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Believe Me’ Premieres on ITV, Spotlighting Worboys Survivors and Met Failings

The release renews scrutiny of Met failures during Worboys’ 2026 paper parole review.

Overview

  • The four-part drama, which debuted Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, centers on survivors who say police dismissed their reports and failed to join the dots.
  • The Parole Board has set Worboys’ 2026 review as a paper hearing after granting his request for a non-public process, with the case to be listed in due course.
  • Worboys was convicted in 2009 of drugging and assaulting women, later admitted further offences in 2019 that led to two additional life sentences, and he remains in prison after losing a 2021 appeal.
  • Early reaction called the series harrowing and compelling, with The Times awarding five stars while The Independent questioned some reenactments as feeling tawdry.
  • The drama revisits the legal fight led by victims and lawyers Harriet Wistrich and Philippa Kaufman that set a precedent requiring police to properly investigate rape, a standard still under review.