Crime documentary fans are in for a treat as a brand new 'fly on the wall' programme makes its debut tonight, offering a fresh alternative to the popular Channel 4 series 24 Hours in Police Custody.
What is Major Crimes Unit?
Arriving on Channel 5 is the crime docu-series Major Crimes Unit, which shines a spotlight on the specialist department within West Midlands Police, covering Birmingham and the surrounding areas. The unit is responsible for tackling serious offences including attempted murder, firearms offences, kidnapping and County Lines drug dealing.
According to the West Midlands Police website, the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) is dedicated to 'bringing dangerous suspects to justice with 110 offenders sentenced in 2025'.
What to Expect
Channel 5's Major Crimes Unit is set to follow investigators from West Midlands Police's elite crime-fighting division as they pursue suspects, uncover the truth and deliver justice for victims and their families. Each instalment of the crime docu-series will run for 90 minutes, with a teaser for the opening episode already released.
It reads: 'In the first edition, the team is called in when nine men ambush five men in a car on a quiet residential side street, with a gun being fired into the vehicle. The officers' instincts tell them this wasn't random, but was planned and executed with precision. Could this be a violent conflict driven by territory, drugs and status?'
Viewers have also been given a glimpse of what to expect from the second episode, which will air the following week on Monday, May 18. On this occasion, the case centres on a Dudley woman who is shot at her home, with the team charged with uncovering who could be responsible for the attack.
How to Watch
Major Crimes Unit premieres tonight, Monday, May 11, at 9pm on Channel 5. The series promises to deliver gripping insights into the work of West Midlands Police's Major Crimes Unit, offering a compelling look at how dangerous suspects are brought to justice.
