Is BBC’s Line Of Duty based on real events and does AC-12 really exist?

Police drama Line of Duty is back for series six and and, as always, viewers are already gripped and left… a little confused by the various acronyms and twists.

It also makes people question whether it’s based on real-life cases – after all, could writers come up with such confusing surprises and shocks?

While it’s described as a ‘fictional’ TV series, many of the compelling plot strands feel as though they could plausibly be grounded in reality.

Ahead of tonight’s show, we look at whether or not the story lines based on police corruption are fictional and where and when you can tune in.

Is Line of Duty Based on real events?

Creator Jed Mercurio works with a team of ex-police advisers when creating the show to ensure that the right procedures are being carried out and that it mirrors reality.

The plotlines and characters are fictitious and don’t follow real events, but they are inspired by criminal cases that have happened in the UK.

In addition to this, Mercurio told the Express that some plots are inspired by real life cases, saying there are ‘really relevant examples in British legal history of Stefan Kiszko.

‘It’s interesting – and the other one is Barry George, who was convicted and then acquitted of the Jill Dando murder.’

Both Kiszko and George spent considerable amounts of time in prison before their convictions were overturned.

Does the police department AC-12 really exist?

Viewers have also questioned whether or not the special unit in Line of Duty, AC-12, is based on real life.

Although it doesn’t exist, there are similar anti-corruption branches in real life, and the London Met’s own version of AC-12 was originally called A10.

Line of Duty on BBC One tonight at 9pm.

MORE : Line of Duty star Martin Compston had doubts drama was going to be a hit: ‘I thought it was too subtle’

MORE : What happened at the end of Line Of Duty season 5?

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