The Crime Agents

Laurence Taylor, Assistant Commissioner who leads UK Counter-Terrorism Policing, speaks about life inside Britain’s Counterterrorism Operations Centre. He describes the scale of live investigations and recent foiled attacks. He outlines threat types from Islamist and extreme-right to state-linked risks. He also discusses online radicalisation, AI, tech platforms’ responsibilities, and pressures on Prevent and capacity.

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.Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

They unpack how an AI tool was used to create abusive, sexual images and debate platform and legal responsibility. They explain how police target the leaders of organised crime and the tactics used to bring them down. They discuss filming laws and when covert recording crosses a line. They also tackle claims of racial bias in a reality TV contestant's behaviour.

Join former Metropolitan Police officer James Bannon as he shares gripping tales from his 1980s infiltration of Millwall's Bushwhackers, revealing the intense emotional cost of undercover work. He discusses crafting a believable identity and the risks of unreliable partners. Broadcaster Alice Levine also joins to talk about her podcast on a major fraud involving a bogus bomb detector, highlighting the dire consequences of deception and the role of investigative journalism in bringing the truth to light.

This podcast delves into the alarming signs of child grooming and how to respond if you suspect it. Following a shocking anti-Semitic attack, the discussion shifts to the radicalization process and the crucial role that understanding Islamic history plays in counter-terrorism. It also tackles the contentious debate on whether rape trials should swap juries for judges to ensure fairness. The hosts engage listeners with vital insights into these crucial topics, prompting reflection and discussion on pressing societal issues.

Tony Saggers, former head of intelligence at the UK's National Crime Agency and a drug smuggling expert, shares insights into Venezuela's role as a cocaine launching point for Europe. He discusses the intricate routes from South America to the UK, highlighting how state corruption facilitates drug trafficking. Saggers evaluates the plausibility of Nicolás Maduro running cartels and the challenges of proving a head of state’s criminal involvement. The conversation also touches on the implications of recent U.S. actions against Maduro and the potential effects on Britain's drug trade.

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. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

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.Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

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.Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

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.Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents