The thirteenth series of the British television drama The Bill was broadcast from 2 January to 30 December 1997.

The other departure was that of Alan Westaway, who left his role of PC Nick Slater after two and a half years.

Actor Gregory Donaldson revealed in a 2018 interview on The Bill Podcast that the role came after impressing producers in a guest stint earlier in the series, portraying burglary suspect Andy Melford in an hour-long special, "In the Dark".

On 3 April 2013 the complete series was released as a two-part region-free DVD box set in Australia.

The DVD artwork depicts DSs Don Beech (Billy Murray) and John Boulton (Russell Boulter).