MovieChat Forums > Prime Suspect (1992) Discussion > A Question for the British

A Question for the British

posted 12 years ago by Dr_Apoc
1 reply | jump to latest

I know that this series is now more than 20 years out of date but, having just finished the first season, I'm curious about the vast number of staff that Tennison has working for her.

Is this typical of a British (or London) police force?

From initial appraisal, the crime looks like the murder of a prostitute (just one common citizen) and not the work of a serial killer. While a team of investigators would most certainly be assembled in America if an actual serial killer were identified (most likely with assistance from the FBI), typically called a "Task Force", the common number of investigators in American cases is more likely 2-4 (or less) and not 10-14 as is shown in this series.

I tend to think that American homicide investigators would be thrilled to have the kind of manpower this show dictates as commonplace.

I realize that the number of murders in London are considerably lower than in, say, New York (636 vs. 4,161 in 2011) but I would tend to see that as justifying less of a police force yet, if you compare population, London has only half the population of New York which seems to indicate that London's police force is either much larger or has a vastly different distribution.

Thanks for any answers,

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[–] mackay254 11 years ago

The populations of London and New York City are about the same size. I think you might be comparing London with New York State.
As for the team that Tennison has; if it is a particularly brutal murder ie. ritualised; then, without a doubt, a large team would be put on the case.