The Crime Agents
True Crime & Paranormal
About
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: dax@global.com
Episodes
- ‘How Dare You!’ Zack Polanski vs The Police
Andy and Neil examine the rise in antisemitic attacks in Britain and discuss the police response, addressing criticism from Zack Polanski. Former Prevent practitioner Charlotte Littlewood explains how a terror suspect might evade the schem…
- Q&A: The rise of antisemitism, Russell Brand & knife crime
In this Q&A, Neil and Andy examine the rise in antisemitic incidents, discussing policing and education as potential solutions. They also touch upon Russell Brand's legal troubles and the decrease in knife crime.
- Cold case: how the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence was solved
This episode discusses the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, the subsequent police investigation marked by incompetence and institutional racism, and how the cold case was eventually solved, leading to convictions for two suspects.
- Q&A: Who declares terror attacks, what Louis Theroux missed & arson attacks on synagogues
In this Q&A episode of The Crime Agents, hosts Andy and Neil discuss recent synagogue attacks, the criteria for declaring incidents as terror attacks, and Neil's experience announcing UK terror attacks in 2017. They also analyze Louis Ther…
- Exclusive: Royal Protection Officer opens up on Andrew & Epstein
Former Senior Royal Protection Officer Scott Hamer joins hosts Andy and Neil to discuss his experiences protecting high-profile figures, including Prince Andrew. Hamer discusses royal protection protocols and addresses questions regarding…
- Q&A: ‘Paedophile Hunters’, citizens’ arrests & prison killers
Andy and Neil discuss the role of 'paedophile hunter' groups, the legalities of citizens' arrests involving police officers, and the consequences of prisoner-on-prisoner homicide. They also examine the role of social media in radicalisatio…
- Southport attack: who was to blame?
Andy and Neil analyze the Southport murders report, debating accountability for public services and police errors. They also discuss a bungled Wimbledon investigation into a fatal car crash.
- Q&A: Drugs in prisons & who should pay for policing football?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents covers the challenges of drugs in prisons, the costs of policing football matches, identifying illegal children's care homes, and the police recruitment crisis.
- Terror attacks & warzones: life as a bomb disposal expert
Matt Middleditch, head of the bomb squad, shares his experiences as a bomb disposal expert and discusses his frontline service in the police and military. The episode also touches on an investigation into illegal children's care homes.
- Special Investigation: Inside Britain’s illegal care home crisis
Andy investigates the UK's illegal children's care home crisis, revealing how vulnerable children are groomed and abused by individuals with violent criminal pasts. The investigation, a collaboration with The Bureau of Investigative Journa…
- Q&A: Should all police officers carry Tasers & should kids be banned from social media?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents explores the debate over police Taser use, social media bans for minors, and the implementation of Martyn's Law. Additionally, Neil discusses his career and his experience with Boris Johnson.
- Levi Bellfield: catching a serial killer
Detective Neil Lancaster, who was part of the surveillance team that arrested serial killer Levi Bellfield, describes the experience of monitoring Bellfield and the operation's dramatic near-failure. Lancaster, who has decades of experienc…
- Q&A: Death threats, Soham Murders & why does Andrew still have protection officers?
This Q&A episode features hosts discussing personal experiences with death threats, the Soham Murders' impact on British policing, and Prince Andrew's security details. They also cover the training required for police horses and riders in…
- The manosphere: how dangerous are these toxic influencers?
Andy and Neil discuss the manosphere, its connection to misogyny and criminality, and police responses. They are joined by expert Victoria Baines to examine misogyny laws and Big Tech's role.
- Q&A: Filming police officers, Iran’s terror threat & how can youth workers stop gang crime?
This Q&A episode covers filming police officers, Iran's terror threat, and youth worker roles in preventing gang crime. Hosts Andy and Neil also address listener questions about Prince Andrew's arrest and their podcasting history.
- Ian Huntley killed in prison attack: how and why?
Ian Huntley, convicted of child murder, died after a prison attack. The Crime Agents podcast, with former Governor Vanessa Frake, examines prison violence, weapon creation, and jail hierarchy, discussing overcrowding and drug use.
- Q&A: Is it time to increase the age of criminal responsibility?
In this Q&A episode of The Crime Agents, Andy and Neil debate increasing the age of criminal responsibility, comparing current laws with UN recommendations. They also share personal career experiences, including dangerous situations and in…
- Does Trump’s Iran war make the UK less safe?
This episode of The Crime Agents examines the potential impact of the expanding Middle East war on UK safety. Hosts Andy and Neil discuss the risk of retaliation from Iran due to the UK's military base usage and the historical actions of t…
- Q&A: Andrew’s arrest, the evidence against Lucy Letby & should Hitler salutes be illegal?
This Q&A episode addresses listener questions regarding the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the evidence presented against Lucy Letby. Additionally, it clarifies the legal status of the Hitler salute and debunks a myth about polic…
- Who’s winning the war on gang violence?
The Crime Agents discuss the escalating gang violence in the UK, particularly among youth. They explore alternative strategies to combat this issue, featuring interviews with a gang member, a youth worker, and the Director of London's Viol…
- Q&A: Tracking down Epstein's emails & was Jim Ratcliffe's immigration rant illegal?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents covers the police's pursuit of emails related to the Epstein Files and analyzes whether Jim Ratcliffe's statements about immigration were illegal. The hosts also touch on counter-terrorism unit footwear…
- Special episode: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested
In this special episode, hosts Andy and Neil discuss the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following the release of the Epstein Files. They analyze the Thames Valley Police's decision, potential police procedures like mugshots and holdi…
- The gangs targeting Premier League stars
Organised criminal gangs in the UK are meticulously targeting wealthy individuals, including sports stars, and high-value stores. They research targets, study security, and execute precise thefts, making off with millions in valuables that…
- Cheating death: ‘I was ambushed by Russian hitmen’
Sky News cameraman Richie Mockler shares his harrowing experience of surviving an ambush by Russian forces in February 2022 during the Ukraine War. He details how he and his team cheated death after being shot, thanks to the help of local…
- Mandelson, Epstein & Andrew: when power and policing collide
This episode features Andy and Lewis Goodall discussing the police investigation into Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the potential for charges. They also explore past instances of politics and policing colliding, and the all…
- Q&A: Andrew's bodyguard & was police chief right to go over Maccabi Tel Aviv debacle?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents addresses the West Midlands Police controversy surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv match, the departure of Chief Constable Craig Guildford, and inquiries about royal security and UK small boat arrivals.
- Lucy Letby: time for a retrial?
Andy and Neil debate the conviction of Lucy Letby, who is accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more. They discuss whether a retrial is warranted, exploring the public debate and the involvement of figures like S…
- Q&A: undercover officers at risk from AI, cake fines & does the 'perfect crime' exist?
This Q&A episode addresses the risks AI poses to undercover officers, the feasibility of officers knowing every law, and the existence of
- ‘Britain’s FBI’: how will it work?
Policing Minister Sarah Jones joins Andy and Neil to discuss the UK's new counter-terrorism and organised crime body, comparing it to the FBI. They also analyze an interview with Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor about the UK's vulner…
- Exclusive: inside Britain’s counter terrorism HQ
The Crime Agents episode offers a rare look inside the UK's Counter Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC), featuring an exclusive interview with Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor. Taylor addresses the current threat level from ISIS, the…
- Are the police still institutionally homophobic?
This episode of The Crime Agents examines institutional homophobia within the police, prompted by the Stephen Port case and the 2023 Casey Review. It includes testimony from Miriam Blythe about the investigation into her son's death and in…
- Q&A: Should Musk be prosecuted over Grok & racism on The Traitors?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents covers Elon Musk's AI tool Grok and potential legal consequences, strategies for prosecuting high-level crime figures, and examines alleged racial bias on The Traitors, alongside a discussion on the rea…
- The secrets of undercover policing
This episode of The Crime Agents delves into the realities of undercover policing, discussing the requirements for effective covert officers, the personal sacrifices involved, and the payment structures. It features the experiences of form…
- Q&A: spotting a grooming gang, radical Islam & time to scrap juries for rape trials?
In this Q&A episode of The Crime Agents, Andy and Neil explain how to identify grooming gangs and what to do if exploitation is suspected. They also discuss radicalization and its connection to Islam, and revisit the debate on whether judg…
- Was Nicolás Maduro flooding Britain’s streets with cocaine?
This episode discusses Venezuela's significant role in supplying cocaine to the UK and explores allegations that Nicolás Maduro was involved in drug cartels. It features insights from former NCA intelligence head Tony Saggers on global dru…
- "I was attacked with a sofa" - tales from the front line
In The Crime Agents' Christmas special, hosts Andy and Neil answer each other's questions. They recount their journeys into crime journalism, share amusing case details, discuss favorite crime films, and reveal who faced an attack by a sof…
- Bondi terror attack: the heroism and the horror
The Crime Agents podcast reviews the Bondi Beach terror attack, discussing the events, the security investigation, and acts of heroism. The hosts also analyze security lapses, gun laws, the attackers' travel history, and the increasing pol…
- The police officer who “groomed girls as young as eight” | Special Investigation - Part 2
This episode follows up on an investigation into a former Met Police officer accused of grooming young girls. Hosts discuss grooming gangs, the vulnerability of children in care, alleged criminal involvement in care homes, and the lack of…
- The police officer who “groomed girls as young as eight” | Special Investigation - Part 1
This episode details allegations against a former Met Police officer accused of grooming young girls and being part of a VIP paedophile ring. It questions the proper recording of allegations and discusses potential Met Police cover-ups.
- Q&A: Caroline Flack, best cop dramas & can the NCA stop the boats?
In this Q&A episode, The Crime Agents discuss the handling of the Caroline Flack case by police and CPS, the NCA's involvement in stopping Channel crossings, and their favorite police dramas. They also explain how police bail works.
- Jury trials to be scrapped: the verdict
This episode discusses the UK government's decision to scrap jury trials for offenses with sentences of three years or less. Hosts Andy and Neil analyze the potential impact on court backlogs, the risk of miscarriages of justice, and compa…
- The criminals making millions from Christmas
This episode of The Crime Agents investigates the surge in retail crime and shoplifting, particularly around the Christmas season. Hosts Andy and Neil discuss the shift from petty theft to organised crime with reformed shoplifter Cullen Ma…
- What really happens when someone calls 999?
This episode of The Crime Agents investigates the proportion of genuine 999 calls in the UK, featuring bizarre and ridiculous call recordings. Andy and Neil explain the emergency response process, from call answering to officer deployment,…
- When justice fails: why are rapists getting away with it?
The Crime Agents discusses the UK's low rape conviction rate and the systemic issues contributing to it, including rape myths and justice system failures. Rape survivor Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott shares her experience and advocacy effo…
- Why do men commit so much more crime than women?
This Q&A episode of The Crime Agents explores the reasons behind the disproportionate rate of crime committed by men compared to women, examining factors such as testosterone, critical thinking, and societal structures. It also touches upo…
- "The police shot my mother" - one man's fight for justice
This episode details the 1985 incident where police shot Cherry Groce during a raid gone wrong, sparking riots. Her son, Lee Lawrence, shares his fight for justice and his work to prevent similar events.
- Special episode: could the mass train stabbing have been prevented?
Andy and Neil analyze the recent mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire, discussing the suspect
- Armed response: inside firearms policing
This episode features an interview with Will, a former sergeant in the Met's Firearms Unit, discussing the realities of armed policing in the UK. He shares insights on responding to major incidents, including the Westminster Bridge attack…
- Should NX121 have faced a murder charge for killing Chris Kaba?
In a Q&A episode, Andy and Neil discuss the IOPC's role and effectiveness, particularly after the NX121 case involving Chris Kaba. They also examine the Met Police culture, accountability for officers' actions, and the media's focus on mis…
- The Louvre heist: how they pulled it off
In this episode of The Crime Agents, hosts Andy and Neil delve into the details of the recent Louvre heist, discussing the thieves' methods, the museum's vulnerability, and the ongoing police investigation. They also touch upon the public'…