Peacekeepers in Bosnia. The British Army has been here for more than a decade through one of the bloodiest civil wars of the last century. They are part of the multinational NATO force S4. Their job to stop a new outbreak of war. Every 6 months, a fresh regiment arrives. >> For the first time, the British army has allowed cameras to follow its Bosnian peacekeepers in action. Today, the light draons are trying to trace a Serbian war criminal. >> I WILL RELEASE MY DOG. WHO'S SIR? >> Guarding the British base, the dogs that kill >> and chips with everything. Catering for the British army in Bosnia. One of the key tasks of the army here is intelligence gathering, talking to as many people as possible on the ground. Intelligence work is mainly the job of small teams of soldiers based away from the main base in troop houses like sea squadron of the light draons. Excellent. >> Right. As you know, Dicki, leave from me here. >> One road to Oro, get to Orova. We'll park up in that squirts on the left hand side. It's like a bit of a waste ground. That small little crappy cafe there. >> We'll just park up there. >> Wonder up and see that um Serb shopkeeper. Sean, where where you actually going? We >> went to Oroa. It's a Muslim village um to the west of this area. >> And what about the area in general around here? How would you say it was? >> Well, for um threats against S4 and threats against a safe, secure environment. There's none of that sort of thing, but there is a lot of criminality. So, um people get stabbed. Um there might be shootings and things or shooting into the air, but it's all to do with criminals and gangs. >> It's present patrol in the town to show them our presence. So, we're still here. Make sure everyone's happy. build the confidence with the S4 that that it's already got just to maintain that confidence. And we've got a few contacts in the town, people who like talking to us. We'll just find out if they got any problems, you know, any little snippets they need to tell us information wise. [Applause] Today, the light draons in their sim tanks are off to the village of Ourova where they've been told there's a Serbian shop assistant who has the same name as a police officer who is wanted for war crimes. The area they drive through is predominantly Muslim. There was considerable fighting here during the Civil War, and many of the original residents were forced to flee. A few Serbs still remain in the area. For the men of the Light Draons, this is their patch, and it's their job to know absolutely everything that's going on. As they arrive in Orohova, they head straight for one of the shops where they've been told the man they're looking for works part-time. Banya Luca in northern Bosnia, the main base for the British peacekeepers. It also houses the other contingents of S4, Canadian and Dutch soldiers. Guarding the base against unwanted intruders is the job of the British troops and their specially trained attack dogs. >> S4 Hulk or I WILL RELEASE MY DOG. STOP. >> Boss is one of 12 highly trained dogs on the base. Some are sniffer dogs for hunting explosives, but boss a rotiler is one of the security dogs. At night, they patrol the base with their handlers. To keep them at a high state of readiness, they're constantly trained on base by the army's specialist dog handling unit. >> STAND STILL. LEAVE. BOS, thus stand still. Leave. Then I would arrest him. for whichever offense he's committing. And then I would search, maybe he's got a weapon, I would search him then, see if he's carrying a weapon. Um, and then I would escort him back to the uh guard room so that they can deal with him properly. Yeah. And treat any injuries he might have. [Applause] Our job is to patrol uh the per perimeters of the fence uh around the camp and uh that is where mainly the intruders will you know possibly come over the fence. So our job is to to ensure that they don't >> Why would they be intruding? >> Well, they they there's all sorts of reasons. They they pinch fuel, um ammunition, just food, anything they can really get their hands on. Parts for cars, parts for vehicles, anything. >> Back in Oro, the light draons are trying to trace a Serbian war criminal. He has the same name as this shopkeeper's assistant. >> Do you get any problems as a Serb? He was born. So he know he knows all the people from this village. So he has never had a problem with the Muslims and he has never had a problem because he stayed in this village of >> because they they know each other. >> Yeah. Good. >> And my friends they don't even know they do know him but they know also his father his grandfather. So yeah, headquarters want us to ask these questions. It is normal thing to to ask. >> All right. I'm glad you think it's normal. >> The main thing is that they don't have any really big issues or big problems out here. >> Excellent. One last question before I go. Is not still here? No, he's not. He works half starting half too. So, >> does he work here every day? >> Yeah, >> except except the Saturday when he's having a day off. >> Oh, that's good. We checked his name on his computer. He's got the same name as a policeman in the same person. No, he's originally born in he told us that before. Maybe they've got some family or >> Yeah. No, it's the same surname. Probably they don't know each other. It happens all over the world. So, >> yeah. >> Okay. Thanks very much for that. >> Shawn is reassured that the shop assistant is not the same person as the wanted man. The patrol continues. The troops will see if their local contacts have any information for them. [Music] >> Back at the main base, Boss, one of the 12 guard dogs, has finished his training for the day. >> This dog is quality. If you go within five yards of him, he's he'll have you because he's he's so he's so handler protective, his his boss that if you if you walk within 5 yards of him, even me and I I work I I know him very very well. I've known him for about 8 months. If you go within 5 yards, he he'll have you. >> Boss's handler, Vinnie, has only been working with him for 4 weeks. He's a scary looking dog, but um I gave him a handful of food and then, you know, bonded with him, took him out, threw his toy for him, wrestle with him, you know, sit in his cage with him, read a book in there with him, you know, so he gets used to me, I get used to him, and now he Yeah. Best of Buddies. >> I've been doing this since uh since May. It's It's a It's really fulfilling job. I really enjoy it. >> And have you done it before? >> I've never done it before. Oh, no. I've never worked with dogs. >> You never worked with dogs? >> Never worked with dogs before. Have their own at home. It's But totally different to having one that can attack and be a security side of things because they they bark and they show the teeth and people think that, oh, crack is going to bite me. They'll bite you on the words of command. That's that's the job. They will they work off our words of command. When we tell them to buy, they will they will go. >> In Oro, the intelligence gathering continues. >> I don't get bored doing this cuz you always meet new people and if you try and break the ice and have a joke with them, it's quite good. But I do get bored when they ask you stupid questions or you ask you have to ask them stupid questions like where's the Muslim enclave and they're all Muslims. The soldiers have to take an interest in every aspect of town life in case they come across anything suspicious. Sha wonders why one of the mosques is being rebuilt when the town already has two if they were crushed. So they don't mind either religious or other. I'm not saying anything about the religion. I just wonder why there was three mosques. But they do have they do have some more people from this village who stayed who stayed outside who were given some sort of status of citizenship in Austria, Germany, Sweden. So >> they're intending to come back in here in in in the future. So that's why they're building or rebuilding the mosque. >> So the third mosque will cater for Muslims returning to the area now that peace has been restored. So far, the troops have found nothing unusual in Orahova, and they're pleased that they've been able to present a friendly face to the locals. [Laughter] After the break, the attack dog that's forgotten how to attack. And there's no such thing as a free lunch. Or is there? >> Considering we don't have to pay for it, it's not bad. Back at the British Army's main base in Bosnia, the attack dogs have finished their morning's training and it's lunchtime. >> They're fed on par with the with the soldiers. The their food's very nutritious. It's um it's got steak additives. >> It's lunchtime for the dog handlers, too. And a chance to choose between the nutritious and the not so healthy. The British soldiers are free to mix with their Dutch and Canadian colleagues who share the base with them. The officers though eat separately with real knives and forks and china plates. The team of dog handlers usually sits together. Do you always eat together? >> Generally, there's a section. Yeah, we usually crack down here. >> We have a laugh in the car. >> Tasty food as well, isn't it? >> This is Yeah, it's quite nice. Is it important do you think? >> Yeah, for the work that we do. Yeah, >> we need our own for the night time. >> You come in here at night. You get a meal at night if you want. >> Yeah, it's a 24/7 cook. >> It's a 24/7 cook house. >> So, if you're out on patrol, >> Yeah. you can just come in and ask for a meal. Long as you book in advance, you can come in and get one. Yeah. A hot meal. >> In Oraova, the patrol continues. The troops distribute a free magazine published by the multinational peacekeeping force S4. >> It's got loads of articles about, you know, technology gadgets for the kids. It's mostly aimed at teenagers and uh it's aimed at kids, but also it gives out an S4 message of, you know, be aware of mines. Um it tells them about the new laws that are being implemented because a lot of people in villages, they won't have a television. They won't know about these haven't seen a paper. They won't know about the new laws and things and and where they get licenses for cars, all that sort of thing. They're all in this S4 magazine. >> But they don't get a local paper. >> Well, not people in the villages. We only got electricity in the villages. >> So, you wouldn't say it's propaganda then, Sean. >> Well, of course, I wouldn't say it's propaganda. It might be, but I wouldn't say it is. >> But do they people take them fast? You lose. >> Whenever someone comes here, they'll take you have to start charging people for him. >> Yeah, he will take two. >> Yes, >> you'll be careful. I think there's a young girl inside your age. He does. He's not going to look that. Oh, that's okay. That's good then. All right. Do >> you like coming out on patrol? >> It's better than standing nails. >> Yeah. >> Gets boring. >> What do you get to do when you're out on the trail? >> I just drive drive around then go to cafes sometimes. Just go around asking people how they're doing, what they think. >> You just find things to do like kids and that. Like this afternoon we play football and that with them just to build relations up and stuff like that. So next time I come, don't they not be like scared of us and stuff like that. That's the main thing really. That's where I think anyway. We we must know nearly everything there is to know. And every now and again some small nugget of information will come and it'll make a big picture a bit clearer. Excuse me. But um like I say, you don't find out big masses of information on his patrols. And at the end of the day, if you didn't find out any information, at least the locals have seen those traveling around, they feel, you know, safe and secure was here. Back at the main base, lunch continues. The kitchens here feed 1,800 people a day, and the food bill alone is 50,000 a week. The officer in charge is Staff Sergeant Wood. Down this end here, we have vegetable preparation area where the civilians prepare most of the vegetables throughout the day for lunch and the evening meal. We then have a salad area here where they prepare all the salads as we put salad bars on both lunch and evening meal for for all the soldiers. Um including low-fat salads with no no actual added just the vegetables themselves. >> It's quite healthy though. >> Uh yeah, we try and give a healthy choice as well. Um there's you know six to eight hot choices followed by a big salad bar. There's also a sandwich bar as well. So they've got plenty to choose from. >> Does everybody go for salads of chips? >> Um winter's coming in so it's it's the chips. I mean, you never stop a British soldier eating chips, but because we feed Dutch and Canadians as well, their diet slightly different from ours. Um, but the salads are very popular, especially say with the Canadians and the Dutch. And in the summertime out here with the when the temperatures are up in the 40s, then, you know, most people want just want a light salad for lunch. Uh they've got today they got cing batter spaghetti bolognese chicken stir fry omelets club snacks um macaroni cheese for the vegetarians bit of mixture really. >> Most of the kitchen staff are Bosnians. >> Is it a good job? >> Yeah, >> very good job. >> Why is that? >> Sorry. >> Why is that? Why is it good? >> Good job. >> Yeah. Everything because we have job, you know. >> What do you normally do? >> I'm Clark. I work before I met the factory. >> Yeah. But it's okay. >> This is where we do the pastry and we have a chef comes in and does a lot of pastry. We do actually buy a lot of pastries from our local baker. um he produces a lot of his stuff for us and we've actually been down ourselves and taught him and his staff a few more dishes so they can actually prepare the English type cake, the scone, the Chelsea bun that we we you know the English soldier is used to. Um but they do turn their hands to doing cheesecakes and the normal hot and cold sweets in here. [Music] >> We have bottled water. Um we we allow it's in the summer it's about 6 L per man per day. We're down to about 3 L per man per day. Uh but it all comes in direct from Italy uh in bottles for the soldiers to drink. >> For the soldiers, lunchtime is a chance to unwind. >> Do you like Do you enjoy the food here? >> Yeah, it's quite good. >> Considering we don't have to pay for it, it's not too bad. >> It's true though. You do pay here and it's got a good variety. Yeah. And the salad bar is really good as well. >> You know where the salad bar is? >> Notational food. >> Do I know where the salad bar? >> Do you? >> Yeah. >> See what? Okay. I'm fat. I know. >> Please let me go home. They kept me here for a year. >> Sorry. >> Aren't you enjoying it? >> Yeah, I am enjoying it over it. >> It's better than being at home. >> Yeah. You're not wasting away exactly, are you? You're not wasting away exactly. >> No, I'm not. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> A meal time is one of the highlights of the day together. >> Something to look forward to. >> Better than the bar. Hey, >> evening meal in five five days time. >> The dog handlers have a problem. One of the attack dogs, Britt, has forgotten how to attack and needs retraining. He's been brought back because his drive levels are not that high and and obviously you you need a a fairly well not aggressive dog but you need a dog that's got high drive levels because it's a high-risisk area and the reasons why we brought him back up here or he's been brought back up here is because we have to get that drive level back up again. >> And why do you think he hasn't got it? >> Um I don't really know. He may maybe setting his ways. He may be doing a set procedure around a camp and he's not had that much chance to to have a a free runner, an intruder. The idea is to get him up to the same standard as boss and and slowly and surely we we're getting there. Brit's actually been working with um his handler Jed for uh roughly 14 days now and um there's still a few patchy areas what we need to tidy up. And this is probably the best way we're going to do it and works hard a way. So he's doing he's doing a patrol now. He's patrolling the areas around the guys containers. Um bringing him up onto the onto the grassy area. There's an intruder just comes out. >> Winds the dog up. >> He's issued his challenge. the dog there now. [Music] That's quite good that because before you see he's been sniffing the bushes >> as he's running up. So, he's not been actually doing his job. >> We've actually got him to a level now where he's actually ignoring everything else and he's focused purely on that sleeve. You see where boss before came straight off the sleeve right around his handler. He's got to actually do THAT PHYSICALLY. >> LEAVE Bosco heel bus. >> And that's another another step which Jed is actually working towards. And to be fair on the lad, he has worked really really tirelessly on him. He's worked well. >> Getting Brit up to speed is a matter of constant repetition, running through the drill again and again until it becomes second nature for the dog. Stand still. Lick >> Brit's improving at the chase and capture, but he's still slow to obey his handler's commands and leave his prey. It may be that he's not yet used to his new handler, but Paul is confident that he'll get the hang of it. >> He He's done brilliantly today. He's done far well than I far better than I expected, but um he's he can still get better. I I think he'll be one of the best dogs here. If he keeps going the way he's going, I reckon he'll be up to scratch within a week, maybe a week and a half. In Oro, the patrol has ended. The war criminal they were looking for has not been found and remains in hiding somewhere in Bosnia. The troops have been reminded that intelligence gathering here doesn't always involve major discoveries. But if they're constantly on the lookout for the tiniest sign of something suspicious, trouble can often be averted. Yep. Yeah. [Music]