Traffic Cops Explained

Narrated:	Jamie Theakston (2003–2015, 2016–) Steven Mackintosh (2016)
Director:	Bruce Lippold Chris Greenwood Craig Duncan
Composer:	Ivor Goldberg & Julian Hamlin 2002–2015 (All BBC Transmissions) Theme Tune – 3 versions on air from 2002–2015
Company:	Mentorn Media
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Series:	25
Num Episodes:	257
List Episodes:	Episodes
Location:	United Kingdom
Runtime:	60 minutes
Network:	BBC One (2003–2015) BBC Three (2016) Channel 5 (2016–present)
Last Aired:	present
Related:	Motorway 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

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

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

All New Traffic Cops, Series 16 (2017)

The first six episodes were subtitled Under Attack^[4]

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

This series is subtitled On The Edge^[5]

Series 25 (2023–24)

See also

• Motorway Cops – sister series broadcast on BBC One.
• Sky Cops – sister series broadcast on BBC One.
• Police Interceptors – series broadcast on Channel 5 with a similar format.
• Brit Cops – police documentary series originally on Bravo and now on Sky Livingit.
• Road Wars – programme broadcast on Sky1, Sky2, and Pick TV which is about Road Traffic Police.
• Street Wars – programme broadcast on Sky about police officers "on the beat".
• Police Camera Action! – series broadcast on ITV with a similar format.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Traffic Cops – Episode guide – BBC One. BBC. 2019-04-25.
2. Web site: CHANNEL 5 COMMISSIONS THE NEW SERIES OF TRAFFIC COPS - Tinopolis Group . 2019-04-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160918061320/http://www.tinopolis.com/news/2016/june/channel-5-commissions-the-new-series-of-traffic-cops/ . 18 September 2016 .
3. Web site: All New Traffic Cops. Channel 5. 25 April 2019.
4. Web site: All New Traffic Cops: Under Attack.. Channel 5. 25 April 2019.
5. Web site: Traffic Cops: On The Edge.. Channel 5. 25 April 2019.