# Line of Duty (2012)

> An anticorruption police unit investigates its own officers in tense, twisting British procedural drama.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/40007

## Facts

- Seasons: 7
- Episodes: 42
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: crime, drama
- Created by: Jed Mercurio
- Network: BBC One, BBC Two
- Cast: Thandiwe Newton, Liz White, Martin Compston, Lennie James, Keeley Hawes, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar, Lee Ingleby
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2303687/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: tense, gritty, suspenseful, morally tangled, relentless

## What critics say

Viewers broadly acclaim Line of Duty as gripping, cleverly plotted police corruption drama with strong performances and sharp interrogation scenes.

## Synopsis

Line of Duty (2012-present) is a British police procedural series created by Jed Mercurio for BBC One and BBC Two. Following AC-12, a controversial anticorruption unit within a British police force, the series centers on detective sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and detective constable Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) as they are assigned to investigate officers suspected of protecting criminals and of misconduct. Their chief, superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), pushes them to chase cases that powerful colleagues would rather bury. Each season builds a self-contained investigation around a new suspect, with the unit's tense formal interviews and courtroom-adjacent scrutiny driving the drama. Thandiwe Newton and Keeley Hawes have featured in major arcs, adding to the ensemble. The series is grounded and gritty, with meticulous attention to investigative detail where a single overlooked clue can change everything. Its tone is tense, morally tangled and relentlessly suspenseful, rooted in contemporary British policing. Fans of The Wire, Happy Valley and Prime Suspect will find resonance in its institutional scrutiny and layered procedural mysteries. Viewers who enjoy dirty cop stories and hard-edged detective work will feel right at home.

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- [Vera (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/36009)
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- [Collateral (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/66476)

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