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?

A hospital lab tech implicates a local councillor in illegal practices. When he believes his accusations are being ignored, he dramatically breaks through the cordons during a royal visit to a school concert.

Cade allows an informant to orchestrate a drug deal while investigating a smuggling ring, only to find it led to his death.

When Cade is threatened with an investigation over the death of the informer, his team closes ranks. The Home Office, preferring to have a hold on its maverick chief constable, decides not to act.

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.

Hilary Scott is attacked by anti-abortionists on her way to the clinic. Terrified by their campaign, she goes home to rethink her decision.

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

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

A group of neo-Nazis plan to raid the home of a local councillor.

Cade is forced to defend his team when an undocumented immigrant dies during attempts to detain him.