The Crime Agents

They debate whether AI and facial recognition make undercover policing riskier and what extra discipline is needed. They discuss using AI as a tool for intelligence and crime solving. The pair argue for scrapping Scotland's 'not proven' verdict and explain how much legal knowledge officers must have. They also unpack police 'cake fines' as workplace culture and whether a perfect crime can exist.

Sarah Jones, UK Policing Minister leading the white paper on policing reform. She explains plans to reshape forces, create a national police service focused on counter-terrorism and organised crime, and boost neighbourhood policing with extra officers. Discussion covers whether MI5 stays separate, the long rollout to 2030, and political and resource risks.

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: @thecrimeagentsEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thecrimeagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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