DC Ken Drummond   played by Russell Floyd

First appearance    # 021 (27/06/02)     

Ken Drummond was a shambolic, Columbo-esque Detective Constable whose style of policing could be politely described as relaxed - his colleagues might say that 'lazy' would be more accurate. He had spent his career with his feet firmly up on the desk. In his mid-40s and married with 6 children, Ken's domestic life exhausted him. Spanning almost a generation, his kids ranged from 8 months to 19 years old and be it financial or emotional, all of his offspring made demands in their own ways. Ken in many ways saw work as a refuge from his chaotic home life.

Ken was never a career copper. He'd always had a laid back attitude towards work - certainly his colleagues at Barton Street saw his promotion to CID as a fluke. He was stoical about the move - just counting down the days before he could collect his police pension. Ken was loveable, funny and could be a calming influence in CID when feelings ran high - life as a professional father had taught him a few tricks to keep the equilibrium. Food came higher than policing on his list of priorities. His closest friends in the station were the canteen staff and he always got preferential treatment, much to the chagrin of Hollis. Ken's style was legendary too - he was known for his trade mark Hawaiian shirt and Burtons jeans.

Whilst Ken’s approach was laissez faire, he could still bring in a very good collar. Whereas the rest of the department would submerge themselves in paper trails, Drummond would nip off for a liquid lunch and return with a mugger or a fence. More haste less speed meant little work and a quick result as far as he was concerned. He wouldn't run anywhere and monopolised CID's pool car whenever possible. Any grumbles about Drummond in CID were tinged with affection - he was a good, steady figure to have in the department and was well-liked by all.

Ken's relaxed attitude to work was mirrored in his private life where he managed to fall into two relationships simultaneously. This was never something he set out to do, but both women adored him and he didn't want to hurt either. When kids arrived on the scene, things started to get more complicated and finally came to a head when his wife, Fiona, found out about his second family with mistress, Helen. Both women turned their backs on him.

When crazed PCSO Colin Fairfax was dismissed from the Force for his racist attitude, Ken was sent to bring him in to the station. Colin retaliated by handcuffing Ken in a petrol-doused van and crashed it into Sun Hill's front office. He died instantly as the van went up in flames.