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
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300+
Episodes
★ 5
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S7 · E11 · 50:05
Suzy Lamplugh Part 2: John Cannan and the One-Word ‘Confession’
In Part 2, Tom Wood continues his conversation with former Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh. Mike explains how the investigation into the abduction and murder of Shirley Banks brought convicted killer John Cannan to the attention of the Lamplugh inquiry. A bungled robbery, a discarded vehicle tax disc and Shirley’s repainted Mini—fitted with a mysterious false registration plate—created a trail investigators could not ignore. Mike also recounts his 1990 prison interview with Cannan. When challenged about his claim that a “Bristol businessman” was responsible for the deaths of Suzy Lamplugh, Shirley Banks and another woman, Cannan gave a one-word answer before immediately retracting it. Mike explains why he regarded that brief exchange as a confession. He then sets out his theory about the “Mr Kipper” appointment in Suzy’s diary, where she may have been abducted and why he wanted the disused Norton Barracks searched. After the interview, former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the evidence, Cannan’s patterns of offending and the difficult balance between pursuing an experienced detective’s instincts and maintaining discipline within a major investigation. John Cannan was convicted of murdering Shirley Banks. He was never charged with or convicted of involvement in Suzy Lamplugh’s disappearance. Mike Barley makes clear that his conclusion is his personal investigative belief—not proof established in court. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of abduction, sexual violence and murder. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Cold open: the one-word answer 00:43 — Shirley Banks and the first link to John Cannan 04:13 — A former partner’s account and Norton Barracks 07:22 — Cannan’s conviction and criminal history 10:49 — Testing Cannan’s account of his movements 12:48 — How Shirley Banks was abducted 15:22 — Preparing for the Wakefield Prison interview 19:31 — The SLP number plate and Cannan’s answer 24:26 — Mike’s theory about Suzy’s disappearance 28:15 — The Norton Barracks search that never happened 30:48 — Tom and Simon review the interview 38:39 — Did Mike become too close to the investigation? 40:02 — Leadership, resources and the missed search 43:39 — HOLMES and managing a cold case 44:53 — Hunches, hierarchy and investigative discipline 49:07 — Next time on Crime Time Inc. Crime Time Inc.—Real cases. Real detectives. Real talk. Find more at CrimeTimeInc.com. Mike Barley & Russell Barnes — Suzy Lamplugh: The Inside Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Missing Person Investigation UK: Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX81YK1N Outside the UK: Search Amazon in your local country for ASIN B0GX81YK1N 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 · E10 · 38:15
Suzy Lamplugh: Inside the Investigation | Mike Barley Part 1
On 28 July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her Fulham office for an appointment with a prospective client recorded in her diary as “Mr Kipper”. She never returned. That evening, Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley was called at home. The duty detective inspector had heard the circumstances and told him: “I don’t like the sound of it. I think you’d better come in.” In Part 1 of this three-part Crime Time Inc. special, Mike gives Tom Wood a first-hand account of the opening stages of one of Britain’s most enduring missing-person investigations. Mike recalls the discovery of Suzy’s white Ford Fiesta and the details that immediately concerned detectives: the unlocked driver’s door, the handbrake off, the driver’s seat pushed back and the car left awkwardly positioned. He explains the search for witnesses, the artist’s impression and photo-fit, the huge national media response and the flood of information into the incident room. At its height, almost 100 officers were involved. With no modern computerised major-incident system, investigators relied on a manual card index that eventually contained more than 26,000 cards. Mike also describes the painful moment police told Suzy’s parents, Paul and Diana Lamplugh, that they believed their daughter was dead — while still being unable to tell them either “we’ve got him” or “we’ve found her”. As months passed, resources dwindled until only four officers remained on the inquiry. After Mike’s account, Simon McLean and Tom Wood review the investigation from their own policing experience. Tom returns in particular to the condition and position of Suzy’s car, reaching a stark conclusion: “The car was dumped, not parked.” This is Season 7, Episode 10 and Part 1 of a three-part Crime Time Inc. interview with former Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open: “I Think You’d Better Come In” 00:45 Simon and Tom Introduce the Case 02:52 Mike Barley Joins Crime Time Inc. 05:24 “Mr Kipper” and Suzy’s Final Appointment 09:11 Suzy’s Car Is Found 10:36 Police Treat the Case at Its Most Serious 15:54 Witness Sighting and Artist’s Impression 16:52 The Case Explodes in the National Press 18:23 From Artist’s Impression to Photo-Fit 20:58 Telling Suzy’s Parents Police Believe She Is Dead 22:22 The 26,000-Card Incident Room 25:28 Nearly 100 Officers — Then the Team Shrinks 26:12 The National Missing Person Helpline 28:11 Simon and Tom Review the Investigation 36:07 “The Car Was Dumped, Not Parked” 37:33 Next Time on Crime Time Inc. Mike Barley & Russell Barnes — Suzy Lamplugh: The Inside Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Missing Person Investigation UK: Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX81YK1N Outside the UK: Search Amazon in your local country for ASIN B0GX81YK1N 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 · E9 · 27:58
The War on Drugs: Has Prohibition Failed?
Nearly twenty years ago, one of Scotland’s most respected legal figures delivered a devastating verdict on the war on drugs: prohibition was not working. In this episode, former detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood revisit the views of Lord John McCluskey and ask whether decades of criminalisation have reduced drug use — or helped create the hugely profitable black market exploited by organised crime. Simon argues for a radically different approach built around decriminalisation, regulation and rehabilitation. Tom challenges the practicalities: who would supply regulated drugs, could easier access increase consumption, and does Scotland have anything like the treatment infrastructure required? They examine Scotland’s record on drug deaths, the relationship between drugs and organised crime, and lessons from approaches used overseas. Tom also reflects on his own experience working in alcohol and drug strategy and raises a crucial question about drug deaths: rather than looking only at how someone died, should we pay much more attention to how they lived in the years beforehand? The discussion then turns to Scots law and Brennan v HM Advocate, a murder case involving alcohol, LSD and the important legal principle surrounding voluntarily induced intoxication, insanity and diminished responsibility. A frank discussion about drugs, crime, health, law — and whether continuing with the same policies can ever produce a different result. Real cases. Real detectives. Real talk. Chapters 00:00 — Cold Open: The War on Drugs Has Failed 00:53 — Lord McCluskey and Scots Law 03:54 — “It Does Not Work. It Cannot Work.” 05:03 — Tom Remembers John McCluskey 06:48 — Is Prohibition Causing the Problem? 08:03 — Drugs and Organised Crime 10:01 — Decriminalisation, Regulation & Rehabilitation 13:01 — Tom Challenges the Practicalities 14:09 — What Would Regulation Look Like? 15:13 — Would Drug Use Increase? 16:12 — Safety, Purity and Regulation 17:14 — What Do Drug Death Statistics Tell Us? 18:17 — Scotland’s Drug Treatment Failures 20:07 — The Political Courage Problem 22:23 — Brennan v HM Advocate 24:13 — Intoxication and Criminal Responsibility 25:37 — How Appeal Courts Shape Scots Law 26:36 — Closing Banter 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
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