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1Line of Duty (2012 - 2021)
BBCWhat's it about? Did someone order a bent copper? Line of Duty is the incredible BBC series starring Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and the rest of their team on the anti-corruption unit, whose main mission is to uncover corruption within the central police unit.
How many seasons? Six
How many episodes? 37
Where to watch? BBC iPlayer
2Happy Valley (2014 - 2023)
BBCWhat's it about? Sarah Lancashire stars as divorced police sergeant Catherine Cawood, who is still grieving from the suicide of her daughter eight years ago. She is raising her daughter's son, who is the result of her rape by Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton). When finding out Royce is leaving prison after serving time for other crimes, Catherine is intent on confronting him, but is unaware of Royce's involvement in a dangerous criminal operation.
How many seasons? Three
How many episodes? 18
Where to watch? BBC iPlayer
3Blue Lights (2023 - )
BBC/Two Cities Television/Todd AntonyWhat's it about? The series focuses on three rookies who have joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland and are working as probationary police officers in Belfast. But are they able to cope with the pressure of the tough job? When they continue to come up against 'OOB' (that's Out Of Bounds, FYI) areas during their local patrols, they begin to sense that something's up.
How many seasons? Two
How many episodes? 12
Where to watch? BBC iPlayer
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4Criminal Record (2024)
AppleWhat's it about? Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo star in this new police drama series that sees them both take on roles of detectives. The pair clash over an old murder case, after an anonymous phone call draws them both back into it.
How many seasons? One
How many episodes? 8
Where to watch? Apple TV+
5Criminal Minds (2006 - )
CBSWhat's it about? This iconic American police drama focusses on the team of FBI profilers working at the Behavioural Analysis Unit, where they use behavioural analysis to catch serial killers. It's a seriously addictive series, with a very loveable cast full of complex characters.
How many seasons? 16
How many episodes? 324
Where to watch? Disney+
6Law and Order SVU (1999 - )
NBC UniversalWhat's it about? This New York based series focuses on the detectives solving cases for the Special Victims Unit. Here they focus on crimes of sexually orientated crimes, as well crimes involving children, the elderly and the disabled. For the most part each episode takes on a new case, which the team try to solve while balancing problems in their personal lives.
How many seasons? 25
How many episodes? 544
Where to watch? Prime Video
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7Bodyguard (2018)
BBCWhat's it about? Richard Madden stars as Police Sergeant David Budd, a British Army veteran suffering from PTSD who is put in charge as the principal protection officer for the home secretary played by Keeley Hawes, whose politics he's not exactly a fan of.
How many seasons? One
How many episodes? 6
Where to watch? Netflix
8The Tunnel (2013 - 2018)
PBSWhat's it about? The Tunnel is an adapation of a Danish-Swedish series, and centres on British and French police detectives Karl Roebuck and Elise Wassermann, who must work together to solve the crimes of a serial killer who left body parts of two people in the mid-section of the Channel tunnel between France and England.
How many seasons? Three
How many episodes? 24
Where to watch? NOW
9Broadchurch (2013 - 2017)
ITVWhat's it about? Set in the fictional town of Broadchurch on the Dorset coast, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, played by David Tennant, and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller, played by Olivia Colman, attempt to solve the case of a murder of a local 11-year-old boy.
How many seasons? Three
How many episodes? 24
Where to watch? ITVX
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10Luther (2010 - 2019)
BBCWhat's it about? Idris Elba plays troubled Detective Luther, who all too often finds himself consumed by his cases. As the series develops he finds himself in a complicated relationship with murderer Alice Morgan (played by Ruth Wilson). They become both companions and nemesis, and as the story continues over five seasons, their relationship reaches a dramatic conclusion.
How many seasons? Five
How many episodes? 20
Where to watch? BBC iPlayer
Lydia VennSenior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from , to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating , covering exciting new releases and sharing the latest must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of . After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into journalism, writing for the , before working as Features Editor at , where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on .
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