It receives orders from the Prime Minister and, without questioning, proceeds to battle enemy spies, saboteurs, and others to protect the security of Great Britain and the Western Alliance.
The Rat Catchers is an organisation based at Whitehall in Central London but officially didn't exist, being denied at the highest level as they worked with the greatest secrecy.
The focus is on three major characters: The show begins with the arrival of Richard Hurst, the new recruit to the team, an ex-policeman who was said to have gone by the book whilst in the force.
This antagonistic approach leads him to feel left out, a situation not helped by Brigadier Davidson insistence that Hurst knows only the bare minimum about the organisation and is keen to keep it that way.
The Unwitting Courier Written by Raymond Bowers A beautiful FBI agent causes the Brigadier trouble sending a secret document to his Madrid contact.
Madrid Delivery Written by Raymond Bowers With the vital information passed on, Hurst is ready to go home but finds himself in trouble and needing the Brigadier's help.
The Baited Hook Written by Paul Lee With danger closing in on them, Hurst and Smith search for Hansen and meet a student with a gun, ready to use it.
Also stars Monica Grey, Carmilla Brockman, John Abineri, Frederick Schrecker, Martin Friend, Madeleine Mills and Geoffrey Palmer.
Operation Lost Souls Written by Victor Canning Following a trail of traitors to Geneva, Hurst and Smith find the HQ of the people behind the brain drain is in Ireland.
Rendezvous Vienna Written by Jeremy Paul Also stars Geoffrey Palmer, Keith Ashley, Maurice Brownin, Carl Rigg and Peter Thomas 15.
Showdown Vienna Written by Jeremy Paul Hurst and Smith are on a find and destroy mission but run up against the dangerous Leopold Donner (Frank Gatliff).
Mission to Madeira Written by Victor Canning Working undercover, Hurst infiltrates the dangerous Midas Consortium but can he trust the lovely Lea (Hannah Gordon)?
Death in Madeira Written by Victor Canning Hurst seems to have fallen for Lea and wants to resign but the Brigadier has other plans with unpleasant results.
Midnight Over Madeira Written by Victor Canning Hurst and the Brigadier clash as The Midas Consortium plan the death of a man, which will send the world's stock markets crashing and make them a huge fortune.
Wednesday in Dubrovnik Written by Raymond Bowers Faces from the past threaten Britain's Secret Service including the Brigadier's group.
Dead-End – Dubrovnik Written by Raymond Bowers The Brigadier forms a strange alliance to get rid of a common enemy but the outcome is violence of the worst kind as death stalks the streets.
Big Grab – Amsterdam Written by Raymond Bowers An American secret agent carrying vital information in his head vanishes.
The Heel of Achilles Written by Stanley Miller Hurst and Smith find violence in Athens as helped by a turncoat spy (Dora Reisser), they seek the man behind an international espionage ring to stop the beaches of Corfu running red with blood.
The Seven Pillars of Hercules Written by Stanley Miller Hurst and Smith are after a man hiding in the mountains of Greece but so is Madame Achmet (Catherine Lacey) who is a very dangerous woman.
The Mask of Agamemnon Written by Stanley Miller Hurst and Smith must decide whether to try and rescue the man held on Madame Achmet's yacht, knowing the Brigadier wants him dead.
NetworkDVD, as they were called at the time, announced "The Rat Catchers" as the subject of a forthcoming release feature, including a clip from the recovered series 1 episode "The Unwitting Courier", along with notification that more information would follow in due course.
Performed by pianist Johnny Pearson, the full-length recording of "The Rat Catchers theme" tune was released on [Columbia] DB 8751 ([EMI]).
Two books were released to accompany the series during the time it was broadcast; 'All in a Day's Work' and 'The End of the Fourth Reich' by David Ray.