The Thin Blue Line

Faced with arresting a failed asylum seeker ready for deportation, Fowler trains his staff in equality by pretending to be a Martian dissident. Meanwhile, Grim has been turned down by the Freemasons and is now trying to become a member of the Order of Todgers.

The Mayoress tells Fowler to start an equality initiative to combat "-isms" in the force in preparation for their arrest of a failed asylum seeker.

Whilst Grim prepares for his upcoming initiation ceremony, Fowler sets about instructing his officers ahead of their detaining the immigrant. It's to be a particularly sensitive operation as they will be observed by an official from the EU. Raymond attempts to demonstrate the need to see past a person's appearance by roleplaying a Martian dissident, Constable Zog. The lesson is somewhat lost on Constable Goody...

Grim, meanwhile, having being turned down by the Masons, is about to join the Todgers. He has a curious initiation ceremony to practice procedure for, with a little help from Boyle. When a camp Detective Sergeant arrives to speak to him, there's an horrendous mix-up.

Later, Fowler and his officers make the arrest. However, once again they make a mistake and manage to detain the European Commissioner for Human Rights, the very man who was supposed to be monitoring the operation! Fowler is in big trouble.

Just when he thought his day couldn't get any worse, it does. Reviewing CCTV security tapes from the town centre, Sergeant Dawkins notices what appears to be a woman receiving a savage beating in a nearby property. The truth, as it turns out, is far more disturbing.