Line of Duty

The target of the 5th September ambush was a protected witness.

John Thomas Hunter...

DI Denton, I'm arresting you for conspiracy to murder a protected witness.

DS Akers was the person closest to the witness, trusted by him.

You two always used to end up side by side.

I'd rather not investigate the death of a former colleague. I like keeping a distance.

On the night of the ambush, he called me.

Why'd you hide it?

Rich and I were involved, behind Jayne's back.

Looks like Jayne Akers was on the receiving end of a substantial payment.

How substantial?

Upwards of 50 grand.

Nurse? Where's the...?

SHE SCREAMS

Who is that man?

The records show that Superintendent Hastings is in considerable financial difficulties.

I'd like you to carry on.

Very grateful, sir. Thank you, sir.

The fewer people know about your situation the better.

Don't you see how I've been set up?

The only person I told about the operation was Mike Dryden.

On the night of the ambush, this particular officer caused the rota to be changed.

Does the Deputy Chief Constable have a statement

regarding the allegation about his speeding offence?

My wife and I strenuously deny the allegation.

Hargreaves calls you "Jolly".

"Jolly" Rogerson.

He's a laugh a minute.

So there's a body?

We're taking it from here.

I was only searching for Carly.

Of all the long-term mispers, why her?

Call me later for initial forensics.

SHE SCREAMS You've been talking to AC-12!

I believe you.

RADIO BROADCAST

'Now it's three minutes to seven

'and you're listening to the Breakfast Show.'

Morning...

Morning...

I've had to disclose the situation at work.

Our situation?

No, no, just the money.

Now the whole world knows our business.

No, no. Just one executive officer, in confidence. A top man.

In fact, this particular officer thinks very highly of me

so I can see things getting a lot better.

How so?

If I was to put myself forward for promotion,

when this case is finished.

This particular officer more or less tipped me the wink.

Right.

A promotion's no small thing, love.

Pay rise.

Bigger pension.

We need to be clear about a few things first.

I'll say it again,

I am deeply sorry for having not consulted you about the finances.

It was a mistake.

I just wanted to surprise you.

Where's the harm in looking?

Right, we've all read this report. Looks like DS Akers was on the take.

Well, it's only circumstantial so far.

If the officer meant to be looking after a protected witness is

getting paid off and that witness gets killed,

it doesn't leave much room for circumstance as far as I'm concerned.

Sorry, mate.

Evidence is evidence. Good.

Dot, Steve...

The husband, you said he was acting suspiciously?

I could've jumped to the wrong conclusion.

It's fine, Steve. Let's just do our job.

Well said, Kate. Let's put it beyond doubt.

Let's bring the husband in for questioning and do a 32 search on his house.

Very good, sir. Off you go.

Sir. We haven't discussed Deputy Chief Constable Dryden.

Denton's thrown suspicion towards him and so far it's all checked out.

They worked together. They had contact outside of work

and he made sure she was on duty the night of the ambush.

That is one hell of an accusation to throw at a senior officer, Steve.

Especially a senior officer with such an outstanding record of public service.

Well, there is this story that was leaked to the press, about him

and his wife swapping points on a driving offence.

Now with respect, sir,

if we didn't look into it it'd look like favouritism.

And sir, I checked Dryden's web-site.

He leaves tomorrow for a series of speaking engagements.

If we don't bring him in today, we lose him for the rest of the week.

We can delay bringing in Rich Akers for 24 hours.

He's going nowhere, he's got no idea we're onto him.

Dryden's potentially more closely involved with the ambush and that has to be our priority.

And if only to rule him out as soon as possible.

Right, well, no mistakes, mind,

I want all the Is dotted, all the Ts crossed

before that man sets one foot in this building, you understand?

Sir. On you go.

Elvis has entered the building.

Thank you for your cooperation, sir.

I hope this isn't going to take long, Ted.

Just waiting on Chief Constable Lightwater, sir, because of the special arrangements.

Barry Lightwater's coming up?

His force are having a ding-dong with the PCC at the minute.

Between ourselves I think he'll be glad of the away-day.

As I said, sir, we're very grateful.

As you were.

Thank you, sir.

Sorry, sorry. Don't get up.

Sir, if you wouldn't mind...

Thanks, Ted. Thank you. Thank you.

I think the way this works is you'll only hear from me if there's anything untoward.

Thank you, sir. Thanks, sir.

MACHINE BEEPS

BEEPING STOPS

AC-12 interview of Deputy Chief Constable Michael Dryden,

with Superintendent Hastings, DI Cottan, DS Arnott, DC Fleming.

Normal practice is that the interviewee be

questioned by an officer at least one rank superior.

However in this case that cannot happen,

so Chief Constable Lightwater of the East Midlands Constabulary

has kindly agreed to sit in as an observer.

Is that all right with you and the ACPO?

I'm ready. Let's get on with it.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Well, I refer you to Document 1 in your folders.

A complaint has been made regarding a traffic offence,

an SP-30,

which occurred on the night of August 16th this year.

The vehicle registered to Mrs Helen Dryden

was photographed by a speed camera travelling in excess

of the speed limit.

Then, a week later on August 23rd,

the Traffic Division received notice from Mrs Helen Dryden

that at the time the incident occurred,

the vehicle was actually being driven by yourself, Deputy Chief Constable Dryden.

Correct. An allegation has been made that Mrs Dryden

and/or yourself falsified that notification. Untrue.

I was driving. Helen was home.

And, remember the reason for your journey that evening?

I left home and drove back towards town to buy some beer and wine from the off-licence.

Changed my mind, went back home.

And can you account for the allegation to the contrary?

I'm a target. Someone in the organisation wants to make me look bad.

I hope you'll spend as much time looking for them as you do

investigating this codswallop. We will, sir. We will.

Glad to hear it.

Would I be able to ask a question, sir?

Full marks for balls. Go on.

You didn't go into the off-licence?

No. So the only person likely to have seen you leave

and return home is Mrs Dryden? Most probably.

Will we be able to take a statement from Mrs Dryden?

Don't they train you people any more?

A spouse isn't a compellable witness.

Sir, we're under no obligation to inform your wife that she's not a compellable witness

and whether she can or can't give evidence against you is a moot point as per R v L 2008.

I'll inform her. She'll back me up.

Nothing moot there. Anything else?

Why did you change your mind about going into the off-licence?

Just did.

Erm...

If I may, sir, there's just a few loose ends I'd like to clear up

regarding our investigation into the ambush of the night of September 5th.

My number one priority. Anything to help. Thank you, sir.

DC Fleming, sir.

You took a call that evening from DI Lindsay Denton?

Yes, she couldn't get hold of her Duty Chief Superintendent.

She called me. I gave Gold approval for the operation.

Did she disclose to you the nature of the operation, sir?

No, I regularly sign off on operations without knowing

the first bloody thing about them.

Sorry, sir. Specifically, sir, did you give approval to DI Denton to

proceed without back-up and without firearms?

Wasn't the call recorded?

She made the call from her office phone and not the Duty Desk,

so no, sir.

I don't recall DI Denton apprising me of those facts.

If she had, I would've expressed misgivings, of course.

In terms of the on-call rotas,

specifically the ghost rota for 4th Street Station,

is that something you'd ever normally take an interest in?

Why would I?

So you weren't involved at all in the circumstances that led to

DI Denton being the Duty Inspector that evening?

I also personally supervise

whether beat bobbies put on their left shoe first or their right.

Anything else?

Sir, could anyone have overheard the conversation you had with DI Denton?

Only my wife.

Somehow it feels like we've been here before, DS... Arnott, sir.

Did she overhear or did you discuss the call with her?

Where are we going with this?

Sir, I think DS Arnott's worried that your wife may have got

her sewing circle to carry out the ambush.

HE LAUGHS

I think we can safely discount that theory, DI...

Cottan, sir.

Cottan. That's right. The witness protection expert from AC-9.

That's right, sir.

Look, Ted, you're married. You know what it's like.

You take a call from a woman after ten o'clock at night,