Newly appointed Eastland Police Chief Constable John Stafford is asked to provide police support to a prison where warders have gone on strike in protest at staff shortages.

As the new Chief Constable, Stafford faces opposition from all sides, and numerous challenges to his authority. The accusation of being soft over the weeding of Special Branch files presents just one...

Stafford must find a solution to the vigilante groups that are emerging in response to a new social menace – crack cocaine.

Stafford's conflict with the Home Office reaches crisis point – and threatens to end his career.

Stafford returns from suspension and is immediately called upon to deal with a series of bomb threats by animal rights activists.

A hitchhiker is kidnapped, and Stafford has to deal with an ensuing siege. Stewart contends with vigilante security guards working on a private estate.

Stafford considers whether to allow the screening of a controversial documentary about BSE. Stewart gets into hot water.

Two youths throw bricks from a walkway bridge and hit a police car, killing an officer. Stafford deals with the subsequent unrest on a housing estate.

A child playing on a beach is poisoned by spillage from an oil tanker. Stafford is ordered to evict a group of environmental protesters from a ship carrying toxic waste.

Stafford becomes Head of Europol, but the position gives him plenty of free time, so the Home Office asks him to tackle corruption within the Metropolitan Police as Alan Cade arrives. Anne has a promotion board for DCC, while also dealing with a major firearms incident in Norfolk.

Stafford's corruption inquiry reaches a successful conclusion, and the officer who assisted him with the case is appointed as Eastland's new chief constable.

An American gas rig is hijacked on Alan Cade's first day, but will his choice of negotiator pay off?

Cade is the subject of public outrage after two terrorist bomb blasts, and, as if that were not enough, his girlfriend leaves him.

Davies discovers that a bogus doctor has been using NHS equipment to carry out his private business. Cade has to organise a massive security operation to protect a royal visitor.

Stewart is disillusioned and frustrated when she fails to win the promotion for which she has been fighting.

Impressed by her diligence, Cade agrees to employ pushy PR exec Alison Dell in an attempt to boost the force's image. However, they soon find that their working relationship spills over into their private lives.

Cade causes controversy when he announces a radical plan to decriminalise certain drugs for an experimental trial.

Cade's life is jeopardised when a visiting Italian judge falls victim to an assassination attempt.

Tensions between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service mount following the acquittal of a child murderer.

Cade's attitude on firearms is challenged after an armed robbery on a countryside mansion.