Ma Kane and son Danny rule Rotherhithe behind a front of the Paradise Club, a local music venue. Gangster Danny is at war with neighbour Peter Noonan. When Ma Kane dies his brother Frank, a priest, becomes co-owner of the club.
The Noonan trial for attempted murder starts but Scottish gangster Elliot Rossini is unhappy that his hit man is in the dock and wants the Kane lawyer to get him off. Rossini attempts to fit Danny with a robbery but it rebounds on him.
Betty McGhee asks Frank to use his influence on Danny to stop her son Chas venturing into a life of crime. DI Rosy Campbell takes an interest in the murder of Walter Trafficante. Suspect Peter Noonan is planning a gem raid.
With Peter Noonan in jail for murder, Danny is offered a chance to take his territory. The catch is allowing the sale of crack and heroin in his turf. Refusing could have serious repercussions. Frank is searching for missing youngster
For £200, Barney Bailey makes a death bed confession that puts Danny in the frame for 1979 Post Office robbery. Despite drug baron Colonel Mombassa moving in on Kane territory Danny offers no alibi leaving Frank fighting alone.
Ma Kane's twin sister Clara Malone arrives from Australia complete with a plan to expand their criminal network worldwide. The police escalate their search for escaped criminal Peter Noonan but is hiding in a derelict pub planning for war.
Irish gangster Bobby Mulgrew wants to do a bank job on Danny's territory but he is distracted by the relationship between Jonjo and Carol. DCI Sarah Turnbull arrives from Special Branch with a brief to catch Danny Kane.
Frank takes revenge on a crooked card player who has cheated Ron Blythe. Wanting his money back, it now appears the cash is in Danny's suitcase having just returned from the USA with a suitcase full of dollars to launder.
DCI Sarah Turnball is out for blood when her friend Nick is murdered, undercover, by a far right wing militia group run by Jason Philpott. Special Branch use incriminating footage to blackmail Danny to comply but can he trust them.
Danny is acting out of character by working with a ring wing thug like Jason Philpott. Frank discovers where the footage Special Branch have on Danny is held. The Flying Squad are determined undermine the Branch and arrest him.