Documentaries

Peelers: The PSNI for Real television series takes viewers behind the scenes on patrol with the remarkable officers and staff of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. 

It portrays the varied range of incidents they respond to, the split-second decisions they have to make and the professionalism they demonstrate in preventing and detecting crime, supporting victims and keeping people safe.

This one-hour documentary tells the story of the short life, and tragic death, of a young Belfast woman.

Caitlin Hanna was groomed, exploited and trafficked by Derek Brown. She was just 21 years old when, in 2022, she died of a drug overdose.

With testimony from Caitlin's mother and friends, the documentary tells the poignant story of how a bright and happy life would take a downward spiral.

Detective Andy Hull gives an insight into the investigation that resulted in Brown being handed a six-year sentence.

He says: " The documentary tells the sad story of how Caitlin was groomed and trafficked, right here in Belfast.

"It shines a light on the work of our Organised Crime Branch, and shows the pain of those loved ones left to pick up the pieces.

"This could be any young person, anywhere. Every one of us can make a bad decision in our lives, but make a bad decision at the wrong time and it can be catastrophic."

On Friday 25 October 2024, 26 year old Alexander McCartney from Newry was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 20 years for 185 charges of child sexual abuse crimes and blackmail, along with one manslaughter charge with all offences carried out online from his childhood bedroom.

In March 2019 the Police Service of Northern Ireland were contacted by Police Scotland about a report of a 12 year old girl that had been groomed by an adult suspect believed to be residing in Northern Ireland, using the alias of a 13 year old girl. Detectives from our Public Protection Branch identified the home address of Alexander McCartney, arrested and interviewed him. 

64 of McCartney’s devices were seized uncovering tens of thousands of photos and videos of underage girls performing sexual acts whilst being blackmailed. McCartney made and used many fake accounts across various online platforms to entrap and manipulate them. 

Working with colleagues in Homeland Security, the Public Prosecution Service and National Crime Agency, victims were located in America, New Zealand and at least 28 other countries.