Fans of gritty British police procedurals such as Broadchurch, Prime Suspect, and Line of Duty are in for a real treat, as Netflix has quietly slipped another overlooked gem into its already impressive catalogue of crime dramas.

The streaming giant added the series, Prey, to its UK library on Sunday, 26th April, and it has wasted no time climbing the platform's most-watched charts for the week.

The debut series of the ITV original first aired on 28 April 2014 in the UK, with a second run quickly commissioned in April 2015 and broadcast in December of that same year.

With three episodes apiece across both series, each averaging around the 45-minute mark, the crime drama sits firmly in the miniseries category - a fact acknowledged when it earned a BAFTA Television Award nomination in the 'Mini Series' category in 2015.

Rosie Cavaliero leads as DS Susan Reinhart and remains the sole principal character to feature across both series. John Simm (Grace, Doctor Who, Life on Mars) takes centre stage in the first run, while Philip Glenister (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) steps up as the lead in series two, reports Wales Online.

Series one of Prey also boasts a formidable supporting cast including Anastasia Hille, Craig Parkinson, and Benedict Wong, while series two features MyAnna Buring, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Ralph Ineson, and Daniel Jillings in key roles.

John Simm's outstanding portrayal of DC Marcus Farrow in series one earned him a prestigious Royal Television Society North West Award for 'Best Male Performance.'

The programme's official synopsis states: "In the aftermath of her marriage, Detective Sergeant Susan Reinhardt puts long hours into her job as she struggles to cope with her inner demons while fighting to unravel the truth by taking on two intense cases. Both cases appear to involve corruption by U.K. law enforcement officials.

"In the first, she is after a colleague, well-liked Detective Constable Marcus Farrow, who is wanted for the murder of his wife and son. He is on the run, hoping to locate evidence that will clear his name before Reinhardt catches up to him.

"Later, prison officer Dave Murdoch's life is turned upside down when he receives a call that his pregnant daughter has been kidnapped and he must help an inmate escape in order for her to be released. Reinhardt searches for clues that could help her solve the case, which could help make her career.."

Prey boasts an impeccable 100% rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic declaring: "Prey... is a near perfect blend of well-crafted characterizations within the context of a credibly gripping murder case."

Another reviewer said of the series: "Despite its familiar premise, Prey is an engrossing, dynamic series, a testament to the sturdiness of the tropes it's driven by as well as Lunt's ability to play with and execute ideas so many have others explored."

A third critic added: "Bolstered by a stacked roster of very capable British actors, Simm, Glenister and Cavaliero go a long way toward helping you not worry about wasting your time."

Yet another critic said: "Prey isn't without its faults.... But the big question was, did it make the viewer want to tune in next week to see watch the story unfold? And the answer to that is a resounding 'yes'."

Audiences were equally taken with the ITV production, with one viewer sharing: "I can't believe that I just found this gem. Outstanding acting from virtually everyone, non stop action, great storyline.

"Every character is so believable, so real. Three episodes, so well done! Series two is my plan for tomorrow. Amazon Prime has the absolute best choices for British and Australian TV."

One IMDB user was particularly effusive in their praise, writing: "BRITS DO IT BEST... The Brits just seem to have the formula for these types of series..always spot on..better than anything on American and Canadian TV...and anything with John Simm in it is going to be A1 entertainment... Great series ..worth the time and a good binge watch..as mentioned Brits do it best!"

Another IMDB user review reads: "Gripping ITV drama. ITV have made quite a few solid crime dramas recently and this series is among the better ones. John Simm puts in a fine performance as Farrow and Rosie Cavaliero is equally good as Reinhardt.

"The rest of the cast are pretty good too; especially Struan Rodger who plays elderly villain Topher Lomax who is threatening even though he is in a wheelchair and needs an oxygen cylinder. The story is gripping from start to finish. Overall this series is well worth watching if you enjoy crime dramas."

Meanwhile, another viewer said: "Absolutely loved this action packed thriller. Both series were excellent tho, of course, for me the draw was John Simm. The entire cast is brilliant. Well worth watching!"

Prey is available to stream for free on ITVX and with a subscription on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.