The Crime Agents

Thousands of people hand Tommy Robinson their money. But very few of them know where it ends up.

In this episode, Andy is joined by investigative journalist Matt Shea, who has spent months following the money around Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - the man better known as Tommy Robinson.

Matt explains why he focused on the finances rather than the politics: the donation buckets, the fundraising appeals, the crypto promotions and the companies that handled the money but never filed accounts.

He describes meeting a Telford grooming gang survivor who says her story was used in Robinson's own film, and that she never received a penny. And he tells Andy why Sir Max Hill, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, believes there's a case for a perjury investigation.

Robinson denies perjury, denies any financial wrongdoing, and his full response is read out in the episode.

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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.

Why has the 'Putney Pusher' proved so difficult to identify? And is this another investigation that will be remembered for police failings? Andy and Neil are asked why, 9 years on, the suspect has still never been officially identified. Neil explains what a case like this really looks like from inside the incident room, and why some suspects stay out of reach even when police have CCTV and eyewitnesses.

Then: should frontline UK officers routinely carry firearms? In an increasingly violent world, would police and the public be safer if they were armed, rather than having to wait for a specialist unit to arrive? Andy and Neil debate the pros and cons of more police officers carrying guns on Britain's streets.

Also this week, the security headache of a Prime Minister who wants to take part in the Great North Run. How do protection officers keep him safe at such a crowded event? And finally, the question every journalist wrestles with: how do you know when a story is finished? Andy reflects on his investigation into London's gang war, and whether there's one single cause behind it at all.

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

The recent fatal shooting of an innocent bus driver in Clapham has put London's biggest gang war onto the front pages.

In this special report, Andy is given exclusive access to an undercover Met Police unit working to tackle the tensions behind this South London turf war. He learns about the shocking social media 'scoreboard' system gangs are using, effectively turning violence into a game. Andy also speaks to gang members and local residents who have lost friends and family to the violence, and he hears from the community activists trying to pull young people away from it.

Then Andy and Neil sit down to unpick what he discovered. How did this war escalate to the point where an innocent man is shot dead outside a popular pub? Why is violent crime seen as a game to so many youngsters? What role does policing play in tackling this problem, and where does it make things worse? And after years of crackdowns, task forces and initiatives, can anything actually stop the killing?

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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.

If the Suffragettes were campaigning today, would the law treat them as terrorists? It's a question that goes to the heart of how Britain defines political violence, and Neil - the former head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing - takes on the uncomfortable comparison: where exactly is the line between direct action, criminality and terrorism?

Andy and Neil also tackle the judge's controversial decision to declare a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case. How do investigators and prosecutors actually go about establishing intent when the central question is what was happening inside someone's mind? And if reports of an 11-1 jury split in favour of acquittal are accurate, was the judge right to declare a mistrial? That leads them into another listener challenge, prompted by a recent episode: should individual police officers have ignored the orders they were given at the Sarah Everard vigil in 2021?

Plus, Neil has argued it's healthy that senior officers are pushing back publicly against political criticism, so should judges be allowed to do the same, explaining their decisions and answering their critics? Would that strengthen public trust in the justice system, or wreck it? And to finish, the pair pick their favourite fictional detectives - and the ones they wouldn't want covering their back on a real job.

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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.

A crime scene with nothing in it. A community that wouldn't talk. A suspect who turned out to be the wrong man. And a seven-year-old girl lying dead beside her father.

The murders of Tony Byfield and his daughter Toni-Ann were Neil's first case as a Senior Investigating Officer. More than two decades on, he still describes it as the most famous of his career. In this episode, he takes Andy through it from the moment the phone rang: what he walked into, why the early breakthrough collapsed, and what it felt like to lead an investigation that a lot of people had quietly written off.

Neil also reveals the parts of this story that never made the headlines. Why Crimewatch turned the appeal down. What a serious case review later concluded about the state's failure to protect Toni-Ann. And the moment the silence finally broke: a march through Kensal Rise, an anniversary appeal, and a single phone call that changed everything.

Then Andy and Neil turn to Operation Trident, the unit this investigation fell under. What was Trident actually set up to do? Why did the killing of a child become so important to it? And if community trust is what cracked this case, what could the police still learn from it today?

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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.

Why did a few hundred masked men appear to be treated more leniently than protesters from groups such as Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil? Were the police scared of the mobs in Dover & Portsmouth? Or was their 'light touch' approach justifiable given the lack of notice for law enforcement? Andy & Neil debate whether this was a case of 'two-tier' policing.

They also explain why arrests at public order events often come later rather than on the day, and what officers can and can't do when protesters cover their faces. Is there already a power that could be used to stop it, or does the law need to change? They also look at whether the intelligence services will be assessing the threat from groups run by far-right agitators such as Tommy Robinson and Danny Tommo; where is the line between public disorder and a national security concern?

Plus Andy & Neil give their reactions to yet another heist in France after millions of pounds of Renoir paintings were stolen from a gallery. Why does this keep happening?

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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.

Within hours of 97 Liverpool fans being crushed to death at an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough, a story was already circulating: that the fans had done it to themselves. Four days later, The Sun printed an infamous front page - "The Truth" - and a lie that would last 27 years was set in stone. So where did that story come from, and how did it survive decade after decade of official scrutiny?

Andy and Neil are joined by LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty, who was a journalistic apprentice in Liverpool in April 1989. She describes the day itself: the hundreds of Liverpool families who set off across the Pennines with no way of knowing whether the people they loved were alive or dead, and the furious supporters who made it home and went on the airwaves in an attempt to stop the smear campaign against them.

Together they unpick how the cover-up began almost immediately, who gained from it, and the role the media played in carrying it. They examine the case of David Duckenfield, the newly promoted Chief Superintendent commanding his first big match, and why families believe the system failed to hold anyone to account. They also ask what the disaster changed in football, in policing, and in how the British state behaves when it's caught in a lie. Ninety-seven people were unlawfully killed. Nobody has ever been convicted. Was this the biggest police cover-up in British history?

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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.

When MPs talk about the death threats they face online, are they making a genuine plea for protection or building the case for something bigger? Andy and Neil take on the question of whether the abuse politicians face is being used to push the digital ID agenda, and where that leaves free speech. Would digital ID actually stop the threats? And what does Neil - a former head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing - make of the idea that online anonymity is the real problem?

Then to something that decides whether justice gets done at all: the relationship between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. How closely do the two work during an investigation, when does the CPS actually get involved, and what happens when detectives are convinced they have enough to charge and the CPS disagrees? Are the CPS a friend to the police - or a foe?

Plus: Sir Mark Rowley wants the 43 police forces of England and Wales merged into fewer, larger regional ones. Is that a serious fix, or asking turkeys to vote for Christmas when Chief Constables would be voting themselves out of a job? And last but not least: is 30 too old to become a police officer? And can a career as a detective ever fit around raising a family?

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

PC David Carrick was one of the most prolific sex offenders in British history and for nearly two decades, he abused women while carrying a warrant card and a gun. Complaints were made about him before he joined the police, and again and again during his career, but he was only stopped after he had assaulted dozens of victims. So how did a man like this pass vetting and then stay on the police payroll for so long?

Neil - who for several years ran the firearms command that both Carrick and Wayne Couzens served in - reveals the cultural problems in a unit described as a 'dark corner' of the Met. He and Andy explain the vetting failures that allowed Carrick into the police in the first place, and the subsequent failings which meant his crimes were never properly investigated until it was far too late.

Andy also tells the story of his exclusive interview with one of Carrick's victims, who described the reality of his abuse: being locked inside the house, cameras installed to monitor her, being denied food, and being told she wasn't allowed to speak on one of the rare occasions he let her meet his fellow officers socially.

They explain how Carrick was finally caught and debate whether policing is doing enough to address the cultural issues laid bare by this case and the murder of Sarah Everard.

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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.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle believe their family isn't safe in the UK. So who decides if that's true? And who should pay if the decision is made to give them police protection? Neil ran the Met's Royal Protection unit for several years and in that role was responsible for Harry & Meghan's security before they left Britain for America. Here, Neil reveals how the system really works and details the nature of the threats the Duke & Duchess are likely to face now they're back in Britain.

Then the fatal crash in Middlesbrough. What does justice look like in this case? And is this evidence that dangerous driving has become commonplace on our roads? Andy and Neil also tackle the pace of the investigation: 17 arrests within a few days. Neil explains whether police really do pull out all the stops when their colleagues are killed in the line of duty.

Plus they look at the Lindsay Clancy trial: do American and British justice systems need to deal with cases potentially involving severe post-partum mental illness more sensitively?

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

In March 2021, Sarah Everard walked home from a friend's flat in Clapham. She never arrived. Her face went up on lampposts across south London, her name spread across the country, and within a week police had arrested a suspect: a serving Metropolitan Police officer.

Neil reveals how he felt in the moment that he learned the suspect was an officer serving under his command. Andy was living locally and watched a local missing person appeal become a national story. Drawing on conversations with detectives who worked the case, they explain how investigators identified Wayne Couzens, and what it was like for officers to build a murder case against one of their own.

Together they discuss what it says about police culture that a man nicknamed 'the rapist' by his colleagues had been allowed to stay in uniform, and whether this was the biggest crisis the Met's leadership has ever faced. They examine the Clapham Common vigil and whether the force's handling of it was defensible, why Dame Cressida Dick lost her job, and whether women and girls will ever feel like they can trust the police again.

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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.

Nigel Farage says Essex Police warned him to stay away from the Clacton by-election count. Essex Police say that never happened. So who's lying? And why are politicians increasingly dragging the police into their political battles? In this week's Q&A, Andy and Neil tackle Farage's claim head-on and ask what it means for public trust when policing becomes a prop in politicians' narratives.

They also discuss the Mushroom Murderer's appeal. Erin Patterson was convicted of poisoning her former in-laws with a death cap mushroom lunch, and from the moment she appeared on camera claiming to be "devastated," most people felt she was guilty. But how often do detectives get an instinctive feeling that someone did it? And can that gut instinct help or hinder an investigation?

Plus: has CCTV revolutionised crime-solving in the same way DNA once did? And do the benefits of Ring doorbells on every street outweigh 'Big Brother' concerns? Andy and Neil also dig into the unsolved death of Zac Brettler, the case at the heart of Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling, and whether the Met's investigation was as flawed as the reporting suggests.

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

Three British politicians have been killed in the space of a decade. Jo Cox. David Amess. And now Ann Widdecombe. How has political violence in Britain reached this point? And why are most of our MPs still unprotected?

In this episode, Andy and Neil trace the escalating pattern of attacks on politicians in the UK, explain how police and the Home Office decide who gets protection, and reveal why the number receiving it remains surprisingly low. They explore the growing reliance on private security firms to fill the gaps, and the strain a record nine living former Prime Ministers is placing on already stretched resources.

They're also joined by Philip Grindell, a former Met Detective turned private security expert who helped establish The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team after Jo Cox's murder. Philip explains how the threat environment has changed, how he now protects high-profile individuals from targeted violence, and why he believes some MPs embellish the level of threats they receive when speaking publicly.

Finally, Andy and Neil confront the difficult question: can we realistically protect more of our politicians, and what would it cost our democracy if we tried?

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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.

Daniel Kinahan - allegedly one of the world's most powerful gangsters - arrived at a Dublin court this week under near-unprecedented security. Was that level of protection justified, or was it theatre from the Irish state? And how was he finally extradited from Dubai, where he spent a decade hiding in plain sight? Andy and Neil explain why the Kinahan story has moved so fast, and ask whether his upcoming trial could become the biggest Ireland has ever seen.

They also dissect the police failings that allowed Simon Levy, a known sexual predator, to kill two women and attack several others. Does this prove, once and for all, that the police are institutionally misogynistic? Andy and Neil break down what went wrong, and how much damage this case does to the police's efforts to rebuild trust with women and girls.

Plus, the latest on PC Andrew Harper's killers, how police operations are named, and, last but not least: who has dubbed Neil 'Manly' Tucci?!

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

Imagine a phone network built exclusively for criminals. Encrypted. Untraceable. Designed to destroy evidence at the touch of a button. For years, EncroChat gave drug cartels, hitmen and money launderers the confidence to plan serious crime openly, believing they were untouchable.

They were wrong.

Andy & Neil tell the full story: why EncroChat was created, how it became organised crime's communication platform of choice, and how police ultimately infiltrated it in one of the biggest cross-border operations in law enforcement history. With Tony Saggers - former Head of Drugs Threat & Intelligence at the NCA - they explain what happened when police gained access to the messages of tens of thousands of criminals, leading to lengthy sentences for crime bosses and hundreds of millions in illicit funds seized.

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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.

Two of PC Andrew Harper's killers will soon be eligible for early release. They were convicted of manslaughter after dragging a police officer to his death - and under the government's early release scheme, they could soon walk free at the halfway point of their sentences. Andy and Neil ask what this means for justice, for public trust, and for every officer putting themselves in danger on duty.

Plus: after funeral director Robert Bush was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his crimes, they discuss how he got away with it, and whether this is the tip of the iceberg in an industry built on trust.

And why does it so often take undercover journalists to expose police misconduct, rather than the officers working alongside it? After the Charing Cross scandal, Andy and Neil dig into why the culture of silence endures and what it would actually take to break it.

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

When a specialist firearms officer fired the shot that killed Mark Duggan in August 2011, no one could have predicted what would follow. Within days, a community protest in Tottenham had erupted into disorder across London - and then into the worst rioting Britain had seen in a generation.

Was Duggan lawfully killed, or the victim of police brutality? How did the police lose control of the streets? And was it always inevitable that this shooting would escalate into something far bigger?

Andy unpacks the long history of tension between police and Duggan's North London community, while Neil takes us inside the Met at the moment London descended into chaos. 15 years on, are we still living with the consequences?

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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.

Killers and sex offenders were being lined up for early release later this year - until new PM Andy Burnham paused the scheme. Was that the right call? Can letting people convicted of serious offences out after half their sentence ever be justified? Andy & Neil debate the government's options as it scrambles for a short-term fix to Britain's never-ending prisons crisis.

They also ask what police can realistically do about the depressing spike in domestic abuse that accompanies every major football tournament, and Neil explains how Russian spies tracked down Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, even though neither police nor MI5 knew where he was living.

Plus: can having a criminal parent stop you joining the police? And Andy shares tips for young reporters trying to build trusted law enforcement sources.

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

You've seen the Hollywood movies - but what is hostage negotiation really like?

John Sutherland spent decades as one of the Met Police's most accomplished crisis negotiators. In this episode, he gives Andy and Neil the inside track: how it feels to have a life in your hands, what you actually say in those moments, and how he coped when things didn't go to plan.

From talking down hostage-takers armed with suicide vests and flamethrowers, to helping ordinary people through the worst day of their lives, John reveals the reality behind the role most of us only know from the big screen.

Later, he also explains how the job almost broke him, and how he rebuilt his life as a Sunday Times best-selling author and novelist.

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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.

A 14-year-old boy was recently charged with terrorism offences. Were Andy and Neil surprised? Less than you might think. They explain what's behind the trend in terror suspects getting younger and why it should worry us.

They also take on the new Hillsborough Law, which legally compels institutions to tell the truth in public inquiries. What does it say about policing and public bodies that the government felt this law was necessary? Neil has his say.

They also discuss why the World Cup saw so little hooliganism and why Trump's ICE agents kept such a low profile during the tournament.

Plus, they reveal how long police keep your fingerprints on record, and they look at whether the Met is right to force experienced, specialist officers back onto the beat; is this another move that will damage morale in the ranks?

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

Many people called it an act of war. The 2018 Salisbury Poisonings remains one of the most infamous criminal cases in British history - and Neil was the man who led the investigation.

In this episode, he reveals how police, the security services and MI6 worked together to identify the Russian agents who carried out the Novichok attack, and why he still lives in hope of bringing them to justice.

But should the local police and MI5 have known that former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal was living an apparently normal life in Salisbury? Andy challenges Neil on whether the failure to flag his presence was a justifiable decision or a dangerous blind spot.

Plus, they explain what you'll learn from the new CNN documentary The Salisbury Poisonings: The Spy Next Door, in which Neil plays a prominent role.

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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.

The UK government has finally proscribed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, but what does that actually mean in practice? Andy and Neil break down what labelling the IRGC a terror group gives police and security services the power to do, and whether it will make any real difference.

Neil also explains why Counter Terror Police may have taken over the Ann Widdecombe investigation, and reveals whether the Met's famous Flying Squad are still armed and operational.

Plus: should police tell the public more or less about ongoing investigations? Andy makes the case for how forces can rebuild public trust through better communication.

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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.

Counter-Terrorism Police have confirmed that the killing of Ann Widdecombe was a 'targeted attack'. So how does an investigation like this actually work? Why did it take days for CT Policing to take over from Devon & Cornwall? And why did the local force publicly rule out a political motive, only to reverse that position 24 hours later?

In this special episode, Andy and Neil break down what we know, examine how the investigation has been handled, and ask whether MPs and public figures need more protection than they're currently getting.

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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.

The leader of the Rochdale grooming gang has been freed after just 14 years - and the government says it can't deport him. Andy and Neil dissect how Shabir Ahmed ended up back on British streets, discuss why the case has provoked such fury, and give their view on what should happen to him now.

They also ask whether justice has finally been served after two teenage boys who raped young girls in Hampshire were given custodial sentences on appeal. Plus, Andy explains why rapists are often given such short prison sentences, and Neil gives his view on whether sex offenders should ever be eligible for the government's early release scheme.

Later, Andy reveals whether his undercover reporting has ever put him in enough danger to need close protection.

Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or 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.

On 22 May 2013, Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered in broad daylight on a London street. His killers didn't flee, they waited, bloodied weapons in hand, and spoke to camera. It remains one of the most shocking terrorist attacks on British soil.

Neil was a Met police commander in southeast London that day. He reveals what happened inside the Met's leadership team in the minutes after the attack, why it took 15 minutes for armed officers to arrive, and what the footage of those officers' response tells us about the reality of policing.

Together, Andy and Neil examine the uncomfortable questions this case still raises: How were both attackers already known to MI5? Why was hate preacher Anjem Choudary allowed to radicalise young men for decades before being stopped? Should the media have broadcast a terrorist's self-made martyrdom video? And how did the murder of one soldier become the launchpad for a national far-right movement?

Andy was in the newsroom when the infamous footage first surfaced, and at the EDL rally in Newcastle three days later when Tommy Robinson exploited Lee Rigby's death to galvanise thousands. This is the story of how one act of terror fractured British society in ways we're still living with today.

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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.

Should a police commissioner publicly criticise the mayor who holds him to account? Sir Mark Rowley did exactly that after Sadiq Khan blocked the Met from working with Palantir, the AI company built on CIA technology. Neil explains the unwritten rules of police leadership, and why he understands the intervention, even if it breaks their relationship.

Andy also responds to a listener who asks: why didn't he go straight to MI5 when he uncovered intelligence connected to the Manchester Arena bombing? He explains where the line sits between investigative journalism and national security, and what he'd do differently now.

Plus, how shows like 24 Hours in Police Custody actually get made, why most police forces say no to cameras, and what Neil learned when a documentary crew followed his murder squad around for ten months. And finally, if Andy had to join the police, would he pick up a detective's notebook or join the armed response unit?

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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.

Valdo Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He'd been arrested and sectioned for violent offences multiple times. He was known to carry knives. And yet on a June morning in 2023, he was free to roam the streets of Nottingham, where he killed three innocent people.

In this episode, Emma Webber - mother of 19-year-old victim Barnaby - tells Andy and Neil about her fight for answers. She reveals how the families discovered the deaths were preventable, the litany of failures by police and mental health services that left Calocane free to kill, and her fury that not a single person has been held accountable for the errors that cost Barnaby, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates their lives.

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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.

Andy Burnham looks to be on the cusp of becoming the next Prime Minister. In this Q&A episode, Andy and Neil reveal how police work out which politicians need close protection, and whether Burnham will automatically be getting extra security now he's back in Parliament.

Plus, a knife attack in Edinburgh reportedly targeted Muslims and left five people injured, so why didn't it get more news coverage? Andy explains how newsrooms decide which stories lead the agenda, while Neil asks the uncomfortable question: would this have received more attention if the alleged attacker was Muslim and the victims were white?

They also give their verdict on Peter Murrell's five-year sentence for embezzling SNP funds, and debate whether fraudsters like him deserve space in our overcrowded prisons.

And in the shocking case of a child allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo, Andy and Neil explain why a suspect arrested on suspicion of attempted murder might still be granted bail.

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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.

The Manchester Arena bombing was the deadliest terror attack in Britain in a decade. Salman Abedi killed 22 people - including children and teenagers - when he detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. But how was he able to do it? And how was his brother finally brought to justice years later?

Neil was a senior counter-terrorism figure at the time. He reveals how the security services responded, where the intelligence failures were, and the painstaking effort to prosecute Hashem Abedi for his role in the plot.

Andy had spent months in Manchester before the attack, investigating a different terror cell, and explains how so many members of a community on one Moss Side estate became radicalised by ISIS.

Plus, they both explain how the tragedy led to Martyn's Law, and whether what we learned from this attack is enough to prevent the next one.

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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.

Hampshire Constabulary — the same force that arrested murder victim Henry Nowak as he lay dying — is now under investigation for dismissing a rape report made by one of its own officers. Andy reveals how that failure had devastating consequences, and he and Neil tackle the deeper question: why do so many police officers still refuse to believe rape survivors?

They also take on the government's plan to ban social media for under-16s. Many think it sounds good in theory, but can it actually be enforced? Andy and Neil give their verdict on whether this is meaningful policy or an unenforceable headline.

Plus, Andy goes into more detail about what he saw during his reporting on last week's Belfast riots, and Neil is challenged over his view that two-tier policing doesn't exist in the UK.

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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.

Nearly 60,000 suspects skipped court in England and Wales last year. Thousands still haven't been found.

Investigative journalist Matt Shea has spent months tracking down some of Britain's most wanted fugitives – from safehouses in North London to red light districts in Thailand – for his Channel 4 Dispatches film Hunting Britain's Fugitives. He joins Andy and Neil to reveal how he found people the system hasn't caught up with, and why so many suspects now feel emboldened to simply not show up.

Plus they discuss what exactly has gone so wrong with British justice that attending court feels optional, and what would it take to fix it.

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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.

As Belfast burned on Tuesday night, Andy was there. In this special episode, he delivers a full eyewitness report from the riots: the violence, the racism, and the fury that erupted on the streets of Northern Ireland's capital.

Andy & Neil explain how a horrific knife attack by a Sudanese man on Monday night led to calls for protest within hours, and how those calls spiralled into widespread disorder. They discuss why immigration has become such a flashpoint in Northern Ireland, whether the Common Travel Area represents a genuine security gap, and what can be done to stop this unrest spreading, as it did in the Southport riots two years ago.

Later, they examine the role played by the likes of Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk in stoking division, and break down whether law enforcement has any real power to curb their influence. Neil also gives his personal response to the growing levels of racism on Britain's streets, and explains his fear that a 'race war' could be coming to the UK.

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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.

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest football tournament in history, but it could also be the most dangerous.

Andy reveals the shockingly small number of British police officers travelling to the US for the tournament, and explains why that makes hooliganism and crowd trouble at England and Scotland matches far more likely. What happens when rowdy English football fans meet armed, heavy-handed American cops?

Later, Neil breaks down the terror threat: why ISIS and other groups may see the World Cup as a target, and what he learned preparing London for the 2012 Olympics as a senior Met Police officer. Plus: could Trump's ICE agents pose a threat to Latin American and Middle Eastern fans attending the tournament?

And back in Britain, how is law enforcement preparing for a summer of international football? From the predictable spike in domestic violence, to the challenge of policing fan zones across major cities, Andy & Neil give you the inside track on everything you need to know.

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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.

Nigel Farage has spent all week trying to weaponise the murder of Henry Nowak for his own political gain. In this episode, Andy & Neil react to the shocking policing which saw Henry wrongly arrested as he lay dying, explain how the officers should have responded in that situation, and debunk Farage's claims that 'two-tier' policing is now prevalent in the UK.

Neil gives a passionate & personal explanation of why those claims that ethnic minorities are now treated better by police than white people are so wide of the mark, and they discuss whether more unrest is likely to follow Tuesday night's riot in Southampton, which involved the notorious far-right activist, Tommy Robinson.

Andy & Neil also analyse whether there is any truth to the idea that national police guidance needs to be reworded, and whether it's time for the law to change to ban people from legally carrying the kirpan, the Sikh ceremonial dagger which was used to kill Henry Nowak.

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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.

Should parents ever be held criminally responsible for the actions of their children? In the wake of the inquiry into the Southport murders, the government is considering whether parents who fail to act on serious warning signs should, in some cases, face prosecution. Andy and Neil debate whether that would be a fair and effective change in the law, or a step too far.

They also revisit one of Britain’s most notorious police investigations: the undercover “honeytrap” operation used against Colin Stagg after the murder of Rachel Nickell. Would controversial tactics like that still be used today?

Plus, Andy gives a firm answer on whether prisoners should have the vote, and he & Neil share some of the most bizarre moments from their careers - including how Andy ended up appearing in an episode of Top Boy.

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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.

Over 100 survivors of John Worboys' abuse have now come forward to police; but after the recent TV drama 'Believe Me', that number is still growing, decades after Worboys first attacked the women who were unlucky enough to get in his black cab. In this episode, Andy & Neil hear from survivor Becki Houlston, who tells her story, and that of another victim, which leaves Andy & Neil questioning why Worboys was never charged with attempted murder as well as rapes and sexual assaults.

Becki explains why she and so many other survivors were initially reluctant to go to the police, as well as describing the police failures she's had to deal with in the last few years. Later, they discuss whether this case has fundamentally changed the way the authorities deal with victims of sexual crimes, and whether someone like Worboys could still get away with similar crimes today.

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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.

The police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is back in the headlines. In this special episode, Andy & Neil react to the latest developments and break down why it's so significant that detectives are now considering looking at allegations of sexual misconduct by the former Prince as part of their ongoing inquiries.

They also explain how this investigation has already become one of the biggest in British history, why political interference is making the police's job so much harder, and why Trump's US Justice Department is yet to hand over key, unredacted documents from the Epstein Files. Plus, Neil gives an insight into what it will be like for the detectives working on this case to have the eyes of the world following their every move.

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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.

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.

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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.

'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...

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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.

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'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

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?

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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

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.

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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.

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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

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!

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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

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.

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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

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.

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy & Neil debate whether or not it's time to increase the age of criminal responsibility. It's currently 10 in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, but it's 12 in Scotland, and the UN recommends 14. Who's got it right? Andy cites the recent case where two 12 year-olds were convicted of murder in Wolverhampton and asks: would justice really have been served if they had been allowed to walk free?

Andy & Neil also discuss some of the dangerous situations they've found themselves in during their careers, from receiving death threats from gang leaders to needing police protection after going undercover. They explain how their families and friends have reacted to them finding themselves in those situations, and what advice they'd give to anyone else following in their footsteps.

Plus, Andy goes on a passionate rant in response to a question about controversial 'police auditors' - individuals who film their interactions with officers trying to do their jobs.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com, or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

In this week's episode, Andy & Neil look at what impact the expanding war in the Middle East is having here in the UK. The Iranian regime has a long history of plotting terrorist acts and using proxies to hit targets on British soil - so will Keir Starmer's decision to allow the US to use British military bases to carry out strikes on Iran make us a target for retaliation?

Neil explains how the IRGC - the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps - has used sleeper cells and highly trained agents to cause chaos across the West over the last few years, and how British counter-terrorism police & the security services will have gone into overdrive since the conflict broke out over the weekend.

Andy & Neil also talk through how any decision on whether or not to raise the UK's terror threat level will be made, and later they discuss Palestine Action for the first time since the High Court ruled last month that the government's decision to proscribe the group was 'unlawful'.

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This week, Andy & Neil take your questions on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, with Andy revealing the intriguing details he's been told by his sources about why the police search of Royal Lodge went on for almost a week.

They also respond to questions about the reliability of the evidence used against Lucy Letby in the former neo-natal nurse's controversial trial, and Neil explains why the Sieg Heil - aka a Hitler salute - isn't technically illegal in the UK and many other countries.

Later, Neil is forced to explain to Andy that he's been the victim of a wind-up by police officers over whether they are fined for running red lights while responding to an emergency call.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

More than one child is murdered every week in the UK - but what if the solution to gang violence isn't tougher prison sentences or more stop & search? This week, Andy & Neil explain why the kids caught up in this violence seem to be getting younger, and Andy speaks to a gang member in the West Midlands - Britain's knife crime capital - to find out what life is really like for these youngsters.

But across the country, more areas are using specialist taskforces and alternative approaches to tackle the problem, and are seeing some spectacular results. Andy & Neil are joined by Lib Peck, the Director of London's Violence Reduction Unit, and Sammy Odoi, a youth worker who works with kids at risk of falling into a life of crime, to hear firsthand how these units work, and why the tactic seems to be working in London.

Is this a template for success which can be copied around the UK, and help to end the tragedy of young people killing each other for no good reason?

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy & Neil explain how the police will be attempting to get their hands on the original versions of the emails in the Epstein Files as they continue their investigations into the likes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson.

They also react to Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claiming the UK had been 'colonised by immigrants', and discuss whether his comments crossed a legal line and could be considered hate speech.

Plus, Andy reveals counter-terrorism officers' surprising choice of footwear, and Neil gives his view on when police should close missing persons investigations.

NB. This episode was recorded before Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was arrested.

Have a question for a future episode? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

Join Andy & Neil for this special episode as they react to the news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office after the release of the Epstein Files. They discuss why Thames Valley Police will have made the historic decision to arrest the former Prince, and explain what happens next.

They also answer some of the key questions, such as: will Andrew have had a mugshot taken and will he have been kept in a police cell? Will he benefit from any special treatment? And what's the maximum sentence he could face if he's found guilty of this crime?

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In towns and cities across the UK, the wealthy are being watched. Organised criminal gangs are targeting millionaires, high-profile sports stars and some of Britain’s most exclusive jewellery stores. Not randomly. Not recklessly. But with precision.

They research their targets. Track their movements. Study alarm systems. Map escape routes. Then they strike. Safes are ripped out in minutes. Priceless jewellery displays cleared before police even arrive. Millions in watches, diamonds and cash disappearing into criminal networks that stretch far beyond Britain’s borders.

So who are these criminal gangs? How do they choose their targets? And where does the money go?

In this special bonus episode, Andy is joined by Sky News cameraman Richie Mockler, who tells the extraordinary story of how he and his team cheated death after being ambushed by Russians at the start of the Ukraine War in February 2022.

Richie describes fearing for his life after being hit by two bullets - and how he and the team all managed a miraculous escape thanks to local mechanics, Ukrainian police, and a big slice of luck.

Andy also asks Richie about the impact this incident had on him and his family, and how the experience compared to his many other dangerous encounters during decades of working in warzones and serving in the Royal Marines.

Andy & Neil will be back with a Q&A bonus episode next week. Have a question? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

In this episode, Andy is joined by Lewis Goodall from The News Agents to look at the ongoing police investigation into Peter Mandelson, the former Labour peer brought down by his extensive association with Jeffrey Epstein. Neil dials in from his holiday to explain exactly what it would take for Mandelson to be convicted of Misconduct in Public Office, while Andy explains how British police will be working with their US counterparts to secure the evidence they need from the Epstein Files.

Andy and Lewis also look back at previous occasions, such as Partygate, when politics and policing have collided, and discuss whether it's true that powerful people are often treated differently by the justice system. They also examine the latest allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and ask: will there ever be a formal police investigation into the former Prince?

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy & Neil address the row which has recently engulfed West Midlands Police. Was the force right to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their Europa League match against Aston Villa? And did Chief Constable Craig Guildford's mishandling of the crisis mean that it was right for him to go as a result? Andy & Neil dissect the mistakes that were made and whether better leadership could have saved his job.

They also respond to a question about whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's personal protection officer might have useful information relating to the latest allegations against the former Prince, and react to one listener's suggestion that the new National Police Service will be "building Nigel Farage's deportation force for him".

Later, Andy & Neil explain whether counter-terrorism police are keeping tabs on the thousands of people arriving in the UK on small boats.

Have a question for a future episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

Did Lucy Letby really murder seven babies, and attempt to murder seven more? This case has received global attention and has caused more public debate than any other in recent memory. In this episode, Andy & Neil debate whether, for the sake of public confidence in the British justice system, it's time for the former neo-natal nurse to be allowed a retrial.

Many high profile figures, from politicians, to medical experts and influencers, have campaigned in support of Letby in the past couple of years. Among the most prominent people to call for a retrial is Sir Jeremy Hunt, who was Health Secretary at the time of Letby's alleged crimes. Sir Jeremy speaks to The Crime Agents about why he has doubts over the former nurse's conviction - and what he would like to see happen next.

Lucy Letby: the UK's most sadistic serial killer? Or the victim of the worst miscarriage of justice this country has ever seen? Tune in to hear both sides of the case that divides the nation.

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy and Neil discuss whether AI is making life more dangerous for undercover police officers. Does AI put them at greater risk of their cover being blown? What extra precautions do they now need to take? Neil looks at what these technological advances mean for cops on the front line.

They also debate whether it's realistic to expect police officers to know every detail of the law, and Neil explains why British Counter-Terrorism Police have signs up at airports asking travellers if they have any information about December's terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Later, Andy and Neil reveal whether the 'cake fines' seen in the likes of Hot Fuzz & Blue Lights are dished out as police punishments in real life - and whether they should be a thing of the past. Plus, they're asked about whether they are qualified to commit 'the perfect crime' by a listener Andy knows well...

Have a question for a future episode? Email us at thecrimeagents@global.com and follow us on social media @thecrimeagents

As part of the biggest reform to policing in the UK for 200 years, the government has announced a 'British FBI': a new body which will focus on counter-terrorism and tackling organised crime. But what will it actually look like? Is this all just a money-saving exercise? Should Britain really be trying to copy American law-enforcement agencies? And will the reforms ever actually be seen through, given the plans will take many years to implement?

These are some of the questions that Andy & Neil put to Policing Minister Sarah Jones in this special bonus episode, while Neil gives his own reaction to the announcements.

Plus, Andy & Neil unpick Andy's exclusive interview with Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the UK's head of counter-terrorism policing, and discuss whether we are more or less vulnerable to terror attacks now than we were 10 years ago.

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In 2017, a series of terror attacks hit Britain, claiming dozens of lives - including children's - and sending a wave of fear across the country. The state's response? To build a brand new counter-terrorism operations centre (CTOC), a space where all the key security agencies: counter-terror police, MI5, MI6, GCHQ, the military, and the emergency services - could work together to prevent attacks, and respond to any that slip through the net.

In this episode, Andy becomes the first journalist to see inside the operations room at CTOC, and he sits down for an exclusive interview with the new head of Counter-Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who speaks publicly for the first time since taking on the role.

AC Taylor explains the level of threat the UK faces from ISIS, who have been responsible for terror attacks in Manchester and Sydney in the past few months, whether the heavily-criticised Prevent scheme is fit for purpose, and if it's time for tech bosses such as Elon Musk to face greater consequences for allowing hateful material to flourish on their platforms.

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When Stephen Port - a serial killer who murdered four gay men - was finally brought to justice, the Metropolitan Police admitted that basic mistakes in their investigations had potentially cost some of the victims their lives. In 2023, the Casey Review described policing as 'institutionally homophobic'. In this episode, Andy & Neil ask: has anything really changed?

They speak to Miriam Blythe, the mother of Edward Cornes, a student who was found dead in a London hotel room aged just 19 in 2021. She describes the litany of police failings that blighted the investigation into his death, and explains why she believes that officers treated Edward differently because he was gay.

Neil also describes some of the problematic, homophobic behaviour he saw from colleagues during his three decades in the police, and he and Andy discuss whether this form of discrimination can ever be stamped out of policing.

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On this week's wide-ranging Q&A, Andy and Neil address the controversy over Grok, Elon Musk's AI tool which is widely used on X, and discuss whether the billionaire can be prosecuted over the way the tool has allowed users to undress women and young girls without their consent.

They also explain whether it's realistic for police ever to go after the head honchos of drug syndicates and organised crime gangs, and how the so-called 'top boys' can realistically be brought to justice.

Plus they respond to questions about whether a former detective showed racial bias on The Traitors, and what makes Blue Lights the most realistic cop drama on TV for a long time.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it on email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

You've seen it in the movies, but what does undercover policing really involve? What makes an effective covert officer, and just how brutal is it for the men and women who are brave enough to go incognito? And do you get paid more for crossing the thin blue line and infiltrating the very people you're trying to convict?

In this episode, Andy and Neil explain the realities of undercover policing, with Neil drawing on his vast experience of deploying covert units throughout his career, and answering the key questions about what he describes as 'one of the most difficult jobs in policing'. They also speak to James Bannon, a former Met officer who went undercover in the 1980s with Millwall's notorious football firm - and whose story was later turned into the cult film, 'I.D'.

Later, Andy speaks to Alice Levine about her new podcast 'Explosive Lies' - part of Global's 'Unmissables' series.

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In light of Andy's recent investigation - which alleged that a former Met police officer was part of a VIP grooming gang - in this Q&A episode, he and Neil explain the signs to look out for if you suspect children are being groomed or exploited, and what to do if your suspicions turn out to be right.

After December's horrific anti-semitic terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Neil also addresses how people become radicalised, and why it's vital for counter-terror police to have a proper understanding of the history of Islam to do their jobs effectively.

Andy and Neil also return to the debate over juries, and in particular whether rape trials would be fairer if they were heard only by judges.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

The UK is the drugs capital of Europe, and more cocaine arrives here from Venezuela than from any other country. This week, in light of Donald Trump's operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Andy & Neil look at the impact this could have on Britain's drugs trade.

Was Maduro really a narco-terrorist, like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo? They're joined by Tony Saggers, former head of intelligence at the NCA and an expert in global drug smuggling, to find out more about the role Venezuela plays in sending narcotics to the UK. Tony explains how likely it is that former President Maduro was running drugs cartels - as Trump alleges - and reveals how cocaine travels from remote parts of South America to the streets of London and Los Angeles.

Later, Andy & Neil discuss who should play the leading roles when the Hollywood movie about this operation comes to be made.

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In this Christmas special, Andy and Neil ask each other the questions they've always wanted to know the answers to. Andy explains how the unlikely combination of cricket and being sacked by his Dad let to him becoming a crime journalist - while Neil reveals the full details of how he ended up as a chocolate salesman on his way to joining the police.

They also recall some of the funniest and most bizarre cases they've covered or been called out to during their careers, talk favourite cop movies and characters, and discuss their most memorable crime stories from 2025.

Plus - find out whether it was Andy or Neil who once found themselves coming under attack from a two-seater sofa.

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This week, Andy and Neil unpick last weekend's events at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where 15 people were murdered in an ISIS-inspired, anti-Semitic terror attack. Andy recounts the details of exactly what happened - while Neil explains how Australian Police and security services will be investigating. Plus they both pay tribute to the incredible heroism of Ahmed al-Ahmed and others who put their lives at risk to try and stop the attack.

Andy & Neil also tackle some of the questions to have emerged in the past few days, such as: did one of the terrorists slip through the net of Australia's security services? Should the father have been allowed to keep his firearms licence after his son had been identified as a potential terror threat? And why did both attackers travel to the Philippines shortly before committing this atrocity?

Later, Andy reveals why Tommy Robinson is the latest far-right figure to claim he has converted to Christianity, and explains why the Christian faith is increasingly being weaponised and politicised by those on the right. Andy also describes what it was like being at Tommy Robinson's Christmas carol service in London last weekend.

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In this follow-up to Andy's exclusive report (listen to Part 1 here), which revealed that a former Met Police officer has been accused of being part of a grooming gang by multiple survivors of sexual abuse, Andy and Neil take a deep dive into grooming gangs, and why children in care are so often the victims of this abuse.

Andy hears from someone who works in the care sector, who claims criminals are running some children's care homes, and also speaks to a victim of child sexual abuse to hear how these paedophiles exploit their victims - while those who are meant to protect them turn a blind eye.

Andy and Neil also discuss why there has been so little investigation into grooming gangs in London - and whether the capital might have as big a problem with the issue as many towns in the North of England.

Later, Andy reveals how he pieced together his special investigation.

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In this special episode, Andy exclusively reveals bombshell allegations of child abuse against a former Met Police officer, who has been accused of being part of a grooming gang by two different survivors.

He tells a shocking story of children in care being abused by a VIP paedophile ring that allegedly involved an MP and a judge, as well as this former police officer. Andy explains why some of the allegations were recorded properly at the time - and why some weren't. And he and Neil discuss whether this issue may have been covered up by the Met Police.

Tune in to hear a powerful story of alleged abuse by figures at the top of the establishment - and Neil's reaction to yet another potential case of a police officer being involved in serious criminal behaviour.

And don't miss part two of this special investigation - where Andy hears directly from victims of child sexual abuse, and he and Neil discuss why children in care are so vulnerable to exploitation. You can listen to it here.

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In The Crime Agents' latest Q&A episode, Andy and Neil discuss the way police and the CPS treated Caroline Flack, the TV presenter who took her own life in 2020. Did officers seek to make an example of her because she was a celebrity? Or did prosecutors have a duty to pursue the domestic assault case against her? Tune in to hear their verdict on how this tragic episode could have been handled differently.

Andy and Neil also discuss the NCA: the National Crime Agency, sometimes described as Britain's answer to the FBI. Is it right that it's been asked to help stop illegal Channel crossings? Or will it distract the Agency from investigating drug smuggling and other organised crime?

Andy and Neil also explain how police bail works, and reveal their favourite police dramas on TV today.

Have a question for a future episode? Send a voicenote via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or leave a question on social media: @thecrimeagents

The Justice Secretary has announced one of the biggest changes in hundreds of years to the way the British justice system works. Jury trials for crimes carrying sentences of three years or less will be scrapped - but will this really solve the deep-rooted problems at the heart of a creaking system?

In this episode, Andy and Neil explain how the backlog in our criminal courts has reached a record high - and debate whether getting rid of juries will really speed things up, or if it might end up leading to more miscarriages of justice. They also compare the UK's system to those in other countries, and discuss whether juries would have reached different verdicts in high-profile cases such as the ones involving Amanda Knox and Oscar Pistorius.

Andy and Neil also reveal the other changes the government could make to improve our broken criminal justice system - and later, they look at the impact the thousands of arrests at recent Palestine Action protests will be having on that very system.

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Christmas: for most of us, it's a time of joy and celebration. But for a new group of organised criminals, Christmas means opportunity. Retail crime and shoplifting have hit record levels in the last few years - and the festive season, including Black Friday, is when this issue is at its worst.

So when did shoplifting go from petty crime to serious business? When did retail criminals turn from hard-up addicts and opportunists, to gangs with getaway cars and balaclavas?

In this episode, Andy and Neil explore why shop theft has become so rife, and what needs to be done for the police to regain control of Britain's high streets. They hear from two experts on different sides of the problem: Cullen Mais, who was once the country's most prolific shoplifter, and is now reformed and working with retailers to catch thieves. And Lucy Mitchell from the New West End Company, which runs private security for many of London's busiest shopping streets.

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What proportion of 999 calls in the UK are genuine emergencies? The answer will shock you.

In this episode, Andy and Neil play you some of the most bizarre and ridiculous 999 calls which have been made in the last year - and explain why these hoaxes and time-wasters could ultimately be a matter of life and death.

They also take you behind the scenes of an emergency response room to explain what happens when a genuine emergency is called in: who answers the phone? How quickly are officers deployed? And who decides whether firearms backup is needed? Plus, Neil reveals the top three most memorable 999 calls he responded to in his days as a PC.

Andy and Neil also discuss what it takes to deal with the unique challenges of being a response cop - and whether it's time to take tougher action on those who waste police time.

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Why do less than 3% of all reported rapes in the UK lead to a conviction? Andy and Neil describe that statistic as "shameful" and "a scandal" - and attempt to explain why a combination of rape myths and problems in our creaking justice system make it so hard to prove someone's guilt.

Plus Andy reveals why one senior detective he's spoken to believes it's time to get rid of jury trials in rape cases - and why using lie detectors could be part of the way forward.

Plus Andy and Neil are joined by Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott: a rape survivor who was so badly treated by the justice system that she took legal action against the CPS - and won. Jade tells her story, including the extraordinary reason why her trial collapsed, and explains what she is doing now to work with police and prosecutors to improve the way this issue is handled.

You can find a link to the Jade's website here.

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Men are responsible for nearly 80% of all crime carried out in the UK and make up over 90% of Britain's prison population. In this Q&A episode, Andy and Neil are asked: why is this the case? Is testosterone to blame? Is it down to a lack of critical thinking skills in young men? Or is it an inevitable consequence of a patriarchal society?

Andy and Neil also explain whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is now more vulnerable to police investigations over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein - both in the UK and the US - now he is no longer a Prince and has been stripped of his Royal titles.

They're also asked which one law they would change in a bid to cut crime rates and whether deterrent sentences work in the way they are intended to. Plus, Neil explains the surprising reason why taking part in Nazi-themed chat rooms and sleeping under a portrait of Hitler isn't enough for someone to be convicted of terrorism offences.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to thecrimeagents@global.com

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One day in September 1985, a dawn raid in South London went badly wrong. Police were looking for a man called Michael Groce - but they raided the wrong address, and ended up shooting his mother, Cherry Groce, who was left paralysed for the rest of her life. The incident led to an uprising in Brixton, and the anger soon spread to Tottenham, and even Toxteth in Liverpool.

In this episode, Andy and Neil explain the background to the shooting of Cherry Groce and the riots which spread across the country in the autumn of 1985. They also speak to Lee Lawrence, Cherry's son, who watched as his mother was shot by a Met Police officer in her own home.

Lee tells Andy and Neil the powerful story of his battle to get justice for his Mum, and why he's now decided to work with the police to help prevent what happened 40 years ago from ever happening again.

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As a train guard fights for his life and several other passengers recover in hospital, Andy and Neil bring you the latest on the story which continues to dominate the news: the mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday night.

They explain that the man charged with carrying out those attacks has also been charged with an attempted murder on a train in London the night before - and discuss whether more could have been done to prevent this tragedy from happening.

Neil also breaks down why this incident does not classify as a terrorist attack - and he gives his verdict on whether the police were right to give details of the suspect's ethnicity so soon after he was arrested. Later, they debate whether the idea of having more of a police presence on public transport is a realistic possibility - and whether it would help to stop more attacks like this from happening in the future.

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Have you ever wondered how it feels to carry a firearm on the streets of London? Or what it's like to be among the first responders after a terror attack? And why do a small number of police officers in the UK choose to carry a gun, for no extra money, with all the added scrutiny and pressure that comes with the job?

In this episode, Andy and Neil sit down for an exclusive interview with Will, a former sergeant in the Met's Firearms Unit, who gives them a rare insight into armed policing in the UK. He talks about attempting to resuscitate the terrorist who carried out the Westminster Bridge attack in 2017, being there on the night his colleague shot and killed Chris Kaba in 2022, and whether firearms officers are unfairly held to higher standards by the justice system.

Just weeks after armed police played a key role in stopping the Manchester Synagogue Terror attack, this is a unique opportunity to find out what it's really like to serve in a role which feels more important than ever.

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy and Neil debate the effectiveness of the IOPC: the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Last year, the watchdog controversially pushed for NX121 - the firearms officer who shot Chris Kaba in 2022 - to be charged with murder, only for a jury to return a "not guilty" verdict in near record time. So how does the IOPC work? And is it fit for purpose? Andy and Neil give their forthright views on the future of the organisation, and discuss the best way for police officers to be held to account for their actions.

They also look at whether a toxic culture still exists within the Met Police as a whole, in light of the recent Panorama documentary which exposed widespread misconduct at one of London's busiest police stations. Is this just a few bad apples? Or is policing still a "boys' club" and are the problems systemic?

Andy and Neil also talk about why there is less media attention given to stories about black children going missing, and whether this reflects more badly on the police, or on society as a whole.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Email it to thecrimeagents@global.com

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Last weekend, a gang of thieves made off with hundreds of millions of Euros' worth of jewellery from the Louvre in Paris - including some of France's Crown Jewels. But how did they plan a job like this? How could the world's most famous museum be such an easy target? And how will the police be trying to track the perpetrators down?

In this episode, Andy and Neil examine what we know so far about the biggest heist of the last few years - and explain how some of the thieves' mistakes could end up proving costly as the French police pull out the stops to catch the gang behind this crime.

They also discuss why the public often seem to side with the villains in cases like this - and Andy and Neil reflect on some of the other most famous heists in history, from Hatton Garden in 2015 to the Great Train Robbery of 1963.

Later, the pair reveal their top three favourite heist movies - and you won't want to miss Andy's Sean Connery impression.

In this Q&A episode, Andy and Neil debate what happened to TV presenter Jill Dando, who was murdered on her doorstep in 1999. Was she taken out by a professional hitman? Or was the Crimewatch presenter the victim of a random attack by a local criminal? Tune in to hear what Andy and Neil make of one of the nation's most notorious unsolved cases.

Later, Andy reveals whether his investigative journalism has ever put his personal safety at risk, and the pair discuss their past experiences with 'unscrupulous' journalists who would use illegal methods to obtain their stories.

Have a question for a future episode? Send it to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

When three year-old Madeleine McCann went missing from a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007, it was a story which had the nation gripped for all the wrong reasons. 18 years on, the case remains unsolved - but the story still has the power to create headlines and dominate the news agenda.

In this episode, Andy and Neil look at the key mistakes that were made early in the investigation by the local police - and whether there is a realistic chance of this case ever being solved.

Neil also reveals how high profile murder and missing persons investigations are carried out in the UK, and why some 'cold cases' - such as the Stephen Lawrence murder - can eventually be solved many years later.

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Once upon a time, the police and journalists were friends and allies. But as the phone hacking scandal unfolded, and it became clear that many journalists had broken the law in their pursuit of stories, the close relationship between police and press was shattered. Scotland Yard was forced to investigate and prosecute many members of the media with whom they'd been friendly - and officers were later banned from speaking to journalists at all.

Andy explains exactly how the scandal came about, Neil talks about what it was like to run the Operation which investigated rogue reporters, and they discuss whether the fallout ended up going too far. They're joined by legendary crime journalist Martin Brunt, who uses the Nicola Bulley case as a prime example of why communication between police and the media is so important - and explains why that case could have been handled so much better.

Later, Andy and Neil look at the Manchester terror attack: they reveal what will be happening to the firearms officer who fatally shot a member of the public at a Synagogue last Friday, and how counter-terrorism police and the security services will be handling their investigation into the attacker.

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Today, Andy from The Crime Agents joined forces with fellow Global podcast The Crisis Room for a special episode to react to yesterday's terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

If you'd like to hear more from The Crisis Room, find episodes weekly on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens in the immediate aftermath of such an incident? Amber Rudd calls on her experience of responding to five terror attacks as Home Secretary in 2017 to explain what happens at COBRA, and what the security services do next to try and prevent any further attacks.

Plus - Mark Urban gives his personal response to the rising levels of anti-Semitism in the UK, while former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos describes the role the intelligence agencies will be playing in the investigation. The team also debate whether Pro-Palestinian protests planned for this weekend should be allowed to go ahead in light of the tragedy in Manchester.

In this emergency episode, Andy and Neil react to the shocking revelations in last night's Panorama, which exposed widespread racism, misogyny, and gratuitous use of violence within Charing Cross police station.

Two years after the Metropolitan Police was branded institutionally racist, sexist, and homophobic, this plunges the country's biggest police force into yet another major crisis.

Neil and Andy give their raw, personal responses to the undercover report and where it leaves the Met. They also discuss whether Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley can keep his job - as the Chief still continues to deny that his force's failings are institutional.

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It's the debate which won't go away: is stop and search a vital tool for making our streets safer? Or is it a blunt, overused tactic which unfairly targets ethnic minorities? In this episode, Andy and Neil unpack exactly how stop and search is meant to work, why it's so valued by police officers - and why it’s such a cause of tension between police and the black community in particular.

They're also joined by campaigner and activist Sayce Holmes-Lewis, who's been stopped by the police dozens of times and now works with the Met to improve the way the tactic is used. Sayce, Andy, and Neil debate what the future should be for stop and search - and whether more diversity in police forces would improve community relations.

Later, Andy speaks to Lewis Goodall from The News Agents to hear about his new Global Original podcast, Coining It.

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Have a question for the next Q&A episode? Send it to thecrimeagents@global.com

The UK is the biggest consumer of illegal drugs in Europe. From the British Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, to Albanian gangs taking over in the last decade, and a crack cocaine epidemic in between, Andy and Neil tell the story of how this shocking fact came to be a reality.

They're also joined by Tony Saggers - the man who, until recently, was the head of Drugs Threat at the National Crime Agency. Tony reveals the key role that pineapples and bananas play in drug smuggling, how the industry has changed since Brexit, and gives his theory on why Brits are so partial to illegal substances.

Later, Andy and Neil discuss whether characters like the notorious smuggler Howard Marks are responsible for glamourising the drugs trade - and debate whether it's still fair to describe cannabis as a 'gateway drug'.

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy and Neil answer your questions on why the conviction rate for rape and other violence against women and girls is so low - and give their verdict on whether social media and the 'manosphere' is making it more dangerous than ever to be a woman. Neil also explains why he thinks the way rape is investigated in this country needs to be fundamentally changed.

They also answer questions on whether police rewards are ever actually paid out, if it's fair to say that the media is quicker to highlight violence at Notting Hill Carnival than at other major events, and how football hooligans are using social media to recruit members and organise fights.

Neil also opens up about why he feels he could and should have done more to call out institutional racism in policing while he was still in the job.

Have a question for a future episode? Email it to thecrimeagents@global.com or post it on social media: @thecrimeagents