{"id":13770,"date":"2016-12-13T20:28:42","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T20:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=13770"},"modified":"2016-12-13T20:28:42","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T20:28:42","slug":"from-the-other-side-whats-it-really-like-to-be-on-traffic-cops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/from-the-other-side-whats-it-really-like-to-be-on-traffic-cops\/","title":{"rendered":"From The Other Side: What\u2019s it really like to be on Traffic Cops?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How quickly life can change\u2026<\/h2>\n

Reporter: Ryan Elliott | Sub-Editor: Alex Clement<\/h3>\n
\"Credit:

Credit: Cloudinary<\/p><\/div>\n

Since it first aired on The BBC back in 2003, Traffic Cops UK has gone on to assert itself as a popular late night British turn-to show. Albeit, we don\u2019t lose sleep in the run-up to the release of a new series, but if there\u2019s nothing else on, it\u2019s always there. Now into its 14th<\/sup> series \u2013 the show\u2019s focus is simple, yet satisfying to watch. Camera crews follow police in their pursuit of criminals around The United Kingdom, leading to some outrageous footage. We\u2019ve seen drink drivers, hit-and-runners and more than a fair share of other law breakers over the years, but the question stands \u2013 what is it actually like to be the antagonist in this situation? We caught up with a young man (who asked to remain anonymous to save face and avoid further issues) that had faced conviction following his arrest on an episode of Traffic Cops, and found out just how life-changing these shows can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirstly, you have no idea it\u2019s coming of course,\u201d<\/em> The 23-year-old said. \u201cI\u2019d picked up a grand\u2019s worth of weed from Leeds to sell and was on my way back to Harrogate late one night. We were always careful, but we never expected anything to actually happen. I was 19 at the time, and had it all stashed under the bonnet of my car in small bags.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d realised after a while that I was being followed. At this point I didn\u2019t know it was the police, but knew somebody was following me home. Me and my mate thought it would be best to drive somewhere where we could stop and see what was going on, and our local ASDA had a huge underground car park, so we headed there, which ended up being a huge mistake obviously.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

What happened next changed the now-former-drug dealer\u2019s life forever. As he explained, the presence of these events \u2013 particularly with a camera crew alongside \u2013 can be overwhelming. He told us:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe car that had been following us pulled up, and before we knew it, at least six other police cars and a van came flying in and boxed us into our parking space. I remember my stomach just dropping, and when they asked me to get out of the car \u2013 that\u2019s when I noticed the cameras. There must\u2019ve been about 20 people with all the police and people filming, and I knew we were in a whole world of s**t.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Credit:

Credit: BBC<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t actually find anything at first, and you\u2019d think that\u2019d fill you with hope, but the whole area stank of weed when they popped the bonnet. It was so obvious. They brought the dogs in [to sniff out any illegal substances], and within seconds they were starting to find baggies. I knew I was f**ked, but had no idea what all the cameras were for. They didn\u2019t tell us at the time it was for Traffic Cops, and since I was charged I had no say in whether my face was blurred which was awful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The anonymous man was charged with possession with intent to supply, and though he escaped jail time, he was given a suspended sentence and had close-to-no privacy from that moment onwards \u2013 with police making close-to-daily check-ups. He reluctantly decided not to tell his boss, as he was working part-time for a large retailer at the time and did not want to lose his now-only method of income \u2013 a decision that would come back to bite him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI obviously found out later on what was happening,\u201d<\/em> He said. \u201cMy mate wasn\u2019t charged and was actually allowed his face blurred, but I knew eventually I would be on television. Nearly a year later, I came downstairs for breakfast and my dad said, \u2018Today\u2019s the day\u2019, and slammed the local paper on the table. The episode of Traffic Cops that had just aired was in there, and my face and name was in it!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI took the gamble and wondered how many people actually still read the paper, but by the time I got into work, someone had left a copy of it on my boss\u2019 desk. He looked at me and said, \u2018I think this is a subtle way of saying you\u2019re a drug dealer!\u2019 Thankfully I somehow kept my job after plenty of begging and grovelling, and I\u2019m now there full time.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously if I could go back I would change things. It would be tricky for me now to get another decent job with a criminal record, and for a good few months I couldn\u2019t go anywhere without the police stopping me to check my car or see what I was up to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As mentioned, the now-23-year-old managed to keep his job, and has put a life of crime behind him. In spite of this, the effects of the show still linger \u2013 with him admitting his parents wanted to sell their house at one stage, and a lot of family would not actually talk to him whatsoever. With all that said, the message is clear \u2013 don\u2019t sell drugs, kids!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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