'˜Compelling' new BBC documentary series to show work of Northumbria Police

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, director of BBC content Charlotte Moore announced new documentary series for BBC One after Northumbria Police granted “unprecedented” access to 72 Films to produce a series for the corporation.

Producers say the style and tone of the series will go way beyond adrenaline-fuelled blue light stories to offer the “compelling, surprising and human stories of modern policing against a backdrop of fewer resources and the changing nature of the job”.

They added that the focus will be on the vastly different types of policing that takes place across one of Britain’s biggest police forces.

With depleted numbers, the force is expected to cover everything from challenging urban crime in Sunderland and Newcastle, issues arising from the social deprivation of some of Britain’s poorest areas as well as hidden crimes the public rarely see.

Film makers will have access to units and officers across the entire force, from homicide to human trafficking, the marine unit to the control room - which is expected to handle over one million calls this year.

Producers added that the six-part series will cover a breadth of cases and stories while offering the audience a chance to see the human side of police work through its drama, challenges, frustrations and successes.

Ms Moore said: “BBC One will bring exhilarating real life drama to screens with a new documentary series that follows one of Britain’s biggest police forces on the ground responding to a myriad of daily challenges.”

John Douglas, executive producer said: “We are really excited to be making this series for BBC One.

“It’s a unique police force serving two major cities, and a vast rural area.

“It presents real challenges to the force, and allows us to understand the different policing issues that arise in the city as well as the countryside.”