Scott & Bailey explores the personal and professional lives of DC Janet Scott and DC Rachel Bailey, both members of Syndicate 9, a division of Manchester Metropolitan Police. Janet is subtle, reliable and a diplomatic thinker with a wry sense of humour, which makes her the perfect foil for Rachel. She has two daughters and is in a marriage that can often feel like nothing more than a convenient arrangement to both her and her husband. Rachel is energetic, impulsive, and bold. Her intuition makes her a great cop, although her boss unfairly views her as a liability. Both competent and ambitious, neither women suffer fools, and despite their obvious differences, they draw on each other's strengths every day to deal with the extreme and horrific crimes committed over love, hatred and revenge.