Stephen Nolan and officers from the PSNI speak about the filming of Peelers: The PSNI For Real

Stephen Nolan

What is the background to your new series Peelers: The PSNI For Real?

For the past two years, I’ve been with a team of PSNI officers as they tackled drug dealers, chased stolen cars and dealt with hostile crowds. I needed to see the real job of being a cop for myself, but nothing prepared me for what it really involves.

These officers, often young, are making split second decisions that would take some of the rest of us months to think about and get right. It was a fascinating experience, full of unexpected moments and often exhausting as well.”

Over two years of filming, do any moments standout?

I'll never forget racing to the scene of a large and volatile crowd, who were demanding that a convicted sex offender to be driven out of his home. Within minutes of arrival, the peelers were containing the crowd and creating a strategy to deal with what was happening all around them – getting the man out of his home safely without making a difficult situation even worse. They successfully defused the situation and the man was escorted away, but then it was quickly on to the next job for the police officers involved.

What are the some of the main issues you saw the PSNI dealing with?

We know that some people on our streets are struggling with addiction issues. I got to see how police officers are on the front line of dealing with them and their harmful effects. It’s a time consuming and sometimes risky business. And it reflects problems within society that the police find themselves trying to contain. Seeing up close how drugs misuse can ravage human beings meant I had even less sympathy for the drug dealers - some of whom I saw busted - and the amount of time and money that needs to be spent dealing with their criminality.

Then there was the mother who was drunk at the wheel of the car she had just crashed, the attacks on police, raids on drug dens and the relentless pursuit of people who are causing harm to themselves – and putting others at risk.

You spend a lot of your time in radio studios, how did you find being out an about with the PSNI for all that time?

I never quite got so used to spending 12 hour shifts in the back of a police car, meaning that I would sometimes fall asleep while the peelers were racing, with their blue lights flashing, to the next incident.

What would you like audiences to take from the series?

We expect an awful lot from these officers and need to have a community-wide conversation about the issues that they are having to deal with and what their roles could involve – something that I hope this series will help to inform.

You've got to see real life policing to properly understand it and that’s what Peelers aims to do.

What did you learn from the police officers who feature in the series?

One thing struck me time and again as I watched officers going about their work and got to know more about them. We want and need the police to be at the heart of our communities, but many of officers feel the need to move away from where they grew up because of the risks that still come with being a member of the PSNI. That strikes me as something that needs to be addressed by everyone if we want to make policing better everywhere and for it to be more representative of all communities, including people from working class areas.

And some of the biggest issues that the police face on an everyday basis aren’t about our traditional divides, they are about theft, drug dealing, domestic violence and keeping people safe on the streets and in their homes.

After two years of filming, how does it feel to be bringing the series to BBC audiences across the UK?

Filming Peelers was an unforgettable roller-coaster of emotions and experiences. It has changed my understanding of what being a police officer actually involves and set me thinking about all that I’ve seen and heard.

I’m looking forward to the conversations that we’ll be having about Peelers on the BBC and hope that it sheds new light on the work of the PSNI and what officers are asked to do on behalf of the whole community.

How would you sum the series up?

Peelers is about modern-day policing and everything that it involves 24/7. It’s sometimes dramatic and often intense. And much of what takes place during any shift can be totally unexpected.

Meet the officers from Peelers: PSNI For Real

Constable Adam

I am passionate about changing the perception of policing in Northern Ireland so that all communities feel that they can trust the service and have access to a service that works for them. Helping those who are at their lowest or in their hardest times is a privilege.

I wanted to give some perspective to the role, particularly as a probationer starting from a different career. I am passionate about my role in the police and enjoyed the opportunity to speak about its benefits and challenges.

Constable Jade

I wanted people to see what frontline policing is really like, not just the high profile incidents, [but] the everyday moments too. There is a lot of misunderstanding of what we do and I saw this as a chance to show the human side of the job, the pressures, the decisions and the impact it has on us and our community.

Sergeant Nigel

I saw the project as an opportunity to be part of something that would be influential in shaping the future of the organisation.

I believed this was a chance to use my role as a platform to inspire change and encourage people inside and outside the job to reflect on what policing is and what it’s about.

Constable Anna

I wanted to take part in the series to highlight the work of police and the challenging circumstances that we face, to give the public an insight into the realities of it and encourage their support for frontline policing.

Sergeant Dave

I chose to do the Peelers series as I am passionate about showing the human and humane side of policing, but also because I wanted to give an honest account of what policing is really like.

I think it’s important for police to break down barriers where possible and I found this as an excellent opportunity to do that.

I have no doubt I will take a fair bit of stick from my colleagues, some of which is undoubtedly deserved, however, I hope people will see what we deal with on a daily basis and gain a wider understanding of what policing is like.

Constable Perri

By participating in this series I wanted to showcase proactive policing and the areas that effect everyone in day to day life and the problems officers face that people may not be aware of.

Sergeant Tom

I was keen to participate in this project as it presents an opportunity to humanise police officers, who are often unfairly generalised and judged as a collective.

By offering an authentic insight into the realities of policing, the project will hopefully foster greater public understanding and confidence in the police service. It also allows for a more accurate and balanced reflection of the diverse range of work that we do and the responsibilities that we carry in serving our communities.

I saw that this afforded us the chance to do something that has not been done before in Northern Ireland. I relished the challenge and hope that it will encourage other officers to take part in this project and illustrate the diverse range of officers that work for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

I have made great memories and new friends during this project.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, says: “This series will showcase the work of our frontline officers and what they are doing everyday across Northern Ireland to keep communities safe. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and courage shown by our officers throughout this eye opening series.

“It’s a true reflection of what our officers have to deal with, showcasing the professionalism, resilience and humanity that our officers bring to some of the most challenging situations in society.

“I very much promote the need for openness and transparency in policing and this programme demonstrates that determination."

Find out more about the programme here.

For previews and requests email maria.devenny@bbc.co.uk

Watch the first episode of Peelers: The PSNI for real on BBC One Monday, 27 April at 10.40pm and on iPlayer.

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