The everyday public and private lives of the detectives, policemen and policewomen who work at the inner-city Christmas Street police station in Manchester.
New police drama series set in the police station of a northern city. Two constables come across the body of a young woman and a murder inquiry is set up. But for an already overworked CID team, resources are being stretched to their limit. Meanwhile, there's an armed siege in an old peoples' home and a new Pc begins his first day on the job.
When a member of the Police Authority is burgled, he expects instant results. An empty baby-seat in a car involved in a traffic accident sends Terry on a frantic search for the missing child. The arrival of DS Jane McCormack puts Ray's nose out of joint. And a robber sporting a bright-red comedy wig and glasses has escaped with cash from a betting shop.
Terry surprises what he thinks is a burglar, but first impressions can be deceptive… Terry returns from his morning run to find an intruder in the house. CID is desperate to find Geoff Morrison, the father of Hayley and the prime suspect for her murder. Pc Sue Chappell and Pc Steve Jackson are faced with an emergency situation.
Determined to celebrate in style, at her 25th birthday bash WPc Sue Chappell ends up in the arms of Det Sgt Ray Pickering and they're not the only ones letting their hair down! Sue's had a day to remember after facing a gun-toting robber but when she has second thoughts about the job, hotheaded cop Steve shows an unexpected side to his personality… Pc Richard Law is visited by a deranged young man looking for his brother. Sue's birthday celebrations are marred by an interview that leaves her shaken.
Work is hectic at Christmas Street station as Paul and Colin have to deal with a drunk driver, and the rest of the shift faces prostitutes, a wife beater – and witnesses who claim to have seen UFO's! The relief shift on night duty is being kept busy with a prostitute and her client causing a disturbance, a case of wife battery and constant reports of UFO sightings. Meanwhile, the murder case is going no-where and Tony has nothing left to go on.
It's teeming with rain which has the advantage of keeping villains off the streets, but it means Pcs Redfern and Sydenham have to go looking for Pc Green, who always avoids working in a downpour. The paperwork for the murder inquiry is almost complete and, although Jane has doubts about the confession, Tony refuses to listen to her opinion.
Out shopping on his day off with his girlfriend Alison, Terry plays the hero when he nabs a shoplifter. But back on the beat, though, he bumps into an old school pal and realises being a boy in blue has its downside… A second body has been discovered and a new incident room is set up. To Ray's disappointment, DS McCormack is recalled to the case and the inquiry's progress is hampered by the loss of some important pathology reports. Meanwhile, Steve and Colin are on patrol when they see a chance to catch a recently released prisoner.
The murders of the two girls have been linked, so Ray and Jane have to get the investigation back on track.
Terry gets into trouble after arresting his mum's boyfriend and Sue has a big decision to make – and they both have to come to the rescue when their foolhardy colleague Steve is stabbed and thrown into a canal. Ray wakes up to a wrecked flat and some more bad news. Meanwhile, Tony gets the murder investigation off the ground by interviewing all male students.
Det Insp Tony Baynham and his team are sent on a wild goose chase in pursuit of their murder suspect. And there's Steve Jackson's attacker to catch and young Terry Sydenham needs his job back. The murder team are playing a game of wait and see as their prime suspect disappears.
