Operation Bad Apple

Synopsis

London, early 1980s. The corridors of power in Scotland Yard, where corruption and integrity collide in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

Chief Inspector Terry Sneed, a seasoned detective with a reputation for getting results, finds himself at the center of an internal investigation into police corruption. As Assistant Commissioner Peter Vyvyan and Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Bulmer lead the inquiry, nicknamed “Operation Bad Apple”, Sneed must navigate a treacherous landscape of loyalty, betrayal, and self-preservation. The investigation expands to implicate other officers, including Commander Wiseman and Superintendent Roger Stern, revealing a complex web of corrupt practices within the force.

Newman’s play offers a searing critique of institutional corruption and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of justice. Through a series of tense interrogations, backroom deals, and political maneuverings, the playwright explores themes of power, ethics, and the thin line between law enforcement and criminality. The drama unfolds against a backdrop of bureaucratic machinations involving high-ranking officials such as the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, highlighting the systemic nature of corruption. Operation Bad Apple challenges audiences to consider the cost of maintaining order in a flawed system and the personal toll exacted on those who navigate its murky waters.