Joe Blackshaw is a petty thief who picks up Bits An' Bats from local building sites. Sgt. Stone is investigating stolen copper, so when pieces are found Blackshaw looks guilty. Meanwhile Tommy Hale is helping Ma McGann get some revenge.
Workers laying telephone cable by Oak House Farm discover a skeleton. Scientists are unable to date it beyond 75 years which pleases Sgt. Stone. The village gossips start talking of murder so Insp. Lynch decides to do his own research.
A six stone barrel of mercury is stolen from Symonds Switch Gear. John Sullivan and Reginald Rooty are arrested following a tip off from work mate Terry Armstrong. Det. Sgt. Miller believes Armstrong planned the robbery but can't prove it.
DC Skinner has his eye on a young amateur footballer for a series of car thefts in Seaport. But is he pushing the issue too hard for his superiors' liking?
An old man is viciously assaulted on his doorstep, and Render and Braithwaite are called out to assist. Thus proceeds a chase across town and into the country.
PC Quilley is guarding a coach works subject to a sit-in by recently laid off employees. Things seem peaceful enough, until a recently escaped borstal boy gets inside and becomes involved.
Yates finds a man badly beaten in an alley. It all seems cut and dried as a man running away from the scene is caught. But it's more complicated than that, as the night's events come to light.
Newtown's night life is added to with a new club, but it's having security issues due to overzealous door staff. Meanwhile, a local petty thief distracts the police by stealing clothes just across the road.
It's just before Christmas, but festive spirit is less less than evident as a woman is found badly beaten in her own home. She's strangely evasive, though, so DS Haggar decides to push things along.
Young parents Tommy and Karen Kelly are both attracting the attention of the law. Tommy is nicked quickly, but Karen tries to get her injured baby out of hospital. Inspector Lynch has to negotiate a tricky path for all concerned.
A routine car crash turns out to be more complicated than usual for PC Quilley and WPC Howarth. There's a connection between motorists Liz and Danny, but it'll take some teasing out.
A police informer is found badly beaten on a rubbish tip, whilst Bert Lych waits for him in a local pub. Who was responsible, and what is the connection to a rough local pub?
The standoff outside the squat continues and relations between the two sides are poisoned by the assault on PC Quilley. Meanwhile, the tearaway suspect is on the loose around town.
A series of break-ins have some peculiar traits. Haggar thinks that an old lag just out of gaol may be responsible. But what is the significance of a missing schoolboy, and why is the MO of the mystery criminal familiar?