Violent cop crime series entry - 70s

[John Stewart Miller]

When I finally got the 'SPECIAL BRANCH' DVD, series I was disappointed to find the following wasn't actually an episode from it as I supposed. -

Screened around 1973, shot on film. In a scene shot in an urban location, two detectives in raincoats chase a man who runs towards a train station. The pursued effects an illegal entry through side fencing and tries to cross the line. They try to talk him down. As he reaches the middle, the points change trapping one of his feet between the rails. Next I recalled were the detectives cradling him as he lies back with blood spilling from his mouth. Can't recall whether he was supposed to have been hit by a train?

It was violent and disturbed me at the time. The question wasn't solved by the SPECIAL BRANCH DVD.

Could it be an entry to LWTs 'NEW SCOTLAND YARD' series 1973? Wonder if they exist?

[dubs again]

Jeez - I recall something similar - but I can reassure you that all of New Scotland Yard exists.

[William Martin]

could it be Gangsters? that was pretty violent.

[Patrick Parker]

John, I too remember this, and I'm almost certain that it was a 'Special Branch' episode, concerning an ex-miltary type gone bad - it was repeated on Ulster television on a summer Saturday night in 1975. I may be running two episodes together in my mind, but I remember Ivan Beavis (who I didn't recognised by name at the time, being seven, but who I knew at the time from the Liver Birds) appearing as a falconer whose birds the military chap killed. I looked at Special Branch episode guide a while ago, prompted by memories of this episode and I think the military bloke - who was balding, and called his mother 'mummy' - strange things you remember after so many years- may have been played by Garfield Morgan. Did the DVD contain all the episodes from both filmed series?

[Patrick Parker]

A quick perusal of TV Tome reveals that Morgan and Beavis were both in the 1974 second series episode, 'Something About A Soldier', but if you've seen it and it isn't what you remember, Johnthen I'm stumped. But there was definitely an episode of Special Branch that ended in the way you described.

[Simon Mclean]

Now you mention it, I'm increasingly thinking it might be the episode of Special Branch with Garfield Morgan in it - I'll check the DVD!

[Stephen Doran]

i have the special branch dvd sets and it sounds like that episode ,i recall thinking it was a bit like " lawsons last stand" a professionals episode too.

[John Stewart Miller]

Simon said:

Now you mention it, I'm increasingly thinking it might be the episode of Special Branch with Garfield Morgan in it - I'll check the DVD!

I was looking for it on the DVD (one with 1969 episode as extra) and didn't seem to see it. I do clearly recall disturbing (seperate) memories from 'GANGSTERS'; the one off Play for Today (the series was more humourous); and this memory is definitely earlier, '72 - '74. Pleased to hear about NEW SCOTLAND YARD existing. I used to get the opening title shot mixed up with 'POLICE 5'!