Untold Australia: Behind the Blue Line

SBS, 8.30pm

A fascinating documentary about policing in Perth's northern suburbs, one of the most diverse places in Australia, Behind the Blue Line shows how the evolution of law enforcement can benefit both the organisation and the communities they work with.

On uniformed patrol, the likes of Constable Paul Mbedi (a former refugee from the Congo) or Constable Jane Smith (who immigrated from Kenya 10 years ago) get to experience the full breadth of incidents, with incidents that quickly escalate with momentum and/or risk as Perth's suspected criminals prove to be both blatant and extreme.

Locals are happily surprised to see faces similar to their own, but the goodwill only extends so far, as Jane and her partner discover when visiting a family home in search of a bail jumper. The issues the officers face are discussed, and the personalities come through as well: if Constable Barbara Salgado, the daughter of Chilean immigrants, ever tires of Perth, she could easily transfer to Brooklyn 99. Unsurprisingly, the reality seen here about integration doesn't match the outrage peddled by commentators and politicians. CM