The Met Police has commissioned a Line of Duty-style advertisement in an attempt to recruit 4,000 new officers.
The gleaming 30-second video was created to seem like the hit BBC drama, which is known for its dramatic sequences and tense showdowns.
It even includes sentences that appear on screen in the style of critics’ excerpts.
‘Truly motivating,’ ‘difficult and thought-provoking,’ and ‘Moments of utter exhilaration’ are among them.
‘Choose a career that only most people see on screen,’ a woman’s voice intones towards the end of the ad, before adding ‘Search Met Police careers.’
The short film is described as a TV ad but is also available on YouTube and the force’s social media.
Officers feel it gives “the audience a glimpse into a wide variety of jobs” accessible because it is the Met’s first ever television commercial.
Firearms and explosives cops, as well as safer neighborhoods and maritime police, are among the occupations depicted.
The reference to Ted Hastings, Steve Arnott, and Kate Fleming’s activities is barely hidden in the police press statement regarding the commercial.
It declares: ‘The scenes are inherently dramatic and give a realistic flavour of the different activities officers carry out in their day to day jobs, aiming to convey to the millions of viewers in London and beyond who love police shows that they don’t need to just watch the action from their sofas but could be part of it themselves if they choose to join up.’
Some of the jobs shown include firearms and explosives officers as well as safer neighbourhoods and marine police
During the commercial, a huge man is detained and hauled in by officers for questioning.
PC Courtney Thompson, a trainee officer located in west London, is one of the cops featured in the advertisement.
She was a former restaurant manager who fell in love with the PC role when she began her apprenticeship.
‘I wanted to pursue a job that was significant and required passion and energy,’ PC Thompson said.
‘I thought it was really important for London to have a police force that’s reflective of the communities it serves.
‘I feel proud to be part of the ad, It’s a really exciting time to join and I’d encourage anyone considering it to apply.
‘There are major changes happening and the vision for the future Met is one anyone would be proud to be part of.’
After reaching its highest ever headcount at the end of March 2022, of 34,000, the Met confirmed it wanted to expand further, to 36,500 officers by March 2023.
Taking into account the number of people who will retire and leave, overall recruitment will be close to 4,000 – double the number of officers normally recruited over a year period.