Real Cases. Real Cops. Real Talk.
Crime Time Inc.
Former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean bring you inside Scotland's most gripping criminal cases. Real investigations. Real insight. No fluff.
5
Seasons
268+
Episodes
★ 5
Apple Podcasts
Fresh Episodes
Latest Episodes
S7 · E3 · 18:10
Simon Levy: Two Murders, Multiple Failures — What Went Wrong?
How can repeated failures across the criminal justice system allow a dangerous offender to remain a threat? In this episode of Crime Time Inc. Weekly News, former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the case of Simon Levy and the murders of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins. Tom and Simon look beyond the crimes themselves to the series of decisions and system failures surrounding Levy's offending history. They discuss acknowledged errors involving the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Crown Prosecution Service, and examine how information was handled as his offending escalated. The discussion includes delays in charging, failures to place crucial information before the court when bail was being considered, inadequate monitoring as a registered sex offender, missed court appearances and the decision to downgrade his risk assessment from high to medium. Drawing on decades of real investigative experience, Tom and Simon consider where responsibility lies when individual officers may be capable and conscientious but the systems around them fail. Tom reflects on his own experience as a Senior Investigating Officer, the importance of supervision, properly resourced murder squads, intelligence systems such as HOLMES, and the need to make sure critical information is actually joined together. They also discuss accountability when investigations go wrong — including the extraordinary prospect of officers involved in the Levy investigation themselves facing investigation — and ask whether these were isolated mistakes or evidence of a much wider systemic problem. As Tom puts it, policing needs good people and good systems. In this case, their conclusion is stark: The dots were not joined up. Tom Wood and Simon McLean bring decades of experience in murder investigations, serious crime, undercover policing and senior operational command to examine what happened, what should have happened, and what lessons policing must learn. Contains discussion of murder, sexual offending and violence. Chapters 00:00 Cold Open 00:48 Simon Levy: Two Murders and a Criminal Justice Failure 01:46 Sex-Offender Risk & Missed Warning Signs 02:58 The Timeline: Assaults, Rape, Bail and Murder 04:08 Inconclusive Postmortems & Forensic Delays 06:28 SIO Accountability & Investigating the Investigators 08:50 Arrested, Released — Then a Second Murder 10:48 “The Dots Were Not Joined Up”: Resources, HOLMES & Murder Squads 12:07 Bail, Monitoring, Missed Court Dates & Risk Downgrade 13:28 Portobello, Robert Black & Why Appearances Can Deceive 15:44 Assumptions, Bias & Judging People by Appearance Real cases. Real detectives. Real talk. CrimeTimeInc.com About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E2 · 21:54
Facial Recognition: The Future of Policing? | Ex-Detectives Analyse
Could facial recognition become the biggest breakthrough in catching criminals since DNA matching? Live facial recognition is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for police — but as the technology expands, so does the debate over privacy, surveillance, regulation and the rights of innocent people caught on camera. In this episode of Crime Time Inc., former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the growing use of facial recognition technology, CCTV and digital evidence in modern policing. Tom argues that facial recognition could become as important to criminal investigations as fingerprints, CCTV and DNA, while Simon puts the opposing arguments to him: should police be able to routinely scan thousands of innocent people simply because the technology can identify wanted suspects? They discuss the need for safeguards, regulation and courtroom scrutiny, as well as the increasing importance of CCTV, doorbell cameras and other visual evidence in major investigations. The conversation also explores identification evidence and corroboration in Scottish criminal law. Tom explains why identifying a suspect is only part of the evidential picture — and why another independent strand of evidence can be crucial. Then the discussion turns to police warrants and the reality of tracking down wanted people. Tom and Simon explain the different types of warrants officers encounter, including non-payment warrants, non-appearance warrants, arrest warrants, search warrants, European Arrest Warrants, extradition and surveillance warrants. Drawing on their own policing careers, they recall the days of folders containing hundreds of outstanding warrants, early-morning attempts to trace wanted suspects, prisoner escorts across Britain — and one memorable flight involving a prisoner facing 22 years behind bars and a final whisky. Finally, Tom considers what happens when artificial intelligence, facial recognition and police databases begin working together. Could officers eventually receive real-time alerts identifying wanted people as they move through towns and cities? And could technology help policing compensate for growing pressure on resources across the criminal justice system? In this episode: 00:00 — Cold Open 00:59 — Facial Recognition: The Future of Policing? 03:00 — Privacy, Regulation & CCTV Evidence 06:21 — The Biggest Breakthrough Since DNA? 07:48 — Identification, ID Parades & Corroboration 10:34 — Warrants and Wanted Suspects 14:06 — Prisoner Escorts & the “Last Whisky” 16:55 — Arrest, Search, European & Surveillance Warrants 19:53 — AI, Facial Recognition & Police Resources Hosted by former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean. Real cases. Real detectives. Real talk. About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E1 · 47:37
PC Alan Greer, Athens Suitcase Death & FIFA Deal | Ex-Detectives Analyse
Former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the PC Alan Greer investigation, the death of Elizabeth Jane Ross in Athens and FIFA’s controversial proposed commercial deal. Crime Time Inc. Weekly News returns with real investigative experience applied to major stories from the UK and beyond. Tom and Simon begin with FIFA, discussing the influence of money in football, the proposed multi-billion-pound commercial arrangement, the Sepp Blatter era and the powers used by the FBI to pursue corruption and racketeering. They then examine the allegations surrounding Police Scotland officer PC Alan Greer. What role does PIRC play when police conduct or contact must be independently reviewed? Were there warning signs that colleagues or supervisors should have recognised? And how can one individual cause lasting damage to public confidence in the wider police service? The conversation moves to the death of Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was reportedly discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens. Tom explains how detectives would secure and preserve such an unusual scene, how the suitcase and its contents would be examined, and why investigators must never allow an early assumption to compromise vital forensic evidence. Tom also describes the three broad types of murder investigation—from cases resolved rapidly to the long, painstaking inquiries that require what he calls “quiet persistence.” Finally, the discussion turns to the Isabel Rose Welsh case, the danger posed by outstanding arrest warrants, facial-recognition technology, criminal intelligence and the remarkable ability experienced officers can develop to remember faces, vehicles and registration numbers. Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes discussion of death, serious sexual offences and child abuse. Some matters discussed were ongoing at the time of recording. Allegations should not be treated as proven unless established through the appropriate legal process. If you value informed true-crime analysis from people with genuine investigative experience, please like the video, subscribe to Crime Time Inc. and share the episode. Your support helps us continue producing independent true-crime documentaries, interviews and detective analysis. REAL CASES. REAL DETECTIVES. REAL TALK. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open 00:53 Welcome to a New Season 01:09 FIFA’s Proposed Multi-Billion-Pound Deal 06:00 World Cup Policing and the Tartan Army 09:52 Sepp Blatter, FIFA and the FBI 11:07 Power, Promotion and Police Leadership 14:15 PC Alan Greer: Allegations and Investigation 15:26 What Is PIRC? 19:30 Independent Scrutiny of Police Investigations 21:20 Were Warning Signs Missed? 26:19 The Golden State Killer and Small Town Dicks 27:39 Elizabeth Jane Ross and the Athens Suitcase Death 31:23 How Police Handle a Body Found in a Suitcase 32:51 Three Types of Murder Investigation 36:05 Preserving Evidence and Avoiding Assumptions 39:24 Isabel Rose Welsh and the Outstanding Warrant 43:35 Facial Recognition and Modern Policing 44:02 Detectives with Extraordinary Memories 47:06 Policing Before Cars 47:24 Closing #TrueCrime #CrimeTimeInc #PoliceInvestigation About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Hosts
Straight From the Case Files
Tom Wood
Co-Host
Tom Wood is a retired detective, former Deputy Chief Constable and bestselling author of "Ruxton: The First Modern Murder". With decades of experience in Scottish law enforcement, Tom brings unparalleled insight into criminal investigations and forensic history.
Simon McLean
Co-Host
Simon McLean is a former detective and undercover cop. His experience spans organised crime, serious assault, and complex criminal networks across Scotland.
Chris Burt
Producer
Chris Burt is the producer of Crime Time Inc, handling all aspects of audio production, post-production, and digital content.
Listener Reviews
What Listeners Say
Absolutely Gripping
“Tom and Simon bring an authenticity to true crime that you just can't fake. Having two actual detectives walk you through these cases is incredible. Essential listening.”
— ScottishCrimeFan · Apple Podcasts
Crime Time Membership
Exclusive episodes, printed case notes, webinars with the hosts, and backstage access. Be the first to know when we launch.
Get Notified