"Clutching at Staws" is an episode of the long-running British police drama The Bill, broadcast on the ITV Network. This is the third episode of the first series.

Synopsis

When a young man in murdered on the local housing estate, PC Jim Carver attempts to get rid of the long held suspicion that the kids have of police by offering to become involved in opening a social club in the area. However, his and June's investigations into the man who previously owned the club turn up some unhappy ghosts.

Main Credits

Written by Geoff McQueen

Directed by Christopher Hodson

Notes

The Bill creator Geoff McQueen later stated that one of his series strengths was the fact that "we never show the criminals devising their plan without a police officer being present in the scene". However, there are in fact several times in the first series when this is not the case. "Clutching at Straws" begins very much in the mode of setting up the crime taking place, well before any of the officers make an appearance.