6 January 1990 (1990-01-06) – 20 February 1991 (1991-02-20)
Waterfront Beat is a BBC television police procedural drama series, broadcast between 6 January 1990 and 20 February 1991. The series follows the work of a group of police detectives stationed in the Liverpool docks. The series was created by writer Phil Redmond, famed for his work on Channel 4 soap Brookside.[1] The series was highly regarded as the BBC's first attempt to rival The Bill, following a similar weekly format to the ITV counterpart. A total of sixteen episodes were broadcast over the course of two series. The programme featured a large ensemble cast, with John Ashton, Rupert Frazer, Geoffrey Leesley, Denis Lill and Brian McCardie leading the cast throughout both series.[2]
BBC executives stated that the series would "look at the way one non-metropolitan, urban police force comes to terms with economic regeneration by reorganising its City Division, in turn creating a separate Inner City Waterfront Division", and that the series would explore "aspects of police work not normally featured and disabuse us of the notion that TV crime is always cracked in 50 minutes."[3] However, despite initial acclaim, Waterfront Beat was axed after just two series. The series has never officially been released on DVD.[4]
Cast
John Ashton as Detective Chief Supt. Don Henderson (Series 1—2)
Geoffrey Leesley as Det. Supt. Frank Mathews (Series 1—2)
Stolen cars and a murder inquiry are the least of problems for the new Divisional Commander, Don Henderson, who arrives on his first day at the unit to find that not only is his new office out of action, but that the whole building is under refurbishment.
2
"Hard Cheese"
Romey Allison
Phil Redmond
13 January 1990 (1990-01-13)
PC Barker discovers his first body, and deals with a hijack at a bio-engineering factory. Henderson gets attacked across the conference room table, then ends up in a siege when he takes his wife out for lunch.
3
"Wild Things"
Ken Horn
Phil Redmond
20 January 1990 (1990-01-20)
Henderson locks horns with ACC Williams, and Mike and Jane hunt a gang of sheep rustlers. Ronnie gets his first arrest and leaves Smithy feeling sheepish.
4
"Tied Up"
Ken Horn
Phil Redmond
27 January 1990 (1990-01-27)
The Police Underwater Recovery Team investigate after a motor cruiser is almost hit by bin bags thrown from a bridge, causing further problems for Frank, Mike and Jane. As the stolen car racket continues; Ronnie is worried when he realises his new bike is disappearing bit by bit.
5
"Under the Knuckle"
Richard Bramall
Phil Redmond
3 February 1990 (1990-02-03)
A fraud squad raid hits Fallows and McCarthy. Henderson receives attention from the media, while Smithy ends up paying too much attention to Madeline.
6
"Big Fish"
Ken Horn
Phil Redmond
10 February 1990 (1990-02-10)
Ronnie is injured in the line of duty. Don and June have a dinner date with the Fallows; and Mike, Jane and Frank catch a big fish in their net.
7
"Covert Operations"
Richard Standeven
Phil Redmond
17 February 1990 (1990-02-17)
Don avoids an important meeting with ACC Williams to meet up with the Russians. Frank is forced to watch Hagland in the absence of Mike and Jane, who have the wine store robbers under surveillance in the Lake District.
8
"Homeboy"
Richard Bramall
Phil Redmond
24 February 1990 (1990-02-24)
Don moves house with June and finds a new home for his division. Ronnie is excited about his first appearance in court, and Madeline acts as a decoy in an attempt to identify the skip murderer.
The division are kept busy by a gang of pirates operating on the river, and Ronnie finds himself in engaged in the hot pursuit of a potentially volatile suspect.
2
"Microlights"
A.J. Quinn
Phil Redmond
9 January 1991 (1991-01-09)
An old crime is given a new twist when a group of armed robbers take to the air.
3
"Repossessions"
Chris Lovett
Andy Lynch
16 January 1991 (1991-01-16)
Ronnie tries to crack a mortgage mystery.
4
"Stake Out"
Robert Gabriel
Andy Lynch
23 January 1991 (1991-01-23)
The division are in shock when the bin bag murders turn up quite a different sort of body.
5
"EPOS"
A.J. Quinn
Phil Redmond
30 January 1991 (1991-01-30)
An armed robbery takes place at a DIY store where the fraud squad have a surveillance operation running, which results in members of the division going undercover to catch the perpetrators. Ronnie unexpectedly loses his hair.
6
"Pickup"
Brian Morgan
Phil Redmond
6 February 1991 (1991-02-06)
The division investigate when a young girl's body is washed up on a beach. WDC Long is volunteered to accompany DS Matthews to Rhodes, and Ronnie infiltrates a racist gang to investigate a number of attacks on a newsagent.
7
"Acid Ship"
Chris Lovett
Andy Lynch
13 February 1991 (1991-02-13)
A beach murder leads Jackie and Jane to an offshore acid party, leading the drugs squad to go partying undercover for a raid, but things don't go according to plan. Ronnie is finding the pressure too great after infiltrating a gang of right-wing extremists.
8
"Dilemma"
A.J. Quinn
Phil Redmond
20 February 1991 (1991-02-20)
The division are pleased with an important breakthrough in the bin-bag murders. DS McVay has a theory about stolen corpses, and Ronnie confronts the racists.
