Crime Scene – with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips

About Crime Scene – with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips

Cop shows and true crime dominate pop culture – but do we really understand what goes on inside major criminal investigations? In CRIME SCENE, ex-Metropolitan Police Commissioner BERNARD HOGAN-HOWE and former Mirror editor ALISON PHILLIPS take a deep dive into real cases, from gang hits to manhunts to fraud, extortion and drug trafficking, and explain what really goes on. How do police commence an investigation? What happens when they face a wall of silence from frightened witnesses? How do covert intelligence, profiling and forensics come together to bring culprits to justice? And when it all reaches court, does the media hit the right spot between information, sensationalism and fear-mongering? Find out in CRIME SCENE: the truth behind true crime.

Publisher

Podmasters

Category

news · society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2025

Latest episode

3 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

11 of 11 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   3 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   When no-one talks – The murder of Rhys Jones

   Former Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and ex-Mirror editor Alison Phillips examine the complex murder case of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, revealing the challenges of pursuing justice in a community gripped by fear and silence.

2. 

   26 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT

   How do you turn around a failing police force? – with Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police

   Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson discusses turning around failing police forces with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips in an interview, revealing strategies to restore trust and address lawlessness.

3. 

   19 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Petty crime, major problem – Have the police given up on phone theft, burglary and shoplifting?

   Former Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and ex-Mirror editor Alison Phillips discuss the rise in petty crime and explore whether the police should prioritize these offenses to better serve the public in this interview.

4. 

   12 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT

   The Madeleine McCann Search – What went wrong and will it ever end?

   Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips examine the Madeleine McCann case, exploring investigative missteps and the potential for new evidence to finally reveal what happened to her.

5. 

   5 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Should cannabis be decriminalised?

   Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips explore the contentious debate surrounding cannabis decriminalization in Britain, examining its potential impact on crime and society, and whether Sadiq Khan is right to demand a change in the law.

6. 

   29 May 2025TRANSCRIPT

   The Liverpool parade crash and the Southport killer – Should police identify suspects?

   Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips analyze the complexities of identifying suspects in major emergencies, specifically regarding the Liverpool parade crash, and discuss balancing public safety with potential prejudice in this episode.

7. 

   22 May 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Who killed the Essex Boys? – Why an infamous conviction may be fatally flawed

   Former detective David McKelvey examines the Essex Boys triple murder case and reveals mishandled evidence that inspires books and films, questioning the conviction of two men in an interview with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips.

8. 

   15 May 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Exclusive – Shadow Home Secretary CHRIS PHILP MP on two-tier policing, A.I. face recognition and the future of fighting crime

   Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP discusses the future of policing with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips, addressing technology and the criminal justice system in this interview.

9. 

   8 May 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Armed Response – What happens when police shoot a suspect?

   Ex-Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and former Mirror editor Alison Phillips examine the immense consequences when police fatally shoot a suspect, sharing insider knowledge on real cases like Chris Kaba in this interview.

10. 

    28 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT

    NEW SERIES: Guns of London – Are armed gangs out of control?

    NEW SERIES: In Crime Scene ex-Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and former Mirror editor Alison Phillips share their insider knowledge to lift the lid on how criminal investigations really work. In our debut episode: The horrific shooting of an innocent nine-year-old girl in Dalston in 2024 laid bare bitter rivalries between London’s armed gangs. Who is supplying these weapons – and from where? How do detectives trace them and arrest the gunmen? And are they fighting a losing battle against guns in the Capital? Crime Scene: the truth behind true crime. Subscribe for new episodes every Thursday. • Follow Crime Scene on BlueSky. • Email us to let know what you think and what you want to hear about at crimescene@podmasters.co.uk. Presented by Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Music by Simon Williams. Produced by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis and Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Executive Producer: Martin Bojtos. Thanks to Helen Purvis at Knight Ayton Management. CRIME SCENE is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11. 

    25 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT

    Trailer

    Launching 1 May 2025 – Cop shows and true crime dominate pop culture – but do we really understand what goes on inside major criminal investigations? In CRIME SCENE, ex-Metropolitan Police Commissioner BERNARD HOGAN-HOWE and former Mirror editor ALISON PHILLIPS take a deep dive into real cases, from gang hits to manhunts to fraud, extortion and drug trafficking, and explain what really goes on. How do police commence an investigation? What happens when they face a wall of silence from frightened witnesses? How do covert intelligence, profiling and forensics come together to bring culprits to justice? And when it all reaches court, does the media hit the right spot between information, sensationalism and fearmongering? Find out in CRIME SCENE: the truth behind true crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside a recent episode

When no-one talks – The murder of Rhys Jones

Published 3 Jul 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] It was amazingly clear, I think, that this was a gang related crime. And that poor Reese had been just an innocent victim in the wrong place at the wrong time. And so as a result, there were a lot of people who were unwilling to speak because of this gang warfare that was going on. Tell us a little bit about what it's like when you're trying to deal with people who are clearly being intimidated by somebody you may not know who. It's really difficult because you've got to work out from the perspective of the witness, are they more intimidated by the criminal or they're more intimidated by the criminal justice system? […]

Who has been a guest on Crime Scene – with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sir Stephen Watson
• David McKelvey
• Chris Philp MP

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.8 / 5

37 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Crime Scene – with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Crime Scene – with Bernard Hogan-Howe and Alison Phillips