TVs Hidden Gems #4 The Cops

The Cops was a British television series made by World Productions for the BBC.

The production, set in the fictional town of Stanton in Northern England, was noted for its documentary-style camerawork and uncompromising portrayal of the police force. The first series was so controversial in its depiction of the police force that official police advice was withdrawn for the second series.

It had a realism and believability I have yet to see matched in a UK Police programme and it's styling made it seems even more real. The minutiae of a Police Officers job was offset with the drama and tragedies faced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MunXUmlgk4Y


Three series were made between 1998 and 2000. The programme won back-to-back British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) in the Best Drama Series category in 1999 and 2000, and was nominated for a third time in 2001 (losing out to Clocking Off).