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Inspector Dale Smith
	; Inspector Dale 'Smithy' Smith played by Alex Walkinshaw
First appearance	Taxed (20/07/1999)
Portrayed by	Alex Walkinshaw
Information
Occupation	Police Officer
Title	Inspector
Call sign	Sierra Oscar 1

Inspector Dale 'Smithy' Smith is a fictional character played by Alex Walkinshaw in the British police procedural television series, The Bill, first appearing in 1999.

[edit] Character History

Smithy first arrived at Sun Hill police station as an ambitious PC, having served with the Queen's Royal Fusiliers. Smithy later left Sun Hill in order to take up a position with CO19, but returned two years later as a Sergeant. In 2009, Smithy received a second promotion when he was promoted to the rank of Inspector after Rachel Weston took up a position with Superintendent Heaton's people trafficking unit. Smithy remains a respected but strict leader, rewarding his PCs for their loyalty, bravery and honesty.

[edit] Storylines

[edit] CO19

In 2001 Smithy felt he really had to get away from Sun Hill due to the many new politically correct rules corrupt boss Superintendent Tom Chandler was introducing, which Smithy hated as he felt he was unable to enforce the law and Smithy Sergeant Bob Cryer. The two of them had similar backgrounds having both served with the Fusiliers. If Smithy’s methods of policing received criticism from Chandler and other commanding officers, Bob would always back him up as he too had a strong dislike for Chandler’s new rules. Cryer encouraged Smithy to pursue his ambition to become an armed police officer. With Bob as his sponsor and having given him the highest possible grading Smithy submitted his CO19 application.

While awaiting Chandler’s decision on his application to CO19 Smithy and PC Nick Klein were called out multiple times to the home of Frank Kennedy, an elderly man whose house was being continuously vandalized by youths and Kennedy was accusing the police of doing nothing about it. To Nick’s surprise Smithy showed sympathy towards Kennedy as he suspected developers that were introducing a new regeneration project for that area were paying youths to attack and hassle residents like Kennedy that were refusing to move. Kennedy told Smithy and Nick that he was fed up with these youths and said that if the police wouldn’t do anything about it then he would sort them out himself. Smithy and Nick were once again called out two Kennedy’s home later on only to find out that he’d shot dead a young intruder. This led to an allegation being made against Smithy for encouraging Kennedy to take the law into his own hands after PC Klein let it slip to Superintendent Chandler when questioned what Smithy had said. Smithy knowing that he now had no chance of getting into CO19 lost his temper and assaulted Nick accusing him of being a grass and showing no loyalty. The pair had to be broken up by a furious Inspector Andrew Monroe. For Chandler this was the last straw and Smithy was suspended from the Met. While the Kennedy shooting was under inquiry Smithy still suspended went undercover secretly behind MIT’s back and with the help of Cryer, Smithy was able to clear his name as he managed to expose the conspiracy between the developers and the youths that were hassling the residents on Kennedy’s estate. Cryer did research into Kennedy’s past and discovered that his real name was Ken Frankland and he had a criminal history of dealing in firearms. Using this as a weapon Cryer was able to convince Kennedy’s lawyer to drop the allegation against Smithy. Upon Smithy’s return to duty after being cleared Chandler seeing an opportunity to get rid him approved Smithy’s CO19 application.

On Smithy’s first day with CO19 after completing his training he was involved in a hostage situation at a local school where upset father Chris Finnessey who had been refused access to his son had taken Sergeant Bob Cryer and school teacher Rachel Bonnigton hostage with a knife and was demanding to see his son. Tom Chandler unwisely and handed the boy over to his Dad in exchange for Rachel trying to avoid fatalities. When Finnessey tried to escape with his son and a handcuffed Cryer in a getaway car he was attacked by his enraged wife trying to save her son. Smithy opened fire on Finnessy when he saw him trying to stab his wife but at the same time Cryer jumped in the way attempting to tackle Finnessy off his wife and Smithy ended up accidentally shooting Cryer. Smithy was left guilt-ridden that he’d shot Cryer but Tom Chandler took up this opportunity to have Cryer removed from duty and forced him into retirement due to ill health. Cryer didn’t bear any malice and encouraged his other colleges to do the same. Smithy was cleared of the shooting after his senior officers agreed that Cryer's shooting was not a result of any incompetence and was allowed to continue his work with CO19.

[edit] Return to Sun Hill

Two years later, Smithy returned to Sun Hill as the new Sergeant following the death of Sergeant Matthew Boyden. Shortly after his return, Smithy shared a kiss with PC Kerry Young, who had recently split from her gay husband PC Luke Ashton. He also formed a close friendship and working relationship with Inspector Gina Gold. However, Smithy was accused by Luke of being homophobic towards him and was also accused of racism by Superintendent Adam Okaro. Smithy also joined PC Gabriel Kent's 'SWAMP' (Straight White Male Police Association). But he then showed a more sensitive side when he was the one to find DC Mickey Webb after he had been raped. Mickey later opted for a transfer, leaving Smithy feeling guilty for the way he had handled the situation.

On Smithy's first day as Sergeant he kissed PC Kerry Young, and they developed a relationship largely ignoring Luke. But when Luke left Sun Hill, Kerry was heartbroken and vowed never to let a man treat her that way again. As things began to get more serious, Smithy built up the courage to ask Kerry out for a drink, which she accepted. However, he then backed out after he claimed to think that a romantic relationship between a Sergeant and a PC would not work. While patrolling an obbo on a gang of teenage joyriders, Kerry seduced Smithy in his car and were caught out half naked on the back seat by an unimpressed Des Taviner after the area car was stolen. Smithy thereafter stated that his relationship with Kerry was strictly professional and they were to remain colleagues. Later, Kerry began a relationship with PC Cameron Tait, Smithy grew increasingly jealous her and warned Cameron of Kerry's 'reputation'. After an argument between Kerry and Smithy t after a heavy drinking session, they slept together. Kerry had no memory of her night of passion with Smithy and felt guilty for cheating on Cameron. But seizing the opportunity to twist the situation, PC Gabriel Kent manipulated Kerry into thinking that Smithy had raped her, pressing her to make an official allegation. Kerry decided not to press charges against Smithy, but Gabriel spread word of the allegation around the station. As soon as the rumor became the talk of the whole relief and PC Andrea Dunbar leaked it to the press, Smithy felt the pressure from his colleagues resulting in the station being divided. Eventually, Kerry dropped the allegation completely after realizing that Smithy was incapable of rape, though his reputation was severely tainted.

Soon afterwards, Kerry was violently raped by menacing Gabriel, who knew that no one would believe her after the allegations against Smithy. He made sure Kerry kept quiet about the rape by blackmailing her for neglecting her duty during an armed robbery at a bank and managed to make Cameron leave Sun Hill after he deliberately goaded him into assaulting him in the station canteen. Thereafter, Kerry went off the rails, her behavior became more and more erratic. Alarmed at her self-destructive behavior, Smithy grew increasingly sympathetic towards Kerry and remained loyal to her, even when she started a relationship with criminal David Radford whilst undercover to expose the his criminal family, and faced being suspended from the Met following her involvement in an armed robbery.

When Kerry's father was hospitalized after having a stroke on the day after her suspension, a worried Smithy rushed to her side. Kerry knew how ruined her life was after her rape and how she had made things worse with her actions with the Radfords. Wrecked with shame about how she had disgraced the Force, she relived all the folly of her life and poured out the error and foolishness of her mistakes. Smithy comforted Kerry and told her that he loved her. Kerry realized the true depths of her feelings for Smithy and began to see the light again. Unknown to Smithy, Kerry had discovered that Gabriel was working with the Force under a false identity and Andrea's role as an undercover journalist. Kerry decided to reveal all the secrets she knew before resigning from the Police Force, prompting her to declare her love for Smithy. Just moments after Kerry told Smithy she loved him too, their happy moment was ruined. Gabriel, determined to stop Kerry from exposing him, took aim from the rooftop sniper rifle and gunned her down. Though every effort was made to save Kerry, she died shortly upon arrival at hospital, with Smithy at her side. Devastated and heartbroken, Smithy went mad with grief and swore that he would find Kerry's murderer and avenge her.

[edit] Sergeant Smith and Louise Larson

Having recovered from the trauma of losing Kerry Young, Smithy later met Louise Larson, the wife of local gangster and hardman Peter Larson who had had dealings with DC Zain Nadir before. Meeting Louise after she'd had her car stolen, Smithy was frustrated at how unhelpful she was, yet found himself strangely intrigued by her. After some backhanded flirting and a witness statement that hadn't been signed, Smithy visited her at home and the two had an argument, resulting in a heated kiss. Spending the night, Smithy was saddened at being shown the door and spent time trying to meet her again, eventually getting his wish as the two embarked on an affair. When Pete Larson found out, Smithy was abducted at gunpoint and beaten as his colleagues rushed to find him. Larson beat Smithy up, bound and gagged him and forced him into the boot of a car and drove him to an empty warehouse. He attempted to shoot Smithy, but CO19 arrived in time to rescue him. On arrest Larson incriminated Louise, as he had made her sign documents for money laundering. Smithy demanded to be taken to see Louise, soon realising that Pete had ordered her murder. Arresting the hitman, Louise was taken to the station and questioned, having been wrapped up in all of Pete's dealings after her signature had been forged. She ended things with Smithy at the station, leaving him tearful and heartbroken. Louise refused to testify against her husband, stood by him and broke off her relationship with Smithy. However, she changed her mind about testifying several months afterwards, but this meant she would have to go into Witness Protection and asked Smithy to move to Australia with her. This never happened though, as Louise was killed in a hit and run. Smithy was kidnapped and forced to drink alcohol and probably drugged; he was later found slumped across the wheel of his car, which forensic evidence confirmed as the car that killed Louise. Devastated at Louise’s death, things got worse for Smithy after he was suspended and charged with murder. While being interviewed by Barton Street officers, Smithy could not remember a thing. A witness, Caplin, identified Smithy as the driver of the vehicle and he was arrested for Louise's murder. He was put on remand, while his friends and colleagues at Sun Hill tried to prove his innocence. He could not stop policing even on the inside though, and attempted to sort out the problems of his cellmate, who was wrongly accused of dealing drugs inside. Due to the detective work of DCs Zain Nadir and Mickey Webb, Caplin finally admitted to lying, in an attempt to solve his debt problems. Larson had given him a loan in exchange for saying he saw Smithy at the wheel of the car that killed Louise. Larson was arrested at Louise's funeral. Mickey then visited Smithy in his cell and told him that his cellmate was in the clear and that Smithy was free to go. Smithy later returned attended the funeral of Louise and returned to his job at Sun Hill.

[edit] Dale Smith and Kezia Walker

Smithy had a brief fling with DC Kezia Walker after sharing a drunken kiss in the pub, Smithy was annoyed that Kezia didn't remember it and the two stepped up their flirting, eventually sharing an open relationship as a 'bit of fun', neither wanting the ties. When Kezia's lease was up and she was about to be made homeless, Smithy offered her a room to rent, however the two soon drifted apart. On his birthday, Kezia later found Smithy at the gun range and the two split up however they did remain friends.

[edit] Acting Inspector Dale Smith

Smithy was temporarily promoted to Acting Inspector when Inspector Gold took a few weeks leave. On his first day as Acting Inspector, there was an armed robbery, an escaped convict on the loose and the funeral of a supermodel, which required high visible police presence. In addition, PC Beth Green was taken hostage and had a complaint made against her.

When Callum Stone arrived for his first day as Sergeant, a criminal seized the chance to escape by fending off the officers holding him for processing. Callum arrived at the right moment and fought the criminal to the ground. When Smithy emerged from his office all he saw was two men fighting. Smithy then restrained Stone in a headlock, not realising Stone was a police officer until he displayed his warrant card to Smithy.

When Gina returned, Smithy was relieved and gladly returned to his rank of Sergeant.

[edit] Witness and Bond with Carly Samuels

Smithy had known sixteen-year-old Carly Samuels and her best friend Alisha Danniels since they were witnesses to a crime back on the Jasmine Allen estate. When Smithy attended a party that got out of hand, he recognised Carly who was leaving so he stopped her for more information. Smithy was horrified after he saw Carly gunned down and murdered in a drive-by shooting.

The police recovered the car used in the drive-by and bullet casings were found which did not match up with the bullet that killed her, meaning at least two guns must have been used. DI Neil Manson felt Marlon Reed was the target in a revenge attack carried out by Tito, but Carly just got in the way. Neil agreed to have the canal searched and a 9mm automatic pistol was pulled from the water.

When it came to the murder trial, on the way to the trial, Smithy's car was deliberately run off the road causing the car to flip over. When he eventually made it to the trial, it was suggested to Smithy that his relationship with the family was unprofessional. Eventually the accused changed his plea midway through the trial from not guilty to guilty.

[edit] Sergeant Smith is stabbed

While investigating an arson attack on a school, Smithy was left fighting for his life following a vicious stabbing to the chest. He and PC Nate Roberts rescued a girl who was being beaten up by two boys in the local park. When the thugs ran off in different directions, the officers were forced to split up and chase after them – and Smithy ended up on the receiving end of a knife. Smithy sustained serious injuries; a lung was punctured and collapsed, and he lost four pints of blood. Luckily, he regained consciousness and positively idenitifed his attacker. It turned out the fight in the park that led to the stabbing was over nothing more than a stolen iphone. Smithy successfully recovered and, after a short break, returned to work.

[edit] Darker Days and Promotion to Inspector

While investigating a series of crimes in the Sun Hill area, ranging from assaults to trafficking illegal immigrants, Smithy and Sgt Callum Stone came across Jason Devlin and his father, Matthew. When investigating an assault, they were not able to gather sufficient evidence to arrest the Devlins, leaving both Sergeants extremely frustrated. The Devlin family appeared again when CID were investigating an illegal immigrant trafficking scheme which had resulted in death and which DCI Meadows and DI Manson suspected the Devlins were heading up. When Jason Devlin 'discovered' these illegal immigrants in his flats, he kicked them out, thus causing a riot. During this riot, DC Stevie Moss escorted Jason back to his car, and when she tried to examine a bag in the boot, which was later revealed to have oriental jewellery in it, he beat her up. Smithy, witnessing this, saw red, and he in turn beat up Devlin. Callum arrived moments later, to see Stevie and Devlin unconscious and Smithy staring at Devlin, despairing at what he had done. Callum persuaded him to keep it quiet, because Devlin deserved what he got, and Smithy was too good a policeman to lose. However, Devlin made a complaint of assault against Smithy and claimed that the jewellery, taken from the immigrants, had been "planted" on him. Although they found a witness who corroborated Devlin's story, the work of Jack and Neil, and eventually, Callum and PC Tony Stamp, found evidence to arrest Matthew Devlin for kidnapping a little girl as a means of intimidating another witness against Jason. Jason, standing by his story of assault by Smithy, stood trial on other charges. When his QC expressed disbelief for Smithy's account of events he simply replied that that was why he was a police officer and she was not. After the key witness for Sun Hill arrived at court to give evidence, despite intimidation from the Devlins, Jason quickly changed his plea to 'guilty'

During the investigation, Supt. John Heaton announced that he was leaving and asked Inspector Rachel Weston, DS Stuart Turner and DC Kezia Walker to join him. Smithy was asked by newly appointed Superintendent, Jack Meadows to be his new Inspector.

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