PC Nick Rowan arrives in the North Riding village of Aidensfield as the new village Bobby, but he soon discovers the villagers are not so welcoming to outsiders and he must work hard to gain a place within their community. His tough sergeant, Oscar Blaketon, an "old school" cop, will show no mercy to men not up to the job. On his first day, Nick has his work cut out with an Australian prowler, two bike racers, rockers and mods, and a hostile publican, not to mention stopping the antics of Blaketon's nemesis - the roguish Claude Greengrass. Meanwhile, Nick's wife, Kate, grew up in Aidensfield and hopes to get a job working with Dr Ferrenby at the village surgery. She is dealt a bitter blow when Ferrenby rejects her services due to prejudice in the village. Undeterred, Kate is determined to fight for her job, and her medical skills are put to the test when a pregnant woman goes into labour.

Nick gets a tip-off about Charlie Denby's record shop, one of the most popular places in Aidensfield for teenage boys. The tip-off accuses Denby of having "an unhealthy interest in young boys". Denby pleads innocence. With the evidence staking up and witnesses coming forward, a hate campaign begins. The Ashfordly team try to keep control, only for things to get a lot worse when a witch hunt turns into a murder enquiry. Meanwhile, Greengrass offers to do a spot of gardening for Rene and Francis Kirby. However, his attentions drift slightly when he comes across their valuable antiques.