The WORST episodes of Line of Duty
Every episode of Line of Duty ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Line of Duty!
A drama about the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit.
#1 - Episode 1
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/26/2012
When Steve Arnott is transferred to a police anti-corruption unit, he finds his target is the city's top detective, Tony Gates. Can Gates really be as good as he appears? Arnott must engage in a cat-and-mouse struggle to uncover Gates' secret.
#2 - Episode 1
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/21/2021
DCI Jo Davidson receives new information about the whereabouts of a suspect in the unsolved murder of investigative journalist Gail Vella. En route to raid the property, she spots an armed robbery in progress and stops the convoy. Suspicious of her motives, AC-12 launch an investigation. Still dealing with the fallout from their explosive investigation into undercover officer John Corbett, AC-12 soon realise they are facing their most enigmatic adversary yet.
#3 - Episode 7
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/2/2021
With time running out, AC-12 attempt to unmask 'H', the Fourth Man (or Woman) commanding the network of corrupt officers behind the murder of Gail Vella. But sinister and powerful forces appear intent on orchestrating a cover-up.
#4 - Episode 3
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/10/2012
Arnott is convinced Gates played a part in Jackie's disappearance. With Fleming's help, the anti-corruption team tries to trap Gates into revealing his involvement in covering up Jackie's crimes.
#5 - Episode 2
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/3/2012
Having been duped into covering up Jackie's crime, Gates is desperate to sever ties with her. But, as Arnott and Fleming close in on his secret, Gates is plunged into an even more dangerous situation than he first thought.
#6 - Episode 2
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/31/2016
After the shooting at the drugs house, DC Kate Fleming uses her undercover role to increase the pressure on Danny Waldron's armed response unit. Meanwhile, a previous AC12 investigation comes under legal scrutiny.
#7 - Episode 2
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/19/2014
Following the tragedy at the hospital, AC12's Kate Fleming is planted undercover in Lindsay Denton's Missing Persons Unit. But Lindsay in turn gathers compromising evidence against the anti-corruption team.
#8 - Episode 4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/17/2012
Desperate for proof of Gates's corruption, Fleming pushes her relationship with him to the limit. But her behaviour causes Morton to question if she might not be such a loyal colleague after all.
#9 - Episode 2
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/2/2017
A dismembered body is discovered, and worries grow when DCI Roz Huntley fails to report for duty. AC-12 crank up their investigation into Operation Trapdoor, concerned that Michael Farmer will go to jail for crimes he didn't commit. With suspicions that Roz may have withheld crucial evidence, a new DCI is drafted in to run Operation Trapdoor. Kate makes progress in her undercover role, but AC-12's investigation falters when they realise that their main informant, forensic investigator Tim Ifield, has also gone missing.
#10 - Episode 3
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/26/2014
Lindsay is denied bail and finds herself targeted in prison. Growing increasingly desperate, she tells Kate about a relationship with an executive police officer and her theory of why she is being framed.
#11 - Episode 2
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/28/2021
Having opened an official inquiry into DCI Jo Davidson and Operation Lighthouse, AC-12 begin to suspect a cover up. Steve and Chloe dig into Gail Vella’s controversial reporting for clues to her murder, and find links to previous AC-12 cases. Their investigation takes a shocking turn when they begin to scrutinise Jo's personal life.
#12 - Episode 3
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/7/2016
DS Steve Arnott believes there is a dark secret in Danny Waldron's past. But while DI Cottan is commended for cracking the Waldron case, the spotlight falls on Arnott's questionable conduct in a previous enquiry.
#13 - Episode 3
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/4/2021
On the strength of evidence from a new witness, DCI Jo Davidson brings Terry Boyle back in for questioning about Gail Vella's murder. Kate is torn between loyalty to Jo and wanting to assist AC-12's investigation, and tensions increase when Kate encounters a face from the past with links to organised crime.
#14 - Episode 1
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/24/2016
Police anti-corruption unit AC12 return for another investigation. Sergeant Danny Waldron and his armed response team shoot dead a hardened criminal, but cracks soon appear in their story. Are they hiding a cold-blooded murder?
#15 - Episode 1
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/26/2017
DCI Roz Huntley is under intense pressure from her superiors to apprehend a serial murderer after months of fruitless investigation. When another young woman is abducted, Roz is on the scene to track down and charge a 24-year-old man. But doubts around the young man's guilt lead the chief forensic investigator to ask AC-12 to investigate. Is Roz ignoring forensic evidence that might prove the young man's innocence? AC-12's Supt Hastings places DS Kate Fleming undercover inside Roz's team to dig deeper into the case. With DS Steve Arnott piling on pressure from the outside, Roz is forced to act decisively. A mother of two and wife to Nick, Roz will do anything to stop her life from unravelling.
#16 - Episode 5
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/24/2012
With Gates on the run, the anti-corruption team come under pressure to close the case once and for all. Arnott is forced to make some tough decisions about where his loyalties lie. Fleming and Hastings go all out to catch Gates, leading to a shattering conclusion.
#17 - Episode 6
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/19/2014
AC12's investigation finally exposes a vicious criminal gang run from within the police. But while Steve now appears convinced of Lindsay's innocence, Kate remains determined to prove she had a role in the ambush.
#18 - Episode 1
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/31/2019
Following the deadly hijack of a police convoy, AC-12 target a ruthless organised crime group known to have links with corrupt officers.
#19 - Episode 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/12/2014
A brutal ambush on a police convoy leaves three officers dead and a protected witness fighting for his life. AC-12 turn their spotlight on Lindsay Denton, the officer who led the convoy but escaped unscathed.
#20 - Episode 4
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/14/2016
Fresh testimony launches AC-12 back on the trail of the Caddy, a corrupt officer with links to organised crime. But new disturbing evidence suggests the Caddy may reside within AC-12.
#21 - Episode 3
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/14/2019
Corbett’s most daring plan yet requires McQueen to exploit links with corrupt police officers. AC-12 make a shocking discovery.
#22 - Episode 4
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/16/2017
Roz's husband Nick is brought in for questioning by AC-12. But while Nick denies any involvement in Steve's attack, his suspicions about Roz mount. Meanwhile, AC-12 discover new anomalies in the forensic evidence and issue DCI Roz Huntley with a second Reg 15 notice. AC-12's case appears watertight until Roz starts dismantling their evidence with inside information of her own.
#23 - Episode 4
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/5/2014
Following the violent attack she suffered in prison, Lindsay is granted special dispensation to visit her dying mother. Meanwhile, deputy chief constable Dryden shrugs off allegations about his relationship with Lindsay and possible links to the ambush.
#24 - Episode 2
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/7/2019
Kate and Steve attempt to track down a lead. A fresh police leak enables another audacious raid. Steve’s attempts to gather information put him in a dangerous situation.
