Softly Softly: Task Force

- Season 8

(1976)

Informant Alf Bowen gives Harry Hawkins a tip about two men wanting explosives. Apart from a failed break-in at a quarry, nothing. Alf Bowen is playing both sides and when he discovers the men are going to kill him he sets up booby trap.

Two major operations are aborted due a red alert call. Special Branch inform Task Force of a possible kidnapping of a young Saudi boy. Branch man DCI Goldthorpe is shot dead, at the airport, before the situation can be safely resolved.

DS Grant is suspicious about London villain Micky Dixon and a flower shop in Church St. His investigation leads to a man called Aldridge but Dixon gets arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen car and Grant needs him released.

A high quality16mm film labeled 'Filth' is found at Grange Crossroads. Snow and Lincoln investigations leads to a man called Jennings of Wyvern House. DCS Watt needs to make a conspiracy charge for using an under age girl.

PC's Pearson and Lincoln arrest car theft John Dean, who drops a piece paper with a list of cars stolen to order. The first two have been stolen. However Dean is an alias and wanted by the Met for the Hatton Garden robbery.

George Barton contacts DS Grant about his missing wife, who appears to have vanished without trace along with her car. When the car is found it contains blood stains and a single shoe. He later receives a suspicious telephone call.

John Watt's old pal Bill Brown runs security at the Bull Hotel and wants him to help with a number of walk in thefts. Watt spots phony - Lord Hocking but he offers them Pierre Mandel, a man with a suitcase and shoulder holster.

John Watt spots fence Frank Chandler in a local bar. He is with his 'secretary' Doris offers Watt a chance to arrest him. He has agreed to buy a quantity of stolen lawnmowers from two wannabe villains and will give him the time and date.

A cat burglar scales a high rise tower block and breaks into six apartments stealing £400. The only cat burglar they suspect Keys has broke his leg. However his son Lee has enough money to buy a pony so Lincoln is sent undercover.

Det. Sgt. Grant is sent to a Thames County Council Social Services case review for a possible child endangerment case. Joan Fisher took her baby to hospital and they reported a number pre-existing injuries however prove is required.

DS Grant gets a tip about Maurice Roach, a well known villain planning a house breaking. Switz businessman Mr Tegman and his wife, of Woodstock Green, are found robbed and tied up. His niece witnessed a man loitering at the gates.

Mrs. Elsa Rutherford contacts PC Pearson to ask him to visit her in Axbury village. She tells him of hearing whispers in the night which intrigues him. After inquiries there are enough fragments to lead to a drug shipment arriving.

PC's Pearson and Lincoln are called to a factory break in. Pearson discovers an armed raider who fires a warning shot and flees. Insurance investigator Edward Letheridge offers John Watt a possible name of a recently released villain.

Lincoln and Grant stake out strip club. Hours later the stripper is found murdered in the park and a rag doll left by the body. Lincoln recognises the doll, from the club, while Hawkins links a bizarre telephone call about schizophrenia.

Harry Hawkins jobbing gardener Stanton appears to have vanished. PC Pearson takes him to his caravan, near Ashford. Inside it looks like a violent fight has taken place. An investigation begins but it appears Stanton has no history.