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Best police dramas: Our top 10 favourite series for a binge watch
Because let's be honest, they're our favourite shows to watch
If there's one TV genre we'll never tire of, it's a police drama. From psychopathic killers, to troubled detectives, to the occasional bonding moment between colleagues, they really do have everything - and we're always in the market for coppers having a cup of tea while trying to catch an OCG.
And not to be biased at all, but the UK has made some pretty good police dramas over the years, from Broadchurch to Line of Duty. Seriously, the British excel in haunting mini series with twists you didn't see coming. And across the pond, the US are also responsible for binge-watchable series that focus on the detectives solving new crimes each episode.
So whatever your vibe of crime drama, these our are top 10 favourite police series you need to add to your watch list.
Line of Duty (2012 - 2021)
What'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
Happy Valley (2014 - 2023)
What'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
Blue Lights (2023 - )
What'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
Criminal Record (2024)
What'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+
Criminal Minds (2006 - )
What'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+
Law and Order SVU (1999 - )
What'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
Bodyguard (2018)
What'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
The Tunnel (2013 - 2018)
What'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
Broadchurch (2013 - 2017)
What'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
Luther (2010 - 2019)
What'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
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