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Police Rescue

From Alfawiki
Police Rescue
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryTelevision drama
Founded1989
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
ProductsTV drama series, feature film

Police Rescue is an Australian TV drama that was broadcast on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. The production was a collaboration between the ABC, Southern Star Xanadu, and the BBC.

The series comprises 61 episodes, alongside a 90-minute pilot that premiered in 1989, and a 1994 feature-length movie featuring Zoe Carides.

Centering on the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad stationed in Sydney, the narrative depicts their interventions in emergencies such as vehicle collisions and railway accidents. Although the initial four seasons garnered high viewership, diminishing audience numbers eventually led to the show's cancellation after the 1996 season, which ended with a somber tone in its concluding episodes.

Globally, Police Rescue was shown on BBC1 and subsequently Sky One in the United Kingdom; as Záchranáři on TV Nova in the Czech Republic; under the title "Noodroep" (Afrikaans) in South Africa; Polizia Squadra Soccorso on Italy's T9; as Sydney Police on France’s TF1; Police Rescue – Gefährlicher Einsatz on Germany’s VOX; and aired on TV3 channels across Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It was also broadcast on RTÉ One within the Republic of Ireland.

Main

Actor/actress Character Rank Years Active Episodes
Gary Sweet Steve "Mickey" McClintock Sergeant 1989–1996 01–61 + Pilot & Feature Film
Sonia Todd Georgia Rattray Constable/Senior Constable/Sergeant 1989–1996 01–61 + Pilot & Feature Film
Tim McKenzie Peter "Ridgy" Ridgeway Sergeant 1989–1990 01–13 + Pilot
John Clayton Bill Adams Inspector 1989–1996 01–61 + Pilot & Feature Film
Marshall Napier Fred "Frog" Catteau Sergeant 1989–1992 01–19 + Pilot
Peter Browne Trevor "Sootie" Coledale Constable 1989–1990 01–14 + Pilot
Doug Scroope Percy "Ptomaine" Warren Constable 1989–1993 01–32 + Pilot
Steve Bastoni Yiannis "Angel" Angelopoulos Constable/Senior Constable 1990–1996 01–61 + Feature Film
Steve Bisley Kevin "Nipper" Harris Senior Sergeant 1992–1995 14–42
Belinda Cotterill Sharyn Elliott 1992–1994, 1996 14–39, 53–61 + Feature Film
Tammy MacIntosh Kathy Orland Constable 1992–1995 14–52 + Feature Film
Jeremy Callaghan Brian Morley Constable 1992–1995 19–52 + Feature Film
Ada Nicodemou Anastasia Skouras 1994–1995 40–52
Frankie J. Holden Glenn "Spider" Webb Senior Sergeant 1994–1996 43–61
Zoe Carides Lorrie "Flash" Gordon Constable 1994 (Feature Film only)
Salvatore Coco Joe Cardillo Constable 1996 53–61
Leah Purcell Tracy Davis Constable 1996 53–61

Recurring minor cast

Actor/actress Character Rank/Role Years Active Episodes/Seasons Appeared In
Kerry Armstrong Des McClintock Ex-wife of Mickey 1990–1991
Deborah Kennedy Bronwyn Catteau 1990–1992 3 episodes
Harold Hopkins Tony Fuller NARC Detective 1990–1992
Gia Carides Helena Angelopoulos 1992–1993 7 episodes
Lani Tupu David Goldberg 1992 Season 2
Daniel Rigney Constable Lohmeier Constable 1993 Season 3

Guest Appearances

Performer Role Year(s) Appearance(s)
Alan David Lee Simmo 1994 TV movie: "Police Rescue in Action"
Anne Tenney Katie McCarthy 1991 Season 1, Episode 9: "One for Dad"
Bec Cartwright Emma 1992 Season 2, Episode 9: "Reasons to Live"
Ben Mendelsohn Dean Forman 1995 Season 4, Episode 13: "Wild Card"
Bob Baines Frank Williams 1991 Season 1, Episode 13: "By the Book"
Cate Blanchett Mrs Haines / Vivian 1993 Season 3, Episode 5: "The Loaded Boy" & TV movie: "Police Rescue In Action"
Celia Ireland Lachlan's mother 1992 Season 2, Episode 2: "Sugar"
Claudia Black Julia 1993 Season 3, Episode: "Double Illusion"
Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick Fay McClintock 1992; 1993 Seasons 2–3, two episodes
Colin Friels Lew Campbell 1992 Season 2, single episode

Pilot Telefilm

In mid-1989, Southern Star Xanadu presented a 90-minute pilot telemovie of Police Rescue on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This initial feature introduced Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock (Gary Sweet) and explored themes such as gender discrimination, sexism, and urban violence. The storyline focused on Constable Georgia Rattray (Sonia Todd), the pioneering female member of the Police Rescue Squad, and her involvement in locating a missing child within Sydney’s sewer system.

Season One (1991)

After receiving favorable feedback from the pilot telemovie, the full Police Rescue series commenced airing in early 1991.

Home Media

Between the years of 1993 and 1994, Village Roadshow distributed select episodes of Police Rescue on VHS format. In addition, CIC-TAFT Video released Police Rescue: The Movie on VHS in 1994.

The series' debut DVD release was Season One in November 2006. Warner Vision followed by issuing Seasons Two and Three in April 2007 and subsequently Seasons Four and Five in July of the same year.

In November 2017, Via Vision Entertainment brought out a comprehensive box set containing all five seasons alongside the pilot telemovie.

As of November 2024, the titles Police Rescue: The Movie (1994) and Police Rescue: In Action have not been made available on DVD.

In July 2019, the Seven Network launched the complete first and second seasons for streaming via their platform, 7plus. By August 2025, Police Rescue also became accessible on-demand through ABC iview.

VHS Releases

Title Format Episodes Included Number of Tapes Australian Region Release Year Special Features Included Distributor(s)
Mates and Hostages VHS Series 1, Episodes 1 & 10 1 1993 None Village Roadshow
Mad Dog and By the Book VHS Series 1, Episodes 5 & 13 1 Not specified None Village Roadshow
Judgement Day and Reasons to Live VHS Series 2, Episodes 5 & 9 1 Not specified None Village Roadshow
Police Rescue: The Movie VHS Feature Film 1 1994 None CIC-TAFT Home Video


DVD Releases

Title Format Episodes Discs/Tapes Region 4 (Australia) Release Date Additional Features Distributor
Police Rescue: Season One DVD 13 4 26 November 2006 Includes 90-minute pilot episode Warner Vision
Police Rescue: Season Two DVD 13 4 9 April 2007 No special features included Warner Vision
Police Rescue: Season Three DVD 13 4 9 April 2007 No additional content Warner Vision
Police Rescue: Season Four (Part 1) DVD 11 3 9 July 2007 No extras included Warner Vision
Police Rescue: Season Four (Part 2) DVD 11 3 9 July 2007 No bonus materials provided Warner Vision
Police Rescue: The Complete Collection DVD 61 18 22 November 2017 'Includes the 90-minute pilot episode' Via Vision Entertainment
'Police Rescue: The Complete Collection' 'DVD' '61' '18' '07 August 2024 (Reissue)' 'Features the 90-minute pilot episode' 'Via Vision Entertainment'

Online Streaming

Police Rescue Seasons One through Four can currently be streamed on various platforms globally, such as 7plus, 10play, and Amazon Prime. Notably, the feature-length pilot and Police Rescue: The Movie remain unavailable for streaming at this time.

Police Rescue Collectibles

Title Author(s) Medium Content Covered # Australian Release Year Included Extras
Police Rescue 1 Bill Green Book Novel adaptations of Series One, Episodes 1, 4, and 5 1992 None offered
Police Rescue 2 Bill Green Book Novelizations of Series One, Episodes 8, 10, and 11 1992 To Be Announced (TBA)
Police Rescue 3 Jack Bridson Book Adaptations of Series Two, Episodes 5, 11, and 13 in novel form 1993 To Be Announced (TBA)
Police Rescue: Omnibus Edition Bill Green, Jack Bridson Book (compilation of Police Rescue volumes 1-3) 1993 Includes cast photograph insert
Police Rescue: Souvenir Special Nic Place (editor) Magazine Behind-the-scenes features and content coverage 1993 Comes with posters and photos of the cast
Police Rescue: The Movie Bill Green Book Novelization of the feature film 1994 'To Be Announced' extras
'Police Rescue: Trading Card' 'Trading Card' Features Gary Sweet' 'N/A' 'No bonus items'

References

External links

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