Bedfordshire Police returns to screens in '24 Hours in Police Custody'

In a brand-new two-part special that begins on Channel 4 this Sunday (30 August)

24 Hours in Police Custody returns to screens with a double bill that follows Bedfordshire Police's four-year fight for justice after a teenager was left for dead in Luton.

In a brand-new two-part special that begins on Channel 4 this Sunday (30 August), 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Ambush follows detectives from the force's Criminal Investigation Department as they work to establish the events that led to a teenage boy being left for dead under a railway bridge in Luton.

Initially reported as a hit-and-run in the early hours of Thursday 2 June 2022, officers discover an unidentified teenage boy in a critical condition - but are his injuries consistent with a road traffic collision?

In an investigation that remains ongoing, detectives leave no stone unturned as they work not only to identify those responsible for the boy's injuries, but the boy himself.

Featuring familiar faces from earlier episodes of the award-winning series, the latest instalment highlights the common link between drugs, violence and exploitation.

Tom Hamm, a former Detective Sergeant for Bedfordshire Police who led the investigation, said: “This was an incredibly complex and emotive investigation, both from a personal and professional perspective.

“Sadly, what this case revealed is a fact that came up time and time again in my career as a police officer and later a detective – where there is illegal drug activity there is inevitably violence and exploitation of every kind.

“Whether that is young boys sent miles from home with a backpack and a burner phone, serious youth violence or vulnerable women entrapped in on-street sexual exploitation, drugs are almost always at the centre of it all. That’s what this episode showcases and what 24 Hours in Police Custody does as a whole, it offers unprecedented insight into the challenges and crimes Bedfordshire Police face on a daily basis.

“My hope is that viewers watch the show, not to be entertained but to be educated on the topics the documentary covers.”

Despite extensive enquiries a number of offenders remain outstanding.

“Ultimately this case isn’t closed,” Tom continued.

“So my plea to the public on behalf of my colleagues who remain in force is this: if you know anything about this incident or have information on the outstanding offenders, now is the time to speak up.

“It has been four years, I’ve no doubt that those involved will have spoken about this and someone out there knows exactly what took place. I urge you to speak to the police or report completely anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

Bedfordshire Police is committed to tackling exploitation linked to the illegal drug trade. Through the its Lost Boys campaign and Not My Child events, the force is educating young people and parents on the signs of exploitation and the devastating impact it has on families and wider communities.