12 Best British Crime Shows on Netflix, Ranked

When it comes to crime shows, British television has served up some memorable titles. From Broadchurch to Luther to Happy Valley, their shows expertly thread dark storylines with engaging characters and outstanding production values. Now, with an abundance of streaming sites including Netflix, it’s easier than ever for fans to watch crime shows from across the pond. With the number of series out there, you can even feel spoiled for choice.

Heart-pounding action, historical drama, and psychological thrillers are some examples of the British crime shows you can watch on Netflix right now. If you love nothing more than wanting to see if the good guys will catch the bad guys, you don’t want to miss these shows.

12 ‘Inside Man’ (2022)

Creator: Steven Moffat

Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci), who used to be a law lecturer, is now on death row in an Arizona prison for the grisly murder of his wife in Inside Man. Jefferson soon begins using his Ph.D. in criminology to solve cases and mysteries in exchange for items and special treatment from the warden.

Developed by Steven Moffat, critics praised Inside Man for its undeniable roster of talented actors, including Tucci and David Tennant. Its story is unpredictable and exciting, but it does feed into the problematic depiction of mental health in TV series, which makes its entire premise questionable.

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11 ‘Collateral’ (2018)

Director: S. J. Clarkson

A pizza delivery man is shot dead on the street, but nothing is as it seems. That’s the basis for one of the best British mystery series on Netflix, Collateral, where Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan) investigates a murder case that turns into something bigger. What starts as a simple murder turns into a complex weaving of political battle, military drama, and human smuggling.

Fans looking for British mysteries on Netflix should check it out, as in a mere four episodes, the show successfully juggles the various storylines and a large cast of connected characters with depth. Beyond a crime show, it’s also about complicated relationships and the strength of the human spirit.

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10 ‘You Don’t Know Me’ (2021)

Director: Sarmad Masud

The four-part TV show, You Don’t Know Me, deals with issues of love, criminality, and fair treatment of the accused. The series is directed by Sarmad Masud and stars Samuel Adewunmi as the title character Hero. Everything focuses on Hero, a young guy from South London who is on trial for murder. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Hero insists on presenting his case in his own words rather than relying on an attorney. He soon puts his life on the line to protect the woman he loves.

The show does an excellent job of tying the story’s many threads together. You Don’t Know Me delves deep into issues of criminal justice and tackles racism as it depicts Hero’s arc. Audiences are led on an emotional roller coaster through Hero’s journey, and they are left with a profound sense of the power of storytelling to influence one’s perspective of the world.

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9 ‘Stay Close’ (2021)

Director: Daniel O’Hara

An underrated criminal thriller everyone should see, Stay Close depicts the interwoven fates of three characters when they are all entangled in a terrible event. A detective, a photographer, and a wife and mother all attempt to find the truth and stay safe.

Directed by Daniel O’Hara, Stay Close depicts a complex web of lies, treachery, and potentially deadly secrets in its engaging story that will keep viewers hooked from the very first episode. Actors James Nesbitt, Sarah Parish, and Eve Myles provide strong, nuanced performances that make the characters seem genuine and sympathetic in one of the best British detective series on Netflix. Tension permeates every moment and viewers can also expect jaw-dropping twists.

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8 ‘The Stranger’ (2020)

Directors: Daniel O’Hara, Hannah Quinn

Based on a Harlan Coben novel, The Stranger tells the story of a mysterious woman who reveals a secret to a married man and causes a domino effect in his life. The secret involves his wife, who then disappears. Hannah John-Kamen plays the aforementioned stranger and Richard Armitage plays Adam Price, the man whose life is about to fall apart.

Addictive, chaotic, and twisty, the show makes you click that “Next Episode” button promptly with every cliffhanger ending. The storyline does require some suspension of disbelief, but that’s part of the fun. It’s the kind of show you can binge in one day.

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7 ‘Marcella’ (2016 – 2021)

Director: Hans Rosenfeldt

Combining police investigation with psychological drama, Marcella is all about its title character (and is one of the best British crime dramas right now). Former detective Marcella Backland (Anna Friel) returns to work to investigate an open murder case from 11 years ago. To make it worse, her husband has left her, and she has memory issues where she experiences blackouts.

An unreliable narrator is a popular device in fiction and this show employs it to a nerve-wracking effect. Marcella’s shaky mental state causes her to make questionable decisions as she attempts to catch a serial killer on the loose. Among the best British murder mysteries on Netflix, it’s a somber show that makes no apologies for its complex, flawed characters.

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6 ‘The Serpent’ (2021)

Directors: Tom Shankland, Hans Herbots

Set in the mid-70s, The Serpent is a limited series on Netflix based on the heinous crimes committed by the serial killer Charles “the Serpent” Sobhraj (played by Tahar Rahim). It portrays the way he posed as a gem dealer and traveled around Asia’s “hippie trail” from 1975 to 1976, murdering tourists along the way.

The crime series sheds light on the horrific actions that left families devastated in the ’70s, which is only made worse by the fact that Sobhraj mostly targeted young travelers. Viewers can expect some disturbing moments in the series, which also has a police procedural element to it as the mounting pressure on investigators to catch Interpol’s most wanted man becomes too much.

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5 ‘Criminal: UK’ (2019 – 2020)

Director: Jim Field Smith

Imagine a show set entirely in a police interview room and its viewing facility. That’s exactly the premise of Criminal: UK where a special police unit has a limited time to ask questions to witnesses and suspects to crack the mystery. Each episode features notable guest stars such as David Tennant, Hayley Atwell, and Kit Harington.

The show’s localized setting makes it feel tense and claustrophobic, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The intricate writing is carefully designed so that every line is parsed through and every piece of evidence presented can turn up something new. There are similar versions of the show set in France, Germany, and Spain, if you’re itching for more.

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4 ‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

Directors: Julian Farino, Ben Chessell

Need a crime show with a dose of the Yakuza? You can’t go wrong with Giri/Haji (Duty/Shame). The bilingual show takes place in London and Tokyo, combining British police procedural with Japanese crime drama. Detective Constable Sarah Weitzmann (Kelly Macdonald) teams up with Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira), a detective from Tokyo looking for his brother who is accused of killing the nephew of a Yakuza member.

Stylish and brutal, the show takes a look at the criminal underworld and how violence can cross international waters. While familiar tropes are in play, the show manages to elevate itself through exciting characters, humorous situations, and fantastic action scenes.

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3 ‘Top Boy’ (2011 – 2023)

Creator: Ronan Bennett

Netflix commissioned a new series of Top Boy in 2019 after its initial debut in 2011. The original series is worth watching to understand the characters and where they came from. Set in a fictional housing estate in London, Top Boy follows the lives of residents trying to navigate the crime-ridden area.

Among them are Ra’Nell (Malcolm Kamulete) who is struggling with his mother’s illness, and Gem (Giacomo Mancini) who works for a local drug dealer. Gritty and heartbreaking, the show is an intense study of the dark side of crime and how some people would do anything to survive.

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2 ‘Bodyguard’ (2018)

Directors: Thomas Vincent, John Strickland

Created by the same team behind Line of Duty, Bodyguard is a gripping thriller about a police officer assigned to protect a politician he can’t stand. It stars Richard Madden in a Golden Globe-winning role as Sergeant David Budd opposite Keeley Hawes as Home Secretary Julia Montague.

While the show mainly deals with a terrorism plot, its strong point is how it portrays Budd’s experience with PTSD after his stint in Afghanistan. It also looks at his complicated relationship with Montague, leading them down a surprising road. Mixing political drama with real-life issues, this is a crime show and a fantastic thriller miniseries that feels deeply relevant.

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1 ‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013 – 2022)

Creator: Steven Knight

Among the most acclaimed British crime dramas on Netflix, Peaky Blinders has done the impossible by making you root for the villains. Set after WWI and loosely based on a real-life Birmingham crime gang, Peaky Blinders features the Shelby family and their criminal organization. Led by Cillian Murphy as the ruthless leader Tommy Shelby, the all-star cast includes Helen McCrory, Tom Hardy, and Anya Taylor-Joy.

What makes the show special is not just its unflinching portrayal of violence but how it affects the characters. It does a great job of making you care for the Shelby family. With those iconic haircuts and three-piece suits, they make committing crime look cool.

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