There’s nothing like a British crime drama series for an exhilarating bingeing session. With top-tier production values, brilliant storytelling, and compelling casts, the best British crime shows get their audiences hooked from the get-go.
Fortunately for Australian viewers, streaming app BritBox houses many of the best British crime TV shows that fans down under can instantly stream on demand.
Here, we’ve listed some of the best British crime drama shows to watch on BritBox.
Best British crime shows this month
The best British crime dramas are lauded for their intriguing plots and clever twists. From crime TV shows about serial killers to the tenacious detectives who stop at nothing to bring culprits to justice, you’ll find a great selection of British dramas that offer highly engaging stories.
Fortunately, they’re now accessible on streaming services like BritBox, so you can watch them whenever you want. To make it even easier, you can stream some of the best BritBox crime shows with a 7-day free trial.
Here, we’ve rounded up the best detective shows you can watch right now. You can also tune in to this guide to check out new detective shows on BritBox as they’re added each month.
Line of Duty
One of the best British crime shows of all time, Line of Duty follows DS Steve Arnott. After refusing to cooperate in a cover-up after the British police officers in his team conducted an unlawful shooting, he was transferred to the anti-corruption unit.
Now partnering with DS Kate Fleming under the supervision of Superintendent Ted Hastings, the trio uncover corruption within the Central Police Force. All six seasons of Line of Duty are available on BritBox.
Vera
Based on Ann Cleeves’ series of novels, Vera follows the titular detective chief. While she is nearly retired, her obsession with her work prevents her from hanging it up. Her inner demons also fuel her dedication to her work.
With a strong character headlining this series, Vera has always been one of the trending shows in the UK and abroad. All 11 seasons of the series are available on demand on BritBox.
Obituary
The Obituary TV series follows a woman whose job is to write about the deceased. While she enjoys her line of work, she has been feeling a little restless. Things only get tougher when her newspaper struggles financially and decides to keep her out of the payroll, leading her to do some killing herself.
Happy Valley
One of the best crime shows that’s still airing, Happy Valley follows police sergeant Catherine Cawood as she deals with her daughter’s death and finds the man responsible. At the same time, she investigates the disappearance of a local millionaire’s daughter.
Running for three seasons, the final series of Happy Valley premiered in early 2023.
Shetland
Based on the novels by award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, Shetland follows Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez and the mysterious crimes that the close-knit island community of Shetland are afflicted with.
A gritty UK crime show, the latest seventh season has yet to drop on BritBox.
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
In Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, Bobby Jones’ (Will Poulter) seemingly peaceful life is upended when he finds a dying man at a golf course. Before dying, Jones bears witness to his last words – “why didn’t they ask Evans?” Episodes streaming now on BritBox!
Father Brown
Based on G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown short stories, this BBC period detective comedy revolves around the titular character and his sleuthing exploits that frequently put him at odds with the police.
In his parishioners’ time of sorrow and confusion, Father Brown has lots of love and compassion to give, solving crimes while fulfilling his regular parish duties.
Death in Paradise
In Death in Paradise, Detective inspectors assigned to the paradise island of Saint Marie usually have qualms about staying but, ultimately, that’s what they do.
Eventually warming to the island lifestyle, they begin to treat the place as home and the locals as friends while examining every crime scene that befalls the island.
Professor T
Ben Miller (Death in Paradise) is back as the brilliant and highly scrupulous Professor Jasper Tempest in Professor T. Assisting the police in solving cases, his not-so-cheery disposition makes him difficult to work with.
However, his knack for solving crimes is so impeccable that it’s only right for him to be made a consultant criminologist.
Payback
One of the new detective shows on BritBox, Payback tells the story of Lexie Noble (Morven Christie), a woman who becomes embroiled in a police investigation into a criminal mastermind.
After her husband is murdered in a seemingly random attack, her life turns upside down as she uncovers secret after secret and realises how connected everything is.
Silent Witness
Silent Witness is a long-running UK crime drama revolving around a team of London-based forensic pathologists and scientists who delve into various vile and bloody crimes using their expertise.
The team is currently led by Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox), who replaced Dr Sam Ryan (Amanda Burton) after Series 8. Seasons 1-20 are now available to stream on BritBox.
Crime
For compelling drama and crime, BritBox offers Irvine Welsh’s TV adaptation of Crime. It follows DI Ray Lennox as he investigates the disappearance of a young girl. However, his search for the truth is not without complications and personal challenges.
Hope Street
The first season centres on the sudden arrival of DC Leila Hussain (Amara Karan), a big city girl whose unexpected transfer has everyone incessantly talking.
After an intriguing first series, Hope Street returns for a second season featuring a new main character with motives and secrets that are yet to be unveiled.
The Tower
One of the new detective shows on BritBox, The Tower explores the death of a seasoned cop and a young girl plummeting from a south-east London tower block, leaving a bewildered five-year-old and rookie officer Lizzie Griffiths behind, Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins steps in.
Her mission in The Tower is to find Lizzie, unearth the chilling truth behind the tower block deaths, and beat the ticking clock before danger strikes again.
The Barking Murders
Originally titled Four Lives, The Barking Murders revolves around the families of the four young gay men who died in the hands of serial killer Stephen Port.
Karen Pirie
A smash hit BritBox detective series, Karen Pirie follows the titular character as she gets put in charge of a cold case review. Her investigation unearths flaws that compromised the original inquiry in 1995, leading to buried secrets unravelling with threatening menace.
Endeavour
Endeavour, one of the most popular crime shows in the UK, is a prequel to the classic Inspector Morse series. The prequel follows the young Endeavour Morse, played by Shaun Evans, at the beginning of his career in law enforcement.
From becoming a police officer to a formidable presence in the Oxford City Police CID, watching Morse utilise his genius in solving intricate murders makes Endeavour a gratifying watch.
Ridley
The police procedural series stars Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar as Alex Ridley, a former detective inspector who returns as a consultant after 18 months of retirement, triggered by a devastating house fire that claimed his wife and daughter.
If you’re a fan of British crime dramas, Ridley is well worth a watch.
Manhunt
An exceptionally gripping series, Manhunt recounts dark and twisted stories from the true memoirs of real-life detective Colin Sutton (played by Martin Clunes).
Each series focuses on a different case, divulging gruesome and horrifyingly true crimes that occurred in the London area over the past decades.
Vigil
Vigil revolves around a suspicious death aboard the HMS submarine Vigil and the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler. Stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster) and Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, The Good Fight).
Luther
Also one of the best detective shows on BritBox, and catapulting Idris Elba to international fame is the psychological crime drama Luther. It follows DCI John Luther working for the Serious Crime Unit in the first season, who gains an archnemesis and companion after meeting brilliant psychopath and murderer Alice Morgan.
Running for five seasons, Luther is one of the best crime shows on Britbox.
Broadchurch
In this compelling crime series, David Tennant plays an investigator who joins forces with a local detective (played by Olivia Coleman) when a boy’s body is discovered on a beach.
The events that follow and the revelations that come to light are as shocking as they are heartbreaking. Broadchurch is a must-watch for all crime lovers.
Hinterland
Hinterland follows DCI Tom Mathias as he solves murders in Wales’ sea town Aberystwyth. After a decade working in London, he’s forced to confront his own demons while dealing with shocking and mysterious murders in the coastal town.
Six Four
Based on the crime thriller novel by Hideo Yokoyama, Six Four revolves around Chris and Michelle, whose lives are forever altered when their child mysteriously goes missing.
As they desperately search for answers, they soon uncover a web of dark secrets and a much broader conspiracy that may connect the father of another missing child to Chris’ own brother, Philip.
Prey
An anthology crime drama, the first season of Prey follows Detective Constable Marcus Farrow as he goes on the run after being accused of murdering his family.
The second season centres on Prison Officer David Murdoch as he makes the difficult choice to save his kidnapped daughter.
The Hunt For Raoul Moat
The Hunt for Raoul Moat delves into the extraordinary story of Britain’s most extensive manhunt to date. A gripping three-part series unveils the shocking events that unfolded after Raoul Moat unleashed chaos by shooting three individuals just days following his release from prison.
DI Ray
Starring The Blacklist’s Parminder Nagra as the titular character, DI Ray follows the Detective Inspector in a fictional Birmingham-based police force.
After her promotion to join a homicide investigation, she navigates through a labyrinth of danger and makes a shocking discovery that ultimately takes its toll, her personal life bearing the brunt of the investigation.
Traces
Traces follows lab assistant Emma Hedges (Molly Windsor), who’s also training to be a forensic chemist, alongside Professor Sarah Gordon and Professor Kathy Torrance. Haunted by her mother’s unsolved murder, she seeks the support of her new colleagues to investigate the case again.
Combining forensic science and good old detective work, they bring forth justice to a case that otherwise would have been buried.
Magpie Murders
Anthony Horowitz’s novel, Magpie Murders, has been adapted for TV, bringing the character Susan Ryeland and the murder mystery she gets entangled in straight to your screens.
Ryeland is a book editor who receives renowned mystery author Alan Conway’s latest novel, Magpie Murders, only to discover that the final chapters are lost.
Sister Boniface Mysteries
British comedian Lorna Watson stars as a sleuthing nun in Sister Boniface Mysteries, a light-hearted yet intriguing Father Brown spin-off. The series takes audiences to the village of Great Slaughter, a small town with a name that speaks for itself.
With a surprisingly large body count, the local police need all the help they can get. Enter Sister Boniface, a moped-riding nun, a winemaker, and a certified forensic science expert.
Grace
Grace follows fierce yet troubled detective Roy Grace. Haunted by the disappearance of his wife years ago, he spends his time investigating cold cases. He also uses his interests in the paranormal to solve the most complex of cases, leading his colleagues to question his methods. Based on Peter James’ best-selling novels.
FeaturedGrantchester
Based on James Runcie’s collection of short stories, The Grantchester Mysteries, Grantchester is a long-running British detective drama set in the 1950s.
It takes place in the Cambridgeshire village of the same name and follows Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton) and Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green). Despite their unlikely pairing, the two form an effective partnership to solve crimes.
Unforgotten
Unforgotten revolves around DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunny Khan. Together, they solve cold cases in an effort to bring culprits to justice years after committing their crimes. The series’ central messages? Truth always comes out, and no crime is ever forgotten.
The Fall
Jamie Dornan stars as Paul Spector in The Fall, a serial killer targeting young women. When he’s not killing, his own life appears to be ordinary, being a family man with a wife and a daughter. Pursuing him is DSU Stella Gibson, played by Gillian Anderson.
With their entangled paths, the vicious serial killer and the equally vicious detective are thrown into a cat-and-mouse game. The crime series ended after its third season.
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders follows Detectives Tom Barnaby and Gavin Troy as they take on murder cases and solve mysteries in the idyllic countryside of Midsomer.
The show is a television adaptation of the Chief Inspector Barnaby book series written by Caroline Graham. All 22 seasons are now available for streaming on BritBox.
Criminal Justice
This crime anthology series explores the challenges and politics of the criminal justice system, seen through the lens of the accused.
The first series of Criminal Justice follows Ben Coulter (Ben Whishaw), a young man accused of murder after a night of alcohol and drugs. However, he has no memory of committing the crime.
The first season of Criminal Justice is the basis of the HBO miniseries, The Night Of, which stars John Turturro and Riz Ahmed.
The Pembrokeshire Murders
The original, horrifying Coastal Path Murders remained unsolved until reopened almost a decade later. With the serial killer caught and the end to one of the most notorious unsolved crimes found, it was only a matter of time before it became a television series.
Based on a true story, The Pembrokeshire Murders chronicles the pursuit of the most notorious serial killer in Welsh history.
Watch British crime shows on BritBox
BritBox is home to hundreds of crime shows from the UK, which means there are plenty of expertly written, exceptionally gripping crime dramas to watch.
For a wider selection of series to watch, check out some of the best detective shows on BritBox and more.
Watch the best British crime shows with a BritBox free trial
Australian fans of British TV series and movies can try BritBox with a 7-day free trial. Even with free access for a limited time, you can still watch every UK favourite you can think of. You can also check out this streaming TV guide to search and discover more of the best crime shows.
Overall, BritBox offers an exciting amount of pure British entertainment you can’t find on other streaming platforms. And if you use the BritBox app, you can also stream on the go with whatever device you choose, including tablets, laptops, and mobile phones.
Britbox Plans
BritBox is an affordable streaming service that provides viewers around the globe with the best of British television. British crime dramas are among the best in the world, and BritBox delivers them directly to your home. Whether you’re after a family drama or an exhilarating British crime series like Line of Duty, BritBox is a must-have streaming platform for crime drama lovers.
Sign up to BritBox today with either an annual or monthly subscription. You’ll get two months free if you choose to commit for a full year, but you can also cancel anytime you like, as BritBox offers no lock-in contracts. Subscribe to their mailing list to receive occasional deal communications, too.
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BritBox crime shows FAQs
What are people asking about Britbox and crime dramas? Learn more about the best crime shows on BritBox below.
There are many chilling true crime stories available on BritBox. Our top picks include Manhunt, which follows the real-life memoirs of DCI Colin Sutton, a London-based detective, and The Hunt for Raoul Moat, a true story detailing the UK’s biggest manhunt operation in modern history.
Are you after a binge-worthy series to sink your teeth into? Fancy something dark and disturbing? What about a more light-hearted yet still intriguing crime comedy? BritBox has it all, from the gripping plots of Line of Duty to the comedic exploits of Father Brown.
That depends on your tastes, but IMDB is normally reliable with its ratings. Critically acclaimed British crime dramas include Luther, Broadchurch, Line of Duty, and Midsomer Murders. If you want a long-running series to keep you engaged and become your new go-to show, give Silent Witness a try.
