.
27:48This is normal.
27:49It was only when I found the strength and courage to leave that situation
27:53that I learned coercive control is very, very wrong.
27:56Yeah, it is, Sam.
27:59And thank you for sharing that.
28:00It's obviously a very, very difficult part of your life.
28:04I'm glad that you're in a really good place now.
28:07But what you've said is so important about the animals
28:10because, Mary, there's a lot of challenges
28:12in a domestic violence situation
28:14that can affect not just the adults, but the children,
28:18but also animals as well, can't it, in a situation like that?
28:21Lots of challenges.
28:22Absolutely.
28:23As Sam said, so perpetrators of domestic abuse
28:26will exploit that bond to coerce, control,
28:29and ultimately trap people in that abusive relationship.
28:32You know, animals will experience similar types of abuse to people.
28:36They will be, you know, physically abused, neglected,
28:40denied veterinary treatment, threatened, threats to harm,
28:43and in some cases killed by perpetrators.
28:46And a lot of the time, the animals that we're discussing here
28:49are the child's pet and could mean so much to the child.
28:53It could be a small, as you said earlier, it could be a hamster.
28:55It could be something very small.
28:57But if you are rehomed, put into emergency accommodation,
29:00very often the animal can't go, but that's the child's bond.
29:03That's so important to the child.
29:04So to know that there are places that might be able to take it in
29:07just for a short time until a more permanent home is there,
29:09wouldn't it?
29:10It means so much to little ones.
29:11Sam, what can people do to actually support people
29:14who might be going through a similar situation to you,
29:18any form of domestic abuse?
29:19So my passion is talking about coercive control,
29:22and it's in part because I don't think we focus on that enough
29:24when we talk about domestic abuse.
29:26So I've put together a framework called the ABC of coercive control,
29:30which you can actually put together with looking at animals as well,
29:34so appearance, behaviour and conversation.
29:37So for me, when I was in that situation, I was a legal secretary,
29:41so I was dressed very smart.
29:42My appearance changed dramatically.
29:45My behaviour changed.
29:46Stopped phoning friends, stopped visiting family.
29:49Conversation changed as well.
29:51But we don't know how to start conversations around coercive control
29:54because we don't necessarily know what we're looking for.
29:57So with physical violence, there's often bruises, split lips,
30:00that kind of thing.
30:01But we have to get really uncomfortable
30:03and start talking about coercive control a lot more,
30:06which is why I support Mary's work and charity's work
30:10because what's happening to the animals
30:13is highly likely what's happening to humans in that household as well.
30:17So if we can identify the ABC in pets,
30:19then we can see it in the humans as well.
30:21Very important.
30:22Useful tool.
30:23And Mary, if anyone wants to find out any more
30:25about the work that you do, how can they do that?
30:28Please go onto our website,
30:30and we are always looking for more wonderful volunteer foster carers.
30:34Fantastic.
30:35Thank you so much for coming in.
30:37And sharing your stories.
30:38I appreciate it.
30:40Well, hearing about the bond between human and animals,
30:42we're going to hear more about that now in our next film
30:44because it demonstrates the bond between dog owners and their pets,
30:48even after a really difficult start.
30:50We're off to meet a rescue pup.
30:51He's amazing.
30:52He's called Henry, and he is now a fully-fledged police dog.
30:58My name's Louise Wilson.
30:59I'm founder of Conservation Canine Consultancy,
31:02and we train specialist detection dogs
31:04to help with wildlife crime detection.
31:08So how this all started is I was able to work over in South Africa many years ago
31:13on helping dog teams with training dogs for conservation,
31:16and so it really made me realise,
31:19wow, what a great way of utilising dogs in the UK.
31:24Once I got back to the UK, I contacted lots of rescue centres
31:27and had one reach out to me and said,
31:29we've got the perfect dog for you.
31:34Henry, he was eight months old,
31:36and he'd been in five homes already.
31:39I was told he was difficult and unruly,
31:41so I'm thinking he's eight months old,
31:42he's not going to be that difficult.
31:44I didn't realise how different he would be.
31:50The first week of bringing Henry home,
31:51I remember it was like he was testing me to say,
31:54are you going to get rid of me?
31:56He'll chew something up, destroy something, damage something.
31:59Is this when you get rid of me?
32:00And I remember one time I said, I am not going to get rid of you.
32:04I am not going to get rid of you.
32:05It's not going to happen.
32:06You're always going to be here.
32:07To try and let him relax and say,
32:09you need to stop testing me.
32:11I'm here for you.
32:14We spent a good year for him
32:15to get used to having a bond with us
32:17and having trust and having a relationship.
32:21He did test me every single day,
32:23but he settled in the home environment perfectly.
32:26I trusted him, and he loved the ball.
32:31I started training him on tobacco detection.
32:34He was absolutely brilliant at that.
32:36He loved the idea of,
32:37I find this smell and you give me my ball.
32:39That is absolutely wonderful.
32:40But when putting him in small, confined spaces,
32:43he didn't thrive.
32:45But when I was doing conservation-led work,
32:48he would really come into himself.
32:53We were approached by the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit,
32:56and they were asking about help with finding dead birds of prey,
33:01as well as satellite tags.
33:02And with Henry already being trained with bat carcass, for example,
33:05I was like, he's going to be your man.
33:09We knew the physical strength of him and also the endurance.
33:14He could cover these vast areas and vast space.
33:18When we get there, I'm like, where am I going to start?
33:21This is huge.
33:22I've got the police officers and the search team with me.
33:25So I send Henry off.
33:27But within, say, five, ten minutes,
33:29where Henry finds a concealed or a bird's skull underneath lots of vegetation,
33:35you can really rest assured that if that bird was here,
33:37he is going to find it.
33:40He looks at me and he's like,
33:41Mum, I've got this.
33:42I've got this in the bag.
33:43I'm good with it.
33:47Henry still surprises me now.
33:49And he's ten years old and he very much is a dog that I'm so glad I've come across
33:55because he's taught me so much.
33:58I got an email to say,
34:00congratulations, Henry has received the Animal Hero of the Year Award.
34:05We thought that his story really stood out.
34:08Not only the wildlife crime work,
34:10but they said for these contributions to conservation for the last ten years.
34:13And that really made my heart flutter when they said that.
34:17Henry did me so proud.
34:19He did absolutely wonderful.
34:21Without a doubt, there's no other dog like Henry.
34:24After 22 years of working with lots of dogs,
34:27I haven't met a dog like Henry
34:28and I doubt I will ever meet another dog like Henry.
34:34Oh, what a cracking dog.
34:35And congratulations on the award, Henry.
34:37Very well done.
34:39I'm joined now by Beverly Douglas,
34:40who, when she retired,
34:42was the longest serving black female officer
34:44with Avon and Somerset Police.
34:46It is a pleasure to have you in the studio this morning
34:49and learn a bit more about your career, Beverly,
34:52because you were in the police force for 30 years
34:55and you joined in the 1980s
34:57during the time when it was the Bristol riots.
35:00What is it that made you want to join the force?
35:04I met two police officers,
35:07one when I was at school
35:08and the other one when I was a cadet at St John Ambulance.
35:12And both of them were very warm, very kind,
35:16and just told us about the job that they did.
35:19And unbeknown to me,
35:21had both planted the seed at different times in my life
35:24and it stuck with me.
35:26So when I decided I wanted to follow a career,
35:33the police became the only option for me.
35:37Yeah.
35:37And what did your family think at the time?
35:39Well, mum was really concerned about my safety
35:42and about how the community would react.
35:46Dad was very supportive.
35:47And as siblings are,
35:49they were 100% behind me.
35:52But it was something that I felt that I needed to do
35:55with the support of my parents.
35:58And I'm sure your time in the force came with challenges
36:01and some obstacles along the way.
36:03What was that experience like?
36:06Yeah, the backlash from the community wasn't positive,
36:09but it was something I kind of went with it
36:12and decided that if we needed to change something,
36:16we had to be within the system in order to change it.
36:19So I knuckled down and fought the battles
36:23and came out 30 years later,
36:26having enjoyed the best career of my life.
36:28And you've had many roles
36:30within that three-decade career, haven't you?
36:32Yes.
36:33I was, to begin with, a frontline response officer.
36:37Then I became a trainer for recruit, new recruits,
36:44and then experienced officers.
36:47I was also a member of a support group,
36:51the Black Police Association.
36:53So, yeah, my final career,
36:57my final job as a police officer
36:59was a school beat manager.
37:02Ironically, that's where the seed was planted for me,
37:06and that's where I ended my career.
37:08Gosh, so it almost went full circle.
37:09It did indeed.
37:10Amazing photos, by the way.
37:12And I know for you, as part of your career,
37:15actually recruiting female officers, women of colour,
37:19was something that you really wanted to make sure happened.
37:22Absolutely.
37:23When I became a police officer,
37:25there were very few women,
37:28no women of rank.
37:29And so, for me, it was important to,
37:33if you like, pass the baton on,
37:35but ensure that we recruited women
37:38that not only became constables,
37:41but actually excelled through the ranks.
37:43Yes.
37:44And when you reflect on your time,
37:46are there certain moments that you just think of
37:48and really make you smile?
37:50There was one particular time I was out shopping,
37:53minding my own business,
37:54and somebody was shouting,
37:55PC Bev, PC Bev.
37:57That was the nickname that they gave me at school.
38:00And he introduced me to his mum,
38:03and his mum said,
38:04thank you for mentoring my son,
38:07because he was very close to being part
38:12of the criminal justice system.
38:14We kept him in school.
38:16He wasn't excluded.
38:17We kept him on the straight and narrow,
38:19and he was studying to be an architect.
38:24Now, whether he completed that, I don't know.
38:26But the fact that we had given him the courage
38:31and the belief that he could be something other than a criminal
38:36was something that I will always cherish.
38:40I'm sure that's what it's all about, isn't it?
38:42Mm-hmm.
38:42And you've been busy since coming out of the police force, Bev.
38:46You've got two books here.
38:47I have indeed, yes.
38:48My first one was inspired by the staff at school,
38:53the library where I used to help the children with their reading.
38:57And the second one was a follow-on.
39:01And the story hadn't ended,
39:03and I just felt that I needed to tell the story of my journey
39:08as a police officer as well.
39:10And incredibly inspiring as well,
39:12because you're dyslexic,
39:14that the process of actually writing the books for you
39:16has been a different one, hasn't it?
39:18Yeah, absolutely.
39:19Having discovered that I was dyslexic at a young age,
39:25I found my coping mechanisms to help me as a police officer,
39:31and report writing was something that I actually excelled in.
39:34So when I wrote one book and then a second book,
39:39it was amazing for me because of my dyslexia,
39:44and I realised that anything was possible.
39:47I feel like a third book's on the cards.
39:49Finally, just before we finish, Bev,
39:51what would you say to anybody watching
39:53who's thinking about following in your footsteps
39:56and joining the police?
39:58Yeah.
39:59For me, the police was the...
40:02My career as a police officer was the best job in the world for me.
40:05I look at my colleagues who are still operation officers,
40:09and I watch many women excelling in the police,
40:14going up through the ranks,
40:16smashing the glass ceiling and achieving their own goals.
40:19So I'm very, very happy.
40:22So good to speak to you, Bev.
40:24Honestly, it's been a real pleasure.
40:25Thank you so much for taking the time.
40:29We just wanted to remind you about an appeal from earlier
40:32this series is some British Transport Police
40:34who are still looking for this man.
40:36On Saturday, the 17th of May, 2025,
40:39a worker for London Transport
40:41was at the gate at Blackfriars Station
40:44when four men attempted to barge through the ticket barrier.
40:47Now, police have given us this CCTV footage to show.
40:50You see, one of the men was stopped
40:52and his three friends headed back
40:54when one of them then pulled out a drinks bottle
40:57and squirted liquid directly into the man's face.
41:00Police don't know exactly what the substance was,
41:03but the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital
41:05where he was treated for chemical burns
41:07on his face and in his eyes.
41:09He's still undergoing hospital treatment now.
41:11Police have also provided us with this clip
41:13of him walking along the platform.
41:16He's described as being between 16 and 20,
41:19slim with light brown hair.
41:21He was wearing shorts with a logo on them
41:23and was travelling with his three friends
41:26on the Sevenoaks to Blackfriars train.
41:29So, if you know who he is or his whereabouts,
41:32please do get in touch.
41:35Thanks so much for watching today.
41:37You never know when you'll watch an appeal
41:39that you may unwittingly have information about.
41:42So, if you've missed any from the series so far,
41:45you can head to iPlayer.
41:46And do also actually give our official Facebook page
41:48a follow to see more of our appeals.
41:51Tomorrow, we're with Essex Police
41:53who are investigating a deadly crime
41:55but need your help to locate their prime suspect.
41:59Officers go into the bar.
42:01Police! Anyone in here? Come out!
42:03Show them your hands!
42:04There were blood spatters in the ceiling,
42:06on the walls.
42:08At that point, I declared it a homicide investigation.
42:13Yeah, it's quite the investigation, that one, isn't it?
42:15It really is.
42:16We'll see you tomorrow at the same time of 10.45.
42:19Bye for now.
42:55Bye for now.
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