The Bill (series 12)

The Bill Series 12
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 156
Broadcast
Original channel ITV
Original run 2 January 1996 
31 December 1996

The twelfth series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 156 episodes, broadcast between 2 January and 31 December 1996. On 6 February 2013, The Bill Series 12 Part 1 & 2 and The Bill Series 12 Part 3 & 4 DVD sets were released (in Australia).

Cast changes

Arrivals

Departures


Episodes

# Title Episode notes Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Call Waiting"Susannah Wise guest stars.John BruceSimon Moss2 January 1996
Skase and Croft investigate a series of hoax phone calls that are tearing a family apart.
2"Second Sense"Cheryl Hall guest stars.Diana PatrickPeter Gibbs4 January 1996
Loxton and Slater deal with a woman drink-driver.
3"Runners Up"Tracey Childs guest stars.Nick LaughlandRobert Jones5 January 1996
Meadows offers a bottle of scotch as a reward for catching an elusive burglar.
4"Keeping It in the Family"Nicholas Pinnock and Lloyd McGuire guest star.Frank W. SmithTony Lindsay9 January 1996
Lines and Skase try to avert an ice-cream war in Sun Hill after a vendor is assaulted.
5"Home Truths"Danny Dyer guest stars.June HowsonKatharine Way11 January 1996
Ackland and Jarvis follow up a vicious assault.
6"Outer"Nick LaughlandJ. C. Wilsher12 January 1996
Boulton is determined to arrest a local drug dealer, at any cost.
7"Better Half"Nigel Humphreys guest stars.Catherine MorsheadJonathan David16 January 1996
Beech and Croft investigate the murder of a hairdresser who had been fighting for a share of her dead fiancé's estate.
8"No Assistance Required"Neil Stuke guest stars.Robin SheppardRichard Stoneman18 January 1996
Datta is called to a burglary and is subjected to the unwanted affections of a civic-minded admirer. Monroe is suspicious when Loxton tries to settle an old score.
9"Judgement Call"Hour-long episode, Final appearance of PC Cathy Marshall, Tina Hobley, Nicholas Ball, Don McCorkindale and Polly Jo Pleasence guest star.Martin HutchingsJulian Spilsbury19 January 1996
What begins as a routine night for the officers at Sun Hill ends in personal tragedy.
10"Old Dogs, New Tricks"Frank W. SmithJonathan Myerson23 January 1996
As Sun Hill gets to grips with its new computer system, Boyden discovers that it pays to stay one step ahead of the opposition.
11"Worst Fears: Part 1"Clare Holman guest stars.Robin ShepperdRichard Stoneman25 January 1996
While Deakin investigates the kidnapping of a five-year-old boy, Conway gets some unsettling news.
12"One Night With You: Part 2"Derek ListerChris Ould26 January 1996
Five-year-old Tommy Laker is still missing, and Deakin discovers an evil and sinister ring which may hold the clue.
13"Someone Else's Problem"Richard Beale guest stars.John BruceRenny Krupinski30 January 1996
Datta and Quinnan look into the mysterious death of a jogger, while Ackland and Jarvis try to reconcile a couple of warring lovers.
14"Bounds of Decency"Corin Campbell HillAvril E. Russell1 February 1996
Slater and Garfield struggle to keep the peace when two women fall out over the same man.
15"Happy Birthday"Sarah HardingTom Needham2 February 1996
Meadows and Croft investigate the murder of an elderly woman, and question two young children living on the floor below who may have heard what happened.
16"Stop the Music"Sharon Duncan Brewster guest stars.Sarah HardingMargaret Ousby6 February 1996
Croft and a badly-hungover Beech investigate when a body is found in a car with a large amount of crack cocaine.
17"Cold Light of Day"Martin Gower guest stars.Corin Campbell HillDavid G. McDonagh8 February 1996
A reconstruction brings forward an unexpected witness to an assault on a 15-year-old boy.
18"Back in Business"Andrew Powell guest stars.Laurence MoodyPeter Gibbs9 February 1996
Acting Supt. Conway is stirred into action by a face from the past.
19"Separate Rooms"Camilla Power guest stars.Jan SargentNick Crittenden13 February 1996
Lines investigates an allegation of underage sex.
20"Going Guilty"James HawesMark Holloway15 February 1996
Cryer and Slater follow up on a murder but a legal loophole may allow the perpetrator to get away with it.
21"Pieces of Cake"Derek ListerMaxwell Young16 February 1996
Beech is caught in the crossfire when uniform and C.I.D. fall out over a directive from Brownlow.
22"Somebody's Home"Philip Bloomfield guest stars.Jan SargentSimon Tyrrell20 February 1996
Quinnan and Keane have to help someone with a conviction for assaulting a police officer.
23"Pointing the Finger"Ron Donachie guest stars.Simon MeyersEdwin Pearce22 February 1996
Carver and Skase investigate an assault on an Asian schoolboy.
24"Boy Meets Girl"James HawesSimon Moss23 February 1996
Croft investigates a series of vicious sexual assaults.
25"Confession"Hour-long episode, Guest appearance by DS Danny Pearce, Final appearance of PC Donna Harris, David Westhead guest stars.David RichardsTerry Hodgkinson27 February 1996
Meadows and Carver have to look again at a man cleared of murder.
26"Home From Home"Mark Straker guest stars.June HowsonStephen McAteer29 February 1996
Stamp and Slater are called to supervise the eviction of a father from his home.
27"Open Wound"John BruceTom Needham1 March 1996
Skase and Deakin deal with a wounded crack dealer shot in the yard of a pub.
28"Perfect Match"Laurence MoodyCarolyn Sally Jones1 March 1996
Beech and Croft try to track down a violent attacker.
29"Someone Special"Bruce Alexander guest stars.Gwennan SageCarolyn Sally Jones7 March 1996
Lines and Skase investigate a possible arson attack on a nightclub.
30"Bits and Pieces"Lucy Benjamin and Peter Benson guest star.Simon MeyersTerry Hodgkinson8 March 1996
Boyden and Slater search for the owner of a severed hand found on a rubbish tip.
31"Home Help"Angela Bruce guest stars.Michael SimpsonPeter Mills12 March 1996
Cryer and Slater handle a tricky case involving a disabled former police officer and his wayward son.
32"Kicked Out"Michael FergusonStephen C. Handley14 March 1996
Jarvis and Page are called in to help in the deportation of an illegal immigrant who escapes from custody.
33"On the Block"Kenneth Watson guest stars.Michael FergusonJ. C. Wilsher15 March 1996
Boulton loses a suspect during an arrest and has to ask Monroe to help get him back.
34"Getting Off"Michael CockerGraham Mitchell19 March 1996
Boulton investigates a convicted drug addict and clashes with a drugs worker.
35"Girls' Night"Gill WilkinsonGwyneth Hughes21 March 1996
Loxton and Page deal with a bridegroom who disrupts a hen night.
36"Blood Brothers"Roshan Seth and Sebastian Abineri guest star.Jeremy SilberstonManjit Singh22 March 1996
Meadows tries to get the truth from a terminally-ill Asian man after one of his sons is fatally injured during a family dispute.
37"Broken Homes"Elaine Donnelly guest stars.Robert Del MaestroGregory Evans23 March 1996
Loxton and Keane chase a local tearaway, who gets injured. Conway has to deal with the resultant accusations of police harassment.
38"A Hornet's Nest"Melanie Kilburn and Chrissie Cotterill guest star.Robert Del MaestroCandy Denman28 March 1996
Greig is charged with police brutality following a raid on a burglar's home.
39"Dead of Night"Rosie Cavaliero and Will Barton guest star.Ian WhiteJulian Jones29 March 1996
Quinnan's whereabouts are questioned when he fails to notice an injured woman on the station doorstep. June Ackland becomes acting Sergeant.
40"Party Pooper"Daniel Casey guest starsJames HawesIsabelle Grey2 April 1996
Slater's ability is questioned when he appears to mishandle two violent thugs at a party and his wallet, containing his warrant card, is stolen.
41"More Haste"Steve Swinscoe guest stars.Jeremy SilberstonDavid Hoskins4 April 1996
Keane has a bad day in court, while Monroe follows up on a domestic incident.
42"Beating the Odds"Jamie Glover, Amelia Curtis and Freddie Earlle guest star.Ian WhiteEdwin Pearce5 April 1996
Boulton investigates a notorious local bookie and prompts suspicions about Beech's private life.
43"Animal"Ian Reddington, Sara Powell and Sheree Murphy guest star.Kate CheesemanTom Needham9 April 1996
Boyden and Datta try to secure a conviction against a vicious pimp.
44"Dangerous Game"Hour-long episode, Final appearance of Sgt Ray Steele, Tracey Wilkinson and David Telfer guest star.Brian ParkerElizabeth-Anne Wheal10 April 1996
Boulton, Carver and Deakin take part in a Flying Squad operation against a vicious gang of armed robbers.
45"Dancers"Kathleen Worth, Tenniel Evans, Ray Armstrong and Reginald Jessup guest star.Nick LaughlandMark Holloway12 April 1996
Brownlow organises a tea dance for the Metropolitan Police Pensioners' and Widows' Society.
46"And Nothing But"Michael SimpsonRichard Stoneman16 April 1996
Loxton arrests a black man he suspects is responsible for a mugging and is accused of racism.
47"Tale of Two Cities"Petra Markham guest stars.Tom CotterSpenser Frearson18 April 1996
Greig is in pursuit of a local drug dealer. Two teenagers arrested for possession refuse to provide any information about their supplier.
48"Cheating"Leslie Phillips guest stars.Kate CheesemanSpenser Frearson19 April 1996
Quinnan and Hollis have to decide whether a pub quiz champion is breaking the rules. Skase deals with the unfaithful wife of a local villain.
49"Decent Proposals"Clare Cathcart and Trevor Cooper guest star.Gill WilkinsonJonathan Myerson23 April 1996
Loxton and Quinnan investigate an employment agency that provides lucrative opportunities to women with financial troubles.
50"Going For a Song"Guest appearance by DS Mike Dashwood, Carole Nimmons guest stars.Martin HutchingsJulian Spilsbury25 April 1996
Carver calls on a former colleague to help with an antique clock that is a target for theft.
51"Value Added"Malcolm Terris guest stars.Simon MeyersBarry Simner26 April 1996
Hollis goes undercover in the seedy world of vice in pursuit of the unscrupulous owner of a clip joint.
52"Professional Ethics"John Bowler and Barry Ewart guest star.Chris LovettDavid Hoskins30 April 1996
Greig and Lines investigate graffiti attacks on motor vehicles and uncover a fraud.
53"Accidents Will Happen"Tom CotterDavid G. McDonagh2 May 1996
Boyden and Page look into a protection racket.
54"Time Spent"Paul Kember guest stars.Chris LovettChris Ould3 May 1996
Beech uncovers the relationship between a former boss and a local crime lord. Carver is caught between two troubled lovers.
55"Conspiracy of Silence"Ann Davies guest stars.Peter Barber-FlemingMargaret Phelan7 May 1996
Deakin and Boulton investigate a fatal stabbing and uncover jealousy and deceit.
56"Cold Feet and Hot Coffee"Vilma Hollingbery and Stephen Churchett guest star.Gwennan SageJulian Perkins9 May 1996
Loxton and Page go undercover at a wedding to prevent a jilted lover spoiling the bride's big day.
57"Rollover"Libby Davison guest stars.Michael SimpsonNick Crittenden10 May 1996
Deakin comes down hard on a snout who tries to buck the system, and gets an unexpected result.
58"Tough Love"John Michie and Dione Inman guest star.Martin HutchingsKatharine Way14 May 1996
Hollis and Garfield deal with an attack on a school bully.
59"With This Ring"Roger Avon guest stars.Nick LaughlandJohn Brennan16 May 1996
Keane comes across a suspect antiques dealer. Greig and Croft investigate a burglary and reopen a feud between two sisters.
60"Final Drive"Thomas Craig guest stars.Michael FergusonMark Holloway17 May 1996
Jarvis is on the Advanced Driving Course at Hendon.
61"Voices"Sian Thomas and David Quilter guest star.Moira ArmstrongPeter J. Hammond21 May 1996
Datta and Greig suspect that a woman who claims she can hear voices may hold the key to a series of sexual assaults.
62"Party On"Danny HillerMark Illis23 May 1996
Deakin and Croft have to deal with a gang of delinquents when one of them is bottled at an ecstasy party.
63"Hard Enough"Elizabeth Berrington and Christopher Saul guest star.Dominic LeesLyndon Mallett24 May 1996
Boulton and Carver try to decide whether a householder used reasonable force when he killed a burglar with a baseball bat.
64"Cuckoo"Honeysuckle Weeks and Campbell Morrison guest star.Danny HillerNicholas McInerny28 May 1996
Page and Monroe are dragged into a family squabble.
65"Helping Hands"Aidan J. David guest stars.Peter DuffellClive Dawson30 May 1996
Datta and Garfield arrest a G.P. for possession of cannabis, but he claims it is for use by one of his patients.
66"Jekyll and Hyde"Matthew Crompton guest stars.Danny HillerEdwin Pearce31 May 1996
Brownlow witnesses a violent outburst on the road.
67"Knocking on the Door"First appearance of DS Geoff DalyJohn BruceSteve Handley4 June 1996
New recruit Daly steps in to help Skase when a straightforward drugs bust goes wrong.
68"Lies and Statistics"Sean Gilder and David Quilter guest star.James HawesElizabeth-Anne Wheal6 June 1996
Boyden tries to help a young offender.
69"Butting In"Barry Jackson, David Quilter and Lolita Chakrabarti guest star.Michael SimpsonSebastian Secker Walker7 June 1996
Jarvis steps in to help Page deal with a violent attack, but there are complications.
70"The Bagman"Roy Macready and Sidney Kean guest star.Michael CockerRichard McBrien11 June 1996
Deakin investigates a violent attack on a small-time crook whom he suspects to have fallen in with bad company.
71"Overstepping the Mark"Kris Marshall and David Quilter guest star.John BruceMichael Jenner13 June 1996
Lines tries to get a juvenile offender to inform on a gang of dangerous thugs, while Daly is troubled by a determined probation officer.
72"Filth"Jo ShoopGraham Mitchell20 June 1996
Deakin and Boulton investigate when a pimp is discovered badly beaten in a pile of rubbish.
73"Camper"Timothy Bateson guest stars.Moira ArmstrongTerry Hodgkinson21 June 1996
Slater and Boyden are involved in a drugs bust involving a camper van.
74"Spill"Hour-long episode, Lolita Chakrabarti, Bob Mason and Toni Palmer guest star.John StricklandMichael Jenner25 June 1996
A tanker crashes, spilling a potentially lethal load near a housing estate. Monroe supervises the evacuation of the area.
75"Apron Strings"Denyse Alexander guest stars.Adrian J. FearnleyLen Collin27 June 1996
Cryer and Keane discover a woman dead in her bath and suspect her son of foul play.
76"One Step Ahead"Ken Hutchison and Roy Skelton guest star.Simon MasseyCandy Denman28 June 1996
Meadows and Skase pursue an ex-convict who has sworn revenge on an informant. Boyden is called to help a prostitute who believes she is being followed.
77"Starting Young"Peter Russell guest stars.Michael FergusonAndrew Rattenbury2 July 1996
Jarvis and Keane deal with a boy in possession of a pensioner's prescription.
78"Tarts Cards"Annie Hulley guest stars.Simon MeyersMargaret Ousby4 July 1996
Boyden and Slater investigate a series of offensive telephone calls.
79"Born Again"Alexandra Gilbreath and Chris Tranchell guest stars.Robin SheppardSimon Frith5 July 1996
Boulton investigates an assault on an old man.
80"Kick Me Hard"Audrey CookeGregory Evans9 July 1996
Daly mounts an operation to catch muggers. Page goes undercover as a pregnant woman to act as bait.
81"All or Nothing"Martyn Read guest stars.Adrian J. FearnleyPhilip Kingston11 July 1996
Quinnan and Keane discover the body of a young girl in a pub toilet.
82"Unlucky In Love"Anna Keaveney and Joanne Froggatt guest star.Jo ShoopJonathan Rich12 July 1996
Boyden investigates a dating agency that is rumoured to be providing underage girls.
83"A Quick Return"Brian ParkerStephen McAteer16 July 1996
Cryer and Keane investigate a series of street robberies and find four teenagers trying to buy their way into drug-dealing.
84"Sartorial Elegance"Simon MasseyNigel Baldwin18 July 1996
Carver and Jarvis misjudge the condition of a witness, threatening Operation Eagle Eye.
85"Don't Leave Me This Way"Albert Welling and Karen Gledhill guest star.Ian WhiteGraham White19 July 1996
Loxton and Keane follow up a mugging but suspect that the victim knows more than she is letting on.
86"Big Bullies"Jim McManus guest stars.Michael SimpsonRon Rose23 July 1996
Monroe investigates a schoolboy's claim that he was assaulted by his teacher.
87"Playing It By The Rules"Chris LovettSheila Duncan25 July 1996
Deakin is handed the chance to bust a drug dealer when his wife turns informant.
88"True Colours"John Owens guest stars.Brian ParkerElizabeth-Anne Wheal26 July 1996
Daly is determined to find out why a white teenager is trying to take the blame for his black friends.
89"Target"Final appearance of WDS Jo MorganJohn StricklandEdward Canford-Dumas29 July 1996

While speaking to Ackland and Loxton about the problem of local dog mess, a woman is shot dead by a sniper. Meadows and his CID team are tasked to investigate, and suspect that the woman was not the intended target, and it is strongly possible the sniper was after Loxton, who is set to testify in court against an attempted murderer that afternoon. However, when Ackland's house is set alight that night, CID come to the conclusion that she is the intended target. Writing up a list of possible suspects, Ackland gets sucked into a deadly cat-and-mouse game to try to draw the killer out - resulting in the death of one of Sun Hill's best officers.

Feature length rebroadcast of the episodes "Fire", "All Tucked Up" and "Bait" from Series 11
90"Dead Man's Hand"Jamie Foreman guest stars.Dominic LeesSimon Tyrrell30 July 1996
Beech investigates the claim of one compulsive gambler to have murdered another.
91"For Their Own Good"Final appearance of DC Alan Woods, Lynn Farleigh and Billy McColl guest starPeter DuffellNigel Baldwin1 August 1996
Boulton uses an informant as the bait to catch a dangerous villain.
92"Theory and Practice"Peter Barber-FlemingMaxwell Young6 August 1996
Ackland and McCann take the sergeant's exam. Cryer deals with a woman who is miscarrying and claims that she was assaulted by Page.
93"Drinking Partners"Bob Appleby guest stars.Peter LydonMatthew Wingett8 August 1996
Greig and Skase investigate when a drunk man is found unconscious and badly injured at the bottom of a flight of stairs.
94"Lean On Me"Ian Brimble guest stars.Simon MeyersBarry Simner9 August 1996
Hollis gets ideas above his station when his lady friend wants to become his informant.
95"Reminders"Vas Blackwood and Laurie Brett guest star.Chris LovettMichael Jenner13 August 1996
Daly and Carver pursue a missing prisoner who appears determined to restore his reputation as a hard man.
96"Minding"Nick LaughlandMark Holloway15 August 1996
Loxton and Keane arrest a woman for shoplifting. Grieg and Croft investigate a nanny believed to have kidnapped two of her charges.
97"Follow The Van"Donald Douglas guest stars.Robin SheppardStephen Plaice16 August 1996
Beech and Lines investigate a series of aggravated robberies on garage forecourts.
98"Don't Kill the Messenger"Michael McStay and Christopher Whittingham guest star.Jim ShieldsIsabelle Grey20 August 1996
Jarvis receives death threats from a youth who blames him for his father's death, and who cannot accept that his father was a sex offender.
99"Junior"Zig Byfield guest stars.Jim ShieldsJulian Perkins22 August 1996
Beech employs a fifteen-year-old boy as an informer to expose a crooked car ring.
100"Pony Express"Andy Linden guest stars.Simon MeyersDavid G. McDonagh23 August 1996
Deakin has to decide whether to trust a Nigerian drug smuggler who offers to help catch a local dealer.
101"Out of Control"David Hargreaves guest stars.Ian WhiteEdwin Pearce27 August 1996
Jarvis deals with a young tearaway and tries to persuade the boy's father to take responsibility for his son's actions.
102"Day Tripper"John Gillett guest stars.Gill WilkinsonChris Smyth29 August 1996
Greig hopes that a tip-off will help him to nail an old enemy but things don't go to plan.
103"Waiting For Frank"Robert Del MaestroChris Ould30 August 1996
Deakin poses as a nervous punter waiting at the dog track to meet a mysterious man named Frank.
104"A Day in the Life"Kulvinder Ghir and Maxine Evans guest stars.Audrey CookeRobert Jones3 September 1996
Keane is held hostage by a desperate armed robber.
105"Second Chances"Nick LaughlandManjit Singh5 September 1996
Deakin gets a vital lead on an unsolved murder, but his witness is an illegal immigrant who is about to be deported.
106"Repossession"Gerry Cowper guest stars.Peter LydonLyndon Mallet6 September 1996
A petrol can, a lighter and a desperate man threatening to burn down a house. Can Conway talk him round?
107"The Liar"First appearance of DC Liz Rawton, Elizabeth Bennett guest stars.Michael SimpsonSpenser Frearson10 September 1996
Rawton gets involved in a dispute between a drug addict and Croft, who is trying to find a witness who can testify that she was assaulted.
108"Detained"Scott Neal guest stars.Ken HornJimmy Gardner12 September 1996
Garfield and McCann investigate a vicious mugging.
109"Karma"Brian ParkerEdward Canford-Dumas13 September 1996
Deakin and Boulton are called into a women's prison to investigate claims by an officer that an inmate was pushed down a flight of stairs by the prison psychiatrist.
110"Stolen Moments"Judy Flynn guest stars.Audrey CookeJulian Perkins17 September 1996
McCann and Slater arrest a woman for petty theft, and she claims to have killed a cyclist while driving two years before.
111"A Good Night Out"Hour-long episode, Martin Glyn Murray, Oliver Smith and Bill Moody guest star.Tom CotterRichard Stoneman18 September 1996
The relief organise a pub-and-curry night to celebrate Acting Sgt. Ackland's success in the sergeant's exam, but McCann is not so eager to join in the celebrations.
112"Chatterbox"Adrian Bower and Desmond Askew guest stars.Ian WhiteSimon Moss19 September 1996
Quinnan and a teenage burglary suspect are trapped in a broken lift in a housing estate.
113"Too Close For Comfort"Vincent Pickering guest stars.Robin SheppardMaxwell Young20 September 1996
Page and Daly take opposing views in a case of alleged rape involving two cousins.
114"Blame"Gerry Cowper guest stars.Chris LovettGwyneth Hughes24 September 1996
Garfield and Datta deal with a family that is torn apart when the mother commits suicide by overdose of sleeping tablets
115"Once a Thief"Robert Del MaestroTony Mulholland26 September 1996
Beech gets a result when a barrister on his blacklist is robbed.
116"Party Animals"Jake Wood guest stars.Moira ArmstrongKatharine Way27 September 1996
Quinnan and Datta are called to a stag party where the strippergram accuses the guests of trying to gang-rape her.
117"Natural Causes"Colin Buchanan, Rachel Weaver and Mary Healey guest star.Morag FullartonSimon Tyrrell1 October 1996
Slater and Ackland try to establish whether a pensioner who died on confronting a thief was murdered or died of natural causes.
118"Known To Someone"JoAnne Good and Gerry Cowper guest star.Derek ListerJoanne Maguire3 October 1996
Daly and Croft obtain information from a conflicted young man who suspects his brother of a series of violent attacks on women.
119"Champing at the Bit"Neil Daglish guest stars.Diana PatrickRobert Jones4 October 1996
Jarvis and McCann attend the scene of an accident involving a woman driving a horsebox, who tests positive in a breath test. Deakin is after a violent attacker.
120"Taking Out the Rubbish"Joel Beckett and Antony Webb guest star.Ken HornA. Valentine8 October 1996
Carver and Greig investigate a burglary but the residents on the estate are too scared to give evidence. Monroe determines to clear out all the known trouble-makers.
121"Presumed Innocent"Michael McKell and Roger Blake guest star.Harry BradbeerElizabeth-Anne Wheal10 October 1996
Cryer and Keane uncover the murky past of a teenage girl who has been killed in a road accident.
122"Change of Heart"Gill WilkinsonGraham Mitchell11 October 1996
Meadows and Rawton try to persuade the girlfriend of a rape suspect to help in his arrest.
123"Hedging Your Bets"Peter Jeffrey guest starsRoger GartlandCandy Denman15 October 1996
Tensions arise between Deakin and Beech after a bookie is robbed.
124"Out of the Past"Kate Eaton guest stars.Robin SheppardTony Lindsay17 October 1996
Meadows has to decide where his loyalties lie when an old friend is accused of murder.
125"Road to Recovery"Jo ShoopLen Collin18 October 1996
Hollis is concerned about a patient who has recently been discharged from psychiatric care, and clashes with social services.
126"Three Fools"Johanna Hargreaves guest stars.Moira ArmstrongMark Illis22 October 1996
Greig and Skase investigate when three small-time villains are beaten up over their involvement in a counterfeit money-laundering operation.
127"Track Marks"David John Pope guest stars.Harry BradbeerJames Stevenson24 October 1996
Carver disapproves of Boulton's ruthless handling of an informant.
128"In for the Kill"Derek ListerTom Needham25 October 1996
Meadows and Croft interview a young waiter accused of trying to kill his boss.
129"Remote Control"Steve ShillJulian Spilsbury29 October 1996
Daly and Lines investigate a series of muggings at knifepoint.
130"Telling Tales"Derek Newark and Malcolm Tierney guest star.Jo ShoopRenny Krupinski31 October 1996
Quinnan tries to persuade an assault victim to testify against her former boyfriend. Boulton and Skase are led on a wild goose chase.
131"Old Codgers"Freddie Jones and Patrick Godfrey guest star.Martin HutchingsChris Ould1 November 1996
Quinnan and Greig reluctantly agree to follow up on information received from a former Sun Hill sergeant who claims to know the whereabouts of the man who murdered a girl during World War II.
132"Trap"Christopher HodsonMichael Jenner5 November 1996
Slater gets into trouble after following up on a tip-off about a till snatch.
133"All in the Mind"Diana PatrickEdwin Pearce7 November 1996
Monroe and Ackland suspect that a series of apparently unrelated incidents across Sun Hill may be linked to the release of a psychiatric patient trying to find her children.
134"Trust Me"Paul Greenwood guest stars.Roger GartlandIsabelle Grey8 November 1996
Carver and Rawton follow up an irregularity on an insurance claim submitted by a decorator and uncover a double life.
135"Nice Boy"Nadim Sawalha guest stars.Brian ParkerScott Cherry12 November 1996
Croft and Boulton disagree on how to question a teenager who might be able to lead them to a violent gang.
136"A Woman's Place"Derek Crewe guest stars.James HawesSimon Moss14 November 1996
Ackland introduces single-manning at Sun Hill, causing problems for Brownlow.
137"Finishing School"Michael CockerBarry Simner15 November 1996
Slater and Keane reach the end of their probationary periods and face a final assessment.
138"Death of a Nobody"Hour-long episode, Peter Guinness and Philip McGough guest star.Simon MeyersTom Needham19 November 1996
Meadows and Deakin investigate the murder of a taxi driver. The action bears the hallmarks of a gangland execution, but why would anyone want to kill a complete nobody?
139"Up the Wall"Clive Kneller guest stars.Steve ShillLyndon Mallett21 November 1996
Hollis learns an important lesson in community policing when some friendly advice that he gives a resident on noise pollution backfires.
140"Boiling Point"Kenneth Colley guest stars.Christopher HodsonNeil Clarke22 November 1996
Loxton is investigated by the Complaints Investigation Bureau over an accusation that he assaulted a suspected burglar, although he claims to have been acting in self-defence.
141"Mirror Image"John BruceKatharine Way26 November 1996
Boulton arrests a woman for drug dealing, but Rawton suspects that she may be a victim of mistaken identity.
142"Public Relations"Brian ParkerPhilip Kingston28 November 1996
Skase and Hollis demonstrate two differing approaches to police work when a young journalist writing about policing spends a day at Sun Hill.
143"Lock 'Em In"Jeremy Bulloch guest stars.Roger GartlandSebastian Secker Walker29 November 1996
Cryer and Page assist the distraught wife of a prisoner who reports her son missing and who fears that her husband is out to get her.
144"Opportunity Costs"Martin HutchingsEdward Canford-Dumas3 December 1996
Brownlow orders Meadows and Conway to review their budgets, but Meadows decides to investigate the unsolved murder of a prostitute instead.
145"Paying For It"Jane ProwseMark Holloway5 December 1996
Beech and Rawton investigate the apparent assault of a father by his son and uncover a family secret.
146"Many Happy Returns"Paul Jerricho guest stars.Adrian J. FearnleyAndrew Rattenbury6 December 1996
Boulton and Skase take part in a joint exercise with Customs and Excise to crack a fencing operation. Meadows is concerned that Sun Hill might end up footing the bill but not getting a result.
147"Black Money"Dominic Guard and Danny Webb guest star.Roger GartlandTerry Hodgkinson10 December 1996
Croft and Rawton investigate some shady Romanian businessmen and a suitcase full of black paper.
148"Scorned"Brian Protheroe and Jane Slavin guest star.Morag FullartonTracey Black12 December 1996
Croft and Rawton investigate a dentist accused of indecent assault by one of his patients.
149"Stolen Kisses"Samantha Seager and Jo Martin guest star.Michael CockerManjit Singh13 December 1996
Monroe and Datta deal with a difficult situation when a nursery school cleaner takes a young girl hostage, and uncover a tragic family secret.
150"Jumping to Conclusions"Nick Burnell guest stars.Harry BradbeerPhilip Kingston17 December 1996
Carver's patience is tested by a compulsive liar. Ackland and Quinnan search for a girl allegedly abducted by a religious cult.
151"Toe the Line"Michael Attwell, Michelle Gomez and David Schofield guest star.James HawesStephen Plaice19 December 1996
Monroe and Conway uncover a bogus wheel-clamping operation.
152"A Gun to the Head"John Fraser and Rob Edwards guest star.Chris LovettMaxwell Young20 December 1996
Beech and Daly are put in an impossible situation when a judge decides to reveal the name of their informant.
153"Merrily On High"Danny Dyer and Frank Mills guest star. New opening sequence introduced.Michael CockerRobert Jones24 December 1996
Assistant Commissioner Hicks has declared Sun Hill Police Station an alcohol-free zone – terrible news for Brownlow and Conway who had hoped to enjoy a "liquid lunch" when taking him to a posh French restaurant. Stamp and Slater arrest an elderly man after a road rage incident, but manage to reunite him with his estranged family.
154"Hers"Tamzin Outhwaite guest stars.Michael CockerMark Holloway26 December 1996
Stamp and Page look into the theft of a hearse containing the coffin of a thief who died in a traffic accident.
155"Hat Trick"Sion Tudor Owen and Eric Mason guest star.John BruceStephen Greenhorn27 December 1996
Boulton and Skase investigate a car-ramming incident involving a member of a local pub team.
156"The Right Thing"First appearance of PC Jamila Blake, Paul Bettany guest stars.Nigel DouglasTony Mulholland31 December 1996
Cryer investigates when a player in the same basketball team as the son of a former Sun Hill officer collapses from a drug overdose.