Hunters Walk

1973•1h

Hunters Walk – devised by Dixon of Dock Green creator Ted Willis – was about crime on a smaller – but no less dramatic – scale, and featured a police force in the fictional Midlands town of Broadstone (the series was actually filmed in Rushden, Northants). Sharing several similarities with the classic 1950s police drama, in particular a small-town settingband storylines encompassing the more human aspects of police work, Hunters Walk offered a contrasting alternative to the 1970s more hard-hitting, action-led urban crime dramas. The small, idiosyncratic team of officers faced a typically broad spectrum of cases, from neighbours’ disputes and hooliganism to suspected murder.

Production

Seasons

13 Episodes • Premiered 1973

1. Disturbance

Led by Smith, the Broadstone police force suddenly find themselves in a manhunt for a disturbed and potentially dangerous man. All leave is cancelled and the lads are off and running.

2. Local Knowledge

A case of assault. A sick man at large. Smith, awakened from his slumbers by PC Pooley, is having none of it – but the experience will affect both him and the citizens of Broadwater.

3. Outcast

When Smokey Haines returns after serving two years for infanticide, Smith must look for mitigation circumstances in the case – and sympathy of the locals.

4. Behaviour

What is Smith to make of Raymond Flack, a new arrival in Broadstone — and why should local villain Jimmy Walker wish to leave?

5. Vanishing Trick

Certain there's a connection between a housebreaker who has eluded the police for months and the recent death of Ben Lawrence, Smith has trouble proving it. His only clue is Lawrence's teenage daughter.

6. Reasonable Suspicion

The Criminal Law Act 1967, Section Two, sub-sections four and five states 'A constable may arrest, without warrant, any person whom he – with reasonable cause - suspects either to be guilty of an offence or about to commit an offence'. But how should one apply the act? That's Smith's problem.

7. Discretion

When Ridgeway begins receiving anonymous complaints of petty offenses – people parking without lights, a householder without a dog licence -– Smith has little sympathy, until a routine enquiry pays unexpected results.

8. Care and Protection

Two separate cases, both concerning children, Smith and his colleagues face a harsh look at reality and the detective must find the link that connects both events.

9. Incident

When George Lomax, a down-on-his-heels dealer in double glazing, leaves a pub drunk and disgruntled, it sets off a chain of events which require the assistance – and understanding – of the Broadstone police.

10. The Old Folks at Home

It's the old story all over again, Someone moves into Broadstone, sets up a con, takes easy pickings from the old and helpless – then moves on. But this time, the smoothie has charmed someone to death and Smith is anxious to nab him.

11. All Too Tidy

When Les comes out of prison and his father tries to establish a new rapport with him – but the bored and spoiled Les gets up to his old tricks – Smith takes an interest in the boy's welfare.

12. Lost Dog

A number of seemingly unrelated events after a robbery suddenly fall into place and give Smith and his team something to work on — but in which direction will it lead them?

13. Skeletons

When an elderly woman is found dead in her shop and the clues all add up to murder, the force are fishing in the dark – but routine door-to door enquirers bring some unexpected results.