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
Oct 29, 2025 • 49min
Armed response: inside firearms policing
Explore the intense world of firearms policing through the eyes of a former Met sergeant. Discover what it's like to respond to terror incidents, including the Westminster Bridge attack. Delve into the emotional challenges of providing aid to an attacker and the gallows humor that helps officers cope. Learn about accountability in high-pressure situations, and why some still choose this demanding role despite the scrutiny. Hear about the complexities of police investigations and the unique sense of pride and purpose in armed response work.
Oct 27, 2025 • 20min
Should NX121 have faced a murder charge for killing Chris Kaba?
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.comFollow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
Oct 22, 2025 • 36min
The Louvre heist: how they pulled it off
A daring daytime heist at the Louvre leaves the world shocked as thieves steal millions in jewelry, including Crown Jewels. The discussion dives into how they managed the intricate operation and their mistakes that could lead to capture. The hosts ponder why the public often sympathizes with heist criminals, examining famous robberies like Hatton Garden and the Great Train Robbery. They also share their favorite heist movies, featuring memorable performances and intriguing insights into the minds of both criminals and detectives.
Oct 20, 2025 • 20min
Q&A: Who killed Jill Dando?
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
Oct 15, 2025 • 37min
Madeleine McCann: why the case remains unsolved
The mysterious disappearance of Madeleine McCann continues to captivate public attention despite remaining unsolved for 18 years. The hosts dissect major investigative missteps by local police that compromised the case. They explore the emotional toll of cold cases on families and investigators, and how advanced forensic techniques have the potential to crack long-standing mysteries. The impact of media pressure on investigations is discussed, alongside specific challenges like naming suspects without admissible evidence.
Oct 8, 2025 • 40min
Phone hacking: the police vs the press
Martin Brunt, a veteran Sky News crime correspondent, joins the discussion on the fractured relationship between police and the press due to the phone hacking scandal. He highlights the importance of effective communication in cases like Nicola Bulley's, emphasizing how better interactions could have mitigated media speculation. The conversation also touches on the fallout from the Leveson Inquiry and how it impacted newsgathering. Additionally, they delve into the repercussions of the Manchester synagogue attack on police procedures, underscoring the complexities faced by armed officers.
Oct 3, 2025 • 33min
The Crisis Room: Manchester terror attack - what happens next? - The Crisis Room
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.
Oct 2, 2025 • 27min
SPECIAL EPISODE: another crisis for the Met
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.Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
Oct 1, 2025 • 39min
Is Stop and Search racist?
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. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagentsHave a question for the next Q&A episode? Send it to thecrimeagents@global.com
Sep 24, 2025 • 36min
How the UK’s drugs trade really works
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'. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents
