Forget your fictional crime dramas; Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody delivers the real deal. “Breakout” follows the chaotic aftermath of a mass escape from Yarl’s Wood immigration removal center, plunging viewers into a high-stakes manhunt.
What began as a demonstration in the gym quickly escalated, forcing security staff to withdraw and allowing detainees to break free. The escape, according to Det Supt Will Wilkinson, was premeditated, and many of the escapees have ties to the drug trade. Suddenly, a sleepy corner of Bedfordshire becomes the epicenter of a major police operation.
The episode unfolds with a palpable sense of urgency as police deploy helicopters with heat-seeking cameras and conduct raids on properties linked to Albanian organized crime. Eight escapees remain at large, and the pressure is on to apprehend them before they disappear completely.
24 Hours in Police Custody excels at offering an unvarnished look at police work, capturing the frustrations, the dead ends, and the occasional flashes of brilliance. “Breakout” looks to be another compelling installment, offering a stark reminder that real-life crime is rarely as tidy as it appears on television.
24 Hours in Police Custody airs Monday, January 6, 2025, at 9:00 PM on Channel 4.
