The Real Ted Hastings: The True Story of the Copper at the Heart of Line of DutyPaperback, 12 September 2023

Line of Duty holds its status as the defining TV crime drama of today. Ted Hastings, the show's head of anti-corruption, has emerged as the beating heart of the series. This book reveals how the compelling drama reflects real crimes, events and figures, most notably that of Robert Mark and his battle against Metropolitan Police corruption. New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Robert Mark - the inspiration for Ted Hastings - took on institutionalised corruption in CID. During his four years and eleven months as Commissioner, he saw 478 men leave the force following or in anticipation of criminal/disciplinary proceedings. Departures in the previous decade had averaged about 16 a year. Mark's extraordinary career established the need for a dedicated team to investigate corruption that lives on today.