Fugitives

Original version

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Documentaries

Factual: Crime & Justice

Documentary series following police from across Europe as they track down wanted people.

Documentary series following police from several European countries as they track down wanted people.

BBC One West Midlands

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One London

London

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One North West

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Oxfordshire

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Paul Bown

Susie Phillips

Andrew Tait

Joe Mather

Louise Binding

Fugitives: Series 2: Episode 4

Episode 4

Series 2

BBC One - Fugitives, Series 2, Episode 4

Officers from Derby travel to Latvia to arrest a gang of people traffickers.

Extradition detectives in London search the capital for fugitives on the run from justice, and officers from Derby travel to Latvia to arrest a gang of people traffickers.

In February 2017, a desperate man walked into a Derby police station looking for help. His story indicated he was a victim of human trafficking and modern slavery, and Derbyshire Constabulary launched an investigation. They uncovered an organised gang trafficking slaves from Latvia to Derby. The victims would be put to work in legitimate jobs, and bank accounts opened in their name. The gang kept hold of the victims’ bank cards and details, and used their earnings to fund their own lifestyles. 

After six months of investigation, police raided half a dozen houses in Derby. They arrested six suspects, but five more had gone on the run. Amongst them were ringleaders Karens Pelcis and Madara Stromane. Police traced the money they had extorted, and discovered that most of it had found its way to Latvia. They would need to work with Latvian authorities to bring down the rest of the gang. After months of planning, police from Derby and Latvia carried out raids on luxury homes in a town outside the capital Riga. But nothing could have prepared the officers for what they would find.

The 'Costa del Crime' is a popular escape for criminals on the run and police there are often on the lookout for fugitives from the UK. One who came to their attention was Gareth Bryan Edwards. In 2014, Edwards and his accomplice robbed a pawnbrokers shop, wielding axes and threatening staff. They smashed their way into display cabinets, stealing more than £75,000 worth of jewellery and watches. Before he could be captured, he fled to Spain and became one of the UK’s most wanted criminals. It was only a matter of time before he was spotted, and arrested, by Spanish police in Benidorm.

And detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s extradition unit are carrying out a number of searches across the capital. DS Pete Rance and his team are searching for a murderer wanted for shooting a man dead in a drunken row in Latvia, a Romanian kidnapper who took a woman and her daughter hostage and two Moldovans convicted of counterfeiting.

Fugitives: Series 2

BBC One

Across Europe, Africa and the UK, detectives track down people fleeing from justice.

For police forces around the world, the hunt for fugitives never stops. Across Europe, Africa and the UK, detectives track down men and women fleeing from justice.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Fugitives

Series 2

Episode 4

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

About BBC Two