1 (DOOR SLAMS) (DOG BARKS) All right, get out! Get out! Protecting us from crime nationwide. You can go. (MAN GROANS) (BLEEP) (INDISTINCT RT CHATTER) This way! For the more than 1700 female police officers,... We'll be here all day. ...every day brings them face-to-face with danger. (MAN SHOUTS) Can you just show some respect, please? These streets are tough,... Don't tell people you're gonna kill 'em, then. ...so they need to be tougher. RT: People running for their lives. (BLEEP)! Police dog handler. Come out now! They reckon there might be kids in there. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) What about those backpackers? They're having a good little session there. Stay here, mate. So, what a mess. The mayor's been sent a white substance. (LAUGHS) (WHINES) 'I don't wanna be clean!' (ROCK MUSIC) Auckland City centre. A melting pot for all kinds of people. By day it's lawyers, accountants, bankers. But by night... (MAN SHOUTS) So, you see a lot of, um, cigarettes and smoking and, uh` Oh my goodness. Look at that guy. What's he, sort of, doing there? One of the people charged with making sure this behaviour doesn't get out of hand is Constable Bridget Suckling. MALE OFFICER: Myers Park? Yeah, let's do Myers Park. Have we still got the camera on that statue? Or is it...? So, one of our assets in Auckland is the District Command Centre. It has all the cameras, uh, come in or feed in to it, and so they can watch what's happening round the city. And as a prevention tool, it really is, um, so good. Might be` What about those backpackers just there? They're having a good little session there. MALE: Yeah. There you go. There's some drinking going on there. Yeah. Yeah. Looks like we're good to go. Got some good intel, so we're, um, ready to go up there and see what we can find. Hey, well, uh, they're not there now. So, um, Constable Rain has come and rained them away. The backpackers may have run for cover, but it's not long before Bridget spies some other public drinkers. Hi, guys. GIRL: Hi. Have you got some ID on you? No, I haven't` How old are you guys? 18. 18. And...? GIRL: 18. 18? You must have some ID on you to get into the bars, then. We haven't been into any bars. Passport, please? As I drove through, I could see that they were drinking alcohol in a public place. And they looked really young. Passports. ID. And yours, mate? I don't have mine, sorry. You must have ID. Come on. Come on. Otherwise a $250 fine at the moment for drinking alcohol in the city. Oh, well, I'm not drinking in a public place. Yeah. No. But` I know that. Yeah. Yeah. (BOTTLE CLANGS) Oh dear, what was that one? Uh, that was another beer. (LAUGHS) No, that was, um, what you probably are drinking. That was the Smirnoff. (LAUGHS) No, no, no. No, I swear on my life I haven't drunken anything in public at all. Next you'll be swearing on your grandmother's grave. I swear on my grandmother's grave I have not drunken anything in public. While one of the girls is willing to throw Granny under the bus, the other one on the left comes to her senses and fesses up. Right. So you're not (BLEEP)? No. No. So you did lie? Yes. She also agrees to give Bridget her mum's phone number. I'm just talking to (BLEEP) in the city, and I wanted to make sure that you knew that she would be in the city tonight. Mum has no idea of their Saturday night outing, as they were meant to be at Dad's. She's concerned for their safety and is on her way to pick them up. First and foremost is this is someone's kid. It's not like we're in a club illegally. And that mother or father or parents at home are probably thinking they're somewhere else and that they're certainly not on the streets of Auckland and they're certainly not intoxicated. And they will want to know where their child is, whatever time in the morning it is. And you know when you ring those parents and they drive into the city to get their kids, you know their kids are probably going to be just fine. It's the parents that never really care or worry. That's the kids that are probably going to be not that taken care of. Where's that after-party? MALE: I'm going to tell you what's happening, (BLEEP). GIRL: Well, you know (BLEEP). What is happening, (BLEEP), is you're going to receive an infrginment notice. Where's that after-party? Not responding to the name on the passport is a dead giveaway that this girl isn't telling Bridget the whole truth. You guys need to tell the truth. What's going on? No. Cos you're (BLEEP), and, (BLEEP), you're saying to your mum that you're with (BLEEP). Even with mum on the way,... Just stay here, mate. ...the friend seems to be a little bit tippy to be thinking clearly. Her girlfriend was saying that she was (BLEEP), and I held it up, and she looked quite similar. But they were just too nervous and, I was like, 'OK, well, uh, let's have a look at her phone number.' 'What's your home phone number? What's your address?' So, in 2014, which was last year, where were you living? In Mt Eden. No. OK. So who's` Who are you really? What's your real name? It just took ages of grafting, though, to get the truth out of her. And finally she admitted that, um, she was who she was. You don't have your ID on you? No, I don't. So whose passport's that? That's (BLEEP). Yeah. So who are you? (BLEEP). (SIGHS) So why didn't you say you were (BLEEP) for so long? But I said` I said I was (BLEEP). No, you didn't, mate. Yes, I did. No. I said I was with (BLEEP). (CHUCKLES) Hello. WOMAN: Hello. How are you? Bridget. All I wanted to make sure is that someone came in and that they were safe,... Yep. Absolutely. ...which we've done. And I spoke to (BLEEP). I mean, she` um, she's got a bit of alcohol on board now. But tomorrow morning, I just said have a chat about lowering the amount of alcohol. Cos three RTD's... Absolutely. Cos they're lightweights, aren't they? ...are, like, six standard drinks. Yeah? Yeah. Is that right, yeah? Yep. Yeah, there's 2.1 in there. With Mum playing cab driver for the girls and their friend, the story is ending well for Bridget. Good result, because they're both 17-years-old, they've both been drinking, and they're both going to be at risk in the city. 17 years old, your brain is still developing. You add, um` You start taking risks, you add alcohol into the factor, and they are one of our at-risk people. As well as keeping a tight rein over Auckland's bars and clubs, Bridget also keeps a close eye on liquor stores, making sure alcohol isn't being sold to minors. Today she's got a special operation under way. I'll just get some details from you two. So, today we're going to do what's called a controlled purchase operation, which is when we send minors into, um, off-licences and on-licences. And you got a sale last time on your student ID, didn't you? Yeah. I got two` On your school ID? Yeah. Two on my student ID. That's unbelievable, isn't it? The 16-year-old girl is using her real ID. And with each door she goes in to test, Bridget is always close by. They say that they won't sell to minors. Well, actually, we're going to test you and make sure you're doing everything in your power not to sell to a minor. Yeah. And then they're going to know today's date and time. So they're going to do` say, 'Yep, you are of age, and, yes, this photo is you, 'and, yes, this is a genuine driver's licence, and I'm going to sell this alcohol to you.' I saw her checking. That was good, wasn't it? Yeah. Gotta be happy with that, really. So that's seven and no sales. So, I was like, 'This is going to be great. I haven't had a text from the other team, 'which means they haven't had a sale.' And we haven't had a sale, and I thought, 'Could this be the one? Could this be the one?' MALE OFFICER: I see she got a sale. Yeah, she got a sale. Nah. It wasn't` wasn't to be. Now, when I've arrived, um, he pretty much knew that they had sold to a minor. What he did say ` and I never said how old she was ` he said, 'Oh, I saw that it said 1999, but I thought it said 1997.' So that in itself is like, 'Well, actually, how did you know that it was 1999, her date of birth?' It's a big blow for Bridget. Not only did she have a catch, but the other team involved in the same operation clocked up three, including a supermarket. That's disappointed Bridget in more ways than just the illegal sale. When I walked into that supermarket and saw that huge pallet of Corona not in their single alcohol sale area... But this was a supermarket that is supposed to be community focused, and you walk through where the trolleys go, and there was a massive pallet of Corona. Children shouldn't be more familiar with alcohol labels than the grocery items. You wonder. You really wonder. Is the profit worth that? With a St John Medical Alarm, you have the confidence to enjoy living at home. If there's an emergency, you can press the button and it connects directly with St John, who'll know exactly what's needed, from reassuring advice... to dispatching the right help for your situation. It feels like having St John right here in your own home. Call 0800 50 23 23 and find out about a free trial. 1 In Rotorua, trainee detective Constable Melissa-Mae Ruru is heading out on the investigation of a suspicious fire. It was my first arson here today. So, again, just learning off other colleagues. So, what a mess. Melissa has been in the police for eight years. Recently she moved to the Criminal Investigation Branch and is studying to become a detective. When you arrive, the fire's been contained. Safety has been ensured. What's the` the police process from when you arrive? What goes through your head? The most important thing? Probably the most important thing is try not to be focused on the fire. That's the fire service's job. Once the fire's out, that's when we're going in, so you're looking at the surrounding areas. Looking at who's there, and why are they there? To become a detective, you gotta do a lot of study, and you learn a lot. The fire's probably started down there. Yep. Is it the depth of the chain from the deck... Yeah, that's where the deck was. ...as opposed to other parts of the classroom? You have to do so many exams. I found that really challenging, like, being back at school. So, that took me a while to get used to. From a young age, Melissa always pictured herself becoming a policewoman, in spite of others seeing her ambition as more of a pipe dream. When I was at school, I had a lot of teachers say to me that I wouldn't succeed in life because of my academic level. But that, kind of, helped me a lot, because I thought, 'Oh, bugger this,' you know? 'I'm` I am going to be someone.' I think that's kind of helped me. Like, it kinda triggers my memory now as an adult. She may have struggled with the books, but when it comes to sport, Melissa is at the top of her game. I'm in the New Zealand beach volleyball squad at the moment. I've represented New Zealand in beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and netball,... and also swum competitively at a national level. As well as all of this, she also finds time to box. In my sport, I'm very competitive, and I think that influences a lot on my academic. Um, I always wanna challenge myself, always wanna pass. I always want to be the best that I can be. But I don't mind about anyone else ` like, I'm not trying to beat anyone in academic scores, cos that's just not going to happen. But to be able to be myself and be the best I can be, that's why I keep going. After visiting the arson scene, Melissa is now compiling evidence back at the station. Arson is` it's a big offence. So, two massive classrooms were burnt out completely, so, it's a` it's a high priority today. Yeah. While arson is a high priority, a call comes in which poses an immediate threat, meaning the arson investigation is put to the side for the time being. The mayor's been given` um, been sent a white substance, so we're just going to head off there in a quick-smart hurry just to, um` to test it and make sure it's not dangerous or, you know, if we can identify it before, um, it gets destroyed or anything like that. So... (JACKET ZIPS) let's go. The Rotorua District Council is just a stone's throw away from the police station. Once inside, she goes to safely secure the suspicious package. So, what's happened is the fire guys have secured the package for us. So we've double-bagged it, and we're gonna take it to Analysis. It's a big operation for Fire and Police. Everyone who's come into contact with the package is forced to have a mandatory hose down in the front car park. Cos we don't know what the white substance is. It may be drugs. We don't know. So that's the reason why the fire guys have taken precautions. It's better to be safer than sorry. And it's` it's a serious situation. Just pretty much just wanna know what you did. That's all. So once we secured the package, we got a few lines off the staff members that were inside the room where the package was opened just to get a, uh, initial of what happened when they first opened the package. That's really important to us ` what they touched, what they didn't touch ` so we can be forensically aware and then move enquiries from here. So, you got all the girls' names? Yeah, got all the girls' names. And got kinda what's happened. Yep. I haven't been in this situation before. I was lucky enough I had a senior detective with me who guided me through the way. But, so, I'm always learning on every different job. Like, two hours ago, I was doing the arson file, and now we're here trying to identify an unknown white substance that was sent from an unknown person. And that's` that's what I enjoy. I enjoy putting that puzzle together, and I'll` and I'll do that today. Thankfully, the results showed that the substance was non-toxic ` a huge relief for Melissa and everyone involved. I wanna be a detective because I wanna be the best I can be. It's like winning a gold medal (LAUGHS) on a netball court or a beach volleyball court. You get that gold, and the detective badge is gold, so... Not that I like the colour or anything, but I just` I enjoy being the best that I` I can personally be. And I think, for me, that is to be a detective. Yeah. 1 In the Hutt Valley, it's been a quiet night for Sr Const Sue Burridge and her dog, Hades. With no call-outs for Hades to track, she's gone to assist other units... I just thought if we s` sat back here that they'd do them. ...at an area famous for illegal burnouts. Oh, this car's got no light on. We can be called to jobs and not necessarily use Hades. I can go to jobs just to back up the front-line officers and just help out as an officer myself. You been doing burnouts on the dirt, mate? Eh? Oh nah, it's just a muddy car ` came from a farm. (BOTH LAUGH) That is the biggest load of tripe. I bet you've never pulled over one of these before. A Rover? I was actually thinking the exact same thing. I` Youse didn't know what it was, eh? We thought it was a farm vehicle cos it had so much mud on it. If I go and check down the riverbank, what am I gonna find? I dunno. Nothing really. It dug up everywhere? Yeah. (LAUGHS) The young man may have passed the breath test, but with no rego, a dodgy, handmade WOF... It's just` It's a fake one. ...and not even a learner's licence to show for himself, he's looking at a long list of fines costing more than the price of his Rover farm car. (LAUGHS) Yeah, cos you don't have a licence. Well, that's $100. And driving without a licence is $400, mate. So you probably wish you did have a learner's. He may have a truckload of fines, but at least the young man's leaving in good spirits. And his quick wit seems to have brightened up Sue's night too. Awesome excuse. That's the flashest farm car I've seen. (LAUGHS) (SIREN WAILS) (UPBEAT MUSIC) Hades may have missed out on the catch last night, but today Sue's focus is all on him. Oh, Hades will look beautiful tomorrow. Man, he hates being bathed, eh? It's bath time at Wellington Police dog base. Come. Come. Hades does not like being a clean dog at all. If you take him into the kennels, he's fine, and as soon as he realises that the bathwater's going in, he turns into a dog that's not happy. (WHINES) (LAUGHS) The ears go down, the tail goes down, and he starts whining. (WHINES) (LAUGHS) 'I don't wanna be clean!' Stay. (HOWLS) Oh God, it's terrible (!) He's pathetic. (LAUGHS) Yet if the river was dirty, he'd be quite happy to jump in that and not look back. This is the massaging section of it. He's just pathetic. (LAUGHS) I guess if you start` Like anything, if you start them off early, it's, um,... they get used to it a lot quicker. But, I mean, as I didn't have him from a pup, I don't know what he was like. Hades is Sue's second certified dog in her career as a police dog handler. Awww. Come on. My first dog was called Demon, and I worked him for five and a half years. We worked together on the Armed Offenders Squad for nearly four years. He was very different to Hades. He was probably a lot quieter and a lot more serious, If I could give him human qualities. Hades, he's mischief. In Wainuiomata, Sue and Hades have been called to a burglary at a superette. The offenders were seen running off down the road, damaging cars along the way. Outside the superette, Hades is quickly able to pick up the scent. The track leads Sue and Hades directly to a man Frontline have already been talking to, slightly sceptical of his 2am late-night stroll. Haven't even been up that way since (BLEEP). Where'd you come from? Where'd you come from? I come from that way. Yeah. Same way we've just come, eh? The man may think he can weasel out of these crimes, but with Sue and Hades' track from the superette and eye-witnesses,... What was he wearing? Um, he was wearing a red Mongrel Mob... ...sweatshirt? Tall? Skinny? Yeah, yeah. He was tall. Uh, he had a beery gut. ...unless Santa's left his run a little late in Wainuiomata, it's clear to see that this guy's the man they're after. (BLEEP) you! This is, yeah, why I joined the dog ` to track and catch bad guys. I've always wanted to join the police. When I was at primary school, we had to do an autobiography, and in my job description, I put 'police dog handler.' So, I don't know what or why I did that, but, yeah, I guess it's` it's been something in the back of my mind for a long time. (HADES LAPS WATER) We both deserve a drink. (LAUGHS) I don't think chasing bad guys and doing my job will ever become boring. It's not a job. It's a way of life. I'm lucky I get to live my dream. No. That's not what I said. But it's what you meant. Just type what I say.