The Bill: Series 5
The fifth series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 104 episodes, broadcast between 3 January – 28 December 1989. The series was first released on DVD as part of the Collection 3 and Collection 4 DVD boxsets in Australia, made available on 8 August – 7 November 2007, respectively. The first four episodes of the series were later issued on DVD in the United Kingdom, under the title Volume 4, on 15 M
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Bill Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
The fifth series of The Bill, a British television drama, consisted of 104 episodes, broadcast between 3 January – 28 December 1989. The series was first released on DVD as part of the Collection 3 and Collection 4 DVD boxsets in Australia, made available on 8 August – 7 November 2007, respectively. The first four episodes of the series were later issued on DVD in the United Kingdom, under the title Volume 4, on 15 March 2010. The next thirteen episodes of series 5 were released on DVD in the UK, under the title Volume 5, on 11 July 2011, the next 48 episodes of Series five were released on DVD in the UK under the title Volume 6, on 15 October 2012 and the remaining episodes were released on DVD in the UK under the title Volume 7, on 2 September 2013.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
Getting It Right
Jan 3, 1989 · 22 min
D.I. Burnside leads a raid on a hotel room to catch a man suspected of armed abduction, but due to Ramsey's duff info, they raid the wrong room. The man in the room threatens to ma
A Reflection Of Glory
Jan 5, 1989 · 22 min
P.C. Ramsey is back in uniform and goes with P.C. Haynes to see about a shoplifter who claims she is innocent. While they are out the back, the shop is held up by armed robbers who
One To One
Jan 10, 1989 · 22 min
W.P.C. Ackland and P.C. Stamp arrive at a brothel, where they find Jo Whitney, the daughter of a prominent local councillor, soaked in paraffin and threatening to set herself and t
The Mugging And The Gypsies
Jan 12, 1989 · 22 min
W.P.C. Ackland and P.C. Smith attend a local gypsy campsite where residents are complaining. A social worker has a Place Of Safety Order on one of the gypsy children, Theresa Beech
The Chain Of Command
Jan 17, 1989 · 22 min
Ch. Insp. Conway is late for a meeting with a Mr. Trevelyan from the Department of Trade and Industry, who wants police help in shutting down Radio Sun Hill, a pirate radio station
Life And Death
Jan 19, 1989 · 22 min
P.C. Stamp and W.P.C. Brind arrest a man who is so drunk he can barely stand. Back at the station, the man collapses after a drug overdose, but not before implying that he's killed
Hothead
Jan 24, 1989 · 22 min
W.P.C. Brind and P.C. Melvin are on foot patrol, but are seperated. Brind ends up dealing with a workplace dispute by herself, but the ringleader, Nobby Briggs, smashes her radio a
Steamers
Jan 26, 1989 · 22 min
D.S. Roach goes to the hospital to talk to a young man who was slashed in the face with a knife - the fifth is a series of ""steamer"" attacks, where knife-wielding youths have hel
Duty Elsewhere
Jan 31, 1989 · 22 min
P.C. Haynes volunteers for ""duty elsewhere"", undercover as a driver for Neville Tubbs, leader of a Yardie gang in South London. A man has just been murdered and mutilated, and Ri
Saturday Blues
Feb 2, 1989 · 22 min
A young woman is taken to hospital in a coma after a drug overdose - she is D.I. Burnside's god-daughter, Tracey. Burnside orders Tracey's boyfriend, nightclub manager Terry Palmer
N.F.A.
Feb 7, 1989 · 22 min
W.P.C. Brind chases two bag snatchers, but they get away. She later spots one of them crossing the road and nicks him. The victim, Mrs Foster-Adams, is taken to the station to make
The Price You Pay
Feb 9, 1989 · 22 min
W.P.C. Martella visits a friend of hers, Alison Page, who has been badly beaten up. Alison is on the game, and her attacker was a client. D.S. Roach arrests the man, but he is a di
The Key of the Door
Feb 14, 1989 · 22 min
D.C. Dashwood investigates when a house which has recently been put on the market is burgled. He suspects that some prospective buyers are behind it, and gets a description of the
Cock-Up
Feb 16, 1989 · 22 min
P.C. Hollis is referee for a five-a-side football match between two schools organised by the Met. One of the players is Sgt. Cryer's son Danny, and Cryer breaks up a fight in the l
Repercussions
Feb 21, 1989 · 22 min
Because of a screwup, Burnside has put back community relations 30 years. Conway yells at Burnside before burnside goes to see Brownlow. Conway then goes to see Cryer who tells h
A Death In The Family
Feb 23, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy and June are talking to a lady when they are aware of shouts down the road. they find a man holding his dead baby. June takes it back into the baby's room to try to resusci
In The Frame
Feb 28, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside is not only late for the weekly crime meeting with Brownlow, but is called out of it by an urgent phone call. Officers from Operation Backwoods ask Burnside to step outsi
A Good Result
Mar 2, 1989 · 22 min
Roache brings in a man suspected of handling stolen car radios. Yorkie and Reg are going to the soccer. Reg with the result of the relief and Yorkie undercover in a group of foo
Conscience
Mar 7, 1989 · 22 min
Dashwood is moaning because Greig is playing his clarinet in the office. Roach is having a drink with a married woman and after she leaves, he recognises a man whose car has broke
Sunday, Sunday
Mar 9, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy and Viv are in a Sunday market when they are attacked by a group of white supremists. Viv is then teamed up with Haynes and investigates a broken window. A Black vicar tal
Climate
Mar 14, 1989 · 22 min
June has been seeing a married man. Bob is worried about having his tires slashed during the night. Sgt. Peters has his own troubles and doesn't want to listen to Bob's. Roach
Bad Company
Mar 16, 1989 · 22 min
Dashwood and Carver investigate a fight at a bail hostel. A man bailed for receiving has been beaten up and jumps off the roof and runs away. He is later found in a moneylender's
Suspicious Minds
Mar 21, 1989 · 22 min
Sun Hill C.I.D. and the Vice Squad raid six flats to catch a pornography ring. All the flats are clean except one, and it is suspected that the targets were tipped off. D.C. Dashwo
Intuition
Mar 23, 1989 · 22 min
D.S. Roach is interviewing a suspect, Barron, about a cash and gold bullion robbery. There's not enough evidence to charge him, and Barron knows it. Roach is desperate to find the
Loss
Mar 28, 1989 · 22 min
Ch. Insp. Conway wants to see P.C. Smith and W.P.C. Martella about a special assignment: going through the missing persons register and following up some of the cases. A cynical Sg
Procedure
Mar 30, 1989 · 22 min
Cryer is filling up a car. Peters gives the relief a lecture about refilling area cars after using them. The fraud squad are visiting the station a day early. CID has Customs a
Luck Of The Draw
Apr 4, 1989 · 22 min
Ted goes undercover to catch a gang running a lottery scam. If the workers don't join, they have an industrial accident. An old lady comes to the station to pay a non-existant P
No Strings
Apr 6, 1989 · 22 min
Roxanne is helping Roach and Viv catch bag snatchers at a disco. They get barracaded in the ladies loo with the suspects. Lines investigates a break-in at a medium's who has los
Fool's Gold
Apr 11, 1989 · 22 min
Carver, Yorkie and Ramsey bring in a suspect with a shooter. Suspect is tied in with Post Office jobs and cuts a deal with Burnside. A D.I. from Serious Crime comes to talk to su
The Visit
Apr 13, 1989 · 22 min
Viv is visting a remand prisoner in prison and ends up being held hostage. After being released she is told all his grevious's are false. Melvin watches from a balcony in a shop
One For The Ladies
Apr 18, 1989 · 22 min
Tosh and Grieg investigate a death in a hotel. The manager treats them like scum. Man was a Polish travelling tie salesman and died of a massive heart attack. Reg pulls out 7 di
No Shelter
Apr 20, 1989 · 22 min
An Italian turns up at the front desk asking for directions to the Blackball tunnell. Viv comes across a burglar with a gun who knocks her down and takes off. He was trying to b
Out To Lunch
Apr 25, 1989 · 22 min
Ramsey picks up Burnside, Carver and Lines just as they are leaving a resturant but before they get going, a lady (Mrs Mancini) comes along and says there are people in her car hav
Free Wheel
Apr 27, 1989 · 22 min
CID are keeping an eye on a man who is suspected of illegal shipment of arms to 3rd world countries. No one has been able to make a case against him in 8 years. A package gets de
Only A Bit Of Thieving
May 2, 1989 · 22 min
Roache talks to a lady about a burglary. Melvin goes back with him that night. Teenage burglars return and during a struggle one of them falls. His mate, who can't read, origina
Communications
May 4, 1989 · 22 min
Conway visits the CAD room and others to try and encourage people to talk about their problems. June asks Conway what he thinks her chances are of becoming a Sgt. After being wou
Silver Lining
May 9, 1989 · 22 min
Haynes is about to escort school childrenacross the road when a rolls roycecoming speeding down it. Haynes drives it back to the station after finding it outside the dole office.
Suffocation Job
May 11, 1989 · 22 min
June calls on a lady who claims her husband wants to kill her but the threat is 4 years old. Her husband smothered the baby with a pillow. Melvin investigates a break-in of a bu
Mickey Would Have Wanted It
May 16, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside goes to the funeral of an old villian, father of man suspected of the robbery. A dog digs up the loot. Melvin is talking to a boy playing hookey when he spota an armed
Blood Ties
May 19, 1989 · 22 min
Tony and Claire are waiting for the area car. While waiting, they have to ring around to find a missing prisoner. They are called to a disturbance where the son smashes the winds
You'll Be Back
May 23, 1989 · 22 min
Tony is talking to s shopkeeper about graffiti when he notices a scruffle between a stallholder and some youths. The stallholder is a friend of Cryer. Frazer overhears Cryer and
Fort Apache - Sun Hill
May 25, 1989 · 22 min
Industrial dispute by prison officers put pressure on the holding cells. Roache is not happy that a murder suspect is mixing with other prisoners. The prisoners in one of the cel
Waste
May 30, 1989 · 22 min
A homeless lady's body is found on a building site. Haynes investigates. She died of chorine gas. The site is run by a man convicted of fly tipping a few months ago. He has let a
The Strong Survive
Jun 1, 1989 · 22 min
Jim is waiting in a car for the chemist to open and hungry. Meanwhile Mike is being fed breakfast and cups of tea. A man takes a club and breaks all the glass in the front door a
Loving Care
Jun 6, 1989 · 22 min
Carver investigates a burglary and finds an unconsious girl at the bottom of the garden with the stolen property. Jim accuses home owner of lying about exactly what was taken. Gi
Back On The Streets
Jun 8, 1989 · 22 min
Tosh and Carver are in a car waiting for a suspect who gets away after pinching a mailman's bike. Suspect's wife has been rumoured as doing modeling work. Suspect hangs off the bal
FAT'AC
Jun 13, 1989 · 22 min
Yorkie is on hand at the scene of a fatal accident. Everyone is being held up and Yorkie is stressing out. Petrol is leaking from crushed car which has dead occupants. Sgt. Pen
Somewhere By Chance
Jun 15, 1989 · 22 min
Ramsey and Taffy investigate stolen credit cards in shopping precinct. While there a soldier says he has a bomb. The precinct is cleared and the relief check for the bomb. Taffy
A Quiet Life
Jun 20, 1989 · 22 min
Jim is at the hospital talking to the wife of the victim of a robbery who had a heart attack. It is the latest in a string of robberies. Tony finds a man clearing the skip he hi
Tom Tiddler's Ground
Jun 22, 1989 · 22 min
Viv and June are on park patrol. A lady runs into a shed and locks herself in. A man is looking for his dog that went missing a year ago. Jim and Dashwood are watching a man's
Make My Day
Jun 27, 1989 · 22 min
Uniform are looking for someone who is letting off distress flares inside letterboxes. Melvin arrives on the scene of an attack. Householder wants something done. Hollis is bac
Provocation
Jun 29, 1989 · 22 min
Mike Dashwood is investigating pilfering from a building site. Foreman is not cooperative. Roache gets him to interview a lad about a stolen moped. Father hits Mike and then fol
Overspend
Jul 4, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy has come in for a shift before taking his holidays. He is worried he will miss his flight. He tries to saw a bed rail to remove a prisoner but ends up removing the bed head
Between Friends
Jul 6, 1989 · 22 min
Dashwood and Roach investigate a break-in at an apartment on the Thames. The burglar is chased and caught by uniform. Claims chloroform was planted on him but later changes his s
Traffic
Jul 11, 1989 · 22 min
An artist is painting in the middle of the road while a lorry is blocking the road. The girl won't talk but doesn't appear deaf. Garfield is stopped because of a hit and run of
The Sacred Seal
Jul 13, 1989 · 22 min
An armed robbery is in progress. Jim follows suspect, picking up starting pistol but loses him outside a church. A priest is found holding the money after suspect leaves during c
Subsequent Visits
Jul 18, 1989 · 22 min
Stamp brings in a biker and leaves Brind to bring up the motorbike. CID doesn't want to know. Tosh is getting ready for his holidays. Garfield and Stamp are competing for number
User Friendly
Jul 20, 1989 · 22 min
A plane has come down in a park. Pilot and passengers (1 injured) all took off. Dogs track injured man to a warehouse. The plane had taken off from Belgium. A wooden crate is f
Don't Like Mondays
Jul 25, 1989 · 22 min
PC Edwards and PC Smith are called to a disturbance at a local bank, where they are surprised to find Tosh Lines' wife and children causing a commotion as there is no money left in
Pickup
Jul 27, 1989 · 22 min
Haynes and Martella follow a car which is being driven erratically. Viv is worried about Haynes because he is a friend of Ramsey. Frazer briefs uniform about how to pick up pros
Kidding
Aug 1, 1989 · 22 min
Inspector Frazer is moaning about expenses. Viv is given domestic violence cases to follow up. She can't understand why beaten women stay. One would rather put up with it than
Black Spot
Aug 3, 1989 · 22 min
Tosh visits a family with some clothes and meets a man who is teaching his son bad attitudes regarding the police. He puts Tosh's back up and he is determined to nick him, althoug
Taken For A Ride
Aug 8, 1989 · 22 min
Roach is meeting the Inspectors Promotion Board who made up their mind before the interview that he wouldn't be promoted. Carver is moaning to Burnside about going out in the eve
Time Out
Aug 10, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside argues with a D.I. from robbery squad about using Greig and Lines on surveillance. They are sharing the house with a nosy lady. When the suspect is grabbed, the radio is
Leaving
Aug 15, 1989 · 22 min
Yorkie's last day. Ho goes to a suspected break-in at a video shop. Hollis thought he was going to Lombardy house instead. Yorkie has lost the area car but it turns out to be a
Street Games And Board Games
Aug 17, 1989 · 22 min
June and Tony walk through a black community. Roach had raided a house selling intoxicating liquor. June and Tony are called to a disturbance at a house iwth white occupants. Th
Pressure
Aug 22, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy and Stamp are on a shout when they come across an accident. They have to carry on. Taffy's wife thinks Cryer is stopping his transfer going through. A nasty atmosphere is
A Little Knowledge
Aug 24, 1989 · 22 min
Lines sits in on a poker game at a mini cab office. Illegal gambling is suspected. They raid the wrong place. Cathy moans to Taffy about putting the cards back. she is set up
Pathways
Aug 29, 1989 · 22 min
While attending a traffic accident, Alex is approached about vandalism on an allotment but it is about couples coming in having sex in the sheds. Turns out to a prostitute known t
Seen To Be Done
Aug 31, 1989 · 22 min
Penny is kicking the drunks out of the cells. One of the drunks is very relucant to go. He is later found dead by a cleaner. Hollis is getting in the way as Federation rep beca
Tulip
Sep 5, 1989 · 22 min
Roach and Dashwood arrest a man at an after match function. The suspect tries to help a girl and gets stabbed. Roach gets very little cooperation at another police station and h
Nothing But The Truth
Sep 7, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside is having problems with the C.P.S.(Crown Prosecuting Service). He asks Brind to check a warrant on a man asked after by the C.P.S. Carver is having a hard time in CID.
It's Not Majorca
Sep 12, 1989 · 22 min
Lay visitors are visiting the station. 30 prisoners are about to be transferred from Barton Street. Sgt. Peters processes a boy who has stolen insects from a pet shop. The lay v
Mending Fences
Sep 14, 1989 · 22 min
After being raked over the coals by Brownlow for the accident in the custody suite. Sgt. Peters mows Mrs Gunn's lawn before taking her to the vicar's fete. Taffy talks to Thompso
Exit Lines
Sep 19, 1989 · 22 min
Garfield is on the beat when he notices an old lady catching her breath. He drops in to see her later and Cryer is worried he is skivvying. Norika comes in a day early to see Cr
That Old Malarkey
Sep 21, 1989 · 22 min
Stamp calls on a lady who complains her neighbour is making noises. She has security bars on her door and loses the key. Tony calls the fire brigade to cut the bars and then she
Greig Versus Taylor
Sep 26, 1989 · 22 min
Greig interviews a suspect in an armed robbery. Most of the evidence is circumstantial but the suspect decides to confess.
Tottering
Sep 28, 1989 · 22 min
Turnham wants a name from Cathy but annoys her by whistling and then asks Reg who he thinks the suspect is. Cathy is rude to Roach later but he makes her feel better after talking
I Counted Them All Out
Oct 3, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside, the rest of CID and some uniform assist Flying Squad thwart a hold-up on a security van at a supermarket. Carver is not happy that a shot was fired resulting in a villia
Zig Zag
Oct 5, 1989 · 22 min
Mike and Tosh are looking for a private detective. His girlfriend is not saying anything about his whereabouts. A client is also looking for him as is the driver of a car.
A Matter of Trust
Oct 10, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside and Carver are doing a joint observation with Robbery Squad on a security van. Info seems to be incorrect as to time of holdup. Conway is on warpath. Burnside's snout i
Tourist Trap
Oct 12, 1989 · 22 min
Dashwood and Ackland are on a tour in a graveyard. Garfield and Carver are in the hotel waiting to catch a thief. Greig is in the linen cupboard. Stamp is there also and is appr
The One That Got Away
Oct 17, 1989 · 22 min
Brownlow is driving when he notices a driving erratically. He gives chase and catches the driver but can't reveal his location. The driver who was driving a stolen car, then nicks
Found Offending
Oct 19, 1989 · 22 min
Stamp is near an underpass when he spots a girl begging. He brings her in to the station where it turns out that she was abused by her father. Lady outside a cafe is worried abo
All Part of The Job
Oct 24, 1989 · 22 min
Brind sorts out a bit of bother in a pub. A man, who turns out to be from Special Branch, chats her up afterwards. Conway is not happy Brind is being put in dangerous situations
In the Cold
Oct 26, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy and Tony go to a rail yard where a female body has been found. Burnside thinks the watchman fits the picture. It turns out she died of exposure.
Just a Little Run Around
Oct 31, 1989 · 22 min
Frazer starts her police riot training and is reunited with some old friends.
A Fair Appraisal
Nov 2, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy is up for APA and is wound up by Tony. Taffy goes to deal with an alarm at a warehouse. Turns out to be an actual break in instead of a fault with the alarm. He refuses to
Visitors
Nov 7, 1989 · 22 min
Sunhill has an open day and a sliver cup is nicked. Lines is having money problems. Reg is concerned about stress on the job. June and Tosh investigate a man who is running a
Private Wars
Nov 9, 1989 · 22 min
Burnside is driving past an electricity substation when he sees someone climbing over the wall. While investigating he is beaten by security guards. Frazer is looking for blue m
Feasting With Panthers
Nov 14, 1989 · 22 min
A special constable gaves a ticket to a motorist. Penny warns a car owner to move his car and tells the special constable to destroy the ticket for the car. Penny loses it after
By The Book
Nov 16, 1989 · 22 min
Norika talks to a driver who parks illegally. She then deals with an upset drug addict at a chemist. The girl is later found badly beaten and her prescription missing. Dashwood
Beer And Bicycles
Nov 21, 1989 · 22 min
Conway talks to the relief about image. ""Efficient service with a smile"". Martella is asked to do surgery that afternoon. Booze has been found in the locker room. Conway is o
Grace Of God
Nov 23, 1989 · 22 min
A amn at a caryard has complaints about kids damaging cars and nicking car radios. The kids harass a man who has moved back into his old family home. The man snapped after the ki
Just Another Day
Nov 28, 1989 · 22 min
A group of children are harassing a shop keeper but the real complaint is against a sax player. Melvin thinks there is a connection between the busker and someone called 'The Pied
Gone Fishing
Nov 30, 1989 · 22 min
Carver goes to the hospital to see how a victim of a hit-and-run accident is. Roach thinks it is attempted murder and although she says her husband didn't do it she is lying.
Early Bird
Dec 5, 1989 · 22 min
Taffy and Claire find an old lady on the street with a bird cage and a suitcase. She has run away from a home and later dies in the canteen. Tosh and Jim stop and search a cat b
Just For The Crack
Dec 7, 1989 · 22 min
Jim has brought a new suit. 27 motorbikes including a police bike have been nicked. Garfield and Viv notice 2 youths stealing a bike. When they raid the garage all they find is
Woman In Brown
Dec 12, 1989 · 22 min
June and Melvin call at a school where a baby has been taken. June thinks she knows who took the baby. Viv and Able are called to a basement flat where the old lady has been conned
Speaking Freely
Dec 14, 1989 · 22 min
Frazer brings in a suspected shoplifter. Frazer is having her apprasial interview later. A woman comes in to inform Frazer that there might be problems at a talk given by a pro
The Return Of The Prodigal
Dec 19, 1989 · 22 min
Greig has been made Acting D. I. and Ted takes it up with Conway when he gets back. Ted is bringing in a prisoner who has been on the run for 12 months. His mum and sister are c
Chinese Whispers
Dec 21, 1989 · 22 min
Norika can't get her car started. A man helps who turns out to be the bogus repairman. Norika and Dave are on the beat together when they are told of a blind man who has been mug
Powers Of Exclusion
Dec 26, 1989 · 22 min
The van brings in a Reverend with a sheath knife after a fight. Burnside has been after the Reverend for a long time. Reg recognises the law clerk send to represent the Reverend.
Saturday Night Fever
Dec 28, 1989 · 22 min
DC Carver is at the hospital checking on a stabbing of a drug dealer. WPC Martella has some info about the deceased which prompts DS Burnside to bring in a couple of suspects. Sgt.