DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) and DC Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) are in hot pursuit of a major car thief named Jed Wicklow. Gene is determined to catch him, but the thief's driving becomes more erratic and the chase ends in tragedy and Gene stands accused of death by dangerous driving. Alex is adamant there was something wrong with Jed at the wheel and sets out to prove the crash wasn't Gene's fault.