Police 5
A crime-reconstruction programme seeking public help to solve cases.
Police 5 was a British TV programme that used reconstructions of serious unsolved crimes to ask viewers for help. It first appeared on certain ITV regions between 1962 and 1992, and later had a short comeback on Channel 5 in 2014.
The programme was created when Lew Grade needed to fill a five-minute gap in the schedule for six weeks, after an American show ran short. Steve Wade, Head of Outside Broadcasts, came up with the idea. Grade did not copyright the format, so other ITV regions made their own versions, often hosted by Shaw Taylor. Nearly a third of the appeals on the show led to an arrest.
The format was sold abroad. In Germany, it became the hour-long networked show *Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst* on ZDF from 1967, which later inspired the BBC’s *Crimewatch* (1984). Taylor had pitched a centralised version to Channel 4 in 1982, but it was rejected. He later helped create televised appeals for Crimestoppers UK, shown in many ITV regions. In 2008, Taylor played a fictional version of himself hosting a *Police 5* episode on *Ashes to Ashes*.
The five-minute show was first made by ATV for its London and Midlands region from 1962. Other ITV regions soon adopted the format, sometimes with the same name and presenter, including LWT, Television South (TVS), and Central Independent Television. HTV West started its version in 1975, hosted by newsreader Bruce Hockin. The original run ended on 18 December 1992 in the South and South East, because TVS lost its franchise. The next franchise holder, Meridian Broadcasting, decided not to continue *Police 5*.
Taylor also presented a spin-off for younger viewers, *Junior Police 5*, from 1972 to 1979. His catchphrase was “keep ’em peeled!” In 2014, Channel 5 revived *Police 5* for seven episodes with new presenters Joe Crowley and Kate McIntyre. At age 89, Taylor appeared in each half-hour show for a short segment where he aimed to reunite theft victims with their property.
Other ITV regions had similar formats. *Police Call* aired in Anglia and Tyne Tees areas, while *Police File* was used on Granada and Channel. Scottish Television had *Crimedesk*, presented by crime author Bill Knox. *Police Action*, originally called *Crime Desk*, was shown only in the Southern Television area, hosted by local reporter Peter Clark.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Factual
- Presenter
- Shaw Taylor / Joe Crowley (2014) / Kate McIntyre (2014)
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Location
- Multiple location(s)
- Runtime
- 5 minutes (1962–1992) / 30 minutes (2014)
- Network
- ITV
- First Aired
- 1962-06-30
- Last Aired
- 1992-12-18
- Related
- Junior Police 5 (1972–1979)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Police 5 was commissioned when Lew Grade needed a five-minute programme to fill a six-week schedule gap caused by an American import underrunning. The idea came from Steve Wade, Head of Outside Broadcasts, and Grade refused to copyright the format, allowing other ITV regions to launch their own versions, often hosted by Shaw Taylor. Almost a third of the appeals featured led to an arrest.
The five-minute programme was originally produced by ATV for its London and Midlands region from 1962. The format was picked up by other ITV regions, including LWT, Television South (TVS), and Central Independent Television. The HTV West version began in 1975, hosted by newsreader Bruce Hockin. The original thirty-year run ended on 18 December 1992 in the South and South East of England region due to TVS losing its broadcasting franchise; Meridian Broadcasting decided not to continue Police 5.
Taylor later presented a spin-off for younger viewers called Junior Police 5 (1972–1979). His catchphrase was 'keep 'em peeled!' In 2014, Channel 5 revived Police 5 for a seven-part series with new presenters Joe Crowley and Kate McIntyre; Taylor, aged 89, appeared in each episode for a short segment reuniting theft victims with their property.
Reader's Guide
Police 5 holds significance as a pioneering crime-reconstruction programme that directly engaged the public in solving cases, with nearly a third of its appeals leading to arrests. Its format was sold overseas, notably becoming the blueprint for Germany's long-running Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst (since 1967) and indirectly influencing the BBC's Crimewatch (1984). The programme's flexible, region-based structure allowed multiple ITV regions to produce their own versions, such as Police Call, Police File, Crimedesk, Police Action, and Police 6. Shaw Taylor's involvement extended to pitching a centralised version to Channel 4 in 1982 (rejected) and later helping create televised appeals for Crimestoppers UK. The 2014 revival on Channel 5 demonstrated enduring public interest, while Taylor's cameo in the 2008 series Ashes to Ashes underscored the programme's cultural footprint. Its legacy lies in demonstrating how television can serve as a tool for criminal investigation and public vigilance.
Did You Know?
- Almost a third of the appeals featured on Police 5 led to an arrest.
- Shaw Taylor's catchphrase was 'keep 'em peeled!'
- The format was sold to Germany, where it became Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst on ZDF since 1967.
- A spin-off for younger viewers, Junior Police 5, aired from 1972 to 1979.
More in British crime television series 1-24
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