Patricia Carmichael is a Detective Chief Superintendent in Central Police. She is the current interim leader of AC-12, succeeding Superintendent Ted Hastings. She is due to take over command of an upcoming merger of AC-12, AC-9 and AC-3 into a single unit which would also cover the East Midlands Constabulary. She was formerly posted to the East Midlands Constabulary's Anti-Corruption Unit 3.
Background[]
Professional[]
Carmichael is a seasoned and experienced anti-corruption officer, however it is implied she has been fast tracked through promotions, allowing her to attain such a senior rank at a young age. Sometime after the events of Series 3 she succeeded Superintendent Madeline Summers as the head of AC-3, the professional standards department of East Midlands Constabulary.
Series 5[]
Episode 5[]
Due to mounting suspicions regarding the integrity of Superintendent Ted Hastings of AC-12, Carmichael is brought in as an outside and independent investigator from the East Midlands Constabulary's AC-3 to investigate on request from DCC Andrea Wise. She is accompanied by her team, consisting of DI Michelle Brandyce and Sergeant Tina Tranter.
When Hastings leaves the AC-12 Building to return to his room at the Edge Park Hotel to retrieve a change of clothes, her junior DI Michelle Brandyce arrests him and returns him to the building. Dismissing his junior officers DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott, she conducts her interview of Hastings in the presence of his solicitor Joel Rossport alongside Brandyce and Tranter.
Questioning Hastings about the large amount of money found in his room, he explains it was given to him by Mark Moffatt as part of financial dealings associated with The Kettle Bell Complex, however Carmichael and her team adduce evidence that no amount of money has been withdrawn from the property development company's accounts to pay him, and that Moffat has denied giving him any money. Regarding Hastings' financial situation, she references a previous incident when his debt was brought into question by DI Lindsay Denton, although acknowledges investigation into such was discontinued after it was revealed she obtained his financial records falsely and he was excused by then DCC Mike Dryden. However, she notes that since that incident Hastings has got further into debt, something he has failed to disclose to Central Police.
She then moves her questioning to Hastings alleged misconduct, primarily the fact that he visited Lee Banks in HMP Blackthorn hours before John Corbett was killed by the Organised Crime Syndicate. Carmichael accuses Hastings of informing Banks of Corbett's true identity and purposely blowing his cover, as revenge for the torture Corbett inflicted on his wife Roisin Hastings. This is backed by an interview transcript from Lisa McQueen in which she reveals the tip off that there was a leak in the organisation "came out of Blackthorn". Carmichael then adduces further evidence that the body of John Corbett was found (along with partial remains of Jackie Laverty) in a body bag dumped in McDade & Company Breaker's Yard. Believing she has sufficient evidence to pass threshold, she arrests Hastings for conspiracy to murder.
Later that evening after Hastings is remanded in custody in HMP Blackthorn, Carmichael meets with DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott, commending them for their bravery in being able to report their own commanding officer. However, she then goes on to state she is determined to prove that Hastings is H, the senior police officer wielding significant control of the Organised Crime Syndicate.
Episode 6[]
After the arrest of Superintendent Ted Hastings, Carmichael has several more plainclothes detectives from AC-3 brought to aid her investigation in the AC-12 Building. She informs the Central Police detectives working there of their obligation to assist in her enquiry, and summons DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott for a private conversation. She demands they reveal everything they know about Hastings to her and her team, which Arnott refuses. Carmichael makes thinly veiled threats, referencing how Arnott wouldn't want to be seen as an accessory given he was personally recruited by Hastings from Counter Terrorism.
Prior to Hastings second interview in the AC-12 Building she has the floor cleared, and new Authorised Firearms Officers not associated with Sgt. Kyle Ferringham placed on guard duty, a move that is criticised by Hastings. A surprise appearance by Gill Biggeloe from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner shocks Carmichael, as she was not informed until Biggeloe arrived. During the interview she questions Hastings' decision to issue a Fahrenheit shoot-to-kill order during earlier AC-12 endeavours in apprehending John Corbett, accusing him of wanting DS Steve Arnott to shoot him as revenge for the injuries caused to his wife Roisin Hastings, which Hastings strenuously denies. She goes on to probe into his background with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the discrimination and treatment he faced on being a Catholic in a primarily Protestant organisation, in addition to the pipe bomb attack that killed his best friend PC Patrick O'Malley. Carmichael enquires further into the relationship Hastings had with police informant Anne Marie McGillis, and later reveals that John Corbett was her biological son, causing Hastings to break down in tears and pause the interview.
Upon the interview's re-commencement, she reveals that the £50,000 found in Hastings' room in the Edge Park Hotel has been forensically linked to the money used by the Organised Crime Syndicate to bribe both Vihaan Malhotra and Sgt. Jane Cafferty, although he still maintains he was given the money by Mark Moffatt. She goes on to show footage from DI Matthew Cottan's dying declaration, and goes on to question his decision to shoot and kill Robert Denmoor instead of questioning him, before openly accusing Hastings of being H due to said examples. However, Gill Biggeloe points out a serious legal discrepancy associated with the search carried out on the room, pointing out that DI Michelle Brandyce used the wrong section of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to conduct the search, meaning that the money was obtained unlawfully and would be likely to be struck out by a judge or jury. Irritated, Carmichael ends the interview so she, Brandyce and Sgt. Martina Tranter can further examine evidence.
However, only minutes after concluding the interview, AC-3 receive new information on Hastings, causing her to order him to be taken back to HMP Blackthorn whilst it is examined. When she is congratulated by DI Michelle Brandyce on the breakthrough, she coldly responds that Brandyce almost cost her the case, and she expects her to submit a transfer request the following morning. When he is brought back to the AC-12 Building that evening, the evidence is revealed to be hair follicles matching his DNA found on the body of John Corbett, as well as burner phone metadata that show both communication with Corbett and a presence in the AC-12 Building corresponding to Hastings. Evidence of Hastings disposing of a laptop (which he claims was due to watching pornography) is also adduced against him. She informs Hastings she now intends to charge him with murder as opposed to attempted murder, and malfeasance in public office.
When DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott arrive at the AC-12 Building and produce evidence implicating Gill Biggeloe as the guilty party (framing Hastings and manipulating John Corbett into bringing him down), Carmichael's accusations begin to lose strength, however she persists regarding the DNA evidence. However, it is pointed out by Hastings it was likely Biggeloe obtained the hair follicles from his room in the Edge Park Hotel and passed them on to the Organised Crime Syndicate. Carmichael demands to know Biggeloe's motivation for her actions, but is told dryly there will be no time to explain. Fearing this is indicative of a breakout similar to that of DI Matthew Cottan, both DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott draw their sidearms and aim them at the Authorised Firearms Officers under Carmichael's command guarding the door. Shocked, Carmichael orders her men to drop their weapons, and remarks they need to lock the building down. The AFOs are taken away as a precaution by the Strategic Firearms Command team led by Sgt. Kyle Ferringham. She and Hastings are later escorted from the building, also by armed officers.
She is later seen with DCC Andrea Wise watching footage from an interview with Lisa McQueen, who states she was unaware of the fact that John Corbett was a police officer, but knew he was a rat due to divulging information about the meeting at the Palisades Shopping Centre. She remarks to Wise that despite this she is convinced that Superintendent Ted Hastings told Lee Banks about Corbett's true identity, and is lying to cover herself to get immunity from prosecution. Wise remarks that due to Banks' refusal to cooperate, Carmichael cannot prove her suspicions on Hastings, and suggests she close the case. When Carmichael objects, Wise remarks that Carmichael also had a corrupt officer on her AC-3 team (a reference to Sergeant Tina Tranter who attempted to murder Gill Biggeloe after she was revealed to be a member of the OCG) and reminds her of the glass houses proverb ("those who live in glass houses should not throw stones").
Series 6[]
Episode 5[]
Carmichael travels to The City to meet with Chief Constable Philip Osborne of Central Police. She is told she is his choice to lead his proposed re-structured professional standards department, which would merge AC-3 with AC-12 and AC-9 to form a single unit that would cover both Central Police and the East Midlands Constabulary. She appears unconcerned that the intended merger would cut funding to anti-corruption by close to 90%, and many existing detectives would lose their jobs. Instead of waiting until the end of the month to announce and appoint her, to spite Superintendent Ted Hastings, Osborne appoints her the new Senior Investigating Officer of the enquiry into Operation Lighthouse.
She goes from Pelbury House to the AC-12 Building where she meets with Hastings and coldly informs him of the decisions that have been made, as well as criticising his arrest of DSU Ian Buckells. Looking through operational documents she further criticises Hastings for having active surveillance on Terry Boyle, Joanne Davidson and Ryan Pilkington, remarking that he is wasting resources and decimating the operating budget. She then informs him that, as the new SIO she has ordered an immediate halt to all surveillance and called the teams back. DI Kate Fleming, concerned that DCI Joanne Davidson changes the location of their planned meeting from Frederico's Biergarten to a remote car park, calls DI Steve Arnott to inform him. As Arnott is speaking to her, Carmichael approaches him and orders he hand over his phone. Introducing herself again she demands to know what Fleming's current sitrep is, only for Fleming to hang up on her.
Knowing that, without the surveillance teams monitoring Davidson there is a real risk to Fleming's safety, Hastings and Arnott make their way out of the AC-12 Building to assist her, requesting that DC Fletcher organise Authorised Firearms Officers to accompany them as backup. Carmichael attempts to stop them, saying they should "take a breath", but is promptly ignored by the officers who walk past her. She grabs her jacket and moves to join them with her two colleagues.
Episode 6[]
Carmichael accompanies Superintendent Ted Hastings, DI Steve Arnott, DC Chloe Bishop and several Authorised Firearms Officer's to the site where Fleming was last located, where they discover Flemings car missing and the dead body of PC Ryan Pilkington. Hastings admonishes her for cancelling the surveillance so soon, noting that otherwise they could have intercepted before the shooting. Although initially assuming members of the Organised Crime Group are responsible for shooting Pilkington, she is surprised when Hastings informs her Fleming was authorised by the Strategic Firearms Commander to carry a concealed weapon for her own safety. She immediately issues orders to arrest both Fleming and Joanne Davidson, noting their suspicious behaviour and likelihood of being armed.
Returning to the AC-12 Building, Carmichael quickly leaves again with her ballistic vest after receiving a call, and is followed by Hastings and Arnott. Fleming and Davidson are intercepted by Authorised Firearms Officer's in Arnott's car, which Fleming took from his residence at Redman Road Apartments, and surrounded, whilst also being monitored by a National Police Air Service helicopter. Carmichael demands the two surrender, which they eventually do with the assistance of Arnott. It is revealed the car was intercepted so easily because before assuming command, Carmichael obtained permission from Chief Constable Philip Osborne to place GPS trackers on the work and personal cars of all existing AC-12 personnel. This is criticised heavily by Hastings. Upon quizzing Arnott as to why Fleming was able to access his car, he replies that the two have keys to eachothers keys and houses in case of emergencies, such as the current unexplained disruption in the chain of command. Reluctantly agreeing to allow Hastings and Arnott participate in interviewing Davidson, she makes a blunt remark to Hastings that senior leadership in Pelbury House do not trust him.
The next morning DSU Joanne Davidson is brought in for interview, which is led by Carmichael. Several notable revelations are made, such as Davidson being the daughter and niece of Tommy Hunter, who raped his sister Samantha and later forced her to relocate to Glasgow to give birth. Hunter re-entered Davidsons life when she was 16 and forced her to move down to The City and join Central Police as a mole, given her success in school and lack of criminal record. Davidson also confesses to framing PS Farida Jatri, and manipulating DSU Ian Buckells into making multiple mistakes throughout Operation Lighthouse that built suspicion and facilitated his arrest on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Carmichael is keen throughout to note matters stated by Davidson that could be used to exonerate DSU Ian Buckells, who she and the Chief Constable believe has been wrongly imprisoned. She asks Arnott to bookmark the DIR in several places of Davidsons testimony she deems useful.
Whilst Arnott and Hastings are keen to direct the line of questioning close to the links between the Organised Crime Group and network of corrupt police officers within Central Police, Carmichael remains dismissive, noting that officially as per the result of Operation Pear Tree no institutionalised exists within the force. When pressing Davidson on who shot PC Ryan Pilkington, to her surprise Davidson claims it was her, and not Fleming. Carmichael is suspicious of her taking the blame, especially due to lack of forensic evidence, but notes that if it indeed was her who shot Pilkington it is up to a court to decide if it was justified.
After the Davidson interview, Carmichael visits the detained DI Kate Fleming in Decker Avenue Station. She tells her that the Crown Prosecution Service has been gullible enough to press charges against Davidson alone for the shooting of Pilkington, and tells Fleming as she appears to have done nothing unlawful she is free to leave after providing a first account. However, it is clear that Carmichael in reality knows it was Fleming who fired the shots, noting the double tap placement indicative of a trained Authorised Firearms Officer, which Fleming is and Davidson is not. Her exact reasoning for letting Fleming free is unspecified, but she does remark that she is "not gullible, just pragmatic".
Episode 7[]
After DC Chloe Bishop uncovers evidence from the Operation Lighthouse and Lawrence Christopher files that definitively point to DSU Ian Buckells as being The Fourth Man, be is brought in for questioning on the orders of Superintendent Ted Hastings, not Carmichael. As he is escorted by a team of Authorised Firearms Officers into the AC-12 Building, Carmichael looks on seeming to hide a level of embarrassment, especially given she was convinced of his innocence.
After Buckells admits his historic involvement with the Organised Crime Group, he notes that Carmichael is conspicuously absent from the interview. He suggests she is trying to distance herself from any investigations that would potentially reveal institutionalised corruption, as this would go against the official narrative of the Chief Constable and Operation Pear Tree that states no institutional corruption exists in Central Police. Believing this will mean that she and CC Philip Osborne would prefer to see his involvement potentially just “go away”, he demands immunity and witness protection, but is backed into a corner by DI Steve Arnott and DI Kate Fleming leaving him in a position where he is unable to make such demands.
Carmichaels reluctance to dig deep into any case that could reveal more in depth corruption is shown when Fleming announces she is having the Murder Investigation Team reopen a cold case into the murder of Lawrence Christopher, as with the new evidence discovered it will likely be possible to secure a conviction against Darren Hunter and his associates. Carmichael is dismissive however, bluntly telling Fleming that historic corruption cases are not a priority. Fleming still has Hunter arrested, and he is seen being taken in cuffs to Hillside Lane Station.
Close to his mandatory retirement, Hastings visits Carmichael who has taken up residence in his former office, and informs her that he has lodged a legal appeal against the decision to retire him. She interrupts him to watch a live broadcast on MN News, in which Chief Constable Philip Osborne tells the press that the murder of Gail Vella has been solved, and reiterates his same talking point of any police involvement being due to a “few rotten apples” and not indicative of institutionalised corruption. Hastings comes clean and confesses to Carmichael that he did reveal information to Lee Banks that likely got John Corbett killed, but to his surprise she seems disinterested in his admittance, simply asking him what he hopes her to do with such information. He tells her to do whatever she sees fit, but urges her to “carry the fire” and continue to zealously pursue corrupt officers within Central Police as his replacement. This is again met by indifference from Carmichael, who appears considerably more focused on maintaining positive PR and following the line of the Chief Constable.
The epilogue of the series reveals that the planned merger of AC-12 with AC-9 and AC-3 is still due to go ahead, with Carmichael as the leader of the new, considerably scaled back joint professional standards department for Central Police and the East Midlands Constabulary. It also states that other friends and close associates of CC Philip Osborne are being promoted to high positions in the new unit, indicating Carmichael is more concerned about her career and maintaining her professional relationship with senior officers than focusing too closely on institutionalised corruption.
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