Preternatural Research Bureau

Preternatural Research Bureau or P.R.O.B.E. was an organisation investigating paranormal activities.

Doctor Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw spent some time working with P.R.O.B.E. in the mid-1990s after leaving UNIT (BBV: The Zero Imperative and others). Her assistant Lou Bayliss was moved to another department without Liz's knowledge by the new Minister responsible for P.R.O.B.E. - Brian Rutherford - and was not replaced (DI Burke, after working on a case with Dr Shaw, applied unsuccessfully for a transfer to P.R.O.B.E. (BBV: The Devil of Winterborne)). Patricia "Patsy" Haggard was P.R.O.B.E.'s liason with the Ministry, and also Liz's very close friend.

Behind the scenes
P.R.O.B.E. was introduced in a series of independent films produced by BBV Productions, which featured Liz Shaw from the Doctor Who series. Although considered unofficial, and not aimed for broadcast on television, this series of films nonetheless constituted the first ongoing spin-off set in the Doctor Who universe, predating the similarly themed Torchwood by more than a decade.

Continuity
The secret project codenamed 'BEAGLE' is stated to have been closed down "twenty years ago" in 1975 - establishing that Liz Shaw's tenure with P.R.O.B.E. was in the mid-90s, concurrent with the release of the films. (BBV: Unnatural Selection)