This ABC series, was filmed at AB Elstree Studios, two films being made per week. Ziv stated that the cost of the series amounted to US$1,250,000 (about £450,000). It was produced by the phenomenal Harry Alan Towers. Tom Fallon, who had set up the 999 telephone emergency service, acted as adviser and Robert Beatty had his finest moment starring as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police inspector, seconded to the British police. The series shows him gaining experience in the varied aspects of British policing. Towards the end of the filming, in early October 1958, shooting had to be suspended as Beatty broke a leg during a chase!
The series premiered on ABC Midlands/North on Sunday June 8th 1958, and on ATV London on July 6th 1958.
"It will take me a long time to live down Mike Maguire," claimed Beatty in 1959. "The part hits me in the eye whenever I show my face. I'm just waiting for a London bobby to tip his helmet instead of booking me for a parking offence." In a later interview he stated, with a slight exaggeration, that it "kept me out of television for about ten years." But the series was a big success. It even came first (top!) of the TAM ratings for week ending May 6th 1962 in the Scottish Television area!
Because Maguire worked alongside various police branches, he had no regular helper. These policemen however assisted him: Duncan Lamont as Insp Winter (#1 The Killing Job), John Witty as Sgt West (#3 Illegal Entry), John Warwick as Insp Blake (#9 77 Bus), John Howlett as Sgt Chester (#14 Mechanical Watchman), and Sgt Cole (#29 Deadly Blackmail), Richard Bebb as Inspector Pybus (#13 Special Branch) and as Sgt Bellamy (#22 Barge Burglars): Richard told me he appeared in other stories too.
Director Alvin Rakoff was booked to make the pilot films, these were: #1 The Killing Job, #5 Thames Divison, #19 24 Hours a Day, and #38 Robbery With Violence
To TV Crime Menu

.

.

.

THE KILLING JOB
In this opening story by Ted Willis, we are introduced to Mike Maguire of the Canadian Mounties who has just flown in to "London Town" on work experience from Montreal.

Before even reaching the Yard, at midnight in Piccadilly he stumbles on a protection racketeer Dandy Evans (Peter Reynolds) who has been knifed after falling out with a 'colleague' Colletta (Sydney Tafler).
After being welcomed to these shores by the Assistant Commissioner at the Yard (Ronald Adam), Maguire is assigned to Detective Inspector Tom Winter (Duncan Lamont) of the CID, based at West End Central station.
Colletta with his heavy, Morris (Arthur Mullard, uncredited), is aiming to take over Evans' territory, so his former 'colleagues,' led by Joss (William Hartnell) give him an ultimatum, "to get out of town". He has one hour.
As he doesn't comply, Evans is despatched to adminster the chop. He and his gang get out their flick knives and there's a wonderful street chase past Trafalgar Square, WALKING! You mustn't run or the police might notice you.
But Colletta is cornered in Regent Car Park, as the knives comes out. Winter and Maguire swoop, carting away some of London's most notorious villains.
At 11.15pm on The Embankment, the pair mull over the case.

Note: Cockney rhyming slang is explained to Maguire by the helpful Colletta.
This was the only episode in this series to have been repeated on British national television since the 1960s. Television Heaven on Channel Four screened it, with an introduction by Frank Muir, that erroneously attributed the series to ATV.

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

Special Mission
Maguire's assistant is Sgt Wilson (Donald Bisset).
An exciting story set in Fleet Street, where a gang have planned to rob a payroll of £20,000. The Cleenite Company have dug this suspicious hole in the pavement, cover for the gang: the theft effected, the two crooks quickly change clothes and nonchalantly pose as workmen. They have passed the proceeds to their boss (Basil Dignam), who conceals the cash in a bundle of newspapers about to be delivered.
All three villains watch as Maguire pokes around, he cleverly spots the discarded clothing and arranges for the area to be cordoned off. The boss watches anxiously as the loot is taken away in an Evening News delivery van.
The two other crooks try to leave surreptitously, but Freddy rather stupidly stumbles just outside the window where Maguire is masterminding operations. Maguire pounces on him, eager for any sort of clue, while Charley (Michael Ripper) slips away with his boss to trail the van which is delivering in the Stockwell area. Freddy soon comes clean, and the search is on for the van driven by Willy Harris. Maguire jumps on another delivery van, driver Bob Marsh.
The pursued van is stopped and the cash recovered, but the watching crooks quickly retrieve their loot. They drive away but two vans pursue them, soon to be three, and they are hemmed in. (Some of the vans get mixed up by continuity, Maguire is seen in two vans, and the original van with the loot seems to change number plates also!)

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Attacked guard. 2 Worried man. Cars: 564PMH. 6MML- the crook's car. Police cars include MXC334 and RPB437. News vans: CXO396, SGK817, ULT918, and SXD496

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

ILLEGAL ENTRY
Maguire's assistant is Det Sgt West (John Witty).

"Why should a jewel thief try to steal a fur coat? Why should an accomplice ransack a flat when the coat was known to be in storage?"
The case actually starts when a thief attempts to break into Luxford's, the furriers in Melton Street. He's caught and Maguire's probing questions show that Karl is a foreigner (clever deduction there!) who has been smuggled into the country to work for some criminals.
As Karl has been arrested the crooks persuade his illegal immigrant wife Helga (Adrienne Corri) to steal the fur coat her husband failed to nick. To do so, she breaks into the flat of Baroness von Falcon (Patricia Laffan) and obtains a copy of her signature, which is then forged. She goes with the necessary authorisation to collect the mink coat from Mr Luxford. However Maguire is there to arrest Helga too- "I'll have to ask you to come to the police station." She confesses and gives a detailed account of how they entered England.
In a subplot, Maguire discovers the real reason for the thieves' interest in the coat- there's a valuable ruby hidden in it! The countess is ordered to pay the outstanding duty on it.
Microscopic examination of Karl's clothing proves he's been on a fishing boat recently and this leads Maguire to the docks, and the trawler Boy Tom. The police swoop just as the latest batch of illegal immigrants are arriving. A chase round Billingsgate fish Market and the case is closed

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

The Great Gold Robbery
Maguire is attached to Flying Squad and Supt Robinson (Lloyd Lamble) and is assisted by Ted Ford (John Howlett).

The Edinburgh to London express is robbed of its mail. Time 5.35pm. In the area where the mailbags were thrown from the train, a clue is found, footprints show one of the crooks had a limp.
The gang are already planning their next job, at a warehouse in London Airport. Ginger Clark, who works here is knocked out, and his place taken by a member of the gang, Bluey Bronson. Clark does reveal that earlier he had been offered a better job- by a man with a limp!
Bronson is kept under surveillance, he has given his fellow workers dope which has knocked them out. The gang drive up and enter the warehouse. Maguire pounces, and although the boss limps off to his van, Maguire leaps on board and prevents his escape.

Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Crook (Arnold Yarrow). 2 Second crook. 3 Porter at Euston. 4 Railway inspector. 5 Mail porter. 6 Guard. 7 Ginger. 8 Forensic man (Edwin Apps). 9 Flying Squad officer.
Police car: MXC334. Car: HWM759. Police van 395LMM. Crooks' van: KJY754

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

Thames Division
with Lloyd Lamble as Supt Stanford.

Maguire tours the Port of London. The Case of the Rangoon Maid begins with James Carson (Michael Balfour) demanding more payment from shipping company owner Byers. He needs to be "taken care of." Byers' right hand woman Pauline (Delphi Lawrence) fixes it.
Maguire joins local police on board Carson's ship The Rangoon Maid, where he was third engineer. Maguire learns about a radio message that Carson had sent asking for triple price for his job. This proves to be related to heroin smuggling. Some of the stuff seems likely to have been hidden in Carson's right shoe, which the gang have removed.
The killer is Lalong, a frightened steward, who after a chase around the ship, manages to dive overboard and run ashore. He is sheltered by Byers, who has to silence him. The corpse is taken away on the barge Lilian, but Maguire has been watching the gang and they are all rounded up.

Pauline's sports car: PYX238

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

Missing Person
A girl is pushed over Waterloo Bridge late at night. The third such murder.
Maguire's plan is to find the next "likely victim". We see who it is: Toni Miller (Barbara Steele), who "lost her father in the war" and has run away from home after a row with her mother over her dancing at a cabaret.
She goes to stay with her friend June (Vera Day), who suggests Toni tries an escort agency. Escorts Ltd offer her a job, meeting Peter Anderson who is staying at The Cumberland Hotel.
Maguire traces the club where Toni had been dancing, then finds June. But he is always one step behind, now interviewing Walters of the agency. "You haven't got a hope" of tracing her.
Toni is now meeting her date outside the hotel and they have walked to the river. They take a meal at the Royal Festival Hall. They talk. Luckily a constable spots them.
Maguire has searched Yard records and from Walters had learned that the criminal has a nervous tapping habit. This enables his identity to be established.
The couple walk along the bridge- it is still daylight. A policeman and Maguire prevent the killer from striking again. Though he runs off, Maguire soon fells him.
Maguire takes Toni home, for a happy reunion

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

Honeymoon
Maguire is with Flying Squad, his assistant Sgt Stevens (Robert Bruce).
In the Tower of London - cue tourist guide by Beatty - two American honeymooners, Frank (Lionel Murton) and Jane (Jacqueline Ellis) are robbed by a pickpocket, who gets away by cab.
£60 is nicked, plus an insurance policy for jewels value £50,000, kept in the safe where Frank and Jane are staying. The pickpocket informs his boss Geoff Dawson (Alan Tilvern).
Bernard the taxi driver is traced, and tells Maguire where he had dropped the thief off. But as the man does not live here, he is not found, and police also miss Dawson, who is already making for Frank's safe.
The pickpocket is found in Berwick Street market, and caught, the stolen cash found in his room. He admits handing the policy to Dawson.
In her flat, alone, Jane is attacked and beaten up, forced to open the safe. However, she doesn't know how, and Dawson has to await Frank's return. At gunpoint, he is forced to open the safe and hand over the jewels. At that very moment, Maguire shows up, though Dawson shoots and escapes via a window. It's another rooftop chase, ending as Dawson falls, on this occasion through a skylight.

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Police constable. 2 Policeman in squad car. 3 Telephonist. 4 George, radio operative. 5 Bernard. 6 Porter. 7 Crook (Danny Green) 8 Model. Cars: MXC 334 the usual police car, though in Berwick Street it changes to RPB437. Taxi: OLW259

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

Commando Crook
Maguire is assisted by Det Sgt Quigley (Thomas Heathcote)

A nightwatchman is knocked out with a judo blow by an intruder, who blows open a safe and steals the cash. He whistles Pop Goes the Weasel.
Bill Randolph (Laurence Payne) is a suspect, though he has been going straight of late, starting up a business with ex-policeman Dawson. Tactfully, Maguire chats to Bill, seeking his suggestions as to who might commit such a crime: Bill suggests either James Stacey, or maybe Kendall.
Quigley interviews Mrs Stacey, though in fact Bill has tipped off her husband that the man is her lover! Then Randolph phones Kendall to warn him that "The Opposition" are coming to sort him out! Thus, when Maguire comes to question Kendall, he is on the receiving end of some rough stuff. "There's been a mistake," apologises Kendall, when Maguire reveals who he is. It's evident that Bill Randolph is the villain.
He is making for Surrey Docks, police not far behind. In a warehouse, Quigley gets a judo chop, Maguire gives chase, up a crane, before the commando crook is caught.

Police car: NLN820. Randolph's car is 22RMC. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Nightwatchman. 2 Police constable at Stacey's (Douglas Ives). 3 'George', another constable at Randolph's warehouse. 4 A constable at the docks

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

77 Bus
Arrving by bus in a leafy suburb, two crooks, Benson and Drew make for a posh house, effecting an entry by climbing to a first floor bedroom. "A small fortune in the safe," but they are interrupted by a maid, who dials 999. Exit the crooks by bus, before picking up their expensive car. This is the third such jewel robbery recently.
The press label the thefts as The Red Rose Robberies, on account of a rose found discarded nearby. Maguire spots silver foil which must have been wrapped round this rose, and has it checked for fingerprints. The maid tells Maguire that a jeweller named Carter had delivered these jewels only the previous evening.
Maguire questions Carter in his jeweller's shop, and we see that in the flat above are the two crooks. A cleaner overhears them talking and then rashly looks round their room when they leave. She discovers radio equipment which enables the two to listen in to Carter's conversations in his shop. The cleaner is found out and killed.
Realising they are listening in, Maguire sets a trap about a valuable diamond that Carter is supposedly taking to his home tonight. Maguire lies in wait, but Benson and Drew intercept Carter before he ever reaches his house. They quickly learn that it's a trap and dash off. After a chase along drainpipes, Drew is captured. The pursuit of Benson leads to a building site, where the villain is crushed by machinery.

Police cars: RPB437 and MXC334. The crooks' car is AJB282. Uncredited speaking part: policeman at the Yard

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

Escape
Mike is attached to CID Central. With Jack Lambert as Superintendent.

After a tour of London's back alleys, we encounter a gang planning a safe robbery. Boss is Harry Killian (Peter Dyneley). He gives the incompetent Jack the order of the boot, so by way of revenge Jack snitches on "the Killian mob." Thus police swoop and all except the boss are caught, including Bill, "the less intelligent half" of the Killian brothers.
Police quickly trace Harry, who offers his alibi. He was at a football match. Chelsea won 3-2. Sounds unlikely.
Harry visits Bill in prison and makes him understand that he will be sprung at Bow Street Magistrates Court.
Mike Maguire is getting bored, waiting for action. He has to be ready to give evidence.
Under the mashed potato on Bill's lunch tray is an object that enables him to escape, locking the door behind him. Harry disguises him as a football fan, travelling with supporters to watch an England match in Holland. The two brothers board the airport bus.
Maguire is at the airport, spotting in his clever way that here is a likely way for the prisoner to escape. Twenty flights need checking, and the sight of police causes Bill to panic, and he is easily caught. Harry runs away, chased by Mike through the hangars. A tackle fells Harry and he is driven away in a police car.

Taxi: ULT356. NLN820 police car. XPC894 ditto. 30LHX airport coach

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

The Big Fish
Maguire is attached to Fraud Squad, working with Inspector Dean (Clifford Evans).

At Brighton racetrack, horses are switched: Mrs Ruth Harrison (Jane Hylton) has this dud horse Daisy May, "badly off form this season," but it is swapped for Marjery Daw belonging to Paul Grant (Griffith Jones). Thus betting at "a fancy price" of 25-1 nets a tidy sum for the ring, organised by Myners (Raymond Huntley).
A nobbled telephone cable explains how bookies were unable to lay off the betting on Daisy May. Maguire checks with Ruth Harrison, who shrugs it off with "outsiders sometimes win." But very conveniently the horse has since died, so comparisons cannot be made with its photo and that of the winning horse.
A search warrant for the offices of Associated Turf, Myners' business, is obtained and those who had placed bets on the horse are contacted. However Sir Arthur (William Mervyn) takes offence at the questions, claiming he never bet on the horse, ditto, in a five second cameo, Mrs Rigby played by Irene Handl.
How can it be proved that horses were switched? But worried he will be exposed, Grant rides off on Marjery Daw, intending to quietly shoot it. "There he is!" Grant is prevented from shooting the animal.

Cars: Grant's- VDU 336. Police cars- NLN820 and MXC334. Horsebox- SMU958

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

SPECIAL BRANCH
Maguire's sidekick is Inspector Pybus (Richard Bebb). He is also assisted by Sgt Frazer of CID.
Director: Terence Fisher.

Heaton Radio Taxis have six cabs fitted with two way radios. Some crooks lead by Waymac (Martin Benson) seize the chance to take over the firm temporarily, because they want to assassinate Dr Stafford, an American scientist, who is flying in to London Airport and then being escorted to Harwell. By so doing they hope to "strain relations between Britain and the United States." No comment needed.
Fortunately one of the taxi drivers overhears their plan and manages to warn the Yard before being shot dead in a phone box.
Controlling six cabs, the crooks are able to cover every possible route the prof might take. Stafford is shadowed as Maguire and Pybus shield him off the plane and in to a waiting police vehicle. He's actually a decoy, but Maguire still manages to save the double's life before dashing off to join Stafford "on route A4."
Taxi No 1 waits in ambush, with the idea of puncturing the tyres before Taxi 6 moves in for the kill. But Maguire is too good for them and Taxi 1 is captured and the driver of Six wounded.
So Waymac orders remaining his Taxis to rendezvous with him at the junction of the A4 and A320 "west of Reading."
However Pybus swoops on the hq of Heaton Taxis and overhears where they plan to strike next- near a bridge at Littlewich Green on the A4 ("Route 4A" this time!). This is Tykes Water Bridge.
So there the assassins wait, by a mud track that seems nothing like a main road. Cunning Maguire again proves smarter, by borrowing a van which he drives himself to reconnoitre the location. On foot eight police then creep up on the gang. The peaceful country scene is filled with fighting. Maguire has great pleasure in informing the captured Waymac that it had been a wild goose chase anyway!
A final philosophical comment from Maguire referring to the dead taxi driver, "the courage and tenacity of the ordinary unknown man, that sets the pattern for an entire nation." He was being serious too

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

MECHANICAL WATCHMAN
Maguire is attached to S Division.
His assistant is Sgt Tom Chester (John Howlett).

"Police, Scotland Yard. This is a Burcot Automatic Burglar Alarm, operating at Beldon's Fur Shop High Street Rocksfield. These premises are being broken into." A quick swoop leads to the capture of Davies but the other two thieves escape.
Davies has had several convictions, working previously with someone named Len Peters. Peters' mate Darren Carson reports back to their boss Bernard Rolt. The stolen furs are handed to furrier Samuel Finch (Arthur Lowe uncredited) whose task is to remove the branding and remodel the skins.
Investigation reveals only two fur stores have not yet been targetted by these thieves, Anson's, and Fur Fashions, at 98 Cavendish Square W1, and owned by Mr Rolt.
Maguire sets a trap for Rolt after yet another robbery. He suggests that Rolt installs a Mechanical Watchman in his store as everyone else is doing so. All except Gordon's. Rolt pricks up his ears. Inside information from the Yard itself!
But of course Maguire is ready and waiting at Gordon's. Twelve garments have been given "special treatment."
"All I have got to do," remarks the poor manager, "is wait to be robbed." Indeed it is not long before the crooks drive up in a stolen car 412 LMK. Maguire watches from a nearby unmarked van. He follows as they drive away, "if I lose them now," he admits, "I'm in big trouble."
The crooks switch from the stolen vehicle to their own van. Maguire is on the ball however as they pursue the thieves past St Paul's. The furs are deposited with Finch and after they have driven off, Maguire arrests them.
Maguire lets Finch work on the furs, as he wants the boss! Rolt plans his next move a few days later- pretend his own premises are being ransacked. At the same time the newly remodelled goods are collected from Finch and taken to "The Broadway, Golders Park." The new Mechanical Watchman is set off. Maguire arrives immediately: "Mr Maguire, you got here fast!"
Rolt plays the innocent until an infra red lamp on the furs shows up the marks 'MM,' Maguire's own initials that he had had invisibly branded on them. After a struggle, Maguire completes his arrests

Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

GHOST SQUAD
A strong cast in this pre-ATV Ghost Squad story with Elwyn Brook-Jones playing Scott the leader of the criminals, Douglas Wilmer as his right hand man, and Russell Napier, as Supt Farrel head of the Ghost Squad.

Maguire works alone as a Ghost Squad operative.
One such operative, McTavish, is working undercover in a dockland warehouse, but becomes "too nosy." He is crushed to death when a crane load of boxes lands on top of him.
Maguire replaces him, "they'll stop as nothing to protect their racket," Supt Farrel warns him.
So as Bill Brodie, he obtains a job loading crates at the docks. As a test, he's needled by one of the villains (Michael Brennan), "what did you lift back home- matchboxes?!" With "knuckles like concrete," Brodie passes that test, and is given a better job. Maguire questions us, "had I been promoted to a job with the gang that was raiding the London docks, or was I simply being promoted to an accident?"
He briefs a female Ghost Squad contact, even though he's being closely watched by the gang. Then at last, he is offered £50 to assist in a robbery. Now. So how can he warn the police? At the height of the raid at the docks, he pretends to kick a felled watchman and borrows a phone. But no sooner has he picked up the phone than he's rumbled. Maguire finishes two of the crooks off but Scott, the boss, drives off with the loot. However, some quick thinking from the watchman causes the lorry to crash into the river just as the police arrive, late as usual.
Farrel steps out of his police car, "the air round here is smelling better already!"

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

FIFTY THOUSAND HANDS
After 6 months in London Maguire joins a county constabulary (in the county town of Letchford).
He is assisted by Inspector Bill Gates (John Warwick).
"The watchman caught me at it!" He has to be shot in a £9,000 hold up at United Plastics. This gives Jack Bingham (Bill Fraser) a problem, since his partner Jeff (William Hartnell) is badly injured and cannot walk. So Jack calls an ambulance to the crime scene and with professional aid gets Jeff carried to an ambulance which he then neatly nicks.
Maguire discovers the abandoned vehicle. A tramp informs Maguire he saw the pair transferring to a Morris Minor heading in the Letchford direction.
Jeff is in a bad way, so Jack breaks into Letchford Hospital to steal some morphia, but theft turns to murder when he's forced to strangle a nurse who spots him at it.
"He and his wounded pal are somewhere in this town," notes Maguire, so after placing a cordon around the whole area, he proposes a novel action, "without precedent in the annals of British crime," that of fingerprinting the entire town, population 25,000, hence the title of this film.
The Chief Constable arranges for this to be done, and somehow everyone is cooperative, but what happens when the fingerprint man arrives at Jack's hideout? Jeff's prints are taken as Jack thinks they aren't looking for him. But they are. He'd accidentally left his prints in the hospital.
Maguire and Gates zoom off to 8 Croxley Gardens. A final chase enlivens the tale. Jack flees by crashing his Morris Minor out of his garage. Some hope of escaping the cops with those wheels! The police Wolseley has soon caught him up, and resorting to a foot race, Jack struggling with Maguire, rolls down into a steep quarry and is arrested.
A straightfaced Maguire comments as 24,999 sets of prints are ceremoniously burned, "without public goodwill any police force is licked"
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

Fashions in Crime
With Inspector Trant. Also Patricia Driscoll as Det Sgt Ann Hawkins.
A bobby in Mayfair answers a 999 call, and finds model Laura Harris (Zena Marshall) fighting with a man. "It was an accident."
M Victor is complaining his fashion designs are being stolen. Not a police matter, Maguire tells him. But if it is linked to the theft of a diamond bracelet, Maguire will sort it out.
Laura's partner Rex gives her a locket, inside is a hidden camera, so that she can photo Victor's latest creations. Mike goes to see her, felling both Rex and Laura's latest friend Trevor. Maguire's hunch, correct as ever, is that she is being blackmailed into photoing the dresses.
Det Sgt Ann Hawkins is recruited as Victor's new model, she's on the lookout for a possible secret camera. She spots Laura taking out her locket. She grabs it, the girls fight. "Just as I thought," smiles Maguire.
Laura has her locket which she takes to Rex, but they find the film has been removed from the locket. Rex drives Laura to his storeroom in a basement and there commences to strangle her. Maguire and Hawkins are close behind, but go to Rex's office, He's not there, so they dash to the store. Rex runs away, Maguire pursues, Rex starts to shoot. Maguire overpowers him and the stolen bracelet is found on his person.
Back at the station, Laura makes a statement.
Uncredited roles: Insp Trant. PC Carter. Lady Weston. Woman dresser. Police car: MXC334. Trevor drives SFC299. Rex's car: 34RMH
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rolling Racketeers
With Norman Wooland as Det Insp Howard.

A gang of Hertfordshire car thieves are not caught by a road block. The cunning plan is to hide the stolen car inside a large van, where it is quickly resprayed. Then the 'new' vehicle is dropped off at the garage of Tyler (Peter Reynolds) and sold for £750.
Another stolen resprayed car is found at Wilson's garage. Maguire decides to pose as a tramp and visit local transport cafes in the hope of spotting the crooks' van. He does find a suspicious van with four men. One, Josh, spots Maguire nosing about and knocks him out. Police are alerted and this van is followed to an industrial estate, where Josh is dropped off. On foot he walks to a car, which he nicks. It is driven into the van. Crooks spot that a police car is tailing them, though it veers away, replaced by another. The destination is Boreham Wood Garage, owned by Tyler. The new car already has a buyer, who is driving away just as Maguire swoops. Tyler runs off, but Maguire trips him up.

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Owner of stolen car. 2 Bystander. 3 Policeman on phone. 4 Wilson. 5 Cafe owner. 6 Customer. 7 Policeman. 8 PC Hawkins. Shay Gorman plays Jack, in the credits as "Shey." Cars: police- MXC334, RPB437 and NLN820. Stolen car TGB270 given new numberplate TGO739. Crooks' van SMU958. Second stolen car VLF101 given new plate VGJ973
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

24 Hours a Day
With (uncredited) Wensley Pithey as Inspector, and, briefly, John Witty as Sgt Benson.

Maguire happens to spot Canadian villain Red Caldwell (Robert Arden), and he tails him to a bank, where Red gives the name Arthur Smith. Maguire knows Red's modus operandi when robbing banks, but according to the manager, his bank is "impregnable."
Next door is the tobacconist shop of Henry Burns, who with his invalid wife Bella is held at gunpoint while Red's gang check out the cellar, Red's usual method of getting in to a bank. More is nearly made of the plight of Bella, but in the end isn't.
Maguire checks the shop out, and notes a suspicious looking blow torch. So the bank manager is dragged off his golf course to check out his bank. Bang! An explosion opens up the cellar to the vaults, "looks quiet enough!"
Police are on the watch as Maguire enters the Burns shop a second time. Red knocks him out and wants to shoot his nemesis, but the others in the gang prevent that. They dash away with their loot in a truck, but Maguire daringly leaps on to the back. A foot chase across bomb sites ends when Red is felled by Maguire.

Police car: MXC334. Taxi: OLK143. Red's truck: OLM77

To the Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Hunter Hunted
With Russell Napier as Superintendent.
At the Red Lion, Soapy Stone is meeting a client, to sell a stolen car. his boss Maxon however shoots the client, recognising him as Italian copper Captain Belotti.
Maguire is on the spot and Soapy is arrested. Maguire's job is to track down Maxon, "one of the worst criminals I know."
Maguire just misses him at a Soho club, being duffed up for his troubles. Maxon is driven to a small airport, where a plane whisks him out of the country. As he has some connection with the hotel Margot in Paris- actually he owns it- Maguire heads to France, and books in to the hotel as a Henry Miller, dealer in dental gold. But at gunpoint, Maguire is forced to leave, but knocks out his assailant. He then joins forces with Inspector Greb and drives to Maxon's country residence. But Maxon recognises them, "two bodies to get rid of." A neat trick overpowers the butler, but Maxon runs off, and away in a rowing boat. Maguire shoots and Maxon falls in the water. A scuffle in a pond and Maxon is arrested.

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Landlord. 2 Belotti. 3 Crook. 4 Bouncer. Stolen car: JLM470. Police car: MXC334. Taxi: OXT637

Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Mined Area
With Sgt Field (Hugh Moxey).
Safe robber Freddy Haldane (Bill Owen) is chased for 40 miles and captured. But he has hidden his loot, £20,000.
Years later, he is released from jail. Maguire is watching his movements with interest. But so are two crooks, Garrett (David Davies) and Anderson (William Lucas). Haldane makes for home, the Albert Hall Mansions. He phones Louise (Jennifer Jayne) who begs him to "stay clean." But his idea is, "I want that money." But he is very cautious and waits.
The two villains tire of waiting and drop in for "a little talk." This involves beating the ex-con up, but when Louise arrives, she is grabbed. To prevent her being touched, Freddy tells them where he hid the money. He draws a map. Anderson takes Louise as a hostage. Maguire pounces and arrests Garrett who is guarding Freddy. He persuades Haldane to say where Anderson has gone.
To a windmill, but unbeknowns to Freddy, this is now in an area controlled by the army, and is mined. Anderson digs up the box but is interrupted by Maguire and Field who have bravely walked through the minefield. Anderson starts to shoot, Maguire warns him to stop. Anderson does so when a mine explodes. Scared, he realises too late- Boom!
"Terrible way to go."
Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Office manager. 2 Office worker. 3/4 Two police constables by car. 5 Dancer. 6 Army official. Police car: NLN820. Crooks' car: 399CMP. Taxis: ULT233, VGU948. Telephone van used by Maguire: RGC485. Anderson's car is MXC334, normally Maguire's police car in this series!

Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

BARGE BURGLARS
"Why do I work with fools?" moans Harry Fowler referring to his crooked gang of thieves. Might he also have been referring to the one-scene supporting cast whose feeble acting does not match the assured style of the main participants? Maguire is attached to D Division. His assistant is Det. Sgt Frank Bellamy (Richard Bebb).
Standing, or perhaps loafing, at the corner of the street, is shifty looking Sandy (Harry Fowler). With his accomplices, they don their masks, robbing a goods depot and making their unique escape on a Regent's Canal barge. Suddenly they look just like tourists. Maguire checks out anyone who might have inside knowledge about the firm, and one, Patrick Donovan, seems suspicious as he's flitted his digs without paying the rent. When he's traced he runs away, but straight into the path of a lorry, and he is no more. £20,000 is stolen from a clothing factory. "No car," observes the factory owner which turns Maguire's attentions to the nearby canal.
One of the gang, Maxie, starts spending his stolen money and shooting his mouth off with two girls, but by the time Maguire and Bellamy are on to him, the gang is out on a last job, a second floor Mooney Street office. Maguire tails them in a police car, they apparently oblivious of his presence. When the crooks do run off, they make for their usual barge, where Maguire delivers some hefty punches before the rest of London's police force descends to arrest them.
Pronounces the pompous Maguire, "there's no end to the inventiveness of the criminal mind. That's why this is one job you can never afford to go to sleep on."
Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Harry Lacey (Harry Locke). 2 & 3 Bank cashiers. 4 Patrick Donovan. 5 Policeman. 6 Girl with Maxi. 7 Girl at front door. 8 Factory manager (Walter Horsbrugh). 9 Harry the barman (Vic Wise). 10 Police messenger. 11 Lock keeper. Police car is MXC334, also XPC898. Lacey's car is 399CMP. Lorry that runns down Donovan is CRK986. The crooks' barge is called Jason
To the Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Extradition
with Gordon Bell as Inspector Thompson.
On board a ship bound for England, Victor Brady (Phil Brown) is locked up, a wanted man. A steward, however, sets him free at Tilbury, before Maguire can serve his warrant.
Brady has come to get his vengeance on former partner Joe Stanway. In a Thames Division launch, the crook is chased downriver. At Russell Docks, Maguire catches his quarry, but winds up in the river. A bedraggled figure crawls out the Thams, surely Maguire's double! Brady makes his escape by car, and traces where Stanway lives, he is now using the name he used when a boxer, Gil Marsh. Stanway is outside Swiss Cottage station when he reads of Brady's escaping custody, and he returns to his flat, "we'd better get out of here."
Maguire manages to trace him, just before Stanway flees. Brady and his gang are not far behind, armed with guns, but spotting the trap, Brady jumps back into his car and drives off. Maguire follows for another car chase, which terminates at a warehouse, "you're on your way home as a guest of the United States government."

MXC334 is the usual police car. Brady's car is OMO263. Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Girl on ship. 2 Officer on ship. 3 Sailor. 4 Steward (Ernest Clark). 5 Police constable. 6 Thames Division Officer. 7 Plain clothes policeman. 8 Boxer (Tom Bell)
To the Dial 999 menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Old Soldiers Sometimes Die
with Hugh Moxey as Sgt Freeman

At Buckingham Palace, tourist Fitzgerald is conned by Major Smith and his partner Burling. The racket has netted them £40,000 in the last two months. Though Fitzgerald quickly reports the swindle to the police, Maguire is seconds too late to apprehend the conmen. A girl called Helen tells him they've just left.
Maguire poses as a tourist and eventually, in Trafalgar Square, "our fish take the bait." Smith takes him to a flat and introduces him to his partner, with an offer of a cast iron deal to make money. However Helen recognises Maguire, and the crooks attempt to run Maguire down. All innocent, he returns to the conmen with his money, and promptly arrests them.
However an investment expert declares that the shares Maguire had purchased are bona fide. The gang work out that Fitzgerald could testify against them so they set out to kill him. Fitzgerald is watching the trooping of the colour when the crooks spot him. They are foiled in their plan when Maguire and Freeman pounce.

Uncredited speaking part: Policeman in car. Cars: VGK84. Police car: MXC334. Taxis: PUV123, JXU210. Crooks' van: TPX 224. OOW567. Some filming in Heath Hurst Road Hampstead
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

Gun Rule
with John Witty as Sgt Mason
Petty criminal Luke Adams in on the run from his mates, but the vicious Sniper (Eddie Byrne) shoots him down, as well as a constable who runs to his aid. Adams is rushed to hospital, not yet dead, and Sniper falls out with his boss Franklin (Peter Illing) over what to do next.
Mrs Adams points Maguire in the direction of Franklin, and in view of the danger, Maguire asks Supt Murray (Russell Napier) for permission to be armed. Refused, "you know the law here." Thus police approach the armed gang, Sniper fires. One policeman is shot as the two criminals flee.
The police search for them concentrates on the fact that Sniper always carries his gun in a violin case. Eventually a policeman sees Sniper with his violin case, and is promptly knocked out. In the subsequent chase, Franklin is soon rounded up, but Sniper flees into a school up on to the roof. Pupils stare at him with his gun, perched high up. Bravely Maguire ascends to the roof. Squirting Sniper with a fire extinguisher rounds off the chase.
Moral lesson to finish, as Maguire chats with Supt Murray about the Gun Rule, "I like it your way."

Police cars MXC334, also seen is RPB4347. LNK106 is a Hertforshire ambulance. MJD612 is Franklin's truck. Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Female neighbour. 2 Doctor. 3 Receptionist. 4 Mrs Adams. 5 Salesman at music shop (Walter Horsbrugh). 6 Police constable
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

Key Witness
with Richard Bebb as Det Sgt Carter
Frank Salter is just getting up, when he sees a man dumping a corpse on the waste ground near his home. He dials 999, and Insp Maguire is soon examining the badly beaten corpse.
It's that of Charlie Pastor, a small time crook who rumour had was trying to muscle in on George Holland's racing racket. George's brother Buddy had dumped the corpse, and is arrested. George tries to get his lawyer to save his brother, but since he won't, George's only option is to silence the witness Salter.
Posing as coppers, George and his sidekick Jimmy approach Mrs Salter asking her husband's whereabouts. He is a toy salesman, she knows he started today in the Finchley Road.
Det Sgt Carter also calls on Mrs Salter and the plot is exposed. It's a race to reach Salter, who is now in Sloane Street. Maguire broadcasts a warning on a tannoy to the wanted man, but of course this alerts the crooks also. Gunshots somehow all miss, and George is pursued by car and finally stopped. A struggle before the arrest, "nice work, Mike"

Cars: police MXC334. Buddy's van OOY612. Frank Salter's car is SGU326. George's car is an Austin Cambridge, however numberplates reveal two identical vehicles were used: TYS845 and UGA843. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 George's heavy. 2 Lawyer. 3 Policeman at the Yard. 4 Mr Cork, a shopkeeper. 5 Bob, another shopkeeper. 6 Sergeant
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

Down To The Sea
With Jack Melford (uncredited) as Inspector.

Tailing sailor Joe Morgan (John Paul with variable accent), who has stolen "rocks," is Detective Steve Parker, who, for his troubles, is beaten up so badly that he subsequently dies.
Mike Maguire is driven to Tilbury, where Chief Inspector O'Shea is able to suggest a couple of ships where the sailor might work. Joe's brother Ted (Gordon Jackson) panics on seeing the police, and tries to run off. He is detained, and thus Maguire is led to Joe, who has left the country. He has sailed to Rotterdam, where police tail him. However it is another of his gang who takes the rocks to Ingrid, who then takes them to a jeweller. She is immediately arrested.
Back in Britain, Joe and his gang try to break into a jewellers. Maguire interrupts them and pursues them back to Tilbury, the car stops on the wharf. The baddies run off, Maguire chases after Joe who starts to shoot. The chases ends by a large ship's propeller.
Maguire concludes with tourist information about the Tower of London.

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Parker (Edward Judd). 2 Inspector (Jack Melford). 3 Man dialling 999. 4 Ingrid (Anna Gerber). 5 Jeweller. 6 Dutch inspector. 7 Navy captain. Cars include: OW8254 (crooks), CGW508 (Ted), MXC334, PKP199 (Land Rover used by Maguire)
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE
Introduction: "Perhaps the one thing which makes the British police force unique among law enforcement agencies of the world is the fact that its officers don't carry guns. But desperate criminals sometimes call for desperate measures- there's always the exception to the rule." Maguire is attached to Z Division. His assistant is Sgt Wilson (Gordon Bell).
Paul Whitsun-Jones plays the leader of a gang of 3 whose modus operandi is to commit 3 robberies in quick succession then flee the country via the nearest airport or port. After a holdup at an export company in Croydon, they shoot dead a bank messenger in Purley, and then head for a Redhill factory making remote controls.
Descriptions of the crooks suggest they are foreigners. Maguire spots the pattern from previous jobs. They must be making for Gatwick Airport, so he sets up roadblocks, but the trigger happy crooks burst through one, shooting wildly. In Pulborough Lane Chelsham they shoot dead a patrolman who has apprehended them. A constable on his bike spots the trio entering the factory and phones for help. Maguire zooms up, "there are a lot of people in that factory and those guys don't care whom they shoot."
The crooks are chased around the premises, before finding a hiding place in the caretaker's room.
"The place is surrounded!" shouts Maguire (no megaphones here!). "Throw down your guns... you haven't a chance." Their response is in the style of the cowboys, keep shooting, so as there is "only one language they understand," Maguire puts in the urgent request for firearms. While he shunts a passing locomotive into an ideal location for an assault on the caretaker's room, they escape through the now evacuated factory. One is shot, one caught, the last runs away but good old Maguire rugby tackles him.

A lot of bad driving can be seen in this film. The crooks who at one point, even though Gatwick is southwards are "heading north," crash the gears of several cars. Worse when Maguire's police car NLN820 is backed, it hits something! No wonder later Maguire is in a different car, the one seen most frequently in the series, MXC334
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

Deadly Blackmail
Maguire is with The Flying Squad again, with John Howlett as Det Sgt Cole.

Anti-toxin has been flown from the States, but the motorcycle courier in England is deliberately knocked down, the medicine stolen. The gang's leader Willard demands money from Baxter (Clifford Evans), whose daughter needs treatment urgently.
"We don't want you to do anything," insists Baxter, when Maguire tries to persuade him to play it his way. Baxter collects £20,000 from the bank, and the crooks seize it even before he returns home. Fortunately Maguire is on hand to snatch the money back.
Anxious wait for the crooks to make the next move. Maguire fixes for the case with the cash to have a tracer. What he doesn't know is that Willard has a grudge against Baxter, and intends to hand over milk in lieu of the anti-toxin. Money is handed over, and Maguire traces the case to Abbey Street, and pursues the crooks' car, which winds up in a lake. The crooks are captured, and Maguire grabs the anti-toxin which is on Willard's person. A tense drama.

Crooks'car XPD763, later OMO263. A passing motorist helping the courier drives 904SMK. Maguire uses MXC334, though XPC898 is also seen. POV294 is a taxi in which Baxter travels. KXV808 is the tracer van. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Car driver. 2 Courier. 3 Frank. 4 and 5 Telephone experts. 6 Jim the radio expert (Keith Pyott). 7 Maid. 8 Police tracer operative
Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

Payroll Job
Maguire is based in Albany Street D Division, assisted by Det Sgt Cotton (Hugh Moxey).

£27,000 is to be transported from the bank to a factory. The driver is knocked out and the money nicked. As the crooks share out the money, their leader, Jenkins, steals all the cash himself at gunpoint. He is in with John Harmon who works at the security van firm, and the pair share out half each of the proceeds.
Thus when Maguire finally catches up with Jenkins, he has only half the money on him. As Maguire traces him, he realises another robbery is about to take place, in Nottingham Place. So posing as security men, Maguire and Cotton join the van, which is hijacked. Police swoop, but Harmon speeds off. He is tuned in to police radio messages, and Maguire neatly tricks him in to not going down the Watford bypass. Pursuit climaxes by a slag heap of coal, the cornered crook starts to shoot. But Maguire fixes a crane to topple rubble on Harmon, and he is arrested. "Crooks haven't got much imagination."

Uncredited speaking parts: 1 and 2: Bank guards. 3: PC Johnson. 4: Clerk at garage. 5: Police car driver. The usual police car MXC334 is used. Other vehicles are: PGU27 the security van, 599GMC the crooks' van, RGF581 a taxi, 399CMP, 695PMM a Morris van, and SGU326 Harmon's car

Dial 999

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

MOTOR BIKE BANDITS
Maguire is attached to X Division.
His assistant is Det.Sgt Leonard (Richard Bebb).

A novel way of robbing offices has been devised by an ingenious gang. You stand on the roof of a stolen van, point your gun through a first floor office window and steal the payroll. Then make your getaway in the van, quickly abandoning it for motor bikes.
Thus we watch as van LMY564 drives up to Hexton and Elliot's offices, and the £8,000 payroll is stolen. The Phoenix van is abandoned as the crooks zoom off across fields on their motorcycles. Then to a motor cycle scramble to establish an alibi. While Maguire is still puzzling out how they got away, they're preparing another job, a rent collection agency. Maguire works out how they operate and that they use a woman accomplice just as we see the trio locate a suitable removal van (in the scene it's shown as Tennison Avenue - in Borehamwood).
At the motorcycle scramble meeting Maguire learns one rider, Kemp, has gone awol, along with his mechanic Groves. Then they hear the van has been stolen from outside 97 Bolster Lane, to where Maguire rushes to interview the plump lady who saw it all.
There's an alert out for a Joseph Barnes Hammersmith van, but Maguire's one step behind the crooks who at this moment are smashing a first floor office window. The robbery ends with a shooting. Maguire somehow anticipates where they're heading for, to switch to their bikes. Idly waiting at the side of a road, the girl, Sue is waiting, and there's the van, but the two villains flee across the fields. Maguire's motorcycle cops follow but not close enough. Last seen down the Wembley road. Police cars and bikes flash after their quarry.
The crooks have only one chance, hide in the old Wembley Stadium. "We're trapped, there's no way out," groans Groves pretty obviously, as the police arrive. With a loudhailer, Maguire shouts in confirmation, "you haven't got a chance of getting out."
Groves gives himself up leaving Kemp to shoot it out- just as well there's no soccer match going on! Maguire does that old circle round and attack from the rear trick, and overpowers Kemp.
With the football pitch as a backdrop, Maguire ends with some more words of wisdom for his sergeant

To Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Living Loot
with John Loder as Sgt Bruce. Maguire is enjoying a vacation after seven months in England.
Helen Taylor bids goodbye to her parents, a chauffeur picks her and her friend Joy up. But their car breaks down and they are taken by a different car to a new destination, oblivious of the fact that Mrs Taylor has now received a ransom demand for £15,000.
Maguire innocently picks up a worried Mr Taylor, but is told not to inform the police! The two kidnappers, Maxie and George, also beat Maguire up as a warning.
Taylor collects the cash, and Maguire comes round just in time to see him walking down the road with a case containing the money. This is handed over to the crooks, who promise that the girls will be found in a Brighton hotel tomorow.
The girls are happily relaxing on the pier. Maguire has traced the crooks' car and follows them to Brighton. He retrieves the money, the crooks fall out, Joe the chauffeur getting shot. Maxie and George are chased along the pier, the latter ending up in the sea, the girls are safe.

Uncredited speaking parts: i Helen. 2 Joy. 3 Garage hand. 4 Fred. 5 Regan (Geoffrey Hibbert). 6 Taxi driver. 7 Fisherman (Gerald Campion?). Cars- police: MXC334. Chauffeur driven Austin: TYS845. GKU840. Maguire's own car: OMO263. DRO233. Crooks' van: OOY612. The crooks' Ford Consul is VGJ512, though one shot on the A41 (!) is of VGU308. When it ostensibly arrives in Brighton, the local plate beginning TUF is visible!

To Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Inside Job
with Lloyd Lamble as Supt Pauley, in Wapping Division.
At customs, Baxter is arrested for trying to bring in counterfeit currency plates. Thus his contact Kirk and palmist Rosa (Rose in the credits) are disappointed when he fails to show up.
Maguire poses as Baxter and goes to Battersea where Rosa works. As she reads his hand, he demands "a bigger part" and two thugs rough him up, though naturally it is they who get the worse of it.
The gang pretend to agree to Maguire's demand, then when they have the plates, they will of course, bump him off. However their boss in America, Jerry, puts them wise that this guy "ain't Baxter... you got trouble."
Well, Maguire will have. When he is dragged to Kirk he is warned, "I know you're a copper." Kirk draws his gun, but leaping boldly through the window, Maguire dodges the bullet. He is pursued, and the chase enters the funfair, along the Tree Walk, members of the public watching on as the crooks shoot. However they are exceptionally poor shooters. Maguire jumps The Big Dipper, and Kirk follows, the two punching each other, before the fight moves to the water, a nice conclusion to the chase, "clean too!"
Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Customs officer. 2 Naval officer (Jerome Willis). 3 Policeman in plain clothes. 4 Jerry Portman (Michael Balfour). 5 Crook. Cars: MXC334 the police car. 407JMD the crooks' car. A 49 bus to Crystal Palace is also used. Trains seen, all Southern Electric: Unit 4502. Unit 4311 headcode 'O'. Unit 4323 headocde '84'. Also a '2' train from Victoria to London Bridge

Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Picture Puzzle
with Hugh Moxey as Dt Sgt Donaldson
Hidden in a large crate, Dave Allen (Michael Balfour) gains entrance to a Paddington warehouse obviously up to no good. When disturbed, Allen has to shoot the nightwatchman, then, as the place is locked up, hides in his crate.
Called to the scene, Maguire fails to spot the suspicious crate, which the gang coolly remove from the site. But Hamilton the boss (Ferdy Mayne) decides, as Allen's prints are in the warehouse, to dispose of Allen, who, in his crate, is dumped on to a pavement, A policemen spots the corpse, but fails to note details of the gang's lorry.
A second robbery is begun in a warehouse off the Marylebone Road. Fortunately an alert worker spots the suspicious crate, and Maguire is on hand to arrest the hidden criminal. Then the cop hides in the crate, to await collection by the gang. Police follow the lorry that carts Maguire away, and the gang are stopped. Hamilton gets away, pursued by the ever watchful Maguire, up and over a railway bridge, a factory roof, and along a canal. After a struggle, Hamilton gets a soaking, and Maguire pulls him out of the water.
Maguire leaves police hq in XPC898, yet arrives at the crime scene in MXC334. ELT861 is the crook's lorry, but later they use UMU63, from Elstree Way Borehamwood. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Warehouse man who is shot, 2 Secretary at warehouse. 3 Fingerprint man. 4 Reporter. 5 Uniformed policeman. 6 Manager. 7 Warehouse lad. 8 Secretary at second warehouse. 9 Another worker

Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rat Trap
Maguire is assisted by Sgt Stevens (Howard Williams).

Inspector Hadley (John Witty) has found an informer but this "too nosy copper" is led into a trap by Joe and is pushed out of an upstairs door on a bomb site that leads to oblivion. Pete (Sydney Tafler) runs this protection racket and, in the style of such dramas, plans to take over Sawyer's patch.
Maguire questions Sawyer, but is told, "I have nothing to say." The trail leads to the KoolKat Club, run by Pete who is busy silencing Benn Cotton, who knows too much. Maguire's questions make the gang nervy, and Pete plans to bump Maguire off too, "we'll fix him, same as we fixed Hadley." Yes, it's the same trap: Joe leads Maguire up the stairs of the bombed out building, only this time police are following him discretely. But they brush with other members of the gang in a big punch up.
Maguire realises he's being taken into the same trap as Hadley, "after I look at a rat, I never forget." He is duffed up by the gang, but it is, poetically, Pete who tumbles out of the door to his death!

Police car: MXC334, also briefly seen RPB437. Speaking part, unseen on telephone: Richard Bebb. Uncredited speaking roles: 1 Benn. 2 Policeman. 3 Police constable. 4 Doctor. 5 Plain clothes policeman. 6 Sawyer. 7 Sawyer's mate. 8 Another policeman. 9 Man outside hostel

To Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Heads or Tails
Maguire is attached to Murder Squad, assisted by Det Sgt Wills (Richard Bebb).

"What makes a man kill?" asks Maguire. In this story, it is a case of revenge. Bill Weldon had been convicted on the testimony of Robert Archer, who is shot dead in his garage. His landlady says that he knew a Richard Harley, who is found by a copper. He has lost his memory and is taken to hospital. Weldon follows him, for he is a second witness who had brought about his jail sentence.
Maguire makes the connection between the two witnesses and goes to Harley's house in Wimbledon, discovering a stash of banknotes. It seems Harley had won £10,000 on the pools.
The third trial witness is Burke who is gunned down in his flat by Weldon. Maguire is too late to prevent the killing, only getting a bang on the head from Weldon for his trouble. But Harley is guarded in hospital, "you're safe here." But spotting Weldon lurking, in a panic, Harley, memory returned, gets out of bed and discharges himself. Weldon sees him running away.
Harley makes for his home to grab the cash and flee. Weldon interrupts, "I've come to collect, Harley."
Maguire shows up in time. Weldon shoots- at Maguire. A crowd gather, and Maguire, unarmed, asks a lad if he will lend him his toy gun. Sgt Wills distracts Weldon, while Maguire climbs round the back of the house. He points his toy gun. The ruse nearly works, but Weldon fires and runs away. Over a garden fence, down a path to a road. Maguire points his toy gun a second time and arrests Weldon.
Of course he returns the gun, with a reward to buy "ice cream."
Uncredited speaking roles: policeman. Second police man. Young lad. Police car: MXC334. Car that nearly runs down Harley: UBH641
To Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Robbery With Violence
with Hugh Moxey as Inspector Fagan.
Three men rob a pawnshop, but their getway car is blocked by a van, so they have to run away, their leader Frank Oliver (Harold Lang) shooting and killing one motorcyclist. Not much of a haul, £30 and some junk jewellery, though Frank is actually pleased to see his crime has made the front pages.
A taxi driver had later driven the gang, and he puts Maguire on to the area where they had been dropped off. In a dustbin is found a discarded coat, the laundry mark points to the Borehamwood area. The owner is Dave Saunders (Philip Latham) who says his brother in law Mario had borrowed it. He hangs out with a dubious skiffle player named Strummer, Maguire informs us that "in London, skiffle is all the rage." In a club, Strummer is arrested.
Frank and Mario must get away from town and so borrow Saunders' car, "he won't have no choice." Mario's sister Gina is taken as hostage. A copper on the beat spots the vehicle, "heading for Tower Bridge." Maguire heads it off here, Frank runs off with Gina, gun firing. But on the bridge he is captured. The closing scene outside the Tower of London finds Maguire moralising.

SLP312 is the van that blocks the crooks' escape. OXT312 is the taxi they take while fleeing. RGY389 is Saunders' vehicle. MXC334 is the police car, though in one scene Maguire is in RPB437. Uncredited speaking parts: 1 Pawnshop owner. 2 Woman with dog (three scenes). 3 Fingerprint man. 4,5, and 6 Three eyewitnesses. 7 Hamilton, the taxi driver. 8 Cleaner (Peter Collingwood). 9 Receptionist (Andrew Sachs). 10 Girl with Strummer. 11 Constable. 12 Radio operative
Dial 999 Menu.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Death Ride
with Patrick Barr as Chief Constable Harris, and Humphrey Heathcote as Sgt Wilkins.

A family argument over a car. James Armstrong (Clive Morton) won't let his wife Betty drive it, since he needs it. But he suddenly changes his mind. Betty drives away. She crashes.
Since he is a friend of Armstrong, Chief Constable Harris calls Maguire in, taking him to the scene of the accident. Then Maguire questions Armstrong, who resents the intrusion. Maguire also checks with the garage which had serviced the vehicle. He inspects the wrecked car, and works out that the brakes must have been tampered with, and he also breaks down Armstrong's alibi.
Worried Maguire is nosing about too much, Armstrong clumsily attempts to run the policeman down. He decides he had better get away, taking with him secretary Barbara, who has already guessed what Armstrong had been up to. "The eternal triangle" crumbles as he dashes away leaving her behind as police arrive. In his boat 'Boo' he is pursued by Maguire in a launch. In the chase Maguire chucks a boat hook at the pursued, who is knocked out, falling into the river, never to be seen again.

Cars: SLA935, Morris Traveller driven by Betty. KYV733 Commissioner's car. MXC334 police car. TVC277 Barbara's car

Dial 999