Synopsis
The story begins in the pilot episode. Superintendant Sandra Pullman was on the fast track and led the hostage rescue team. After a rescue went wrong and she shot a dog, she was pulled off the fast track and assigned to startup and head UCOS (Unsolved Crimes and Open case Squad). The first case is to investigate Roddy Winger because his murder conviction has just been overturned on appeal because the officers who arrested him were found to be corrupt in their handling of another case.
The first member of the team that Sandra recruits is Jack Halford. Before he retired he was a Detective Chief Superintendant, but when his wife Mary was badly hurt in a hit and run accident he retired early to look after her, she subsequently died leaving his days empty. He needs little pursuading to join UCOS. One reason for this is he feels an almost crusading need for justice because he could never catch the man who ran Mary down and then left her to die. When he was on the force he worked with both Brian and Gerry and after the other applicants prove to be less than favourable Sandra reluctantly hires them both.Brian retired holding the rank of Detective Inspector because of ill health. He suffers from depression and drank and took pills to cope and one day a man he'd arrested and put in the cells died. The force didn't want to prosecute and used his depression as their way out and pensioned him off. At first he's eager to join UCOS because he'd have full access to files and be able to prove his conspiracy theory which would mean he wasn't responsible for Anthony Kay's death. Brian's long suffering wife Esther find this hard to put up with and moves out but thanks to Jack she's soon back.
Gerry retired rather than face charges of assault. His commanding officer was DAC Bevan when he was further down the career ladder. Bevan accused Gerry of being corrupt so Gerry hit him. It's not clear why Gerry wants to rejoin the force except for the fact that he needs the money. He has a slight gambling problem and definitely smokes and drinks more than is healthy. He also has three ex-wives; Carole, Alison and Jane and three daughters; Paula, Amelia and Catlin. He becomes a grandpa during season one when his eldest daughter, Paula, becomes pregnant.New Tricks has just finished its third season and airs on the BBC1 channel.