Crimewatch

Much like its predecessor Police 5, Crimewatch – originally known as Crimewatch UK – was created to appeal to the public for assistance in solving unsolved crimes where suspects or their whereabouts remained unknown. This long-running monthly programme, initially intended to air for just three episodes, was inspired by the German series Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst (File Reference XY... Unsolved). Unlike Police 5, which primarily relied on photofits and images of stolen items, Crimewatch introduced dramatic reconstructions of crimes using actors, which proved instrumental in helping the police resolve a significant number of cases throughout its run.

Each episode typically featured three to four reconstructions, carefully produced with meticulous attention to detail to reflect the known facts of the case as accurately as possible. In addition to these segments, the programme included a dedicated CCTV section in which footage was shown in the hope that a viewer might recognise a suspect. The Wanted Faces segment showcased close-up images of individuals sought by police, often accompanied by aliases and possible locations. Like Police 5, Crimewatch also included a Treasure Trove section, featuring high-value items that had been recovered by the police. Many of these were successfully reunited with their rightful owners—people who had long given up hope of seeing their possessions again.

Over the years, Crimewatch covered numerous high-profile cases, including the abduction and murder of James Bulger, the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, the murder of Sarah Payne, and the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. The public response to these appeals was extraordinary, with the programme credited for helping to solve hundreds of crimes. At launch, some police forces were reluctant to be associated with a television programme, but such was the impact and effectiveness of the format that, by 2017, all 43 police forces in the UK had participated in the series.

By the end of 2013, the programme had directly led to the arrests of 53 rapists, 57 murderers and 18 paedophiles. It was estimated that Crimewatch received four to five requests daily for appeals to be featured, owing to its remarkable success rate: one in three appeals shown resulted in an arrest, and one in five led to a conviction.

The original presenters were Sue Cook and Nick Ross. When Cook left the programme in 1995, she was replaced by the much-loved broadcaster Jill Dando. Dando brought a calm authority and warmth to the programme, and was seen as a reassuring presence to viewers. Tragically, she herself became the subject of a major Crimewatch appeal following her shocking murder in 1999. The programme featured a reconstruction of her final hours in an attempt to find her killer, marking one of the most poignant moments in the show's history. Dando was succeeded by Fiona Bruce, and when both Bruce and Nick Ross stepped down in 2007, they were replaced by Matthew Amroliwala, Kirsty Young and Martin Bayfield. Police officers regularly appeared on the programme to lend expert insight and lend further credibility.

Several spin-offs were developed over the years, including Crimewatch Roadshow, which took the programme to locations around the country, and Crimewatch: Solved, which highlighted successful outcomes from earlier appeals. These series further demonstrated Crimewatch’s value in bringing offenders to justice.

Despite its success, Crimewatch was not without its critics. Some viewers expressed concern that the show heightened their fear of crime, particularly when it featured disturbing offences. However, the producers maintained that nothing gratuitous was ever shown, and all content was carefully selected to be relevant and purposeful.

The information included in each reconstruction was chosen to maximise public engagement and often helped jog viewers' memories, providing crucial leads. The programme was always conscious of its impact on viewers, and its closing reassurance, delivered by one of the presenters, became iconic:
"Don't have nightmares. Do sleep well."

In October 2017, the BBC announced that the main Crimewatch series would be discontinued due to falling viewership figures. However, the daytime spin-off Crimewatch Roadshow continued to air, carrying forward the original programme’s mission of engaging the public in the fight against crime.