The Don Beech Scandal

The Don Beech Scandal was a storyline in the long-running police procedural British television series The Bill. ITV announced the storyline in 2000; a spokeswoman for The Bill was quoted as saying: "The character of DS Beech has had a huge storyline running over a very long time where he is a corrupt copper. When we first discussed this with Billy we made it clear that one day his character would get his comeuppance, and he agreed to that."^[1]

The Don Beech Scandal was one of two major storylines centred on corrupt Detective Sergeant Don Beech. Since the character's debut in 1995, his corruption had steadily grown, taking backhanders from suspects, making deals with dodgy criminals, and getting himself immersed into the underworld of crime. The Scandal played out over three years in the show - beginning with the introduction of DS Claire Stanton in 1999 and Beech's imprisonment in his second major storyline in 2001. The storyline concluded with the whole of CID being suspended, with only four officers being reinstated.

After it was suspected that he had been involved in corrupt criminal activity, unbeknown to Beech, a new Detective Sergeant, Claire Stanton, was placed at Sun Hill. An undercover officer from the Complaints Investigation Bureau, she infiltrated Sun Hill CID to gather evidence and expose Beech's corrupt activities. Nobody suspected Beech of being the killer, and his eventual downfall took place when he entered into a corrupt business relationship with local crime-boss Howard Fallon, which resulted in Beech destroying evidence implicating Fallon, intimidating witnesses and supplying intelligence on the progress of police investigations into Fallon's empire. During an investigation into Fallon's criminal activities, it transpired that Beech was in deep trouble and in a desperate attempt to save his skin, Beech revealed his activities to a fellow officer, DS John Boulton, and offered him a bribe for his help in hiding his involvement. Boulton refused, and in the resulting fight, Beech headbutted Boulton, breaking his nose and causing him to collapse. Boulton responded by trying to strangle Beech, but Beech banged his head 4 times against the floor, killing him. After working out that Stanton was in fact a CIB mole, he persuaded her along with her commanding officer that he was willing to give up his fellow bent officers that also had dealings with Fallon and his associate; however, he double-crossed everyone by escaping across the river.

Following Beech's disappearance, CIB, under the leadership of Commander Ford (Mark McGann), suspend and interview each member of CID. Duncan Lennox is shocked to discover that Claire Stanton is a CIB mole. Charles Brownlow is informed by Chief Superintendent Guy Mannion (Nick Miles) that he is expected to resign. He refuses at first, but Chief Inspector Conway makes him realise he has no choice. Beech attempts to raise as much money as he can, whilst Jack Meadows (Simon Rouse) contacts Commander Campbell from Scotland Yard.^[2]

Following the CIB investigation, Ford is satisfied that no one else was involved in Beech's corruption, but was left unimpressed by the breakdown in supervision, accountability and overall line management in CID and leaves the decision on any potential changes to Chief Superintendent Mannion, who informs Deakin and Daly that they are to be transferred. Meadows survives at the request of Commander Campbell, pending the outcome of a disciplinary board while DC Holmes requests a transfer. Both Deakin and Daly are appalled to discover that Meadows has used his connections to save himself, and Deakin says to Meadows: "Up yours, Jack!" before both he and Daly finally leave Sun Hill after 6 and 4 years, respectively. Beech collected a false passport, exchanged a bag of stolen money for some diamonds, and boarded a plane to Australia.^[3]

Executive Producer Richard Handford was responsible for terminating the contracts of eight actors, including Eric Richard (Sgt. Bob Cryer),^[4] Ray Ashcroft (DS Geoff Daly),^[5] Joy Brook (DC Kerry Holmes),^[6] Peter Ellis (Chief Supt. Charles Brownlow)^[7] and Shaun Scott (DI Chris Deakin).^[8] Russell Boulter (DS John Boulton)^[9] and Billy Murray (DS Don Beech)^[10] both left by mutual agreement. Ellis only found out he was leaving when his son, who worked for The Bill as a scriptwriter, informed him.^[11] Seven of these characters left as a result of this storyline.