Beyond The Call Of Duty
The book used by Thandie Newton to research her part in Line of Duty.
A lone policewoman disarms a knife-wielding schizophrenic; two officers drag a woman from a railway line seconds before an express train roars past; an undercover cop clings onto the bonnet of a drug-dealer's car as it speeds through a busy town centre.
These are just some of the ways Britain's police officers are daily called upon to demonstrate bravery in the line of duty when even the most routine call can turn into a life-or-death situation and split-second judgements can make all the difference. Sometimes officers make the ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling their duty. When PC Bill Parker was swept to his death by floodwaters in Cumbria in 2009, he had been working to save stranded motorists from the same fate.
This thrilling collection of first-person accounts of true courage celebrates the sustained bravery and presence of mind routinely displayed by so many officers in England, Wales and Scotland. The stories also reveal an insider's view of the culture, training and techniques police officers use in carrying out their duties.
Ben Ando has been BBC Crime Reporter since 2008. In a broadcast career spanning nearly 25 years, he has worked for the BBC, ITN, Channel 4 and Sky News. He is also a regular on the radio, with numerous appearances on the Today programme, Radio 5 Live, BBC radio news bulletins and previously Independent Radio News. He has covered some of the biggest stories of recent years including the trial and conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield, the shocking murders of two French students in South London and the hunt for, and trial of, mass rapist Delroy Grant.
Nick Kinsella is a highly respected former Detective Chief Superintendent.