Real Cases. Real Cops. Real Talk.
Crime Time Inc.
True crime stories told by the detectives who worked them. Hosted by former law enforcement officers Tom Wood and Simon McLean.
5
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268+
Episodes
★ 5
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S25 · E29 · 52:10
Why Drug Laws Aren't Working — A Former Detective's Take
Knife Crime Rumours, Sub Judice Rules, and Scotland’s Violence Reduction Success Simon and Tom discuss a daylight knife incident in Edinburgh’s Calders that sparked widespread online misinformation, prompting Police Scotland to issue rare clarifications while constrained by sub judice rules; Tom explains how the Contempt of Court Act and Lord Advocate’s guidelines limit pretrial commentary to protect fair trials. They compare “perp walk” publicity with Scottish practice, including WWII-era German spy arrests in Scotland where press photos prevented the suspects being turned into double agents and led to executions. The conversation turns to emergency-service responses to knife incidents and the balance between waiting for specialist support and the duty to protect life. They cover Ian Huntley’s prison assault and how the Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman murders exposed failures in intelligence-sharing about dangerous offenders. Tom highlights the Violence Reduction Unit’s 20-year impact, noting murders fell from 137 in 2005 to 47, and argues its public-health approach could inform drug policy amid rising lethal synthetics. They also touch on citizen’s arrest/self-defence, skepticism about “international law,” and football-related disorder. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:16 Edinburgh Knife Incident 01:36 Misinformation And Police Response 02:58 Sub Judice Explained 05:14 Perp Walk And Spy Photos 09:07 Emergency Services And Risk 14:53 Ian Huntley Case Lessons 18:42 Violence Reduction Unit Success 23:22 Drug Laws And Public Health 26:26 Root Causes Not Choices 26:42 Football As Diversion 29:03 Community Clubs Origins 30:14 Boxing And Discipline 33:37 PR Spin And Distractions 35:39 VRU Principles And Praise 37:44 Vigilantes And Self Defence 40:20 International Law Skepticism 46:19 Peaky Blinders And Gang Lore 49:00 Old Firm Songs And Policing 51:48 Wrap Up And Next Topics Episodes referred to in this show. Sheila Anderson Season 1 Episodes 27/28 https://crimetimeinc.com/episodes/sheila-anderson-unsolved-leith-s-heroin-turning-point-part-1 https://crimetimeinc.com/episodes/sheila-anderson-unsolved-leith-s-heroin-turning-point The Expendables (The Beautiful Spy) Season 1 Episodes 25/26 https://crimetimeinc.com/episodes/the-expendables-1 https://crimetimeinc.com/episodes/the-expendables-2 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.
S5 · E28 · 26:45
Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows
🎙 Crime Time Inc. – Jane Hamilton Book Launch Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows | The Scottish Serial Killer Case In this special episode of Crime Time Inc., Tom sits down with investigative journalist Jane Hamilton for the first in-depth discussion of her new book: Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows This episode explores the crimes of Peter Tobin, one of Scotland’s most notorious serial killers, and the long investigation that linked him to the murders of: Vicki Hamilton (15) Dinah McNicol (18) Angelika Kluk (23) Rather than glorifying the killer, Jane’s book focuses on the lives of the young women he murdered — and the investigative journey that uncovered the truth. 📚 About the Book – Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows Publisher: Mirror Books Release Date: 26 February Written in memory of Vicki Hamilton, Dinah McNicol and Angelika Kluk A journalist’s perspective on one of Scotland’s darkest criminal investigations Jane was present from the earliest days of the Angelika Kluk investigation in Glasgow, when her body was discovered beneath the floorboards of St Patrick’s Church in 2006. That murder ultimately exposed Peter Tobin’s hidden past and led to the reopening of earlier missing persons cases. 🔎 The Peter Tobin Case: A Timeline 1991 – Vicki Hamilton disappears in Bathgate on a freezing February night 1991 – Dinah McNicol vanishes after hitchhiking from a music festival 2006 – Angelika Kluk murdered in Glasgow Post-2006 – Operation Anagram links Tobin to earlier murders Tom reflects on his own policing experience during the Vicki Hamilton investigation and explains why Tobin was one of the hardest serial killers in Scotland to catch — frequently changing addresses, aliases and identities. 🎧 What This Episode Explores The psychology of an opportunistic serial killer How Peter Tobin evaded detection for years The role of Operation Anagram in linking cold cases Grooming, vulnerability and offender behaviour patterns The differences between police investigations and investigative journalism The decline of long-form crime reporting in modern media Jane also shares how she tracked down Tobin’s former wives and pursued leads internationally to build a fuller picture of the man behind the crimes. 📰 Investigative Journalism vs Police Investigation This episode offers rare insight into: How journalists build trust without legal powers The ethical challenges of reporting on serial murder Telling victims’ stories without sensationalism Why historical true crime still resonates today 🎙 Why This Episode Matters The Peter Tobin case remains one of the most significant serial killer investigations in Scottish criminal history. This conversation highlights: The human cost behind the headlines The long shadow cast by unresolved missing persons cases The importance of persistence in both policing and journalism 🔔 Listen If You’re Interested In: Scottish serial killer cases Peter Tobin and Operation Anagram Cold case investigations True crime podcast discussions Investigative journalism 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.
S5 · E27 · 57:14
The Zodiac Killer Investigation: Why He Was Never Caught
The Zodiac Killer Investigation: Why He Was Never Caught Fingerprints, ciphers, and the multi-agency manhunt that led nowhere By the end of 1970, the Zodiac had murdered across four California jurisdictions, mailed taunting letters and cryptic ciphers to newspapers, and walked away without ever being identified. In this episode, we examine the investigation itself — the coordination between Solano County, Vallejo, Napa County, and San Francisco; the role of the California Department of Justice; and the mountain of evidence that ultimately led nowhere. We explore the key forensic pillars of the case: the latent fingerprints recovered from Paul Stine’s taxi, the handwriting analysis linking confirmed Zodiac letters, the physical evidence from multiple crime scenes, and the disputed connection to the 1966 murder of Cheri Jo Bates. Despite thousands of tips, hundreds of suspects, and decades of review, no match was ever made. Why did the investigation fail? And was the Zodiac simply clever — or just lucky? Next episode: the suspects. 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
Former detective and bestselling author of "Ruxton: The First Modern Murder". Tom spent decades investigating Scotland's most complex cases — and brings that hard-won experience to every episode.
Simon McLean
Co-Host
A former detective whose investigations took him from Scotland to working alongside the FBI. Simon's frontline experience gives Crime Time Inc its unmatched authenticity.
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