The Crime Agents

Global

If you want to understand what’s really happening on Britain’s streets, you need to hear this.

The Crime Agents, the new podcast from the makers of The News Agents, goes beyond the headlines to uncover the truth behind crime that affects all of us. Why is violence rising? Why is public trust in the police collapsing? And what’s really driving young people to kill each other?

Hosted by two insiders who have spent their lives chasing the answers, this is your front-row seat to the realities of crime today. Neil Basu, the former Head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing, brings unparalleled experience from the front lines of law enforcement. Andy Hughes, LBC’s Crime Correspondent, has spent two decades exposing the criminal underworld as an award-winning investigative journalist.

Each week, The Crime Agents dives deep into the stories you think you know - from foiled terror plots and unsolved murders, to gang culture, far-right extremism, and the tactics police use to crack the toughest cases. With over 50 years of combined experience, Neil and Andy don’t just report on crime - they’ve lived it.

The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For advertising opportunities on this podcast, email: GlobalStudiosSales@global.com

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103 episodes
Updated Thursday
Explicit

Episodes103

Newest first

May 21 · 46 min
James Bulger: the story that shocked the world
James Bulger was just 2 years old when he was abducted, tortured and murdered by 10 year olds Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in Liverpool in 1993. The story made headlines around the world, and in this episode, Andy & Neil hear from LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty, who followed the case closely and knows James Bulger's family well. Shelagh recalls what it was like to sit in the courtroom as the 10 year olds became Britain's youngest-ever convicted murderers, and becomes emotional when describing the impact that covering this shocking case continues to have on her to this day. She also tries to answer a question that has troubled the country ever since: why did they do it? Andy, Neil & Shelagh also discuss James's legacy, the campaigning work done by his mother Denise, and whether it was right for Venables & Thompson to be tried as adults and held criminally responsible for their actions. They explain why this case still matters decades later, and ask whether society has learned the right lessons from a crime that still haunts the country to this day. Warning: please note this episode includes content that some listeners might find distressing. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
May 18 · 30 min
Q&A: Hunting people smugglers & how realistic is 'Legends'?
'Stopping the Boats': a task which has now proved beyond multiple governments, with over 200,000 people crossing the Channel to reach the UK in the past eight years. But who are the people smugglers running this illegal trade? How do police attempt to catch the gangs who put people's lives at risk almost every day? Neil explains why law enforcement agencies from the UK and other countries have found it so difficult to tackle this problem, and Andy reveals why journalists sometimes seem to have more success in tracking down these people smugglers than the police. Later, they discuss 'Legends', the new streaming hit which tells the stories of customs officers going undercover to tackle drug gangs in the 90s. Is the show realistic? Just how difficult is it for police, border force, or even journalists to go undercover? Plus, Andy & Neil unpick why there has been so little coverage of the investigations into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson since their arrests, and they also reveal who first had the idea for The Crime Agents... Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
May 14 · 55 min
Mohamed Al Fayed: power, abuse & cover-up
Just like Jimmy Savile, for years Mohamed Al Fayed used his power and wealth to commit hundreds of sexual crimes and get away with it. In this episode, Andy & Neil hear from Cheska Hill-Wood, a former Harrods employee and survivor of his abuse, about exactly how Al Fayed groomed victims and leaned on a network of corrupt police officers to ensure he was protected from prosecution and scrutiny while he was still alive. They ask the uncomfortable questions: was Al Fayed treated differently just because he was a billionaire businessman? Why were the police and Harrods happy to cover up his abuse for so long? And what are the chances of any of those who were complicit in his crimes ever facing justice? Warning: please note this episode includes a survivor's account of sexual assault. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
May 11 · 31 min
Q&A: Andrew, Mandelson & is Palestine Action support about to collapse?
Four Palestine Action activists have just been convicted of serious criminal offences, including criminal damage and GBH. Will this start to change public perceptions of the proscribed group? Will ordinary people look on them differently in light of this news? Andy & Neil break down what impact these convictions could have and discuss whether the government should have waited until now to ban Palestine Action. They also explain how long the potential sentences Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson could face, if they were to be found guilty of Misconduct in Public Office. For now, both men deny any wrongdoing and no charges have been brought. Andy & Neil also reveal how they don't allow themselves to get emotional even when covering or responding to serious crimes and terror attacks, plus they break down why senior police officers often sound like politicians when they speak in public. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
May 7 · 49 min
‘How Dare You!’ Zack Polanski vs The Police
A series of arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish ambulances in the space of just a few weeks. Two terrorist attacks barely seven months apart: one in Manchester and then, last week, another in Golders Green, North London. In this episode, Andy & Neil look at why there have been so many antisemitic attacks and incidents in Britain in the last few months, and how police, security services and society as a whole can work together to tackle what has become a national crisis. Andy & Neil also both respond furiously to Green Party leader Zack Polanski's criticism of the police officers who arrested the suspected terrorist, and they explain what difference more funding will make to protecting the UK's Jewish community. Later, they're joined by former Prevent practitioner Charlotte Littlewood, who explains how the terror suspect would have slipped through the scheme's net when he was referred back in 2020. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
May 5 · 23 min
Q&A: The rise of antisemitism, Russell Brand & knife crime
As the number of antisemitic attacks on British Jews continues to rise, in this Q&A episode Neil explains some of the reasons why this type of hatred has become so commonplace on our streets, and how it has changed since his days as a police officer in London. He and Andy discuss whether more policing is part of the solution to the problem, and what role education plays in tackling antisemitism. Please note, this episode was recorded before the Golders Green terror attack on 29th April. They also give their view on whether Russell Brand - who is set to go on trial for rape and other sexual offences and who denies all charges - should be allowed to give a series of high-profile interviews to promote his book when he is facing such serious accusations. Later, Andy and Neil reveal some of the reasons why deaths from knife crime were down 21% in the last year, and who's legally responsible if a driverless car causes an accident. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
April 30 · 42 min
Cold case: how the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence was solved
Britain was changed forever by the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in South East London in April 1993. What followed was a story of police incompetence, institutional racism and, eventually, a cold case that was cracked and which led to murder convictions for two of the original five suspects. In this episode, Andy & Neil explain how cold cases work, and Neil reveals the personal role he played in helping to convict David Norris and Gary Dobson of Stephen Lawrence's murder. They also explain how developments in forensics and the abolition of the 'double jeopardy' law played a vital part in bringing two of Stephen's killers to justice, and Neil gives his view on whether any of the other murderers are ever likely to see the inside of a prison cell for their part in what happened in Eltham 33 years ago. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
April 27 · 23 min
Q&A: Who declares terror attacks, what Louis Theroux missed & arson attacks on synagogues
In this week's Q&A episode, Andy & Neil discuss some of the recent attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London. They explain who and what determines whether or not these incidents are declared as terror attacks, and Neil opens up on what it was like to be the person who formally announced a string of deadly terror attacks in the UK back in 2017. Plus, was Louis Theroux's recent documentary on the manosphere wrong not to focus more on its impact on women? Andy gives a very personal response to this question, while Neil also explains whether there's merit to the argument that police treat some suspects differently to others, based on their race, religion and social class. Later, Neil reveals when he made his most recent arrest - and whether he ever misses putting suspects in handcuffs. Have a question for a future episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media @thecrimeagents
April 23 · 50 min
Exclusive: Royal Protection Officer opens up on Andrew & Epstein
In an exclusive interview with Andy & Neil, Scott Hamer - a former Senior Royal Protection Officer - reveals what it's like to protect the highest profile people in the country. Scott worked with the former Prince Andrew at times, as well as many other Royals and top politicians - he responds to the claims that some of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's protection team may have become too close to the former Royal. Scott also speaks candidly about what the former Duke of York was like as a principal and gives his view on whether fellow officers might ever have turned a blind eye to any criminal activity involving Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell. Plus, did Andrew's protection team even know about Epstein's convictions when the former Prince stayed at the late paedophile's house in New York in 2010? Scott gives his verdict, and later, Andy & Neil react to Scott's exclusive insights. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
April 20 · 23 min
Q&A: ‘Paedophile Hunters’, citizens’ arrests & prison killers
'Paedophile Hunters': vigilantes who attempt to lure and confront suspected sex offenders, before calling the police in an attempt to entrap them and have them arrested. But are these self-appointed groups a help or hindrance to the authorities? Do their stunts lead to more sex offenders being convicted? Or do they just waste police time? Andy & Neil explain how this phenomenon has grown over the last few years, and whether 'Paedophile Hunters' are a problem for police, or part of a solution. Later, Neil explains whether members of the public would be wise to attempt a citizens' arrest on a police officer if they suspect the officer is committing a crime, and Andy reveals what happens if a prisoner who's already serving time for a serious offence kills a fellow prisoner. Plus, Andy & Neil look at the role social media played in radicalising the Southport attacker, and whether this strengthens the case for banning children from using social media. Have a question for a future episode? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media @thecrimeagents
April 16 · 44 min
Southport attack: who was to blame?
This week, Andy & Neil react to the scathing report into the Southport murders, the brutal knife attack by a 17 year old at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the summer of 2024 which killed three young girls and left many more severely injured and traumatised. They debate whether the ongoing public inquiry will lead to any lessons really being learned, or if these are just hollow words. Andy & Neil also clash over whether more individuals from the police, social services and mental health services should be held personally accountable for the mistakes which led up to these horrific murders - and discuss whether anything would be different if a similar attack happened again today. Later, Andy & Neil explain the remarkable news that the police watchdog is now looking into the whole team of detectives who bungled the initial investigation into a fatal school car crash in Wimbledon back in 2023. Could the whole squad face misconduct charges? And will we ever get a more satisfactory outcome to another tragedy involving the deaths of young girls? Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
April 13 · 29 min
Q&A: Drugs in prisons & who should pay for policing football?
In this week’s Q&A episode, Andy & Neil tackle the issue of drugs in prisons. How do so many drugs get in, are corrupt guards to blame, and would using sniffer dogs inside jails make a difference? They also debate whether it’s time for football clubs to contribute more towards the cost of policing matches - it currently costs the police over £70m every year in England alone. Plus they discuss how to spot an illegal children’s care home, and whether there’s a solution to the police recruitment crisis. Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
April 9 · 36 min
Terror attacks & warzones: life as a bomb disposal expert
What's it really like to be a bomb disposal expert? In this episode, Andy & Neil explain how the police use these experts to defuse bombs and to save lives - and reveal why their services are called on more often than you might think. They're joined for an exclusive interview by Matt Middleditch - the head of Counter Terrorism Policing's 'bomb squad' - who shares his stories from decades on the frontline in the police and the military. Later, Neil reacts to Andy's recent investigation exposing illegal children's care homes and explains how the authorities can get tougher on the individuals running these businesses and exploiting vulnerable children. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
April 1 · 28 min
Special Investigation: Inside Britain’s illegal care home crisis
In this special investigation, Andy exposes the scandal of the hundreds of illegal children's care homes which are operating all over the UK. In a joint investigation with Tom Wall and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Andy tells the horrifying story of a vulnerable 15 year-old girl who was groomed & raped by two 'carers' at one such home, who were given jobs working with children in spite of having a history of violent convictions. Tom Wall identified MAP Adventures and tracked McGrory down to Cyprus. Andy confronts the man who owned the care home in question, and explains why criminals and abusers are behind so many of the unlicensed homes which have been appearing over the past few years. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 29 · 27 min
Q&A: Should all police officers carry Tasers & should kids be banned from social media?
Figures show that over 100 police officers are assaulted every day in the UK - so is it time for them all to carry a Taser in self-defence? Can all officers be trusted to carry these 'less lethal' weapons? Neil draws on his experience as former national lead for Tasers as he and Andy discuss whether it is now time for more British police to be armed. They also discuss whether the rise of the manosphere strengthens the case for banning social media for under 16s, and they explain why Martyn's Law - which requires all major venues to be better protected from terror attacks as a result of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing - has taken to long to be implemented. Later, find out why Neil never quite made the jump from Assistant Commissioner to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and the role that one Boris Johnson had to play in that particular story... Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 25 · 42 min
Levi Bellfield: catching a serial killer
Levi Bellfield was the first British prisoner to be sentenced to not one, but two whole life orders. He murdered three women, including the schoolgirl Milly Dowler, and was also convicted of multiple rapes and another attempted murder. In this episode, Andy & Neil speak to Neil Lancaster, one of the detectives who was a key part of the surveillance team which led to Bellfield's arrest, and hear what it was like to tail this monster for days on end. Neil Lancaster explains how he felt watching such an evil character up close - and how the killer very nearly escaped police's clutches as the surveillance operation reached a dramatic conclusion. Neil L spent decades as a detective working on cases such as Levi Bellfield's, but he's now one of the country's most popular & successful crime writers. He tells Andy and Neil how he's used his real-life experience to create memorable characters and gripping plots - and gives Neil Basu a few tips along the way as well! Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 22 · 29 min
Q&A: Death threats, Soham Murders & why does Andrew still have protection officers?
In this week's Q&A episode, Neil reveals why he was once the subject of a death threat - and how one of his colleagues used some old-school tactics to deal with it. Meanwhile, Andy explains why the bomb squad were once called out to his house, and why he had to travel to work in a motorcade after receiving a death threat. Neil also goes into detail about the lasting impact the Soham Murders had on policing and safeguarding in Britain, and whether someone like Ian Huntley would ever get a job as a school caretaker today. Later, Andy & Neil clash over why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor still appears to have some private protection officers, and who should pay for them. Plus, they respond to a question about how highly trained police horses - and their riders - have to be to keep the peace at football matches and major protests. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 18 · 45 min
The manosphere: how dangerous are these toxic influencers?
This week, Andy & Neil take a deep-dive into the manosphere: a world of toxic misogyny and con artists. But where exactly is the line between influence and incitement? When does ideology cross a line into criminality? What more, if anything, can police do to stop these influencers from poisoning young minds? Neil explains how he saw this problem grow exponentially during his time as head of counter-terrorism policing, and Andy reveals how some of the most shocking stories he's ever covered have links to the so-called manosphere. Later, they're joined by Victoria Baines, an expert in this world who's worked for law enforcement and major tech firms, to discuss whether criminalising misogyny would make any difference, and whether big tech actually cares about clamping down on this problem, or just about their bottom line. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 15 · 22 min
Q&A: Filming police officers, Iran’s terror threat & how can youth workers stop gang crime?
After his rant last week about 'police auditors', in this week's Q&A Andy is challenged over his view and asked whether the George Floyd case in fact proves that officers should be filmed by the public while they're doing their job. He and Neil discuss this - and Andy has an update on police policy towards these 'auditors' from a source at the Met. Neil also explains exactly why the Iran War is likely to increase the threat of a terror attack happening on British soil, and he explains how youth workers can play a significant role in cutting gang violence and preventing youngsters from embarking on a life of crime in the first place. Later, Andy & Neil take another question about whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was given a heads-up by police before his arrest last month, and Andy is put on the spot about whether he had ever been critical of Neil before they started making this podcast together... Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
March 11 · 36 min
Ian Huntley killed in prison attack: how and why?
Ian Huntley, the notorious double child murderer, died last weekend after being attacked in prison. It wasn't the first time he had been attacked while he served his life sentence - and in this episode, Andy & Neil look at the growing problem of violence inside British prisons. They discuss how inmates fashion weapons for these attacks, why guards fail to prevent them, and how the hierarchy inside jails really works. They're joined by Vanessa Frake, a former prison Governor, who tells some alarming stories of overcrowding, drug use, and violence from her decades of firsthand experience. She reveals why Huntley would have been a target for fellow prisoners, and whether the problem is likely to get better or worse in the years to come. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents