The Bill series 7

It's a frustrating day for everyone at Sun Hill, from Brownlow to Dashwood with Hollis in between.

Whilst investigating wheels stolen from a car, Loxton and Hollis are called to pursue armed robbers who have robbed a garage. Datta risks her life in order to save a baby after arriving at the garage. Tragedy strikes as Loxton in Sierra One collides with another vehicle.

In 2021, director Stuart Urban, producer Tony Virgo, script editor Tim Vaughan, stunt co-ordinator Nick Gillard and actor Tom Butcher (P.C. Steve Loxton) recorded a two-part Video Commentary for this episode^[2]

Marshall is assaulted by two lager louts and CID conduct a stakeout in anticipation of a warehouse robbery.

Loxton faces a hard day when he is called to court.

Quinnan and Ackland investigate a report of a missing teenage girl. Quinnan finds her diary which indicates that she is working as a prostitute. When he breaks the news to her father it comes as no surprise.

Roach and Carver put pressure on a defendant who postpones his appearance in court due to illness. Lines is on the trail of photocopiers stolen from an American base.

Young is showing the first signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. While investigating a spate of burglaries targeting elderly people living on a council estate, Carver discovers the motive is more complex than first thought.

Maitland investigates an assault by a pub landlord which has the potential to ruin a CID operation.

Stamp and Stringer come across a man and a woman struggling. The man claims he was only trying to assist her, but Burnside suspects that he might be a sex offender.

Three representatives from the Jasmine Allen Estate hold a meeting with Brownlow and Conway complaining about police racial harassment. Shortly afterwards, Stamp and French arrest one of the men for assaulting Ackland during an affray. Questions are raised as to whether he has been unfairly targeted.

Brownlow attends an interview, hoping to secure a position on a senior command course. Tom Penny in his new role as a private security officer finds that he is regarded as an outsider at Sun Hill.

Stamp and Stringer are stopped in the street by a man who says his flat has been burgled and the burglars are still on the premises.

Dashwood and Roach investigate a burglary at a scrapyard which has a connection to an ex-police officer who knows Roach. Marshall investigates when an elderly woman reports that she is receiving threatening letters from her husband.

Grieg has built up a case against an arsonist only to find out from the prosecution legal team that the accused has claimed mental impairment. Ford arrests a man on suspicion of shoplifting.

Ackland intervenes when a boy is being bullied in a playground and finds in his lunchbox a book detailing illicit drug dealing. Roach is assigned the task of assisting an ex-colleague who is employed as a private security officer, a man whom Roach detests.

After dropping off a girl at a children's home, Quinnan and Marshall get called back in for a potential suicide.

Ackland, Stamp, Quinnan and Hollis are doing an obbo.

A man is murdered by a shotgun after talking to Dashwood.

Sun Hill gets a call about a man who approached a young girl at a park. Lines and Martella believe he is a serial offender and are in the process of constructing a profile when the man strikes again, this time abducting a girl.

A man comes in to Sun Hill to report that a middle aged ex-employee is having a relationship with a 15-year-old girl. When Ackland is informed that the case of assault against her has been dropped by the CPS, she questions the worth of her career and the role of police.

Datta and Garfield are conducting an observation on a drug dealer from the bedroom of a teenage boy. When Garfield finds a large sum of money hidden in a Playboy magazine, he suspects that the lad might also be dealing drugs. Ford receives a tip about a horse race and Loxton offers to place a bet on her behalf.

Burnside and Lines go for a lunchtime drink. Stamp and Garfield go to a building site where a self-employed tiler fell off the top floor.

Ackland and French catch a teenage girl who has stolen a purse. When they return to her home, Ackland suspects the mother is committing fraud. French is later called to a sudden infant death and is overwhelmed by her emotions.

A security van is ambushed and robbed of a substantial sum of money. Sun Hill is working as a team to solve the case except for Roach who is going it alone.

Martella gives evidence in court and plays a gambit that could backfire. Roach is on the trail of a sex trafficker.

Stamp and Quinnan rush an injured woman to hospital when the ambulance is delayed after an accident.

Stamp and Quinnan investigate the death of a man who it is revealed is a locum G.P. with a history of over prescribing controlled drugs. Ackland encounters a man armed with a knife at a pharmacy. Stamp and Quinnan are later called to a flat where a neighbour has reported hearing a violent argument.

A man suffering severe barbiturate withdrawal is holding a woman and her young boy hostage in a flat. The Sun Hill police attempt to negotiate a peaceful outcome.

Hollis assists a tow truck driver to tow away a luxury sports car, only to find out that he has abetted a stolen car syndicate. Meanwhile, Lines is working undercover to catch the same gang with the assistance of an unwitting DCI Reid.

Cryer tries to stop an elderly woman, who gave evidence as a witness in a murder trial, from being victimised on a council estate. The vacant position of duty sergeant is on offer at Sun Hill.

The Metropolitan Police Serious Crimes Squad sweep into Sun Hill and commandeer the station's briefing room, setting a few noses out of joint in the process.

In an attempt to end the rift between D.I. Burnside and D.S. Roach, D.C.I. Reid partners them together on a joint operation with the drugs squad.

Quinnan and Stamp go to Whitegate Estate to arrest a man involved in a glassing the night before. When Peters tries to apprehend the assailant, he is stabbed and rushed to hospital.

In 2020, director Stuart Urban recorded an Audio Commentary for this episode^[3]

W.D.C. Martella is undercover at a club to investigate a series of armed robberies of musical equipment.

P.C. Stringer and W.P.C. Marshall are walking the beat when they are called to a burglary.

D.C. Lines' car gets towed away. He catches a bus and sees a man who is supposed to have died five years before.

D.I. Burnside investigates a break-in at a cash-and-carry, involving the theft of cash and some meat.

A prostitute comes into the station to report a rape. Loxton tells her it is classed as non-payment of goods, and Ackland has problems making people treat it as a rape.

W.P.C. Ackland investigates a break-in and theft of a pension book. She is told that the C.P.S. won't be taking up her assault case so she brings a private summons.

D.C.I. Reid takes over a joint surveillance operation.

Tosh and Jim are watching a wrecking yard. A car is seen driven into the yard stolen from a man who runs a youth centre.

W.P.C. Ackland's private prosecution of Everton Warwick comes to court.

Quinnan arrests two men in the underground because one has a knife. Sgt. Peters' wife gives him a ride to work. Brownlow, Conway and Reid have a meeting with publicans.

Dashwood talks to one of his snouts, who has been charged with stealing, on the way to court. The prisoner makes a complaint against him.

Lines and Carver go to a club where they find drugs in the band's jackets.

P.C. Loxton is attacked after a break-in at a nightclub and helped by a cabbie who is a special constable.

D.C.s Dashwood and Carver are driving along when they notice a man trying to break into a house. P.C. Stamp chases a burglar and pulls his trousers off trying to stop him climbing over a wall.

Burnside talks to the driver of a lorry who was hijacked.

D.C.s Lines and Carver are going to court about a burglary case. The Crown Prosecution Service is reducing the charges against two of the defendants.

P.C.s Garfield and Young are talking to a woman about fireworks that had been put through her letterbox when they witness a purse snatching.

D.I. Burnside arrests a man on suspicion of robbery with violence. D.C. Lines and Carver get given wrong addresses.

Stamp and Garfield go to a burglary. The homeowner has caught the burglar and beaten him up. His wife comes back and says the burglar was a work mate collecting some pills for her.

W.P.C. Ackland finds a man stabbed in his car, and D.C. Lines' investigation into the incident is impeded by the victim's unhelpful wife. P.C. Hollis and P.C. Stamp discover a number of human skeletons in a supposedly vacant flat.

D.A.C. Hicks talks about reclaiming the streets. D.C.I. Reid talks about her pilot project on street robberies. P.C. Stamp is at a traffic depot by a cemetery and talks to a youth he suspects of criminal damage.

P.C. Hollis chases a man with a shotgun into a shop. Hollis tries talking the gunman, who has just held up a building society, into letting the assistant go.

In 2020, director Stuart Urban and camera operator Alison Chapman recorded an Audio Commentary for this episode^[4]

Carver talks to his snout about a security job and gets a name for a burglary instead.

A court case is adjourned. D.I. Burnside and the defence counsel have an argument in the corridor. D.C. Martella goes back to the station to warn witnesses.

W.P.C. Ackland is watching a P.E. class at a school before talking to them about theft and robbery. P.C. Loxton chases a boy who has stolen a lady's chain. The boy appears too frightened to tell his name.

Ch. Supt. Brownlow speaks to W.P.C. Marshall about a promotion board.

Martella drives to a car fire to find a lady trapped in her car. She discovers a man who tried to get her out saw someone watching as he arrived.

Marshall is acting sergeant with C relief. She clashes with members of the relief and struggles to impose discipline.

French and Stamp discuss the merits of follow up calls. They get a call out to research labs. Loxton finds a security guard on the floor.

Stamp talks to a man about paint stripper on his car – the second time in a month. Hollis and Ackland are later called to an industrial estate where a man is damaging the car. Smollett is able to work out the meaning behind it.

A judge is arrested for GBH on a prostitute. He uses his phone call to ring D.A.C. Hicks. Brownlow is concerned about wrongful arrest.

Hollis is in a pawn brokers when a man wearing a hat, scarf, and glasses leaves carrying a bike helmet, leaving behind a bag with a gun in it.

Quinnan and Garfield respond to an armed robbery that turns out to be a wind-up.

CID investigate a burglary of an O.A.P. who has an asthma attack. Stamp talks to a lady who turned away a man supposedly from the Gas Board.

Stringer is beaten to the arrest of a girl robbery suspect by Stamp in the area car. His day gets worse when he is suspected of stealing some of the missing jewellery.

P.C. Stamp and W.P.C. Ackland attend a domestic and deal with a burglary at a pub. Stamp's girlfriend has broken up with him after talking to other police wives.

D.C.I. Reid goes to see the CPS about a case and is late for a meeting with Meadows from the Murder Squad. A rape victim says the allegation was false after the CPS gave the go ahead for the case to go to court.

Brownlow comes back from a conference and wants to start an anti-stress programme. A boy is stabbed and Young and Marshall investigate.

The relief are acting as reserve troops for a demonstration. At a meal break, Delia, Norika and June find a distressed probationer in the toilets.

In 2020, camera operator Alison Chapman recorded an Audio Commentary for this episode^[5]

A shop assistant is attacked and robbed of the week's takings by thieves on a motorcycle.

Sgt. Cryer investigates when anonymous letters expose P.C. Stringer's affair, in police time, with a prisoner's wife. W.P.C. Datta and P.C. Stamp lie in wait for a blackmailer. Ch. Insp. Conway is frustrated at a lack of promotion.

A professional hired killer is active in Sun Hill. A dubious informant provides a tip-off that divides D.I. Burnside and D.S. Greig.

D.I. Burnside hunts for a hired killer to prevent him from making his next hit.

A yob arrested for shoplifting turns out to be a respected police officer. D.I. Burnside unravels the story of the change in his behaviour.

It's P.C. Garfield's birthday, but a party only adds to his money troubles.

Hollis, a missing handbag, and a recluse police pensioner, all help to unravel a murder investigation.

Ch. Supt. Brownlow is questioned by Yorkshire Police about his involvement in a murder enquiry seventeen years before that led to a wrongful conviction.

In 2021, Peter Ellis (Chief Supt. Brownlow), Huw Higginson (P.C. George Garfield) and script editor Tim Vaughan recorded a two-part Video Commentary for this episode^[6]

AMIP investigates the murder of a teenager at a nightclub.

A suspected violent break-in begins to suggest more clues about the house's occupants than anything else – especially as they are missing.

P.C. Young reaches out to W.P.C. Datta and, when she rejects his advances, he sexually assaults her.

Duty Sgt. Cryer sets up a major operation to arrest defaulters on fine payments. Sgt. Peters accuses him of empire building.

Following his interview about a wrongful conviction and allegations of corruption against a former colleague, Ch. Supt. Brownlow meets up with him. Two boys are reported missing and are believed to have been abducted.

P.C. Young discovers a suicide and is deeply affected. Later, he visits Datta in the section house and attacks her.

Sun Hill officers attend a firearms training course. When an armed villain is reported in a building, P.C. Loxton shoots.

Young goes missing on his beat. Monroe orders a search. Quinnan and Loxton find Young's body in his car. He has committed suicide by feeding exhaust fumes into the vehicle.

D.I. Burnside investigates a series of attacks on prostitutes. A prison escapee is suspected.

On his first day at Sun Hill, Sgt. Matthew Boyden's past life catches up with him. Boyden shows that he knows all the angles, and Insp. Monroe is not impressed with his casual approach.

Smollett discovers he still has the taste for action.

D.I. Burnside is determined to clear up a three-year-old case of robbery and murder when an old acquaintance is released from prison. D.C.s Carver and Lines begin to have their doubts when they learn their tailing operation is "unofficial".

On his first day as Home Beat Officer, P.C. Smollett investigates the mugging of an old lady and discovers a rather unusual high-rise supermarket. Meanwhile, P.C. Stringer deals with a boy found unconscious by the canal.

D.I. Burnside wants to question a man about a missing girl, but he is "drunk and incapable" in the custody suite and Sgt. Maitland is determined to uphold P.A.C.E.

W.P.C. Datta is in court to testify in a drink-driving trial, but the case is complicated by a mouthwash that the defendant claims to have taken.

Sun Hill C.I.D. investigate a suspicious death.

P.C.s Loxton and Stringer are called to a domestic disturbance. The man found beating his wife turns out to be a P.C. from Stafford Row.

D.S. Roach is investigating an armed robbery. A series of unexplained tip-offs reveals the possibility that a D.S. at Sun Hill is guilty of corruption.

W.P.C. Ackland and P.C. Smollett deal with a possible case of wife battering. The alleged victim, the mother of a schizophrenic son, is uncooperative.

D.C.I. Reid tries to overcome the continuing clash of personalities with D.I. Burnside. D.S. Roach has problems when a juvenile prisoner lies about his age, then has an epileptic fit in his cell. D.C. Carver finds himself in a conflict of loyalties.

Maitland and Monroe investigate a pornography racket. Marshall and Stamp look for a beggar who seduced a mentally-retarded girl.

Ackland and Smollett call on a lady about her husband's dog who has dug up a skeleton in the garden. There is a new Det. Supt. of the Murder Squad replacing Meadows. Reid talks to Burnside about paperwork.

A Relief is stung into action on discovering that their arrest rate is inferior to that of B Relief.

P.C. Quinnan works undercover on a building site to investigate the theft of kitchen units but finds himself in a compromising situation.

On New Year's Eve, a learner driver backs into a prison van, allowing a dangerous prisoner to escape from custody.