PC Lewis Hardy    played by Aml Ameen

First appearance    # 380 (11/01/06)     

Unlike fellow probationer Emma Keane’s middleclass upbringing, Lewis Hardy was from a close-knit working class background, and where Emma spent her time at University in her late teens, Lewis was at the University of Life – on the streets, with his small gang in Hackney. He found himself being hauled into the local nick a few times, and it was there one copper made the difference and defended Lewis when he was wrongly accused of a drug offence. At this point Lewis realised what a difference a good police officer can make and got him thinking about a career in the Met.

Lewis was a smart guy who had a sharp wit. Although he was encouraged by his teachers at school to go to university, after working out how much debt three years of study would leave him in, he decided getting a career sorted was more important. Lewis was in the police service because he knew there was more to life than hanging out with his mates on the streets. He was a street kid, shrewd and funny, but still very young in his attitude. He enjoyed a challenge and was keen to succeed. In this, he was very idealistic, wanting to fight for the underdog. Lewis may not have always seen eye to eye with some of the older members of the relief, but his personality always shone through. It was difficult to hold a grudge against him.

Following a harrowing undercover operation where he successfully infiltrated the Skens gang, Lewis decided to permanently transfer to Operation Trident, in the hope of truly making a difference to the black community.