Complete list of 1970s British detective series

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Browse British detective series by decade or return to the TV Detective Database:

Below is a complete list of British detective/mystery/crime series from the 1970s. This includes series that started prior to 1970 and continued into the decade, as well as shows that started in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s.

Clicking on a title link in the list below will take you to my post about that specific show (if I have created one). Additionally, the list also includes information and links to places where you can watch/stream the show online or purchase the series on DVD. The final column includes any additional notes and comments.

Note: Most of the links lead to US sites since most visitors to this website are based in the US. However, the majority of the DVD releases are in Region 2 format (i.e. are imported from the UK and would require a multi-region DVD player for viewers based in the US). Additionally, wherever possible, I link to “complete” DVD boxed sets; however, in some cases, it may be more economical to purchase individual seasons.

A-C

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
The Adventurer	1972-1973		A complete series DVD has been released.
Barlow at Large	1971-1975
Cribb (a.k.a. Sergeant Cribb)	1979-1981
Crown Court	1972-1984	[stream here]

D-F

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
The Danedyke Mystery	1979
Dixon of Dock Green	1955-1976		DVD Collection (Region 2)
The Famous Five	1978-1979			children’s programme based on the Enid Blyton novels
Father Brown	1974		DVD Set 1 ; DVD Set 2

G-I

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Gangsters	1976-1978
Hazell	1978-1979
Hunter’s Walk	1973-1976

J

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Jack the Ripper	1973
Jason King	1971-1972		Complete DVD collection (Region 2)
Justice	1971-1974

L-O

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Law & Order	1978
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder	1969-1971		Complete series DVD set (Region 2)	Based on the stories by Edgar Wallace
New Scotland Yard	1972-1974		Individual seasons were released in Region 2 DVD format: [Series 1] [Series 2] [Series 3]
Out	1978

P

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Parkin’s Patch	1969-1970
Paul Temple	1969-1971			Based on the books by Francis Durbridge
The Persuaders!	1971-1972	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection	(starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore)
Police 5	1962-1992, 2014
The Professionals	1977-1983		Complete series DVD.
The Protectors	1972-1974	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection
Public Eye	1965-1975		A DVD collection of all the remaining episodes (i.e. those that haven’t been lost) has been released.

R

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Raffles	1977	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)	1969-1970	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection (Region 2)	a remake of the series was produced in 2000-2001
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes	1971, 1973	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection (Region 2)

S

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
The Sandbaggers	1978-1980	[stream here]	Complete DVD collection
Second Verdict	1976
Sexton Blake	1967-1971
Shoestring	1979-1980		Complete DVD collection
Softly, Softly: Taskforce	1969-1976		[Series 1 DVD] [Series 2 DVD]
Special Branch	1969-1974	[stream here]
Spyder’s Web	1972		Complete DVD collection
Strange Report	1969-1970		Complete DVD collection
Strangers	1978-1982			A spin-off of The XYY Man; later produced the spin-off Bulman.
Sutherland’s Law	1973-1976
The Sweeney	1975-1978	[stream here]	Complete DVD set	(starring John Thaw) A reboot of the series was also produced in 2012.

T-V

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Target	1977-1978
Van der Valk	1972-1992	[stream here]	Complete DVD box set	A reboot of the series was also produced in 2020.
Villains	1972

W-Z

Show Title	Air Dates	Available to stream?	Available on DVD?	Other notes
Whodunnit?	1972-1978			(game show)
The XYY Man	1976-1977		Complete DVD collection	Produced the spin-off Strangers, which itself produced the spin-off Bulman.
Z-Cars	1962-1978		Complete DVD collection 1 and 2

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If you know of a show that is missing from the list above, or if you have any other additions or corrections, please let me know in the comments!