This film was briefed as a morale-raiser at a time when many officers were leaving.

Pensions were being cut and facilities such as canteens were being sold. But if they ate a kebab on a nightshift they were criticised - as if salad bars are open at 4 in the morning.

They found themselves being stand-in social workers after cuts in mental health care, swamped by paperwork, and with gun crime on the increase, were often were literally in the line of fire. Mostly, they were sick of being criticised by media, communities, politicians and even their own leadership.

I wrote this from interviews with dozens of officers, almost all of whom were sceptical, cynical and hostile. They only opened up when I read them a WIP script that included authentic, super-negative comments.

The idea is that rather than tell them how great the job is, we talk about how tough it is. So at least we show that the leadership understood what they were going through.

To the Met’s credit, they agreed, and although almost entirely negative, the film is massively popular with officers and the Met leadership. Too popular – it’s over-long but they wouldn’t let me cut anything.

By the way, officers volunteered stories of misconduct and were very clear that it wasn’t a few rotten apples, they were very frank and honest that it was widespread.

The budget was very low but we did get access to boats, helicopters, vans and unmarked police cars and went along on dawn raids, fast-response patrols and drug busts. Directed by Niall O'Brien.

MOTORBIKE THEFT

MET POLICE

Creatives: Caio Di Gianella & Diego de Oliveira

CD: Martin Loraine & Steve Jones