Line of Duty

Main cast and characters

Lennie James as Detective Chief Inspector Anthony "Tony" Gates

Series 1As the head of the serious crime unit TO-20, Tony Gates is renowned for returning the best crime figures of any unit in Birmingham's fictitious police force. It is this reputation, however, that leads AC-12 to his team. Suspected of corruption, Gates faces an internal affairs investigation that adds further complications to his troubled home-life.

Keeley Hawes as Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton

Series 2, 3Denton finds herself at the centre of an AC-12 investigation following an ambush of a convoy that resulted in the deaths of several police officers. As the sole survivor, Denton is arrested and charged shortly thereafter. During series 2, Denton attempts to convince AC-12 of her innocence and regain her reputation. In series 3, Denton is granted an appeal trial, and is acquitted on the basis of an improper sexual relationship with Arnott. After refusing to accept a bribe, she is murdered by "The Caddy", DI Matthew Cottan. Prior to her death, Lindsay discovered crucial evidence pertaining to the Danny Waldron murder investigation and historic child sex abuse.

Daniel Mays as Sergeant Daniel Waldron

Series 3Danny is an armed police officer who is investigated by AC-12 as a matter of routine following an on-the-job shooting. When Arnott and Fleming discover the shooting may not have been necessary, however, a deeper investigation is required. Danny is shot and killed during series 3, with his death leading to the capture of "The Caddy," as well as the opening of an investigation into historic child sex abuse.

Thandie Newton as Detective Chief Inspector Roz Huntley

Series 4Following in the footsteps of Gates, Denton, and Waldron, Huntley finds herself at the centre of an AC-12 investigation following a mishap during a career defining investigation.

AC-12 personnel

Martin Compston as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott

Series 1, 2, 3, 4Arnott is a Detective Sergeant assigned to AC-12, one of twelve anti-corruption units that operate within the West Midlands Police Force. Steve Arnott first appeared as an anti-terrorism officer who refused to collude with his fellow colleagues following the shooting death of an innocent man. During series three, Arnott is accused of being a gangland informant known as The Caddy, framed for the murder of DI Lindsay Denton, and is later arrested. He is cleared of all charges.

Vicky McClure as Detective Sergeant Kate Fleming

Series 1, 2, 3, 4Fleming is originally a Detective Constable and an undercover specialist. A consummate professional, Kate is willing to investigate officers both within, and outside of, AC-12. In series two, Kate begins investigating DI Lindsay Denton. She is promoted to Sergeant at the end of series three. Kate has children, though her ex-husband retains custody.

Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings

Series 1, 2, 3, 4Hastings, a police Superintendent, is the Senior Investigating Officer of AC-12. He personally recruited Arnott, Fleming, and Cottan, and has a black-and-white view of the law. In series three, it is revealed that Hastings is a Mason, which causes both Arnott and Fleming to doubt his commitment to AC-12.

Production

Series one and two were created and written by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions, on behalf of BBC Two. David Caffrey and Douglas Mackinnon directed series one. Mackinnon was retained as Director for series two's first three episodes, whilst Daniel Nettheim directed series two's last three episodes. Mercurio produced series one and acted as executive producer for series two, with Peter Norris taking over as producer for series two.

Inspiration

The police refused to co-operate with the programme's producers. Consequently, the production team was advised both by retired police officers and anonymously by serving officers; production also made use of anonymous police blogs.

Locations

Series one was filmed in Birmingham (including pub interiors in the Queens Arms) and series two and three in Belfast by BBC Northern Ireland, per the end credits, though the city is not identified in the script in either series – set dressings and props indicate that the unnamed city is Birmingham (maps of Birmingham appear on walls, and telephone numbers use an 0121 area code). A photo gallery of exterior scenes from series two shows the 4th Street Station on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast.

Censure by Ofcom

Following the complaint of one viewer, the media regulator Ofcom found the BBC guilty of a "serious lapse" in its duty of care for a 13-year-old actor, Gregory Piper, who had appeared in scenes which were "of a particularly violent nature and included sexually explicit language" by breaching broadcasting rules requiring that "due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18". In its full report, Ofcom cited the programme's failure to involve an independent expert, such as a child psychiatrist, to determine the actor's intellectual and emotional capacity to participate in the controversial scenes; however, the regulator found that there was no actual harm, distress or anxiety caused to the child actor.

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