The Vice (1999)
The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. It ran for five short series between 1999 and 2003. It tells the story of the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and other such organized crime are regular occurrences. Most episodes end in such a way where the main villain is caught but often not in a 'naturally' concluded way that you would expect with other TV dramas, and often ending an episode with more questions unanswered than answered. The small dedicated team is led by Detective Inspector Pat Chappel who struggles to manage the balance between his home life and his work life - as do the other members of the team. Working in the seedy underworld leads to a continual dilemma for the team - the tension between the Vice Squad and the vice-related crimes that they investigate runs throughout the series and gives the show a rich viewing experience. The programme often blurs the line of the team staying on the right side of the law, as almost every member of the team at different points submits briefly or permanently to the temptations of either sex, drugs, money or honey traps. Sometimes with drastic consequences.
Seasons & Episode
DI Chappel has been transferred to a desk job and DS Vickers has been drafted into the Vice Squad. PC Hutchins goes missing during an undercover operation into a pornographer, and Chappel risks everything to save her.
Inspector Joe Robinson returns to the Vice Squad, and attempts to nail a violent pimp. The mother of a young prostitute threatens to reveal details of her lurid past with DS Vickers.
The Vice Squad investigates an amusement arcade manager suspected of recruiting young runaways as rent boys. PC Sparkes is in a tricky situation as the male teenager who has been befriended by the amusement arcade manager, takes a shine to him and makes his undercover role uncomfortable. When the Vice Squad perform a bust he is mistaken for a punter.
The manageress of a pole-dancing club suspects her uncle of using it to run a prostitution racket. DI Robinson sends DS Vickers under cover to investigate but is conerned that his boss may be colluding with the suspect.
The Vice Squad assists the Serious Crime Squad to investigate the murder of a prostitute, with PC Morgan acting as liaison to the senior investigating officer.
DI Robinson investigates a club owner suspected of encouraging drug dealing on the premises, only to find that the club is a base for human trafficking.
PC Johnstone's relationship with a known pimp is discovered. DS Vickers attempts to use her for his own ends.
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