Parole Officer, The

After being transfered from the office in his hometown of Blackpool because of complaints from his co-workers, probation officer Simon Garden (Steve Coogan) cycles to work in Manchester. King Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester.

The same street now looking towards Spring Gardens.

Simon, an obviously irritating character, stops and gestures for a young mother to cross the road. King Street in Manchester.

A slightly different angle due to traffic and parked vehicles.

The woman mutters expletives under her breath.

The west side of King Street, opposite Pall Mall.

Simon stares at the woman and prepares to ride on.

The same phone box now. King Street, Manchester M2.

The annoying probation officer leaves a corner cafe eating crisps. The corner of Cyrus Street and Cambrian Street, Miles Platting, Manchester. The cafe was also seen in 'A Taste of Honey', albeit at a distance.

The same location isn't as quaint now.

Further along the journey to work. Oxford Street, Manchester identified by the Barmaid at the City Arms.

The former Odeon cinema stands on the left and the tower in the distance belongs to the Palace Hotel.

As Simon rides along Mosley Street, a red sports car speeds past towards the junction with Princess Street.

In the right background stands Manchester Art Gallery.

The red Porsche draws alongside a police car.

Saint Peter's Square looking towards the junction of Lower Mosley Street, Oxford Street and Peter Street. Manchester M2.

As the officers look across into the Porsche, they see a young girl, Kirsty, at the wheel.

From the corner of Lower Mosley Street facing Oxford Street. I think I'll pay a return visit in the future, when it's finished!

Kirsty speeds away and the police give chase. St Peters Square facing the Midland Hotel on Peter Street.

No speeding now.

The pursuit continues along a motorway before Kirsty veers onto a slip road and heads back into the city. The A57(M) Mancunian Way as it passes between Oxford Road and Princess Street with Manchester Metropolitan University in the background.

Kirsty negotiates narrow roads as another car joins the chase. Gun Street seen from Pickford Street looking towards Jersey Street in Manchester M4.

A lot of building work has hidden the view seen in the screen shot.

Another car appears and causes Kirsty to swerve and crash. Looking towards the junction of Henry Street and Jersey Street.

This is the building seen on the extreme right of the screen grab.

Kirsty rolls the Porsche over after dodging the other car. Facing the Royal Mill on Henry Street, Manchester.

The Royal Mill, now with a new neighbour.

The pursuing police car catches up just after the other car's Driver has planted Class A drugs on Kirsty. The centre building stands on Jersey Street at the corner of Gun Street.

A different angle to show the building that's now overshadowed by redevelopement.

The police arrive and an Officer (Bruce McGregor) goes to assist the Driver (Stephen Dillane) as he carries Kirsty (Emma Williams) from the wreck moments before it explodes.

The Royal Mill again, on Henry Street.

Kirsty's rescuer introduces himself as D.I. Burton.

This is looking towards Jersey Street from roughly where the actors stood on the, then, undeveloped waste ground.

Simon turns up at the probation office where he finds the, now arrested, Kirsty awaiting his services. New Bridge Street in Manchester with the now demolished Boddington's Brewery in the left background.

The same location with a newer, minimalist (or cheaper if you prefer) bridge parapet.

Simon follows Burton to a club on Faulkner Street after suspecting that he had something to do with the drugs found on Kirsty.

The same street now.

Inside the club, Simon witnesses the corrupt Detective Inspector murder accountant Trevor Deacon.

Faulkner Street, Manchester.

Simon attempts a bribe of £40 after being pursued to the roof by two of the club's Bouncers (Brian Nickels and Buster Reeves). Above the corner of Portland Street and Piccadilly, Manchester.

The Bouncers search the canal after Simon falls from the roof. A reversed image of the Rochdale Canal between Castle Street and Deansgate, Manchester.

The same place now, also reversed. This section of canal also featured in '24 Hour Party People'. Identified by Richard Taylor.

The radio announces the finding of a headless corpse in a local canal. The River Irwell from New Bridge Street with Manchester Cathedral to the right of the Arndale Centre tower.

The bridge carries the railway south of Victoria station. The shot is taken from the location seen in image parof018.

After Burton threatens to frame Simon for the murder of Deacon if he doesn't keep quiet about the drugs, the now ex-probation officer leaves town.

Grains Road, Shaw near Buckstones Road B6197. overlooking Shaw. Neil Rigby. With a little help from Google.

Simon wanders through a village after spending the night in his car. King Street, Delph, Greater Manchester.

Through a shop window, Simon sees D.I. Burton on television. King Street at the corner of Church Street in Delph, Saddleworth.

As he watches Burton being hailed as a hero after the 'rescue' of Kirsty, Simon remembers a CCTV camera in the nightclub. King Street, Delph.

Simon heads back to Manchester to retrieve the CCTV tape. Delph, historically in Yorkshire but now in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The location was used in 'Brassed Off'.

The man on a mission approaches the club.

Faulkner Street in Manchester city centre.

Simon waits to mingle with a group of businessmen as they decide to enter the building.

The same location now, Faulkner Street.

Before Simon can get to the tape, the club's boss, Cochran (John Henshaw) departs with the evidence.

Opposite the building playing the club on Faulkner Street, Manchester .

After discovering where the Boss is going, Simon goes back to his car.

Faulkner Street in Manchester's China Town.

Simon follows Cochran to the bank.

Faulkner Street at the junction with Nicholas Street, Manchester M1.

Cochran leaves the bank after securing the tape in a safety deposit box.

Still blue doors on Castle Street, Liverpool, Merseyside.

Simon stands watching as a prostitute across the street whistles at him.

Brunswick Street, Liverpool.

The prostitute turns out to be WPC Emma Walsh (Lena Headey) who is working undercover.

Looking towards the Mersey on Brunswick Street near the junction with Lower Castle Street.

Simon returns to his hometown to enlist the help of his former clients. Blackpool, Lancashire as seen in so many films including 'Holidays with Pay', 'The Cuckoo Patrol', 'Dual Alibi', 'They Met in the Dark', ‘Forbidden’, ‘Dick Barton Strikes Back’, 'A Taste of Honey' and ‘Love on the Dole’.

The first port of call is George, who is working as a roller coaster inspector. Goodhall Street in London NW10. The street can also be seen in 'Red Nose of Courage ' and 'Spider'.

Antony Blair confirms the location, looking north from outside number 30.

George (Om Puri) opens the door and welcomes Simon inside before explaining that he will never go back to a life of crime. Goodhall Street in North Acton.

Returning to the street, Antony Blair found that number 23 across the road still has the same door.

Whilst riding on a seafront roller coaster, Simon persuades George to join him in robbing the bank where the video tape is held. Blackpool, Lancashire.

Fishmonger Jeff is approached to join the gang before computer salesman Colin agrees to help too.

Bridge Street, Stockport, Greater Manchester (formerly Cheshire) with the dome of The Court shopping centre right of centre.

After recruiting his gang, Simon drives them all to visit Victor Bonderenko, a master criminal. Neil Rigby has been after this one for a long time and has finally found the location, Harrop Edge lane, junction with Hunters Hill Lane, Delph OL35 (RL)

Victor's wife, Sarah (Jenny Agutter), explains that the legendary crook had fallen into a mincer whilst doing a robbery in a food processing plant. St Thomas' Church on Broad Lane near Delph, Greater Manchester.

Sarah, Simon, George, Colin (Ben Miller) and Jeff (Steven Waddington) stand at the side of Victor's grave in which half a dozen pies and a couple of pasties are buried.

The gang return to Simon's house with equipment given by Sarah Bonderenko.

Neil Rigby has narrowed it down to Burnside Drive, Burnage, Manchester M19 and supports with this Google shot. (RL)

Inside the house, Simon and the group of reformed criminals begin to plan the robbery. Burnside Drive, Burnage, Manchester, identified by Neil Rigby.

Simon pays a visit to Emma. Neil Rigby, whilst wishing to take no credit provides us with the location, Aloysius House, Palfrey Place, Ardwick, Greater Manchester courtesy of http://www.british-film-locations.com. (RL)

The gang return home with take-away pizzas and find that Kirsty has broken into the house. Burnside Drive, Burnage, Manchester, identified by Neil Rigby.

After the gang reluctantly allows Kirsty to join, she is sent five miles away to test the radio whilst they play scrabble. This appears to be one of the gas holders that lie between Bradford Road and New Viaduct Street, Manchester M12.

An establishing shot of the West Clyde Bank. The former Bank of England building on Castle Street in Liverpool, Merseyside.

Nothing seems to have changed.

Simon and his crew visit the scene of the job.

Facing Cook Street from Castle Street, Liverpool.

The gang infiltrate a meeting of cycling protestors in an effort to gain cover for their planned escape from the bank. In front of the Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester.

The same location on the day of the Manchester Day Parade.

The Bike Group's Leader (Bernard Wrigley) states that the committee have decided to hold the protest at five o'clock on Friday. The Albert Memorial in Albert Square, Manchester.

The same location now.

Simon stirs up enough support for the group to move the date and time of their protest to suit the robbery. Albert Square, which also features in ‘A Taste of Honey’, ‘The White Bus’ and 'The Lovers!'.

Taken from a similar viewpoint.

The gang practice their cycling skills.

Peter Giles has provided both the location detail and a "now" shot. He says that the bridge is about 250 metres west of Dove Stone Reservoir, near Greenfield Greater Manchester. (RL)

At their city headquarters, a major security firm's computer is hacked by Colin in preparation.

Tib Lane from Clarence Street Manchester M24. Neil Rigby replaces his Google shot with one of his own. (RL)

In order to smuggle equipment into the vault, Simon and Kirsty pose as Dr Monroe and a schoolgirl, bringing a 'charity' pig to the bank for safekeeping.

Castle Street in Liverpool now.

When Emma finds Deacon's phone number in Burton's mobile phone, Simon and his crew are arrested. Lower Ormond Street, Manchester identified by Neil Rigby.

A shot from Neil to prove his identification, but no longer a police station (RL)

Simon tells Emma the whole story whilst Kirsty escapes from custody.

Higher Ormond Street with Cavendish St, Manchester M15. The Ormond Building of Manchester Metropolitan University. Another Google replacement by Neil. (RL)

Whilst the prisoners wait in their cell, Kirsty turns up, reversing a van through the wall. Upper Helena Street in Manchester M40. Information from www.british-film-locations.com

The same street now, derelict and feeling very unwelcoming.

The gang scramble into the van and make their escape. Bradford Road at the junction with Beswick Street and Butler Street as seen from Old Mill Street.

Surprisingly, little has changed. Even the traffic light is still on red!

Wheels squeal as Kirsty takes a corner.

From a different direction, Bradford Road at the junction with Beswick Street, Old Mill Street and Butler Street in Manchester M4.

The gang head away to carry out the planned robbery. Looking north east on Bradford Road, Ancoats.

The road is dominated by Brunswick Mill, still standing and occupied.

The Town Hall plays host to the North West Regional Police Awards.

Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester M60.

Dignitaries start to arrive at the venue where Burton is to receive a Bravery Medal.

The same place now. Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.

Detective Inspector Burton makes his way into the Town Hall.

Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square.

An establishing shot of the target bank. Castle Street, Liverpool.

The same location now.

Simon and his gang appear on a nearby roof. Although the film is set in Manchester, the tower in the centre distance is a ventilation shaft for the Mersey Tunnel.

Colin doesn't like heights.

Kirsty radios to Jeff in the street below.

The gang make their way towards the West Clyde Bank. Above Cook Street facing Castle Street.

The same street from ground level.

At the prearranged time, alarms start to sound all over the city to cause confusion whilst the robbery takes place. John Hewitt advises that the tower to the extreme right is the Palace Hotel at the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street whilst the tower on the left stands at the corner of Princess Street and Whitworth Street.

More alarms begin to ring around the city as the security firm's staff realise that they have been hacked. A matted shot with, in the lower half, the corner of Portland Street and Princess Street with a former cotton warehouse, now a hotel, to the left and in the upper half, the towers of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.

The gang make their way into the bank as alarms continue to sound.

Manchester Central Library in St Peters Square.

Disguised as a policeman, Jeff watches as a real Officer questions two women before finding evidence that the bank is being robbed. Cook Street in Liverpool.

Cook Street now, between the never ending queue of buses.

The police arrive after being alerted as, inside the bank, Simon and the gang run into difficulty.

Castle Street, Liverpool.

At the stroke of 12 o'clock, the cycling protestors arrive outside the bank and surround the police.

Castle Street at the corner of Cook Street.

WPC Walsh and Sergeant Mills (Justin Burrows) arrive at the bank.

Taken from the steps of the 'bank' facing Brunswick Street.

Whilst Kirsty, George and Colin make their way out of the building, Victor (Omar Sharif) exits the bank after mysteriously appearing inside and helping to complete the robbery.

The same doorway now on Union Court in Liverpool.

Simon escapes through the front door of bank after retrieving the video tape.

Again, from the steps of the 'bank' on Castle Street.

Victor and his Wife ride away from the scene.

Union Court looking out onto Castle Street.

Colin and George cycle through jammed traffic caused by the cycling protestors.

Cook Street looking towards Castle Street in Liverpool.

Simon turns off and heads to the Town Hall with the tape.

Union Court off Cook Street in Liverpool.

The start of a tilt shot featuring the Town Hall's clock tower.

Albert Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester.

Simon rides to the award ceremony aiming to expose Burton by playing the video tape.

Albert Square once again.

Victor and Sarah drive away in a 'borrowed' police car after helping Simon to clear his name and have Burton arrested.

Lloyd Street at the junction with Mount Street in Manchester with the Town Hall on the right.