The Crime Agents
Global
If you want to understand what’s really happening on Britain’s streets, you need to hear this.
The Crime Agents, the new podcast from the makers of The News Agents, goes beyond the headlines to uncover the truth behind crime that affects all of us. Why is violence rising? Why is public trust in the police collapsing? And what’s really driving young people to kill each other?
Hosted by two insiders who have spent their lives chasing the answers, this is your front-row seat to the realities of crime today. Neil Basu, the former Head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing, brings unparalleled experience from the front lines of law enforcement. Andy Hughes, LBC’s Crime Correspondent, has spent two decades exposing the criminal underworld as an award-winning investigative journalist.
Each week, The Crime Agents dives deep into the stories you think you know - from foiled terror plots and unsolved murders, to gang culture, far-right extremism, and the tactics police use to crack the toughest cases. With over 50 years of combined experience, Neil and Andy don’t just report on crime - they’ve lived it.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
The Crime Agents, the new podcast from the makers of The News Agents, goes beyond the headlines to uncover the truth behind crime that affects all of us. Why is violence rising? Why is public trust in the police collapsing? And what’s really driving young people to kill each other?
Hosted by two insiders who have spent their lives chasing the answers, this is your front-row seat to the realities of crime today. Neil Basu, the former Head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing, brings unparalleled experience from the front lines of law enforcement. Andy Hughes, LBC’s Crime Correspondent, has spent two decades exposing the criminal underworld as an award-winning investigative journalist.
Each week, The Crime Agents dives deep into the stories you think you know - from foiled terror plots and unsolved murders, to gang culture, far-right extremism, and the tactics police use to crack the toughest cases. With over 50 years of combined experience, Neil and Andy don’t just report on crime - they’ve lived it.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 29, 2026 • 27min
Q&A: Should all police officers carry Tasers & should kids be banned from social media?
Figures show that over 100 police officers are assaulted every day in the UK - so is it time for them all to carry a Taser in self-defence? Can all officers be trusted to carry these 'less lethal' weapons? Neil draws on his experience as former national lead for Tasers as he and Andy discuss whether it is now time for more British police to be armed. They also discuss whether the rise of the manosphere strengthens the case for banning social media for under 16s, and they explain why Martyn's Law - which requires all major venues to be better protected from terror attacks as a result of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing - has taken to long to be implemented. Later, find out why Neil never quite made the jump from Assistant Commissioner to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and the role that one Boris Johnson had to play in that particular story... Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
Mar 25, 2026 • 42min
Levi Bellfield: catching a serial killer
Levi Bellfield was the first British prisoner to be sentenced to not one, but two whole life orders. He murdered three women, including the schoolgirl Milly Dowler, and was also convicted of multiple rapes and another attempted murder. In this episode, Andy & Neil speak to Neil Lancaster, one of the detectives who was a key part of the surveillance team which led to Bellfield's arrest, and hear what it was like to tail this monster for days on end.Neil Lancaster explains how he felt watching such an evil character up close - and how the killer very nearly escaped police's clutches as the surveillance operation reached a dramatic conclusion.Neil L spent decades as a detective working on cases such as Levi Bellfield's, but he's now one of the country's most popular & successful crime writers. He tells Andy and Neil how he's used his real-life experience to create memorable characters and gripping plots - and gives Neil Basu a few tips along the way as well!Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
Mar 22, 2026 • 29min
Q&A: Death threats, Soham Murders & why does Andrew still have protection officers?
In this week's Q&A episode, Neil reveals why he was once the subject of a death threat - and how one of his colleagues used some old-school tactics to deal with it. Meanwhile, Andy explains why the bomb squad were once called out to his house, and why he had to travel to work in a motorcade after receiving a death threat.Neil also goes into detail about the lasting impact the Soham Murders had on policing and safeguarding in Britain, and whether someone like Ian Huntley would ever get a job as a school caretaker today. Later, Andy & Neil clash over why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor still appears to have some private protection officers, and who should pay for them. Plus, they respond to a question about how highly trained police horses - and their riders - have to be to keep the peace at football matches and major protests. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
Mar 18, 2026 • 46min
The manosphere: how dangerous are these toxic influencers?
Victoria Baines, cybersecurity and online safety expert and former law enforcement pro, unpacks the rise and mechanics of the manosphere. She explains how forums and algorithms radicalise vulnerable young men. They explore influencer monetisation, scams, and when misogynistic rhetoric crosses into criminal conduct. The conversation also looks at tech moderation, regulatory gaps, and debates over criminalising misogyny.
Mar 15, 2026 • 22min
Q&A: Filming police officers, Iran’s terror threat & how can youth workers stop gang crime?
Discussion on whether filming police helps accountability or crosses a line, including risks when armed units are involved. Explanation of why Iran-linked networks and recent strikes raise the UK terror threat. Exploration of how trauma-informed youth work and ex-offender mentors can reduce gang recruitment and reoffending.
Mar 11, 2026 • 37min
Ian Huntley killed in prison attack: how and why?
Vanessa Frake, a former prison governor with decades of frontline experience, breaks down prison hierarchy and who gets targeted. She describes overcrowding, drug use, and how inmates fashion weapons. Short, sharp stories reveal why staff struggle to prevent violence and what might actually improve safety.
5 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 25min
Q&A: Is it time to increase the age of criminal responsibility?
They debate raising the age of criminal responsibility, weighing medical evidence, landmark cases and risks of gang exploitation. They share tense stories of death threats, undercover work and police protection for families. They argue over victims’ right to know how perpetrators are found. They clash about people filming police and whether full bodycam footage should be released for context.
Mar 4, 2026 • 42min
Does Trump’s Iran war make the UK less safe?
They debate whether allowing US strikes from British bases raises the risk of retaliation on UK soil. They explore the IRGC, Iran-backed proxies and recent plots tied to Britain. They outline how UK counterterror teams and joint units mobilise after strikes. They discuss policing dilemmas around protests and the High Court ruling on Palestine Action.
11 snips
Mar 1, 2026 • 24min
Q&A: Andrew’s arrest, the evidence against Lucy Letby & should Hitler salutes be illegal?
They dig into why a lengthy police search of Royal Lodge took days and what officers do on-site. They discuss the contested medical and statistical evidence in the Lucy Letby trial. They explain why a Hitler salute is prohibited in some countries but handled differently under UK law. They also cover how police manage blue-light driving and escorting protected people.
9 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 44min
Who’s winning the war on gang violence?
Sammy Odoi, a grassroots youth worker who builds trust with at-risk teens. Lib Peck, director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit who leads prevention-focused citywide programs. They discuss why children are getting pulled into knife crime. They explain hospital interventions, outreach at night, restorative approaches, and how prevention-first units have driven falling youth homicides.
