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  • 6/30/2025
Ten thousand revellers pack Brighton's clubs and pubs every weekend, and as the sun goes down and the lights come up, the number of assaults, sexual violence, anti-social behaviour, drug-related incidents and hate crime goes through the roof – and for the Night Coppers of Brighton, policing this city after dark is one hell of a ride.
Transcript
00:00Mm-hmm.
00:03Oh, please tell me they're not going to go skinny-dipping.
00:06Oh, dear, that's not going to end well.
00:08I have done it when I've been drunk.
00:11Yeah, but have you read that report about, like,
00:14the sea in Brighton?
00:16The poo's going in. Yes, it's full of shit.
00:19Hello, all. Hello.
00:20A couple there down the beach, they've been there for half an hour.
00:24Yeah.
00:25They've been, I don't know, almost, I don't know, having sex or I don't know.
00:30Having sex? Probably.
00:33Mm-hmm.
00:37Guys?
00:39Guys?
00:41Hello?
00:44I don't know what you're up to down here, but it's not very appropriate.
00:49I suggest you get a hotel room or something.
00:53No more of that, please, because security are watching you
00:56and everyone can see you.
00:59It's another Friday night.
01:01Hey!
01:09The seat, the seat, the seat, come on.
01:11It's on your floor!
01:13Because I'm not going to pay.
01:15And you won't hear the fire, fire, fire.
01:17Video these bitches!
01:19And you can't be the water.
01:21And they call me the water.
01:22And they call me the water.
01:24You're standing on the floor now!
01:25And they call me the water.
01:26Oh!
01:27You're standing on the floor now.
01:28And they call me the water.
01:29That is a hulk of cake. Sensual, dark chocolate.
01:40I think everyone knows almost like the rules of engagement on a Friday and Saturday night.
01:50We've got a job to do and that job is to make sure that everyone goes out, has fun and then gets home safely.
01:56You got your T button? Yes.
01:58Are you sure? Because my driving is terrible.
02:01It's on. I put it on straight away. Safety first.
02:04Let's go. Let's go. Yeah? Yeah.
02:13I am Brighton 3 and 3. I've never lived anywhere else.
02:17My grandad owned the rock shop on the pier.
02:22I love this place.
02:24It turns people up to 11.
02:28Lovely, normal people turn to absolute bellens when they've had like too many wines.
02:37I love Molly Malone's.
02:39I love Molly Malone's because I always end up going there at the time of the night where you just want to have a good old sing along.
02:44When you're drunk though, you sound absolutely amazing.
02:46And in the shower.
02:47I sound great.
02:48I sound great in there.
02:49I sound great in the shower.
02:50I've had some really good concerts in there.
02:52What do you sing in the shower?
02:53A bit of Whitney.
02:55What is Whitney Houston's favourite type of coordination?
02:58Oh.
02:59I don't know.
03:00Hand-eye-eye.
03:02Please get me out of this car.
03:03Why am I crude with you tonight?
03:04Fucking hell.
03:05Hey, what's your emergency?
03:06Hello.
03:07And there's a man.
03:08And he's screaming at people and I've just seen him shove someone.
03:09He's got a hood up.
03:10He's got a bottle of whiskey.
03:11A bottle of whiskey.
03:12A bottle of whiskey.
03:13A bottle of whiskey.
03:14A bottle of whiskey.
03:15He's attacked a big group of people apparently.
03:16Okay.
03:17What's this naughty man done?
03:18He's been shouting and angry.
03:19He's trying to start fights or arguments with people.
03:21He's just been a pain in the arm.
03:22We will go and talk to him.
03:23Oh, so is this an angry man?
03:24BBC.
03:25Oh, no.
03:26No.
03:27No.
03:28No.
03:29No.
03:30No.
03:31No.
03:32No.
03:33No.
03:34No.
03:35No.
03:36No.
03:37No.
03:38No.
03:40No.
03:42No.
03:43No.
03:44No.
03:45No.
03:46No.
03:47Ilan's on the floor.
03:48Hiya, folks.
03:49Hiya.
03:50What's going on?
03:51Why is he twisted up the bottle?
03:53Just tried to assault you.
03:54No.
03:55I'm non mum.
03:56Why would I try to assault a bottle?
03:58Buddy, at the moment, you're under arrest for assault, alright?
04:01Sit up, sit up.
04:02I've not done anything for anything.
04:04I'll sort them out in a second.
04:06They bullying me.
04:07Right, mate, if you don't listen to what I say, I can't help you.
04:12It's not hurting anybody, bro.
04:14You're hurting me, bro.
04:15Buddy.
04:16If you want to get down, I'll walk down.
04:17No, no, no, get up.
04:18Get up.
04:19What's he actually done?
04:20Just so he can figure out.
04:21He was literally standing by the car.
04:22He was like, everyone's surrounding me.
04:24He was like, what, what?
04:25And he literally was like, what, what?
04:26With his bottle on his side.
04:28And then when he came that close enough, unfortunately,
04:30I had to take him to a floor.
04:31So apparently he's approached the security guard with a bottle in his hand.
04:33Yeah.
04:34Offered him out for a fight.
04:35Only because I've got no one ever.
04:36Don't take him to the floor.
04:37That's abusive.
04:38Your cuffs are hurting me.
04:39Do you want to stand up?
04:40You're hurting me, bro.
04:41Stand up.
04:42Ready?
04:43Stand up.
04:44I'll sort your cuffs out if you stand up and listen to me.
04:46One, two, three.
04:47Fine, you can stay there, then.
04:48Is that his, is it?
04:49That's the bottle that he tried to hit by.
04:51Cool.
04:52I'll tell you what, do me a favour.
04:53Can you just bin it?
04:54Oh, you have it?
04:55Get rid of it.
04:56Get rid of it.
04:57Empty it out, chuck it in the bin for us.
04:58Cheers, buddy.
04:59Is there a prison van that might be able to pop along just to give us a hand?
05:04Shall we stand up?
05:06Praise the Lord.
05:07We're going to go this way, mate.
05:08Praise the Lord.
05:09For some people, you've got absolutely fuck all hope of getting through to them.
05:13There's just no way you're going to get there.
05:15If they're a bit of a dick when it's over, they're going to be a real dick when they're
05:18drunk.
05:19Oh, no.
05:20Why are you hurting me?
05:21Time to get up.
05:22Why are you hurting me, bro?
05:23Why are you hurting me?
05:24Oh, we get up.
05:25There we go.
05:26You're dragging me down, though.
05:27How can I stand up?
05:28People react in different ways and people try and play us.
05:33People try and lie about what's happened and they'll cry and they'll scream and they'll
05:38put up a real big act.
05:39There you go.
05:40If you sit behind yourself, there's a seat.
05:41There you go.
05:42All right.
05:43Do you want to sit there or on the floor?
05:44You can put me on the floor.
05:45No, I'm saying where do you want to sit.
05:48Okay, I'm going to leave you there for a second.
05:50Oh, my.
05:51Put me on the floor.
05:52Okay.
05:53Oh.
05:54Oh, wait for me on the floor.
05:55He comes in the van.
05:56It's one, two, three, five.
05:57Okay, go.
05:58One, two, three, five.
05:59I've not done anything to anyone.
06:01I'm going.
06:02Right.
06:03Manny's going to go up with you.
06:04I'm going to follow you up there.
06:05We're going.
06:06We're going.
06:16Why you just...
06:17Oh, you're going.
06:18You're going.
06:19Praise the Lord.
06:20Are you going to stand up and walk?
06:21You're hurting me.
06:22Well, if you stand up and walk, it's not going to hurt your wrists.
06:27Stand on the mat for me.
06:28Have I shown any resistance?
06:30No.
06:31Well, you've been...
06:32No.
06:33Thank you very much.
06:34Oh!
06:35Oh!
06:36What are you trying to do?
06:37Oh, wait.
06:38Okay, mate.
06:39There are certain things that get under my skin and wind me up.
06:45And you have to have some self-control at those points.
06:49I can't believe you threw him on the floor about eight times.
06:53I know.
06:54There was one point where he chucked one leg out in front of him.
06:56I thought he was, like, death-dropping.
06:57He was...
06:58Honestly.
06:59Let's get sickening!
07:00Oh, my God.
07:01He was quite the thromber, really, wasn't he?
07:02I'm not drunk.
07:03The reason we've been called here, young man, is because you've got a half-empty bottle
07:16of JD that you've tried to clump a security guard with.
07:19It's like...
07:20And then he asked for his bottle back.
07:22Oh, it hurts my brain.
07:24It hurts my brain.
07:26Yeah.
07:27Let's see what it's like tonight.
07:39You guys all right?
07:40Yeah.
07:41Yeah.
07:42Oh.
07:43Are they play-fighting?
07:45Yeah.
07:46Yeah.
07:47It's fine.
07:48It is getting really busy now.
07:49Can I go waft of cannabis?
07:51Yeah, I can smell it as well.
07:52Oh, God.
07:53That's really strong.
07:54No-one weighing up against the wall.
07:58When I went out recently with my friends, I was just like, oh, my God.
08:03Everyone's at 18.
08:05I was like, this isn't for me anymore.
08:08Yeah, you're not far off 18, are you?
08:09Oh, Matthew.
08:14I never liked night shifts.
08:16I can't sleep during the day.
08:19Being a parent to a three-year-old, I'm just very tired, yeah.
08:22If I do night shifts, I am probably a zombie for a few days.
08:28Do you know which way you need to go, sir?
08:31Are you sure?
08:32I don't think you're going to be able to walk home, do you?
08:36As a mum, I feel like dealing with drunk people, it's like rounding up toddlers.
08:39It can be quite funny, but it can also be very frustrating.
08:43She's had a skimful, hasn't she?
08:45Oh, dear me.
08:47Hello.
08:48Can you go to King's Road Burger King?
08:51They've got two individuals, got Section 35, and they're still not left.
08:55They've breached it now.
08:56Right, OK.
08:58Cool, no way.
09:00We've been flagged down at King's Road Burger King.
09:02Apparently, two people that were given Section 35 are still here.
09:06We're just going to go and check that out.
09:09Section 35, for us, is so useful.
09:11It gives us that really good power to, you know, to remove them from the city centre.
09:15I think I've only ever had a handful of people in all the years that have breached that
09:20because they're just too intoxicated to remember what he said to them or they just don't care.
09:25Hello.
09:26They should know better.
09:27Whereabouts are these guys?
09:29This chap here with the rucksack is the father.
09:31Yep.
09:32Somewhere there's a chap with crutches.
09:34Hello.
09:35Were you giving a 35 earlier?
09:37I'm just getting some tips.
09:38I know, but what's your name?
09:39I'm just getting some tips.
09:40I know, I need to tell your name.
09:41I don't need to tell you.
09:42Yes, you do.
09:43You do need to tell me your details.
09:45I'll be coming out.
09:46I'm getting some tips.
09:47Right.
09:48You need to calm down.
09:49I'm being assaulted.
09:50Right, what's your name?
09:51I'm being assaulted.
09:52I'm being assaulted.
09:53Right, let's go outside.
09:54Can you let go of him, please?
09:55This is buttery.
09:56I'm being buttered.
09:57Not buttery.
09:58Just come out.
09:59I'm being assaulted.
10:00Let's get out for a minute.
10:02No, I didn't mean that.
10:04I didn't mean that.
10:05I didn't mean that.
10:06No, I didn't mean that.
10:07No, I didn't mean that.
10:08No, I didn't mean that.
10:09Oh, please, no.
10:10You are under arrest for assault PC.
10:14Do not tense your arm.
10:17You've hit me in the head, and at this point...
10:19You're under arrest.
10:20You're under arrest.
10:21You are under arrest for assault police, okay?
10:25I'm sorry about what happened.
10:27Please excuse me.
10:28I don't know what happened.
10:29I didn't do.
10:30I promise you, the last thing I would do is...
10:33Well, you've been a problem tonight, haven't you?
10:35And that's why we've been called again to this location.
10:38Next problem myself.
10:39Are you guys all right?
10:40He's, he's, he's, like, headbutted me, basically.
10:42No, I didn't.
10:43Not deliberately.
10:44He, he's saying it's not deliberately.
10:45You're fine.
10:46He said he tripped over, but I, I'm not convinced at all.
10:49He said he tripped over, but I'm not, I'm not buying it.
10:52I promise you.
10:53I think I've felt more vulnerable in the last few years.
10:56There are way more assaults on police than I've ever known.
11:00What did you see?
11:01I was holding him back.
11:02Yeah.
11:03I know what he's like.
11:04Okay.
11:05Yeah, okay.
11:06I was bitten two years ago.
11:08All hell broke loose.
11:09She grabbed me by my stab vest, pulled me down to the floor,
11:12and as I tried to get up, she's latched onto my forearm,
11:15like a dog, and just refused to let go.
11:17And no-one could get her off me.
11:19I thought, cos I couldn't...
11:20I grabbed him again, and obviously you grabbed him as well.
11:22Okay, cool.
11:23I took some time away.
11:25I became very jumpy.
11:26I was never a jumpy person before,
11:28and now, even two years later, that's never gone.
11:30And, like, it's just been something I've had to learn to accept.
11:35It's all going on, isn't it?
11:36It's all going on.
11:37I got strangled.
11:38I got strangled.
11:39I got the police for help.
11:41Yeah.
11:42Okay?
11:43I'm on the verge of crying.
11:45Okay?
11:46All right.
11:47Don't do that.
11:48I got...
11:49My dad was...
11:50My dad had a work to do tonight.
11:51Okay?
11:52He was too drunk.
11:53I was looking after him.
11:54I'm the one who called the police.
11:57The person on the phone told me to stop crying,
12:00so I told her she was a cunt.
12:02That's not very nice, is it?
12:03They're tyrants.
12:05They're useless.
12:06I called the police for help,
12:09and they're arresting me.
12:11Okay?
12:12They're tyrants.
12:13They're useless.
12:14They're useless.
12:15Why get yourself in that state?
12:17I'm the...
12:18Yeah, I've done this before.
12:20Hello.
12:21Good morning.
12:22I'm just going to sit down here.
12:24That's what?
12:25I'm fucking useless.
12:27I do feel over time there has been a lack of respect for the police.
12:38Because certain police forces have not performed well,
12:41or you get the sad cases of police officers, you know, offending,
12:45and that doesn't help either.
12:50It does make our job a hell of a lot harder.
12:53Can I have some hot chocolate soup, please?
12:56Next.
12:57Yeah, that's good.
12:59Thank you, mate.
13:00All right, mate.
13:01Time is 35 minutes past four, all right?
13:03Do further under the rest of possession of suspected class A.
13:07All right.
13:08Half, two, three, a hot chocolate and a tea.
13:26Hello, all.
13:28On the outside, Brighton, absolutely fine.
13:31It's a magical place.
13:33But then once you start policing, you just think,
13:35my God.
13:40What is going on?
13:42Go that way, then.
13:44Shut up, you muppet.
13:45Don't start on me for no reason.
13:47Hey, mate.
13:48He might go away from me.
13:49All right, he's gone.
13:50Good work.
13:51I know.
13:52That's what I do.
13:54I've been a police officer for...
13:55It's been a bit of years now.
13:57I used to be a landscape gardener.
14:00It's a very calm job.
14:01Not much going on.
14:03A lot of manual labour.
14:04And now, in the thick of it.
14:08I don't want to alarm you, but my clutch is now sticky.
14:11I don't know what that means.
14:13Or why.
14:14I think I've stepped in something.
14:16Oh.
14:17Walkabout's asking for police.
14:19Walkabout's asking for police.
14:20Walkabout.
14:21Yeah.
14:23Juliet Charlie 115.
14:26Walkabout are requesting police on the night safe, so we're just going to head there now.
14:30Oh, guys.
14:31So, this bell has been...
14:32We've kicked him out for in talks.
14:33Yeah.
14:34He's threatening us and being racist as well.
14:36What's he saying?
14:37Okay.
14:38What's the racist thing?
14:39I don't know what he's doing.
14:40Racist.
14:41He talked to my head, Dorman.
14:42He was being racist to him.
14:43Hiya.
14:45Are you one of the ones that he was abusive to, or...?
14:47Yeah, he told me to learn some English.
14:48He said what?
14:49Learn some English.
14:50Learn some English.
14:51Yeah.
14:52Right, okay.
14:53What was he doing inside here?
14:54He was kicked out for being...
14:55Basically, he was spitting on the floor, asking him not to...
14:57He got kicked out.
14:58Okay, so it was an awful rejection.
14:59Yeah.
15:00Okay.
15:01And that was it?
15:02Basically, yeah.
15:03To move.
15:04Push out and go upset, basically.
15:06Fantastic.
15:07Learn some English and, yeah, for me to fuck off, wherever I am from.
15:11Are you particularly fussed by this, or you just want him to go...?
15:13I'm offended, but just go away.
15:14Yeah?
15:15Basically, send him home if you can.
15:16Okay.
15:17I think racing is still a huge problem.
15:19I've had it happen to me plenty of times now.
15:21Comment about your skin, about the job that you do, and...
15:25Even people, like, not wanting to touch you,
15:27when you're trying to help someone out.
15:29Mate!
15:30Wait up!
15:31Right, can we talk about you being racist and abusive?
15:33Racist?
15:34Yeah.
15:35You being racist, can you repeat it?
15:36Sorry?
15:37You repeat the racist bit, I was bitter.
15:38Well, I'm speaking with you at the moment.
15:40He's pushed me outside of premises.
15:42What's happened is essentially a lawful ejection.
15:44Can you start pushing me, thinking I've got authority in that?
15:46Right.
15:47That's not respectful, is it, though?
15:48Okay.
15:49So the other guy in the entrance knows he's fucking aggressive and all that,
15:51but no one's believing me because I'm a civilian,
15:53and he's about you, which is more authority?
15:55You see racism from white people, black people.
15:58I remember another shift.
16:00This woman was mouthing off and then ended up calling me a coconut.
16:04That's not something that you want to hear.
16:06Racism in any of its forms is messed up.
16:08What? Racism?
16:09I was like, oh, God, I said for a piece of English,
16:11I didn't understand what you said.
16:13He's interpreted it that way.
16:15It may have just got confused.
16:16We can clear that up, but at the same time...
16:19Yeah.
16:20At this point, what we could do is issue a section 35,
16:23which basically is a dispersal order.
16:24It means to leave the area.
16:26You want to enjoy your night?
16:27I know you want to enjoy your night, but what I'm saying is...
16:30Yeah.
16:31...it probably ain't going to happen.
16:32I've got to go.
16:33I don't think I could listen to another minute of that bloke talk to me.
16:38Is he crying or is he being sick?
16:51Lots of short dresses tonight, I've noticed.
16:53Dresses and skirts.
16:55Oh, no!
16:56There's some very questionable outfits right now.
16:59She looks like she's wearing her underwear and she's holding her boobs in.
17:01Oh!
17:03Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
17:13Sussex Police, what's your emergency?
17:16We have an old client.
17:18She's managed to pull the door open outside.
17:22And now she's rummaging other people's belongings.
17:27She's threatened security with physical harm.
17:31She booted over a rubbish bin and then looked at me and said it will be you next.
17:37Right, and I think description for help.
17:39Five, eight, five, nine, medium built.
17:44So this is a male identifying as female.
17:49They've got an ex-tenant that's been evicted from there a while ago,
17:54but she keeps returning.
17:56And it appears that she's got a disliking to female officers.
18:00And on occasion, she's been quite inappropriate in things that she says
18:04and the actions that she does towards female officers, so...
18:08Well, Matt, you're going to be doing a lot of the talking.
18:10This came in earlier.
18:11Is she just going back to all the hostels that she's been at before?
18:13Here we go.
18:19Oh, yeah.
18:21Oh, blimey.
18:25He basically tried to assault one of our members of staff.
18:29Right.
18:30OK, no worries. Can you just wait a minute?
18:32Huh?
18:33Do you want to have a chat with this chap?
18:35Yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:36You all right?
18:37What's been going on tonight?
18:38She's got a status all.
18:39OK.
18:40Why were you evicted, anyway?
18:42Caressment.
18:43Yeah.
18:45So I've got no issues.
18:47No, no, that's fair enough.
18:48It's just, I think, obviously staff have...
18:50Excuse me, lady.
18:51Chat to me.
18:52I want to try and sort you out for tonight to prevent these issues.
18:56Yeah, I'll try and sort these ladies because they're better than you.
18:59I kind of think she should go in a van.
19:01She smells better in the sense of sorted herself.
19:04Louisa's bringing the van, so...
19:06Because you can't stay here.
19:07Sometimes it is so tricky making sure that everyone is safe.
19:10In some circumstances, it's about the vulnerable being protected
19:13from other vulnerable people.
19:15It's about protecting the staff and also the other residents
19:18in that hostel.
19:20Her stuff is everywhere and she's just causing havoc.
19:23Where's she supposed to be?
19:24Nowhere. She got trapped out of here.
19:26What bags do you want to take?
19:28Can't take all of it.
19:30Right, so this brown one...
19:32Yeah.
19:36So we need a plan, don't we?
19:37Because we can't leave you here.
19:38Yeah, we need a plan.
19:39You've got bail conditions not to be here, haven't you?
19:41Yeah.
19:42So...
19:43Which you've breached.
19:44Are you going to arrest me for it?
19:45No, we're not arresting you for it.
19:47Why?
19:48Because we're not.
19:49I'm not scared.
19:50Because we're not.
19:51We don't need to be going down that route.
19:52You don't want to be spending a night in a cell for no reason.
19:54Yeah, no reason.
19:55No, you don't.
19:58With our repeat offenders, this can be a common theme.
20:02We can't be allowing that person just to come into custody
20:04for a bed for the night.
20:06We're not a hotel.
20:08What we need to be doing, though, we need to be getting up
20:10and we need to be getting moving, don't we?
20:12We don't want to know where to move to.
20:13Yeah, but you can't stay here.
20:14No.
20:15She has to go.
20:16You know, it's one of those situations, like,
20:17what do we do with her?
20:19So we just need her away from here.
20:20So we thought train station.
20:22We don't want to drop you too far, because in the morning,
20:25we want you to be local, that you can try and sort
20:27your accommodation out.
20:31What are you getting in the back for?
20:33Well, because we don't have seats anywhere else.
20:35Your property's in the middle.
20:37Right, pop yourself down there.
20:40I do feel sometimes that we are just patching it up
20:43and it's all just going to come back around again
20:45maybe in a few days, a few hours.
20:47However, the way the system works,
20:49things aren't an instant fix.
20:51We'll take her out the area.
20:53Fingers crossed.
20:54That's the end of it tonight.
20:55Just call us if it changes.
20:57OK?
20:58All right.
20:59No worries.
21:00Take care.
21:04Why did I come back to work night shift?
21:06Tell me.
21:07Do tell me.
21:10Oh, no!
21:12Oh, I can't believe it.
21:13Yeah, receive, thank you.
21:14Have they nicked her?
21:15Must have done.
21:16We just knew it, didn't we?
21:17We just knew it.
21:18In custody.
21:19It doesn't say what for, though.
21:20I reckon she's done something to get nicked.
21:21It's going to be a public order or she's damaged something to get arrested.
21:22Oh, dear.
21:23Good evening.
21:24OK.
21:25OK.
21:26She was arrested for public indecency.
21:27No, I was arrested for being a consonant.
21:28It's a big difference.
21:29Do.
21:30Do, do, do.
21:31Do, do.
21:32Do, do, do.
21:33Do, do.
21:34Do, do.
21:35Okay.
21:36She was arrested for public indecency.
21:38I made something to get arrested.
21:39Oh, dear.
21:43Good evening.
21:44OK.
21:46She was arrested for public indecency.
21:48No, I was arrested for being a consonant.
21:51It's a big difference.
21:52Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da.
21:58Let's just get your audience on the floor.
21:59Do you consider yourself white British?
22:01No. OK, what would you consider yourself?
22:03I'm a black woman.
22:05OK, not a problem.
22:07Have you any special dietary needs?
22:09Yeah, sake and chips.
22:12I'll write it down, but no promises.
22:15You still allergic to tomatoes?
22:16No.
22:18Allergic to coppers.
22:20OK, we're going to take you down to your cell, all right?
22:22All right.
22:27Oh, I think it makes me want to use anti-inflammatory.
22:33So there is a warning marker.
22:35She likes to put her fingers into her anus and smear it round everywhere,
22:41including on the buzzer, which she's doing now.
22:44So there we go.
22:46That's lovely, isn't it?
22:50I'm not sure whether or not I can eat this pizza.
22:52I've got pissed on once.
22:54Did you?
22:55Yeah.
22:56It was a very, not very nice lady.
23:01I got pissed on once.
23:13Did you?
23:14Yeah.
23:14It was a very, a not very nice lady.
23:19A lady?
23:20A lady.
23:20She was absolutely drunk as a skunk and she stood up in the back of the vat,
23:24started stamping her feet and said, I need a wee, I need a wee.
23:27I did let slip a little bit and I said, you're not five, you can hold it.
23:31She ended up dropping to her bottom and then she landed on my boot, had a little wee.
23:36Pissed on my foot.
23:38Oh God.
23:39Luckily, I had my waterproof boots on, like the drunk Friday night version of SeaWorld
23:43where you sort of like, you're in the splash zone.
23:46Yeah.
23:49Hello, hello, hello.
23:56Is he all right?
23:57He was like, stop, I'm going to be sick.
23:59Yeah, really, we don't want to be super caught up.
24:01Bless you.
24:03He's had a bit of laundry.
24:05I was going to suggest an evidence bag.
24:07Oh, if we can provide these people with an evidence bag, that'd be great.
24:11Jack, he's got a police issued sick bag.
24:14Beautiful.
24:17Bye.
24:18Have a good time.
24:20We really do just look after everyone, don't we?
24:23Well, you know.
24:31Post midnight, there's definitely a bit of a change and things get a bit more rowdy.
24:36The later it gets and the more people have had to drink, the trickier I think it gets.
24:42It's almost like that sort of werewolf moment, you know, that full moon comes out and bang,
24:46they've got, like, you know, claws and fur and they're sort of snarling at you.
24:54Go ahead.
24:54There's a call over night space.
24:57Mail is getting quite aggressive.
24:59Is the West Street van available to go?
25:01Postalotica to you, Charlie Romeo, one, two, zero.
25:04Are you able to sort of fight, please?
25:06Four people fighting.
25:09Oh dear.
25:10I couldn't think of a better unit to go.
25:15Fight.
25:16Close with me.
25:17Go, go, go!
25:21Release the Wombles.
25:23Oh, shit, sorry, mate.
25:24Hello, mate.
25:25I don't know if you're listening to the outside of the room and it's too loud outside.
25:29The reason that we've been called it is because there's been some sort of issue.
25:32Because of that, we've...
25:34I think it's anti-social behaviour.
25:35We've had a good night, clearly.
25:36You can see we've had a few beds.
25:37I think it's time to go home, yeah?
25:3935 all round.
25:41Everyone's going home.
25:42Let's get done.
25:43What am I being done for?
25:44Do you have to give me your details?
25:45Because you're back to an anti-social...
25:47If you refuse to give me your details, then you'll get nixed.
25:50Oh, mate.
25:50You're a fucking...
25:53You don't need to be so all right.
25:56I am down.
25:57Come here, darling, and bring it down.
25:59You've been issued a section 35.
26:01That means it's a direction to leave an area.
26:03That means you need to go.
26:04Oh, fucking help me.
26:05Don't touch me, mate.
26:05Don't touch me.
26:07All right?
26:08Don't touch me.
26:09Some people will just push and push and push and push.
26:14At the moment, you're going to disagree, but it's time to go home.
26:17They just want to wind up police officers.
26:19God, that's it.
26:20It's over now.
26:20It's over.
26:21That's it.
26:21They seem to just think that going at us and trying to push our buttons and trying to get
26:27that rise out of us is a badge of honour.
26:30This is it.
26:31This is it.
26:31End of.
26:32I told you really clearly.
26:33And if you don't, I will arrest you.
26:36Pinch me, bro.
26:37Pinch me.
26:38I don't want to do...
26:39Pinch me.
26:40I'm going to be...
26:40Oh, let's be honest.
26:41Arrest me.
26:42Do what you want.
26:42I'll do my...
26:43I've been really clear with you, mate.
26:45End of the night.
26:46End of the discussion.
26:47I gave you that.
26:48I find it really tricky when it gets to that point because you just have to try and maintain
26:53that level of control over it.
26:55Can you go get the others out of the van?
26:56Because in a second, we are going to nick them both.
27:01Juliet and Charlie, 102.
27:03102, I'm going to be very unpopular.
27:05However, we've got two people we've issued a Section 35 to who are refusing to leave.
27:10Is there a prison van who might be able to come and assist with the transport to one of them?
27:14All right.
27:15Time to leave.
27:16Good.
27:16Thank you very much.
27:17If you don't, it's breach.
27:19It is breach on Section 35.
27:21All right?
27:25That's it.
27:26Piss off.
27:26Go on.
27:27Go on.
27:30Go on.
27:32Go on.
27:35Go on.
27:38Please, mate.
27:40Get on.
27:42Get on.
27:43Getting the pepper spray out, it is a last resort,
27:45but it's really effective for some people.
27:47Cust, I've got cust, one on.
27:49It's a way of limiting people's ability to fight us,
27:54so we're keeping everybody else safe.
27:58OK, right there, nearly on, nearly on.
27:59It's non-permanent, but it's really uncomfortable
28:03and it is bloody painful.
28:05But we need to get it a bit tighter.
28:07There we go.
28:09These fucking bastards, man.
28:11Let's stand you up.
28:12Let's stand you up onto your feet.
28:13All right, lift your legs up. Ready, one, two, three.
28:15Up we go. Good man.
28:17If you ask me at those times when I'm laid off and I'm tired
28:20and I'm sweaty and my hands are stinging
28:22because they're covered in pepper spray,
28:24if you ask me at that point then, do you still love the job,
28:27I'll probably turn around and say, no, this is rubbish.
28:31Lads, time to go away. Time to go away.
28:32Otherwise, you'll get yourself nipped. Go away.
28:34For instructing a police officer and his duties.
28:37Just keep going, mate. It's time.
28:38I am at the very last bit of my seven, mate. Go away.
28:42But I think it's your colleagues.
28:44And having that sense of belonging, that brings you back.
28:47And being able to have that shared mentality
28:50with that group of people is a really, really big draw for me.
28:55Oh, God. It's such a waste of time.
29:00Oh, God.
29:04Oh, God.
29:07Hey!
29:07Police emergency, how can I help?
29:11Yeah, hi.
29:12I work on the response unit for Resolve.
29:14We're currently here with a female
29:16that has been potentially spiked.
29:19Their concern was when they went to speak to her,
29:22and to speak to the male,
29:24that then she then put her head down on the chair
29:27and got passed out,
29:28and the guy just left, like, really quickly.
29:37Go ahead.
29:59She's only allegedly had that one and a half points of red stripe.
30:02OK.
30:03And collapsed on the stool.
30:05That's bizarre.
30:07If that is all that she's drunk, then...
30:09Something's wrong.
30:10Yeah.
30:11There's the ambulance.
30:16I mean, there's no lights on in, so there must be inside.
30:20Hard to say.
30:22For you.
30:24When we got here, she was unconscious on the floor.
30:27She was initially unresponsive.
30:30OK.
30:31But then slowly came to a place where she was...
30:34but she was happy to walk around.
30:36She was talking incoherently.
30:38The staff were concerned about a spiking.
30:40OK.
30:41At the moment, she's been reluctant to engage with us.
30:45Female by herself.
30:47You know, I am worried,
30:48because what has happened that has led her to this state?
30:51I said he lives alone.
30:52You should live on your own.
30:53Have you got all keys and stuff?
30:54Yeah, but we can't.
30:55You're so unstealing off.
30:56You're so vulnerable out here on your own.
30:57And because we don't...
30:58Don't do that!
30:59Stop!
31:00And because you're not telling us what you've taken,
31:01we can't let you just go.
31:02Have you taken something that you shouldn't have taken
31:04and it's affecting you this way?
31:05Or is it just alcohol?
31:07I wasn't too sure why she asked us to call you,
31:09but she wanted us to.
31:10So we just sort of let you know.
31:11Can I just ask?
31:12Has she done this?
31:13Has she done this?
31:14Has she done this?
31:15Has she done this?
31:16Has she done this?
31:17Has she done this?
31:18Has she done this?
31:19Yeah.
31:20Yeah, but we can't.
31:21Yeah, but we can't.
31:22You're so unstealing off.
31:23You're so unstealing off.
31:24You're so vulnerable out here on your own.
31:25And because we don't...
31:26Don't do that!
31:27Stop!
31:28OK.
31:29OK, that makes sense.
31:30Oh!
31:31Oh!
31:32Oh!
31:33Can someone help?
31:34Sorry, she just collapsed on me.
31:35One second.
31:36Um, you say she drinks to hurt herself?
31:39Do you know if she takes any drugs or anything?
31:42No.
31:43Not to know.
31:45Yep, comms, this is not a spiking.
32:01We're definitely seeing a rise in younger people abusing alcohol.
32:06Alcohol is so readily available, you know, it's socially accepted, isn't it?
32:11It's a slippery slope, you have one big night of it and think, oh, OK, that's blocked out that incident.
32:17I'll carry on.
32:19Is mental health something she struggles with generally?
32:22And what is it, depression?
32:25Oh, OK, so things are in place but you're just not sure what.
32:29Oh, OK.
32:30Um, we have got a friend here.
32:32She's literally just arrived.
32:33Bye now, bye.
32:34Yeah, she's in absolute state, yeah.
32:36The only place to take her is the hospital.
32:39Get ready, set.
32:41You OK?
32:42You OK?
32:43Have a friendly face to be better.
32:47I do feel like we're dealing with a lot more people in crisis point.
32:50It breaks my heart a bit, really.
32:52It's a tricky one when dealing with mental health because there's not that instant fix for someone.
32:57Oh, that's really sad.
33:00I've suffered my own mental health struggles over the last probably about five years maybe.
33:07I became quite depressed.
33:09I'm not ashamed to say that.
33:11I did reach out for help and I can say that I got the help that I needed and that I wanted
33:16and I came out the other side and I'm a better person for it.
33:19You know, it's important that we all get the right help and it can be a long road.
33:25And I think it's just important that people are kind to themselves.
33:28Ladies, lads, get out of the road, Frodo.
33:53Absolutely shit face.
33:56Between 3 and 4 a.m. is witching hour.
34:00That's when everything goes wrong because they are the people that should have gone home at about half a minute.
34:05Three hours ago.
34:06Yeah.
34:09We've all been there though.
34:15Nothing that gives me more joy than seeing someone really happy with a bag of chips at the end of the night
34:21because I know exactly how that feels.
34:23Yeah.
34:24There is nothing about that.
34:25Or when someone is absolutely going to town on a kebab.
34:27Oh, yeah.
34:28Face in, just...
34:30That one with the bag.
34:31You know there have been many pints consumed.
34:33Oh, yeah.
34:34That's the sort of thing though that you wake up in the morning is just a dreadful idea.
34:38Oh, no, you wake up in the morning, it's in your hair.
34:40No, you wake up in the morning and you eat the other half of it.
34:42That's when you know it's bad.
34:44That's right.
34:45You're out of rank.
34:50Sussex police.
34:51What is your emergency?
34:52A suspicious man has pulled outside the back of our flat
34:55and there's a couple of people in there being rude out
34:57and it looks like they're doing drugs.
34:59I can see, like, I presume, like, needles and stuff.
35:03They have, like, a spoon of, like, a lighter
35:06and they're just, like, passing it around.
35:08I think there's three people, maybe.
35:10They might just be playing that age-old game of Pass the Spoon.
35:13Well, yeah.
35:14Have you ever played Spoons?
35:16Yeah, I fucking love that game.
35:17The card game, yeah.
35:18Yeah, maybe that's kind of a really extreme version of that.
35:20It gets very aggressive.
35:21Yeah, I think some of my biggest...
35:23I've got ABH injuries from Spoons.
35:24Don't.
35:25Some of my biggest fights have come from that.
35:27It's quite unusual for people to congregate in a van
35:31to do, like, hard drugs.
35:34If they were like, oh, there's people in a van smoking weed,
35:37I'd still be concerned, but it would be a lot more normal.
35:39That's more sort of normal.
35:40My spidey senses wouldn't tingle at that point.
35:425-8-4-7, go ahead.
35:46You 100% get a bit of a...
35:49..a bit of a spidey sense.
35:51I definitely think I am naturally inquisitive.
35:55Ah!
35:58I want to have a look behind the curtain.
36:00I want to find out that little secret they've got.
36:01And I think you've got to be if you do this job.
36:04I think that's what makes us a bit of a special breed.
36:08There's people, isn't it?
36:11Come on.
36:12Hello!
36:13Can I help you?
36:14Yeah!
36:15Do you mind jumping out for me for a second, please?
36:17Thank you very much.
36:18How many of you are there in there?
36:20Just the three?
36:21No, there's three of us.
36:22Have you ever been in trouble with the police at all?
36:25No, not for 20-odd years.
36:28The reason we've been called is basically...
36:31..someone from somewhere around here has called up and said
36:35that they're concerned that there are males inside injecting
36:37within that vehicle.
36:38So we're going to give you a search.
36:40Hello, mate, you all right?
36:42Yeah, I'm all right.
36:43I went into hospital with a bad leg, sorry, and I caught gangrene.
36:46Mm.
36:47And, erm, and this other thing I can't pronounce, er, something
36:52necrotiteless, it's basically a flesh-and-bone-eating virus.
36:55I've heard of that.
36:56Yeah.
36:57That's nasty.
36:58Sorry to hear about that, mate.
36:59For searching purposes, when you're touching him, double gloves.
37:04Yeah, absolutely.
37:05One of the most important pieces of police equipment
37:07are the gloves that we get given.
37:09One pair of thin, blue, nitrile gloves.
37:12Stay exactly as you are, mate.
37:13I do not want you to fall over, all right?
37:15That is my last thing that I want.
37:17You end up, yeah, dealing with the most horrendous smells and sights.
37:22It is a gruesome job sometimes.
37:24You scent them on me legs.
37:25I'll be very, very...
37:26In fact, I'm not even...
37:27I'm going to sit here.
37:28I'll be honest, mate.
37:30Can you stand still?
37:31I've got to search your back pocket and you're wiggling your backside at me.
37:34I ask every single person I search,
37:36have you got anything on you you shouldn't have?
37:37It might have been a top of a weed pipe, but...
37:41OK.
37:42I haven't been smoking it, so...
37:43No.
37:44What's that?
37:45Bit of tissue or something.
37:46Oh, green tissue.
37:47Yeah, nicked it from the petrol garage as a snot rag.
37:50Bit of green tissue as a bit of snot rag.
37:52Fair rumour.
37:53Delightful.
37:54Hopefully...
37:55And they say my job is glamorous, don't they?
37:58Yeah.
37:59I'm just going to pat down your legs, all right?
38:00So just bear with me.
38:01I absolutely hate feet.
38:03And it just seems that everybody hides stuff in their socks.
38:07And it's rank.
38:08Yeah, just stand there for us.
38:18OK.
38:19So at the moment I've got potentially some drugs that I found in your sock.
38:28Cool.
38:29Right, I found a wrapper of something brown in your sock.
38:32Yes.
38:33I'll be honest, I'm no drugs expert, but I'm pretty certain that that is a controlled class A substance.
38:38I don't think any of us relish arresting people, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't satisfying catching people out.
38:47That's the bit that I think most of us, yeah, really, really get off on, really, really like.
38:53I like the faux surprise that every time you find something on a drug search, they're like,
38:58Oh, I didn't know how that got there.
39:00Bloody hell.
39:01I thought I'd put it in the other sock.
39:03I stopped and searched somebody once because somebody had called in and said,
39:08I've seen this male on West Street and I think he's got a knife on him,
39:13just sort of down one side of his trousers.
39:15And it turned out to be a packet of ginger nut biscuits.
39:20Yeah, I'm keeping them.
39:21I let him keep them because it's not legal.
39:22I'm seizing these under the Jack is Hungry Act.
39:33Sussex, please, how can I help?
39:34My ex-wife has, uh, was going to come and collect my daughter who's sitting here waiting for her.
39:45She should have been here at least 40 minutes ago.
39:48She sent a set of odd texts and I'm concerned for her wellbeing.
39:55Are you worried she might have harmed herself?
39:58I am.
39:59She's been acting quite erratically lately.
40:05I think it's the fact that she was meant to pick up her little'un.
40:08Oh, here we are.
40:10There are court proceedings underway relating to divorce and this can be an emotional trigger.
40:15There we go.
40:16Erm, the fact that they've raised...
40:19He said that she sent a text message saying I love you...
40:22Yeah.
40:23..raises more of an issue because that must be something that's out of the norm.
40:26Yeah.
40:27Obviously, if they're separating...
40:28Yeah.
40:29..well, they're ex-partners, yeah.
40:31Maybe she doesn't want to get divorced.
40:34Well, not everybody does, do they?
40:38No.
40:47A lot of people at their crisis point,
40:49and they've reached, like, the absolute limit that they can take
40:52and then they get to a certain stage where they don't know who else to call.
40:59If you're worried enough about it, what they're saying,
41:03we don't want a person to harm themselves.
41:06We can help.
41:12Hello? Police?
41:13Hello, police?
41:17Hello, police?
41:18Hello, police?
41:20Oh, hello?
41:21Are you in here?
41:22No, we're not.
41:23Is it OK if we come in?
41:28Hello?
41:29Hello?
41:30Hello?
41:31It's all too much.
41:32OK.
41:33What's too much?
41:34What's too much?
41:35We often see a lot of relationship issues, lots of breakdowns in marriages,
41:49relationships between partners, the messy side of things.
41:55This is so impossible.
41:58I think it's difficult.
41:59I'm not necessarily an expert in any of it.
42:03Charlie Romeo 101.
42:04Just a quick update.
42:06She's basically saying that she's struggling with the divorce
42:08and everything that's happening at the moment.
42:11She's struggling, she can't cope,
42:13but we're just trying to speak with that further and see what we can sort out.
42:17I think sometimes speaking with police can help.
42:19We have to be able to get people to open up and try and understand where they're coming from
42:23and then offer them advice.
42:25And then, yeah, I guess sometimes it helps.
42:27The referrals that we can put into place,
42:29we can get somebody to come with or to talk to you,
42:32but things will get better.
42:34OK, keep that mind frame.
42:36I think get some sleep tonight.
42:38She's sort of a lot calmer now.
42:40We managed to speak with her,
42:42caught herself in a bit of a state
42:44and couldn't cope with everything that's going on.
42:46I explained that to her that, you know, obviously you were very worried.
42:52That's it.
42:53I mean, it's going to be a difficult process for the both of you,
42:55and I fully appreciate that it's not going to be easy,
42:59but, yeah, I mean, just maybe a chat would be probably the best thing.
43:04She's genuinely struggling.
43:06Yeah.
43:07Definitely.
43:08The whole process is just knocked on her arse, isn't it?
43:11Happy that she was awake and fine and...
43:15Yeah.
43:16..wasn't anything bad.
43:18I genuinely thought we were going to walk into...
43:21So did I.
43:22..something other than that.
43:23Yeah.
43:24Um...
43:26Yeah.
43:27Far.
43:28Hopefully she gets some support.
43:31All the time I've been in, mental health has been a huge issue,
43:37and it's always been something we've gone to,
43:39and it's always been something that's a struggle
43:41because we can't leave the risk,
43:44and it's trying to assess and do the best that we can,
43:48but really we're not the ones to be dealing with it.
43:50We shouldn't be dealing with it.
44:05I've been a police officer for two and a bit years now.
44:08It does change you completely.
44:10There are moments where you get to help someone
44:13or do something that makes a change somewhere,
44:15so, yeah, it's worth it.
44:17It's been so busy. We've been so busy.
44:20We've literally not stopped all night.
44:22I like the fact that I get to come to work and not just be mum.
44:26I want to be a good role model for my child.
44:28They're all in a very good mood, considering.
44:30There's a lot of morale here.
44:32I am so incredibly proud to do this job.
44:35We get the opportunity to do some things
44:37that are going to be helping people in their lives.
44:40That's what gets me going.
44:47You're not searching.
44:50This way!
44:55That's what it's like.
44:57Let's stand you up onto your feet.
45:00All right, lift your legs up ready.
45:01One, two, three.
45:02Up we go. Good man.
45:03Let's stand you up onto your feet, lift your legs up really, 1, 2, 3, up we go, good
45:16man.
45:17Yeah, that's a bit rough in the end.
45:35Alright, wait down the edge.
45:40Oh, the police crew, please, video these bitches for being a dumb cunt.
45:51Cheers, man.
45:52Fuck off!
45:53Get the fuck off you!
45:56How drunk is this man here?
45:58Ah, he's a lot.
45:59Yeah?
46:00Very impressive.
46:02Is that his blood?
46:05Yeah, there's quite a bit of blood.
46:09Oh no, oh no.
46:11Oh dear.
46:13Oh, fucks.
46:19Support information for the issues raised can be found online at channel4.com forward slash support.
46:26And Night Coppers returns in a few weeks.
46:28Up next tonight, Danny Dyer tries to get to the bottom of toxic masculinity and what it means to be male in 21st century Britain.
46:36How to be a man.
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47:01How to be a man.
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47:03How to be a man.
47:04How to be a man.
47:05How to be a man.

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