Jane Tennison is a probationary police officer in a rough district in London, and she is not making a good impression when she arrives late and soaking wet for the parade review. She is trying to make the best of everything, doing as she is told and not making waves. The questions remain: How did the old lady that she bumped into get all of the nice appliances for her flat? How will she overcome the rampant prejudice against women in her workplace? Will she carve a place for herself here? This is a fascinating first look at the life and times of a newly vetted police constable in London, with challenges galore and not even a ladder to climb to the top.