A police officer is stabbed in the arm as he tries to help a shopkeeper trapped inside a convenience store with a knifeman.

Episode 1

An officer fears for his life when a drunk man turns violent and threatens to kill him.

Episode 2

A police officer is thrown 100 feet in the air when joyriders plough into him at 50 mph.

Episode 3

A detective has a chemical thrown in her face as she tries to apprehend a gang of burglars, a police officer is injured as he tries to arrest a man who is threatening to kill officers with a machete, and a paramedic is headbutted by a patient.

Episode 4

It's Bonfire Night, the worst night of the year for violent attacks on firefighters.

Episode 5

A police officer has his finger badly bitten as he tries to stop a criminal from spitting at him.

Episode 6

A paramedic couple face their worst nightmare when the wife hears over the radio that her husband has been attacked by a patient.

Episode 7

An undercover cop chasing down county lines drugs dealers is dragged along the road by a car as he tries to apprehend the driver.

Episode 8

An officer fears for her life as an unprovoked attack in Birmingham city centre sees her strangled.

Episode 9

A police officer is left with life-changing injuries after a high-speed car chase ends with a criminal driver mowing her down.

Episode 10

In Essex, police officers are doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight when a moped chase ends in chaos.

A shocking discovery by two unarmed police officers brings a bomb disposal unity to a leafy suburb of Merseyside.

In Humberside, firefighters are shocked when they are attacked by the residents of a burning house as they try to put out the flames.

Firefighters in Newcastle and Humberside are out on shift in the days leading up to Bonfire Night, the most dangerous time of the year.

In Ashford, a report of a burglary ends with a police officer fighting a man armed with a knife. A dog handler with West Midlands Police is impaled on a spiked fence as he and his four-legged colleague chase down a suspected thief, and Kent Police officers get to grips with taser training.

A rural village becomes the scene of a violent gun fight when a firearms team confronts an armed man.

Two life-changing assaults cost a police officer his career and have a huge impact on his health as he is diagnosed with complex PTSD. In Kent, the drugs and gangs team are out on a raid, tackling the growing drug problem in their county.

A police officer shot at close range is in danger of losing his sight, and a speeding motorcyclist is pursued through London.

A former policeman from Northern Ireland rebuilds his life after losing both arms in a rocket attack on his vehicle. In Leeds, a patient threatens a paramedic with a 12-inch knife, and a Humberside police officer is determined to get back on the beat after a stay at the Police Treatment Centre.

A PCSO and his colleague are attacked as they try to arrest a man suspected of a spate of burglaries at Christmas.

A Critical Incident special exploring what it takes to police Britain’s roads, including a Metropolitan Police operation to tackle moped-enabled crime.

Episode 11

A Critical Incident special looking at knife crime in the UK, including a dedicated police task force in Essex and a groundbreaking scheme in the West Midlands.

Episode 12

The Covid-19 pandemic brings fresh dangers for emergency service workers all over the UK, including a surge in coughing attacks on police officers. Also, how groundbreaking research into the psychology of crowds could help prevent attacks on police.

Episode 13

Kent Police officers risk their lives to rescue an individual trapped on a cliff face. West Midlands police track down a man in possession of a gun, and how man’s best friend came to play an essential role in British policing, tracking down criminals and protecting their handlers.

Episode 14

Episode 15

In a bid to protect his colleagues from a man wielding three knives, a police sergeant in Bristol activates his taser. A Yorkshire paramedic is threatened with a gun when he’s called out to a house, and Warwickshire Police officers undertake advanced driver training.

In Wolverhampton, two paramedics are on a long road to recovery after they are both stabbed while on duty. A rookie police officer in Wellingborough rescues a woman from a house fire. In Southampton, a brave police officer risks his life when he jumps into the sea to save a girl from drowning.

A West Midlands police officer is the victim of a brutal assault when he follows a suspect into a storm drain. Two paramedics are attacked by an intoxicated man in the back of their ambulance, and a Northampton PC works hard to tackle knife crime in the city.

In Lancashire, a police sergeant is the victim of a brutal attack, while in Northamptonshire, a police dog comes to the rescue. In Bristol, a man goes on a knife rampage.

In Kent, an officer and his police dog chase down a criminal. A brave PC confronts an armed robber who entered a restaurant with a knife, and a firefighter in Leicestershire is assaulted when he tries to put out a garden fire.

In Kent, a police sergeant puts his life in danger when he rescues a man from a house fire, while in Bristol, two cops wrestle an armed robber to the ground. In Oxfordshire, after being assaulted by a man he was trying to help, a paramedic has an arranged meeting with the offender.

In Derbyshire, a brave officer puts his life in danger when he tries to stop a dam from bursting. In south Wales, a paramedic is assaulted while on duty, and we see how brazen armed robbers livestream on social media as police give pursuit.

In south Wales, a man threatens two police officers with a gun when they visit his home. In Kent, a young call handler uses her training to de-escalate an extremely dangerous situation where a man is threatening a family member with a knife. Elsewhere, police chase down ram-raiding thieves.

A Gloucestershire police officer responds to a gas leak and performs CPR on a teenage boy. With attacks on firefighters at an all-time high, we follow Humberside Fire and Rescue on their busiest night of the year, Bonfire Night.

In Manchester, plain-clothed police officers chase a gunman, and in Northampton, firearms officers are called out when a man arrives at a police station claiming he has a bomb.

A West Midlands police officer receives life-changing injuries when a man viciously bites his finger. With the help of his support dog Holly, a PC who has been diagnosed with PTSD helps other sufferers, and we follow Leicestershire Fire and Rescue as they carry out training at an airport.

A Warwickshire police officer uses his medical training to save the lives of two stab victims, and a mountain bike paramedic is violently attacked in Manchester city centre.

A paramedic experiences mental health issues after being assaulted but learns how to help others. In North Yorkshire, traffic police officers have their car rammed by a thief.

When a woman is stabbed in Coventry, a police officer uses his first aid skills to help save her life. We find out what it takes to become a police horse in the Avon and Somerset mounted section, and a specialist task force tackles crime in the Greater Manchester area.

It’s a busy few hours for Avon and Somerset police officers on the night shift in Bristol, and a North Wales PC talks about the difficulties faced as a visible minority in the force. With assaults on police officers at an all-time high, we examine how anything can become a weapon in the wrong hands.

A Surrey police officer receives life-changing injuries when his patrol car is involved in a terrifying high-speed crash. Two officers in Cheshunt risk their lives and run into a burning building.

High-Speed Crash

In London, a Met officer is attacked by a man wielding a four-foot-long broadsword. An officer in York must use all her strength and courage to rescue a colleague who has fallen into an icy river.

Broadsword Stabbing

Two officers in south Wales are confronted by a man with a kitchen knife. In Leeds, a traffic cop puts his life at risk to save a driver trapped in his van. Surrey Fire and Rescue service are faced with a huge wildfire.

Surrey Wildfire

A Birmingham police officer is stabbed in the neck by someone he is arresting. In Hull, an officer and his faithful police dog come under a violent attack. After a life-threatening injury, a West Midlands paramedic has found a new lease of life, thanks to an unusual hobby.

Stabbed in the Neck

Two officers in Leeds are faced with a knifeman on a city-centre bus. Sussex police take on the dangerous drivers putting us all at risk on the roads, and we catch up with an officer seriously injured in an attack.

Knife Attack

Two RAF aircraft are dispatched to save the life of a sailor in heavy seas 800 miles out in the Atlantic. Essex police film dangerous drivers from an HGV, with life-changing results for some of them. A paramedic in Barry in Wales finds herself the victim of a terrifying assault.

Assault on Paramedic

999ers on the scene look back at the 7/7 attacks in London. Police are called as a volatile patient assaults two paramedics on the Isle of Wight. In Manchester, a young police dog and his handler face a man armed with a crowbar.

A Problem Patient

A Merseyside police officer is run over as he searches a van thought to be connected to drug runners. A call handler in Hampshire saves the life of a baby who isn’t breathing. After a life-changing injury, a former PC is finding his feet again.

Crushed by Van

In London, emergency responders remember the nightmare they faced during the Westminster Bridge terror attack. In Staffordshire, a newly taser-trained PC must decide whether to fire her weapon for the first time, at a machete-wielding woman.

Taser Discharged

In Staffordshire, two officers save the life of a man in a burning building. In Avon and Somerset, police tackle county lines drug dealing, and in Norfolk, two firearms officers come face to face with a gunman in a car park.

Car Park Gunman

In Wakefield, a police officer is the victim of a violent attack. Greater Manchester Police are tackling the issue of knife crime in the city. The RAF are called in to help transatlantic rowers in distress.

RAF Rescue

Two paramedics talk of their experience on the scene of the 2017 London Bridge attacks. In Manchester, the police launch a new initiative to crack down on knife crime. After losing his eye, a former police officer has returned to the force in a new role.

London Bridge Attack

A Fire crew in Burnley comes under attack on their busiest night of the year. In Swindon, two paramedics are violently assaulted by a patient, and police in Derbyshire tackle the problem of county lines drug gangs.

Derbyshire Drugs Gang

In London, a paramedic is sexually assaulted on a call. Firefighters in Nottinghamshire tackle one of the biggest blazes they’ve ever seen, and the Police Federation recognise the actions of officers across England and Wales.

Sexual Assault

It’s a busy night in Newcastle for Northumbria Police as they work the night-time economy shift. We take a look at one of the most dangerous specialties in the police – firearms. The National Police Air Service face danger in the air.

Helicopters Attacked

With attacks on emergency service workers on the rise, this series uses bodycam and CCTV footage to tell the stories of brave 999ers assaulted in the line of duty.

All Episodes of Critical Incident

Browse all episodes of Critical Incident

Season 1

Episode 1

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/10/2019

Episode 2

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 6/11/2019

Episode 3

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 6/12/2019

Episode 4

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 6/13/2019

Episode 5

Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 6/14/2019

Episode 6

Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 6/17/2019

Episode 7

Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 6/18/2019

Episode 8

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/19/2019

Episode 9

Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/20/2019

Episode 10

Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/21/2019