The Thin Blue Line

Fowler is thrilled by the successful raid by the Gasforth Police Force on the home of a notorious drugs dealer. But little does he know that Grim is so desperate to get a conviction that he might have just bent the rules a little. When it comes to the courtroom ordeal, Fowler knows he will encounter a very nasty pair of briefs. He is - of course - determined to pull them right down.

Gasforth's Mayoress informs Fowler that an illegal asylum seeker has taken refuge in the town. She is concerned because when the immigrant's time runs out, Fowler will be required to arrest him for deportation and the EC are sending an observer. It is essential therefore, that the Gasforth Police Force's behaviour is above reproach and without the slightest hint of an ism.

A BBC camera crew come to Gasforth Police Station to make a "fly on the wall" documentary about the reality of policing. Fowler "strongly disapproves of this current broadcasting trend the turns police work into entertainment". Habib and Patricia can't get to the hairdressers fast enough - closely followed by Goody.

As in many inner cities, Gasforth has a problem with drugs. Grim plans a raid on a rave at the old gasworks the following night to look for E, LSD and any number of highly dangerous letters. Habib is dreading the prospect of her boring younger sister Mazia coming to stay - and spending a whole week with a teenage Muslim saint. But she's in for a surprise.

Gasforth Football Club is about to play Premiership team Chelsea, and Mayoress Wickham orders the police to make sure everything goes as planned. Goody prefers Gladiators and plans to become one. Fowler, on the other hand, is enthusiastic about football and the fact that the British are "happy to gather together in small groups on a wet Saturday and be a bit sad."

Gasforth is to have a new bypass and Patricia decides to spend her fortnight's leave as a member of the travelling tribe of road protestors under the alias "Squirrel Baggins". This is a cause of some embarrassment for Fowler especially as it will be the job of his police officers to "enforce the law" - which can result in the protestors chaining themselves to inanimate objects.

The promotion board will be visiting the Gasforth police station and Grim and Fowler are the most likely candidates. When Grim tells Fowler that they usually go for family men, Fowler proposes to Dawkins in a most unromantic way, causing her to break up with him.