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Private Notes
Det. Sgt. Vickers believes that Sen. Det. Banner's personal feelings may have impaired his judgement when Banner makes an all out effort to nail Eddie Parrish, a former policeman who has used his police know-how to muscle in on various rackets. **90 minute episode**
Yarra Central police battle a crime wave of thuggery, hold-ups and the theft of $20,000 worth of goods by a mystery gang. Investigations reveal the culprits as 'The Soldiers', a re-united former teenage gang whose members have just finished serving jail terms. Sen. Det. Banner's pregnant wife, Joy, dies during premature child-birth brought on after being terrorised by a member of the gang.
Yarra Central police are confronted with a series of reports about a bad detective. Their investigations lead to an impostor, a former policeman, who is blackmailing a solid citizen caught in the office secretary trap, belting people around with unrestrained sadism, and leading two romantic lives.
19-year-old Kay Dixon is attracted by the glamorous life of big-spending racketeer Max Foley, who tries to set up a floating cabaret. Kay finds herself in the ugly world of prostitution, exploitation and violence with no apparent way out. Police investigate Foley when a criminal associate of his is bashed.
Three salesmen from a country town decide on a night out after attending a Melbourne convention. For two of the three, the night turns into a disaster when they become involved with a truck driver who is the apparent victim of a robbery and two girls who 'roll' unsuspecting males.
A little Italian girl is missing. While investigating her disappearance, Yarra Central police discover a kidnapping, a burglary, an alcoholic mother, and an attempted suicide.
A city night club serves as a front for vice and crime. As Yarra Central police investigate a number of seemingly unrelated matters, they uncover alarming facts about one of the district's most respected citizens.
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with rather more enthusiasm than caution, the O'Connell family decides to start its own crime wave in the district, resulting in a sequence of events which causes a lot of hard work for the Yarra Central police.
Pop singer John Noble, whose popularity has slumped, is too proud to take ordinary work. When he starts chasing easy money to maintain his lifestyle he becomes involved with drugs and crime - and the police of Yarra Central.
A deserted wife, Irene Kemp, successfully raises her daughter Thea by running a sly grog house, but when she becomes involved in robbery and blackmail the whole structure of her life is threatened.
An expert safe cracker comes out of prison to find his younger brother eager to follow in his footsteps. These two, plus a shifty billiards-room proprietor with a fondness for stolen property pose problems for Sen. Det. Banner.
A con-man is troubling the police of Yarra Central, but when the search for him begins, Sen. Det. Banner cannot foresee the serious consequences for an old man and his daughter.
Det. Sgt. Vicker's son Jamie becomes caught in the activities of some demonstrators who attack a policeman. Jamie is innocent of complicity, but he is unwilling to inform about the offenders to his father. Jamie finds himself in a difficult position - between Vickers and his son lie the years that separate the generations and brought new attitudes and values. A group of car thieves operating in the area complicates matters for the police, in particular for Det. Peters.
A little girl fails to arrive at school one morning, a factory worker lies about his reasons for being late for work, and the Yarra Central police probe a case which may end in murder.
A down-and-out ex-test cricketer, whose days of glory are long gone, is given an opportunity to make a comeback. Police are concerned when his son is connected to a pornography racket.
A Hungarian architect finds himself working as a quarry labourer after settling in Australia. An argument with his foreman sparks off a crisis in his life and a major emergency for the police of Yarra Central.
A neglected child is taken from a woman involved with payroll bandits. Their attempt to steal a firm's payroll uncovers a secret held by an employee of the company.
Yarra Central police are faced with unexpected obstacles when they investigate a fatal hit-and-run accident.
A merchant seaman jumps ship and becomes the only witness to a 'smash-and-grab' raid. Because of personal problems he refuses to identify the criminals, who then carry out other violent crimes.
Investigating an apparently routine case of child neglect, WPC Margaret Stewart stumbles into the nightmare world of schizophrenic Janie Mitchell. Every ounce of Margaret's training, human understanding and bravery is called upon in her desperate struggle to save the life of a baby that Janie has abducted.
A released prisoner with a violent criminal record has two scores to settle - one with his unfaithful wife and the other with Sen. Det. Banner.
An interstate gang launches a campaign of terror in an attempt to takeover local crime. Kenny Kent, a professional burglar, stands up to them alone, and in so doing he unwittingly gives the police their chance to smash the gang.
When detectives first come across the mysterious Faith Cameron, they suspect she is a call girl, then it seems she could be passing dud cheques. But what is she really up to? Police then link Faith to a jewel thief who switched a paste reproduction for an expensive ring before crashing his getaway car.
The death of a call girl helps Yarra Central police in the investigation of a robbery apparently committed by the trusted employee of a finance company.
Lesley Fisher is a hardened criminal who specialises in planning robberies, and has returned to Melbourne from Adelaide with a respectable front - a wife, a home and good clothes. With his two accomplices he plans a robbery - being careful not to be involved in its execution. He escapes capture by informing on his two henchmen, and detectives fail to find any hard evidence against the shrewd gang leader.
Nature had not dealt kindly with Little Willie. In his stunted body, half the size of normal men, is packed all the emotions of others about him. The strange affection that grows between Willie and a woman criminal leads him to the half-world of robbery, violence and eventually death.
When Dave Smyth leaves the wharves to join the police force, his father accuses him of becoming a 'lackey of the capitalist classes'. Dave's loyalties are soon put to the test, and the resulting conflict brings trouble for himself and his colleagues at Yarra Central.
The wayward son of a wealthy man is told that he will have to make his own way in the world. He responds by going into business - as a thief. Executing a warehouse robbery, he seems to have been successful until he has to dispose of the goods.
Policewoman Margaret Stewart tries to help a young woman who is emotionally disturbed as a result of being criminally assaulted by a prowler, and has received no understanding from her boyfriend.
Ricky Peel escapes from jail and, with the help of some criminal associates, threatens a private detective. Sen. Det. Banner is reunited with a girl he once loved who has returned to Melbourne.
A man who has publicly criticised the Yarra Central police is charged with an offence. He then alleges that one of the detectives has bribed a key witness in the case.
Sgt. Macleod is offered a well paid job back in Scotland. He is considering the offer when Vickers asks him to stand in for a bank manager in a police trap for a group of vicious bank robbers.
Life for Vic Tomasetti is hard, frustrating and lightened only by the love of his retarded daughter, Lisa, a girl totally misunderstood by her stepmother and others. Her testimony about the shooting of a policeman is not believed due to the contrary evidence given by adults.
Rod Irving, just released from prison, is confronted by Ike Vaughan, the criminal who helped put him there. Rod wants to go straight, but Vaughan tries to involve him in crime, and has already caused his wife Belle to become a drug addict.
Vince Perry thinks his jokes are funny, but he cannot see that they often cause a great deal of trouble and distress. Yarra Central police are not amused when they find he has returned to the area.
Tim Gardner has had all the advantages - rich parents, good school, the lot. But he has chosen a life of crime. His young wife, Meg, does not suspect him but things soon get complicated when a former accomplice targets Gardner's operations.
An assault between two girls on a street leads to the Yarra Central police unravelling a tangled web when a middle-aged businessman becomes involved with a girl younger than his own daughter.
Two young baby-sitters throw a party in a rich client's home. They strike trouble, but in doing so they give the Yarra Central police a new line of inquiry into a puzzling series of jewel thefts.
Master criminal Lesley Fisher becomes involved in a vicious underworld vendetta. Police investigations lead to a surprising result.
Ray Hubbard is studying to get through university, but when his girlfriend becomes pregnant the only solution seems to be an abortion. When things don't go as planned, the Yarra Central police find themselves investigating a con-man, a robbery and a backyard abortionist.
Two men and a woman comprise a gang of thieves stealing cash from retailers in the fruit and vegetable trade. Yarra Central police find their investigations made difficult by changes in tactics of the gang responsible.
A night club comedian faces a personal crisis when his broken marriage catches up with him after 14 years in the shape of his 18-year-old daughter. Yarra Central police help sort it out while investigating a call-girl racket and a large liquor theft.
Some attitudes towards Aboriginals are re-evaluated when 'Lefty' Cooper, an Aboriginal contender for the lightweight boxing championship, becomes the target for a crooked bookmaker who stands to lose a great deal of money if 'Lefty' wins the fight.
The Yarra Central police are faced with an outbreak of well-planned thefts with no recovery of the stolen goods. Third-rate thieves commit skilful offences under the instructions of a master-mind of unknown identity, referred to as 'Mr. Fifty Percent'.
A confidence trickster tells the Yarra Central police that a young English migrant is planning a bank robbery. The plight of an elderly lady complicates the situation.
Doreen Walsh, wife of a former detective, claims that she has been attacked and raped by three men. During investigations, Sen. Det. Banner and Det. Sgt. Vickers uncover an unusual story.
Herb Doherty, who has a string of minor convictions to his name and is known as a trouble-maker, witnesses a smash-and-grab raid. He also falls in love with Policewoman Margaret Stewart.
A cruel swindle is played on the local Italian community, and the police investigation impacts on a domestic crisis with Sgt. Vickers and his student son Jamie.
Yarra Central police launch an intensive search when Constable Kevin Dwyer disappears while pursuing a car following a series of baffling robberies.
During an investigation into the violent and apparently senseless desecration of a Catholic church, Yarra Central police track down a young man who has become embittered towards religion, mainly as a result of a 'fire and brimstone' indoctrination as a child. They are assisted on the case by a highly unconventional priest.
Mrs. Maguire is a successful business woman and charity worker. However, a street accident leads to a complex investigation into the truth about Mrs. Maguire and her daughter.
While investigating three assaults on a young girl, Yarra Central police are faced with several other problems, including the disappearance of a small-time criminal wanted for questioning and the defiant attitude of a stubborn old lady.
Alf Clark and his pregnant wife Jill are in partnership with her idealistic brother in a counterfeiting racket. Problems occur when they become involved with petty criminal Ted Jamieson.
A local art festival uncovers a raft of problems for the police of Yarra Central. At the centre of the trouble is Arthur Deakin - a poet, an alcoholic and a house-breaker.
A man becomes rebellious when questioned about his driving, taking a stand on principle against what he sees as an injustice. The Yarra Central police become the centre of attention when newspapers get hold of the story and run with it.
Investigations into a series of safe breakings uncover an unexpected romantic but illegal entanglement when police discover a man with two wives.
Yarra Central police contend with a bank hold-up and a bizarre confidence trick involving the freezing of dead bodies. Suspicion for both crimes centres on the much loved son of a family.
While serving a short sentence for theft, young and impressionable Malcolm Tanner formed a hero-worshipping friendship with his tough, ruthless cellmate Ernie Callan. After serving his sentence, Tanner is overjoyed when Callan offers to come and live with Tanner and his family while continuing his life of crime. However, joy turns to tragedy when it is learned that the police are hunting his mate, not only because of his criminal activities, but because he is a carrier of a deadly strain of smallpox.
Yarra Central police face a crime following a 20-year-old pattern. Investigations lead them to master criminal 'Chalky' Gunnerson, who is a clever chess player and plans his moves against the police with care and precision. Also involved are his daughter Vivienne and a rather brash young apprentice, Ricky Bevan.
John Anderson, a neurotic young camera enthusiast, unwittingly becomes a key figure in a police search for a couple of jewel thieves.
Yarra Central police investigate threatening letters and attempts to injure a leading professional jockey.
A young girl, Tina Findlay, is caught shoplifting, and Policewoman Margaret Stewart probes her background to find a reason why. Trying to help Tina proves difficult and unrewarding when she becomes mixed-up with hardened criminal Max Gillies.
Yarra Central police, who rely heavily on radio communication with D-24, face problems when two criminals steal a police radio.
An American migrant woman who is homesick has a breakdown and becomes dangerously violent. The plight of her family is worsened when the son becomes involved in a series of service station robberies.
While on holidays, Det. Peters gets married in rather rushed circumstances - he was tricked into the marriage by a pregnancy claim. Then, when a prisoner dies in the Yarra Central lock-up, Det. Peters goes through the most trying experience of his life when he is held directly responsible.
Feelings of hatred and fear run high in the Yarra Central district when a number of young children are molested by an unknown man. Policewoman Margaret Stewart receives her promotion to Senior Constable.
Persistence by Const. Dwyer in checking details following a minor car accident leads the Yarra Central police on to the trail of one of the world's most notorious international robberies.
While investigating a series of daring robberies, Yarra Central police are confronted with some surprising characters - a pop singer; a hotel manager; two very 'quaint' furniture dealers; and a swinging, headstrong glamour girl.
Sen. Det. Banner and the Yarra Central police face death when they investigate a seemingly minor complaint about the behaviour of Les Monaghan, who is living in a fantasy world in which he sees himself as a soldier hero.
Ex-criminal Sam Breen returns to Melbourne with a small fortune in opals that he mined at Lightning Ridge. When the opals are stolen he sets out after the two thieves, intent on obtaining his own justice.
Yarra Central police receive a series of false tips about a planned city payroll robbery, while also dealing with Hayden Beck, an ex-racing car driver with a chip on his shoulder. When a payroll robbery is actually committed, it soon becomes apparent that Beck had been recruited to drive the getaway car.
Police keep watch on a group of criminals planning a daring and unusual robbery - but they disappear when the robbery is imminent. WPC Stewart gets little help investigating a quack doctor who is treating the girlfriend of one of the criminals.
Daniel Castle, a timid Englishman, leaves his domineering wife Elizabeth and the shop they own in London, taking money from their joint bank account. Elizabeth pursues him to Australia and discovers he has lost most of the money to two con-men.
Bob 'Smiler' Suttle is a 40-year-old policeman and is still a constable. His resentment leaves him open to a bribery attempt when a criminal tempts him with a scheme that could help him gain a promotion.
A husband and wife’s drunken brawl, Banner's search for a man who mutilated a prostitute, and a young boy who wanders into Yarra Central make this Wednesday anything but the usual quiet night.
Yarra Central police contend with a professional burglar operating in their district who is proving to be most elusive. Constable Kevin Dwyer marries his girlfriend Kay Hogan.
Constable George Bell, an enthusiastic new recruit, tests the patience of his colleagues with his habit of rushing into things without thinking.
Policewoman Stewart tries to apprehend a bag-snatcher and is helped by a man who identifies himself as Larry Webster, an American FBI agent. He is later exposed as a confidence trickster.
A vicious assault on a prostitute leads Yarra Central detectives into an investigation of prostitution in the district, and to a mysterious Mr. Frost who is not what he seems.
Trevor Clark is suspected of being a 'Peeping Tom' when he is rejected by his girlfriend. Investigating the case, Yarra Central police are confronted by a weird religious sect.
A young girl and her separated parents become the victims when an overbearing mother-in-law takes their affairs into her own hands and hires a private detective.
Yarra Central police have to deal with a mysterious shop breaker and a lonely widower. Det. Peters' police duties are affected by events in his private life when his marriage is on the rocks.
A man who has always lived in the bush visits the city and takes strong exception to the vice he considers is prevalent in city life. His subsequent actions unleash a campaign of terror.
Will 'Duff-Duff' Duffy, a clown who specialises in trick falls, and Hugo Smith, a criminal with a child-like personality, have never met, but their stories become intertwined when Yarra Central police investigate a robbery, a suicide and extortion.
An investigation into homosexual activity in Yarra Central leads to the discovery of a number of unusual burglaries.
Yarra Central police investigate a payroll robbery with some very unusual features that almost has them stumped.
A young country girl tries to set herself up as a prostitute in the city. She falls prey to a vice operator who sets up 'witchcraft' sessions for his clients.
Police at Yarra Central become involved in a robbery and an illicit stills racket, and all their investigations take them to the notorious O'Connell family.
While dealing with a teenage shoplifter, Policewoman Stewart experiences a frightening ordeal when they are held by a dangerous escapee from a mental institution.
A woman's anti-pollution campaign against a manufacturing company helps to uncover theft and corruption within the firm.
Yarra Central police investigate a feud between rival tow-truck services which threatens to erupt into violence.
A tough stand-over group runs a prostitution racket utilising drugs and abduction. Policewoman Margaret Stewart finds herself in difficulties while undercover posing as a prostitute to crush the racket.
Lisa Clark, a doctor's wife, becomes an addict after her husband introduces her to drugs. Investigating a house breaking, police find that a youth, like too many of his age, has become trapped on a road of no return through drug usage.
A young constable is savagely attacked and seriously injured by five youths. The Yarra Central police put on a 'command performance' act to extract the truth from the suspects.
Investigations into the theft of valuable but difficult to unload electronic equipment result in Yarra Central detectives investigating a highly organised betting syndicate.
Con-man Jimmy Harrison and his girlfriend turn to burglary, which spells disaster for his two young accomplices and an elderly fence.
When the driver of an interstate gang is arrested, Yarra Central police see their chance to smash the racket by having Det. Peters acting undercover as his replacement.
Two men of short stature - one a notorious criminal who exploits his build to his own advantage, the other a young misfit who resents his size - cause trouble for the Yarra Central police.
When radio talk-back announcer John Drew draws attention to a gang of car thieves operating in Yarra Central, his wife is threatened.
While police investigate a series of armed robberies, a young accountant tries to help his wife by giving police wrong information and is eventually blackmailed.
Yarra Central detectives investigate a brutal assault after John Kelso, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, is paroled after 25 years.
Blind barrister Jessica Reynolds is persecuted by an unknown intruder.
An escaped convict goes into hiding in Yarra Central, holding a young girl as hostage.
The search for the missing son of an important local man reveals a strange psychotic personality.
Yarra Central police face a difficult task when the victim of a vicious assault is reluctant to give information against a gang of predators.
A bomb explodes in Yarra Central. Suspicion narrows down to a maniac who has escaped from jail, a thief, and a layabout protester. All have reason to seek revenge against the police - especially Det. Banner.
A young university student reports to police that she has been raped. A young man is charged, then additional information and the probing by the man's defence counsel creates doubts as to the truth of her story. Policewoman Margaret Stewart finds a romantic interest in the police doctor, Robert Whitfield.
An overworked detective, Barry Maguire, is transferred to Yarra Central on temporary duty and tries too hard to convict a criminal, with disastrous results.
A young man's bucks party is raided when the best man introduces a pornographic film to the festivities. When Yarra Central police investigate they uncover a world of vice and blackmail.
Leo Morrison escapes from prison to prevent his girlfriend marrying someone else, but his plans undergo a change when he picks up a girl hitch-hiker with decidedly unusual views.
Police investigate an attempted murder complaint and discover that a middle-aged veterinary surgeon has bigamously married several women.
A shop break-in interrupted by Const. Dwyer leads to a serious family altercation involving the police.
As Yarra Central police tighten the net around a man wanted for savagely attacking several women, Policewomen Diane Webster and Margaret Stewart volunteer to act as 'live bait' to trap the man.
A writer of threatening letters, a standover merchant and the widow of an old wartime mate cause problems for Det. Sgt. Vickers.
Charlie Clarke turns to safe blowing to raise money after having his marriage proposal refused by his lady friend. Matters become complicated when some explosives go missing.
Attacks on women in a Yarra Central street upset neighbourhood relations, and the prime suspect is a man recently released from psychiatric care. Kevin Dwyer receives his long-awaited promotion to Senior Constable.
A family of criminals discover that Arthur Mitchell mints his own coins to supplement his pension. To muscle in on the racket, they kidnap his wife to force his co-operation.
Two amiable swindlers cause Yarra Central police chaos with a series of clever con tricks.
Det. Peters is having some personal problems due to his impending divorce, and the Yarra Central police have to investigate an allegation that he is being bribed.
Det. Peters, concerned about his divorce, decides to resign from the force. He then meets up with Denis Marshall, an alcoholic whose own marriage is threatened. Peters tries to help Denis, and discovers his own domestic situation is not as bad as he thought.
Carol Hayes is prepared to break the law in order to keep 7-year-old Ronnie whom she has been caring for. The child belongs to the Turners, and Jean Turner wants him back because her husband Mike is being released from jail.
A series of expert safe breakings leads the Yarra Central detectives into an industrial espionage plot.
Sgt. Scotty Macleod is looking forward to Christmas until he encounters a drunk-driving accident for which he feels partly to blame.
While investigating the background of a young man involved in a car crash, Det. Banner comes across clues indicating that he was involved in an illegal racket.
Const. George Bell returns to Yarra Central for another spell of temporary duty, and once again his enthusiasm and eagerness turns the station upside down.
A European paymaster is implicated in a payroll robbery, with tragic results. The Yarra Central police find that prejudice against immigrants in the district can affect their investigations.
Jim O'Brien is released on parole after serving 18 months of a long jail term. His homecoming is marred by treachery and a faithless wife.
Constable Dwyer attempts to establish a youth club for delinquent kids, and becomes involved with the theft of some power tools, a cop with a chip on his shoulder, and a tough old matriarch named Porky.
Police informer Sammy Goodall finds his life is threatened by criminal associates in the Melbourne underworld.
The local newspaper and the Yarra Central police become involved when a wealthy woman, the wife of a successful business man, steals jewellery from a shop.
A prison officer is reported missing. He is later found unconscious but unharmed, and police investigate a possible case of revenge or blackmail by ex-prisoners.
Constable Dwyer orders Barry Ward, a young owner-driver, to have his truck made roadworthy within five days. But when Barry finds he cannot pay for the repairs he is drawn into crime.
Yarra Central police investigate some burglaries and come to a surprising result. The case involves a plain-looking girl and a heartless petty criminal.
Yarra Central police are searching for Sally Young, a prisoner from Fairlea Women's Prison, who has escaped from Policewoman Stewart. An aggressive old man who lives near the police station knows more than he has told them.
Evie Morris is a housewife who turns to prostitution to provide a better home for her family.
A series of baffling robberies from art galleries plague the Yarra Central police. Matters become complicated when it is realised there is more than one group responsible.
Yarra Central police have a hard time truing to find Neville, a mentally disturbed youth who smashes things when people upset him.
Yarra Central police have their hands full when an Italian ex-safebreaker is forced back into crime.
Yarra Central police make a concerted effort to find several unknown people who have picked up packages containing a highly dangerous chemical.
A drunken group of elderly men get together for a surf life-saving club reunion. The party goes sour when one of the old men suddenly drops dead. Rather than report it to the police, they decide to bury their friend in the backyard.
Herbie Pike is a balding, middle-aged company clerk who has lived his life by the clock with only dreams of making a lot of money. Suddenly he breaks into crime in a very big way.
When Det. Sgt. Vickers's niece comes to visit, Det. Peters takes her out and on one of these occasions his car is stolen. Meanwhile, Yarra Central police are kept busy with a series of vicious assaults and robberies.
Sgt. Macleod's wife becomes involved with a woman who has invented a machine which supposedly cures physical illnesses.
When top safe-cracker Barney 'Houdini' Ward gets out of Pentridge, his brother Clyde enlists his help to rob $100,000 in diamonds. Barney soon finds there is more to this 'nice safe job' than he was led to believe, and he implements a clever scheme to thwart a criminal organisation led by a vicious Goldfinger-type woman.
An habitual criminal, thinking that his son will help him to reform, asks Sen. Det. Banner for help in locating him.
Yarra Central police are faced with a series of crimes committed against women. Their investigations lead to a man who had been undergoing psychiatric treatment and whose wife divorced him, and who is seeking retribution against other women who have divorced their husbands.
When an army conscript returns home on leave to find his fiancée bashed and raped, it appears that his drunken brother could somehow be involved.
Armed hold-ups, housebreakings, a domestic dispute and illegal use of guns cause the Yarra central police to experience a bad weekend with firearms.
An idealistic Scottish locksmith, who has been a communist all his life, resorts to crime when he becomes involved with Cliff Wood, an habitual criminal, to raise funds to go to Moscow.
During a series of house breakings, a bank manager is bashed when his home is broken into and his bank keys are stolen.
Yarra Central police run into difficulties when they try to solve a number of hold-ups in which the getaway car is driven by a clever, mysterious driver.
Yarra Central police investigate the actions of a visiting yachtsman, Tom Anderson, who is involved in bird smuggling. Anderson has conned a young girl, Karen, into the smuggling racket, and events culminate with Anderson seeking revenge against Banner.
Constable Dwyer heads for major trouble when he becomes involved in what appears to be a minor accident.
Det. Sgt. Vickers is set off on a relentless search for counterfeit plates when he learns the name of a man booked for a minor traffic offence.
Peter Watson, a previous sex offender recently released from prison, is the suspect when a number of rapes occur in Yarra Central.
Yarra Central police are confronted with an imported method of committing petty crimes involving the skilful riding of motor cycles.
Yarra Central police move into action when Vickers' wife is terrorised by a youth who loathes the police and is seeking revenge.
The investigation of an obscenity charge against an underground newspaper, 'The Oracle', leads the police to a subculture of revolution and drugs.
Banner gambles with death when he must deal with a man intending to shoot his aged father and then himself.
A shopkeeper shoots an intruder and Yarra Central police uncover some facts that cast doubt upon his version of events.
Investigations into the theft of a large sum of money from a shipping company involve Yarra Central police in a widespread search which finally leads to Sydney. Banner goes to Sydney but finds the culprits difficult to track down.
Through a maze of violence and subterfuge, Yarra Central police try to track down the young wife of a wealthy American businessman who is reported missing in Melbourne.
An old man demanding to live in a decaying mansion, a factory robbery and the theft of a safe lead to Yarra Central police uncovering a conspiracy.
Banner blames himself when a rent collector is shot and robbed. A policeman is used as a decoy in an attempt to trap those responsible, and Det. Peters suffers a serious injury.
A tip-of for a planned factory break-in and a domestic dispute that leads to murder confront Det. Dave Edwards, who is assigned to Yarra Central for temporary duty while Det. Peters is in convalescence.
It's a search for someone who just doesn't want to be found, even for his own good - when a destitute criminal steals some groceries that Yarra Central police suspect contain poisoned food.
Yarra Central police investigate abusive and threatening phone calls which lead to an apparent terror campaign against a lonely housewife.
A criminal escapes from the custody of Det. Sgt. Banner in order to find his unmarried pregnant daughter, and Banner becomes personally involved in tracking them down.
Circumstances and clues left cause Banner to fear that two ex-burglars he has helped in the past have returned to crime.
Det. Peters returns to duty at Yarra Central. When a girl is discovered missing it seems probable that her disappearance is connected with the activities of a cat burglar.
A vicious assault on a small baby alarms the Yarra Central police. They are in for another shock when they learn that Policewoman Margaret Stewart is planning to leave the force.
An important case arises at Yarra Central, but Det. Peters is absent under suspicious circumstances, and the uniform branch suspect he is 'moonlighting'.
A Sydney policeman, Det. Sgt. John Smith, who is known for his rough tactics, causes trouble for Yarra Central police when he comes to Melbourne in search of his runaway daughter.
Det. Peters becomes involved with a girl whom it transpires is mixed-up in prostitution and robbery.
Sgt. Scotty Macleod is off-duty at the rates office paying a bill when a hold-up gang comes in. Taken hostage and driven to the Mornington Peninsula, Scotty is shot and seriously wounded, and the 'Angel Of Mercy' helicopter is utilised to take him to hospital.
A youth trying to help his mother financially becomes involved with a young criminal, and they both cause the serious injury of a security guard.
Jean Marshall is a young mother of two girls who has left her abusive husband and moved to the city, and needlessly lies to get government welfare assistance. She witnesses a crime, but is reluctant to come forward and give evidence.
Banner's judgement is put to the test when a criminal he believes is reformed is connected with a stolen jewellery racket, and his granddaughter and another girl are involved in robberies with violence.
Yarra Central police grow anxious when some house breakings erupt into violence, and all is not as it seems with one of the victims.
The attempts by a man living on the breadline to unlawfully augment his income, particularly as he is about to lose his job and his wife is expecting a baby, bring him under the scrutiny of the Yarra Central police.
Policewoman Margaret Stewart becomes involved with a teenage girl whose grandmother lays a charge of assault against her. A series of possibly related housebreakings complicate the investigation which nearly ends in murder.
Yarra Central police investigate a commune when a young courier fails to deliver the drugs he has been sent to buy for a pusher. He mysteriously disappears and is later found dead.
A cat burglar who has lost his nerve marries an ex-prostitute, and together they try to start a new life. However, the wife overhears a former boyfriend planning a $75,000 jewellery store robbery and she is kidnapped by a gang of violent criminals. The Yarra Central police investigate, but the cat burglar decides to take the law into his own hands.
An outbreak of petty thefts, the release of a seasoned criminal, and an underworld vendetta lead police through a maze of inquiries and violence.
A man captures a burglar in his house, but the burglar turns the tables on him and escapes. A neighbour who witnesses the confrontation phones the police. The victim is co-operative and appears to be a good, reliable witness, but he has something to hide, and the burglar has accidentally discovered what it is that could cause his downfall.
Two escapees, a seasoned criminal and a gun happy youth, commit a vicious murder. Banner is forced into a professional and personal confrontation, facing the torturous question of when is a policeman justified in risking a fatal shot to stop a criminal. In searching his conscience, Banner re-evaluates his own life in the four years since his wife's death, in which he has buried himself in his work. At this time he is re-acquainted with Jenny Franklin, a girl he knew when they were kids. She has returned from overseas to take over her father's homestead, and as they get back together and pick up the threads a deep attachment grows between them.
A young electrician just through his apprenticeship is forced by two criminals, who have threatened his pregnant girlfriend, to use his knowledge of alarm systems to help them break into a factory.
Police are puzzled when a group of criminals blackmail an insurance executive to gain access to confidential information about various properties. They use this and a gastroscope for a successful series of robberies.
Policewoman Margaret Stewart finds herself in a puzzling situation involving a street vendor. His knowledge of the activities of a criminal gang is something that they are most anxious to keep secret.
A bank night safe is blown and a man is injured. His young pregnant wife goes missing and Yarra Central police fear for her life.
A series of bashings occur in Yarra Central, and a man once convicted of rape returns to the area to see his daughter, and is almost driven to suicide because of her non-acceptance of him.
John Porter turns violent after being involved in an accident which results in brain damage. He attacks several people, including his wife, his neighbour, a barman, and the police.
Banner suspects Rory Collins, a crim who honours his own set of 'rules', for an attempted robbery of a warehouse. When a policeman is bashed suspicion falls on Collins, but Banner is not convinced and evidence soon emerges that an interstate gang could be responsible.
A young boy with familial problems turns to his mate, who is involved in crime, for solace. A notorious Sydney criminal coerces them to become involved in more serious crime.
Det. Sgt. Banner becomes personally involved when the daughter of one of his old friends is involved in a violent bank robbery with her lover and his brother.
Yarra Central police suspect that a lot more than petty cash has been stolen when a finance company safe is blown.
A safe breaker causes security guard John Walsh to lose his job, then recruits him into crime. When pressure from his criminal associates and trouble with his broken marriage get the better of him, they build into a tragic climax.
Yarra Central police are puzzled when they find the body of an old derelict at the scene of a car crash. Their investigations uncover the violence that killed him.
James McQueen is known as 'The Lock', a criminal whose fame in the underworld is almost legendary because of his skill and knowledge with safe combinations and key patterns. 'The Lock' is sprung from prison by a gang led by his son Wayne in order to pull a major job. To his son's dismay, 'The Lock' refuses to commit the job he was released to do, his years in prison having given him strong food for thought about the hopelessness of the criminal life.
Yarra Central police are confronted with what seems to be an impossible crime to solve. A fortress-like factory guarded by dogs and security fences is broken into and industrial secrets worth thousands of dollars are stolen from under the guard's noses.
Lorna Matthews, a spokeswoman for women's rights and social reforms, is threatened with a charge of drunk driving and accuses Sen. Det. Peters of accepting a bribe from her. She decides to enlist the help of an influential friend.
An old friend of Det. Peters is about to be married, but his girlfriend has a criminal background that is exploited by operatives of a standover racket.
Const. Dwyer is first on the scene of a narcotics robbery at a warehouse, and is seriously bashed when he attempts to apprehend the criminals. One of the drug pushers is trained in unarmed combat, and he controls the supply for 17-year-old addict Liz Green, a sad and dominated character from a good family who is controlled, degraded and nearly destroyed.
Willie Evans is released from prison after serving three years for the theft of $17,000 which was not recovered on his arrest. He attracts great interest from his wife, his brother, a fellow former convict and the police.
When a neighbour of Det. Sgt. Vickers becomes involved with a gang of hoodlums, it causes great concern for the Yarra Central police, particularly Policewoman Stewart who becomes a victim of the yobbos.
A young girl makes a complaint to the police to prevent her father from re-marrying. When this doesn't work, she employs an inept criminal to use more drastic action.
Yarra Central police have a baffling case on their hands when a prostitute befriends a young criminal. This association, together with the arrival of the prostitute's runaway daughter, leads to a tragic end.
Young Hennessy, a boxing champion of the 1930's, is reputed to have hidden away a great deal of money in his old house. Knowing that so many people are trying to take advantage of the old man, a young boy, Luke, decides to manage his life.
Banner's girlfriend Jenny Franklin provides support when Banner is forced to investigate the possible criminal past of old friends.
Yarra Central police are called in to find the sender of anonymous obscene letters to a number of married women all living in the same street.
When an attractive but retarded girl is almost raped by a couple of yobbos, her father takes the law into his own hands to punish those responsible.
An old man's dreams for his beloved grandniece result in tragedy when he turns to crime to help her establish a decent life.
Yarra Central police are set a difficult task when a young girl is killed following a hit and run accident.
A policeman is critically injured when struck by the getaway car from an armed robbery, and Det. Sgt. Banner finds his personal life in turmoil when an ex-boyfriend of Jenny's arrives from London on business.
Mal White has served eight years for robbery with violence and attempted bribery. All he wants on his release is a savage revenge on those whom he perceives to have done him wrong. One of his intended victims is Sgt. Scotty Macleod.
Billly Miller, a 10-year-old boy, goes missing. His disappearance went unnoticed by his mother, and Yarra Central police search for his body in a creek at the tip, and fear that a man with a known record of sex offences is involved.
When an itinerant, middle-aged bushman arrives in Melbourne, he soon finds himself involved in a turmoil of trouble. The situation is complicated further when he appears to fall in love with Policewoman Margaret Stewart.
An ex-policeman investigates attacks on girls by a mentally deranged razor slasher. The further the investigation proceeds, the more it points to his own son being the culprit.
A gang of four dangerous criminals pull a major payroll robbery, and the entire Yarra Central crew is called in to assist. While arresting one of the thieves, Banner is shot in the shoulder and is forced to take a few days leave. He spends the time with his girlfriend Jenny, but her constant contact with friends she knew in England plus the pressures of Banner's job puts a strain on their relationship. So much so that Banner fears he may lose her. With this problem on his mind, plus the efforts to locate and capture the ringleader of the gang, he comes to the point where he almost has to choose between the police force and Jenny.
Police protection is requested at a charity function where a routine job turns into a possible murder investigation. Const. Dwyer takes on an undercover role posing as a criminal.
Yarra Central police become involved in an Interpol inquiry when it is thought that a suspect for a recent jewel robbery in Munich may be living in the area.
Police are on full alert when they are informed that a sadistic psychopath and a mad bomber, who have both escaped from a country hospital, are heading towards Melbourne in an attempt to destroy those who helped imprison them.
Matthew Craig, the powerful head of a large publishing company, becomes the target for a series of bitter hoaxes. Investigations reveal that Craig has many enemies.
Det. Sgt. Vickers finds his career is in jeopardy after a police car chase, when he faces a charge for the manslaughter of the son of a prominent barrister.
The presence of a brilliant pick-pocket is felt when racing carnival punters complain of missing wallets. Police spend many hours at race meetings to track down the offender.
An unmotivated bashing looks like it could be the beginning of a series of similar loutish crimes. Suspicion falls on the son of a wealthy self-made man, who uses money to buy affection and obedience from his children, and is forced to face the fact that the making of money is not the answer to all human problems. Const. Kevin Dwyer has applied for CIB work and has been accepted for detective training, which will require his transferring away from Yarra Central.
A developer uses unscrupulous methods to force people to sell their homes in Waterloo Street to make way for a shopping complex. Miss Bobby Paigely has been living in her house for 30 years and refuses to move. Her boarders and friends come to her aid, and decide on a campaign against the development company which results in a street battle, complete with flour bombs and squirting water from hoses. The Yarra Central police arrive and become embroiled in the fight.
When a young boy is killed in a road accident, Yarra Central police suspect an ulterior motive for his death after they learn of threats against his family.
Yarra Central police question the activities of a young evangelist when it appears that he has assaulted a young prostitute.
Jill Ferris, an old school friend of Margaret Stewart, finds herself in trouble through her love for a younger man, which leads into crime.
Yarra Central is rocked by a wave of house breakings, all having a common link. Vickers becomes personally involved when a high ranking detective and friend emerges as a prime suspect.
Yarra Central police find themselves involved in a struggle between political factions when they investigate an attempted assassination by a foreign agent.
Yarra central police are up against formidable odds when they track down the mastermind of a daring daylight robbery.
A schoolgirl is bashed unconscious, and another disappears. The police suspect rape and kidnap, but new evidence shows the crimes in a different light, and reveals a new facet of the two girls characters.
A senator's wife appears to have been robbed, however the lack of any physical evidence cause police to suspect that she may be delusional.
The new constable at Yarra Central, Roger Wilson, finds himself the victim of an old man's obstinacy, and eventually puts himself in danger to rescue Banner from possible injury. Notes: First appearance by Andrew McFarlane in a regular support role as Constable Roger Wilson. Chuck Faulkner, Patricia Smith and Frank Taylor do not appear in this episode.
While trying to escape, a housebreaker is struck by Det. Peters driving the C.I. car, and is seriously injured. During the subsequent investigation, police delve into the past of the housebreaker's girlfriend.
New constable Bob Parry is giving the Yarra Central police moments of anxiety; car thieves are complicating enquiries; Policewoman Margaret Stewart has a secret; and Det. Peters involves himself in a doubtful romance. Notes: First appearance by Clive Davies in a regular support role as Constable Bob Parry.
Detectives deal with a baffling case of robbery with violence committed on a young woman who then disappears. Policewoman Margaret Stewart leaves the Police Force to get married. Notes: Final episode with Patricia Smith as Policewoman Margaret Stewart.
A special detective is assigned to Yarra Central to investigate cases of missing females. One particular case reveals that a masked assailant is at large - with a terrible and horrifying result. Ray Preston receives his promotion to Senior Constable.
A bungling criminal finds himself involved with big-time activities and causes the police of Yarra Central some anxious moments when he mistakenly steals some highly explosive chemicals.
Yarra Central police have a difficult task ahead of them as they search for a prisoner taken from them at gunpoint. Then they learn that the person who freed the prisoner is out to get them - and in particular Det. Sgt. Banner.
Two elusive confidence tricksters, just two of an entire family of criminals, have Yarra Central police working around the clock trying to collate enough evidence to apprehend them.
Two police recruits are accused of instigating a fight with a gang of youths. A controversy erupts concerning the training of police recruits when one of the youths suffers permanent brain damage as a result. Notes: Scenes filmed at the police academy feature aikido instructor John Gay playing himself.
Constable Wilson is accused of assault during the arrest of a wanted man. Det. Sgt. Banner, while interviewing eyewitnesses, discovers a case of child bashing.
Yarra Central police search for a vicious criminal and his hostage after a bank robbery. Unknown to them, another criminal joins in the search for an entirely different reason.
A policewoman temporarily stationed at Yarra Central becomes the target of a seemingly maniacal killer. Police desperately try to establish the killer's identity and motive before the threat can be carried out. Notes: Terence Donovan does not appear in this episode.
A girl is criminally assaulted, and is so shocked she can't remember who did it. Two youths are suspected until police learn of another witness.
When a young woman is released from Greenleigh Women's Prison she faces many problems. Policewoman Jane Bell, assigned from Russell Street to Yarra Central, tries to help her, but soon learns that personal involvement is not always the answer. Notes: Features Rowena Wallace as Policewoman Jane Bell, which became a regular support role from episode 279.
While investigating a series of art thefts, Yarra Central police receive unusual help from a housewife who is frustrated by her estranged husband's sense of revenge.
When an ambulance with a police escort and another vehicle are involved in a collision, there eventuates a major mystery for the Yarra Central police. Notes: Frank Taylor does not appear in this episode.
Yarra Central police are dubious when a derelict reports a murder. Their doubts appear justified when there is no evidence of a crime, but the derro is then found to be the next target.
Yarra Central is the victim of an idealistic practical joker, Jonathon Gramophone, who helps a quiet little man, Harold Sloane, get even with a used car dealer who cheated him.
Police are concerned about a Polish immigrant who lives in Yarra Central, isolated from the outside by her memories. When a boarder moves in with her, it appears that the grim past she left behind in Poland has caught up with her.
A young stripper, fearing for her own safety, refuses to help the police when her escapee ex-boyfriend goes on a revenge campaign against an old enemy.
The assault on a spinster turns police attention to a marriage bureau and escort service which they suspect may be covering for a prostitution racket.
Yarra Central police investigate a gangland execution and become concerned when a crim-hating colleague intimidates a suspect. Det. Peters finds himself totally opposed to the other policeman's attitude to criminals.
A safe blowing job gone wrong results in the abduction of a security guard.
A former fence finds going straight very difficult when some criminals pressure him for help.
A businessman is bashed and robbed, and the police finds his confusion over the attacker well-founded when his company's background is uncovered.
Yarra Central police investigate a house breaking and capture the burglar, but unbeknown to them he isn't the only person in the house. The occupant of the house, a young girl, spends a day of terror until the police finally realise the situation.
Two attempts on the life of a youth and the subsequent murder of his girlfriend force Sgt. Vickers into visiting Beechworth Prison in an attempt to get some information from one of the inmates. Notes: Segments filmed on location at Beechworth.
Police have problems with an angry husband who is attempting to find his wife - the only person who knows the truth about a brutal attack on a teenage girl. Notes: Elspeth Ballantyne reprises her role of Policewoman Terri Standish, first seen in ep. 246 'The Vigil'.
Constable Wilson, experiencing a typical Saturday afternoon in Yarra Central, uncovers a plot to blow up a warehouse.
A man's car is blown up and his wife threatened. Yarra Central police are mystified as to the reason until they find out that the victim has a shady past and someone is out for revenge.
An unstable girl is the victim of a terror campaign, little suspecting that the one person she trusts is behind it. Investigations lead to doubts about her mental health, however Const. Paul Gray, newly arrived at Yarra Central, proves his worth as a cop when he helps solve the crime. Notes: First appearance by John Hannan in a regular support role as Const. Paul Gray.
Police are outsmarted by the extreme efficiency of a spate of robberies - until an ex-parole officer who has been recruiting an army of criminals emerges as the brains behind the scenes, recruiting a gang of crims to pull the big jobs.
A dating service comes under scrutiny when police realise that file cards on lonely female applicants have been stolen by a mentally unstable man.
An elderly man befriends a youth when he sees him escaping from the scene of a hold up. A strong relationship builds up between them, leading to the old man's life being placed in danger.
Three youths abduct a young girl. She finds unexpected help from one of the captors when the most dangerous of the three decides to take things further.
The brother of a mentally retarded youth causes suffering and trouble to his father as police unravel the complexities behind an assault and the theft of a safe.
The daughter of an upper-class family, Sarah Carr, is found brutally raped on a golf course. Yarra Central police become suspicious of her brother David, realising he may be the cause of the crime by 'setting up' Sarah to be raped by his mates.
A factory manager is outraged when two bogus policemen steal a payroll from one of his staff. Policewoman Kim Baker works undercover as an employee when Yarra Central police suspect it could be an inside job.
Det. Sgt. Banner poses as the father of a kidnap victim. However, the situation becomes dangerous when the kidnappers discover his true identity.
Det. Sgt. Banner finds himself facing a murder charge after shooting a man he has been trying to put behind bars for several years. Notes: Both parts 1 and 2 were originally screened as a single two-hour episode. They were shown as single episodes in repeat runs.
Det. Sgt. Banner faces a coroner's inquiry, and indications are that he will leave the police force. Banner is torn between his dedication to his police duties, and his love for his girlfriend Jenny who has recently contacted him from London. Notes: Both parts 1 and 2 were originally screened as a single two-hour episode. They were shown as single episodes in repeat runs.
A terror campaign is waged against a woman running a massage parlour, and police suspect a highly regarded and influential councillor is responsible.
A Polish widower and his daughter fall victim to a campaign of harassment instigated by a highly prejudiced man.
Vickers has the Yarra Central police intrigued as he works his way through a case using his own methods, with none of the other police knowing exactly why they are doing as he orders. Notes: Julia Blake reprises her role of Det. Sgt. Joan Palmer, previously seen in ep. 239 'Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness'.
The subject of rape is investigated by the Yarra Central police, not only as police but also as human beings. Policewoman Jane Bell is one of the major instigators of the discussions that take place, and the arguments that follow. Notes: First episode with Rowena Wallace in a regular support role as Policewoman Jane Bell, having previously appeared in ep. 248 'Hello Stranger'.
A timber yard employee, unable to cope with modern day changes and domestic problems, comes under suspicion following a robbery at his work site.
Yarra Central police have a hard time when a middle-aged couple make constant exaggerated complaints against a neighbour and her mentally retarded son.
While investigating a series of unusual thefts from the local library, Yarra Central police uncover an equally unusual religious sect.
An explosion in the computer room of a car accessories firm leads to the downfall of a man who suffers from being redundant.
An ineffectual man who is a compulsive gambler unknowingly gambles on his life when he becomes involved in gangland warfare.
An ex-detective and close friend of Det. Sgt. Banner lies to protect his son after discovering his involvement in a robbery.
The parents of psychopathic teenager Wendy Sherlock have difficulty proving their innocence when it appears to the police that they are mistreating her. When a young man is badly slashed with a razor blade, the girl's parents suspect her - but she appears so innocent on the surface and displays such a plausible mien that even doctors and the police are fooled. Notes: This episode won a Logie award for best individual episode in a series (1975).
An assault on an accountant has the Yarra Central police baffled until they discover that the take over of a major prostitution racket is behind the assault.
Constable Gray's relationship with his girlfriend is strained when he is faced with having to arrest her brother.
A businessman has been under intense strain since the disappearance of his partner - and the Yarra Central police gradually unravel a murder case. Const. Wilson receives a transfer to Mansfield. Notes: Final episode with Andrew McFarlane as Const. Roger Wilson.
Yarra Central police investigate when the wife of a prominent and self-centred councillor receives a blackmail threat regarding her illegitimate son.
A man is released from prison while serving a sentence for a crime he did not commit. He turns to Sgt. Banner for help, who was partly the cause of his conviction.
Police investigate the disappearance of a teenage wife and an outraged husband with a gun.
Three young men, on three consecutive days, hold up the Apex Finance Company to raise some cash to marry Daisy King, daughter of a wealthy racing magnate. Notes: Comedy episode. Peter Cavanagh returns to his support role of Const. Ray Preston. First television acting role by singer Johnny Farnham.
Det. Sgt. Banner spends six gruelling hours on the roof of a high building trying to prevent a young girl from committing suicide.
Det. Peters is disillusioned when a close friendship is threatened, particularly when, as both a policeman and a friend, he is simply trying to help.
Two totally hopeless would-be criminals have the Yarra Central police running around in circles to the extreme annoyance of Det. Sgt. Vickers.
Two ageing rockers confronted with a young female prison escapee find themselves not so tough as they imagine.
Agnes, a pathetic but happy alcoholic, meets another alcoholic, Fred, who asks her to marry him. Fred has a long history of violent crime, and Agnes learns that the only reason he wants to marry her is because her sister Beryl owns a wine bar, and he thinks it is a good way to ensure a lifetime supply of free grog. Notes: Actress Pat Evison, at this time a resident of New Zealand, was specially flown to Australia by Crawfords for the role of Agnes in this episode.
A highly respected Yarra Central councillor is suspected of being involved in homosexual activities, but a youth who is also involved gives the police another version of the situation. Det. Sgt. Banner plans to marry his girlfriend Jenny Franklin, and resigns from the police force to take an extended honeymoon and to find a 'more suitable' profession. Notes: Final episode with Gerard Kennedy as Det. Sgt. Banner. In Sydney, it was screened with episode 300 as a two-hour special.
Sen. Det. Tom Morgan transfers to Yarra Central, and his first case is that of a missing paper boy who is found dead, the apparent victim of a hit and run accident. Investigations lead the Yarra Central police to a nearby factory. Notes: Features John Stanton as Sen. Det. Tom Morgan, which was intended to be a continuing role - however, only one episode was made before the series was cancelled. Opening titles are standard credits featuring Gerard Kennedy. In Sydney, it was screened with episode 299 as a two-hour special.
