Episode
The Bill: Classroom Politics
Overview
Boyden and Tait attend a fight at Harvey Wallace comprehensive and discover that one or two of the pupils are acting strangely around their teacher, Sonia Graham. While Tait is smitten, Boyden discovers that rumours are escalating that Sonia is having extra-marital relations with some of her students. Meanwhile, Ashton and Buxton attend a fire at a public convenience, and find two young girls trapped in the toilet cubicle. When Ashton manages to free them from danger, they both make good their escape and Ashton suspects that something is wrong. Glaze and Webb attend a shooting at a local gymnasium, where they find that none of the witnesses are willing to offer any information.
Details
- Series
- The Bill
- Season
- Season 19
- Episode
- Episode 20
- Air date
- 2003-03-12
Episode context
Classroom Politics is Episode 20 in Season 19 of The Bill. It aired on 2003-03-12.
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Episode 19: The Nouveau Riche
Acting DI Sam Nixon is convinced that Ron Gregory is behind the paedophile ring - but can she prove it? While DCI Jack Meadows is certain DS Phil Hunter is still working for Ron and is reporting him to the police authorities. Phil pleads, ""I'm the only one that can get a result, because I know Gregory better than anyone. Give me 24 hours and I'll have Gregory sitting in one of them cells"". But will he convince Jack to give him more time? The police now know that the murdered girl 'Angel', real name Rachel, had been brought over from Africa to sponsor parents Mr. & Mrs. Eddison. The couple now face severe questioning at the station. Were they aware abuse was taking place with their sponsor child, and could they have been the perpetrators? When Rachel's sponsor parent, Mr Eddison suddenly makes a confession, the police suspect he's been 'influenced' by someone to change his story. Did he really kill Rachel or is he just acting on someone else's orders to save his own life?When PCs Des Ta
Episode 21: Sleeping Dogs Lie
Abi Nixon arrives at the station on a work experience placement, and is sent out on patrol with Boyden, much to her delight. When Boyden is accused of having a sexual encounter with one of Abi's friends, Abi steps in to defend him. Young suspects that rape victim Louanna isn't telling the whole truth when she accuses one of her schoolmates of rape, despite the fact that her injuries suggest that she was attacked by more than one person. Schoolteacher Sonia Graham finds herself on the end of a sustained barrage of abuse, including offensive graffiti being sprayed on her house and pornographic material being posted through her letterbox. Ashton races to stop Young from having an abortion.
More episodes from this season
Episode 18: Found
DC Eva Sharpe is relieved when her daughter is found alive, although what ordeal she has been through remains unknown. The paedophile investigation into the charity ""Global Families"" continues, as the officers try to identify a dead child. PC Cathy Bradford is jealous when DC Brandon Kane starts dating a doctor. DC Drummond's son sees him meeting his mistress, and DS Phil Hunter continues to play off villain Ron Gregory and DCI Jack Meadows against each other.
Episode 22: The Philadelphia Lawyer
The sustained abuse towards schoolteacher Sonia Graham runs into overdrive when she is found in her flat, having been shot through the chest, and the list of suspects soon begins to mount. Glaze struggles to get Prince's brother Nathan back on side after harsh mishandlings by Webb, so Webb decides to trail him to see if he leads him to the top prize - and soon enough, his suspicions are proved to be correct. Young finally manages to get young rape victim Louanna to open up about her ordeal, and subsequently, members of the Bevan Park crew are arrested on suspicion. On the way to respond to an urgent call for assistance, Hollis notices Boyden pulled over at the roadside in a clinch with Abi Nixon.
Episode 17: Fraught With Danger
It's the day of reckoning for CID when they finally get suspected paedophile Clive Inverdale into court, but the situation goes from bad to worse when the court is stormed by a masked man with a gun, and Inverdale is shot dead. To make matters worse, Meadows' prime suspect, Ron Gregory, has an alibi in the form of none other than Hunter. With Sinclair also out of the picture, the investigation looks to be heading nowhere. Meanwhile, Osbourne and Hollis investigate several cases of stolen masonry, including one where the owner was brutally attacked during the robbery. A search of a derelict building for the stolen goods yields much more than expected when Joanna Sharpe is found alive.
Episode 23: Throw For A Loss
PC Gary Best is smitten by the arrival of new PC Honey Harman, whose manner and appearance lead Sgt. Matt Boyden to conclude that she's a bit of an airhead. Searching the school for the gun used in the gymnasium shooting and the shooting of teacher Sonia Graham, PC Reg Hollis stumbles upon Boyden in an embrace with DI Nixon's 15-year-old daughter. Sgt. June Ackland recommends Reg inform the Superintendant, which he does. Boyden is furious, but not as furious as DI Nixon when she finds out that her colleague has taken advantage of her underage daughter. Insp. Gina Gold and PC Luke Ashton are concerned that PC Kerry Young is back at work too soon after her miscarriage, but Kerry's considerable persuasive skills come into play when rape witness Beth Tyler is threatened on the estate and refuses to testify. Best and Harman follow some robbery suspects on foot patrol, but when this leads them to the gun and the student who murdered Sonia Graham, Best is taken hostage. Harman uses her judo s
Episode 16: The Darkest Hour
CID's investigation into the paedophile ring continues to throw up unanswered questions. Meadows realises that he is sailing very close to the wind whilst trying to link Howard Sinclair over his involvement with the ring. Fitzwilliam begins to get very iffy about Meadows' actions and warns Okaro he could face disciplinary action if he fails to deal with him. Sharpe is relieved when the young child's body is revealed not to be Joanna, but is frightened that she may have come to harm. Hunter is disturbed to find his criminal contacts are being linked with the abduction inquiry, while Stamp and Best are called out to a burglary at a luxury flat and discover a little more than they initially bargained for.
Episode 24: The Square Apple
PC Polly Page returns to duty at Sun Hill following her breakdown. She is assigned to the CSU, and paired with PC Cathy Bradford. Page and Bradford investigate a stalking case which becomes far less straightforward when both parties accuse the other of harrasment. PC Gary Best goes undercover as a schoolboy to investigate drug dealers targetting the school, but when his information leads to a raid, Abigail Nixon blows his cover. Arrested for assault by PC Luke Ashton, Acting DI Nixon and Sgt. Murphy witness Abi putting the moves on a befuddled Ashton, making Sgt. Matt Boyden's denials slightly more believable. PC Jim Carver spends the day with the mother of murdered teacher Sonia Graham, but his professional role as Family Liaison Officer is comprimised when they end up in bed together.
Episode 15: Under Pressure
Supt. Adam Okaro is under pressure from the Borough Commander to get rid of DCI Jack Meadows after Meadow's confrontation with Judge Howard Sinclair. DC Eva Sharpe is furious when she discovers that her colleagues have kept the paedophile investigation from her, but when a child is found dead, there are fears it could be Eva's daughter Joanna. DC Sharpe and Sgt. Murphy investigate a pizza delivery man's missing moped. With his career on the line, DCI Meadows turns to Sgt. June Ackland to convince a reluctant witness to make a statement against Judge Sinclair.
Episode 25: Under The Thumb
PC Des Taviner is given his own set of wheels - a bicycle - and hits the road in a new capacity as ward officer on the Coal Lane Estate. Sgt. Sheelagh Murphy is not so pleased when Taviner eagerly assists an attractive resident. An abandoned lorry leads Sun Hill officers to the discovery of a Chinese ""snakehead"" gang smuggling illegal immigrants into the country. The shooting and ritual disfigurement of one of the owners of the lorry company sees Sgt. Matt Boyden staring down the barrel of a gun when he attends the scene. Furious after Boyden's indiscretions with her daughter, Acting DI Nixon is reluctantly paired with the sergeant to find the gunman. DS Debbie McAllister's patience is wearing thin, as rape case witness Beth starts acting up and demanding perks for her testimony. PC Kerry Young manages to settle her down, but Young's actions could severely jeopardise Louanna's case. PC Jim Carver flounders in a state of romantic confusion as he tries to avoid Marie Graham. DC Danny Gla
Episode 14: False Pride
Despite the objections of her colleagues, DC Eva Sharpe returns to work, escorted by new Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy. Eva's colleagues, and a special unit from Scotland Yard, do their best to investigate a possible paedophile ring without alarming Eva and her husband. PC Jim Carver finds the pressure of being the Sharpes' Family Liaison Officer too much, and finds himself tempted to have a drink, but Sgt. June Ackland is on hand to show him just how much she cares about him. DCI Jack Meadows is convinced his old friend Judge Sinclair is a paedophile, and despite DC Mickey Webb's objections to keep the investigation official and above board, Meadows confronts Sinclair on his own terms.
Episode 26: Out Of Your Depth
PC Des Taviner finds a terrified shoeless Chinese man on the Coal Lane estate, but when he is taken to the station for interview, there are serious doubts about the Chinese interpreter sent by the Yard, Mai Ann Wey. Unaware of these doubts, Taviner seeks Mai Ann's help when he discovers a flat full of illegal immigrants on the estate. When the immigrants all disappear and there are signs of violence, it becomes clear that Mai Ann is working for the snakehead gang, and Taviner turns to a reluctant Chinese priest, Father Kwong, to locate the immigrants. The court case against the boys who gang-raped Louanna Shaw nearly falls apart when Louanna's friend Beth loses her temper in court and the defence lawyer sees PC Kerry Young discussing the case with her husband PC Luke Ashton. Only Insp. Gina Gold's forceful testimony saves the day, but Young is furious with Ashton for jeopardising the case and insists their marriage is over. DC Mickey Webb is delighted when Ron Gregory's car is stolen,