Murder 24/7

What Is Murder 24/7?

Murder 24/7 is a BBC true crime documentary series that embeds camera crews inside UK police homicide units, capturing murder investigations as they unfold in real time. Unlike conventional true crime documentaries that reconstruct events after verdicts have been delivered, Murder 24/7 places viewers inside incident rooms, forensic labs, and suspect interviews while detectives are still racing to solve active cases.

The series first aired on BBC Two on 24 February 2020, with all episodes also available on BBC iPlayer. It is produced by Expectation Factual, with Executive Producers Colin Barr and Rachael Barnes, and Series Producer Vicky Munro. A second series followed in June 2025, directed by Jules Endersby, and a third series is expected in July 2026.

The series holds an IMDb rating of 8.2/10 based on 343 ratings.

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The Cases

Series 1 (2020) — Essex Police

The debut series follows Essex Police across five episodes, tracking detectives as they respond to multiple homicide calls, build cases from forensic evidence, and pursue suspects through interviews and surveillance. Critics noted that one prominent victim received minimal screen time, with some theorising this was a deliberate editorial choice given the victim's alleged involvement in drug dealing. The decision drew criticism from reviewers who felt it reduced emotional investment in the outcomes.

Series 2 (2025) — West Mercia Police and the Murder of Brad McGarry

The second series, broadcast from 16 June 2025, shifts focus to West Mercia Police operating across the Midlands. It runs for six episodes and covers several murder investigations, but the case that generated the most public attention was the brutal daylight killing of Brad McGarry, a 28-year-old delivery driver attacked on a quiet suburban street.

McGarry's murder was particularly shocking because of its brazenness, carried out in broad daylight in a residential area. West Mercia detectives immediately launched an intensive manhunt, deploying DNA analysis, phone tracking, and video evidence to identify those responsible.

A critical forensic breakthrough came when blood found on a trainer was submitted for DNA profiling. The resulting full DNA profile was matched to a suspect identified in the series as Armen, with his full surname not disclosed in publicly available sources. Two additional suspects were identified through phone data and video footage. All three were subsequently charged with murder.

The sentencing outcome and current custodial status of the convicted individuals have not been made publicly available in sources associated with the series.

A second case discussed by critics involved a victim named Aurman Singh, whose murder featured in Series 2. Reviewers noted that the series provided limited exploration of motive in that investigation, a recurring criticism of the franchise.

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Production

Murder 24/7 is produced by Expectation Factual for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The level of access granted to the production team is unusual even by documentary standards: crews are present in custody suites, forensic laboratories, and at crime scenes, capturing investigators' real-time decision-making.

Series 2 was directed by Jules Endersby and introduced West Mercia Police as the primary law enforcement partner, a relationship that continues into the forthcoming Series 3, expected July 2026. The production approach is deliberately unglamourised. There are no dramatic reconstructions, no narrator voiceovers dramatising events, and no post-verdict interviews presented as revelations.

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Reception

The series has been widely praised by viewers and described in audience responses as totally gripping, disturbing, and enlightening. Its IMDb score of 8.2/10 places it among the better-reviewed British true crime documentary series of recent years.

Critical reception has been more nuanced. The Daily Telegraph in 2020 awarded Series 1 three stars, with Anita Singh praising the granular detail and rare police access but faulting the series for sidelining victims. The i Paper in 2025 gave Series 2 four stars, with Gerard Gilbert calling the manhunt footage genuinely exciting while finding some formal police interview sequences less compelling. He specifically noted disappointment at the limited exploration of motive in the Aurman Singh case. The Echo reviewer Ellis Whitehouse described the series as enlightening, particularly in how it revealed the contrast between suspects' behaviour in police custody versus their presentation in court.

A recurring controversy concerns the minimal portrayal of victims. While the production's real-time format partly explains this, critics have questioned whether the editorial choices adequately honour the people at the centre of each story.

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The Cases Today

For the Brad McGarry murder, all three charged suspects, including the individual identified as Armen, faced murder charges following what West Mercia Police described as a comprehensive forensic and digital evidence package. Full sentencing details have not been disclosed in publicly available reporting connected to the series.

The franchise itself remains active. Series 3 is confirmed for July 2026 on BBC iPlayer, again featuring West Mercia Police. All episodes of Series 1 and Series 2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.