Law & Order (often referred to as Law and Order) is a series of four television plays written by G. F. Newman and directed by Les Blair. It was first transmitted in 1978 on BBC2.
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The four stories within Law & Order were told from the perspective of the Detective, the Villain, the Brief and the Prisoner.
The first play (broadcast on BBC2 on 6 April 1978) focuses upon Scotland Yard, Detective Inspector Fred Pyle - played by Derek Martin. Pyle is open to corruption from villains and operates a system of 'checks and balances' where certain villains get brought to justice and some do not. After a meeting with his informant Mickey Fielder (Roy Stone), Pyle discovers that a villain from Kentish Town Jack Lynn (Peter Dean), is putting together an armed robbery of a supermarket in Putney. Prior to this Pyle had arrested Clifford Harding (Alan Ford), following a police raid of his home which recovered an illegal firearm. Harding agrees to bribe Pyle to walk away from the firearms charge. Pyle however knows he can get more out of Harding and later on uses Harding's relationship with Lynn to make him turn informant and gain further information about the supermarket robbery. Pyle's informant Fielder reveals the date and time of Lynn's robbery but for some reason it does not happen. Pyle however is determined to nail Lynn and is willing to resort to 'fit up' tactics to gain a conviction - even if he has not actually committed the crime in question. Add to this a cosy relationship with a corrupt lawyer Alex Gladwell (Ken Campbell), and a seemingly blind eye to his activities from superiors within Scotland Yard it seems Pyle is almost a law unto himself.
Derek MartinD.I. Fred Pyall Ken Campbell (I)Alex Gladwell
Guest Cast Byron SotirisDuty Sergeant Stewart HarwoodPolice Constable Malcolm Chris HallamD.S. Lewis David StocktonD.S. Tony Shields Tom De-VilleD.I. Frank Polden Roy SoneMicky Fielder John HoganD.S. Ian Middlewick Geoffrey ToddD.C. Peter Fenton David Harris (II)Witness Val CloverTelephonist Michael SheardInsurance Assessor Cy WallisBilly Little Steve KellyMaurice Dickinson Billy Dean (II)David Shepley Stanley PriceBrian Finch
The second play (broadcast on BBC2 on 13 April 1978) focuses on Jack Lynn. After two of his 'firm' are arrested for an unconnected armed robbery, Lynn is short of personnel and sets about recruiting for the supermarket robbery. He approaches longtime associate John Tully (Barry Summerford), who is interested but has already made commitments to a 'firm' planning an armed raid on a British Gas depot in Romford. Lynn continues with his plans recruiting Tommy Haines (Mike Cummings), to act as a backup man, and procures firearms from Alf Coster an arms dealer with a middle-class grocer front (Philip Hayes). Lynn stores the weapons at a lock-up garage that he rented in a false name, and is ready to go. However he is under pressure from his wife Cathy (Deirdre Costello), to give up his life of crime and go straight. Furthermore Lynn discovers Mickey Fielder is Pyle's informant and has given Pyle details of their supermarket robbery. Lynn decides to postpone the robbery and take retribution against Fielder for informing, giving him a severe beating and smashing his kneecaps.
Peter DeanJack Lynn Derek MartinD.I. Fred Pyall
Guest Cast Fred HaggertyD.C.I. Tony Simmons Mike CummingsTommy Haines John BardonDel Rogers Alf CosterPhilip Hayes Tony BarouchCollin Coleman Alan Davidson (II)Benny Isaacs Barry SummerfordJohn Tully Colin HowellsD.C. Roger Humphreys Robert OatesD.C. Warren Salter Johnny FeltwellD.C. Matthew Hall Alan Clarke (II)D.C. Ray Jenkins Mike HorsburghD.I. Graham McHale Douglas SheldonD.S. Jack Barcy Geoffrey ToddD.C. Peter Fenton John BlackburnSecurity Guard
(Broadcast on BBC2 on 20 April 1978)
Episode Summary
Alex Gladwell, brought in to represent Jack Lynn, will use any means to get his client off.
Stars Peter DeanJack Lynn Derek MartinD.I. Fred Pyall Ken Campbell (I)Alex Gladwell
Guest Cast Terence BaylerMichel Messick Q.C. André van GyseghemJudge Robert Quigley Michael GriffithsHorace McMillan Q.C. Peter WelchBrian Harpenden-Smith Q.C. Barry SummerfordJohn Tully Alan Davidson (II)Benny Isaacs Tony BarouchColin Coleman Jason WhiteD.C. Simon Brent Frank HensonFrank Ryan Mark Gordon (III)Mr. English Jean LeppardMargaret Lloyd Peter CrazeT.D.C. Peter Footring Jeffrey SegalStanley Eaton Q.C.
Recurring Roles Billy CorneliusD.S. Eric Lethridge Deirdre CostelloCathy Lynn Alan FordClifford Harding
(Broadcast on BBC2 on 27 April 1978)
Episode Summary
Lynn is sent down, but rehabilitation is not on the agenda.
Stars Peter DeanJack Lynn
Guest Cast Graham GoughP.O. Powell Ronan PatersonP.O. Westbury Dave AtkinsP.O. Dorman Max LatimerPrison Officer, Visiting Room Laurence FosterSenor Officer Walters Stanley IllsleyVisiting Committee Terry YorkePolice Sergeant, A.10 Dominic AllanInspector Chatt, A.10 Stanley McGeaghTrevor Reid Alf RobertsPrison Officer, Punishment Block Ian MunroPrison Officer, Punishment Block Mark Warren (IV)Prison Officer, Legal Visiting Room Colin TaylorPrison Officer, Visiting Room Harry LandisM.P. Pauline WynnVisiting Committee
The series was highly controversial upon its release because of its depiction of a corrupt British law enforcement and legal system.[1]