Criminal Record

The main plot of Season 1 is driven by a black man being wrongly convicted of murder due to systemic bias. The older white officers are depicted as protecting their legacy rather than seeking the truth. In Season 2, the primary threat comes from a far-right, white supremacist group planning a terror attack. These themes make identity politics a central driver of the narrative across both seasons.

The show acts as a highly visible critique of the Metropolitan Police and the British justice system. It presents these Western institutions as corrupt, sexist, and systemically racist. The older white male officers represent a toxic old-school culture that covers up crimes to protect themselves. Traditional hierarchies and systemic power dynamics are shown as deeply flawed and harmful to minorities.

There were noticeable complaints from viewers who felt the show pushed a political agenda. Some users on Metacritic and Reddit called the series preachy and complained about its heavy-handed focus on systemic racism. Critics of the show pointed out that almost all the white male police characters were shown as corrupt, evil, or incompetent, while minority characters were depicted as victims or heroic.

The core creative team has a mixed history of political and social advocacy. Lead actress and executive producer Cush Jumbo has a strong record of calling for more diversity on television. Director Joelle Mae David is also highly active in diversity campaigns. However, other major creators, such as Paul Rutman and Jim Loach, have historically focused on more traditional, non-activist drama projects.