BBC Documentaries

Cops on the Frontline (2019x224)

: 21, 2019

Using first-hand testimony and extensive archive, this documentary reveals what it was like to be an RUC officer during the Troubles. In the 1980s, Northern Ireland was described as the most dangerous place in the world to be a cop. At its peak, the RUC employed 8,500 full-time officers with 4,500 reservists. A total of 319 officers were killed, with 9,000 injured during the conflict – some died at work while others were killed while off duty. As well as dealing with everyday crime the RUC was at the forefront of State’s efforts to tackle terrorism. While investigating burglaries and sex crimes, they dealt with the aftermath of bombings and paramilitary shootings. Officers were predominantly Protestant but some came from Catholic backgrounds – many rose to senior level. Despite witnessing some horrific scenes, at the end of each shift they returned to their homes and tried to live normally. Cops on the Frontline tells their memories and stories. It reveals the day to day realities of what it was like to hold the rule of law in one of the most vicious conflicts of the 20th Century. This documentary is a candid and no-holds-barred chronicle of what it was like to be an RUC Officer dealing with ordinary crime and terrorist incidents. This documentary is unashamedly from the police perspective – it is their uncensored testimonies. It’s an invaluable addition to the Troubles at 50 Archive and to BBC NI’s “….on the Frontline” strand.