Law and Order (UK TV series)

Law and Order was a series of four television plays written by G. F. Newman and directed by Les Blair. It first aired in 1978 on BBC2.

The four stories within Law and Order were told from the perspective of:

* A Detective's Tale - This focuses upon Scotland Yard, Detective Inspector Fred Pyle - played by Derek Martin. Pyle is open to corruption from villain's and operates a system of 'checks and balances' where certain villain's get brought to justice and some do not. After a meeting with his informant Mickey Fielder - played by Roy Stone, Pyle discovers that a villain from Canning Town Jack Lynn - played by Peter Dean, is putting together an armed robbery of a supermarket in Putney. Prior to this Pyle had arrested Clifford Harding - played by Alan Ford, following a police raid of his home which recovered an illegal firearm. Harding agrees to bribe Pyle in order to walk away from the firearms charge. Pyle however knows he can get more out of Harding and later on uses Harding's relationship with Lynn to make him turn informant and gain further information about the supermarket robbery. Pyle's informant Fielder reveals the date/time of Lynn's robbery but for some reason it does not happen. Pyle however is determined to nail Lynn and is willing to resort to 'fit up' tactics in order to gain a conviction - even if he hasn't actually committed the crime in question. Add to this a cosy relationship with a corrupt lawyer Alex Gladwell - played by Ken Campbell, and a seemingly blind eye to his activities from superiors within Scotland Yard it seems Pyle is almost a law unto himself. "Broadcast BBC2 6th April 1978"

* A Villain's Tale This focuses upon Jack Lynn. After two of his 'firm' get arrested for an unconnected armed robbery, Lynn is short of personnel and sets about recruiting for the supermarket robbery. He approaches longtime associate John Tully - played by Barry Summerford, who is interested but has already made commitments to a 'firm' planning an armed raid on a British Gas depot in Romford. Lynn continues with his plans recruiting Tommy Haines - played by Mike Cummings, to act as a back up man and procures firearms from Alf Coster an arms dealer with a middle-class grocer front - played by Philip Hayes. Lynn stores the weapons at a lock-up garage - he rented in a false name, and is ready to go. However he is getting pressure from his wife Cathy - played by Deirdre Costello, to give up his life of crime and go straight. Furthermore Lynn discovers Mickey Fielder is Pyle's informant and has given Pyle details of their supermarket robbery. Lynn decides to postpone the robbery and take retribution against Fielder for informing giving him a severe beating and smashing his kneecaps. - to be continued

"Broadcast BBC2 13th April 1978"

* A Brief's Tale "transmitted on BBC2 20th April 1978" - text TBA
* A Prisoner's Tale "transmitted on BBC2 27th April 1978" - text TBA

The miniseries was highly controversial upon its release due to its depiction of a corrupt British law enforcement and legal system.