Crimewatch

Did You Know?

• A New Zealand version of Crimewatch aired on TVNZ from 1987 to 1996, presented by Ian Johnstone with various co-presenters, and helped solve approximately 1,400 cases.
• A study by the Broadcasting Standards Council found that Crimewatch increased fear of crime in over half of respondents.
• In June 1986 no edition aired due to World Cup football coverage, and in January 1987 the Grandstand studio was used due to a strike by set designers.

History

The concept for Crimewatch drew from the UK programme Police 5 and the German Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst. Producers rejected the dramatic reconstructions of America's Most Wanted and the offender-perspective filming used in the German show, but embraced audience participation. Originally planned as a three-episode experiment, it launched amid doubts about police cooperation and victim willingness, and concerns about prejudicing juries. The first episode featured three murders, a stamp theft, and forged car documents. Over 25 years, 57 murderers, 53 rapists and sex offenders, 18 paedophiles, and others were captured directly due to Crimewatch appeals. The original theme music was "Rescue Helicopter" by John Cameron.

Show format

Crimewatch originally aired monthly on BBC One, typically for 45–50 minutes, later extended to an hour in the early 2000s. In early years it followed the BBC Nine O'Clock News around 9.30pm, but by the mid-to-late 1990s it often moved to 10pm, with a Crimewatch Update later that evening. From 2006 the show dropped the "UK" suffix, and from March 2011 it aired roughly once every two months. Each episode featured about three or four cases with reconstructions, interviews with detectives and victims' relatives, and key evidence such as E-FIT profiles. A "CCTV section" showed crimes caught on camera with enhanced suspect imagery, and a "Wanted Faces" section displayed eight suspect photos during the closing credits. Viewers could call 0500 600 600 or text 63399, with lines open until midnight after broadcast. Cases not featured were added to the Crimewatch website, which retained reconstructions and footage until criminals were caught. Due to legal reasons, episodes were available on BBC iPlayer for only 24 hours.

Police involvement

Initially only three of over 40 police forces agreed to participate, but Crimewatch later gained special status with police, partly through Nick Ross' experience with public appeals. Producers reported that about a third of cases were solved, half of those directly from viewer calls. Successes included the kidnap of Stephanie Slater, the M25 rapist, the road-rage killing by Kenneth Noye, and the capture of two boys for the murder of James Bulger. All 43 police forces eventually featured appeals on the programme. Several officers appeared from the studio, and antiques experts helped with stolen goods details.

Spin-offs and regional versions

Crime NI aired from 3 September 2021 to 11 April 2022 on BBC One Northern Ireland, presented by Wendy Austin and Dearbhail McDonald. A localised version, Crimewatch Midlands, ran on BBC Two from 1987 to 1991, presented by Peter Purves and Kathy Rochford, later Sue Beardsmore. Crimewatch File, an hour-long single-case programme, aired from 10 August 1988 to April 2000, presented by Nick Ross and Sue Cook, then Jill Dando. Crime Limited, a behind-the-scenes spin-off, ran for two series in 1992–1994. Crimewatch Extra aired on BBC Choice from late 1998 to 25 August 1999, presented by Emma Howard. Crimewatch: Solved, a yearly programme featuring solved cases, aired from 10 August 1999 to 1 September 2010.