Who can resist a great crime drama? From moody, troubled detectives chasing the truth to spine-tingling true crime documentaries, we’ve rounded up the best and newest crime shows you can stream free, on demand, right now.
Top Crime Dramas
For those of you who can’t get enough gritty crime dramas, we’ve got troubled detectives, twisting plots and shocking turns in abundance. Dive into our pick of the top free-to-view crime dramas, ready to watch whenever the mood hits.
Betrayal
Watch on ITVX and STV Player
Secrets, unpredictable twists, and a lot of drama is what awaits you in ITVs new drama Betrayal. Shaun Evans takes the lead as John Hughes, a seasoned MI5 operative who uncovers a sinister plot involving a gang with Iranian ties. As the pressure from the agency mounts for him to step aside, he finds himself paired with Mehreen Askari-Evans (Zahra Ahmadi), and together they race to uncover the truth – before everything blows up (literally)!
Queen’s of Mystery
Watch on U
This comedy crime drama follows three crime writing sisters and their detective niece as they solve a variety of murders in the picturesque English village of Wildermarsh.
Starring Julie Graham, Martin Trenaman and Juliet Stevenson.
Death in Paradise (Season 15)
Catch up on BBC iPlayer
Back again, the 15th season of Death in Paradise will see Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) officially returning as commissioner and being thrown straight into the deep end as he faces the consequences of his recent absence from the Island. Elsewhere, while attempting to connect with his newly-found half-brother Solomon (Daniel Ward), Mervin’s happiness quickly becomes frustration when he discovers how different they really are…
Silent Witness (Season 29)
Catch up on BBC iPlayer
In this new instalment we welcome back Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Jack (David Caves) as they take on a brand new batch on complex cases!
Miss Scarlet and the Duke (S1-4)
Stream all episodes on U
Victorian crime solving has never been this sharp. Miss Scarlet and The Duke returns with Season 4 now on U, following amateur sleuth Eliza Scarlet as she navigates London’s underbelly with flair and sharp wits. With Kate Phillips cracking cases as Eliza and Stuart Martin as the ever-exasperated Duke at her side, the series blends clever mysteries, sizzling chemistry and plenty of swagger as the duo take on murder, intrigue and high-society secrets.
The Night Manager (Season 2)
Catch up now on BBC iPlayer
The Night Manager returns with the stakes higher than ever as Jonathan Pine is pulled back into a dangerous world of espionage. Tom Hiddleston reprises his role alongside Olivia Colman, with new faces Diego Calva and Camila Morrone entering the fray, as shifting loyalties and high-risk missions unfold in Colombia.
Red Eye (Season 2)
Catch up on ITVX and STV Player
Red Eye returns for a second series, hurtling back into danger as a deadly threat grounds a British government jet and sparks an international crisis. Jing Lusi is back as DS Hana Li, forced into a tense partnership with Martin Compston and watched closely by Lesley Sharp, as secrets unravel under intense pressure.
Patience (Season 2)
Catch up on Channel 4
Patience returns with sharper cases and fresh tension as Patience Evans takes on an even bigger role within York’s criminal records department. Ella Maisy Purvis is back alongside Jessica Hynes as a new DI whose arrival shakes up the team, with complex murders, clashing leadership styles and personal pressures testing everyone involved.
The Good Ship Murder (Season 3)
Catch up now on 5
The Good Ship Murder returns for a third voyage, launching a new run of mysteries amid sun-drenched destinations and festive intrigue. Shayne Ward is back as Jack Grayling alongside Catherine Tyldesley, as glamorous ports, deadly secrets and onboard tensions keep the cruise far from smooth sailing. Light, glossy and effortlessly escapist.
Grantchester (Season 10)
Catch up on ITV and STV Player
Grantchester returns for its tenth and penultimate series, with village life once again shaken by suspicion and loss. Robson Green and Rishi Nair reprise their roles as Geordie Keating and Alphy Kottaram, facing a new Eastertime mystery alongside growing personal and social pressures.
NCIS: New Orleans (Season 7)
Stream all episodes now on U
NCIS: New Orleans returns for its seventh and final series, raising the stakes as the team faces its toughest challenges yet. Scott Bakula leads alongside Vanessa Ferlito, Necar Zadegan and CCH Pounder, as high-risk cases collide with personal reckonings and long-held truths. Gritty, emotional and deeply resonant.
The Gold (Season 2)
Stream now on BBC iPlayer
The gripping true-crime drama returns to follow the aftermath of the notorious 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery. As the investigation deepens, new secrets and unexpected twists come to light, putting everyone involved under intense pressure. Starring Charlotte Spencer, Hugh Bonneville, Dominic Cooper and James Nelson-Joyce.
Pan Am 103
Stream on BBC iPlayer
Dive into the gripping true story behind one of the most devastating air disasters in history. Pan Am 103 follows the relentless investigation into the 1988 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, revealing the courage of those determined to uncover the truth. As the world watches in shock, justice hangs in the balance.
Ludwig
Stream now on BBC iPlayer
This cryptic comedy-drama sees puzzle-maker John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor (David Mitchell), a comfortable recluse, exit his comfort zone when his twin brother, a DCI goes missing. Under pressure from his sister-in-law (Anna Maxwell Martin), he impersonates his brother at work in order to discover what happened to him!
Code of Silence
Stream now on ITVX and STV Player
Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis) works quietly in a police canteen until her lip-reading skills draw the attention of DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie) and DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan). Recruited for a covert operation, Alison is thrown into the heart of a dangerous criminal underworld and a high-stakes heist that could put her life on the line. A tense, character-driven thriller where every glance and every word counts.
Karen Pirie (Season 2)
Stream now on ITVX and STV Player
Detective Inspector Karen Pirie (Lauren Lyle) returns to reopen a chilling cold case from 1984, when oil heiress Catriona Grant (Julia Brown) and her son were kidnapped at gunpoint. Thought to be politically motivated, the case went cold—until a body is discovered nearly 40 years later. With new evidence and dangerous secrets still buried, Karen must uncover the truth before it’s hidden again.
Out There
Stream now on ITVX and STV Player
Martin Clunes stars in the new drama as Nathan Williams, a farmer who steadily sees the land he cherishes invaded by county lines drug dealers. After his son is forced into working for them, Nathan must make a radical decision to protect his family.
The Secrets She Keeps
Stream on Channel 4
In this gripping Australian thriller, two women with very different lives become entangled in a dangerous web of secrets after a chance encounter. As their lives collide, Agatha's obsession with Meghan leads to a shocking crime, unravelling both women's lives in the process.
How to Get Away With Murder
Stream on Channel 4
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This legal thriller follows law professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) as she pulls a group of ambitious students into a deadly web of crime, secrets, and betrayal. As past and present collide, nothing and no one is ever quite what they seem.
The Game
Stream now on 5
Retired detective Huw Miller (Jason Watkins) is still haunted by an unsolved case, a sadistic stalker who terrorised his town and murdered his victims. When he meets his new neighbour Patrick (Robson Green), Huw becomes convinced he’s found the killer he’s been hunting all these years!
Bergerac
Stream now on U
Head back into the life of Bergerac in this new re-imagined version of the hit 80’s crime drama! Following the death of his wife 6 months prior, Jim Bergerac decides to finally head back to work when a wealthy woman is murdered causing him to overcome personal demons and reignite his passion for investigating! Starring Damien Molony, Zoë Wanamaker and Philip Glenister.
Whitstable Pearl (Season 3)
Stream now on U
Season 3 sees Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) throw herself deeper into private investigating, while her mother Dolly (Frances Barber) and Ruby (Isobelle Molloy) run the restaurant. Mike (Howard Charles) returns leaner, fitter, and more Zen—but Pearl worries about his unresolved grief over his late wife. As they solve new Whitstable crimes, Pearl tries to help Mike find the closure he desperately needs.
We update this list all the time to bring you the latest crime dramas and documentary releases, so bookmark this page and keep checking back to see what fresh telly comes up!