Episode list

1956 in the Midland town of Brinford: The remains of a young boy, is found in a disused mine by a dog-walker. At the same time Gina Dawson reports for duty as the first female constable at the town's police station and is greeted with hostility by Chief Inspector Nelson and patronised by sexist Sergeant Fenton. With the help of a lost dog Gina catches two thieves but Fenton lets them go as one of them, Brody, is his informer. Gina also crosses Fenton when he arrests black bus conductor Donald Palmer for assaulting Sylvia Stewart, whom he claims is his girlfriend. Gina believes Donald is innocent and Sylvia was attacked by somebody else but blamed Donald as she is scared of her racist father. After Gina has proved herself helping two victims of child neglect and being asked by sympathetic Inspector Burns to research the case of the dead boy, another girl is attacked - and not by Donald, who is in custody.

Burns and Dawson take the mother of William Parker, the boy killed in the 1920s, to identify his effects after which the Chief Superintendent inspects the station. He is kind to Dawson but tough on P.C. Eddie Coulson - his son. Gina and station secretary Cathy join other police personnel at the birthday party that Burns' social-climbing wife Deborah has organized for her husband. A reluctant birthday boy, Burns rows with Deborah and repairs to the pub for a drink with desk sergeant Pratt, who is estranged from his teddy boy son, Sam. Pratt tells Burns that the chief superintendent, then a sergeant, had arrested a man called John Evans for killing William and another boy Stanley Collins, but Evans always claimed he was innocent and killed himself without confessing. Pratt believes Coulson framed Evans to gain glory. Prostitute Anna Pearce reports being attacked, but is fobbed off by loutish Fenton though Gina takes her seriously and interviews her, hoping this will help Donald. She goes to a club and learns from Donald's friend Rufus that Sylvia was Donald's girlfriend, but was too scared of her father to admit it. Fenton follows Dawson and threatens her to back off.

As William Parker is finally laid to rest Sergeant Pratt recalls how Coulson tried to beat a confession out of Evans but Burns takes Gina to see another likely suspect,baker Henry Fuller,who had argued with Stanley's brutal father. Gina hears from Mrs Fuller that her husband had had an affair with female employee Sarah,who disappeared at much the same time as the boys. Meanwhile,tipped off by Fenton's informant Brody,the police prepare to foil a bank raid but look stupid when a different bank is robbed. Fenton is humiliated but tracks a gang member to the hide-out and leads a successful raid. As Donald's trial begins Gina interviews a third woman attacked in the park and goes to court where she persuades Sylvia to tell the truth,leading to Donald's acquittal. Gina is commended by Nelson and Burns - increasing Fenton's hostility towards her - but Burns has his own problems when Deborah has a breakdown and needs hospital admission. Gina and Cathy go to a coffee bar with their boyfriends where a fight breaks out and Eddie,trying to stop it,is stabbed.

As Eddie lies in a coma Fenton suggests Gina,who witnessed the attack,help him track down the assailant. Pratt approaches his son Sam,who is protecting the culprit Johnny Harris but says nothing. Eventually Fenton and Gina identify him but he has gone on the run,abandoning his wife and child. Harris plans another robbery but walks into a trap set by Fenton,with help from Sam whilst Eddie wakes from his coma to a new respect from his father. Burns has a distressing visit to Deborah before his mother-in-law turns up to take his little girls. Gina,feeling pressurized by her mother into marrying dull boyfriend Frank,consoles him and they go for a drink. They are observed by Fenton who spreads gossip around the station but fails to see them kiss. Burns learns that Sarah has recently died but has a son George though there is no record of his birth and Burns suspects he is the missing Stanley. Meanwhile a young girl is murdered in the park where the other women were attacked.

Cathy dumps her aggressive boyfriend Bill whilst Gina puts her career above Frank's marriage proposal. Meanwhile the police are in the firing line of the press following the murder so Gina agrees to be bait despite Burns' protests and walk through the park where the women were attacked. She has an encounter with an angry Bill,who is arrested but then the real culprit strikes and Gina survives through her strong will and ability to talk to him. His arrest also ties in with the question of what happened to the missing Stanley and back at the police station all the staff,even Fenton, commend her as Coulson announces that she is to be put forward for a bravery medal. Burns however receives sad news from the psychiatric hospital.