Derek Spalding

DI Spalding was a police officer who investigated the horse theft at Home Farm stables and the hit-and-run on Kathy Bates in September 1998. He arrested Steve Marchant for both the theft and hit-and-run in October, and Kim Marchant in November when Steve implicates her. DI Spalding later investigated the disappearance of Chris Tate in September 1999, and goes to arrest Liam Hammond. But Liam is fatally shot and DI Spalding begins investigating his murder, suspecting one of the Tates. However, DI Spalding fails to get any evidence and therefore makes no arrests, allowing the murderer, Chris's sister Zoe, to get away scot-free.