Ep 5. Episode 5

999: What's Your Emergency? is a British documentary television series that takes an in-depth look at the work of the emergency services in Catford, south-east London. In season 1 episode 5, the episode follows the efforts of the Metropolitan Police as they deal with the growing issue of knife crime in the area.

The episode opens with emergency calls coming in reporting a young man being stabbed in broad daylight in a busy high street. The police arrive on the scene to investigate the crime and begin gathering witness statements. The attack is just one of many that have taken place in the area recently, and the police are keen to apprehend the offender before any more attacks occur.

The episode then turns to follow two specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police's Violent Crime Task Force, who are on a mission to catch those responsible for carrying and using knives. The officers use intelligence gathered from various sources to identify the most high-risk individuals in the area. They then carry out a series of stop and search operations on suspects, using handheld metal detectors to detect the presence of knives.

The episode also highlights the impact of knife crime on the local community. It shows the devastating effect that knife attacks can have on victims and their families and the strain that it places on the emergency services. The show interviews family members of a young man who was killed in a knife attack several years ago. They talk about the pain of losing a loved one and their hope that action will be taken to prevent more deaths from occurring.

The programme also examines some of the root causes of knife crime. It explores the complex social and economic factors that can lead young people to carry knives, including issues such as poverty, lack of opportunities and gang culture. The show interviews a young man who admits to carrying a knife for protection and discusses the fear of violence that many young people in the area face on a daily basis.

The episode concludes with the police making several arrests following their stop and search operations. The suspects are taken into custody and charged with carrying knives. The episode closes with a reminder of the importance of tackling knife crime and the impact that it has on communities across the UK.

In summary, season 1 episode 5 of 999: What's Your Emergency? provides a sobering look at the impact of knife crime on a local community and the efforts of the emergency services to tackle the issue. It offers an insight into the complex challenges faced by the police in trying to prevent violence and highlights the need for a more joined-up approach to addressing the root causes of crime.