TV SERIES REVIEW – “Criminal Record,” airing on Apple TV+, offers an enthralling and deeply unsettling voyage into the murky depths of law enforcement agencies. This series scrutinizes the intricate blend of criminal justice and personal bias while unfolding an exciting mystery in the heart of London. Paul Rutman’s masterwork, centralizing on power, racism, and internal strife, emerges as a brilliant psychological crime drama and an exceptional detective series.

From the excessive use of force to inadequately chosen leaders, from bureaucratic red tape to poorly managed resources, law enforcement organizations worldwide grapple with a myriad of challenges. However, one of the greatest challenges within policing is the personal prejudices held by those who don badges, batons, or guns. These biases, whether aware or unaware, fundamentally shape their worldview. They create situations where those with power can deem others as disposable and non-human, inciting the feelings of those they are meant to protect.

Secrets of a Dark London Night

Written and directed by Paul Rutman, the compelling and deeply stirring Apple TV+ series “Criminal Record” starts on an ordinary night in London. We see Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi), who moonlights as a chauffeur, driving a luxury car through the city’s dark streets. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, an anonymous, frightened young woman urgently contacts Emergency Services from a dimly lit phone booth. In a panicked voice, she tells the operator that her boyfriend tried to kill her, and that he had killed a former girlfriend years ago, but another man is currently serving a 24-year sentence for the crime. Before the operator can gather more information, the call abruptly ends.

The next day, when Detective Sergeant June Lenker (Cush Jumbo) arrives at her office, her task is to examine the recording of the terrified woman. Initially hesitant, she eventually starts reviewing the cases of all individuals serving 24-year sentences for murder. Upon discovering the name Errol Mathis (Tom Moutchi), June begins to follow a trail of clues, leading her straight to the office of DCI Hegarty, who was in charge of Errol’s case over a decade ago.

What follows is an intense and discomforting probe into the depths of modern British racism. The series critically examines harmful police practices and the lies people tell themselves for justification.

Hegarty, a prominent figure in East London’s police force, is distant and unapproachable. He reacts uneasily when June challenges him about a past case, doing everything in his power to undermine and silence her. As June is a Black woman in a predominantly white profession, Hegarty uses his influence to isolate her from her boss and colleagues.

The Persistence of a Stubborn Detective

Yet, June is not one to easily give up. Although Hegarty insinuates that she is biased against him as a white man, June quickly realizes that Hegarty’s reluctance to revisit past events hints at some unsavory secret. Deciding to play by the Detective Chief Inspector’s rules, June positions herself to get closer to him while reaching out to Errol’s lawyer, Sonya Singh (Aysha Kala), and his mother, Doris Mathis (Cathy Tyson). She is determined to understand why an apparently innocent man would confess to a brutal and heinous crime he initially denied committing.

The inconsistencies in Errol’s case and the mystery behind the anonymous phone call are crucial elements of this story. However, “Criminal Record” is much more than a mere whodunit. Just as June and the viewers think they’ve unraveled a new clue or element, the narrative takes a sharp turn, leading them down an entirely new path. Additional incidents, including a shooting and a young boy’s arrest for narcotics possession, reveal unseen facets of Hegarty and June’s personalities. While the older detective seems menacing and cold, revelations about his personal life present a more nuanced human being. A complex man, Capaldi’s portrayal is fascinating; filled with nastiness and tenderness, leaving the audience unsure of what to make of Hegarty until the very last scene of the series.

As for Jumbo, she shines as June. Labelled Meghan Markle by one of Hegarty’s cronies, she is unapologetically bold and fearless, even to the point of putting herself in danger. Her home life is equally intriguing as she navigates the complexities and challenges of raising a Black son in London while being married to a white man. The UK has always been known for its subtle racism, less conspicuous than its American counterpart. However, the overt and dangerous misogyny and racism June experiences force the viewer to question her decision to work in her field while empathizing with her obsession to uncover the truth.

The Dark Underbelly of Justice

Although “Criminal Record” spans just eight hours, it is packed with characters and storylines that could have been overly complex and convoluted, but Rutman and co-direct directors Jim Loach and Shaun James Grant never lose their grip. In this series, all the intricate puzzle pieces connect in shocking and unexpected ways. Watching June handle overt microaggressions at work is one thing. But as she labors to link the mysterious caller to Errol’s case, she navigates through a swamp of intolerance that has permeated the police force.

As captivating as “Criminal Record” is, it’s also disconcerting. The seventh episode, titled “The Sixty-Twos,” opens in the weeks before and following the murder of Errol’s long-term girlfriend. Although it’s tough to watch, viewers see how Hegarty and his team worked the case, and how quickly people can be cast aside as inconveniences when they don’t fit the narratives others have imposed on them.

The Labyrinth of Human Psyche

“Criminal Record” is an exhilarating exploration of our preconceptions, the human obsession with power and status, and the lengths we’re willing to go to cling to the narratives we’ve created about others and the world around us. At the end of the series, Hegarty ponders, “Who knows what any of us are capable of on any given day?” After all, everyone has secrets; we all hide something.

-Gergely Herpai (BadSector)-