The “Chief” of the title was Chief Constable John Stafford (Tim Piggot-Smith) who was in command of the (fictional) Eastland police service in East Anglia. Karen Archer was his 2IC, Assistant Chief Constable Anne Stewart.
Stafford – who was often involved in head-to-head clashes with the Home Office and the Police Authority – was eventually promoted to Europol and Chief Constable Alan Cade (Martin Shaw) took over.
Life at the top was more about politics than policing, although Cade, in particular, was forever trying to get his hands dirty at the sharp end and was seemingly incapable of delegating responsibility.
Chief Constable John Stafford
Tim Pigott-Smith Asst. Chief Constable Anne Stewart
Karen Archer Det. Chief Supt. Jim Gray
Eamon Boland Diane Lewis
Gillian Martell Chief Constable Alan Cade
Martin Shaw Dr Elizabeth Stafford
Judy Loe PC Jack Sayers
Dean Lepley Det. Chief Supt. Sean McCloud
Stuart McGugan Deputy Chief Constable Arthur Quine
Tony Caunter Nigel Crimmond
Michael Cochrane
