Debuting on Thursday 6 April 1978 on BBC2, this four-part miniseries dealt with an investigation presented from the perspectives of the police force, the criminal, the solicitor and the prison system.
The series showed police officers taking bribes and “fitting up” a villain for a crime of which he was innocent, his defence by a corrupt solicitor and his final breaking in prison by bullying warders.
The Metropolitan Police and the Prison Officers’ Association protested. The police demanded undertakings from the BBC before cooperating in any future documentaries and the prison officers withdrew facilities for any documentaries about prisons. Both sanctions were withdrawn later.
A principal source of contention was that the fictional story was so realistic that it might be regarded as factual by many viewers.
The BBC decided not to repeat the series and not to offer it for sale abroad. However, it eventually began a second showing on BBC2 in March 1980.
Jack Lynn
Peter Dean Cathy Lynn
Deirdre Costello DI Fred Pyall
Derek Martin Alex Gladwell
Ken Campbell Clifford Harding
Alan Ford Micky Fielder
Roy Sone DS Eric Lethridge
Billy Cornelius DCI Tony Simmons
Fred Haggerty DCI Trevor Watson
Barry Craine DCI Chatt (AIO)
Dominic Allan DI Graham McHale
Mike Horsburgh DI John Redvers
Terry Walsh DI Alan Welch
Shaun Curry DI Maurice Head
David Sterne Det-Supt Ernie Jeymer
Jan Harding DI Frank Polden
Tom De-Ville DS Jack Barcy
Douglas Sheldon DC Warren Salter
Robert Oates DC Roger Humphries
Colin Howells DC Peter Fenton
Geoffrey Todd DC Ray Jenkins
Alan (Nobby) Clarke DS Ian Middlewick
John Hogan DS Tony Shields
David Stockton DS Lewis
Chris Hallam Terry Clark
Charles Cork Brian Finch
Stanley Price David Shepley
Billy Dean Billy Little
Cy Wallis
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