Traffic Cops

Television series

  • All New Traffic Cops: Under Attack (series 15 & 16)
  • Traffic Cops: On The Edge (series 17)
Directed byBruce Lippold
Chris Greenwood
Craig DuncanNarrated byJamie Theakston (2003–2015, 2016–)
Steven Mackintosh (2016)ComposersIvor Goldberg & Julian Hamlin 2002–2015 (All BBC Transmissions)
Theme Tune – 3 versions on air from 2002–2015Country of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishNo. of series25No. of episodes257 (as of 1 April 2024) (list of episodes)ProductionProduction locationUnited KingdomRunning time60 minutesProduction companyMentorn MediaOriginal releaseNetworkBBC One (2003–2015)
BBC Three (2016)
Channel 5 (2016–present)Release18 March 2003 (2003-03-18) –
presentRelatedMotorway Cops
Sky Cops

Traffic Cops is a British documentary series broadcast on Channel 5 (and formerly on BBC One) which follows Roads Policing Units from various UK police forces. It has consistently been one of the most watched factual series on UK television.

Concept

The show follows the day-to-day role of a traffic officer and the incidents they come across. The majority of filming takes place at the scene of incidents, with occasional cuts to police stations and interview rooms. Locations include Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Humberside, South Wales, Sussex, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.[1]

The current series follows Officers from the Roads Policing Group and Road Crime Team from North Yorkshire Police. Previous series have followed Derbyshire Constabulary, South Yorkshire Police, Hampshire Constabulary, Humberside Police, South Wales Police, Sussex Police, Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary and West Yorkshire Police.

The show is currently airing on Channel 5, branded simply as Traffic Cops, having been previously branded (since moving to Channel 5) as Traffic Cops, All New Traffic Cops, Traffic Cops: Under Attack and Traffic Cops: On The Edge. It remains following the Roads Policing Unit, and the Operational Support Units. It also follows some promoted officers in their role on district as they continue policing the roads.

Production

Traffic Cops, along with its sister series Motorway Cops, are produced by Folio Productions, a subsidiary of Mentorn Media. Both shows were broadcast on the BBC until 2016. Between 2003 and 2015, Jamie Theakston narrated the programme. On 28 June 2016, Mentorn Media announced that the show had been recommissioned by Channel 5, and would mark a return of Theakston with an "expanded on-screen role".[2]

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedSubject(s)
First airedLast airedNetwork
11418 March 200318 December 2003BBC OneSouth Yorkshire Police
2626 January 200419 September 2004South Yorkshire Police
3816 May 200526 September 2005Cheshire Police
4122 May 200627 June 2006Hampshire Constabulary
599 May 200722 October 2007Humberside Police
61126 March 200830 October 2008Humberside Police & South Yorkshire Police
766 April 200914 October 2009South Wales Police
898 April 20107 October 2010South Wales Police & Sussex Police
9723 June 201111 August 2011Bedfordshire Police
1062 May 201212 December 2012Bedfordshire Police & Hertfordshire Constabulary
11518 February 201410 July 2014West Yorkshire Police
12127 May 2015North Yorkshire Police
13530 July 201526 October 2015North Yorkshire Police
14421 January 201611 February 2016BBC ThreeNorth Yorkshire Police
15714 November 201630 January 2017Channel 5North Yorkshire Police & West Yorkshire Police
162120 March 20177 December 2017North Yorkshire Police & West Yorkshire Police
17629 May 201824 July 2018North Yorkshire Police
18156 August 20184 March 2019North Yorkshire Police
192420 May 20199 March 2020Derbyshire Constabulary
20620 April 202012 August 2020Derbyshire Constabulary
211822 February 202126 July 2021Derbyshire Constabulary
221122 November 20217 February 2022Derbyshire Constabulary
231114 February 20222 May 2022Derbyshire Constabulary
24192 January 20238 May 2023North Yorkshire Police
25164 December 20231 April 2024Derbyshire Constabulary

Series 1 (2003)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
11"Picking Up the Pieces"18 March 2003 (2003-03-18)
22"Hardliners"25 March 2003 (2003-03-25)
33"Smashed"1 April 2003 (2003-04-01)
44"Fatal Attraction"8 April 2003 (2003-04-08)
55"Seeing Red"15 April 2003 (2003-04-15)
66"Mad, Bad and Dangerous"22 April 2003 (2003-04-22)
77"Law Breakers"29 April 2003 (2003-04-29)
88"Dead End"4 May 2003 (2003-05-04)
99"Impact"31 July 2003 (2003-07-31)
1010"Wrecked and Reckless"7 August 2003 (2003-08-07)
1111"Takeaway"18 November 2003 (2003-11-18)
1212"After Dark"4 December 2003 (2003-12-04)
1313"Twockers"11 December 2003 (2003-12-11)
1414"Right Time, Right Place"18 December 2003 (2003-12-18)

Series 2 (2004)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
151"Too Young to Die"26 January 2004 (2004-01-26)
162"Over the Limit"12 April 2004 (2004-04-12)
173"Losing Control"20 April 2004 (2004-04-20)
184"On the Loose"19 May 2004 (2004-05-19)
195"Bad Attitude"13 June 2004 (2004-06-13)
206"Under Pressure"19 September 2004 (2004-09-19)

Series 3 (2005)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
211"Darkness Before Dawn"16 May 2005 (2005-05-16)
222"Caught by Surprise"23 May 2005 (2005-05-23)
233"Smelling a Rat"30 May 2005 (2005-05-30)
244"Cause & Defect"6 June 2005 (2005-06-06)
255"Chancers"13 June 2005 (2005-06-13)
266"Dizzies"20 June 2005 (2005-06-20)
277"Bad People"18 August 2005 (2005-08-18)
288"No Respect"26 September 2005 (2005-09-26)

Series 4 (2006)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
291"Fatal Distraction"2 May 2006 (2006-05-02)
302"Running into Trouble"9 May 2006 (2006-05-09)
313"Hit & Run"16 May 2006 (2006-05-16)
324"Small Hours, Big Trouble"23 May 2006 (2006-05-23)
335"Playing the Game"31 May 2006 (2006-05-31)
346"Pushing Their Luck"6 June 2006 (2006-06-06)
357"Weapon of Destruction"13 June 2006 (2006-06-13)
368"In the Red"20 June 2006 (2006-06-20)
379"Under the Gun"27 June 2006 (2006-06-27)
3810"Selling A Line"4 July 2006 (2006-07-04)
3911"Striking it Lucky"4 July 2006 (2006-07-04)
4012"Non-Stop Trouble"4 July 2006 (2006-07-04)

Series 5 (2007)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
411"Trailing Destruction"9 May 2007 (2007-05-09)
422"A Stab in the Dark"16 May 2007 (2007-05-16)
433"Running Wild"30 May 2007 (2007-05-30)
444"Bad Boys"6 June 2007 (2007-06-06)
455"Something to Hide"13 June 2007 (2007-06-13)
466"Walking the Line"20 June 2007 (2007-06-20)
477"Desperate Measures"15 August 2007 (2007-08-15)
488"Crashed Out"5 September 2007 (2007-09-05)
499"Under Fire"22 October 2007 (2007-10-22)

Series 6 (2008)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
501"Identity Crisis"2 April 2008 (2008-04-02)
512"Trouble in Store"9 April 2008 (2008-04-09)
523"Chasing the Dragon"16 April 2008 (2008-04-16)
534"Riding Their Luck"23 April 2008 (2008-04-23)
545"School's Out"30 April 2008 (2008-04-30)
556"Crash Course"3 June 2008 (2008-06-03)
567"Caught Napping"23 June 2008 (2008-06-23)
578"The Best Job in the World"9 October 2008 (2008-10-09)
589"Joy-Riding"16 October 2008 (2008-10-16)
5910"Cheating Death"23 October 2008 (2008-10-23)
6011"Dog Day Afternoon"30 October 2008 (2008-10-30)

Series 7 (2009)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
611"Creepers"6 April 2009 (2009-04-06)
622"Hidden Treasure"16 April 2009 (2009-04-16)
633"A Turn for the Worse"23 April 2009 (2009-04-23)
644"No Mood for Trouble"4 June 2009 (2009-06-04)
655"Cameras Don't Lie"11 June 2009 (2009-06-11)
666"Out of Control"14 October 2009 (2009-10-14)

Series 8 (2010)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
671"Prying Eyes"8 April 2010 (2010-04-08)
682"Close Encounters"14 April 2010 (2010-04-14)
693"A Nose for Trouble"20 April 2010 (2010-04-20)
704"Lost and Found"8 July 2010 (2010-07-08)
715"Crossing the Line"21 July 2010 (2010-07-21)
726"Moment of Madness"28 July 2010 (2010-07-28)
737"Cat and Mouse"13 September 2010 (2010-09-13)
748"Age Old Problem"20 September 2010 (2010-09-20)
759"Wheels of Fortune"7 October 2010 (2010-10-07)

Series 9 (2011)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
761"Running on Empty"23 June 2011 (2011-06-23)
772"Wrong Place Wrong Time"7 July 2011 (2011-07-07)
783"Tickets Credits and Consequences"14 July 2011 (2011-07-014)
794"In for a Shock"21 July 2011 (2011-07-21)
805"Crossover"28 July 2011 (2011-07-28)
816"One Thing Leads to Another"4 August 2011 (2011-08-04)
827"Risky Business"11 August 2011 (2011-08-11)

Series 10 (2012)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
831"Worse For Wear"2 May 2012 (2012-05-02)
842"It Could Be You"9 May 2012 (2012-05-09)
853"In the Doghouse"25 June 2012 (2012-06-25)
864"Killer on the Loose"5 July 2012 (2012-07-05)
875"Bash Cash"12 July 2012 (2012-07-12)
886"In the Line of Duty"12 December 2012 (2012-12-12)

Series 11 (2014)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
891"Every Day's A School Day"18 February 2014 (2014-02-18)
902"The Ones That Got Away"25 February 2014 (2014-02-25)
913"Catch Me If You Can"4 March 2014 (2014-03-04)
924"We've Got Runners"9 June 2014 (2014-06-09)
935"Caught on Camera"10 July 2014 (2014-07-10)

Series 12 (2015)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
941"Rural Raiders"27 May 2015 (2015-05-27)

Series 13 (2015)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
951"Road Crime"30 July 2015 (2015-07-30)
962"Excess Alcohol"6 August 2015 (2015-08-06)
973"Control"20 August 2015 (2015-08-20)
984"One for the Road"19 October 2015 (2015-10-19)
995"Cops & Robbers"26 October 2015 (2015-10-26)

Series 14 (2016)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1001"Deals on Wheels"21 January 2016 (2016-01-21)
1012"Drivers Behaving Badly"28 January 2016 (2016-01-28)
1023"The Ripple Effect"4 February 2016 (2016-02-04)
1034"In the Pursuit of Crime"11 February 2016 (2016-02-11)

All New Traffic Cops, Series 15 (2016–17)

The show was renamed All New Traffic Cops for this series.[3]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1041"Episode 1"14 November 2016 (2016-11-14)
1052"Episode 2"21 November 2016 (2016-11-21)
1063"Episode 3"28 November 2016 (2016-11-28)
1074"Episode 4"5 December 2016 (2016-12-05)
1085"Episode 5"12 December 2016 (2016-12-12)
1096"Episode 6"19 December 2016 (2016-12-19)
1107"Episode 7: Best Of.."30 January 2017 (2017-01-30)

All New Traffic Cops, Series 16 (2017)

The first six episodes were subtitled Under Attack[4]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1111"Episode 1: Under Attack"20 March 2017 (2017-03-20)
1122"Episode 2: Under Attack"27 March 2017 (2017-03-27)
1133"Episode 3: Under Attack"3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)
1144"Episode 4: Under Attack"10 April 2017 (2017-04-10)
1155"Episode 5: Under Attack"17 April 2017 (2017-04-17)
1166"Episode 6: Under Attack"24 April 2017 (2017-04-24)
1177"Episode 7"3 July 2017 (2017-07-03)
1188"Episode 8"10 July 2017 (2017-07-10)
1199"Episode 9"17 July 2017 (2017-07-17)
12010"Episode 10"24 July 2017 (2017-07-24)
12111"Episode 11"31 July 2017 (2017-07-31)
12212"Episode 12"7 August 2017 (2017-08-07)
12313"Episode 13"14 August 2017 (2017-08-14)
12414"Episode 14"21 August 2017 (2017-08-21)
12515"Episode 15"28 August 2017 (2017-08-28)
12616"Episode 16"4 September 2017 (2017-09-04)
12717"Episode 17"23 October 2017 (2017-10-23)
12818"Episode 18"30 October 2017 (2017-10-30)
12919"Episode 19"6 November 2017 (2017-11-06)
13020"Episode 20"13 November 2017 (2017-11-13)
13121"Episode 21: Christmas Special"7 December 2017 (2017-12-07)

Traffic Cops: On The Edge 2018, Series 17 (2018)

This series is subtitled On The Edge[5]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1321"Episode 1: Drug Busts Special"29 May 2018 (2018-05-29)
1332"Episode 2"4 June 2018 (2018-06-04)
1343"Episode 3"25 June 2018 (2018-06-25)
1354"Episode 4"9 July 2018 (2018-07-09)
1365"Episode 5"16 July 2018 (2018-07-16)
1376"Episode 6"24 July 2018 (2018-07-24)

Series 18 (2018–19)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1381"Episode 1"6 August 2018 (2018-08-06)
1392"Episode 2"13 August 2018 (2018-08-13)
1403"Episode 3"27 August 2018 (2018-08-27)
1414"Episode 4: Under Siege"17 September 2018 (2018-09-17)
1425"Episode 5"24 September 2018 (2018-09-24)
1436"Episode 6"1 October 2018 (2018-10-01)
1447"Episode 7"8 October 2018 (2018-10-08)
1458"Episode 8"15 October 2018 (2018-10-15)
1469"Episode 9: Biker Hell"22 October 2018 (2018-10-22)
14710"Episode 10"28 January 2019 (2019-01-28)
14811"Episode 11"4 February 2019 (2019-02-04)
14912"Episode 12"11 February 2019 (2019-02-11)
15013"Episode 13"18 February 2019 (2019-02-18)
15114"Episode 14"25 February 2019 (2019-02-25)
15215"Episode 15"4 March 2019 (2019-03-04)

Series 19 (2019–20)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1531"Episode 1: Reign of Terror"20 May 2019 (2019-05-20)
1542"Episode 2"29 July 2019 (2019-07-29)
1553"Episode 3"5 August 2019 (2019-08-05)
1564"Episode 4"12 August 2019 (2019-08-12)
1575"Episode 5"26 August 2019 (2019-08-26)
1586"Episode 6"2 September 2019 (2019-09-02)
1597"Episode 7"9 September 2019 (2019-09-09)
1608"Episode 8"7 October 2019 (2019-10-07)
1619"Episode 9"14 October 2019 (2019-10-14)
16210"Episode 10"21 October 2019 (2019-10-21)
16311"Episode 11"28 October 2019 (2019-10-28)
16412"Episode 12"4 November 2019 (2019-11-04)
16513"Episode 13"11 November 2019 (2019-11-11)
16614"Episode 14"18 November 2019 (2019-11-18)
16715"Episode 15"25 November 2019 (2019-11-25)
16816"Episode 16"13 January 2020 (2020-01-13)
16917"Episode 17"20 January 2020 (2020-01-20)
17018"Episode 18"27 January 2020 (2020-01-27)
17119"Episode 19"3 February 2020 (2020-02-03)
17220"Episode 20"10 February 2020 (2020-02-10)
17321"Episode 21"17 February 2020 (2020-02-17)
17422"Episode 22"24 February 2020 (2020-02-24)
17523"Episode 23"2 March 2020 (2020-03-02)
17624"Episode 24"9 March 2020 (2020-03-09)

Series 20 (2020)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1771"Episode 1: Manhunt"20 April 2020 (2020-04-20)
1782"Episode 2"15 July 2020 (2020-07-15)
1793"Episode 3"22 July 2020 (2020-07-22)
1804"Episode 4"29 July 2020 (2020-07-29)
1815"Episode 5"5 August 2020 (2020-08-05)
1826"Episode 6"12 August 2020 (2020-08-12)

Series 21 (2021)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
1831"Episode 1"22 February 2021 (2021-02-22)
1842"Episode 2"1 March 2021 (2021-03-01)
1853"Episode 3"8 March 2021 (2021-03-08)
1864"Episode 4"15 March 2021 (2021-03-15)
1875"Episode 5"22 March 2021 (2021-03-22)
1886"Episode 6"29 March 2021 (2021-03-29)
1897"Episode 7"12 April 2021 (2021-04-12)
1908"Episode 8"19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
1919"Episode 9"26 April 2021 (2021-04-26)
19210"Episode 10"3 May 2021 (2021-05-03)
19311"Episode 11"10 May 2021 (2021-05-10)
19412"Episode 12"17 May 2021 (2021-05-17)
19513"Episode 13"24 May 2021 (2021-05-24)
19614"Episode 14"31 May 2021 (2021-05-31)
19715"Episode 15"7 June 2021 (2021-06-07)
19816"Episode 16"12 July 2021 (2021-07-12)
19917"Episode 17"19 July 2021 (2021-07-19)
20018"Episode 18"26 July 2021 (2021-07-26)

Series 22 (2021–22)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
2011"Episode 1"22 November 2021 (2021-11-22)
2022"Episode 2"29 November 2021 (2021-11-29)
2033"Episode 3"13 December 2021 (2021-12-13)
2044"Episode 4"20 December 2021 (2021-12-20)
2055"Episode 5"28 December 2021 (2021-12-28)
2066"Episode 6"3 January 2022 (2022-01-03)
2077"Episode 7"10 January 2022 (2022-01-10)
2088"Episode 8"17 January 2022 (2022-01-17)
2099"Episode 9"24 January 2022 (2022-01-24)
21010"Episode 10"31 January 2022 (2022-01-31)
21111"Episode 11"7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)

Series 23 (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
2121"Episode 1"14 February 2022 (2022-02-14)
2132"Episode 2"21 February 2022 (2022-02-21)
2143"Episode 3"28 February 2022 (2022-02-28)
2154"Episode 4"7 March 2022 (2022-03-07)
2165"Episode 5"14 March 2022 (2022-03-14)
2176"Episode 6"21 March 2022 (2022-03-21)
2187"Episode 7"28 March 2022 (2022-03-28)
2198"Episode 8"4 April 2022 (2022-04-04)
2209"Episode 9"11 April 2022 (2022-04-11)
22110"Episode 10"25 April 2022 (2022-04-25)
22211"Episode 11"2 May 2022 (2022-05-02)

Series 24 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
2231"Episode 1"2 January 2023 (2023-01-02)
2242"Episode 2"9 January 2023 (2023-01-09)
2253"Episode 3"16 January 2023 (2023-01-16)
2264"Episode 4"23 January 2023 (2023-01-23)
2275"Episode 5"30 January 2023 (2023-01-30)
2286"Episode 6"6 February 2023 (2023-02-06)
2297"Episode 7"13 February 2023 (2023-02-13)
2308"Episode 8"20 February 2023 (2023-02-20)
2319"Episode 9"27 February 2023 (2023-02-27)
23210"Episode 10"6 March 2023 (2023-03-06)
23311"Episode 11"13 March 2023 (2023-03-13)
23412"Episode 12"20 March 2023 (2023-03-20)
23513"Episode 13"27 March 2023 (2023-03-27)
23614"Episode 14"3 April 2023 (2023-04-03)
23715"Episode 15"10 April 2023 (2023-04-10)
23816"Episode 16"17 April 2023 (2023-04-17)
23917"Episode 17"24 April 2023 (2023-04-24)
24018"Episode 18"1 May 2023 (2023-05-01)
24119"Episode 19"8 May 2023 (2023-05-08)

Series 25 (2023–24)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air date
2421"Episode 1"4 December 2023 (2023-12-04)
2432"Episode 2"18 December 2023 (2023-12-18)
2443"Episode 3"27 December 2023 (2023-12-27)
2454"Episode 4"8 January 2024 (2024-01-08)
2465"Episode 5"15 January 2024 (2024-01-15)
2476"Episode 6"22 January 2024 (2024-01-22)
2487"Episode 7"29 January 2024 (2024-01-29)
2498"Episode 8"5 February 2024 (2024-02-05)
2509"Episode 9"12 February 2024 (2024-02-12)
25110"Episode 10"19 February 2024 (2024-02-19)
25211"Episode 11"26 February 2024 (2024-02-26)
25312"Episode 12"4 March 2024 (2024-03-04)
25413"Episode 13"11 March 2024 (2024-03-11)
25514"Episode 14"18 March 2024 (2024-03-18)
25615"Episode 15"25 March 2024 (2024-03-25)
25716"Episode 16"1 April 2024 (2024-04-01)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Traffic Cops – Episode guide – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. ^ "CHANNEL 5 COMMISSIONS THE NEW SERIES OF TRAFFIC COPS - Tinopolis Group". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. ^ "All New Traffic Cops". Channel 5. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. ^ "All New Traffic Cops: Under Attack". Channel 5. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Traffic Cops: On The Edge". Channel 5. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

External links