Officer Machin

Officer Machin was a police officer who escorted two representatives from the council when the squatting Lawson family were being removed from 3 Coronation Street in 1967. Though unable to provide for her sons Ronnie and Clifford, Betty Lawson had kept them out of school as she feared they'd be taken off her and put into care if the council found out they were homeless. Although sympathetic, Ken Barlow felt that they were the council's responsibility and asked Len Fairclough as his local councillor to report them.

The arrival of Machin, together with Mr Fitch from the health department and Miss Simpson from the children's department, came at the most inopportune moment for the residents of Coronation Street as they were awaiting the judges of the "Best Kept Street" competition, and had given the street a makeover in hopes of winning the £100 prize money. Mistaking the trio for the competition judges, Annie Walker greeted Mr Fitch as Mr Foley, editor of the Weatherfield Gazette. Both parties remained confused until Mr Fitch introduced his police escort, commenting that he was there in case of violence. This caused Ena Sharples to realise the true reason for their visit. The residents could then only stand back helplessly as the Lawsons were forcibly ejected from No.3 and ushered into a car. The fiasco also contributed to Coronation Street losing the "Best Kept Street" competition to Inkerman Street.


 * The episode had no cast credits but the officer was named in dialogue. He was credited as "Policeman" in TV Times.