It's the time of year when there’s nothing we’d rather do than settle in with a binge-worthy police drama - and we know we're not alone. So, we’ve done you a little favour by combing through all our favourite shows to bring you the very best police series to watch now. Think of it as a little pick-me-up on a dreary day!
For starters, there’s underrated Australian series, Rush, and Nicola Walker’s brilliantly dry and twisty drama, Annika. Plus, Line of Duty has officially met its match (read on to see what we're talking about) and Mark Ruffalo’s turn as a conflicted FBI agent in Task is not to be missed. So, settle in, because these are the 10 best police dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Karen Pirie
It was a surprise hit for ITV, but when you watch Karen Pirie and witness its excellence, it’s not such a surprise at all! Adapted from Val McDermid’s popular novels of the same name, the series centres on the titular Scottish detective (played by Lauren Lyle), who’s tasked with finally bringing justice to victims of cold cases (spoiler: she’s very good at her job). If you’re a fan of iconic cold case drama, Unforgotten, Karen Pirie is just the show for you. Karen Pirie is available to watch now on ITVX.
Task
Task is a heart-pumping suburban police series that stars Mark Ruffalo as FBI agent, Tom Brandis, that you shouldn't be sleeping on. Set in Philadelphia, the seven-part series follows Tom as he tries to put a stop to a series of violent, well-coordinated robberies. But when the main suspect emerges as devoted family man, Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), Tom’s faced with a morally thorny dilemma: just how far should justice go when desperation meets circumstance? Excitingly, a second series is currently in production. Task is available to watch now on NOW.
Rush
You might not have heard of Rush – an Australian series which began in 2008 - but you should acquaint yourself with it pronto as it’s an underrated gem. Set in Melbourne, the police drama focuses on a Police Tactical Response team as they deal with a range of incidents, including armed offences, carjackings and kidnappings. Watch for the high-octane action but stay for the deep psychodrama. Rush is available to watch now on Prime Video.
Borderline
If True Detective with an Irish twist sounds like your cup of tea, then get to know Borderline. Created by Cold Feet writer, John Forte, the crime drama introduces us to Northern Irish detective inspector, Philip Boyd (Eoin Macken), and his sweary counterpart from the Republic of Ireland, Aoife Regan (De Bhrún). Though their personalities and backgrounds (and pretty much everything else!) clash, they’re reluctantly forced to partner up on a brutal murder case that straddles the border between the two countries. It’s a series worthy of 5/5! Borderline is available to watch now on ITVX.
Cuffs
Set in Brighton and its surrounds, Cuffs follows the chaotic lives of eight police officers, including PC Ryan Draper (Ashley Walters) and DS Jo Moffat (Amanda Abbington). On a daily basis, they’re called out to incidents ranging from the absurd (think naturists fighting on a beach) to the upsetting, while also dealing with problems at home. Though it only lasted one series as the BBC wanted to “created space for new shows”, there was a huge petition to revive Cuffs as it was such a fan favourite. And once you start the series, you'll understand why! Cuffs is available to watch now on Netflix.
Hope Street
There really is never a dull moment in Hope Street, a crime drama set in the sleepy fictional coastal town of Port Devine in Northern Ireland. Each episode, the local police team solve a different crime – and they certainly aren’t the sort of crimes you’d expect from a rural setting. The officers have to deal with everything from a kidnapping to a hit and run – and even the theft of a baby. To date, there have been five series of Hope Street, so it’ll keep you busy for a while! Hope Street is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Annika
Nicola Walker proves yet again why she’s one of Britain’s best actresses in this exceptional police series. She plays Annika Strandhed, a brilliantly dry detective inspector with a complicated home life, who heads up the Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) in Scotland. Her team’s task is to investigate the many unexplainable murders that wash up in the Scottish waterways. With twists and turns a plenty, Annika is the sort of police drama you can get lost in for hours. Annika is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Blackshore
In Blackshore, we meet DI Fia Lucey (Lisa Dwan), a Dublin police officer who's been relegated to small-town Ireland because of her conduct. But the backwards step turns out to be not very backwards at all, as she lands an investigation of a lifetime into the disappearance of a local woman. It’s a case that turns out to be far more complex than meets the eye – and not just because DI Lucey has a personal – and traumatic – connection to it. Blackshore is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Blue Lights
Line of Duty has met its match in Blue Lights, which has been widely acclaimed as one of the best BBC dramas ever made. It also won the very coveted BAFTA for Best Drama Series in 2025, in case you have any doubts about how good it is. If you’re yet to dive into Blue Lights, the series follows rookies officers, Grace (Siân Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan Braniff), as they navigate their nascent careers in the force. Blue Lights is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Patience
Patience was one of Channel 4’s biggest dramas when it debuted in 2025 - so, if you haven’t already, you’ll want to see what all the (justified!) fuss is about. The series revolves around Patience Evans (Ella Maisy Purvis), a young, autistic worker in the Police Criminal Records Office, whose knack for solving complex crimes catches the attention of top police officer, DI Bea Metcalf (Laura Fraser). Together, they work on a series of perplexing cases in York, from a “corpse” that walked off a mortuary slab to a drowning in a museum with no water. Patience is available to watch now on Channel 4.