The UK launch of HBO Max has brought with it a distinctly British true-crime docudrama: Boom Box: Beats and Betrayal. The series recounts the astonishing story of a record shop and recording studio in Edmonton, north London, that was set up by undercover police to ensnare teenagers involved in petty crime. The teens came to Boom Box to keep off the streets, only to find themselves embroiled in gang-related activity orchestrated by the very officers meant to protect them.
The series strongly advises against Googling the case beforehand, as the revelations are frankly ridiculous. The operation began after a spate of murders in 2008, with police targeting the area. Over four episodes, the ethics of the officers' actions are questioned by those who feel they were manipulated into committing serious crimes they would never have considered otherwise. The show uses dramatic reconstructions and interviews, including a meta-layer where actors playing the teens speak with the real individuals.
The studio was kitted out with top-of-the-range equipment, available for just £15 an hour. One participant, Junior, said it gave him 'Dr Dre vibes'. These were kids from tough backgrounds, some with immigration issues that cut them off from employment and benefits. The money spent on the operation ran to several hundreds of thousands of pounds, which many argue could have been better used in the community.
Lawyer Oya Suleyman, representing two of the men, argued that the setup was not 'a fair and proper and unexceptional' kind of operation, and that there had been an abuse of process. A judge later deemed the police had acted lawfully, and officers maintain they were identifying criminals, not making innocent people criminals. But the question remains whether the premise—with shiny equipment and older men mentoring young kids—was sound.
Co-produced by Rogan Productions, known for Netflix's Grenfell: Uncovered, the series is made with care and centres on the now-adult men whose lives were forever altered. Kyron, who now volunteers with an immigration charity, says he messed up and must take accountability, hoping other kids avoid the same mistakes. The police do not voice any regrets, but the series leaves viewers pondering the cost of such operations.
