The acclaimed audio drama series Star Cops, based on the 1987 BBC TV series by Chris Boucher, returns today with the first episode of Conflict, an epic six-part saga. 

It’s the near future, and mankind has expanded its presence in space. Maintaining law and order beyond Earth is the responsibility of the International Space Police Force, known colloquially as the Star Cops. But as Earth’s nations compete over the vital resources found across the solar system, the officers of the ISPF find themselves deep in the political intrigue. 

In this first episode, Suspicion and Sabotage by Andrew Smith, Commander Nathan Spring (David Calder) and Inspector Colin Devis (Trevor Cooper) investigate an attempted assassination at a conference of the Space Agencies Assembly, while Chief Superintendent Pal Kenzy (Linda Newton) and Inspector Paul Bailey (Philip Olivier) look into dangerous disruptions on the moon. 

Star Cops – Conflict: Suspicion and Sabotage is now available to purchase for just £8.99, as a digital download to own, exclusively here. 

With Earth’s vital mineral resources running low, and worldwide suspicion over the true purpose of a mission to mine the asteroid belt, international tensions are running high.  

A series of suspected sabotage incidents at the Moon’s south pole, and an attempted assassination on Earth, threaten to provoke tensions to the point of war.  

Can the officers of the International Space Police Force avert an escalating catastrophe? 

Writer and series script editor Andrew Smith said: “The starting point for this series was the issue of the shortage of minerals in the future, which is a genuine threat that is being looked at technologically at the moment. The asteroid belt is a potential solution to that, with the mineral-rich asteroids out there, but if this led to a world conflict, it’d be the first one where space is a real battleground. 

“This episode is very much about setting things up for the five episodes that follow, which are more or less standalone episodes, but with a continuing thread of the world tensions that are always there in the background.” 

Linda Newton, who plays Pal Kenzy, added: “I really enjoy these episodes. The stakes are very high, higher than they’ve ever been, and that’s clear from the first episode. And Kenzy, who is normally very impenetrable emotionally, does let her guard down and become involved with someone – like many an Australian girl, she falls for his English charms!” 

That someone is Howard Lesser, a new character played by Ben Miles, star of Andor and Coupling. Miles said: “Howard is quite a mysterious character. He runs an ice collection station on the moon, and seems to be having trouble with a neighbouring station, so calls our fabulous Star Cop Kenzy up to have a look at it. There seems to be something from the off between Kenzy and Howard, and he insists on taking her for a little tour in his moon rover!” 

The cast of Suspicion and Sabotage also includes Jessica Martin as Space Agencies Assembly director Alexandra Myers and Lynsey Murrell as Inspector Alice Okoro. 

The complete Star Cops – Conflict series bundle is now available to pre-order for just £50 (as digital downloads to own), exclusively here. 

All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than April 2026.