Chief Superintendent Brownlow (Peter Ellis) is faced with immediate challenges when Chief Inspector Derek Conway (Ben Roberts) takes a posting as Sun Hill’s new Community Liaison Officer, while the no-nonsense Chief Inspector Cato (Philip Whitchurch) takes the reigns at his side – can Brownlow work with this ambitious new officer? Fresh-faced WDC Suzie Croft (Kerry Peers) learns that DI Frank Burnside (Christopher Ellison) marches to the beat of an old drum, WDC Viv Martella (Nula Conwell) draws the short straw, while DCI Jack Meadows (Simon Rouse) is left to deal with the fall-out when the explosive culmination of the feud between DS Ted Roach (Tony Scannell) and Inspector Andrew Monroe (Colin Tarrant) spells the end of a career. Undercover operations for WPC June Ackland (Trudie Goodwin) and PC Gary McCann (Clive Wedderburn) present their own unique challenges, and Sun Hill officers have to deal with an attack in a drugs deal and a car bombing.

The complete ninth series featured appearances from Shaun Dingwall (Touching Evil), Lorcan Cranitch (Cracker), John Leeson (Doctor Who), Glyn Houston (Keep It In The Family), Paul Moriarty (EastEnders), Geraldine Somerville (Cracker), Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings), Shirley Stelfox (Keeping Up Appearances), Brian Glover (Campion), John Simm (Life On Mars), Patsy Palmer (EastEnders), Paul Barber (Only Fools And Horses), Marc Warren (Hustle) and Brian Capron (Coronation Street).