The Crime Agents

• Cocaine and punching police horses: inside football hooliganism

  You've seen The Football Factory and Green Street. You remember the chaotic scenes at Wembley for the Euro 2020 final. And for years you've heard hooliganism described as 'The English Disease'. But what is the reality of football hooliganism in the UK in 2025? This week, Andy tells the story of when he infiltrated one of the country's most notorious football firms, and Neil explains how even experienced police officers were shocked by the volume of Class A drugs being used by so-called fans who forced their way into Wembley back in 2021. Plus Andy reveals why the rise of the far-right briefly led to a drop in the number of violent incidents and arrests at football matches - and why those numbers are now on the rise again as the new Premier League season gets underway. Later, they discuss whether there's any justification for cash-strapped police forces footing the bill for policing football, when billionaire-owned clubs spend their money on transfers instead. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

  --------  

  40:48

  --------

  40:48
• Policing, politics, prejudice: 30 years on the frontline

  In this week's bonus episode, Andy quizzes Neil on some of the most memorable moments from his 30 year policing career. For example, Neil tells the harrowing story behind his most memorable murder case - the 2003 shooting of drug dealer Tony Byfield and his 7 year old daughter, Toni-Ann - and the unlikely way he and his team eventually cracked the case. Neil also explains why being too outspoken cost him the chance to become Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police - aka the country's top cop - and how his ethnicity counted against him at every stage of his policing career.Later, Neil finally tells Andy how he got his nickname of 'Bash' - and reveals the one key trait all police officers need to survive in a job that pushes you to the limit nearly every single day. Have a question for the next bonus episode of The Crime Agents? Send it to [email protected] us on social media: @thecrimeagents on all major platforms

  --------  

  29:40

  --------

  29:40
• Inside a Manhunt: on the tail of an armed drug dealer

  When a criminal goes on the run, what do police do to try and catch them? In this episode, Andy is given exclusive access to a Met Police firearms unit who are on the tail of an armed drug dealer. Listen to find out exactly what happens when a manhunt starts - and whether the police can get their man.Later, Andy and Neil look back on one of the most famous British manhunts of all: when Raoul Moat when on the run back in 2010. Andy explains how Gazza and Ray Mears ended up with cameo roles in the story that gripped the nation, while Neil explains what police learned from the mistakes they made in that most high-profile of cases. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagentsSend Andy and Neil a question to [email protected]

  --------  

  34:15

  --------

  34:15
• Broken justice: why criminals are getting away with it

  Why are there 5 year backlogs in some of Britain's courts? Why are our prisons so full? And why doesn't any government seem interested in fixing the broken criminal justice system? In this week's episode, Neil and Andy look at who is to blame for breaking the system - and if it's too late for anything to be done to repair it.Andy explains the maddening reality of a day in court - and why Britain's once-revered judiciary has been allowed to become a 'shambles'. And Neil gives his view on whether Keir Starmer should be making fixing these problems a higher priority, given his background as Chief Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.Plus Neil and Andy give you a step-by-step guide through the criminal justice system, from what happens the moment someone is arrested, to when they finally get their day in court.

  --------  

  42:09

  --------

  42:09
• Is the far-right hijacking legitimate immigration protests?

  Protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Epping for a 5th time this weekend - and there were also demonstrations outside other migrant hotels in several more towns around the UK. Andy went to Epping to see the protest for himself - and to find out if the far-right is trying to exploit the legitimate concerns local people have about these hotels and illegal immigration. Hear what happened when Andy confronted Callum Barker - a prominent member of the far-right Homeland Party - at Sunday's protest. Andy's also joined by Joe Mulhall from campaign group Hope Not Hate, who explains how the extreme right is trying to weaponise illegal immigration across the UK. Meanwhile, Neil dials in from Australia to give his verdict on whether we might see widespread unrest and even riots in Britain this summer.

  --------  

  29:58

  --------

  29:58

More News podcasts

Trending News podcasts

About The Crime Agents

The Crime Agents: Podcasts in Family